Chapter 961: The Origins of a Love Polygon

“One thousand years ago, there was a genius who practiced an ice-element secret art. No one knew her name, but everyone knew the unique cultivation method she created—Tundra Demesne.”

Long Qingyue confirmed that Han Shanxue was the genius who had died young a millennium ago. She had been twenty and one step away from reaching the Nascent Soul stage.

Han Shanxue was born in the chauvinistic Shadow Dynasty. According to legend, she had a master who was a million times more powerful than her.

“So, Han Shanxue was in love with her master, and that’s why she hates Immortal Lord Taohua so bitterly?”

After hearing the first half, Ye Wenxin could already imagine the tragic drama that must have followed.

Long Qingyue shook her head and gave a mysterious smile. “On the contrary, this legendary cultivator was named Fengjiu, and she was only a step away from ascending. There are two versions of what happened next.

“In the first version, Fengjiu and Immortal Lord Taohua were truly in love. But Immortal Lord Taohua’s younger sister, Fairy Zhuling, harbored unusual feelings for her elder sister. She killed Fengjiu, whom Immortal Lord Taohua loved most, so she could have her all to herself.”

The name Fengjiu (feng – phoenix, jiu – nine) made Ye Wenxin think of Fairy Fengya. They both had a fondness for phoenixes and cultivated ice-based techniques. If this version were true, Immortal Lord Taohua must’ve descended to the mortal realm to find Fengjiu’s reincarnation—Fairy Fengya.

Everything from Ye Wenxin’s dreams might truly come to pass.

Ye Wenxin felt a flicker of unease. Long Qingyue watched her expression closely and continued, “Right after the truth came to light, Han Shanxue tried to take revenge on Immortal Lord Taohua and Fairy Zhuling but got killed instead. However, a fragment of her soul survived. A thousand years later, she finally possessed another body and began her plan for vengeance anew.”

Long Qingyue’s analysis always sounded true. If it was, it made perfect sense that Fairy Zhuling had taken Fairy Fengya as her disciple.

Fairy Zhuling must have discovered that Fairy Fengya was the reincarnated Fengjiu and thus devised an insane method of obtaining her sister, Immortal Lord Taohua. She would raise Fairy Fengya to become the strongest cultivator and possess her body—gaining unmatched power and the chance to receive her sister’s love in Fengjiu’s name.

It was madness. Perhaps only someone as obsessively devoted as Fairy Zhuling could express love in such an extreme way.

Seeing Ye Wenxin’s furrowed brow, Long Qingyue offered the second version of the legend.

“The second version says that Immortal Lord Taohua and Fairy Zhuling conspired to kill Fengjiu to obtain an ancient manual. After getting it, Immortal Lord Taohua also betrayed and killed Fairy Zhuling, then ascended with her followers. As for Han Shanxue, her motive to kill them both never changed.”

Ye Wenxin fell silent. She recalled all her interactions with Han Shanxue, Fairy Fengya, and Fairy Zhuling. It felt like she’d stumbled into an over-the-top, tangled love polygon. And she wasn’t even part of the main cast!

“If reincarnation is truly involved, I suspect Fengjiu’s reincarnation is likely Fengya. The robe and the Heart Jade must have originally belonged to Fengjiu. That’s why they resonate with Fengjiu’s disciple, Han Shanxue.”

Long Qingyue watched Ye Wenxin’s face closely, unwilling to miss even the slightest reaction.

She knew Ye Wenxin had strong feelings for Fairy Fengya. Ye Wenxin herself hadn’t realized it, believing hatred fueled her fixation on the young woman.

But how could Long Qingyue not sense the difference in those emotions? Still, she had no intention of telling Ye Wenxin the truth. Carefully hiding her thoughts, she gave Ye Wenxin the time to process everything.

After a moment, Ye Wenxin summarized her thoughts, “I’m more inclined to believe the first version. A thousand years ago, Fengjiu and Immortal Lord Taohua were in love. Consumed by jealousy, Fairy Zhuling killed Fengjiu, but Han Shanxue witnessed the crime. In a reckless attempt to avenge her master, she fought Fairy Zhuling, yet was no match for her. Ultimately, she sealed her soul away to wait for another chance.”

Ye Wenxin finally understood why she kept dreaming about Immortal Lord Taohua. It wasn’t because she was Immortal Lord Taohua’s descendant but because she had learned Flower Burial, which caused her thoughts to resonate with Immortal Lord Taohua’s.

Han Shanxue had only recently awakened and knew nothing about Demon Lord Gu Qingcheng, who had disappeared for over two years. So when she saw the Phoenix Feather Robe react to Ye Wenxin, she had no doubts that Ye Wenxin was Immortal Lord Taohua. Hence, her murderous intent arose.

However, who was truly to blame? Was it Immortal Lord Taohua, Fairy Zhuling, or the love entangled in this story that drove people to madness?

Ye Wenxin felt deeply uneasy and afraid, but not of Immortal Lord Taohua’s strength. She was genuinely worried that Fairy Fengya might develop a relationship with Immortal Lord Taohua. Ye Wenxin didn’t know what irrational things she might do if that happened.

This feeling left her restless. Summoning Ghost Mother, she checked the peach blossom demon and Liu Churan’s movements with Sword Ghost.

Unexpectedly, they were staying in one location to search for a certain woman.

“They’ve been wandering around, looking for a beautiful woman. I think her name was Fengjiu.”

Sword Ghost’s report aligned with the legend Long Qingyue had just recounted. Immortal Lord Taohua’s true purpose of descending to the mortal realm gradually emerged.

It seemed Liu Churan hadn’t told the peach blossom demon that Fengjiu could be Fairy Fengya, unwilling to share the love she had finally obtained.

Ye Wenxin sighed in relief and prepared to set out, intending to investigate the situation.

Seeing this, Long Qingyue took a leisurely sip of water and laid out her thoughts. “No need to rush. Since Immortal Lord Taohua is searching for beautiful women, she’ll eventually come to the Golden Age Dynasty. Besides, she only has her memories, not her strength. Why not take this time to have my people search for the rest of her parts?”

Ye Wenxin paused in her tracks. Long Qingyue presented a compelling reasoning. Rather than charging in alone, borrowing the Golden Age Dynasty’s forces was faster and more reliable. And if they could locate the parts of Immortal Lord Taohua’s cultivation or body, they could keep her in line.

Ye Wenxin sat back down. “Yue’er, what’s the condition?”

She knew Long Qingyue couldn’t possibly help her for nothing, even if they were the best of friends.

Long Qingyue put down her cup and smiled. “You know what I want, don’t you?” She leaned closer to Ye Wenxin, her fragrance lingering in the air.

Ye Wenxin involuntarily took a few whiffs of it. It appeared Long Qingyue had come prepared.

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Author:

Yes, Fengjiu is Fengya, but when Fairy Zhuling killed her, she only faked her death. Then, she returned to the upper realm and resumed being the Mother of Heaven.

Thought I’d mention this now since it’ll show up way later in the story.