Chapter 241: Xuanji’s Ident.i.ty

Xuanji gave a small smile. “I don’t know, but the green jade gourd was given to Qiyue by my father through me.”

What? It wasn’t a coincidence?

Hua Qiyue stared stupidly at Xuanji. She could tell from his words that his father knew her. But Hua Qiyue could not recall such a person.

“Xuanji… Are you a member of one of the three ancient clans of Tianyuan Continent — the Xuan family?” Yun s.h.i.+mo asked, frowning.

If it were true, he would have another powerful opponent again. This man would not be easy to deal with.

“Indeed. You’re very smart,” Xuanji said, glancing at Yun s.h.i.+mo.

Yun s.h.i.+mo’s heart skipped a beat. The gloom on his face became even heavier, but he did not continue pestering Xuanji.

But Hua Qiyue felt even more stunned. She understood that the Tianyuan Continent was left with only three ancient clans—the Xuanyuan family, the Xuan family, and the Bali family.

But these clans were all living in seclusion. They rarely concerned themselves over the matters of the outside world. If the Purple Primordial Chaos Bead had not surfaced in the Yun family, the Xuanyuan family would probably not have appeared in Hua Qiyue’s world.

“Qiyue, that devil was conceived from the heavens and the earth. His powers are great. You can’t trust him! Hand the green jade gourd over to me. I guarantee to you that once that devil no longer poses you a threat, I will give the gourd back,” Yun s.h.i.+mo asked softly. His tone was full of entreaty and scope for compromise.

But Hua Qiyue only lifted her brows and said coldly, “Don’t worry, my Master said the same thing as you. He told me not to trust you. Reality proves him right.”

Yun s.h.i.+mo’s face turned ashen white. He stared at Hua Qiyue, his expression fierce, as if she had done something treasonous or immoral.

The hare sat up. “Girl, I’m the one who most understands Tianpi’s personality. If you won’t hand the green jade gourd over to us, he might take your life one day.”

Even Ji Jing and Ji Feng’s facial color had changed. No matter how wondrous this green jade gourd was, they still feared for Hua Qiyue’s safety. To Ji Feng, even divine herbs were not as important as Hua Qiyue.

“Qiyue, if that Heaven and Earth Devil is really so terrifying… Why don’t you hand the green jade gourd to Brother Yun for temporary safekeeping?” Ji Feng asked tentatively.

Hua Qiyue quieted down as she considered. Who was right? She was in such a dilemma.

Yun s.h.i.+mo had deceived her once, causing much suffering on her part. Now he was with her again, and, from what Hua Qiyue knew, he had reasons for his actions. Should she believe him?

No!

Hua Qiyue denied Yun s.h.i.+mo in her heart. No matter what his reasons were, he shouldn’t have hurt her this way. There had been a possibility she wouldn’t survive.

And what about Tianpi? The hare—the Sun Moon Deity—said that he was a devil born from the heavens and the earth. Could she trust him? Would he kill her in the end?

The hare sounded extremely solemn as he said, “The Heaven and Earth Devil is insatiable in his greed. 10,000 years ago, he slew countless innocents, ma.s.sacring tens of thousands of living souls. If you think such a person is trustworthy… I have nothing more to say.”

This time, even Ji Feng was shaken.

“Qiyue, a devil born of the heavens and the earth… and a devil from more than 10,000 years ago. Really, one cannot trust him…” Ji Feng said carefully.

Hua Qiyue looked at one, and then at another. Her heart was at sixes and sevens.

To be honest, since both the hare and Yun s.h.i.+mo had said the same thing, Hua Qiyue really felt her faith being shaken. After experiencing the matter concerning Yun s.h.i.+mo, she had lost her unwavering belief in most people.

But Hua Qiyue finally glanced at Xuanji.

“Brother Xuanji, your father wanted you to give the green jade gourd to me. What was his intention? Can you clarify?” Hua Qiyue asked earnestly.

After all, she had no feud with the Xuan family. If Tianpi was really a devil, was Xuanji’s father trying to harm her by giving her the jade? Hua Qiyue felt that there must be some other mystery in the green jade gourd.

“My father said that the green jade gourd was very important to you. He said your destiny would begin with it.”

Xuanji said quietly. His back was against the starlight, casting his handsome face in dusky shade.

Hua Qiyue was startled. Xuanji was right — her destiny in this life had begun with the green jade gourd. If it weren’t for the jade gourd, Hua Qiyue would never have known Tianpi and become as powerful as she was now.

Xuanji’s expression was bland, but his tone was affirming. “Nothing my father did was wrong. If Your Highness doesn’t believe me, you can return the gourd to me.”

Hua Qiyue silently pondered. She now knew that Xuanji was from the Xuan family, one of the three great clans. But why did his father want her to have the green jade gourd?

Besides, Xuanji kept by her side all this time. Perhaps it was also under his father’s instructions? But Hua Qiyue did not remember any entanglements she had with the Xuan Family.

If it had concerned the favors or enmity of the last generation, Hua Qiyue felt that Xuanji could not have any such entanglements with Hua Liting. After all, he was always stationed at the frontier with his troops. Even when Hua Liting returned to the capital, he would keep to himself. He could not have any relations.h.i.+p with the Xuan Family.

“Brother Xuan, why do you always keep by Sister Qiyue’s side, protecting her? Was it your father’s intention again?” Ji Jing was really curious. Why was such an outstanding man like Xuanji a Taoist priest? Why had he kept by Hua Qiyue’s side so dutifully?

“Yes, it was indeed my father’s intention,” Xuanji said quietly.

Hua Qiyue felt a tremor in her heart. In other words, she owed the Xuan Family two favors.

Hua Qiyue cast her thoughts back. If the green jade gourd had not saved her life at critical moments, and if it weren’t for Xuanji—she would not be who she was today.

Forget it, forget it.

“The green jade gourd’s mine. No one can take it away. Whoever wants my green jade mustn’t blame me for being cruel.”

The moment she said this, disappointment flashed across Yun s.h.i.+mo’s black eyes. He said in a low voice, “Qiyue… don’t go against me. This is a serious matter. Once…”

Hua Qiyue shook her head. “Don’t waste your breath. Nothing I have decided will change.”

The hare gave a snort. “When that devil harms you, don’t say we didn’t warn you!”

Hua Qiyue did not respond.

What kind of a person was Tianpi? She already knew. Had he turned into a devil because of some temptation? There was no longer any greed or l.u.s.t in his eyes, like in ordinary men’s. He only had a yearning for good food.

“Qiyue, if you’re adamant, then…” Yun s.h.i.+mo hesitated, his voice turning cold, “…I will have to take it by force!”

Take it by force?

Hua Qiyue raised her brows, the smile on her lips icy cold. “Let’s see if you can!”

But Xuanji had preempted him and stepped forward in front of Hua Qiyue. “This green jade gourd is Qiyue’s. Brother Yun, if you want to seize it, you have to go through me, its former owner.”

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Ji Feng stepped out. “Don’t act this way, friends. The Xuan family’s one of the three ancient clans. I believe that they have no feud with Qiyue. They have no reason to harm her.”

Ji Jing, too, was unwilling to see a falling-out between Yun s.h.i.+mo and Hua Qiyue. She nodded as well. “Yes, Brother Yun, Sister Qiyue’s so powerful. You don’t need to worry about her.”

The expression once resembling spring breeze on Yun s.h.i.+mo’s handsome face had now turned to ice.

“Qiyue, don’t blame me for my rudeness! Everything I do…” he said, his words trailing off as he flew toward Xuanji, striking out.

But Xuanji somehow not only dodged his attack, but also grabbed Yun s.h.i.+mo’s back.

A raging wind surged forward. Yun s.h.i.+mo was astounded. Clearly, the renown of the three great clans was well deserved.

In the blink of an eye, Xuanji and Yun s.h.i.+mo had exchanged a dozen blows, but they were evenly matched. It seemed that the fight might take a while.

Hua Qiyue sat there woodenly, watching Yun s.h.i.+mo’s swiftly moving figure, her heart full of complex feelings.

Why must Yun s.h.i.+mo take her green jade? Was it really because he felt worried for her? Hua Qiyue no longer dared to trust this man. She had been deceived once and would no longer be so easily bewitched by his pretty face.

Eventually, Huangfu Xuan and Ji Feng broke up the fight before it could ravage the entire mountain peak.

Xuanji and Yun s.h.i.+mo stared at each other coldly. Neither of them was breathless, nor were their hearts thumping. Xuanji stepped toward Hua Qiyue.

“Brother Yun, if you try to take the green jade gourd again, don’t blame me for being heartless.”

Xuanji’s teal robes fluttered noisily in the wind. His att.i.tude was resolute. Yun s.h.i.+mo knew that Xuanji’s true powers were really above his. He would not be able to defeat this man easily. But if the fight dragged on, he would have a chance to win. He firmly believed that the lethal skills the hare had imparted him were surely more powerful than the ancient clan’s.

Yun s.h.i.+mo stood there, watching Hua Qiyue and Xuanji descend the mountain. Complex emotions arose in his heart. He retracted his gaze out of anguish.

Ji Feng and Ji Jing were watching him. Then, they looked at the hare. “The devil you’ve mentioned is inside Qiyue’s green jade gourd?” Ji Feng had always been curious about where Hua Qiyue’s divine herbs were from.

“Yes, there’s a mysterious world inside the green jade gourd. In it is Tianpi, a devil. All Qiyue’s divine herbs are from the gourd,” Yun s.h.i.+mo said quietly. He was in a bad mood.

Huangfu Xuan was startled. “Devil?… But why did the Xuan family give her the green jade gourd? If they could have a supply of divine herbs, why wouldn’t they keep it for themselves?”

Ji Feng and his sister also nodded. “This is the question. After all, even an ancient clan could use them for spirit medicines to improve their cultivation rate.”

Yun s.h.i.+mo’s expression was solemn. “The fact that the Xuan Family had not coveted this mysterious jade is extremely suspicious. After all, it’s only this jade that contains Tianpi, the devil.”

The hare vexatiously slapped the ground. “Forget it. That stubborn girl won’t give up until she dies… Humph, let her go!”