Chapter 1885 - Feelings Are the Hardest to Understand

Gu Yunchan is dead?!

He was a Guhuo Bird, and he was crafty and ruthless by nature. The God Domain’s yao cultivators ranked him among the Ten Great Yao Sovereigns. More importantly, Xi Ning hated him to the bone! This was because he’d ruthlessly killed her little brother, Xi Yu, during the God Domain’s Great Realm Sparring Battles.

When Xi Ning heard that Gu Yunchan was coming to the Immortal Realm, her old grudge rose to the surface. She’d been searching for him ever since. She had never considered the possibility that he was already dead, much less that he’d died by Su Yi’s hand!

She almost dared not believe it.

“You... really killed him?” she couldn’t help but ask.

Su Yi concisely recounted everything that had happened in the Magnetic Origin Ice Sea.

After hearing the full story, Xi Ning was overcome with delight. Countless years of accumulated hatred had finally found release. But at the same time, she was startled.

As a mere Immortal King, Su Yi used the Magnetic Origin Light covering the Magnetic Origin Ice Sea to destroy Gu Yunchan and Qing Wu. If word reached the God Domain, it would cause an enormous storm. Gu Yunchan’s master, Old Man Providence, and the ancient clan behind Qing Wu wouldn’t be able to accept this!

“Also, I’m in the Great Realm now, so...” Su Yi chuckled. “So you needn’t worry about me.”

He could tell that Xi Ning really wanted to help him, and she was acting out of concern for his safety. Thus, before he did anything else, he had to resolve her worries and give her reason to be confident in him.

Who’d have thought this casual statement would make her even less calm? She couldn’t help but blurt, “You entered the Great Realm!?”

Her beautiful eyes widened, and she stared at Su Yi as if she were looking at a monster. “If I recall correctly, it’s been less than a year since you became an Immortal King. But now you’re... already in the Great Realm?”

Before Su Yi could explain, she said with concern, “Are you... under too much pressure? Rather, is the current situation too great a threat to your survival?”

Su Yi was at a loss for words. Inwardly, he found it rather entertaining.

What could possibly put pressure on me?

But when he saw the unconcealed worry on Xi Ning’s face and heard the concern in his voice, his heart churned, and his gaze softened.

He didn't rush to explain. Instead, he rested his head in his hands and listened quietly.

In that moment, he felt that Xi Ning had an altogether different beauty, one that had nothing to do with her appearance or disposition. This type of beauty was bone deep, and it came straight from the heart. Only those she cared about were fortunate enough to experience it.

Xi Ning didn’t sense the change in Su Yi’s mentality. Her brow furrowed, and her eyes shone with worry. “I almost forgot. It’s not just the divine children; you have numerous powerful enemies leftover from your past life. They’re a threat too. That’s why you blindly pursued a rapid breakthrough, but this is sure to impact your foundations in the Grand Dao going forward, and...”

Su Yi could no longer hold back laughter.

Xi Ning glared at him. “Fellow Daoist, you don’t think I’m joking, do you?”

Su Yi hurriedly wiped the smile off his face and said solemnly, “I listened attentively to every word, and I’ve committed them to heart, and I fully sensed the concern and care behind them. I’m deeply moved. How could I possibly think you were joking?”

Xi Ning was briefly stunned, but then, she snorted. “I’m glad you understand. If you were anyone else, I wouldn’t care, but....uh...”

She paused, seemingly realizing that she’d misspoken. Her expression filled with unease, and she lowered her head, avoiding Su Yi’s gaze.

At the same time, inexplicable bashfulness filled her heart, and her face heated up.

Is what I just said... going to cause any untoward misunderstandings?

Strange. Why have I suddenly lost control? How could I have said something like that? Don’t tell me it’s because he killed Gu Yunchan for me? No, I’m sure that’s it. Ordinarily speaking, I wouldn’t act like this...

Xi Ning forced herself to calm down, but although she didn’t realize it, the tips of her ears were tinged pink. All of her aloof, ethereal bearing had vanished. She was as tense as if she were sitting on a bed of needles, uncharacteristically bashful.

As a man, Su Yi knew better than to tease a woman at moments like this. If he did, her fury might well turn to anger. He coughed dryly, then launched into a serious, patient explanation of how he’d broken through so quickly.

Xi Ning felt calmer, but for some reason, she felt a hint of something altogether different, too. She listened to Su Yi’s explanation, but she wasn’t really paying much attention.

When Su Yi finished, he smiled and said, “In any event, I appreciate your feelings, but you needn’t worry about me.”

Xi Ning froze. She really wanted to ask, “Just what feelings are you appreciating here?”

But in the end, she held back and nodded slightly. “Alright. If you need help, don't suffer in silence. If you do, I’ll interpret it as proof that you don’t take me for a true fellow Daoist.”

Su Yi really wanted to ask, “And what, pray tell, is a true fellow Daoist?”

But he considerately refrained. Getting to know each other was a continuous, gradual process. If he pushed further at an inopportune time, he’d only defeat himself. More importantly, what if Xi Ning really was concerned only

because she

saw him as her fellow Daoist? When it came to matters of men and women, there was no greater taboo than imagining a connection where there was none.

“I will,” Su Yi said solemnly.

The serious look on his face made Xi Ning burst into laughter. She smiled so broadly that her eyes narrowed into crescent moons, a moving sight.

Su Yi couldn’t help but laugh too. He took out a jug of wine and had a sip. “Now that I think about it, it’s been a long time since I last made such a promise.”

Xi Ning pressed her red lips into a smile and batted her eyes. “I’m not threatening you. If you’re opposed, you needn’t take it to heart.”

Su Yi smiled. “If that was a threat, I’d love to get threatened more often.”

Xi Ning froze, stunned, then glared at Su Yi. In the end, she forced her nervousness back down and said with feigned calmness, “Enough. No more jokes. I ought to get going.”

With that, she rose. The night winds blew past, and the little boat sailed through the sea of clouds. Xi Ning's clothing swayed around her, highlighting her tall frame and graceful figure.

She was an ethereal, transcendent beauty straight out of a painting, too beautiful to describe in words.

“Where are you going? Want me to drop you off?” asked Su Yi.

Xi Ning’s eyes flashed. “I’m going to convene with Luo Tiandu. We’re investigating secrets of the Primeval Era, and we have a solid lead, so we cannot afford to delay any further.”

Su Yi nodded. “If you need help, you shouldn’t suffer in silence either.”

Xi Ning twirled a lock of her dark hair and nodded. “Of course.”

With that, she turned to leave, her impressive figure blurring into a beam of light. In the blink of an eye, she’d disappeared into the boundless darkness.

All that remained of her was a subtle hint of a delicate fragrance.

Su Yi stood at the bow, hands behind his back, and gazed in the direction she’d disappeared in. He whispered, “Sixth Brother Book, you used your karmic power to divine that a hidden karmic thread binds Miss Xi Ning and me together. What exactly does that mean?”

The Book of Karma floated into the air, and a line of text appeared on an open page. “I told you: if karma really exists between you, it’s not something I can divine!”

Su Yi whispered, “It’s strange, but from the moment we first met, I’ve felt like there’s an indescribable tacit understanding between us. We get each other; a single glance or gesture, and we can understand what the other is thinking, like our hearts are connected.”

“Like your hearts are connected?” wrote the book. “Aha! Seems to me you’ve just taken a fancy to her.”

Su Yi laughed dismissively. “You’re just a book. How could you understand such things?”

“....”

After a moment’s silence, Su Yi sighed. “Now, my greatest concern is this: even if there really is a karmic thread between us, it’s hard to predict whether it’ll lead to fortune or disaster...”

The Book of Karma wrote, “Feelings are the hardest to understand, and they’re a tribulation in their own right. Help others by helping yourself. It’s hard to avoid twists and turns. You’re right to be cautious.”

Su Yi took a sip of wine and didn’t comment.

......

Meanwhile, beneath the same night sky, on the shore of a grand, coursing river.

Xi Ning stood there in silence, replaying her conversation with Su Yi. Her emotions rose and fell much like the river in front of her; she couldn’t calm down.

The Book of Karma said that there’s most likely a hidden karmic tie between Fellow Daoist Su and I. Could that be true?

Xi Ning was a bit uncertain.

Am I perhaps... overthinking things?

A little while later, she sighed.

Luo Tiandu approached from the distant skies. “A’Ning, what are you doing here? What did Su Yi say? Did he heed your advice and decide against participating in the Immortal Peach Assembly?”

Xi Ning rubbed her forehead. “How is that any of your business? Let’s go.”

She turned and left. She couldn’t be bothered to explain. Moreover, from beginning to end, she didn’t so much as look at Luo Tiandu.

“....” Luo Tiandu fell silent. Inwardly, he tried to comfort himself.

She wouldn’t act like this in front of an outsider. That means she doesn’t think of me as an outsider! She wouldn’t necessarily treat someone else like this.

The thought encouraged him, and he chased after her.

...

The next day, late at night.

Su Yi finally reached the Central Plain Province.

The Central Plain Province was called the heart of the Immortal Realm’s forty-nine provinces. In the Primeval Era, it was simply known as the Central Plain. Prior to the Age of Fallen Immortals, the Central Immortal Court, the faction that maintained order in the Immortal Realm, had built its base here.

I should arrive at Cloudsoar Peak tomorrow at dawn.

Su Yi did a little mental math, then decided to find a city before dark, walk around for a bit, and find an inn to rest and wash up in.

But when he flew over a stretch of ancient mountains, a sallow-skinned, stick-think monk appeared ahead of him, blocking his path.

It didn't seem like a random encounter. Rather it appeared to Su Yi that the man had been waiting there for him!