Chapter 200 - Leaving the Palace (1/2)
Xiao Chen shook his head with a smile as he gently caressed her hair. He felt sorrow for those two. The power and lifespan of a mortal were limited. In their pursuit of power and immortality, they chose to refine themselves into strong Corpse Puppets. But what had they received in return?
Perhaps, this was the intrinsic difference between immortals and devils. If it were him, he would rather be a free and unfettered cultivator or Rogue Immortal who watched the ups and downs of the Human World if he couldn’t become an immortal.
When Murong Xian’er finally stopped her tears moments later, Xiao Chen gently wiped the tears welled up in the corner of her eyes. The two of them then walked inside the palace.
Su Xiaomei saw that they had returned and asked, “How did it go? Had that man retreated?”
Xiao Chen nodded and then told her everything that had happened. Su Xiaomei pondered over it for some time, allowing her hands to hang on her sides. She said to herself, “The Corpse Refinery Sect? I might have heard of it but I can’t remember very well.”
He was momentarily silent before he said, “I’m going to leave now. Why don’t you come with us?”
Su Xiaomei suddenly looked up at him, uncertainty coloring her eyes. She started looking sorrowful again. Xiao Chen knew what she would say next, and thus said, “Senior Xiao Ning… Maybe he’s still in this world, but is unable to come back to find you due to some restrictions.”
Xiao Chen wasn’t good at using words to comfort others. However, he thought that Xiao Ning wouldn’t want his lover to wait for him in this desolate palace even if he wasn’t here anymore. A thousand years had passed. Just how long was that? It wasn’t as simple as waiting for the next day to come.
Su Xiaomei cautiously said, “You mean… Brother Ning is still alive?”
Xiao Chen nodded. “Senior Xiao Ning has extraordinary cultivation. No one is capable enough to kill him. I’m sure he can peep at Heavenly Secrets and break out of the shackles of death.”
His comforting words now were the same words he repeated to himself every night when the moonlight hit the roof, telling himself that his Master was still alive.
Su Xiaomei lowered her head and was silent for a long while. In the end, she said gently, “Fine. I’ll leave with you. But you must promise me that you’ll help me find Brother Ning.”
She wasn’t the only one who wished to find Xiao Ning. Xiao Chen was also desperate to find Xiao Ning and find out what had happened a thousand years ago. He wanted to ask Xiao Ning where his Master had gone and if he has seen her again.
“Okay, I promise you.”
“Hmm. I trust you. You’re very similar to him. When you make a promise to someone, you’ll keep it even if it means sacrificing your life,” Su Xiaomei said. She then turned into a white light and entered an icy jade pendant next to the stele.
“This is the Millenium Icy Jade that Brother Ning gifted me back then. Please wear it.”
Xiao Chen strolled over to the stele. Did Xiao Ning put everything on the line to complete his task just because he had given his word to Master back then? Now, he had given his word to Su Xiaomei. If Xiao Ning was truly placed under restriction somewhere, he would rescue him even if it meant death!
He leaned down and picked up the icy jade lying on the ground. Instantly, he could feel an ice-cold sensation running all over his body. The head of the jade pendant was tied with a red rope that remained intact over a thousand years. This was likely a mystical object.
Xiao Chen immediately wore the jade pendant on his chest. It felt cool against his skin, making him feel refreshed. To be frank, he was not completely selfless in convincing Su Xiaomei to leave with him.
After all, his mother was from the Su family, who had her confined. How could he alone rescue his mother from the clutches of the powerful Su family? Su Xiaomei, being from a thousand years ago, could be considered one of their ancestors. Who would dare to defy her order?
When they arrived at the formation boundary outside the palace, a wisp of spirit energy emerged from the icy jade. The formation instantly opened. Xiao Chen quickly stepped out of it and took a deep breath of air. It had only been a few days, but it felt like he had been reborn. He didn’t know if it was because he had escaped from mortal danger or because he found some clues about what happened a thousand years ago. He couldn’t help howling.
His roar reverberated throughout the valley and lingered for a long while. Suddenly, the icy jade emanated Divine Thoughts. “Don’t yell as you please. This is a strange place. I remember it looked different.”