Chapter 2018 The Glorious Past (6)
Icy tension gripped the room, a suffocating weight threatening to turn even the sturdiest pillars to frost.
"You overstep your bounds, Jin Yuxin," Yan Feihong's voice pierced the silence, each word a honed blade. "Do you not fear the wrath of Lord White Tiger God?"
A flicker of amusement, sharp as a viper's strike, danced across Jin Yuxin's features. "Fear? Of course, one would be remiss not to fear Lord White Tiger God." She chuckled. "But do you truly believe him to be a divine protector?"
Jin Yuxin turned to Yun Lintian and added, "Your strength is unprecedented. I've never encountered such an anomaly like you before. If you truly belong to the White Tiger God Clan, they wouldn't allow you to venture out alone."
Yan Feihong furrowed her brow but remained silent. Jin Yuxin's sharp mind had exposed the flaw in Yun Lintian's fabricated story. Here, Yan Feihong was powerless.
Yun Lintian calmly sipped his tea, then raised his head to meet Jin Yuxin's gaze. "Indeed, I'm not affiliated with the White Tiger God Clan. However, I wouldn't recommend provoking me."
"Oh?" Jin Yuxin offered a playful smile. "Sounds like you're quite confident. What should I do then? I'm suddenly tempted to test that confidence."
Linlin and Qingqing's dissatisfaction manifested as a frown. Their auras subtly emanated from their bodies, indicating their readiness to take action.
Naturally, neither was a match for Jin Yuxin, but they could still make a scene.
Yun Lintian placed his teacup down and smiled. "Go ahead then. What are you waiting for?"
A sudden sense of danger prickled at Jin Yuxin's heart. Unexplained intuition urged her to keep her distance from Yun Lintian.
Jin Yuxin remained unaware that she was subconsciously intimidated by Yun Lintian's Golden Crow God bloodline. In terms of hierarchy, Yun Lintian's bloodline was on par with, or even surpassed, the actual Golden Crow God. In his presence, what power did a descendant like Jin Yuxin truly possess?
On the sidelines, Yan Feihong seemed to grasp the situation. A similar pressure emanated from Yun Lintian, a sensation of bloodline suppression. He possesses the Golden Crow God bloodline as well? The revelation stunned her.
Just then, a crimson-green flame ignited within Yan Jingru's eyes. She fixed Jin Yuxin with a cold stare. "Are you finished? He is my guest. You've disrupted our conversation."
Jin Yuxin's eyebrows shot up at this declaration. Yan Jingru held a status equivalent to Jin Yang, both true heirs to the throne. As long as Yan Jingru stood between them, taking action against Yun Lintian would be difficult.
Jin Yuxin's gaze flickered momentarily. She offered a smile. "Apologies for the interruption. I'll take my leave now."
Jin Yuxin cast one last lingering look at Yun Lintian before exiting the room.
Yan Feihong saw no reason to stop her. Causing a scene wouldn't benefit them here.
"Thank you, Miss Yan," Yun Lintian said, cupping his fists in a gesture of gratitude.
"It's my pleasure. You are my guest, after all," Yan Jingru replied gently. "However, I do have a suggestion. It would be wise to maintain some distance from Nantian Yu."
"Why is that?" Yun Lintian inquired, puzzled.
"Her situation is complex," Yan Jingru sighed softly, her eyes filled with sympathy. "Simply put, it would be in your best interest to stay away from her, especially now that Jin Yuxin is aware of your identity."
Since Yan Jingru wasn't forthcoming with details, Yun Lintian didn't press the issue further. "I always assumed there wouldn't be intermarriage between the beast god clans," he said.
"Your understanding is correct," Yan Jingru explained. "Marrying into another clan signifies the abandonment of one's bloodline. Those who do so are stripped of everything and exiled before leaving. Otherwise, any offspring born from such a union would surely perish due to conflicting bloodlines."
"In Nantian Yu's case, she would be the one to lose her bloodline."
Yun Lintian furrowed his brow deeply upon hearing this. A sense of unease settled in his heart. Perhaps it was his own Divine Phoenix bloodline that drew him closer to Nantian Yu. If possible, he wouldn't want to see her condemned to such a fate.
However, when he considered her supposed demise, Yun Lintian wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or saddened.
Yan Jingru noticed a subtle shift in Yun Lintian's eyes. He seemed overcome with emotion at that moment.
"Have you ever heard the legend of the Twin Souls Phoenix?" she inquired.
Yun Lintian pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "No," he responded. "What is it about?"
"Legend tells of twin phoenixes," Yan Jingru began. "One named Feng, the other Yu. Together, they formed Fengyu, the True Divine Phoenix, embodying the perfect balance of yin and yang."
"As we know, yin and yang are inseparable. If one were to disappear, the balance would be broken. The legend continues that Feng and Yu encountered a formidable foe, and Feng perished protecting Yu. Though Yu emerged victorious, it lost the will to live and ultimately perished."
Yun Lintian grasped the story's core. "Are you implying…?" he inquired curiously.
"Indeed," Yan Jingru sighed. "Nantian Yu is the daughter of Lord Phoenix God. Together, they were the fabled Fengyu. Roughly twenty thousand years ago, Lord Phoenix God met with calamity and ultimately succumbed."
"Following Lord Phoenix God's passing, her husband, Nantian Huang, ascended to the leadership position. Though a True God himself, his strength pales in comparison to Lord Phoenix God. Consequently, the Phoenix God Clan was diminished to the Divine Phoenix Clan we know today."
Yun Lintian fell silent. The memory of Nantian Yu calling out for her mother in her sleep surfaced in his mind. He felt a sudden, suffocating pressure grip his heart, causing him immense discomfort.
He understood everything perfectly. Faced with the Golden Crow God Clan, Nantian Huang had no choice but to compromise, even if it meant condemning his daughter to a fate worse than death.
"Do you think you can help her?" Yan Feihong asked as if peering into Yun Lintian's thoughts. "While I must admit your strength is extraordinary, remember that you are alone in this."
Yan Feihong couldn't fathom why she'd spoken up. Perhaps it was the thought of someone with such a pure Vermilion Bird God bloodline dying for an illogical reason that troubled her.
Yun Lintian remained silent. Even if he intended to help, he first needed to determine whether he'd traveled back in time or was trapped in an illusion.
Observing his silence, Yan Feihong diverted the conversation. "I've already sent a message to Lord Vermilion Bird God. We await their response."
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