Chapter 478: She Came for You
"Yes."
What Yun Ji didn’t say was that back then, in order to form her spirit essence, his beast soul had been grievously wounded. After infusing that essence into the bloodline of the Silver Frost White Wolf clan, he had spent a very long time trying to repair it.
But before his beast soul could be fully repaired, those monsters appeared again. Over the years, he had been forced to stop his own healing and divert his energy to deal with them.
As a result, his beast soul remains damaged to this day.
But no matter what he had endured, he had finally seen the person he longed to see. For him, that was enough.
Qiao Xixi’s heart ached with sadness for him. In the end, all her emotions could only be expressed in an embrace.
"I’m sorry... and thank you..."
Her tears fell upon his flawless feathered robe, like glistening pearls.
Yun Ji felt as if every single tear was rolling into his heart, scalding him until his entire body trembled.
"Don’t push me away again, okay?"
Qiao Xixi clutched his feathered robe, all her feelings for Yun Ji surging up within her.
When he first appeared, she had only seen him as a mentor with his own agenda. Then, they became friends who relied on each other. And later, at the palace, something more began to blossom in her heart.
She was well aware of her changing feelings, but Yun Ji was the Holy Priest. It wouldn’t be easy for him to resume the life of a normal male.
Before, she hadn’t wanted him to face those difficulties, so she had chosen to play dumb and run away from her feelings.
But now...
Qiao Xixi took a deep breath and looked up at him.
"If, one day, you were no longer the Holy Priest..."
Yun Ji grasped her hand, cutting her off before she could finish. "I only became the Holy Priest because of you."
The implication was clear: the title meant nothing to him.
"Then... can you just resign whenever you want?"
A brilliant light, as dazzling as fireworks, suddenly erupted in his pale eyes, leaving Qiao Xixi completely captivated.
"You’re not going to push me away anymore?" His voice was still cool and detached, but it held an almost imperceptible tremor.
Qiao Xixi’s arms tightened around him. "No."
’Yun Ji has done so much for me, and I know how I feel now. I have to face it. I have to fight for it!’
Yun Ji suddenly smiled. In that instant, it was like the first thaw of winter, his expression as pure as a child’s. She could almost see, in his features, the face of the young man from so long ago.
’Good heavens, how can anyone be this handsome?’
’He’s even more handsome when he smiles.’
"Good."
Qiao Xixi only snapped back to her senses when he gave her palm a gentle squeeze.
She blinked. ’I’m being a little shameless,’ she thought. The way she was staring at Yun Ji was just foolishly infatuated.
"You still haven’t told me, can you just resign from your position as Holy Priest?"
"No."
Huh?
Yun Ji took her hand and had her sit down beside him.
"According to the rules, I must first find a suitable successor."
’Doesn’t that mean he’ll have to stay here for a long, long time?’
"Will it take a long time?"
"Perhaps not."
Qiao Xixi grew even more upset. "Is there anything I can do?"
"Just do what you want to do. I can take care of things here."
"Okay."
Wanting to know more about what had happened over the years, Qiao Xixi started pestering Yun Ji with all sorts of questions.
No matter what she asked, Yun Ji always answered patiently.
This continued until the voice of a Wing Clan soldier from the Holy Temple came from outside the door, announcing a visitor.
"Holy Priest, the female Yaoxi requests an audience."
Recalling what had happened before, Qiao Xixi looked at Yun Ji and said, "Hasn’t she gotten her wish to become the next Beast King yet?"
Yun Ji shook his head. "I haven’t given my approval, so she is uneasy."
"Then she must be here today to beg for your approval of her succession."
Yun Ji hummed in agreement but then said, "She came for you."
Qiao Xixi was confused. "For me?"
Yun Ji nodded, patting her hand and telling her to wait for him there. He said he would be back soon.
Watching Yun Ji’s figure disappear, Qiao Xixi, bored out of her mind, wandered around the grand hall. Her gaze kept drifting up to the large bird’s nest overhead.
’When Yun Ji gets back, I’m definitely going to make him take me up there for a look.’
Yun Ji walked out of the hall, spread his wings, and flew down toward the Holy Temple below.
He had actually brought Qiao Xixi to his private palace, where he rested. The main Grand Hall of the Holy Temple was located below his residence.
Compared to his personal quarters, the Grand Hall below was far more imposing.
When Yun Ji arrived, Yaoxi was already waiting outside the hall.
Seeing Yun Ji approach, Yaoxi stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Holy Priest."
Yun Ji gave a slight nod. "Come in."
The doors to the hall swung open, and Yaoxi followed him inside.
"Holy Priest, I agree to the conditions you mentioned last time."
Yun Ji’s steps on the stone stairs didn’t falter. "Have you thought it through?"
A trace of determination flickered in Yaoxi’s eyes. "Yes, I have thought it through. I am willing."
"Good."
"Go to the rear hall and wait."
"Yes."
The sky gradually darkened, but Qiao Xixi still hadn’t seen Yun Ji return.
Just as she was resting her head on the table to take a short nap, the doors to the hall opened.
"Xixi."
Qiao Xixi shot up, lifting the hem of her skirt as she ran down the stone steps.
"Where did you go? What took you so long?"
Yun Ji strode forward, catching her as she ran and taking her hand securely in his.
"I went to make some preparations. Xixi, are you willing to form a contract with Yaoxi? A Guardian Contract. This is the condition your father and I set for helping her become the Beast King."
Qiao Xixi was shocked, but after a moment’s thought, her heart was filled with a moving warmth.
’Yun Ji and my father must have done this because they still think my identity is special. If Yaoxi becomes the Beast King while bound to me by a Guardian Contract, she would never dare to try anything against me.’
"Yes, I’m willing."
When Yun Ji brought Qiao Xixi over, Yaoxi was already waiting on the round platform in the center of the main hall.
Seeing Yaoxi again, Qiao Xixi truly felt as if a lifetime had passed.
At this moment, Yaoxi stood in the main hall dressed in a fiery-red, beast-hide skirt. Her gaze was calm and sharp, with none of the gentle, bullied demeanor she had shown before.
However, the moment Yaoxi saw Qiao Xixi, her expression softened, and she subconsciously started to walk toward her.
But Qiao Xixi instinctively leaned closer to Yun Ji.
It wasn’t that she was afraid of Yaoxi; she just no longer wanted to have anything to do with her.
Qiao Xixi’s action made Yaoxi freeze in place, forcing her to stop.
"Xixi, go stand on the other side." Yun Ji patted her hand reassuringly, gesturing for her to stand opposite Yaoxi.
Qiao Xixi nodded and walked over.
Yun Ji moved to stand between the two of them. With a slight movement of his long, slender fingertips, a five-colored halo of light began to flow from between them.
Yaoxi spread her arms and slowly knelt in Qiao Xixi’s direction.
The halo of light gradually began to circle around Yaoxi.
Suddenly, the halo shot toward Qiao Xixi.