Chapter 455 - 227: Chu Xuan’s Resolve
Chu Xuan searched around Broken Sword Mountain but found no signs left by his senior sister and the area seemed untouched for a long time, devoid of any ambush. Only then, he led Qingqing towards the ancient battlefield at the bottom of the cliff.
However, what puzzled him was that the old fish "Stream Elder" didn’t come to meet him this time, nor did he send any little fish over, so Chu Xuan had to use the Six Souls Banner to clear the way.
Indeed, it was not easy to enter. After testing for a lengthy period underwater, Chu Xuan identified the invisible boundary and then forcefully tore it open, bringing others inside.
Having visited once before, Chu Xuan was quite familiar with the route. Following the safe path, he quickly arrived at the crystal palace of the Silver-scaled Flying Fish clan.
The place was just as before, covered with corals, seaweeds, sand, and shells, while numerous glowing little silver fish swam back and forth, looking incredibly beautiful.
But what shocked Chu Xuan was seeing the little snow ferret lying in the palace, resting, while chewing on something sneakily.
Qingqing also turned pale, immediately scanning around to find traces of Ji Mingyu.
She had the experience of "peeking" together last time, knowing that the woman was very likely watching nearby.
Striding forward, Chu Xuan surprisingly didn’t ask about Ji Mingyu first, but instead: "What are you eating?"
He picked up Little Snow, wanting it to open its mouth for inspection.
Little Snow innocently opened its mouth with an "ah", but unfortunately, whatever it was had long been swallowed down.
Chu Xuan felt a bit of a headache and said, "I know you like eating fish like this, but this is someone else’s territory, you should restrain yourself a little."
Little Snow shook its head, "That old fish transformed and went out to explore the world. Besides, I didn’t eat its fish, I ate the dried fish given by Yiyi."
Chu Xuan was skeptical, "And how do you know the old fish went out?"
"It left a message hidden behind the largest reef." Little Snow said in a tone indicating it had been here a long time.
"And why are you here? What about Ming Yu?"
"This is a long story..." Little Snow thought it would be a headache to deceive Chu Xuan—did he take me for a fool? "The excuses are nothing more than the usual ones."
Little Snow first told the story of its owner’s previous visit to the Tao Palace to fetch it, then said: "The owner guessed you might come to the ancient battlefield since she knew you were heading north, so she waited outside with me."
"But after waiting a long time without you coming, she was sad and disappointed, so she went back to the Grotto Heaven, leaving me here waiting, saying you’d surely come."
Qingqing couldn’t believe it upon hearing, hesitating whether to "confess" to Chu Xuan.
But just then, she received a cold Divine Sense message from Ji Mingyu:
"Don’t forget, last time it was my goodwill that helped you and Gu Haitang find Chu Xuan; even if you did find him, you could only stand outside crying, unable to enter here."
"Even if you don’t remember my favor, are you planning to repay kindness with betrayal?"
Qingqing was rendered speechless, realizing if she truly did it, it would indeed be dishonorable.
She initially thought of confessing the last incident to Chu Xuan and apologizing, but if she confessed, it would be tantamount to "reporting" Ji Mingyu.
So ultimately, Qingqing chose to remain silent.
Little Snow noticed that Chu Xuan seemed skeptical, so before he could speak, it emitted a transparent bubble from its mouth.
Chu Xuan reached out, and the bubble transformed into a stream of memories flowing into his mind.
For the past two months, through Little Snow’s eyes, Chu Xuan "witnessed" Ji Mingyu waiting bitterly on the icy cliff, winds blowing coldly, day after day.
He could "hear" Mingyu repeatedly ask Little Snow in worry if he would never return.
Watching her melancholy, ragged, lonely and despair-filled appearance, his heart inevitably ached a bit.
Once Chu Xuan finished digesting the memory, Little Snow cautiously said, "Even if you don’t wish to see the owner, she still hopes I stay by your side as a form of remembrance."
"So, please don’t drive me away, alright?"
Chu Xuan hugged Little Snow, patted its head, and finally whispered, "Is she now in Langhuan Grotto Heaven? I’ll go visit her."
Little Snow was taken aback; Chu Xuan actually wanted to see the owner voluntarily?! It vaguely felt he shouldn’t forgive that easily, right?
But it still nodded repeatedly, not bothering with the cause right now since it’s a prime opportunity!
Upon hearing, Qingqing’s heart was gripped with anxiety, fearing Chu Xuan might return to Ji Mingyu’s embrace and abandon her.
Thus she gently held Chu Xuan’s hand, saying nothing...
Chu Xuan turned around, softly hugged Qingqing, "Don’t worry, I’ll ask her something and be back soon; you and Little Snow wait here for me."
Qingqing regained some peace, while Little Snow’s expression froze.
It had wanted to return with Chu Xuan, to offer advice secretly to the owner, fearing she might waste this hard-earned opportunity.
Luckily, just then, Ji Mingyu suppressed her joy, secretly sending another message to Little Snow:
"The distance to Langhuan Grotto Heaven isn’t far from here. Later I’ll share my sensory perception with you; you’ll see what I see, hear what I hear."
"So when you have any ideas, convey them to me in your heart, I can sense it."
Little Snow found it a bit odd, reversed roles? But still nodded slightly in agreement.
Thus, Chu Xuan entrusted Little Snow to Qingqing and left alone.