Perhaps from shock, perhaps from the instinctive feeling that it was impossible, Caiyi froze for a moment, then suddenly gave a bitter laugh.
"What's wrong with me? I'm actually hearing things? Impossible. He couldn't possibly be here..."
The Five-colored Soul Light withdrew, and Caiyi cradled the mysterious box as she walked into the quiet room.
The instant she stepped inside, Ye Zhen's figure emerged from the wooden vine atop the mysterious box and appeared behind Caiyi.
"Caiyi... it really is me!" Ye Zhen cried out, his voice trembling.
Caiyi spun around sharply. Seeing Ye Zhen standing a meter away, she simply stared blankly.
"Not only am I hearing things, I'm even seeing things?" As tears streamed soundlessly down her face, Caiyi laughed bitterly again. "After all these years, this longing still..."
Before she could finish, Ye Zhen strode forward and seized Caiyi by the shoulders. Her eyes flew wide.
"It's me, Caiyi. It truly is me. Qi Yun Sect, Fairy Maiden Peak, Flower Leopard Cat Su'er..."
Ye Zhen had wanted to say more, but Caiyi had already begun to weep soundlessly. Her delicate hand trembled as it touched Ye Zhen's cheek. "Brother Ye, is it really... you?"
"It is! It really is me!" Ye Zhen nodded fiercely.
The next instant, Caiyi threw herself into Ye Zhen's arms. The husband and wife embraced in the quiet room and wept bitterly, crying as they poured out the sorrows of their separation.
"Brother Ye, how did you get to the Phoenix Spirit Realm? How did you find this place?"
"How did you manage to infiltrate Phoenix Spirit Peak?"
"And your cultivation?"
"Have you been well all these years?"
"Caiyi, how did you end up imprisoned here?"
"Caiyi, didn't the elders of your family take you back to your clan? How did you