Seeing Her One Last Time

In two days, Qian Yufeng arrived at the small town where he had arranged to meet Shui Lingfeng.

But the moment he set foot in the town, he noticed quite a few Heaven Dou Secret Guards around him.

These people were elite forces the Heaven Dou Empire kept hidden in the shadows. Their appearance here clearly meant something was wrong.

As he prepared to head to the inn, three people radiating the aura of Soul Douluos blocked his path.

"Senior Qian, this junior did not intend to disturb you. However, I have received a secret order and must bring you to meet someone."

Qian Yufeng looked at the three of them, suspicion in his eyes.

"In the Heaven Dou Empire, I no longer have any old acquaintances. Even those who once fought alongside me have withered away one after another."

"You should step aside. This old man has no interest in listening to your jokes!"

He was already one hundred and eighty years old. Wouldn't he know whether he still had any old acquaintances in Heaven Dou City?!

Seeing that Qian Yufeng was about to leave, the three recalled the words of the person who had given them their orders before they departed.

"If he insists on leaving, you will not be able to stop him. Just report my true name."

"I believe he will come see me."

Thus, the man in the middle said, "This junior is the current generation's Feather Kill. The person who asked Senior to make a trip to Heaven Dou City is named Xue Yao!"

"Who did you say?!" Qian Yufeng turned around and stared fixedly at him, the imposing presence of a Title Douluo erupting in an instant.

That name was far too familiar to him—so familiar that he had long been unwilling to mention it!

The three were instantly suppressed, and shock filled their hearts.

Hadn't they said this old man was merely a Soul Douluo? How could he unleash such terrifying pressure?!

"Let me tell you this: don't think that because you are the successive secret guards protecting the nation, you can provoke this old man!"

"Even if I kill three Soul Douluos, that little brat Xue Ye would not dare utter a single word!"

Qian Yufeng's tone was icy, completely unlike the kindly old man he had appeared to be before. He was like the God of Slaughter incarnate.

Sensing such a violent aura from inside the inn, Qian Lingxin and Qian Lingsu immediately broke through the window and swiftly arrived at his side.

"Family Head!"

Seeing the unfamiliar Soul Masters, both women summoned their Martial Souls, ready to strike.

"Senior, this junior would never dare speak a single false word."

"The lord who issued the order told us that once Senior heard this name, he would certainly make a trip to Heaven Dou City."

Feather Kill hurriedly explained. He had truly felt death closing in.

He had carried out many difficult missions, but none had filled him with more fear than this old man.

Only then did Qian Yufeng withdraw his aura, though his expression remained unpleasant.

Yet when he recalled coughing blood in the Far North, his feelings became complicated.

"Could it really be because..."

After steadying his turbulent emotions, he said, "Get lost. This old man will head to Heaven Dou City as quickly as possible!"

Feeling as though they had been granted a pardon, the three offered their thanks and immediately led their people away at top speed.

Noticing that something was off with Qian Yufeng, Qian Lingsu asked with concern, "Family Head, are you all right?"

Qian Yufeng turned and smiled. "I'm fine. I simply need to hurry on my way again. The journey to Heaven Dou City normally takes fifteen days, but if we travel at full speed, we can arrive in five. I'm afraid you'll have to endure some hardship."

Knowing that he had an urgent matter to attend to, the two women said, "Family Head, protecting your safety is our duty."

Qian Yufeng nodded and decided not to return to the inn after all.

As Shui Lingfeng was about to arrive, he transmitted his voice through Soul Power. "Kid, drive the carriage back to Skywater City. This old man has urgent business and must head to Heaven Dou City."

After saying that, the three swiftly left the town.

Shui Lingfeng was utterly bewildered. What exactly had happened?

The President had left in such a rush. Could some great upheaval have occurred in Heaven Dou City?

In Heaven Dou City, within a simple courtyard near the eastern side of the imperial palace, an old woman sat blankly beneath a tree, staring absentmindedly at the swing ahead.

"How wonderful it would have been if I were not an imperial princess, nor the most gifted member of the imperial family."

"Fate truly loves to toy with people!"

She sighed, her voice filled with helplessness and bitterness.

"You and I have been apart for one hundred and forty years. I know you have been living well, but my time is running out."

The quiet air gave no response, but then a voice rang out, and she gradually became agitated.

"You were right. I really have been living well. I've practically become an old monster!"

When she turned around, she saw the person she had longed for day and night.

Though his hair had turned white, his face had not changed in the slightest.

"Does someone truly exist in this world whose appearance never ages?"

Yes. After traveling day and night for five days, Qian Yufeng had made his way through the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace with familiar ease.

He knew where the person he wished to see would be. It was an unspoken understanding between them.

The old woman before him was Xue Yao, the younger sister of Xue Ye's grandfather.

She had been the most gifted member of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family throughout its generations, reaching Soul Saint at only eighteen years old.

She had been the previous leader of the Heaven Dou Secret Guard, a decisive and ruthless female demon.

Likewise, she was someone from Qian Yufeng's era.

No matter how great a genius she had once been, she was now old and frail, with her life nearing its end.

"A-Feng, are A-Lan and A-Xue doing well?"

"No. They left before us thirty years ago."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."

Who could have imagined that the female demon who had once made countless people tremble in fear would speak words of apology?

Qian Yufeng said nothing and merely looked at her quietly.

Xue Yao slowly walked toward him, revealing a trace of inferiority and self-pity.

"A-Feng, I... I'm old, and I regret it."

Qian Yufeng remained where he was, a few more traces of age in his eyes. "Who doesn't grow old? I have grown old too."

She stopped one foot away from Qian Yufeng and asked with hope and a hint of fear, "After all these years, did you ever marry?"

"Never. The Qian Family bloodline has my elder brother to carry it on."

This answer made Xue Yao both happy and sad.

"Ah..." She let out a soft sigh, carrying both sorrow and heartache.

"A-Feng, I regret it. I truly regret it!" Tears welled at the corners of Xue Yao's aged eyes. She wanted to raise a hand and touch Qian Yufeng's cheek, yet she did not dare.

She feared that he would despise how she looked now.

Qian Yufeng sighed inwardly. He took out a handkerchief embroidered with swans from his storage Soul Tool and gently wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes.

"You're already at such an age, yet you're still crying. How embarrassing would it be if the younger generation saw you?"

Then he took her hand and slowly led her into the house, where they sat down.

Feeling that familiar gesture, Xue Yao recalled the time they had spent traveling and training together.

This courtyard had been recreated exactly as it was back then. She had been afraid of forgetting those days.

"Yao'er, look. I made this swing for you. Sit on it and give it a try!"

"A-Feng, I want to fly higher, even higher..."

But all of it had become a memory.

"A-Feng, if I were not an imperial princess, would you have married me?"

"I would have!"

Xue Yao knew it was a lie. He was simply trying to make her happy.

Yet she was still happy to hear those words from him.

"I was too proud. Everything today was my own choice."

"I'm sorry, A-Feng. I deceived you for one hundred and forty years."

Xue Yao understood very clearly that once she had chosen to become the leader of the Secret Guard, there had been no turning back.

She was a member of the imperial family and had to safeguard its dignity, even if it meant giving up everything she possessed and hiding in the darkness.

"I knew long ago. From the moment you led people to kill Yusheng, I already knew."