Chapter 720 – Big Fight

　　As he watched Ling Chigu lose control of himself and go berserk, indiscriminately slaughtering the lifeforms in his surroundings with bloodshot eyes, Feng Jingyu finally made an extremely difficult decision one day.

　　He would take Ling Chigu back to the Nine Lands.

　　He would look for the person he hated the most, King Zhen—Yan Huaizhen.

　　He would make Yan Huaizhen return Ling Chigu’s last missing soul. Even if he had to agree to forfeit his sovereignty under humiliating terms, he must still return that last soul to Ling Chigu.

　　This mindless and frenzied demon who only knew how to kill wasn’t his beloved, and he most certainly wasn’t that Little General Ling who single-handedly charged into his Wutong Mountain’s West Phoenix Palace, brash and unbridled, to confidently demand that he hand over the medicinal pill.

　　Three days passed quickly.

　　After staying on a tree for three days, Feng Jingyu finally became energetic and jumped down into the undergrowth, turning into human form. The young and handsome West Phoenix Monarch was dressed in a red robe whose edges were lined with gold, with a flame mark on his forehead. His long hair was very smooth.

　　He even went to the riverside and fixed his clothing as he gazed at the reflection in the river, alone and dejected. He was afraid of looking anything less than his best.

　　After all, he was about to meet the fully recovered Ling Chigu.

　　When Feng Jingyu reached Northern Liang Palace, Han Su blocked his way at the gate.

　　Hau Su was the number one advisor under Yan Huaizhen. Throughout these years, he had thought up countless schemes for Yan Huaizhen.

　　As soon as Feng Jingyu saw Han Su’s bland expression, he felt unhappy.

　　“A good dog doesn’t block the way,” Feng Jingyu was in a hurry to meet Ling Chigu, so even his speech was very cold.

　　Han Su, however, said nonchalantly, “There’s no need for West Phoenix Monarch to be in such a hurry. After all, there’s not much difference between experiencing disappointment earlier or later.”

　　Feng Jingyu froze. “What did you say?”

　　But Han Su didn’t intend to say anything else. He raised his eyes and gave Feng Jingyu a slight smile. “Has West Phoenix Monarch ever heard of the phrase, ‘Sewing someone else’s wedding dress’? Although I hope that West Phoenix Monarch can realize his wish, alas, fortune isn’t standing on the West Phoenix Monarch’s side.”

　　“What the fuck do you mean by that?” Feng Jingyu grabbed Han Su by the collar and glared at him fiercely. After a moment, he kicked Han Su away and took big strides into Yan Huaizhen’s palace.

　　Han Su held his stomach, which had been kicked, and hissed in pain as he climbed up while shaking his head. “He truly has a fiery temperament. My good intentions have been treated like trash ah.”

　　His heart full of worry and anger, Feng Jingyu transformed into a bird of flames and rushed towards the palace. He was restless and apprehensive. He kept on thinking about Ling Chigu, who was still in Yan Huaizhen’s hands. He regretted his decision the instant he handed Ling Chigu over to Yan Huaizhen.

　　How could I have handed Ling Chigu over to such a scheming, evil, and heartless person?

　　Just as he turned into a human again and was about to charge inside and threaten Yan Huaizhen, a burst of similarly powerful and formidable spiritual Qi suddenly rushed out of the palace. This spiritual Qi actually carried the force of countless lightning bolts and pushed the flames back out.

　　Immediately after that, a silver light rose valiantly, akin to a shooting star or a tidal wave. It shone brightly like the stars and had relentless power, forcing Feng Jingyu to rapidly retreat, finally landing on the long stretch of stairs outside the palace.

　　Feng Jingyu’s heart suddenly jumped. He abruptly raised his head.

　　Right in front of the palace forged from black bricks and colored glass, a man clad in flexible black armor and holding a red-tassled spear looked down at him. His hair was tied in a high ponytail, and the sunlight fell on his figure.

　　Feng Jingyu opened his mouth and closed it; his thoughts were entirely blank. One of his hands pressed on the ground to support himself. After a moment, he slowly stood up.

　　He stood on the steps, while he stood in front of the palace.

　　One was short and the other was tall. One was above and one was below. Their eyes met across the distance.

　　It’s just that, one person’s eyes contained barely restrained excitement, while the other person’s eyes actually had killing intent.

　　“You… You actually recovered.” Feng Jingyu felt elated. Even though he had almost been injured by Ling Chigu just now, the fact that Ling Chigu’s cultivation had returned to its previous peak meant that his last soul had also returned to its rightful place.

　　However, in direct contrast to Feng Jingyu’s excitement, Ling Chigu’s expression was a little cold. The corners of his lips rose slightly as he raised the red-tasseled spear and pointed it at Feng Jingyu. “This place is the Northern Liang Palace’s forbidden grounds. Even if West Phoenix Monarch is the ruler of the West Land, he should still show some courtesy when on someone else’s territory, right?”

　　Feng Jingyu’s upward steps paused slightly. He looked up at Ling Chigu. “You want me to show courtesy to Yan Huaizhen? What kind of thing is he? Is he worthy of my respect?”

　　Ling Chigu’s eyes turned colder. He narrowed his eyes. “I didn’t address you respectfully as ‘West Phoenix Monarch’ and endure your discourtesy just to hear you demean my lord. The visitor is the guest. Since West Phoenix Monarch came from afar, originally, I should’ve treated you with due respect. However, if the guest is casual, then the host also doesn’t have to follow decorum. If the guest is discourteous, then there’s no need for the host to show courtesy either.”

　　Feng Jingyu’s reddish-gold eyes darkened more and more, while his steps picked up pace. In a few large strides, he was already in front of Ling Chigu.

　　He was half a head shorter than Ling Chigu, so when they were close together, he had to raise his head if he wanted to look imposing. “Ling Chigu, what’s wrong with you?”

　　Feng Jingyu glared at Ling Chigu. “Don’t tell me you’re still unaware of just what Yan Huaizhen did to you? He removed one of your three souls kept it to be raised like gu. He tried to turn you into a madman who only knows how to kill!”

　　Ling Chigu, however, gave a small smile. “What’s white arsenic in your eyes is sweet honey in mine. How do you know that I didn’t willingly give up everything for him?”

　　Feng Jingyu stared at Ling Chigu’s frivolous smile in disbelief.

　　“It was as sweet as syrup,” Ling Chigu pulled back the red-tassled spear and said indifferently.

　　“Your Majesty the West Phoenix Monarch—since this King said three days, it will be done in exactly three days; no more and no less.” While the two were talking, Yan Huaizhen had already walked out of the palace. He wore formal dress, while a smug, confident smile hung on his elegant face. He stood beside Ling Chigu and placed a hand on the latter’s shoulder. His body even leaned towards Ling Chigu a little, looking very intimate.

　　Ling Chigu also allowed Yan Huaizhen to touch him freely, even raising the tip of his brows and looking very relaxed.

　　Feng Jingyu’s gaze was like a blade, cutting into Yan Huaizhen as though he wanted to slice Yan Huaizhen into a thousand pieces.

　　“What exactly did you do to him?”

　　“I simply returned his soul consciousness to him ah.” Yan Huaizhen explained with a smile, “Originally, I thought that Ah Gu would at least have some enthusiasm towards you, since you two were together for so long. You followed him everywhere and went to such painstaking lengths for him, but even I didn’t expect this ah. After his soul returned, he was actually determined to keep following this King. This King can’t do anything about it either ah.”

　　Feng Jingyu’s hair was about to become burnt. He said angrily, “Bullshit! What exactly did you do to him? Ling Chigu is neither a fool nor an idiot. He would never keep following a bastard like you!”

　　“You can’t say that.” Not only was Yan Huaizhen not angry, but he even chuckled in response. “Ah Gu’s memories are perfectly intact, so how could I have done anything to him? Moreover, this is his own decision. It has nothing to do with outsiders. The reason I respectfully address you as ‘West Phoenix Monarch’ is simply because you helped me take care of Ah Gu for so long. If you insult this King any further, this King will get angry.”

　　“Screw that!” Feng Jingyu spat hatefully. His eyes looked like they were about to burst into flames. “You cruel and unscrupulous thing. If you didn’t do something to Ling Chigu… If you didn’t…”

　　“Feng Jingyu, don’t make an unreasonable scene here like a vixen.” Ling Chigu frowned, and a look of disgust flashed through his eyes.

　　Feng Jingyu was both shocked and despondent. He stared at Ling Chigu in disbelief. “Y-You actually said I’m making an unreasonable scene? Ling Chigu, do you even have a conscience?”

　　Ling Chigu stared at Feng Jingyu and replied, “I recall fondly the times that you saved me from danger. I will naturally repay your kindness in the future, but I am currently King Zhen’s subject. As a subject, I can’t stand idly by when you insult my lord right in front of me.”

　　Feng Jingyu stared into Ling Chigu’s pair of eyes, which looked both familiar and unfamiliar, and suddenly realized that the General Ling who forced the enemies at the northern border to retreat for three thousand miles with nothing but a single spear really seemed to have returned.

　　Ling Chigu continued, “I heard that the West Phoenix Monarch has left the West Land for a long time, and the West Land is falling apart right now. Individual bird clans are declaring their own sovereignty, and everything is a mess. If West Phoenix Monarch has the leisure time to visit the North Land as a guest, you might as well go and calm down the West Land’s civil unrest first.”

　　Ling Chigu said, “I already said this when I climbed Mt. Wutong to ask for medicine a long time ago–I can be friends with West Phoenix Monarch, but it’s impossible for us to become Dao companions.”

　　Ling Chigu said, “Of course, if West Phoenix Monarch insists that I pay back the debt with my body, then in accordance with my Ling family’s teachings, although I am unwilling, I will not refuse.”

　　“It’s just…” Ling Chigu hesitated for a minute and said very awkwardly, “I still need to place my lord first, so I’m afraid I’ll give West Phoenix Monarch the cold shoulder.”

　　“Enough!” Feng Jingyu’s mind had suffered an enormous blow. He suddenly stretched out his palm, slamming it towards Ling Chigu’s chest. The strength contained within it was enough to topple mountains and overturn seas, capable of practically shattering a human’s heart and meridians.

　　In this world, apart from sharp blades, only words could pierce one’s heart like so.

　　What can hurt more than these extremely vicious words? Feng Jingyu felt his entire heart freeze with sorrow and even despair.

　　He almost lost his life for Ling Chigu. He accompanied Ling Chigu throughout the entire journey in order to find those scattered souls and spirits. He traversed all the perilous places and tasted all the hardships. Originally, he thought that the Ling Chigu who never spoke but always followed closely behind him would finally discover Feng Jingyu’s good qualities. Even if Ling Chigu still didn’t like him, he thought Ling Chigu would at least be a little more polite towards him.

　　However, life was unpredictable.

　　Was I too greedy?

　　A transparent tear gradually formed on the corner of Feng Jingyu’s eye. However, it evaporated into steam before it even had a chance to fall. At his peak cultivation, Feng Jingyu was incapable of shedding tears.

　　Ling Chigu’s back hit the palace wall, but the ensuing palm strike merely brushed past his left rib and slammed into the palace wall made of thick black bricks and tiles.

　　Rubble pierced the air, and frightening cracks spread throughout the walls. Pieces of broken rocks and debris burst, flying out like they had been slammed away by huge waves. The palace wall, which was hundreds of meters long, actually flew back. This single palm strike had destroyed a little less than half of the Northern Liang Palace.

　　Feng Jingyu’s mind was practically broken, and a mouthful of blood gushed out, falling on Ling Chigu’s chest. Ling Chigu’s nails dug into the skin of his palms, almost deep enough to reach bone. His pupils suddenly contracted, and even if that would undo all his efforts up to this point, he almost couldn’t stop himself from lifting his hand to gather this person into his arms,

　　But he can’t.

　　Not yet.

　　Author’s Notes: This will be as angsty as it gets for Maomao and Ah Gu.