Chapter Fifty: The Time Draws Near

Xia Tian let out a long sigh. “If this is what you call maturity, then what’s the point of anyone in this world trying to mature? Is your coldness, ruthlessness, and unscrupulousness your idea of being mature?”

“You need to wake up. You’ve let the inheritance blind your mind.”

“My mind is blinded?” Nangong Qinxin laughed wildly, as if she’d just heard the most ridiculous thing in the world.

“Yes, my mind is blinded. But do you know why?” What once was is now gone—only memories remain, unreachable. Nangong Qinxin’s words carried a touch of desolation, but her tone suddenly grew unyielding. “It’s because of you! All because of you! I liked you, but I knew I could never be worthy of you. You possess immense power—you’re the king of the Divine Dragon Clan! In the future, there will surely be a king of the Spirit Phoenix, and what about me? In order to be worthy of you, I chose to accept the clan’s inheritance, because I wanted to surpass that so-called Phoenix King!”

“I’ve come to realize that the Spirit Phoenix King is nothing special. I’m fully confident that one day, I’ll be able to kill her!”

“You wouldn’t dare!” Seeing Nangong Qinxin in her madness, Xia Tian fell silent. He thought, in truth, she was a pitiful soul—someone capable of anything for love. The only pity was that he did not love her. Yet when he heard Nangong Qinxin threaten to kill Xia Yu, anger surged within him. Xia Tian knew this woman was beyond saving.

“What wouldn’t I dare?” Nangong Qinxin retorted. “One day, I will succeed. I’ll make sure that little fox leaves this world forever!”

A palm struck like a gust of wind, and a vivid handprint blossomed on her fair cheek, glaringly distinct...

Beside them, Leng Bingyan was startled as well. He hadn’t expected Xia Tian’s feelings for Xia Yu ran so deep, and Nangong Qinxin’s words had clearly touched his most sensitive nerve.

Xia Tian, beyond furious, felt what little pity he had for the woman before him burn away completely in the face of her obstinate, cold-blooded words. He stared at his own palm, momentarily dazed—he truly hadn’t wanted to hurt Nangong Qinxin so much. But since he’d struck her, he would never regret it. Regret was useless; it would only weigh down future actions. Besides, Nangong Qinxin’s words alone justified his response.

Face askew, Nangong Qinxin felt as if everything had become unreal. The past unfolded before her mind’s eye like a series of paintings, but in an instant, it was all consumed—love had died, affection had vanished, leaving behind only deep hatred...

“Are you truly so heartless?”

Without a hint of evasion in his gaze, Xia Tian looked straight at Nangong Qinxin. “It’s not that I am heartless. It’s that you are too merciless.”

Hearing Xia Tian’s words, Nangong Qinxin paused briefly, then burst into laughter, as if her tears might flow from it. “Isn’t it said that even after parting, two people can still be friends?”

“No, you’re wrong,” Xia Tian replied quietly. “After breaking up, two people shouldn’t remain friends—because they’ve hurt each other. Nor should they become enemies—because they once loved each other.”

How reasonable, Leng Bingyan nodded vigorously in agreement—truly the distilled wisdom of the elders!

“But does that work for us? I don’t think we should be friends anymore—because we’ve hurt each other! And I cannot tolerate you trying to harm Xia Yu!”

His eyes were limpid, his deep gaze fixed on Nangong Qinxin, making her feel a twinge of guilt, as if his look could burn her alive. “I’ve always seen you as a little sister. So here is my final warning: do not try to harm Xia Yu again. If anything happens to her, I’ll make sure you and your clan pay dearly for it!”

With that, he turned and walked away from Nangong Qinxin, his figure slowly receding into the distance...

“There was never a beginning—so how can there be an ending?”

Hearing those last words—“There was never a beginning, so how can there be an ending?”—Nangong Qinxin repeated them under her breath. The receding figure vanished into the night. As she turned once more, her deep eyes revealed nothing but boundless malice.

“If I can’t have him, no one else will! Xia Tian, thank you. Thank you for finally helping my wavering heart make a final decision.”

The plan she had long hesitated to accept was finally set in motion. Next, she would find the Jiaolong clan and join forces with them against Xia Tian and Xia Yu, would she not? Leng Bingyan mused to himself—this love triangle would be the death of them all! But regardless of Nangong Qinxin or Xia Yu, both women were rare beauties in this world—that, at least, was a bright spot!

With a flicker, Leng Bingyan vanished from where he stood.

※※※ Yu ※※※ Emperor ※※※

Having dispatched the assassins who came to provoke her with her bare hands, Leng Bingyan felt rather vexed. Although Xia Tian and Xia Yu were the kings of the Divine Dragon and Spirit Phoenix clans respectively, and were naturally surrounded by expert protectors from their tribes, Xia Yu’s protectors stayed hidden, since she was still unaware of her identity as the Spirit Phoenix Queen.

But the enemy acted too swiftly; they’d even managed to pin down the hidden guardians, leaving only Leng Bingyan to deal with the attackers herself. With her early-stage Immortal Emperor cultivation, dispatching these small fry was as easy as turning her hand—nothing more than a few quick moves.

Even so, she was ultimately outnumbered. Some of those who had targeted Xia Yu managed to slip past her attention. Still, Leng Bingyan wasn’t worried—after all, Xia Yu herself was a rare innate master, equivalent to a cultivator at the Golden Core stage. Dealing with a few assassins shouldn’t be a problem.

Just as Leng Bingyan expected, the fish that slipped through the net were no match for Xia Yu. For them to even reach a mutual defeat was already their limit.

On this day, Xia Yu leaned against the windowsill, letting the sun bathe her in warmth, so comfortable she nearly wanted to fall asleep. Leng Bingyan, meanwhile, perched on the rooftop of another building, her eyes fixed intently on Xia Yu.

Many days had already passed. Not long ago, the Dragon Bureau had been attacked by outside forces. According to Xia Yu and Director Ouyang’s suspicions, it was likely due to a traitor within the Bureau.

She wondered how things were going at the Dragon Bureau—had they found the traitor yet? Probably not, she thought; it couldn’t be that easy. Ouyang must be anxious. As long as the traitor remained, it was like a ticking time bomb for the entire Bureau.

Her thoughts continued to wander. “And then there’s my brother—it’s been several days, and his special leave has long since expired. Yet he still hasn’t returned. Is he playing hide and seek with me?” Xia Yu fumed, glancing at her fist as if practicing how she would teach him a lesson.

And that Nangong Qinxin—whom Xia Yu disliked most, yet feared a little. Just the thought of her made Xia Yu shudder, a fear that seemed to rise from the depths of her heart. Those icy cold eyes, their gaze piercing straight through to Xia Yu’s soul.

A blaze of anger erupted within her, dispelling her previous chill. If one looked closely, a faint golden light flashed across Xia Yu’s eyes. Her eyes then turned crimson, shimmering with an exotic and bewitching glow, but in a moment, they returned to calm.

Leng Bingyan shivered involuntarily. What had she just seen? Xia Yu’s eyes—remembering Mo Wuxie’s words, could it be that the time for Nirvana had arrived?