Chapter 317: Spring Thunder and Autumn Rain
Chapter 317: Spring Thunder and Autumn Rain
“Have you fallen for her?”
The resentful voice carried traces of envy and jealousy, startling Cheng Lingyu awake.
“Have you fallen for me?”
Cheng Lingyu gazed at Hu Yuer, a mesmerizing smile spreading across his handsome features.
Hu Yuer rolled her eyes at him, turning away with a huff while silently fuming.
Cheng Lingyu chuckled. “Such a petty thing, getting jealous.”
Seizing Hu Yuer’s hand, he led her toward the Lou Ri City group.
After Han Cang’s healing wounds treatment, the group had mostly recovered and were discussing the day’s matters.
Cheng Lingyu formally presented Hu Yuer to Master Han Cang before inquiring about their next move.
Han Cang stated, “We’ve thoroughly provoked the Heavenly Palace and Divine Martial Sect now. Extreme caution will be needed henceforth. For now, we return to Lou Ri City to strategize.”
Hu Yuer squeezed Cheng Lingyu’s hand. “I must leave now.”
Wan Fang clapped Cheng Lingyu’s shoulder. “Take your time talking. We’ll wait over there.”
After the others withdrew, Cheng Lingyu awkwardly began whispering with Hu Yuer.
Their shared trials at the blood lake had forged profound bonds through life-and-death experiences.
Though Cheng Lingyu faced constant dangers, Hu Yuer never abandoned him – even dispatching messengers to Lou Ri City to enable his rescue.
Cheng Lingyu knew all this. Despite their habitual verbal sparring, an ambiguous tension lingered between them.
“Travel safely. Visit me in Lou Ri City when you can. When I journey out again, I’ll surely come find you.”
Their eyes locked briefly before Cheng Lingyu drew her into a tight embrace.
Hu Yuer melted against him, heart overflowing with sweetness.
After lingering moments, she withdrew with a coy, mischievous smile and vanished into the distance.
Cheng Lingyu watched until she disappeared completely, then opened his Spirit Cloak Ring to release Luo Fan.
“We escaped?”
Luo Fan blinked at their surroundings.
“Escaped. Your chessboard.” Cheng Lingyu returned the high-grade spirit artifact. “Remember your promise.”
“Who am I finding?”
“My father Cheng Yun…”
Cheng Lingyu recounted the Shiyang Town events, anxiety over Cheng Yun’s fate evident.
After brief questions, Luo Fan vanished abruptly.
Cheng Lingyu stood motionless before rejoining Master Han Cang and elder brother Wan Fang. Together with Luo Feng Spirit Master, Qiu Yu, Mu Bai, and Feixue, they departed the Blood Moon Wasteland for Lou Ri City.
Thus concluded their months-long expedition to the ancient ruins.
In Lou Ri City, one hundred and twenty people set out, but most died along the way, never finishing their journey.
Cheng Lingyu became both the main beneficiary and catalyst of these events, earning empire-wide fame and stirring the entire Brilliant Star Continent.
Gazing backward through time then forward at the path ahead, Cheng Lingyu’s face held no signs of joy – only deepening seriousness.
“What’s on your mind?”
Nie Jiaolong inquired softly while watching him.
“Was I wrong this time?”
Nie Jiaolong tilted her head. “Why wonder that?”
Mu Hua cut in: “You overthink, Cheng junior apprentice. You acted decisively – life demands bold actions!”
Returning disciples of Lou Ri City buzzed with excitement, swapping stories from their ordeal.
Though none witnessed the final battle themselves, its retelling electrified them all.
Wan Fang and Mu Bai animatedly described the climactic clash as Qiu Yu stared emptily into the distance.
Han Cang’s frosty features carried a lightly curved smile, Luo Feng Spirit Master murmuring occasional comments beside him.
Mu Hua walked with Pan Hong while Nie Jiaolong and Tian Feng flanked Cheng Lingyu.
Ye Xinyi observed Cheng Lingyu from afar, conflicted emotions twisting her face.
Xiao Lingfeng, Han Zhen, Chen Song and others clustered together, recounting adventures from the ancient ruin.
As the group neared Xitian Gate, Cheng Lingyu drew Wan Fang aside.
“Why does she stay so withdrawn?”
He meant Qiu Yu, whose isolation had persisted through both departure and return journeys.
Her critical intervention at the blood lake had saved Cheng Lingyu’s life – without it, he’d have perished.
Wan Fang sighed, steering Cheng Lingyu further from earshot. “Heartbreak consumes her.”
Cheng Lingyu nodded – even fools sensed that much. “The specifics?”
After pausing, Wan Fang began: “You know she’s from Mingmo Ridge. But her true age?”
“Appearances deceive in cultivation.”
Wan Fang’s eyes grew distant. “A millennium past, Mingmo Ridge birthed their greatest talent – one who overpowered the Three Saints and Four Peerless of his generation, winning great glory for Lou Ri City. Brief as that brilliance lasted, it made Mingmo Ridge renowned.”
“Then?”
“Then…mysterious disappearance. Lou Ri City scoured every corner of Brilliant Star Continent. Nothing.”
Cheng Lingyu knew fragments of this tale, but never the full account.
“They searched a full century. Finally…despair.”
Wan Fang’s expression was filled with sorrow—a lingering pain of Lou Ri City that left everyone sighing with regret.
Cheng Lingyu asked, “What was his name?”
“Chun Lei.”
Cheng Lingyu froze, startled. “That name…”
Wan Fang smiled bitterly and softly said, “True to his name. A single thunderclap of Chun Lei startled all living things. He blazed across the night sky like a comet, leaving countless legends in his wake.”
Cheng Lingyu sighed. “What happened afterward?”
Wan Fang replied, “Chun Lei’s light outshone everyone back then. The world only knew Lou Ri had Chun Lei, completely overlooking others. In truth, Lou Ri City had many remarkable figures at that time. There was even an unparalleled genius from Ming Mo Second Palace—though his radiance paled compared to Chun Lei’s.”
Cheng Lingyu pressed, “Who was this unparalleled genius from Ming Mo Second Palace?”
Wan Fang looked at him with a pained smile. “She was Qiu Yu.”
Cheng Lingyu gasped. “You mean they… they…”
“They trained under the same master, bound by deep affection,” Wan Fang said heavily. “A perfect pair—talented man and peerless woman, celebrated throughout Lou Ri City. Yet Chun Lei vanished without explanation. For a millennium, Qiu Yu wandered joylessly, risking deadly lands dozens of times to seek any news of him.”
Cheng Lingyu murmured, “A thousand-year love… profoundly moving yet tragic.”
“This is Lou Ri City’s wound,” Wan Fang agreed, “and Qiu Yu’s eternal regret.”
Observing Qiu Yu’s solitary figure nearby, Cheng Lingyu felt unexpected empathy—Ruo Xue’s face flashing through his mind.
“Elder brother, invite her here. I wish to speak my heart.”
“You think you can help?” Wan Fang questioned.
“I can’t promise,” Cheng Lingyu sighed, “but I must try.”
When Qiu Yu approached, Cheng Lingyu spoke gently: “Thank you for saving me repeatedly during our blood lake journey. Learning of your past with Chun Lei… I wish to repay your kindness.”
Qiu Yu’s desolate eyes flickered. “You can find him?”
“There’s one method we might attempt…”
“Tell me!” Her urgency crackled like dry tinder.
Cheng Lingyu softened his voice. “My companion Lan Xiaozhu at Youxing Seventh Palace inherits the Celestial Cataclysm Divination legacy…”
Wan Fang interjected, “That eerie divination art—”
“It drains Life,” Qiu Yu cut in. “Would she agree?”
“I’ll persuade her,” Cheng Lingyu vowed. “But we’ll need more than his name—something he owned.”
Qiu Yu produced a weathered scroll, fingertips brushing its surface with aching tenderness. “His portrait… and gifts he gave me.”
As Cheng Lingyu unrolled the painting, a man in white materialized—sharp-browed, starry-eyed, radiating mesmerizing charm. The Handsome Face struck Cheng Lingyu like lightning.
“I know where he is.”
Qiu Yu seized his arm instantly. “Where?!”
Wan Fang stared in disbelief. “How? You never met him!”