Chapter 455: Chapter 394: A Life as Payment

“Why are you, a member of the Insect Clan, suddenly so curious about the Celestial Fox God Venerate’s whereabouts?”

“The Divine Venerable saved my son. It was an immense kindness, so of course I want to thank him in person.”

Fei Yuan looked him over critically, a half-smile playing on his lips. “You? I’m afraid you’re not quite what’s needed.”

Anubia’s handsome face twisted. ’What’s with this Dead Phoenix’s sarcastic crap?’ he thought. Then, as if realizing something, his gray eyes widened in shock. He glanced toward the door and muttered, “Don’t tell me… Luoluo, she…”

Fei Yuan nodded, narrowing his long phoenix eyes. His tone was inscrutable. “What he wanted was a debt owed to her, and Little Luoruo has repaid it.”

“No wonder,” he said. “I smelled that faint, milky scent on her again. I could barely control myself. I wanted to get into bed with her and make another brood of insect children…”

Fei Yuan shot Anubia a glare as sharp as a dagger, his voice turning abruptly cold and sinister. “Trading your life for the child’s life is a deal I wouldn’t mind making.”

Anubia’s brow shot up. He ran his tongue over his teeth in provocation. “Looking for a fight? I’m happy to oblige!”

In the end, the two didn’t come to blows. They both glanced warily in a certain direction outside. Luoluo had a terrible temper when she first woke up, and neither of them dared to poke that bear.

“Speaking of which,” Anubia said, propping one long leg against the wall and clicking his tongue, “Luoluo is carrying his child, yet he’s being a pretty irresponsible father. He doesn’t even have the sense to rush over and take care of his partner and child. If I were him, I’d be stuck to Luoluo’s side every second, to make sure the kid doesn’t get snatched away by someone else!”

Fei Yuan strolled over to the window and gazed at the withered parasol tree in the courtyard. His long, slender fingers plucked a dry, yellowed leaf. “Have you not sensed the changes in Luo’er’s body?”

Anubia’s attention had been entirely focused on his young son, Yolanda. Only now did he take a moment to sense her condition. Quickly, the look of confusion on his face morphed into shock!

“That Divine Venerable…”

Fei Yuan gently opened his hand. The leaf fluttered to the ground, its life already at an end.

“He’s gone.”

…

Sang Luo slept very deeply. She dreamed of Yan.

He sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, just as he always had, holding a scroll that smelled of fresh ink. In his other hand, he held a cup of newly brewed tea. His fingers were long, slender, and coolly pale, with knuckles so distinct they were beautiful.

As he sat there in silence, he was like a masterpiece, an ancient scroll painting slowly unfurling. He was so beautiful one dared not approach, yet so captivating one couldn’t bear to close their eyes.

When he saw Sang Luo approach, a faint smile graced Yan’s cool, jade-white face, seeming to hold a trace of fondness, and also a hint of guilt.

The scene was so real that Sang Luo felt disoriented, wondering if this was truly a dream.

She sat down across from him.

Yan poured her a cup of tea.

Sang Luo didn’t drink it, her eyes fixed on him. “Where did you go?”

“To a place very far away.”

“Why did you have to go? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’ve wanted to go there for a very long time.” Yan chuckled softly, his clear, enchanting dark eyes seeming to gaze into the depths of her soul. His voice became ethereal and faint. “Little Luo, I originally chose to pass on because my attachment to this world had scattered. But after meeting you, I found a new tie to this world.”

“I never expected the arrival of this child. Like you, it is a sudden, unexpected joy in my life.”

“I am willing to use my life to protect you and ensure this child’s safe birth.”

“Little Luo, I’m sorry. This is all I can do…”

He had apologized to her once again.

A wave of panic, the likes of which she had never felt before, suddenly surged in Sang Luo’s heart. Her throat felt dry and hoarse, and her eyes began to sting, but she couldn’t say a word.

The surrounding scene slowly became illusory, shattering like a broken mirror. The man before her gradually grew blurry and transparent, as though a gust of wind could easily blow him away.

Sang Luo hurriedly grabbed his hand, her breath catching in her throat. “Will… will you come back? I won’t be angry with you anymore…”

She received no answer.

Her hand grasped at empty air.

“Little Luo, goodbye.”

The dream ended.

She was drenched in sweat, the bedding soaked through.

Without even stopping to put on an outer robe, Sang Luo scrambled out of bed. She collided with Fei Yuan at the doorway, nearly falling to the ground.

Fei Yuan quickly reached out to steady her, his long brows furrowing. “Luo’er?”

Sang Luo looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Tell me the truth. Yan is gone, isn’t he?”

Fei Yuan froze.

Anubia walked up just in time to hear her question. The two men looked at each other, and each saw the same helplessness in the other’s eyes. Neither knew how to respond.

Seeing their expressions, Sang Luo understood everything. A bitter smile touched her lips.

So, she had been kept in the dark all along. No one had been willing to tell her. Even Yan had only dared to say goodbye to her in a dream.

He hadn’t left her with a mate’s mark. He must have been preparing to leave for a long time.

Upon waking, Sang Luo discovered a powerful and inscrutable Divine Soul Power within her. In an instant, her cultivation had reached the Divine Rank, far above the Venerable Realm. With her Divine Soul’s protection, no Heavenly Tribulation descended, and her lifespan was extended by hundreds of thousands of years. The small being inside her womb was enveloped in a gentle yet immense Divine Power, preciously safeguarding it, shielding both mother and child until long after the birth… After passing on, Yan had given her all his Divine Power and lifespan as a gift of thanks for carrying his heir.

Seeing Sang Luo’s eyes red and wet with tears, Fei Yuan’s heart ached. He gently wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and pulled her into a soft embrace. “Luo’er, this was his choice. If you love him, then you must respect his decision.”

“I… But why?”

Anubia pursed his lips. “Perhaps… the Celestial Fox God Venerate had reasons he couldn’t voice?”

Sang Luo shook her head. ’What hidden reasons could a Divine Venerable who stood proudly above all creation possibly have…’

Yan was a man of deep affection who always kept his promises. Had he truly let go of Princess Ji Wan? ’Probably not,’ Sang Luo thought. He had promised to stand vigil over the princess’s tomb for one hundred thousand years, after which he planned to pass on and follow his love in death. That alone was enough to show where his heart truly lay. Now, his long-cherished wish to follow the princess had been fulfilled. And by giving her everything he had left, he hadn’t wronged her either.

How can one have the best of both worlds.

He had managed it.

A clear conscience, with no debt to anyone.

Sang Luo’s thoughts gradually calmed. Her face was still damp with tears, and her voice was hoarse. “Where are his remains buried?”

Fei Yuan answered softly,

“He passed on and dissolved. His soul returned to the heavens and the earth. There is no body, no bones.”

There wasn’t even a place to mourn him.

The last Nine-tailed Fox in the world had fallen, just like that.

Since it was his choice, she too had no regrets.

Sang Luo sighed softly and stroked her belly. “He gave me his Divine Power and his lifespan. I will see this child is born safely, and I will raise it by my side.”

“The child can be raised under my name. I will treat it as my own,” Fei Yuan said.

Sang Luo nodded. “Alright. It wouldn’t be right for the child to be born a poor, fatherless thing. You were closest to Yan. I know you will do your utmost to raise his child.”

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