Chapter 1555: Song Wen's Lifelong, Unwavering Affection
Qi Luo, having clearly heard the name “Alchemist Ye Hua,” abruptly halted her ascent, her figure suspended three feet above the ground. She turned her head, her gaze locking with Song Wen’s.
But when she realized Song Wen was not the “Ye Hua” she had known before, her delicate brows furrowed slightly.
By then, Wang Qi had already approached Song Wen.
Forced to withdraw his gaze, Song Wen offered Wang Qi an awkward smile.
“I left in a hurry yesterday and forgot to purchase the Spirit Herbs needed to refine the Spirit-Melting Pill and Heaven-Returning Pill. I’ve come today to procure them.”
“A minor matter indeed. Alchemist Ye Hua, please wait a moment while I have them prepared. Shall we proceed with the usual quantity—twenty portions of each?” Wang Qi asked.
Song Wen nodded. “Thank you for your trouble, Steward Wang.”
Wang Qi summoned an attendant and instructed them to gather the necessary Spirit Herbs for pill refinement.
Suddenly, a figure flashed, and Qi Luo appeared beside them.
“You’re called Ye Hua?” Qi Luo scrutinized Song Wen with burning intensity.
“Indeed! May I ask the immortal maiden’s name?” Song Wen clasped his hands in a respectful greeting.
“Qi Luo,” she replied softly, her crimson lips parting slightly. “Your name happens to be the same as an old acquaintance of mine.”
“To share a name with one of the immortal maiden’s acquaintances is truly an honor,” Song Wen said.
“You certainly have a way with words, just like my old friend,” Qi Luo said, a smile blooming on her face like a summer flower, radiant and bright.
“Immortal Maiden, you flatter me,” Song Wen replied, feigning surprise and delight.
At his words, a fleeting, almost imperceptible wistfulness flickered in Qi Luo’s eyes.
“Alas, my old friend could never appear in Blood Brilliance City.”
“Oh? Is your friend in another region, then? Far away?” Song Wen asked.
“Not in another region, but…” Qi Luo’s voice trailed off abruptly.
As if losing her desire to continue the conversation, Qi Luo suddenly turned and walked out of the shop.
A flicker of confusion crossed Song Wen’s eyes.
Then, his face settled into an expression of deep regret and longing as he gazed infatuatedly at her retreating figure.
It was as if he had accidentally encountered the love of his life, only for her to drift away before he could confess his feelings.
“Alchemist Ye Hua, your Spirit Herbs,” Wang Qi said, suddenly handing him a storage pouch.
Song Wen accepted the pouch and retrieved some spirit stones, paying Wang Qi, but his gaze remained fixed on the direction Qi Luo had vanished.
“Steward Wang, may I ask who that immortal maiden was?”
Wang Qi glanced around before lowering his voice.
“Alchemist Ye Hua, I must advise you: do not provoke her. The forces behind her are beyond your reach. Beauty has always been a source of calamity; she is not someone a small figure like you or I can afford to touch.”
“Thank you for the warning, Steward Wang. I will keep it in mind,” Song Wen replied.
Yet in his heart, he resolved to meet Qi Luo.
Qi Luo’s journey from Qicang Island to Azure Wutong Province on the Eastern Profound Continent could only have been accomplished through the Divine Blood Gate’s teleportation array.
On Qicang Island, she had tirelessly curried favor with the Divine Blood Gate’s representatives, first Chi Pei, then Hong Zhe. Both men had ultimately fallen by Song Wen’s hand.
Song Wen remained uncertain about which patron Qi Luo had secured to reach Azure Wutong Province, but Steward Wang’s words made it clear that her backing was substantial.
Perhaps through Qi Luo, he could gain access to the Divine Blood Gate’s upper echelons, or even use her to gather clues about the Sky-Blue Glazed Fruit and Taiyin Netherfire.
“Steward Wang, farewell. I will return once the medicinal pill is refined,” Song Wen said.
“Safe travels, Alchemist Ye Hua,” Wang Qi replied with a smile.
Leaving the Immortal Herb Hut, Song Wen quickly entered a secluded alley and retrieved a Communication Jade Slip.
Since Qi Luo’s departure, he had been monitoring her movements with his divine sense. He discovered she was heading straight north, already nearing the city gates.
To the north lay the path to the Divine Blood Gate.
The Divine Blood Gate’s headquarters were located just over two thousand miles from Blood Brilliance City. However, the territory they controlled spanned over a hundred thousand miles.
The Communication Jade Slip had limited range. Once Qi Luo returned to the Divine Blood Gate, Song Wen would find it difficult to contact her again.
Immortal Maiden Qi Luo, this is Ye Hua. I apologize for not revealing my identity earlier. I hope you can forgive me. Song Wen transmitted.
Qi Luo’s reply arrived within moments.
Ye Hua? Is that really you? Why do your appearance and aura feel so different from before?
Through a fortunate encounter, I advanced to the void refinement stage and later switched to a new cultivation technique, causing my aura to change drastically. As for my appearance, I’ve disguised myself.
After offering this brief explanation, Song Wen continued transmitting.
Since our parting over 190 years ago, your image has haunted my thoughts. Yet I dared not seek you out, nor even set foot in Cloudveil City, fearing I would lose control and rush to see you. I endured this hardship, focusing solely on cultivating diligently to break through to the void refinement stage. My hope was that one day, as a Void Refinement Stage cultivator, I could appear before you, sever your ties with the Veiled Moon Hall, and keep you by my side forever, making you mine alone—a woman who would no longer need to please other men.
Heaven rewards those who persevere. I finally achieved my long-cherished dream and broke through to the void refinement stage. Immediately afterward, I returned to Cloudveil City, but repeated attempts to contact you yielded no response. Later, I met a steward from the Veiled Moon Hall who informed me that you had already used the teleportation array to leave Qicang Island and journey to the Divine Blood Gate.
At that moment, I was plunged into endless grief and self-reproach. My fleeting desire to possess you entirely had cost me everything, ensuring we would never meet again in this lifetime.
After years of drifting aimlessly, I couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing you again. I resolved that even if it meant crossing the entire Primordial Qi Death Zone, I would travel from Qicang Island to the Eastern Profound Continent to find you.
Fortune smiled upon me once more. After extensive inquiries, I discovered an underwater tunnel that greatly reduced the dangers of traversing the Primordial Qi Death Zone. Through countless near-death experiences, I finally reached the Eastern Profound Continent safely. After years of wandering across several provinces, I arrived in Blood Brilliance City a year ago, having overcome countless obstacles.
The moment I saw you, though I feigned composure, my heart surged like a tidal wave, my limbs trembling with overwhelming emotion. It took all my strength to restrain myself from revealing our connection. I knew your journey to Blood Brilliance City must have been arduous, requiring the assistance of someone from the Divine Blood Gate. Prematurely acknowledging you might displease them and bring trouble upon you.
Song Wen’s final sentence was subtly veiled.
In truth, he was implying that Qi Luo had come to the Eastern Profound Continent by selling her favors and acquiring a new patron.
If Song Wen were to rashly acknowledge Qi Luo, word would spread, displeasing her patron.
Perhaps Song Wen’s unwavering devotion moved Qi Luo, for her reply was barely restrained with emotion:
Where are you now? I must see you!
(End of the Chapter)