Chapter 147: Grand Finale (Part 1)

Yincheng glanced at Lisu trailing behind her, a turbulent wave rising in her heart. She wanted to demand why he was following her. Shouldn't she have stayed by Yinyao's side at a time like this? Wasn't he afraid that Ji Xuanyu would snatch Yinyao away? Or was it because she had previously bound him to her side, causing him to miss his chance to win Yao'er's heart?

Yincheng refused to speak, and Lisu, walking behind her, felt even more at a loss for words. He was no fool; naturally, he could perceive Yincheng's affection. In the past, he had regarded her as Yinyao, considering her feelings normal, which was why he hadn't taken Yincheng's affections to heart. But now, he had no choice but to take them seriously.

She was not Yinyao. She was Yincheng, Yinyao's older sister—the Yincheng who had accompanied him for several months, the gentle and considerate Yincheng, the woman who planned everything with care in her heart!

"Yin... cheng, shouldn't we talk?" Lisu looked at Yincheng's back, hesitating repeatedly before finally making his decision. He did not want to conceal anything anymore.

Yincheng turned around, looking at Lisu with a somewhat aloof expression. "Talk about what? The fact that I deceived you? Or that I caused you to be unable to stay by Yao'er's side? Well, is there anything else left to discuss?"

Lisu looked at Yincheng, momentarily rendered speechless by her words. Yet, seeing Yincheng so agitated, could he interpret this as her being jealous?

At this thought, Lisu's mood lifted once more, and he asked in a light tone, "Yincheng, why didn't you call for me just now? We've always been together. If you walk alone, it's far too dangerous once night falls."

With a surprised turn, Yincheng stared at Lisu, momentarily struck dumb. She had never expected Lisu's concern to be this. Remembering her own reaction just moments before, she realized she had momentarily lost her composure.

"Shouldn't you be staying by Yao'er's side?" Yincheng smiled as she spoke, though only she knew the bitter ache in her heart when she mentioned that Lisu ought to be with Yinyao. "Now that you've met her, shouldn't you be with her? I'm just giving you a chance~ Besides, I think I can find the Water Spirit just fine without you."

"Uh, but Yinyao has people with her, while you only have me as someone familiar. How could I abandon you? Right?" Hearing Yincheng's reply, Lisu only felt a faint discomfort. Was Yincheng truly so willing to sacrifice herself?

Yincheng stood in a slight daze. Why must Lisu give an answer that led her to misunderstand? "Is that so?"

"Yincheng, you still have me, don't you?" Lisu looked directly into Yincheng's eyes, saying sincerely.

"Yes... yes, I have you, as a friend." Yincheng's words wavered. Even she herself could not understand why the phrase leaping to the tip of her tongue in that split second had been simply "I still have you," rather than "I still have you as a friend."

Seeing Yincheng's somewhat forlorn appearance, Lisu reached out, pulled her toward him, and sheltered her in his arms. "Cheng'er, you still have me. I will accompany you always."

Yincheng stared at Lisu in sheer disbelief, her eyes wide with astonishment. What had Lisu just said? Had she misheard?!

Lisu gently reached out and stroked Yincheng's cheek. "Cheng'er, you still have me. As for Yao'er, I believe she has already understood her own heart; she no longer needs me. And I have recognized my own heart—I hold you in my heart, truly, I do!"

Tears streamed down Yincheng's face.

***

"Mo Qin, how much longer until we reach the territory of the Water Dragon?" Grandpa Beggar Chicken looked ahead, estimating they were nearly there, though he needed to confirm with Mo Qin.

"Second Brother, I haven't shown my face on this continent for ages, yet you still ask me? I'm afraid I know even less than you do!" Mo Qin flashed a helpless smile, though based on his perception of the surrounding environment, he could indeed judge that their destination lay just ahead.

Grandpa Beggar Chicken chuckled heartily. "Oh, come on, I know at least this much, and I also know you can definitely sense it. Don't play dumb in front of me!"

"Alright, alright. That place is indeed almost upon us, so stop worrying. Yinyao and Yincheng are both my children—how could I not worry? I certainly won't let my two children vanish from before my eyes!" Mo Qin nodded, his expression turning solemn.

Indeed, once Mo Qin stepped outside the barrier, the Silver Foxes and others had informed him of Yinyao and Yincheng's situation. For the first time, Mo Qin learned that he had two children, sending a myriad of thoughts churning through his mind...

He hurried along a shortcut toward the Water Dragon's dwelling, even contemplating using sheer force to compel the Water Dragon to hand over the Water Spirit. He feared no pursuit from the Dragon Clan; his only fear was that time would run out and his children would scatter into dust...

"Cheng'er!" Catching sight of the familiar figure ahead, the Silver Fox called out in excitement.

Hearing her mother's voice, Yincheng turned her head, seeing her familiar family, and also seeing the father who was both familiar and strange to her...

"Mother, Yao'er, Fa... Father." Yincheng's voice trembled.

"You must be Cheng'er! Cheng'er, come here and let me take a good look at you." Looking at this eldest daughter whom he had never met—and whose existence he had only recently discovered—Mo Qin's eyes gradually reddened.

Perhaps driven by a deep yearning for paternal love, or perhaps because Yincheng understood Mo Qin far better than Yinyao did, she longed to see her father with an incomparable intensity.

Yincheng rushed forward, and Mo Qin caught the small figure hurtling into his arms, warming her within his embrace.

Watching this scene, Yinyao felt a sudden urge to weep. It was her sister's first time meeting their father, whereas she herself had seen him long ago; furthermore, their father had always maintained contact with her. Besides, her sister must have suffered far more!

Ever since she gained consciousness, she had known she was abandoned. Her father had been unaware of her existence, yet she had struggled relentlessly merely to survive. Thinking back now, when they had joined forces to tear open the spatial incantation, the formidable power that erupted from within her must have belonged to her sister.

Yinyao lowered her head and closed her eyes.

"Alright, let's go secure the Water Spirit first! Cheng'er, you've done wonderfully; Father is proud of you!" Mo Qin stroked Yincheng's head before turning to address the others.

"Mm, let's go, let's go! I reckon we can get our hands on the Water Spirit today!" Gazing at the distant dwelling of the Water Dragon, Ji Xuanyu felt the surge of power within his body. It seemed the saying that water and fire are incompatible was entirely true!

The Water Dragon's dwelling was a vast lake, home to numerous humans who had inherited the Water Dragon's power. Deep within the lake supposedly dwelt a colossal Water Dragon guarding the Water Spirit.

This time, no one opted for a gentle approach; they launched a direct assault. With Ji Xuanyu's presence, they gained immeasurable advantages on multiple fronts.

"Who goes there?!" An enraged bellow echoed from the depths of the lake.

Without a word, Ji Xuanyu hurled a fireball directly into the lake. This time, he would shoulder the primary assault!

The giant Water Dragon surged upward from the lakebed, lashing the water's surface with ferocious movements. It was evidently enraged—and not ordinarily so! Its dragon whiskers whipped through the air, its visage contorted and fierce.

It glared with rounded dragon eyes at Ji Xuanyu, the human who had just attacked it. But a single look proved startling: How—how could this human possess the power of the Flame Dragon? Hadn't the Flame Dragon vanished millennia ago? How could he? This, this was impossible! The Flame Dragon had been gone for so long, so how could a successor of his suddenly appear?

Un... unless he hailed from the Barren Continent! Only the Barren Continent could possibly harbor a successor of the Flame Dragon!

The Water Dragon's entire body was shrouded in a layer of mist, obscuring its expression from onlookers.

Standing in a corner, Mo Qin left the battlefield to the younger generation. Since they possessed such confidence, he would not interfere; yet should they falter, he would step in without hesitation!

"Who are you, and why do you possess the power of the Flame Dragon?" The Water Dragon's deep, resonant voice boomed above Ji Xuanyu's head.

"Ji Xuanyu."

"You come from the Barren Continent. Speak, what is your purpose here? Shouldn't you be directly seeking out the Golden Dragon?" The Water Dragon possessed a relatively mild temperament. Upon learning Ji Xuanyu's identity, it ceased its attacks, for the Dragon Clan's ruler, the Golden Dragon, had once decreed: The disappearance of the Flame Dragon was his own fault; should anyone ever encounter a descendant bearing the Flame Dragon's power, they must treat them with utmost respect and refrain from violence. The Dragon Clan could not afford to lose the Flame Dragon, for a Dragon Clan without the Flame Dragon was no longer complete.

Consequently, it could not attack him and could only try to fulfill his demands before bringing him before the Golden Dragon.

"What is your objective here?" The Water Dragon scrutinized Ji Xuanyu, eager to gauge the strength of the Flame Dragon's sole descendant.

"The Water Spirit," Ji Xuanyu answered the Water Dragon word by word.

"The Water Spirit?!" The Water Dragon felt a flicker of shock, though it maintained its composure.

"Yes." Ji Xuanyu did not understand why this Water Dragon was conversing with him, but he stuck to the truth.

Not far away, Mo Qin and the other informed observers smiled silently at this sight.

"What do you want it for?" The Water Dragon hesitated. Although the Water Spirit afforded him considerable benefits, it was not entirely impossible to surrender—it merely required careful consideration!

"To save someone."

"Who?"

"The person I love!"

This answer caught the Water Dragon by surprise, yet it was also within expectation. What he did not know was that this was not the first time Ji Xuanyu had given this response. Once, when Yinyao had been gravely poisoned and required the Ghost Doctor's aid, Aishuo had posed the exact same question, and Ji Xuanyu's reply had been identical, down to the very last syllable!

Yinyao's heart trembled slightly, while Gu Shenyu, who had heard those words back then, could only think: Even when suffering from amnesia, he still loved Yinyao; that devotion had never changed.

Yin Su lowered her head, recalling her past folly.

"Water Dragon, I advise you to hand it over. Even if you are unwilling, I have ways to make you relinquish it." With a flicker of spatial teleportation, Mo Qin materialized beside Ji Xuanyu.

"You... are you Mo Qin? Congratulations on finally emerging, but what is the meaning of this?" Recognizing Mo Qin and sensing his formidable power, the Water Dragon halted.

"The person this man wishes to save is my daughter. What do you think I mean?" Mo Qin chuckled, countering with a question.

Taken aback, the Water Dragon had not anticipated that the person to be saved possessed such complex lineage. With Mo Qin impossible to offend and Ji Xuanyu impossible to bully, what was he to do?

"Brother Mo Qin, you've finally emerged! When shall we older dragon brothers gather once more?" A resounding voice echoed from the sky as a golden dragon materialized in their view.

"Brother Jin, long time no see." Mo Qin remained composed upon seeing the Golden Dragon. He had long since sensed the Golden Dragon's aura, waiting for an opportune moment to appear, and the dragon had conveniently created one for him!

"Clan Chief." The Water Dragon lowered its massive head to the Golden Dragon, retreating a few paces.

The Golden Dragon nodded, then turned its gaze to Ji Xuanyu. "So you are the descendant of the Flame Dragon. Hmph, not bad. Let's strike a bargain: I will instruct the Water Dragon to hand the Water Spirit over to your friend, and you shall accompany me to the Golden Dragon's territory, remaining there until I am satisfied to release you."

"No," Ji Xuanyu refused instantly without a second thought.

"Why?" The Golden Dragon displayed a rare flash of patience.

"I will not leave Yao'er. Even if you refuse to give it to me, I will take it by force!" Ji Xuanyu revealed his fierce, unyielding side.

Hearing this retort, a trace of anger surfaced on the Golden Dragon's visage. At that moment, Mo Qin stepped forward, placing himself between them. "Brother Jin, do not be angry. Ji Xuanyu, hold your tongue and listen to me. Brother Jin, I am soon to wage a war against Wang, and I must resurrect the Spirit Fox Clan. Ji Xuanyu must accompany me into battle. Might you permit him to fulfill this duty before following you?"

The Golden Dragon studied Mo Qin before finally nodding. Ji Xuanyu glanced at Mo Qin, puzzled by his actions, yet since this was a decision made by his prospective father-in-law, it was not his place to object.

Mo Qin caught Ji Xuanyu's eye and offered a reassuring smile. Ji Xuanyu nodded in silent acquiescence.

"Water Dragon, give it to them. Ah, and if Mo Qin requires any assistance thereafter, you shall aid him as well," the Golden Dragon instructed the Water Dragon.

"Understood." The Water Dragon exhaled, spitting out the glowing Water Spirit from its maw.

Yincheng sprang forward in a leap, catching the Water Spirit within a specialized pouch before turning to offer a radiant smile to Yinyao and the Silver Fox.

"Father, I shall refine the spiritual artifact right here." Yincheng looked toward Mo Qin, voicing her intent.

Mo Qin surveyed the surroundings and nodded. "Very well, proceed with the refinement. I shall ask Brother Jin to remain and guard your meditation."

The Golden Dragon chuckled and shook its head. "Mo Qin, you don't even ask for my consent first?"

"Brother Jin, I knew you would agree~" Mo Qin smiled.

With the protection of experts arrayed around her, Yincheng smiled and crossed her legs, seating herself upon the ground. Surrounding her floated the spiritual treasures she had gathered over the past few days, alongside those bestowed upon her by the elders of the reclusive Li family.

Yinyao likewise resumed her human form ahead of schedule, settling down opposite Yincheng. Their figures gradually grew translucent as the spiritual artifacts radiated a dazzling brilliance.

The light stood out conspicuously against the pitch-black night.

The forms of the two sisters vanished, enveloped by a swirling layer of white mist.

Every heart hung in suspense; no mishaps could be tolerated here! Each spiritual artifact was entirely unique, and once failed, all hope would be irrevocably lost!

Yincheng and Yinyao's physical forms merged seamlessly with the billowing mist. None knew how long Yincheng had awaited this exact moment, nor how much sacrifice she had made to guarantee absolute perfection!

"Souls return, mold forms, integrate," Yincheng's voice rang out from within the white mist.

"Complete!" With a sharp shout, the white mist dissipated.

In the space where the mist had rested sat two women facing one another. One was the familiar Yinyao, while the other bore a countenance previously unseen.

"Sister."

"Yao'er~"

The two smiled at one another. It was a success; Yincheng had altered her appearance, which was why everyone had failed to recognize her instantly.