"Your Highness, is this true?"
Upon hearing these words, the Nine Soul Holy Clan and the others were all overjoyed. They understood what Princess Xiaoxiao was saying.
"I have truly recovered."
Princess Xiaoxiao confirmed.
Yet the crowd still could not believe it, so they took turns diagnosing her condition one by one. Even Chu Feng stepped forward to observe.
Only then did they discover that Princess Xiaoxiao's incurable illness had indeed vanished.
And clearly, the person who had healed her could only be Xian Miaomiao's master.
At this moment, Chu Feng grew even more curious — who exactly was this person who had taken Xian Miaomiao as a disciple and was also acquainted with his own master, the old Daoist?
So Chu Feng turned his gaze toward the palace where the Nine Soul Holy Clan's Clan Chief resided, only to discover that the Clan Chief, who had previously been in a deep slumber, had actually awakened.
But just a moment ago, the Nine Soul Holy Clan's Clan Chief had still been sleeping — how had he woken up at this particular time?
Connecting the series of events that had unfolded one after another, a new speculation formed in Chu Feng's mind.
And so, Chu Feng left the area and headed toward the Nine Soul Holy Clan Clan Chief's residence.
"Chu Feng."
But just as Chu Feng was about to arrive at the Nine Soul Holy Clan Clan Chief's dwelling, someone suddenly rushed up from behind and blocked his path. It was Xian Miaomiao's mother.
Her expression was deeply conflicted and flustered, as though she wanted to say something but did not dare, and could not even bring herself to look Chu Feng in the eye.
"Senior, what is it?"
It was Chu Feng who spoke up first.
In truth, Chu Feng felt little toward most members of the Nine Soul Holy Clan, but this woman was Xian Miaomiao's mother after all, and toward her, his respect was genuine and heartfelt.
"I know what I'm about to ask is wrong, but he is still my brother. I won't stop you from punishing him, but could you... could you spare his life?"
Xian Miaomiao's mother spoke these words with her head lowered, clearly feeling she had no right to make such a request.
After all, the Nine Soul Holy Clan's Clan Chief had nearly taken Xian Miaomiao's life, and yet here she was, a mother, begging for mercy on his behalf.
But Chu Feng did not blame Xian Miaomiao's mother. One was her own daughter, the other her own brother — the palm and the back of the hand were both flesh. No one could possibly be more tormented by what had happened than she was.
"Senior, Miaomiao made it clear that she will not pursue this matter. If she won't pursue it, then neither will I," Chu Feng said.
"Miaomiao truly said she would not pursue it?"
Hearing this, tears welled up in Xian Miaomiao's mother's eyes — complicated tears, born partly from relief that her brother had escaped a great calamity, and partly from the guilt of having wronged her own daughter.
"Senior, the world of martial cultivators can never be free of grudges and entanglements. But when those grudges can be resolved, that is the best outcome. Miaomiao is no longer by your side, so please take care of yourself."
After saying this, Chu Feng continued on toward the Nine Soul Holy Clan Clan Chief's residence.
The moment Chu Feng arrived at the palace entrance, the doors opened of their own accord — it was the Nine Soul Holy Clan's Clan Chief who opened them himself.
When the Clan Chief saw Chu Feng, obvious shame was written across his face, yet he still spoke.
"Young Hero Chu Feng, please, come in and have a seat."
He gestured toward the chairs inside the great hall, and on the tea table beside them, a pot of hot tea had already been brewed.
"It seems you knew I would come," Chu Feng said as he stepped into the great hall, though he did not sit down.
The Nine Soul Holy Clan's Clan Chief closed the hall doors, and after setting up a soundproofing barrier, he finally replied: "That honored person has already been here."
"So he is the one you spoke of when you were imprisoned — the one who could save the Nine Soul Heavenly River?"