"Let's go." As Zi Xunyi spoke, she led Chu Feng onward. Even her voice had changed — no longer lifeless and hollow, but brimming with vitality.
"It seems this Zi Xunyi truly loves Ying Chao Ming."
"I'm really curious — what kind of story lies between the two of them?" the Queen remarked, her interest piqued.
Even a fool could see that the reason Zi Xunyi had altered her appearance was simply because she was going to see Ying Chao Ming.
Back in the Demon Extinguishing Cavern, Zi Xunyi had still appeared as an old woman. Even on the day of her wedding, she hadn't bothered to change her face.
Yet the moment she was about to meet Ying Chao Ming, she had immediately transformed her appearance — and even taken great care with her grooming.
That alone spoke volumes about how much she cared about the image she held in Ying Chao Ming's heart.
If Zi Xunyi harbored no love for the Blood-Scaled Demon Clan's Chief…
Then for Ying Chao Ming, she must have held a deep and abiding love.
"That's easy enough to find out. I'll try asking for you."
After saying this, Chu Feng turned to Zi Xunyi. "Senior, I've heard you've never left the Demon Extinguishing Cavern. So how did you first come to know Senior Ying Chao Ming?"
"You want to know our story?" Zi Xunyi glanced at Chu Feng, having seen through his intentions at once.
Chu Feng smiled awkwardly, then said, "Senior, would you be willing to share?"
"Actually, there's nothing to hide. Otherwise, when you ask him later, that big mouth of his will certainly tell you anyway." Zi Xunyi smiled softly, a beautiful smile, as though she had suddenly been carried back to the days of her own story.
And so, Zi Xunyi told Chu Feng the tale of herself and Ying Chao Ming.
In truth, Zi Xunyi had not always stayed within the Demon Extinguishing Cavern. She had once left it, venturing out into this Hundred Refinements Ordinary Realm.
It was during that time that she had crossed paths with Ying Chao Ming.
Ying Chao Ming had been a notorious outlaw back then, but his bold and generous personality had immediately won Zi Xunyi's favor.
Afterward, Zi Xunyi and Ying Chao Ming had experienced many things together. They had ventured into numerous ancient ruins, explored countless treasures, and naturally… faced death together on more than one occasion.
To protect Zi Xunyi, Ying Chao Ming had even nearly lost his life.
That time, his injuries had been grievous. No matter how desperately Zi Xunyi poured every formation technique she knew into healing him, she couldn't mend his wounds.
Zi Xunyi had wept uncontrollably, thoroughly terrified.
Yet even in that broken state, Ying Chao Ming had still worn a smile on his face. With great difficulty, he had raised his scarred, battered arm to gently wipe away Zi Xunyi's tears.
In that very moment, Zi Xunyi had fallen deeply in love with Ying Chao Ming, and knew with certainty that this was her man.
The map of the Demon Extinguishing Cavern's interior had actually been something Zi Xunyi had shared with Ying Chao Ming.
As for the forbidden technique Ying Chao Ming had used, it was something the two of them had obtained together inside an ancient ruin long ago.
Because of that, only Zi Xunyi could help Ying Chao Ming break it.
As for why the two had eventually parted ways — it came down to a difference in vision.
Zi Xunyi had no taste for the world's schemes and deceptions. She wanted to retreat with Ying Chao Ming to the mountains and forests, living a life with just the two of them.
But Ying Chao Ming, at the time, had been brimming with ambition and aspirations. Naturally, he had no desire to withdraw from the world.
Following that, Ying Chao Ming founded Hero City, while Zi Xunyi left him and returned to the Demon Extinguishing Cavern.
In fact, Ying Chao Ming had once gone to find Zi Xunyi — only to be driven away by her Master.
In any case, after that encounter, the two of them had never seen each other again.
"If you've always loved Senior Ying Chao Ming so deeply, then why did you agree to marry the Blood-Scaled Demon Clan's Chief?" Chu Feng asked.