Myth Beyond Heaven

"Many thanks, Senior." Yun Lintian expressed his gratitude. He didn't have high hopes, aware of the difficulty of his request. Meeting an unknown person like him was almost impossible for the Vermilion Bird God herself.

Yan Feihong looked deeply at him and said, "It seems you are indeed familiar with her."

Surprised, Yun Lintian soon understood her meaning. People who received the message from Yan Feihong must have noticed something and passed it on to the Vermilion Bird God, proving Yun Lintian's unusual status.

"Don't overthink it," Yan Feihong said with a smile. "They're merely interested in your origin. It is still unknown whether Her Majesty would respond to your request."

"Understood," Yun Lintian replied politely.

Yan Jingru sipped her tea and spoke. "Do you have any plans after the celebration?"

"Not at the moment," Yun Lintian shook his head.

"If you'd like," Yan Jingru said, "I'd like to invite you to our clan."

Yun Lintian considered for a moment. "I wouldn't mind. However, I also have another request. Would it be possible to visit the White Tiger God Clan?"

Yan Jingru glanced at Linlin on his shoulder before turning to Yan Feihong. "Second Aunt, what do you think?"

Yan Feihong frowned slightly. "There shouldn't be a problem. However, you need to conceal your bloodline better... Forget it. I heard Elder Bai is coming. I'll bring you to meet her."

"Elder Bai?" Yun Lintian repeated, unsure.

"She's the White Tiger God Clan's supreme elder, second in command," Yan Jingru explained. "I don't know the source of your royal bloodline, little sister, but Elder Bai is known for her kindness. You can trust her."

"Thank you, Miss Yan and Senior Yan," Yun Lintian said sincerely while patting Linlin gently.

"Why don't you head back first? We'll contact you tomorrow with a response from Lord Vermilion Bird God, hopefully." Yan Jingru said gently.

"Then, I'll take my leave." Yun Lintian cupped his fists and departed directly.

After Yun Lintian left, a deep frown creased Yan Jingru's face. She couldn't understand how Yun Lintian possessed the bloodline, especially since he apparently had two divine bloodlines, something only legends spoke of.

"Second Aunt?" Yan Jingru looked at her aunt for an opinion.

"No idea either," Yan Feihong shook her head. "Only Her Majesty knows. It's best not to pry further."

"You're right." Yan Jingru took a deep breath and nodded.

"Right now, I'm worried about how he'll handle that… crazy woman," Yan Feihong sighed softly. She knew Jin Yuxin wouldn't stop easily.

"Should we intervene?" Yan Jingru couldn't decide. Sending Jin Yuxin away was already pushing it.

"Let's wait and see," Yan Feihong spoke. "Did you see his reaction earlier? No fear in his eyes. He seemed extremely confident in dealing with everyone here."

Yan Feihong chose to omit the part about bloodline suppression.

"Well, understood," Yan Jingru nodded gently.

***

Leaving the teahouse, Yun Lintian wandered the city. Despite the urgency to find answers, he had no starting point.

"Big Brother Yun…" Linlin voiced the doubt gnawing at her.

"Anything's possible right now," Yun Lintian acknowledged her worry. "It's risky, but we'll do everything to get answers. Be patient, alright?"

"Mhm," Linlin mumbled softly, nuzzling his cheek with her head. "Thank you, Big Brother Yun."

Yun Lintian patted her head gently and continued his stroll.

Drawn by a towering structure, he soon found himself before it. This was the very tower housing the supposed remains of the Kunlun God.

Yun Lintian lingered in the plaza for a long time before reluctantly turning back. Powerful guards surrounded the building, making entry impossible.

Unbeknownst to him, a pair of eyes watched him from the tower's heights. The observer, an amiable-looking middle-aged man, seemed preoccupied as he gazed upon Yun Lintian.

"My lord," the city lord announced, entering the room with a respectful bow.

The middle-aged man retracted his gaze and turned to him. "How are the preparations?"

"Everything is ready," the city lord, Li Shan, confirmed. "However, I recently received news that Lord Yan will personally attend the banquet."

Lord Yan, of course, referred to none other than the Vermilion Bird God, Yan Siqi.

"Oh?" The man's surprise was evident. He glanced at the distant Yun Lintian and instructed, "Prepare for her arrival. Ensure everything goes smoothly."

"Understood," Li Shan readily responded.

"Very well, you may go," the middle-aged man dismissed him.

Li Shan bowed again and left.

The man continued to watch Yun Lintian's disappearing back, muttering to himself, "Something momentous is brewing… What is it?"

This enigmatic man was none other than the supreme being Yun Lintian sought – the Yellow Emperor, Huan Yiming!

Yun Lintian continued his exploration until dawn. He gained a rough understanding of the city layout, confirming its similarity to the one he'd seen before.

He then found a secluded spot to bury a divine stone imbued with his aura. He'd retrieve it upon returning to confirm this wasn't an illusion. This was the only solution he could devise for now.

Without further deliberation, Yun Lintian decided to return to the Jade Inn. He settled at a table in the lounge, waiting for Nantian Yu.

Nantian Yu was currently his only source of information about the situation. Perhaps, deep down, he also harbored a worry for her. The thought of leaving her alone didn't sit well with him.

An hour later, Nantian Yu entered the lounge and spotted Yun Lintian. She approached him and said, "Did you stay here last night?"

Yun Lintian glanced at her cheerful demeanor, and her tragic story immediately surfaced in his mind. The image of Nantian Fengyu seemed to perfectly overlap with the woman before him. Both carried burdens within, yet maintained a facade of cheerfulness.

He shook his head. "I wandered around the city last night."

"Oh," Nantian Yu acknowledged. "I forgot to mention something. You can stay in the room next to mine. I booked it for, well, peaceful sleep."

Yun Lintian eyed her curiously. The room had an isolation barrier, so there wasn't a logical reason for her to book the adjacent one.

"Thank you," Yun Lintian accepted without protest.

"Let's grab something to eat," Nantian Yu suggested, leading the way out of the inn.

Yun Lintian followed silently, but before exiting, he saw Jin Yuxin behind him. Jin Yuxin flashed him a playful smile, which he promptly ignored as he left.

"Are you sure he's strong?" Jin Yang appeared behind her and looked at Yun Lintian doubtfully.

"If you want to cause him trouble, you should consider another approach," Jin Yuxin said gently.

Jin Yang's eyes flickered slightly. His thoughts remained a mystery.