Night fell gently over the world, with the waning moon hanging high in the sky, its silver glow spilling across the land. Beneath its light, Xia Qingyue sat quietly by the lotus pond, her delicate hands cradling her cheeks, eyes gazing into the broken reflection of the moon on the water.
Her amethyst eyes, usually so distant and composed, mirrored the still surface—calm, unshaken, yet clearly concealing an ocean of unspoken thoughts.
"Who… and what are you, Yun Che?"
The name stirred her. No longer just a man from her past, but a presence that had redefined everything she thought she knew.
Today's battles had shaken her.
First, the duel with his so-called fiancée—Unohana Retsu. Qingyue had been confident, composed. But the moment their auras clashed, she understood: Retsu was immense. Graceful like moonlight, deadly like falling snow. A weapon master, a tactician, a monster wrapped in the body of a divine beauty. Retsu had conceded, but not out of weakness—she simply realized there was no point in continuing.
She let her win.
"I may have won the match… but lost the war."
That Ice Phoenix Snowflower ribbon… the one she should've destroyed.
She showed her that the ribbon meant nothing to her as she possessed weapons better than the ribbon.
Why hadn't it broken?
Was Retsu… holding back?
The thought unsettled her.
Then came the battle between her brother, Xia Yuanba, and Yun Che.
It had cracked open her understanding of reality itself. Understanding of those who followed him.
Golden hair transformations. Fire and water bending. Energy manipulation. The battlefield turned into a theater of celestial forces unleashed that she never believed possible.
And Yun Che stood at the center of it all, not just enduring, but commanding.
Even Yuanba… her precious, naive younger brother… had transformed into something terrifying.
That giant snake he spoke of when they met…
"What did he mean by giant snake?"
She pressed her hand against her chest. Her heartbeat had yet to return to normal.
And then there was Unohana Retsu again. That face—serene, otherworldly. Beautiful beyond comprehension. Qingyue was proud, graceful, admired by the Asgard…
But Retsu's beauty… it haunted her.
She bit her lip.
Was it jealousy?
Or perhaps… the bitter realization that her world had changed forever. That everything she thought she knew about power, the people surrounding him, about identity, about Yun Che—was only a fragment of a far greater truth. Where his world is a world she couldn't understand.
The wind stirred. The moon's light shifted slightly, casting ripples across the pond.
"Just who… are you really, Yun Che?"
A cool breeze swept across the still pond, and without a sound, a snow-white silhouette materialized beside her.
Xia Qingyue's eyes flickered as she turned.
Recognizing the presence, she stood up and bowed respectfully.
"Senior Master."
Chu Yuechan—still, graceful, untouched by the world like an ethereal wraith—nodded faintly. Without a word, she extended her slender, jade-like hand. Nestled in her palm were three small ornate golden bottles, each filled with a different glowing liquid—red, green, and blue, shining like liquid gems under the moonlight.
"You used your Domain today," she said softly. "Your vitality was wounded. Without assistance, you'll only recover sixty percent by tomorrow. Take these. They will restore you fully."
Xia Qingyue stared in awe.
The bottles were exquisitely crafted, the liquids inside shimmering like diamond dust suspended in glowing aqua essence. She hesitated.
"What… are these, Senior Master?"
Chu Yuechan let out a quiet sigh, her gaze drifting to the moonlight.
"Energy, Vitality, and Stamina recovery potions. Something I… came across in my travels. That is all you need to know. Take them."
Her tone was gentle but absolute. Qingyue didn't press further. She accepted the bottles, carefully removed the first cork, and poured the red liquid into her mouth.
The change was immediate.
The wind grew colder. Heaven and Earth energy surged toward her body, drawn like a tide to her core. Her wounded vitality and fractured profound veins began to mend, her energy stabilizing at a speed that defied natural law. The same thing happened to her profound energy once she downed the glittering blue liquid.
She drank the green potion, and her breath hitched—her stamina surged, her fatigue evaporated like mist in sunlight.
"This… what are these potions? Are they some kind of elixirs?" she asked in shock, eyes wide.
Chu Yuechan turned her face slightly, her tone almost amused.
"Even I don't know its true name. It recovers profound energy in full. One bottle, complete restoration. Makes the Frozen Soul Heaven Returning Pellet look like crushed ice."
Xia Qingyue froze.
The Frozen Soul Heaven Returning Pellet was a sacred treasure—so rare it was considered myth in many sects. Yet here she was, casually sipping something superior from her Senior Master's hand. A single bottle would value a high family's fortune.
But Chu Yuechan remained composed, offering no further explanation.
What she did not say—what she could not say—was that the potions came from Yun Che.
Dozens of them.
Health, Mana, Stamina—supplies given to her by Yun Che four months ago for her journeys. Each bottle could bankrupt a high-tier sect at auction. If the world knew she carried an arsenal of such artifacts, chaos would follow.
So she said nothing.
Only watched her fellow Asgard disciple quietly absorb the truth, sip by sip.
Xia Qingyue remained silent.
But her senses—sharp and refined—caught something subtle within the potion's lingering essence.
A familiar thread. A trace of him.
Her gaze slowly shifted toward Chu Yuechan. The snow-like figure before her didn't flinch, didn't react—but that in itself was an answer.
These potions were his. Given to her senior master and had learned from him. And perhaps… gained far more than just knowledge.
And now… they were shared with her.
The truth settled like snow over her thoughts—cool, silent, undeniable.
Xia Qingyue didn't ask. She had no right to.
She turned her gaze to the lotus pond before her, now reflecting the fractured moon. The still water shimmered with memories: the barrier necklace that shielded her back in the Xiao Clan, the potions that healed her faster than the Frozen Soul Heaven Returning Pellet ever could, the weapons wielded by his allies—each one beyond anything their world should possess.
She realized then:
She is his wife and yet, she knew nothing of him.
Not truly. Not even a speck of what he truly was. Yet, a lot of people had the chance to get close to him, knowing him more than she knows. Even her own brother had the opportunity to get to know him and gained much.
All his battles—every single one—were just him going easy.
Even when others gave their lives, poured their full might into a single blow… he remained composed, unshaken. As if it was all play.
She felt a deep cold—not from the wind or her cultivation.
But from the dawning awareness that she had stood beside a man cloaked in shadows far deeper than she could comprehend.
"Then what about tomorrow…?"
She gripped her robe tightly.
Even if she unleashed her forbidden arts, burned her blood, shattered her limits—would it matter?
He hadn't even shown his full strength.
What else is he hiding?
And more painfully—
Why did she want to know so badly?
------------------
Chu Yuechan stood silently beside Xia Qingyue for a moment, her gaze lingering on her disciple with a complicated look in her eyes. Then, she whispered solemnly:
"Qingyue… for tomorrow's battle, do not underestimate your opponent. More importantly, do not assume victory is in your hands. You barely survived against Unohana Retsu, and that woman didn't even use one-tenth of her abilities. If she had truly intended to defeat you—or worse—you would not be standing here now."
"..."
Xia Qingyue said nothing, her fingers curling slightly in her sleeves.
Chu Yuechan continued in an even tone.
"As for him… Though he still hides many secrets, there are things about Yun Che that far surpass what you can currently match. Yes, with your Frozen Cloud Domain, you are nearly invincible under the Sky Profound Realm. But he possesses things you lack—things far beyond raw cultivation."
Xia Qingyue looked up in surprise, her moonlit eyes flickering. "Please… advise me, Senior Master."
Chu Yuechan's voice remained quiet but firm.
"First… his battle experience. And his five senses, honed to terrifying sharpness. During the tournament, he revealed himself as a master tactician—unmatched in close combat. He wields the laws of fire with the same ease Unohana Retsu commands the laws of water. He can transform into a golden-haired warrior. He summons weapons forged from flame itself. His judgment in dangerous moments—his decisiveness—none of us can match that. Not even me."
She let the weight of her words settle before continuing.
"Second… his willpower. Even when he's pushed to the very brink—when there is no hope of counterattack—do not assume he's lost. Quite the opposite. When backed into a corner, he becomes something… terrifying. While others draw strength from their bodies in desperation, he draws it from his soul. His power doesn't just rise—it erupts. And it's in those moments that he is at his most dangerous."
Chu Yuechan's gaze sharpened.
"This battle may be far harder than you expect. This is not mere caution. This is the advice of a Senior Master who has seen the abyss of combat more than most. Even if you lose tomorrow... I would not be surprised."
Xia Qingyue's breath caught in her throat. Her eyes were wide with disbelief.
Chu Yuechan, who had always been like still water—cold, distant, and silent—had never spoken so many words in one breath. And each one carried weight. Her tone, her eyes, her words… they weren't spoken in jest or exaggeration.
Her praise of Yun Che was so high… so absolute… it felt almost unreal.
Had she not heard it with her own ears, she wouldn't have believed Chu Yuechan could even think this way about a man—much less say it aloud.
"Yes… I will remember Senior Master's advice." Xia Qingyue's voice was soft, but her tone carried quiet determination.
A moment of silence passed before she spoke again, hesitantly. "Qingyue has… a presumptuous question to ask Senior Master…"
Chu Yuechan did not turn around, but her eyes closed gently. "You want to know why I understand him so well."
"…Yes."
There was a pause. Then, to Xia Qingyue's surprise, Chu Yuechan finally turned her back—and just as she was about to walk away, her voice floated out, calm and distant:
"Previously, I left Frozen Cloud Asgard to search for three Sky Profound Cores, so you could refine the Frozen Heart Liquid Jade. When I acquired the third one… I was ambushed and poisoned."
Xia Qingyue's eyes widened slightly.
"It was then… I met him." Chu Yuechan's voice remained soft, but carried something rare—nostalgia. "He offered to help me… in exchange for me following him for three months. At that time, it was only him… and Sister Retsu. We had yet to meet Princess Cang Yue, Retsu's sister, or the girl with the butterfly clip."
Xia Qingyue's lips parted. Her breath caught in her throat, and her gaze trembled slightly.
Three months… just him, Unohana Retsu and Chu Yuechan?
"I spent nearly the entire three months with him, Retsu and Princess Cang Yue. It was one of the best adventures I had." Chu Yuechan continued, as if reliving a distant memory. "I saw… his true form. Even at that time, I barely managed to stand against him as he was only…."
"His… true form?" Xia Qingyue echoed, startled. "And he was only…?"
Chu Yuechan's voice trailed into silence. "...It's nothing."
She shook her head slightly.
"I accompanied him to New Moon City. There, I saw him use powers completely foreign to this world. Do you know… he annihilated seven sect masters in a single night? I didn't even need to lift a finger. He summoned a massive creature—a serpent of bone and fire. It destroyed everything in its path."
Xia Qingyue stood frozen in place.
That story… she had heard it before.
Her brother, Xia Yuanba, had once told her of a terrifying bone snake a few days ago. She didn't understand it at first, but she heard rumors in the Asgard a few months ago that in New Moon City—of a giant bone snake that unleashed red energy beams and incinerated entire groups of high-level beasts and even their tamer. She had dismissed it as exaggeration…
But now, hearing it from Chu Yuechan—the silent, cold Senior Master whom she respected more than any other—it suddenly felt far too real.
"In Asgard… some disciples whispered rumors," Qingyue said slowly. "They spoke of a creature… a bone snake… engulfed in red light… that obliterated spirit beasts as if they were nothing."
Chu Yuechan nodded faintly, her eyes still distant. "That was him. Or rather, a part of what he commands."
Xia Qingyue was speechless. Her heart trembled. Her master—the revered Ice Fairy of Frozen Cloud Asgard—had followed him for three months… had seen the heights he could reach… and even now, remembered it not with disdain or fear, but… something else. Perhaps even a trace of awe.
And now… tomorrow, she was supposed to face him.
"As for Retsu…" Chu Yuechan's voice turned cold. "She slaughtered several hundred disciples that night—the ones who tried to storm New Moon Profound Palace. All in the name to protect Princess Cang Yue and your brother."
"…." The statement made Qingyue quiet. She never killed a person before but those two had already did.
"I'm not discouraging you from fighting him tomorrow. I'm simply telling you what I've learned. I fought her personally—not out of hostility, but to help temper her body. They cultivate arts that strengthen the body itself. After our training, they could take direct hits from me at full force… and not even flinch. My strength meant nothing to them."
"…" A chill went down Qingyue's spine.
"I'm not exaggerating. When I first met Retsu, she was only at the Peak Spirit Profound Realm… yet I could barely contend with her. Her techniques were utterly foreign. Compared to them, our Frozen Cloud Arts seemed like the work of children."
"…" Xia Qingyue bit her lip.
"And… you saw her eyes, didn't you?" Chu Yuechan asked. "When you knocked her veiled hat off?"
"Yes…" Qingyue whispered.
"Did they glow blue?"
Her head snapped up. "How did you—?"
"That glow means she's entered a defensive state. When her eyes shine blue, she's invulnerable to all ice or water-based laws. In other words… our Frozen Cloud Arts won't touch her."
"…"
"And yes, Yun Che uses fire… but so can she. If her eyes glow red, she's accessing Yang-based arts. And if you ever see both—red and blue—then prepare yourself for the worst."
"Dual elements…" Xia Qingyue muttered in disbelief. "Then… she really did go easy on me."
"Easy is a generous way to put it," Chu Yuechan said flatly. "You're fortunate it wasn't a life-or-death duel. I was shocked she chose different weapons in the tournament. Normally, all she needs is a small dagger. I suspect… she's simply bored of using the same thing."
"…"
Chu Yuechan's voice softened slightly—almost wistful.
"In those three months, I saw things that words can't describe. Forbidden techniques, profound treasures, strange elemental powers… All of it, from him, from them. Even those potions I gave you…"
"They're all from Yun Che?"
Chu Yuechan didn't answer. But her silence said everything.
"I haven't seen them in two months," Chu Yuechan said quietly. "And they've grown even stronger… mastering waterbending, firebending—and now, even energy manipulation."
"Just three months," Xia Qingyue murmured. "In only three months, you learned more than Frozen Cloud Asgard could offer in decades, Senior Master." She clenched her fists. "Hearing this… I know our Frozen Cloud Arts won't even hold a candle to his power."
Chu Yuechan looked at her with a mix of sympathy and cold realism.
"Are you planning to use those techniques?" she asked. "The forbidden ones? The arts only you can cultivate?"
"…It's my only option, Senior Master." Xia Qingyue replied, voice calm but resolute. "And I assume firebending isn't all he can do?"
Chu Yuechan gave a knowing smile.
"I'll show you something," she said, lifting her arm.
In a breath, her slender arm transformed—its surface turning solid black, and an eerie energy blade forming around her palm, radiating a sharp, condensed power.
"This is Armament Haki," she explained. "One of the most potent arts he taught me during our travels."
"Haki…?" Xia Qingyue repeated the unfamiliar word.
"Yes. It's a spiritual power he awakened within us," Chu Yuechan said as the energy faded and her arm returned to normal. "He taught me, Retsu, and Princess Cang Yue how to harness it. Even if I wanted to teach the other fairies…to you... I couldn't. Haki is incompatible with ordinary humans who rely solely on Profound Energy."
Her voice dropped slightly.
"But… he can bypass that limit. He can awaken it within others—if he chooses. That's why I said earlier, he's the only one capable of truly awakening it."
Xia Qingyue's breath hitched. She now understood why Retsu had made Shui Wushuang's famed Ice Jade Body seem like a joke—Armament Haki could touch even intangible bodies. It made sense now… all the techniques she couldn't explain before.
Chu Yuechan continued. "The reason I've been able to avoid the attacks of all our fellow fairies isn't speed or technique alone—it's because of Observation Haki. A spiritual sense that allows me to read intent… to perceive danger even before it strikes."
She looked at her hand quietly, as though remembering something distant. "He taught us all this… and more. I followed him at first because I owed him my life. I wanted to protect him in return."
She paused, then smiled softly. "But in the end… it was he who protected me. Because of him, I broke into the Emperor Profound Realm. Something that would've taken me a lifetime otherwise."
"Emperor Profound Realm? But… your cultivation…" Xia Qingyue stared, her voice barely a whisper.
"Only your master… my sister… knows the truth," Chu Yuechan replied softly, a rare smile forming on her usually cold lips. "It was his gift to me."
Then, without a word, she released her true cultivation base temporarily remove the modified necklace Yun Che gave her.
An overwhelming pressure filled the space, and Xia Qingyue's pupils dilated.
"Grand Perfection Emperor Profound Realm…?" she gasped.
Chu Yuechan let the aura fade as quickly as it had appeared. Her expression returned to calm as she turned her gaze toward Qingyue.
"Let me ask you something," she said, her voice lower now. "That Grand Imperial Protector, Xue Ling… Nezuko… Princess Cang Yue. Are they involved with him?"
"...…"
"Then isn't it logical? How could a mid Sky Profound Realm like Xue Ling leap to the mid Emperor Profound Realm in just two weeks? Or how that small Nezuko gained a cultivation that surpassed all logic? and Princess Cang Yue—who was barely at the Eighth Level of the True Profound Realm when I met her—now stand at the peak of the Earth Profound Realm in less than three months?"
Xia Qingyue was silent for a long time.
Because she couldn't deny it.
Everything Senior Master said made sense… and yet, it felt impossible. Her heart beat faster, unsure if from awe or unease.
Her husband… was no ordinary cultivator. Not even a genius.
He was a jack-of-all-trades. A monster cloaked in human skin. A man who broke the rules of cultivation as if they were never meant to exist in the first place.
Even Chu Yuechan wasn't certain why she had revealed so much—secrets she had resolved to bury forever. Maybe… it was because, deep in her heart, she felt something.
Not regret.
But inferiority.
Because no matter how powerful she became… Xia Qingyue was the legal wife. And she, Chu Yuechan—Xia Qingyue's own Senior Master—had gained more than she could have. Haki, cultivation levels, treasures, elixirs…... All she gained from him was Heavenly God Spiritual Veins. That was all that he gave her. Her senior master here even has it, and she only travelled with him for three months!
How low am I in your eyes….?
"These words about him," Chu Yuechan said quietly, "must never leave this room. Not even your master must hear them."
"…Yes." Xia Qingyue nodded, still dazed—her thoughts tangled in admiration, disbelief, and something unspoken.
"As an exchange," Chu Yuechan said quietly, "may I ask you a question?"
Xia Qingyue, who was still caught in the lingering shock of their conversation, blinked. Today felt unreal—her Senior Master, who normally spoke only when needed, had talked more than ever before.
She nodded. "Senior Master, please ask."
Chu Yuechan's gaze shifted slightly, her voice carrying a softness that rarely appeared in her otherwise frostbound tone. "When I taught you the Frozen Cloud Arts, I examined your awareness. At the time, I noticed… you didn't particularly enjoy cultivation. But your desire for power was very strong." Her eyes narrowed faintly. "Can you tell me why?"
Xia Qingyue froze. Her lips parted slightly as a hint of sorrow flickered in her expression. For a moment, the ever-present chill around her grew still, as if even the ice spirits sensed her mood and fell silent.
"…Because of my mother," she whispered.
Chu Yuechan didn't speak, waiting.
Xia Qingyue took a breath, her voice like mist over snow. "My father and mother's meeting was… like a fairy tale. He found her outside the city. She was unconscious, her body bloodied and broken. When she woke up, she had no memories—only weakness. Despite that, she stayed. She married my father. And then she had me."
Her fingers clenched slightly.
"But because her body was so frail, childbirth nearly killed her. I only survived by chance."
She paused. A glassy shimmer formed in her moon-like eyes.
"When I was four… she suddenly regained her memories."
Chu Yuechan's gaze sharpened.
"She told us she had to leave. She held me and my brother, crying… She said if she stayed, she'd bring calamity to all of us. That where she was going… was the Realm of the Gods. A place we could never reach."
Xia Qingyue looked down. Her voice grew even quieter.
"Father never remarried. But I've seen him cry alone so many times. Even after more than ten years… he never forgot her."
A pause.
"My brother… he was so young when she left. But what he envied the most, growing up… was that other children had mothers."
Her voice trembled faintly, but she kept her composure.
"That's why… I wanted power. Enough to reach the Realm of the Gods. Enough to find her."
"Realm of the Gods?" Chu Yuechan's brow furrowed. That name stirred memories—ones tied to a quiet night where Retsu and Yun Che spoke in cryptic tones about their origins. A place they mentioned only once: the Dead Spirit World.
"You've heard of this place?" she asked quietly.
Xia Qingyue shook her head slowly, her voice distant. "No… I've searched through every ancient text I could find, but I've never seen that name written anywhere."
"Then… the reason you pursue profound strength—" Chu Yuechan paused, studying the girl before her "—is to reach a height where even the heavens themselves will reveal it to you."
"Mn." Xia Qingyue gave a soft nod, raising her snowy face to the sky. The waning moon reflected in her misty eyes. "All I want… is for my family to be together again. That dream may be far, even unreachable—but I believe that one day, if I climb high enough, I'll see her silhouette waiting at the peak."
Chu Yuechan sighed softly. "I cannot keep this from you any longer. Since you are his… wife… perhaps he would be willing to tell you more."
There was something faint in her tone when she said wife. Xia Qingyue sensed it—an emotion wrapped in restraint. Envy? Jealousy?
But she didn't respond. Her heart had found a new purpose, and now she realized it had always been in front of her.
"He? Yun Che?"
"Yes. His knowledge… it's foreign. I have no doubt he knows about the Realm of the Gods. But—" her gaze sharpened "—I assume, as his wife, the two of you are… close?"
"No."
Chu Yuechan blinked.
Xia Qingyue added quietly, "He has many… companions. But I am not one of them. I was never one of them."
"…Then, you've hit a dead end." Chu Yuechan folded her arms. "He does not share himself with strangers. Forgive me… I listened in on your conversation twice with him using my Observation Haki. In the nearby Pagoda and in the arena. Even when you asked, he told you nothing. Dismiss you despite your attempts."
"…" Xia Qingyue didn't deny it.
"Forcing him won't work. And worse—you'll be contending with his tigresses. They'll protect him without hesitation. You're still here because of Retsu let you win. You don't want to fight that girl if she's not holding back."
A faint smirk tugged at Chu Yuechan's lips. "Even Princess Cang Yue can overwhelm senior fairies. She can stand toe-to-toe with me. And as for the other two… I don't even dare underestimate them."
Her voice grew quieter.
"All of them… revolves around him."
"I can't believe I'm the one saying this," Chu Yuechan muttered, almost to herself. "But… you may want to consider deepening your relationship with him first. Asking him directly will only stir up trouble."
Xia Qingyue blinked. "He… talked about it?"
"Mn. Not in detail," Chu Yuechan said, folding her arms, her eyes narrowing in recollection. "But once, he mentioned wanting to deal with… forgive the words—'stuck-up assholes' when he got up there. Retsu and Cang Yue just laughed like they understood at that time."
"So they do know about the Realm of the Gods…"
Chu Yuechan nodded slowly. "They do. But asking them will just earn you a polite deflection—they'll tell you to ask him. He knows the most. And… honestly, would they even tell you anything, if they could?"
"…Do they have something against me?" Xia Qingyue asked, voice quieter.
Chu Yuechan let out a faint sigh. "You're his wife. They are… his fiancées. That alone makes your place above them, in title and affection. They're extremely particular about that."
There was a long pause.
"Their protectiveness of him isn't just about loyalty," she continued. "It's pride… and love. You may not realize it, but your very existence is a quiet threat to them. Your title as his wife is the reason you're still alive right now. The reason Retsu didn't kill you in the arena. If you want answers… you'll need to find a way in—to his trust, to his world. Into his flock. Not as a fellow cultivator… but as someone he truly allows close. Someone his flock could see as a fellow sister."
"Are you… that close to him?" Xia Qingyue asked, her voice laced with complex emotion.
Chu Yuechan's eyes widened slightly. She could have taken the safe route, but honesty felt more natural now. After all, if things continued the way they were, she and Qingyue might truly become "flock wives."
"I admit it," she said quietly. "We're close. Those three months with him meant everything to me. He and that little plushy of his are the only males I've ever shown kindness to in this world. I didn't want to offend you—as his wife—but… he trusts me. He's told me a lot about himself. About them."
"Then… do you know his true name?"
Chu Yuechan blinked. "True name?" she echoed, a little caught off guard. "He's never told me. I've always just called him… rascal."
Xia Qingyue's gaze shifted to the side, the moonlight reflecting off her eyes. "He once told me, 'I am not the man you were meant to marry.' You heard it too, didn't you?"
"I did," Chu Yuechan nodded slowly, frowning. "But I thought he meant… metaphorically."
"Maybe. But then… there were the names."
"Names?"
"Unohana Retsu calls him 'Yuu-kun'… her sister says 'Yuu-sama.' At first, I thought this name 'Yuu' came from his family name, Yun. But that's not how people refer to someone they care about. No one affectionate calls someone by their surname."
Chu Yuechan's brows furrowed deeper.
"And then," Qingyue continued, "he said he replaced the man I was meant to marry. The one named Yun Che. But if he is Yun Che… why would he speak like that? Why say he replaced himself?"
"Unless," Chu Yuechan whispered, piecing it together, "he's not really Yun Che… not entirely. I had my suspicion."
Xia Qingyue nodded solemnly. "He's hiding something. A true name… his true identity."
After a moment of quiet, Chu Yuechan offered a rare, gentle smile as she gazed at Qingyue.
"Qingyue… would you consider being my friend?"
"Friend?" Xia Qingyue widened her eyes. She's the second person to ask to be her friend.
"Are you uncomfortable with the idea?"
Xia Qingyue lowers her gaze. "Friends… with my Senior Master… this Qingyue…"
"Please… just call me Sister Yuechan," Chu Yuechan said softly. "Let go of the 'Senior Master' title, just for this."
Qingyue hesitated. "Why would Sister Yuechan… want to be friends with someone like me?"
"Part of the reason," Chu Yuechan replied, "is because you're always alone. My sister may be your master… but you rarely speak to anyone outside of her, the Asgard Mistress… and me. Have you ever had any friends?"
"I… This Qingyue only has one." Her voice grew soft, almost wistful. "Yun Che's aunt… Xiao Lingxi. In Floating Cloud City. I miss her. She was the only one who treated me like I wasn't just 'Xia Qingyue, the beauty of the city.' We shared meals, had silly conversations…even if she is the always the one who talks while I kept quiet and listen."
Chu Yuechan nodded, her smile tinged with understanding. "I approached you… because I, too, have feelings for that rascal. I thought it would be awkward… talking to his wife while I share no intimate relationship with him. But I also didn't want us to meet one day, on uncertain terms, where jealousy could poison our hearts."
She looked Qingyue straight in the eyes. "Jealousy lives in all women, doesn't it? I would feel it. You would too. That's why I'd rather become your friend. So one day, if I act on my feelings… I could do so with your understanding. With your blessing."
She extended her hand, not physically, but with her words. "Let me be the second friend in your life. If you want, I can even tell you more about him. It might help you open the door between you two."
"I… Sister Yuechan…" Qingyue's voice trembled.
"Don't think of me as your senior master anymore. Let me be the one person you can talk to—especially about him. You may not be able to speak of these things to anyone else… but with me, you can."
Qingyue's eyes moistened as she whispered, "What you said… is just like something Aunt Lingxi once told me…" She looked up, as if seeing Chu Yuechan in a new light.
"Then… please guide me, Sister Yuechan."
"You shared your story with me, and I've shared what I know about the rascal," Chu Yuechan said gently. "You can come to me anytime, Qingyue. We can talk about the things you can't share with anyone else. I only have my sister here… and perhaps a few comrades, but none I'm truly close to—not like I was a few months ago."
She smiled, wistful and a little self-deprecating. "Being cold served its purpose. It kept men away, kept me focused… but sometimes, I longed to just talk to someone. About anything. Something beyond cultivation. Even if with someone twice below my age. Old enough to be my daughter."
Qingyue gave a small nod. "It's… not odd. Aunt Lingxi is a year younger than me. She's the only one I could talk to freely. I miss that."
Chu Yuechan gently placed a hand on Qingyue's shoulder. Her touch was warm, comforting. "I know there were times you wanted to quit. To break away from everything. Talking about it can lighten the burden. Free your heart from those inner demons."
She glanced toward the sky. "I've told my sister many things… a lot of things since I came back, but there are thoughts even I can't share with her. I can share them with you, though."
"Hnn…" Qingyue's eyes shimmered with unshed emotion. "This Qingyue understands, Sister Yuechan."
At that moment, the sound of deliberately light footsteps echoed outside the courtyard. A clear, self-assured voice called out from just beyond the gate:
"This one is Xiao Sect's Xiao Kuangyu. I come in peace and with admiration. I would like to meet the Fairy of Frozen Moon, Xia Qingyue. I bear no ulterior motives. It's merely that I possess a Frozen Jade Hairpin—an elegant treasure that I believe would only be worthy when worn by the Fairy of Frozen Moon. And also—"
CRACK!
Before the arrogant voice could finish, Chu Yuechan lazily extended a hand. A chilling gust surged forward, and a solid wall of glimmering ice erupted, sealing off the entrance entirely. The freezing air blasted outward like a miniature storm, causing Xiao Kuangyu's expression to drain of color. He stumbled back in fright, nearly tripping over his own boots.
He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, but even as his face twitched with humiliation, he didn't dare retaliate. With a furious flick of his sleeve, he turned and stormed off.
In all of Blue Wind Empire, perhaps only Frozen Cloud Asgard could humiliate the second young master of the Xiao Sect so thoroughly without consequence.
"Sigh…" Chu Yuechan let out a long breath and rolled her eyes. "Such a troublesome fly."
Qingyue blinked. "Will… he do the same thing? If we were approached by men?"
Chu Yuechan blinked, then let out a quiet laugh she hadn't known she could still make. "He? Oh please. He'd probably prank him instead—like yanking his underwear over his head or punching him straight in the groin."
"…" Qingyue's mouth twitched.
Chu Yuechan's voice softened, tinged with something close to affection. "But I'll say this. For all his shameless antics, he's incredibly attentive—especially to the women in his flock. Not many men are like that… not many even try. He will do everything to protect his women."
====================
Back in the ark, the others were still deep in meditation, awakening and refining both their Profound Energy and Reiryoku. As for Xue Ling, Lin Yueru, and Jin Mulan, Yun Che had already started them on the path of awakening their Haki. He used the same method he had applied on Nemu—simple in theory, but grueling in practice.
Awakening it was one thing. Mastering it was another.
The first step? Filtering out unwanted spiritual intent.
They'd been sitting cross-legged for over an hour now, beads of sweat forming on their brows as they struggled to filter the flood of ambient emotions. It turned out to be far more difficult than they had imagined.
Elsewhere, Yuanba had decided to rest for a bit while Mai and Mei prepared dinner. Nezuko had requested her favorite—noodles—so Yun Che gave the twin chefs all the ingredients they needed, and they immediately sprang into action.
Just then—
"Hachoo!! Who in the world is talking about me? I am sure she's not a big boobed and caring Onee-san." Yun Che sneezed, shaking his head. He straightened his upper body, bent his right leg forward into a wide stance, and closed his eyes. His hands mimicked the motion of gripping a sword. After maintaining the pose for a moment, he suddenly growled and chopped forward with both arms in a sharp, precise motion.
There was no energy flare. No aura. Just movement. A light kata, more for amusement than anything serious.
He considered trying to go Super Saiyan again—just for fun—but quickly dismissed the idea. The transformation would definitely startle the girls from their training. Plus, no need for another stampede toward the deck.
"What are you doing?" Jasmine finally asked, her voice tinged with curiosity. Perched on his shoulder in her soul form, she watched him like a cat eyeing a strange bug.
Yun Che retracted his hands, exhaled slowly, and replied, "Don't you want to evolve your profound energy?"
"I do," Jasmine replied lazily, "but I've got time. Unlike them, I can use your training room whenever I want. Maybe tomorrow."
A moment of silence passed.
"Jasmine," he asked, eyes half-closed. "What do you think the probability of me winning the fight tomorrow is?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Really? You're asking me that?" She gave him a side glance, her tone almost teasing. "Didn't you already predict exactly how that fight's going to go?"
He chuckled.
"You're a jack of all trades. You think I'd believe you'd actually lose? Weren't you planning to go easy on her?"
"Fine," Yun Che muttered, stretching lazily. "Still, fighting her tomorrow is going to be awkward. She's probably going to use the Ice Phoenix God Investiture Canon since Frozen Cloud Arts won't work on me."
Jasmine, resting in her soul form on his shoulder, narrowed her eyes slightly. "The Ice Phoenix God Investiture Canon? That's on this planet?"
"At this point, does anything surprise you anymore?"
"Not really," Jasmine admitted flatly.
"Yeah," Yun Che smirked. "It's carved on an ancient obelisk hidden deep in Frozen Cloud Asgard. Since Qingyue has the Nine Profound Exquisite Body, she's the only one there who can cultivate it properly."
"And she knows Frozen Cloud Arts won't work on you?" Jasmine asked, crossing her arms. "Even though you didn't have the Water Seed yet?"
"Didn't need it," Yun Che said with a shrug. "I already have something that nullifies water and ice-based techniques."
Jasmine exhaled through her nose. "So the Frozen Cloud Arts… really are just a watered-down version of the Ice Phoenix Canon."
"Exactly. A lesser derivative," Yun Che confirmed. "The real thing is on a completely different level."
"She's sharper than she looks, that one," Jasmine mused. "I'll give her that. She figured it out without even needing to test it on you."
"Yeah… After tomorrow, she might start sniffing me out the same way Aunt Lingxi did," Yun Che muttered with a half-chuckle, half-grimace. "Creepy, but… impressive."
"She's odd," Jasmine said. "Quiet, restrained… but not someone to take lightly. Even if Retsu let her win."
There was a pause.
"If anyone else were in your place—same cultivation, same techniques—they wouldn't last ten moves against Xia Qingyue," she added. "Zero chance. She's that strong now. Still, wonder if she can match Retsu using the Ice Phoenix God Investiture Canon."
"Retsu has her Yin Essence. The arts won't work on her. She's basically invulnerable." Yun Che mused.
"But you're you. So… I assume you'll be using your Zanpakutō tomorrow?"
Yun Che smirked again, his fingers spinning the purple flaming soccer ball on its tip after it came to his leg. "What do you think?"
Jasmine tilted her head. "Aren't you worried? If you go Bankai… you might trigger another phenomenon like last time."
"Not anymore," he replied, voice calm. "The other spirits have been working on it ever since. They've filtered the energy and adapted. No more uncontrolled resonance from Zangetsu's outburst. So even if I use Bankai… no more heavenly cataclysms."
"Hmph," Jasmine murmured, folding her arms. "I'll believe it when I don't see it."
"Hehe, thanks for the praise," Yun Che grinned, clearly pleased with himself.
"Praise?" Jasmine shot back with a sharp glare. "I was being sarcastic, you idiot!"
Still, her irritation wavered slightly. "That said… you evolved the Heretic Soul into this so-called Super Saiyan? A fivefold amplification? I hate to admit it… but that is impressive."
"If I had the Saiyan bloodline, it'd be even crazier. The original Super Saiyan grants a fifty-fold amplification," Yun Che said casually, as if stating the weather.
"Fifty?!"
Jasmine's eyes widened in utter disbelief. "Are you insane?! Even a twofold boost is enough to break most bodies! You pushed it to five and now you're telling me it can go fifty? That's already stronger than the full-powered Heretic God Arts! At most those are twentyfold!"
"Exactly," Yun Che nodded. "With that kind of amplification, I'd probably break into the Divine Soul Realm outright."
"Then why haven't you—!?"
"Because it would cause way too much trouble," Yun Che interrupted calmly. "With a power spike like that, people from up there would sense me in an instant. I'm kind of grateful I don't have the Saiyan bloodline… for now."
He added with a smirk, "Besides, I can stack Burning Heart and Purgatory on top of Super Saiyan."
Jasmine blinked. "…Wait. You said every realm can be evolved, right?"
"Yep. All seven gates of Heretic God Arts can be enhanced just like the Heretic Soul."
"…Then what happens if you evolve Burning Heart or Purgatory?"
"I've thought about it," Yun Che replied. "But I'm focusing on mastering Perfected Super Saiyan first. That's Grade Four. I haven't even stabilized Grade Two and Three yet."
"Perfected Super Saiyan…?" Jasmine echoed, stunned.
"Yup. If I master Perfected Super Saiyan, it grants an eightfold amplification," Yun Che said with a smug grin. "I'm skipping Grade Two and Three. They give sixfold and sevenfold boosts, but they trade off too much speed for raw power. Not to mention…" He flexed jokingly. "They make me look like some juiced-up bodybuilder on spirit steroids."
"...…!"
Jasmine was completely speechless. Eightfold? From a single technique?! That was equal to unlocking four Heretic God Gates—and he was doing it using only one art.
"I'd rather go straight to Grade Four," Yun Che continued. "The Perfected Form. Total balance. No energy waste, no loss of speed, and no berserk drawbacks."
"But to reach it, you need to master something first," Jasmine said dryly, already guessing.
"Let me guess…" She narrowed her eyes. "Sparking Mode, right?"
"Bingo," Yun Che grinned. "The full-power state for Ki cultivators. Right now, we can only hold it for ten seconds."
Jasmine frowned slightly. "You said it activates after reaching something called Full Burst's Limit? What's Full Burst?"
"Good question," Yun Che nodded. "Full Burst happens after you push your Spirit or Profound Ki beyond your body's natural limit. You see—your body can only hold so much energy, right? Even with potions or external energy, your internal container is still capped."
Jasmine nodded. "Naturally."
"Now," Yun Che raised a finger, "Full Burst goes past that cap. Think of it like force-charging your body. But the catch is—once you exceed your limit, the excess Ki leaks out. That's what you saw before—the aura exploding from my body. It's raw power, but unstable and couldn't be store by the body."
"So the moment you activate Full Burst, you start leaking energy?"
"Exactly. But that's where Sparking Mode comes in," Yun Che said, now slightly serious. "It stabilizes the Full Burst. You compress the leaking energy and burn it at maximum efficiency. All of it. In that state, nothing is wasted."
"But you said we can only stay in it for ten seconds?" Jasmine tilted her head.
"Ten brutal seconds," Yun Che confirmed. "In that time, we can get infinite stamina, enhanced durability, hypersense, boosted speed, and pure offense. However, any Ki based attacks will be a single time use per Sparking Mode as it burns the entire Burst Mode for that single attack."
"But once it burns out, you have to recharge everything from scratch. It's like going full throttle while your tank drains dry. It sacrifices all power for that single burst. Even the Way of Destruction Thrust will be extremely powerful in Sparking Mode and use it on your opponent."
Jasmine stared, then muttered, "That explains the glow... So, if you use Sparking Mode in the battle with that boy...."
"My Kamehameha would kill him. Anyway, yup. That's the spark. The overflow. Once I master it and extend it past ten seconds… For me, I must stay in that mode while in Super Saiyan for 120 minutes is the key to unlocking Perfected Form."
"And where are you now?"
"…Ten seconds," Yun Che admitted with a sigh and a shrug. "But hey, I'm making progress. Every second I don't explode counts. So, one minute is 60 seconds, so I must activate Sparking Mode six times to cover a full minute. Do that for 120 minutes."
Jasmine couldn't stop herself from scoffing. "You're absolutely ridiculous."
"Maybe," Yun Che said. "But that's how all breakthroughs start—one spark at a time. My next goal is hitting a full minute in Sparking Mode. Easier said than done."
Yun Che chuckled to himself as he remembered the sight of Retsu, Mio, and Nemu pouting in unison—adorably frustrated that they couldn't learn Super Saiyan. It was, after all, a transformation tied directly to his unique Heretic God lineage—a technique born from both his bloodline and his madness.
Still, Yun Che wasn't the type to keep power to himself.
Currently, he was deep into experimentation—breaking down the fundamental structure of the Heretic Soul Transformation using the Apple of Eden as a core stabilizer. His goal was bold: to create a form of transformation accessible even to those without Heretic Celestial Blood. A refined, universal evolution.
But it wasn't without cost.
Without the bloodline's divine resistance, even a twofold amplification placed heavy strain on the body. The transformation could rupture meridians, tear muscle fibers, or worse. The greater the amplification, the harsher the backlash. He was still searching for a way to stabilize the transformation matrix—reduce the self-harm while maintaining the raw boost in power. However, the transformation needed Ki to be successfully cultivated and bypassed.
Yet he was confident. Retsu, in particular, came to mind.
If anyone could master the strain through sheer discipline and physical conditioning, it would be her. He could already imagine it—Retsu testing the transformation at its most brutal limits, then rebuilding her body day by day until it no longer buckled under the pressure. Not for glory. Not even for strength.
But because it was his creation.
If he opened the path, she would walk it until the end.
Once stabilized, the form could be taught to others with sufficiently strong physiques. A transformation that wasn't bound by blood, but earned through will and cultivation. If this succeeded, the very concept of divine inheritance might begin to crumble under his hands.
And yet, even as he pondered his next step, he knew one thing for certain:
They would follow him.
Not because he was Yun Che, the Heretic God's inheritor…
But because he never stopped trying to share the stars he reached for. Besides, this new transformation for his companions with Sparking Mode will make them even stronger.
"Jasmine, I've been meaning to ask…" Yun Che said thoughtfully, "Is Sky Wolf Slash the only move you remember from the Heavenly Wolf Hell God's Tome? You really have no impression of the second art?"
Jasmine narrowed her eyes. "Can't your overpowered cheat system just complete it for you?"
He raised a brow. "Hey, the system knows the form, sure. But without the actual tome, it's just placeholders. It needs a reference to reconstruct the exact technique. Otherwise, it's useless."
Jasmine sighed. "Fine. What does the system say about the second style?"
Yun Che flicked open his system interface, bringing up the internal wiki. A glowing line of text shimmered:
===================
[Wild Fang]
Creates a deep-blue, giant wolf with its jaws opened so wide it could blot out the sky.
====================
He turned it toward her. "Ring any bells?"
Jasmine furrowed her brows, closing her eyes to focus. "Wild Fang… hmmm… no. I only skimmed the tome back then while my brother was training. I memorized the fundamentals and the first sword style. That's all. And besides—" she opened her eyes and gave him a dry look, "—you're using a small sword to cast techniques meant for heavy swords."
"They're Zanpakutōs," Yun Che said. "They can cast anything. Form follows will."
Jasmine muttered, "Tch, show-off."
"Well," Yun Che added, "if we can find the full tome in the Realm of the Celestials, the system can scan it. With that, learning the whole thing should be easy."
Another sigh escaped her lips. "Why do I feel like my big brother would've tried to kill you if he were still alive? First Super Saiyan, now Heavenly Wolf Hell God's Tome—and you're casually using a featherweight sword to do it…"
Yun Che grinned as he held his head from behind. "Maybe I'll pay respects at his grave when I master Wild Fang—he might appreciate the irony."