Wayfarer

Chapter 797: Justice for You

The kiss lasted a long time. Lan Yaoguang felt her head spinning. After what seemed like ages, the duo finally parted. They stared into each other's eyes.

Lan Yaoguang's ears flushed bright red. She pushed Xiao Nanfeng away. "You rogue, what're you doing?!"

"It's what you owed me," Xiao Nanfeng said, his eyes bright.

He was referring to when Lan Yaoguang had forcefully kissed him before her departure. Now, he was returning the favor.

"Y-You rogue!" Lan Yaoguang was so embarrassed that she wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole. Her fists pounded weakly against Xiao Nanfeng's chest, though of course they didn't hurt at all.

Xiao Nanfeng glanced at Lan Yaoguang, beautiful and bashful. His gaze softened as he caught her fists.

"You've changed. You've even grown bold enough to dare to bully me now!" Lan Yaoguang sighed as she tried to pull her hands free from Xiao Nanfeng's grasp.

"More like I've realized some things. I used to be held back by my thoughts and couldn't express myself properly. Now that I've figured things out, I don't intend to let go of the good things in life that I've grasped."

Lan Yaoguang felt her heart flutter. A wave of warmth spread throughout her body. Without realizing it, she had stopped struggling.

Xiao Nanfeng didn't press further. He held her hand as they strolled along the beach.

After walking for a while, Lan Yaoguang suddenly turned to him, concerned. "How have you been all these years? Are those cursed effigies still hounding you?"

"I've been lucky. The majority of the cursed effigies have become my friends. Rather than harming me, they've saved my life countless times in dangerous situations."

"Oh?"

As they continued to stroll along the beach, Xiao Nanfeng shared the experiences he had accumulated over the past few years.

While listening to his stories about the powerful enemies he had faced, Lan Yaoguang felt a surge of anxiety. Even though Xiao Nanfeng was standing safe and sound by her side, she couldn't help but feel worried. Her hand gripped his more tightly.

Naturally, Xiao Nanfeng noticed her reaction.

"Everything's fine now. Don't worry," he reassured her.

"You're always so reckless. What would I do if something were to happen to you? I..." Lan Yaoguang's voice was filled with concern.

"But I'm standing right here, aren't I?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

Seeing him close by, Lan Yaoguang gradually relaxed. She couldn't help but say, "You have to promise not to be reckless again."

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "There are things I have to do. We don't have much time, and the calamity of the era approaches. I have to seize every moment I can."

Lan Yaoguang opened her mouth wide, but she didn't know what to say. It wasn't just her—countless powerful figures across the world were facing the same fate. They were filled with dread. They hoped that the tribulation wouldn't come or that they wouldn't be caught in it, but it was all a matter of deception.

"No matter what happens in the future, regardless of whether we win or lose, I'll fight with everything I have. I won't miss out on you, either. I don't want to leave any regrets behind."

Upon hearing Xiao Nanfeng's words, a warm feeling filled Lan Yaoguang's heart. All the fear and tension she had felt was starting to melt away.

Though the road ahead was full of danger, uncertainty, and even death, their momentary companionship was enough. Xiao Nanfeng had mentioned Zhang Lingjun, Xia Yu'er, and the Divine Emperor—but now, Lan Yaoguang didn't feel as troubled by it all.

Hand in hand, the couple walked along the beach, sharing their feelings and thoughts from their years apart.

The two of them talked all the way until nightfall.

At dusk, beside the bonfire, Xiao Nanfeng once again demonstrated to her his long-awaited cooking skills.

"You’ve gotten even better at this over the years," Lan Yaoguang said with a cheerful smile as she ate the food Xiao Nanfeng had just prepared.

"My skills haven't improved much. Rather, the ingredients have gotten better. Over the years, after every battle, I'd collect the freshest and finest ingredients and store them for this very day—when I can cook for you again. I personally picked out all the food you see here."

Upon hearing that, Lan Yaoguang suddenly felt that the feast was even more delicious. All these years, despite the life-and-death battles he had faced, he never forgot her love of eating.

She smiled at the tender, juicy roast meat in her hands. She felt as if it was the most precious treasure in the world, having been basted in love and tender affection.

"You have some too." Lan Yaoguang held a skewer of roast meat up to Xiao Nanfeng's mouth.

Xiao Nanfeng took a bite. The two cultivators shared a smile. They understood each other profoundly, without any need for words.

After their dinner by a campfire, they sat on a large rock and continued to relate to each other everything that had happened over the years. It was Lan Yaoguang's turn to speak; she seemed to have an endless number of things to talk about.

They talked all the way until sunrise.

As dawn broke, Lan Yaoguang rested her head on Xiao Nanfeng's shoulder. The two of them gazed quietly at the rising sun, completely at peace.

Only when the sun had risen high did the two cultivators finally stand up.

"It's time for us to go," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Where to?"

"To give you justice."

Lan Yaoguang: ???

The couple swiftly departed from the beach as Xiao Nanfeng summoned a group of his black-robed subordinates. They set off toward Yongding.

By the time they reached the city, the Demon Child was already there.

"Xiao Nanfeng, are we going to get into a fight again?" he asked excitedly.

He was overjoyed to have been summoned so quickly after his two-day vacation and subsequent return to his studies. Studying was important, of course, but who didn't like to play truant? Especially when he could participate in a fight like a delinquent youth, too...

"Let's go. We're heading to the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm."

He ushered everyone in to find Blue Lantern, Ye Sanshui, Tu Feng, and others already waiting for him. They weren't surprised to see Lan Yaoguang with Xiao Nanfeng.

"Your Majesty, everything's ready. How should we proceed?" Ye Sanshui asked.

Not far from them lay two black coffins, each containing a Boundless Immortal.

"Let's take them on one at a time. First, we'll try to subdue them—but if we can't, we'll kill them and turn them into elixirs."

"Understood!" Everyone nodded.

"Which one first?" Ye Sanshui asked.

"The Immortal Emperor of Dahan is weaker, so let's start with him. His imperial might must have drained away over the past few days. That said, stay cautious," Xiao Nanfeng warned.

"Understood!" Everyone nodded.

It was prudent never to underestimate one's opponent. Though the Immortal Emperor of Dahan seemed to pale in strength compared to Ye Sanshui, Xiao Nanfeng had still prepared three Boundless Immortals to take him on simultaneously.

Xiao Nanfeng reached out and opened up the coffin. Ye Sanshui, the Demon Child, and Tu Feng stepped in, followed quickly after by Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang.

With a whoosh, they found themselves within the black coffin hidden realm.

The Immortal Emperor of Dahan was lying at the top of a mountain peak with a look of embarrassed frustration. How had he ended up in such a predicament?

He had tried to conserve his imperial might, but had already lost most of it upon trying to break out of the void. Over the next few days, even more had dissipated, leaving him with only a sliver of energy.

What was he to do?

Just then, three beams of light shot toward him.

The Immortal Emperor of Dahan's eyes snapped open in rage and shock. "Three Boundless Immortals?"

"Immortal Emperor of Dahan, will you surrender, or do we need to subdue you by force?" Ye Sanshui demanded.

The Immortal Emperor of Dahan's expression darkened. How dare an ordinary emperor's subordinate threaten him?

He glanced up at the open exit to the black coffin hidden realm. His eyes brightening, he prepared to make his escape.

"Where do you think you're going?" Tu Feng demanded.

With a shout, he manifested nine white fox tails around his back. They wrapped around the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, whose face twisted as he threw a punch. A powerful storm erupted in the void.

"Take this!" the Demon Child yelled out gleefully.

He sent a torrent of lotus swords toward the Immortal Emperor of Dahan, engulfing him and forcing him to retreat.

Just then, Ye Sanshui appeared behind him and struck him with a powerful punch.

The Immortal Emperor of Dahan screamed in pain as he was sent flying again.

The three Boundless Immortals ganged up on the Immortal Emperor, leaving him battered and bruised.

Hovering high above in the air, Xiao Nanfeng held Lan Yaoguang's hand tightly. "Do you feel a little better now?"

"I wasn't that bothered to begin with," Lan Yaoguang replied pridefully.

However, her eyes sparkled with excitement. The Immortal Emperor's threats really had scared her quite a bit. Seeing him get his comeuppance now was immensely satisfying.

Xiao Nanfeng smiled. He wasn't so gauche as to call her out on her obvious delight.

The fighting grew more and more intense. Xiao Nanfeng had deliberately left the exit to the dark coffin hidden realm open so that the Immortal Emperor of Dahan would have a sliver of hope. He didn't want the Immortal Emperor to resort to desperate measures, after all. Then, the three Boundless Immortals would slowly wear him down.

Finally, after a day of fighting, the Immortal Emperor of Dahan was too badly injured to continue fighting.

"Stop!" he cried out. "I surrender!"

Xiao Nanfeng and his subordinates were taken aback. An Immortal Emperor, surrender? Surely not.

All Immortal Emperors were ambitious and powerful beyond belief. They had to be; they would never have been able to found a divine empire otherwise. They would never surrender without a hidden agenda. Admitting defeat mid-fight was unheard of.

The three Boundless Immortals were prepared to cripple him before he could be subdued. How could the Immortal Emperor of Dahan be giving up now?

"He's definitely trying to trick us. Keep attacking. We'll cripple him first!" Ye Sanshui exclaimed.

The Immortal Emperor of Dahan's eyes opened wide. "Don't! I really am surrendering!"

"I don't believe you. What kind of Immortal Emperor would give up on their pride?" Tu Feng demanded.

He had encountered many Immortal Emperors before. None would have behaved as shamefully as the Immortal Emperor of Dahan did.

"I simply inherited my father's position. I'm not like the others—I don't care that much about my pride. I really am surrendering!" the Immortal Emperor of Dahan exclaimed.

Xiao Nanfeng: ...

Everyone: ...