Chapter 151: Chapter 151: The Beauty of Days Gone By
"Phoenix’s Song of Nine Heavens!"
With a sudden swish, Ji Chen stood up from his spot, his face full of astonishment.
He remembered something.
No wonder this melody felt so familiar.
This was the zither skill he had given to Qu Luoning in the past, Phoenix’s Song of Nine Heavens, an Earth Tier cultivation technique!
Thinking of this, Ji Chen almost confirmed the identity of the person playing the zither; it was very likely Qu Luoning.
Because this martial technique belonged to him in his past life and was given only to Qu Luoning.
In the world today, apart from Qu Luoning, it was impossible for anyone else to know how to play it.
"What’s wrong?" Zhou Feng and his wife noticed Ji Chen’s unusual behavior and couldn’t help but show curiosity.
"Brother Zhou, what is Yanyan’s mother’s name?" Ji Chen asked.
Zhou Feng scratched his head and looked at his wife, Zhou Ting said, "We don’t know either, we only know she said her surname is Chu, so we’ve always called her Sister Chu. Why do you ask?"
The couple looked at each other, not knowing why Ji Chen suddenly asked this question.
"Surname Chu?"
Ji Chen frowned. Could he have been mistaken?
But Phoenix’s Song of Nine Heavens, apart from Qu Luoning, couldn’t possibly be known by anyone else.
Could it be that she passed this martial technique to someone else?
With these thoughts in mind, Ji Chen quickly realized.
Yes, Qu Luoning is the Eldest Princess of the Chu Kingdom!
"Brother Zhou, I’ll go take a look."
Without hesitation, Ji Chen clasped his fists towards Zhou Feng and his wife, then left the courtyard alone.
He followed the sound of the zither, eventually arriving outside a certain courtyard in the village.
The courtyard here was built with bamboo and wood, and as soon as he got close, Ji Chen smelled a fragrant scent, likely due to the many flowers planted in the yard.
He stood outside the courtyard, and only when the sound of the zither finished did he raise his hand to knock on the door.
"Who is it?"
A familiar voice reached his ears, allowing Ji Chen to completely confirm the other person’s identity.
"Squeak!"
The courtyard door was opened by Yanyan.
Her little face also showed a look of confusion, but when she saw it was Ji Chen, she obediently called out, "Ah, it’s Uncle!"
"What uncle?"
A curious voice reached his ears, as a beautiful figure walked over, picked Yanyan up from the ground, and then raised her eyes to look at Ji Chen.
The woman was dressed in a purple garment, with white hair and a beautiful face, strikingly stunning.
Ji Chen recognized her at once; it was Qu Luoning!
Upon seeing Ji Chen, she was visibly startled and only regained her composure after a while, speaking with unusual calmness, "So you were the one who visited the village during the day."
By the light of the night, Ji Chen could clearly see she was pretending to be calm, but he didn’t expose her. Instead, he said, "I heard you severed your cultivation, I didn’t expect you to be here now."
She said nothing, but her brows were slightly furrowed.
In her arms, Yanyan noticed the tension and couldn’t help but ask, "Is mother unhappy?"
Qu Luoning shook her head, lovingly pinched her little cheek, and then looked at Ji Chen again, "Why are you here?"
"Something happened, I just happened to pass by."
Ji Chen replied, looking at her, then at Yanyan in her arms, "This child..."
"Has nothing to do with you." Before he could finish, Qu Luoning’s brows furrowed deeper.
"But judging by her age, it’s hard to say she really has nothing to do with me, right?" Ji Chen said bluntly.
He seemed to understand something.
Back then, Qu Luoning severed her cultivation and left Kunlun, which puzzled the world.
But now, Ji Chen seemed to understand.
The Taiyin Immortal Body cultivated the Path of Emotionlessness, requiring the severing of past ties, otherwise, the Celestial Calamity would affect all those related to the cultivator.
Back then, when Qu Luoning cultivated the Path of Emotionlessness, she severed not only her ties with him but also with the Chu Kingdom.
Later, she suddenly severed her cultivation and scattered the Path of Emotionlessness, probably for Yanyan’s sake.
Not long ago, Ji Chen visited Kunlun, met Si Ruyan, and inquired about the reason.
But at the time, the Kunlun Saintess did not disclose too much to him.
However, Ji Chen could see that Si Ruyan looked at him with a peculiar gaze then.
Now he finally had a realization.
"Is Yanyan my daughter?" he asked, locking eyes with Qu Luoning.
She was silent for a moment, wanting to deny it, "No..."
"Think carefully before you answer. If not, does it mean you betrayed me back then?" Ji Chen asked again.
"I did not!" She looked serious.
"Then isn’t that right?" Ji Chen smiled, stepping into the courtyard.
Qu Luoning instinctively took a step back.
In her arms, Yanyan, full of innocence, stared wide-eyed at Ji Chen, "Are you my dad?"
Ji Chen picked her up, asking, "Does Yanyan know who her dad is?"
She nodded seriously, "Mother told me, Yanyan’s dad is called Ji Chen, she told me not to tell others, and said dad went to a very, very far place and won’t come back."
Upon hearing this, Qu Luoning finally lost her composure, "The world said you went to the Immortal Burial Forest... I thought..."
Ji Chen sighed, "Yes, who would have thought I emerged alive from the Immortal Burial Forest."
"Back then, I was on the Path of Emotionlessness and severed the past with you, but Yanyan’s appearance forced me to give up the Path of Emotionlessness, otherwise, this child would always be affected by the Celestial Calamity..."
She recounted the past, knowing that year she actively forsook that relationship, Ji Chen was not wrong, he was even the victim.
After the farewell at Kunlun, upon learning that he went to the Immortal Burial Forest, Qu Luoning could not calm her heart, which disturbed her Dao heart. Later, realizing she was pregnant, she decisively severed her cultivation, returned to a normal life, and eventually brought Yanyan here.
"Everyone has the right to choose their own life, Liu Qingcheng did so, and so did you. Cultivating the Path of Emotionlessness was the path you chose back then, I have no right to interfere, nor will I complain, I can only respect your choice."
"But now..."
He glanced at Yanyan, "Since I’m back, certain things, whether I like it or not, I need to take responsibility for."
Qu Luoning was silent, her heart very conflicted.
She severed her cultivation, saying it was for Yanyan, but also because several times her Dao heart was disturbed due to Ji Chen, which meant she could never truly let go of her feelings for him.
Yet, at the same time, Qu Luoning knew she had no right to reclaim anything.
Because back then, it was her choice.
"I..."
She lowered her head, remained silent for a long time, as if wanting to say something.
But before she could speak, she saw Ji Chen holding Yanyan coming up, embracing her in his arms.
In an instant, the emotions Qu Luoning had suppressed for years burst forth, and tears flowed uncontrollably.
...