Chapter 332: Chapter 328: Return of the King
"Huh? Who are you!"
The young man’s pupils constricted as he stared at the white-haired man in astonishment.
’With my level of cultivation, I didn’t even notice him approaching. Doesn’t that mean he could have killed me just now if he’d wanted to?’
A chill ran down his spine at the thought.
’When did Cyan Cloud Country produce another expert of this caliber?’
And it seemed that none of the other major sects had a figure like Ning Jiang in their ranks.
At that moment, a sudden silence fell over the area.
How could Ning Yu’an ever forget that voice?
"It’s you... little brother..."
Ning Yu’an stood there as if in a daze, her eyes filled with boundless surprise as she spoke through trembling lips.
"It’s me, Sister An. I’m back."
Ning Jiang stepped forward and, under the woman’s utterly joyous gaze, gently pulled her into his embrace.
Ning Yu’an’s delicate frame trembled.
Where was the slightest trace of arrogance on the woman known as the Purple Moon Fairy, Cyan Cloud’s First Beauty? At this moment, she was just like any other vulnerable young woman, nestling in Ning Jiang’s arms.
"Little brother, I missed you so much!"
She threw her arms around Ning Jiang, as if afraid he would leave her side again like he did two years ago. As she spoke, tears streamed down her cheeks.
It had been two years!
In the two years since Ning Jiang had left, she had cultivated the Purple Qi Creation Technique with every fiber of her being. But for what?
To reach the apex and become the strongest in the world?
She had no such aspirations. That was not what she wanted at all.
All she wanted was to be able to stay by Ning Jiang’s side, to walk with him on his journey!
She knew Ning Jiang walked a long, arduous, and endless path, and she hoped that along the way, he wouldn’t be lonely—that at least, he would have her for company.
That was why she’d trained day and night with desperate fervor. She knew her own talent wasn’t exceptional, so she had to put in several times more effort than others!
It was this very perseverance that allowed her to break through one realm after another, advancing by leaps and bounds. She even surpassed figures like Sword King Chu Bai, leaving them all behind.
But for her, the training wasn’t the hard part. The greatest suffering was the longing.
She often worried, ’Is Ning Jiang doing all right out there?’
Even though she believed her little brother was a dragon among men, destined to soar to great heights, he was still her little brother. How could she ever stop worrying about him?
What use were titles like Cyan Cloud’s First Beauty or Purple Moon Fairy to her?
Without Ning Jiang by her side, all the fame in the world was nothing but passing smoke. How could it bring her even a shred of happiness?
"Sister An, I missed you too. I’m sorry. It was wrong of me to leave you all alone in Cyan Cloud Country."
Ning Jiang held her gently, his eyes filled with deep remorse.
In this moment, he was not the Master of the Myriad Swords Sect, renowned throughout the Six Eastern Provinces, nor was he some Legendary Venerable.
He was simply Ning Yu’an’s little brother.
"Sigh, it looks like young Bingxue doesn’t stand a chance."
Watching from behind, Fang Xue, the Hall Master of Floating Snow Hall, shook her head in resignation and abandoned any thought of matchmaking between Ning Jiang and Liu Bingxue.
She understood now that no matter how outstanding Liu Bingxue might be, she could never compare to the woman in purple.
In Ning Jiang’s heart, that woman’s position was unshakeable.
"He’s finally back." Sword King Chu Bai let out a long breath. "Looks like Cyan Cloud Country can finally be at peace."
"Heh. But before that peace, I’m afraid there will be a storm of blood," said Sword King Duan Wuya.
Vajra King Meng Bubai licked his lips. "Young Master Wushuang has returned. The King once again graces Cyan Cloud. I wonder how many heads will fall this time? I can already see them rolling across Cyan Cloud Country!"
"Miss, who is he?"
A little maid beside Wei Yanran asked. She was new, having only recently entered Wei Yanran’s service, and didn’t recognize Ning Jiang.
That didn’t stop her from recognizing Ning Yu’an, however.
Ning Yu’an was now Cyan Cloud’s First Beauty, known as the Purple Moon Fairy. Countless men admired her; even many of the young disciples from Cyan Cloud Country’s major sects were infatuated with her.
Chen Hao of the Blood Sword Sect, for example, was one of them.
But now, Ning Yu’an was nestled in the arms of a strange man. The sight simply shattered the maid’s perception of reality.
She was certain that if word of this got out, all of Cyan Cloud Country would be in an uproar, and countless men would hate Ning Jiang to death.
"Miss?"
The maid turned to look at Wei Yanran and was startled. Her mistress was staring at Ning Jiang, completely mesmerized.
She had never seen Wei Yanran with such an expression.
She could even see a burning envy in Wei Yanran’s eyes—an envy directed at Ning Yu’an!
Wei Yanran took a deep breath. "Who is he?" she repeated, enunciating each word. "He is... Peerless Under Heaven!"
BOOM!
The words struck the maid like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. Her eyes flew wide, and she stood there, utterly dumbfounded.
"’A man on the path, as fine as jade; a young master in this world, without a parallel...’" The maid swallowed hard, recalling the phrase everyone in Cyan Cloud Country knew by heart. Realization dawned. "He is Young Master Wushuang, Ning Jiang!"
"The King has returned... The very heavens are about to change over Cyan Cloud Country!" A look of excitement crossed the maid’s face. She knew she was about to witness firsthand the earth-shattering upheaval this man’s return would bring!
Just as the maid’s mind was reeling, Wei Yanran stepped forward. Her voice was as cold as frost. "So you do know how to come back!"
"Miss?" The maid was shocked and quickly reached out to pull Wei Yanran back.
"Don’t try to stop me. There are some things I have to say, or he’ll never know." Wei Yanran took a deep breath, her gaze firm as she stared straight at Ning Jiang. "You were gone for two years. Do you have any idea what’s happened in Cyan Cloud Country during that time? Do you know how hard life has been for Ning Yu’an?"
"The Six Great Sects returned to Cyan Cloud Country. The moment they arrived, they began to suppress Kunlun and the Alchemy Alliance you left behind. In just one month, the Alchemy Alliance collapsed."
As Wei Yanran spoke, the tale of the great upheavals that had shaken Cyan Cloud Country for the past two years slowly unfolded before Ning Jiang.
Slowly, his expression grew colder and colder. An icy killing intent began to radiate from him, causing the expressions of Yue Wenfu and his two companions to change drastically, their hearts pounding in their chests.
As for Chen Hao and the others from the Blood Sword Sect, they felt as if they had been plunged into an ice cellar, the very blood in their veins threatening to freeze solid.
’Who in the world *is* this person?’
Chen Hao screamed internally. This man, who looked even younger than him, felt like a demon from the Abyssal Hell. His killing intent alone was enough to make him suffocate!
"I see."
By the time Wei Yanran finished speaking, the killing intent radiating from Ning Jiang was so thick it was almost tangible.
"Sect Leader, restrain your anger!"
Yue Wenfu and his companions hurriedly cupped their fists and bowed, crying out in alarm.
This was a terrifying killing intent, the likes of which they had never witnessed even when facing the Evil Spirit Sect!
"I’m sorry, so sorry. You entrusted the Alchemy Alliance to me, but I couldn’t protect it. It’s because I’m useless..."
As Wei Yanran spoke, her eyes grew red, and she broke down into tears.
(Author’s Note: Wei Yanran’s apologies are my own as well. I’ve been dealing with some personal issues in real life lately that caused me to have a bit of a breakdown; I was so angry my hands were shaking. I’ve calmed down a lot now, and looking back, I realize I haven’t done right by all of you who have supported me. I’m very sorry. But I’ve come to terms with things, and those personal matters won’t be affecting me anymore. I’ll do my best to keep the updates coming.)