98: mother and daughter

That enchanting figure, dressed in a luxurious purple robe, possessed a beauty almost demonic.

Though clearly a man, he had a pair of captivating peach blossom eyes that sparkled with every glance, as if they could steal one's very soul. He simply floated there, yet the oppressive aura he exuded made Hongfu Immortal feel as if she were facing a formidable enemy.

Hong Fu gazed at the familiar yet unfamiliar face before her, her delicate body trembling slightly, her complexion instantly becoming incredibly complex—filled with surprise, anger, and a hint of indescribable panic.

Her lips moved, and after a long while, she finally squeezed out three words from her throat: "It's you…"

The purple-robed man, Cloudy Dew, the Old Ancestor of the Joyful Union Sect, swept his gaze across Hong Fu's still charming face, finally landing on Dong Xuan'er, who was being held by Lin Feng behind her.

He observed Dong Xuan'er for a moment, a hint of a smile flashing in his peach blossom eyes, the corners of his mouth curving slightly.

"She doesn't resemble you at all."

Dong Xuan'er, hearing this inexplicable remark, felt confused and didn't understand why her Master seemed so familiar with this Demonic Path fiend.

Cloudy Dew's gaze returned to Hong Fu, his tone tinged with a mix of confusion and questioning: "Why did you hide from me and leave by yourself back then? If we hadn't happened to meet today, I wouldn't have known that between us… there was actually a daughter."

At these words, Dong Xuan'er's mind went blank. She looked at Cloudy Dew with disbelief, then abruptly turned to look at her Master.

She meticulously scrutinized Cloudy Dew's impossibly handsome face and indeed, from his features, she could discern a few contours similar to her own. Especially the unintentional allure he exuded was practically identical to hers.

"Master!" Dong Xuan'er couldn't help but question, "Is this true!"

Hongfu Immortal's body swayed, her face somewhat pale. Looking into Dong Xuan'er's eyes, her heart was filled with a myriad of emotions, and for a moment, she didn't know how to speak.

Hours earlier, upon learning that Yan Family Fortress had sided with the Demonic Path, she had rushed here, concealing it from the Sect Master, determined to save her daughter even at the cost of her life. Who could have imagined that the Demonic Path Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator ambushing this place would be the person she least wanted to see in this lifetime!

Back then, she and Cloudy Dew had indeed shared a deeply entangled past, and it was during that time that she became pregnant with Dong Xuan'er. But after Hong Fu was brought back to the Joyful Union Sect by Cloudy Dew, Hong Fu deeply disliked the Sect's atmosphere.

She ultimately chose to secretly leave with the child in her womb, changing her name and joining Huangfeng Valley. From then on, there was no one else in the world, only Hongfu Immortal of Huangfeng Valley.

Seeing Hong Fu remain silent, Cloudy Dew didn't press her further.

His gaze shifted to Dong Xuan'er, then landed on Lin Feng, who was tightly holding Dong Xuan'er's wrist. His expression instantly turned cold.

"Hmph."

With a cold snort, Cloudy Dew released his Divine Sense, intending to pull Dong Xuan'er back from Lin Feng's side.

At the same time, he brought two fingers together and pointed at Lin Feng.

A highly condensed purple finger wind shot through the air!

He did not intend to kill. In his view, Lin Feng was handsome among male Cultivators, and such handsome male Cultivators were very popular within the Joyful Union Sect. Killing him directly would be a pity; capturing him and bringing him back to the Sect would have its uses.

"Cloudy Dew, stop!"

"No!"

Hong Fu and Dong Xuan'er's exclamations sounded simultaneously.

Hong Fu even tried to summon her Magic Treasure for rescue.

But the finger wind was too fast; her movements were nowhere near quick enough!

At this critical moment, Lin Feng's face still showed no trace of panic.

Earlier, when Cloudy Dew appeared, his mind had already been racing, analyzing the situation before him.

It was known that Hong Fu was Cloudy Dew's old flame, and Dong Xuan'er was his biological daughter. These mother and daughter, he believed, were safe.

Therefore, he only needed to ensure his own safety while revealing a portion of his strength.

"Buzz!"

A Divine Sense power slightly weaker than Cloudy Dew's surged from Lin Feng's glabella, forming an invisible barrier that forcefully blocked Cloudy Dew's Divine Thought!

Immediately after, he flipped his left hand, and an ancient, heavy, pitch-black small shield appeared out of thin air, expanding against the wind and blocking in front of him.

It was precisely the Renwang Shield!

"Bang!"

The purple finger wind heavily struck the Renwang Shield, emitting a dull thud.

Violent spiritual energy exploded, and the Renwang Shield was sent flying several feet back before it finally stabilized.

And Lin Feng himself was completely unharmed!

Seeing this, Hong Fu's hand, which was about to summon her Magic Treasure, froze in mid-air, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.

Even Cloudy Dew, whose arrogant peach blossom eyes had always been present, finally showed a hint of surprise.

"Interesting."

Cloudy Dew observed Lin Feng with interest, "I didn't expect to have misjudged. At such a young age, to possess such cultivation and courage, you are indeed worthy of my daughter."

Lin Feng felt a bit speechless upon hearing this.

What was all this about?

"Boy, you have two choices." Cloudy Dew's tone carried a hint of condescension, "Either join my Joyful Union Sect, and I can arrange for Xuan'er to be your Dual Cultivation Dao Companion. If you refuse, then you will remain in the Joyful Union Sect and become my Joyful Union Sect's second Core Formation Cauldron."

Hong Fu, who was beside them, finally recalled the reason for her escape back then when she heard Cloudy Dew's words.

Why did she flee back then? Was it not because she couldn't tolerate the Joyful Union Sect's emphasis on Dual Cultivation as the Great Dao!

Today, Cloudy Dew even wanted to drag her daughter, and even Lin Feng, into that den of iniquity!

"Dream on!"

She no longer evaded. With a flick of her hand, a banner embroidered with wind and cloud patterns shot into the sky, transforming into a crimson light barrier that simultaneously protected Lin Feng and Dong Xuan'er.

Immediately after, she took out a palm-sized jade bottle. As she tilted the bottle, thick silver electric arcs crackled " crackle" as they struck down towards Cloudy Dew's head!

Cloudy Dew, seeing Hong Fu suddenly attack him, a hint of confusion flashed in his eyes.

He didn't even bother to make a move, allowing the lightning to strike his Nascent Soul Stage protective spiritual light, causing ripples but failing to move him even an inch.

The gap between Core Formation and Nascent Soul was truly like a chasm.

"Lin Feng! Take Xuan'er back to Huangfeng Valley!"

Hong Fu roared fiercely, her attacks relentless, summoning a crimson long whip that conjured a sky full of whip shadows, wildly lashing out at Cloudy Dew.

But all her attacks were like mud oxen entering the sea, ultimately dissipating into nothingness.

Lin Feng looked at the seemingly crazed Hong Fu, sighed inwardly, bowed to her from afar, then pulled Dong Xuan'er and transformed into a streak of light, fleeing!

"Master!" Dong Xuan'er, being pulled by him, couldn't help but cry out as she looked back.

Lin Feng, however, paid no heed, even accelerating his escape speed.

He knew that no matter what, Cloudy Dew would not truly kill his former Dao Companion.

Seeing Hong Fu's barrage of 'gua sha' like attacks against him, and then seeing Lin Feng flee with his newly recognized daughter, Cloudy Dew's patience finally ran out.

"Enough!"

He let out a displeased low roar, and a terrifying wave of spiritual energy spread out from him!

"Pfft!"

Hong Fu was struck as if by a heavy blow, spitting out several mouthfuls of blood, her body flying backward like a kite with a broken string.

Lin Feng, however, was already prepared. The Renwang Shield once again glowed brightly, forcefully withstanding the impact, and at the same time, using the immense force to fly backward.

As for Wang Chan, who had long been terrified, he had quietly slipped away to find his second uncle the moment Cloudy Dew appeared.

Cloudy Dew repelled Hong Fu and was about to give chase, but Hong Fu blocked his path again.

She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, staring intently at him.

"Cloudy Dew, don't you understand yet! Xuan'er has grown up; she has her own path to walk! Must you force her to be like you, to step onto a crooked path!"

Cloudy Dew's face darkened: "My Joyful Union Sect's Legacy spans thousands of years; the Yin and Yang Dao points directly to the Origin. How can it be considered a crooked path?"

"Ha!" Hong Fu laughed as if she had heard the biggest joke, sneering, "Cultivating through sexual intercourse, harvesting others—it's fine if you yourself degenerate! I will never allow Xuan'er to be led astray by you!"

Before her words even finished, her aura began to grow violent and unstable.

She was actually going to burn her Golden Core and Divine Sense, activating a forbidden art, no matter the cost!

From afar, Dong Xuan'er, seeing Hong Fu's actions, felt her heart violently clutched.

She watched Hong Fu, fighting desperately against the Nascent Soul Stage Demonic Cultivator to protect her, seeing her face, which she didn't know when had become so aged, her mind buzzed.

Scenes from the past, her Master's earnest teachings, her meticulous care, all flooded her mind at this moment.

All the confusion, bewilderment, and grievances, at this moment, transformed into a heart-wrenching cry.

"Mother—!"

Hong Fu, who was activating the forbidden art, trembled violently upon hearing this sound.

She turned her head, looking at her daughter's tear-streaked face, and then glanced at Lin Feng, who was protecting her daughter beside her.

Something seemed to be released in her eyes, and there was no longer any obsession in her heart. She believed Lin Feng would take good care of her daughter.

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This part was a bit of a writer's block, but after writing it and reading it, I feel it's not too awkward.