Chapter 160

Chapter 160: Returning Home to Meet Parents

“Hmm.” Feng Rong gazed at her intently, a hint of tension in his posture as his palm tightened slightly. After a long pause, he finally said, “I… want to enter and see.”

You You glanced at him, chuckled softly, and nodded. “Alright… I’ll go with you!”

Feng Rong’s expression immediately softened, his eyes brightening with relief. He tugged her forward but suddenly turned to Yuan Qi, declaring, “You stay here!”

Yuan Qi: “……”

After casting a resigned look at You You, he stepped back.

Feng Rong, now satisfied, clasped You You’s hand and swiftly formed a series of spells. After some effort, he reopened the hidden space.

In an instant, they stood in a vast icy plain dotted with countless phoenix eggs—thousands upon thousands, each larger than Feng Rong’s own had been. Yet unlike his once-glowing egg, these lay utterly lifeless, their shells dull and silent.

Both froze at the sight. Feng Rong’s voice trembled with unexpected grief as he surveyed the field. “I never realized… my clan remained here all along.”

“You’d never entered before?” You You asked, startled.

“I didn’t know the Sacred Tree contained this space.” He shook his head. “Before hatching, I stayed alone in the Nirvana Mirror. When my original spirit awakened, I discovered anomalies in my inherited memories—beyond the Feng Clan’s legacy, there was… a clan order.”

“Clan order?!”

“It declared me the last phoenix in the Mortal Realm, tasked with reviving our kind. Yet… the method eluded me.” He spoke freely now, urgency coloring his words. “Later, Feng Yu claimed an ancient text suggested divine artifacts could awaken the Divine Clan. I began hunting those relics—the ruins where we first met held one such artifact.”

“Didn’t you question that text?”

“We did!” Bitterness tinged his laugh. “The first artifact failed to hatch me but stabilized my original spirit and allowed me to create a clone. That convinced Feng Yu of their power. We never imagined Qiu Yao had orchestrated this trap across lifetimes—manipulating Feng Yu to steal the Sacred Tree’s last rebirth energy.”

His gaze swept the frozen eggs. “He likely learned of this place in past cycles and told Feng Yu. My clan waited here for centuries… Feng Yu’s efforts were futile. Perhaps… this is our heavenly punishment.”

“We’ll find a way.” You You squeezed his shoulder. “Now that we know they’re here, we’ll keep trying.”

Feng Rong met her eyes, the despair lifting slightly as he nodded. “Yes. I trust you.”

Abruptly, he summoned a flickering flame that darted rightward. “There!” he exclaimed, pulling her through the egg-filled expanse.

They ran for minutes until the flame halted at two eggs near the ice field’s edge. Feng Rong’s hand shook as he reached out. “These are them.”

“Them?”

“My parents.” His smile glowed brighter than the vanished flame. “I wanted you to meet them before our contract.”

“……Uncle? Aunt…?” You You blurted automatically.

Wait—why did this feel like being introduced to a boyfriend’s family?

“They can’t hear you.” Feng Rong gently lowered her waving hand, interlacing their fingers. After a lingering look at the eggs, he turned solemnly. “Now that you’ve met them, we can establish the contract.”

“Huh? Oh…” Suspicion prickled her—since when did contracts require parental meetings?

As they exited, he rambled nervously, “In our clan, meeting parents signifies familial approval. We Feng choose one partner for eternity—no separation unless souls perish. Regardless of celestial maiden customs… you must treat me well.”

“……What’s with the orange analogy? Your rules are that convoluted?”

“I should’ve explained earlier—establishing a contract means I’ve chosen you alone. Feng Yu said my eagerness might push you away… Your happiness dictates mine.” He flushed, tangling himself in his own words.

Emerging from the space, he faced her, eyes blazing like twin suns. “Now. Let’s begin.”

You You: “……”

Why did this suddenly feel like a wedding ceremony?