After listening to Thunder God's fragmented account, both Bai Yue and Luo Feng still felt vaguely unsettled. Thunder God wasn't the person involved, and what he knew was inevitably one-sided. If they acted rashly based on incomplete information, not only might they fail to help—but they could very well make things worse.
In the end, they reached the same conclusion almost simultaneously.
They needed to hear it from Hong himself.
Only the person at the center of the storm had the right to decide how this matter should be handled.
Moments later, the door opened.
Hong walked in wearing simple black casual clothes, his expression calm and relaxed, as if nothing unusual had happened. He smiled faintly when he saw the familiar faces.
"You're all here—Bai Yue, Luo Feng. What's with the urgency?"
"Big Brother, sit first," Luo Feng said, standing to pull out a chair.
Bai Yue didn't speak. His gaze rested steadily on Hong, sharp and searching.
Hong noticed their expressions and frowned slightly. As he sat down, he asked evenly, "You already know?"
"Yes," Bai Yue replied, nodding once. His voice was low but serious. "Big Brother… are you truly serious about this?"
Hong didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
There was no embarrassment, no evasion—only clarity.
At Hong's level, he no longer needed to deceive himself about matters of the heart.
Luo Feng chuckled softly, breaking the brief silence. "I really didn't expect it. There's actually a woman in this universe who could make Big Brother fall for her. I'm genuinely curious what kind of person she is."
Yet beneath the teasing smile, even Luo Feng understood—this wasn't a joke. Hong had truly fallen in love.
Hong didn't refute him. Instead, he calmly explained everything from beginning to end.
The woman's name was Ji Qing, a member of the Ji family—one of the three hundred Lord-level families within the Ganwu Universe Country.
As soon as Hong spoke her name, Luo Feng began searching through the Virtual Universe Network. With his current authority, detailed information surfaced almost instantly.
"The Ji family controls Snow Territory Starfield," Luo Feng said slowly. "Their ancestor was Ji Tiancang, titled Lord Yinxue. One of the oldest Lords under the Ganwu Country Lord."
He paused briefly, then continued.
"Ji Qing herself is Universe Rank Level Nine—a true genius. She's currently a core member of the Universe Mercenary Alliance."
"What?"
Hong stood up abruptly, his composure cracking for the first time.
That information… Ji Qing had never told him.
Among the Five Great Powers, only the Virtual Universe Corporation and the Giant Axe Fighting Arena openly held genius competitions. The remaining three powers recruited geniuses in far subtler ways. Those recruited rarely gained fame—yet their backgrounds were often terrifying.
"Illusion King," Bai Yue added quietly, his tone calm but heavy. "Ji Qing's teacher. The one truly blocking this relationship is not Lord Yinxue—but her teacher."
Silence fell.
Luo Feng's pupils contracted. "You mean… the Illusion King of the Universe Mercenary Alliance? The Chiba race Champion?"
"Yes."
No one spoke for several breaths.
Illusion King was infamous even among Champion Immortals—an Illusionist so dangerous that once you fell into her domain, death often came without awareness. Worse still, she commanded eighty-one Undying servants. Two were Champions. Seventy-nine were Lords.
This was a level of power that even Hu Yanbo in his prime couldn't compare to.
Bai Yue finally spoke again, his tone steady. "Big Brother, before anything else—we need to confirm Ji Qing's feelings. Everything else comes second."
Hong hesitated.
Originally, he had been certain. But Ji Qing hiding such crucial aspects of her identity shook that certainty more than he wanted to admit.
After a brief pause, Bai Yue said, "I'll arrange a meeting first. Let the two of you speak face to face. Then we'll decide what comes next."
The others nodded. There was no better option.
Virtual Universe · Ganwu Continent · Private Restaurant Room
Using his authority, Bai Yue sent a banquet invitation directly to Lord Yinxue.
On Qiongyu Planet, Lord Yinxue frowned when he received it.
He had no recollection of interacting with this World Lord of the Primitive Mystical Region. Yet refusing was unthinkable. Bai Yue's identity alone was enough to make refusal dangerous—let alone the rumors linking him to Battle King and Primordial Chaos City Lord.
When the banquet began, Lord Yinxue arrived punctually.
As soon as he entered the private room, his gaze locked onto Hong.
His pupils shrank.
So it's him.
Bai Yue smiled faintly. "Lord Yinxue, allow me to introduce my Big Brother—Hong. A brother forged through life and death."
Lord Yinxue's thoughts raced. He had investigated Hong before—but never imagined such a connection.
Bai Yue didn't waste words.
"About Hong and Ji Qing—I want to know the truth."
Lord Yinxue studied him for a moment, then sighed.
"I'll tell you."
The story unfolded exactly as expected. Ji Qing's opportunity under Illusion King was irreplaceable. Lord Yinxue would never allow her to be expelled for the sake of love.
Bai Yue nodded slowly. "One request, then. Let them meet once—here, in the Virtual Universe."
Lord Yinxue agreed.
When Ji Qing entered the room, even Bai Yue paused.
She was tall, sharp-featured, her short hair giving her a resolute, almost heroic air. Strength and independence radiated from her—yet when her eyes met Hong's, tears welled uncontrollably.
"You're foolish," she whispered.
She rushed forward and embraced him tightly—then suddenly pushed him away.
"I'm sorry. It's not worth it. You should leave."
Hong searched her eyes carefully.
"You're afraid of your teacher?" he asked quietly. "You don't need to be. My brother here is Battle King—stronger than her."
Ji Qing shook her head.
"No. This is my choice."
Her voice was calm. Decisive.
"I must sacrifice something. You taught me that."
Hong inhaled deeply.
"…Have you truly decided?"
"Yes."
A bitter smile curved his lips.
"Then I wish you success."
He turned and walked away without another word.
Bai Yue watched silently, then sighed.
Some tribulations… even power cannot shatter.
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