Chapter 181 : Chapter 181

Chapter 181. Going Back Means Certain Death

Yet ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍it was precisely because Chu Feng said nothing—because his attitude was so calm, because his eyes were so still and utterly without a ripple—that Cailin became even more afraid.

Her ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍desire to return now was not some casual whim. She had thought about it for a very long time before finally making up her mind to leave. This was the result of careful deliberation.

But ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Chu Feng said nothing and showed no reaction at all, and that made it impossible for Cailin to read his thoughts.

That ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍silence, those tranquil eyes, only made her heart pound harder and harder.

Cailin ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍took a deep breath and tried her best to calm herself. “Actually, I know you’ve been protecting me. I’ve seen everything you’ve done for me.

I ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍heard what was said in court that day as well. Your officials cannot tolerate me, and your people cannot tolerate me either. Everyone shuns me like a viper. You have no idea what those people say about me behind my back. They call me a Demon Consort. They say I’m bringing ruin to the nation and calamity to the people. They say that if I am not driven away soon, the entire Great Chu Dynasty will perish by my hand.

Those baseless rumors do not matter that much to me, but even I cannot endure hearing that kind of senseless slander every single day. Since that is the case, why should I stay here and make myself unwelcome?

Though I admit that the Ancient Royal Clan may not compare to your Great Chu Dynasty in every way, if I return to the Ancient Royal Clan, to my own territory, I will no longer have to listen to all that gossip.

And besides, the people there respect me, care for me, and support me. No matter what I say or do, I receive a response at once, and I have the approval of many people. Why should I stay here only to invite humiliation?”

The moment she finished speaking, Cailin turned and walked away, as though making it clear that if he would not send her back, then she would return on her own.

“Stop.”

Chu Feng’s voice was not loud. It was so calm that there was almost no fluctuation in it at all, yet it carried an authority that permitted no defiance.

Cailin’s footsteps halted, but she did not turn around.

Though her heart was in complete turmoil, she still had her own stubborn pride.

Chu Feng rose and slowly walked behind her. With a faint smile, he said, “Do you think the Ancient Royal Clan can truly acommodate you?”

Cailin froze.

Her eyes widened abruptly. Chu Feng’s meaning was not hard to understand.

He moved around to stand before her and lowered his gaze to her face. Those Chaos Dual Pupils of his were deep as an abyss, yet they contained the faintest trace of a smile. “Think carefully. What do you think Shi Ritian is doing right now?”

Cailin frowned. “H-How would I know what he’s doing?”

The question struck her as inexplicably strange, and she could not understand why Chu Feng was asking it at all.

In her eyes, Chu Feng had only just defeated Shi Ritian. When they left, Shi Ritian had merely been embedded in that mountain valley. If Chu Feng had not brought him up now, she would have completely forgotten about him.

Yet even after Chu Feng raised the subject, Cailin still could not figure out what it had to do with anything. How was she supposed to know where Shi Ritian had gone? That was not something she could possibly know.

When Chu Feng saw the muddled look on her face, he became so exasperated that he flicked her on the forehead, cutting off her thoughts. His voice remained calm, but every word struck straight at the heart.

“Aren’t you usually quite clever? Why are you failing at the critical moment? Take a guess. If Shi Ritian breaks free of that restraint and returns to the Ancient Royal Clan, what do you think he will say to those leaders?”

Chu Feng’s tone was incomparably gentle, carrying a patient, guiding cadence. Cailin was left thoroughly dazed by his words, doing nothing but nodding, then shaking her head.

“If nothing unexpected happens, then judging by Shi Ritian’s temperament, the moment he gets back, he will definitely fan the flames in front of those leaders and sow discord. He will certainly say that I stole your Seven-Colored Spiritual Aura. He may even claim that you handed it over to me willingly.

But I do not think the reason matters most. What matters is that your Seven-Colored Spiritual Aura is already gone. As the leader of the Heaven-Devouring Python Clan, once you have lost your most important protective divine art, will the other clans still acknowledge you?

Will your clansmen still respect all the things you were just so proud of?

So, based on my experience, if you go back now, you will be walking straight into a trap, like a lamb into a tiger’s den. Without your Seven-Colored Spiritual Aura, you are nothing but a cripple. The other clans, your own people, even the elders who nurtured you—when they see you, they will probably be even more furious than if they were looking at the murderer of their own fathers.”

Chu Feng let out a soft laugh and shook his head. “And more than likely, Shi Ritian will also say that you betrayed the Ancient Royal Clan, colluded with a human, and stole the opportunity that should have belonged to him. He will say that you coveted the position of human empress and willingly became the Human Race’s lackey. He will say that you, Cailin, are a traitor to the Ancient Royal Clan.”

Cailin’s face grew paler little by little. Though she did not want to believe it, she had to admit that what Chu Feng said made perfect sense.

Chu Feng continued, “If you go back at a time like this, what will be waiting for you? The wrath of the Dragon-Elephant Giant Spirit Clan. The accusations of the Desolate Battle Kui Ox Clan. The judgment of the ten great Ancient Royal Clans. And the condemnation of everyone in your own clan. Under those circumstances, would you still be willing to return? When that time comes, they probably will not even give you a chance to explain. They will directly brand you a traitor, cripple your cultivation, imprison your divine soul, and make your life worse than death. You know the rules of the Ancient Royal Clan even better than I do, do you not?”

He looked at her and said, “Tell me, if that is not walking straight toward near-certain death, then what is? So, now that you’ve compared the two, do you think it is better to stay, or better to go back?”

Cailin staggered back a step and braced herself against the doorframe, trembling all over. Chu Feng’s words had utterly shattered the last of her mental defenses.

She opened her mouth, wanting to argue, only to discover that she had no words with which to refute him.

“Enough, enough... I’m begging you, stop talking. Please, stop...” Cailin cried out with all the strength she could muster. Then she clutched her head in both hands and collapsed weakly to the floor.

Yes...

How could a person like Shi Ritian possibly tell the truth?

He would definitely dump all the blame onto her...

If she went back, she would only be throwing herself into the net...

And given how brutally the Ancient Royal Clan dealt with those who betrayed them, Cailin was not sure she could endure it.

After a long while, Cailin finally struggled to lift her head and kept staring at Chu Feng.

Chu Feng was in no hurry. He simply leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, looking down at Cailin where she sat on the ground.

Whether it was because of Chu Feng’s gentle gaze or the sympathy in his expression, Cailin suddenly could not hold on any longer. Tears spilled from her eyes at once.

She looked up at him through tear-filled eyes and asked pitifully, “Then... then what am I supposed to do? Is there truly no longer any place for me in this world?”