The Long Journey to Immortality

Some birds like to build their nests on phoenix trees, just as they did when they lived in phoenix form.

However, this nest exists in the form of a house, rather than resembling a bird's nest.

Most members of the Ice Phoenix clan, represented by Feng Rubing, choose to live in this way.

Some phoenixes use young paulownia trees as building materials to build their houses on the ground.

The Phoenix Clan during the time of Fengyang and Fengjiao lived in this way.

Naturally, many phoenixes continue this way of life.

Putting aside cultivation level and bloodline, just looking at the surface, they seem to be a group of humans living in the Wutong Forest.

The fire phoenixes in the Three Phoenix Forest are the middle party, with some members of their clan choosing either method of "nesting".

Because Feng Rubing's house was newly built, its style was not much different from that of ordinary houses in the Central Plains region.

If it weren't for the use of paulownia wood, Han Lu would have had the illusion of returning to the Central Plains after entering the treehouse and looking at the furnishings and decorations inside.

“Sit anywhere,” Feng Rubing pointed to a stool not far away. “I just sent a telepathic message to Feng You, and he replied that he can only see me tomorrow morning.”

"So, little sister, you'll stay here with me for the night."

"After we meet Fengyou tomorrow and find your father, who may be living in this Three Phoenix Forest, we'll change our accommodations."

"When the time comes, it's up to you whether you want to live with your sister or your father."

As she spoke, Feng Rubing arranged the decorations she had bought for herself from the Great Yu Dynasty throughout the room.

Two potted plants, a set of calligraphy brushes and a brush holder, and three large iron pots.

Han Lu didn't dwell on the awkward and tense moment that was likely to come a day later. Instead, she looked at the three black pots and complained, "Sis, you like pretty eclectic things."

“I was just bored,” Feng Rubing laughed. “I’ve been stuck in that block of ice for almost five thousand years, it’s so stifling.”

As she spoke, Feng Rubing excitedly asked Han Lu to appreciate her proudest work.

Han Lu, after carefully and professionally appraising the pens and giving them high praise, presented Feng Rubing with several fine pens she had bought from the ancient cultivation secret realm as a gift.

Poor Piaomiaozi had no idea that the gift originally intended for him had been given to someone else by Han Lu ahead of time.

Although modern people have always admired the exquisite craftsmanship of handmade products, in reality, high-end industrial products are indeed more practical than the "masterpieces" of artisans.

At least, after Feng Rubing picked up the calligraphy brushes Han Lu had given her and wrote a few words, she immediately threw aside the brushes she used to love the most and made a solemn vow.

"There seem to be quite a few good things in the ancient cultivation secret realm. If I have the chance in the future, I will definitely go to that legendary gate to see if I can actively activate the teleportation gate and send a few Qi Refining juniors to help me with the purchasing work."

Since the calligraphy brushes in the ancient cultivation secret realm were so useful, Feng Rubing naturally asked Han Lu about them again, and took out many good things that could only be found in the ancient cultivation secret realm from her storage bag.

That night, Feng Rubing slept on the floor, on the mattress that Han Lu had bought from the ancient cultivation secret realm, while Han Lu lay on Feng Rubing's own wooden bed.

The two tacitly agreed not to spend the night in meditation.

The scent of paulownia wood gave them both a good dream that night.

The next day, at Han Lu's repeated request, Feng Rubing, who had only been studying cooking for a year and a half, reluctantly cooked an ordinary breakfast.

After breakfast, Feng Rubing led Han Lu to a tall building made of paulownia wood.

Han Lu looked up at the woodblock print carved on the door.

The theme of the woodblock prints is naturally related to the phoenix. Several woodblock prints record the beautiful scene when the nine phoenixes were still one.

"Is this where the clan chief lives? It's quite grand."

"They say it was built to resemble the architecture of the Spirit Era, but who knows?" Feng Rubing had been here countless times and didn't find anything special about these woodblock prints.

After she finished speaking, she knocked on the door.

Upon hearing this, Han Lu thought about it carefully and realized that there was indeed something similar outside Feng Yang's house in the Moon Pearl World.

It's unclear whether Fengyou is still cultivating or has been delayed by other matters.

About twenty breaths after Feng Rubing knocked on the door, a middle-aged man's voice came from inside the house.

"Please come in."

Chapter 365 Father?

Compared to the somewhat flamboyant exterior decorations, the interior of Fengyou's treehouse is much more subdued.

Aside from a few artistic paintings collected from the Great Yu Dynasty or the Central Plains, only a few poorly carved wooden sculptures could catch Han Lu's eye.

On the way to Sanfenglin, Feng Rubing mentioned Feng You's hobbies.

Sculpture and painting collections are Fengyou's tools for calming his mind and passing the time.

When Han Lu and Feng Rubing entered the house, Feng You was sitting upright in an old wooden chair.

He sat upright in the wooden chair, his gaze shifting between Feng Rubing and Han Lu.

With his black robe and silver hair, Feng You's attire was extremely distinctive.

Perhaps due to their close bloodline, Feng You's facial features resemble those of his "distant relative" Feng Rubing by about 70%, and also bear a 70% resemblance to Han Lu.

For a brief moment, Han Lu and Feng You locked eyes, but the next moment, Feng You deliberately avoided Han Lu's gaze.

This puzzled Han Lu.

"What's wrong? Senior Fengyou seems a bit reserved or nervous. This is clearly his home."

"Could it be because he acts this way in front of my sister? Is this what love feels like?"

Based on this limited information, Han Lu let her imagination run wild for a long time until Feng Rubing led her to greet Feng You, which brought her back to reality.

In front of Feng You, the patriarch of the Illusionary Phoenix Clan, Feng Rubing only regarded him as her beloved childhood sweetheart, and introduced Han Lu to Feng You in a very casual manner.

“Fengyou, look, this is Han Lu. I mentioned her to you before. She's the junior who awakened me from my rebirth.”

Feng Rubing's introduction was incredibly direct and simple, almost as if she were telling Feng You directly that this was her benefactor.

"I brought her here today for two reasons: first, to help her get to know her family, and second, to ask for your help in searching the clan to see if her father, whom she has never met, is in the clan."

After Feng Rubing finished speaking, Han Lu spoke up at the right time, politely greeting, "Junior Han Lu greets Clan Chief Feng You."

For some reason, Feng You did not return Han Lu's greeting, but instead sighed and muttered, "Han...Lu?"

This left Han Lu momentarily speechless, and she could only reply, "Yes, that is my name."

Feng You stopped speaking and just kept staring at Han Lu with a gaze filled with complex emotions.

Being stared at by a senior with profound cultivation made Han Lu feel extremely uncomfortable.

She could only lower her head slightly, waiting for Feng You to continue.

An outsider's perspective is clearer.

Watching Feng You's performance, Feng Rubing felt that her many one-sided guesses had been connected.

The ending is obvious.

The truth is about to come out.

Han Lu's father's identity has been clearly revealed to her.

Feng Rubing glanced at Han Lu, then at Feng You, her feelings quite complicated.

She didn't know whether she should reprimand Feng You at this moment, accusing him of infidelity and concealment from her.

We should still congratulate Han Lu on finding her father.

But upon closer reflection, Feng Rubing felt relieved.

Having been missing for five thousand years and whose fate remains unknown, what right does she have to accuse Feng You, who was merely "privately engaged," of upholding their fragile love for five thousand years?

Not to mention that Feng You may have met Han Lu's mother while searching for her in the Central Plains, and thus started a new romance.

Thinking of this, Feng Rubing's choice was not as direct and frank as when she comforted Han Lu.

“Feng You…” Feng Rubing began.

Han Lu and Feng You simultaneously turned their heads towards Feng Rubing.

"You did nothing wrong." Feng Rubing simply dropped this half-sentence without any context.

Hearing this, Han Lu was confused, but Feng You felt a great weight lifted off her shoulders.

Then, Feng Rubing said to Han Lu, "Sister, you talk to Feng You, I want to go."

"Huh?" Han Lu still didn't understand. "Sister, you..."

Feng Rubing joked about herself, "That was a good way to call someone 'sister'..."

Then she added in her mind, "Don't go back and call her 'Mom,' or the generational order will really be messed up."

She turned and left without giving Han Lu a single word of explanation, handing over this relatively private space suitable for discussing intimate matters to Feng You and Han Lu.

After Feng Rubing left, Feng You looked at Han Lu tenderly and said, "I am your father." [Original text bug, has been corrected]

These words reached Han Lu's ears, and she felt as if she had been struck by lightning, freezing in place.

After nearly ten breaths, Han Lu finally came to her senses and regained her mental capacity, stammering as she asked, "Senior Feng You, are you my father?"

Upon hearing the title "Senior Fengyou," Fengyou was not displeased at all. On the contrary, Han Lu's address made him feel relieved.

Feng You thought to himself with relief, "At least it's not the worst kind of title."

The estrangement arises over time, and naturally, it takes enough time to resolve it.

Feng You said, "If your mother's name is Han Shishuang, then you must be my daughter, no doubt about it."

Han Shishuang is naturally the name of Han Lu's mother.

Upon hearing this, Han Lu tried to speak again but was momentarily speechless, unable to utter a single word.

As Feng Rubing said, when you truly face it, the emotions hidden deep in your heart will truly erupt, making you do the thing that best matches your mood, intentions, and thoughts, and say the words that best match your state of mind.

Sure enough, at this moment, all the complaints and accusations that had been hidden in Han Lu's heart disappeared.

Following her heart, Han Lu opened her arms and gave Feng You a hug.

Feng You's face lit up with joy, and he opened his arms to embrace Han Lu.

The two embraced for a long time.

Feng You may still feel some guilt towards his wife and daughter, but Han Lu only feels the joy of reuniting with her father.