Chapter 71: The Undead Uprising and a Missing Fiancée

From that day onwards, Night Xuehui returned to the academy, and the student council resumed its orderly activities.

During this period, many members of the student council approached Ouyang Xiyue to express their gratitude, presenting him with a plethora of gifts.

Ouyang Xiyue accepted them without a second thought.

****

Inside the dormitory, a young woman with silver hair cascading like a waterfall languidly twirled a fountain pen between her fingers.

Her hands, exquisite as finely crafted works of art, were utterly captivating.

Her fingers, long and slender, appeared sculpted from warm, polished jade.

Her nails were perfectly rounded and smooth, gleaming with a faint, healthy luster, as though meticulously manicured, each one flawlessly adhering to her fingertips without the slightest blemish.

“Ugh, how utterly boring,” he sighed. “That Night Xuehui fellow is truly infuriating; how could she have treated me like that…”

Recalling Night Xuehui’s domineering bullying from their last encounter, Ouyang Xiyue felt a strange heat rise within him, a tingling sensation spreading through his entire body.

“How peculiar,” Ouyang Xiyue mused, “why do I feel so warm? Is the air conditioning broken?”

He vigorously patted his handsome cheeks, attempting to rouse himself.

“Lord Xiyue,” Shangguan Yun began, “the Princess just called.

In two days, it will be April 4th, and the Undead Uprising is about to commence.

For some unknown reason, these uprisings have grown increasingly frequent of late.

April 4th also marks a Blood Night; who knows how many lives will be lost, how much devastation will be wrought upon the living.”

Shangguan Yun entered from outside the room, diligently relaying the contents of Princess Luli Ling’s recent call to Ouyang Xiyue.

No sooner had she finished her report than she abruptly sneezed, pulling her body in tighter as she thought, ‘Why is Lord Xiyue’s room so frigid?’

Seated nearby, Ouyang Xiyue slowly lowered the fountain pen he held, his delicate brows furrowing ever so slightly.

“Indeed,” he murmured, “time truly flies.

April 4th is almost upon us.

Did Her Royal Highness mention anything else, besides these matters?”

“Her Royal Highness advised Lord Xiyue to take good care of his health, and… well… also to maintain a distance from Night Xuehui…”

Having delivered her message with a hint of awkwardness, Shangguan Yun turned and fled the room without looking back.

As a servant, despite having grown up alongside Her Royal Highness, she understood it was best not to meddle in her master’s affairs.

The best tactic, according to the Thirty-Six Stratagems, was to simply leave.

Ouyang Xiyue watched Shangguan Yun’s retreating figure, shaking his head with a sigh of resignation.

He mused, ‘It’s true, I’ve become far too entangled with that Night Xuehui fellow lately.’

‘She is a dangerous person; I should keep my distance from her, lest I find myself consumed by passion once more.

Still, there are some matters that demand reckoning…’

Doo-doo-doo… Ouyang Xiyue’s phone vibrated in his pocket.

He glanced down to see ‘Pope’ displayed on the caller ID.

Without hesitation, Ouyang Xiyue answered the call.

“Your Holiness, I trust you have been well lately? What instructions do you have for me?” Ouyang Xiyue gazed into the distance, his thoughts inadvertently drifting to Chi Congyu.

He wondered why she hadn’t contacted him in so long.

“Thanks to your blessings, my health remains fair,” the Pope’s voice, tinged with age, replied through the phone. “I contacted you because I wished to inform you that Chi Congyu has gone missing.”

“What?! Chi Congyu has gone missing?!” Ouyang Xiyue exclaimed, his voice rising several octaves, a palpable worry lacing his tone. “Your Holiness, what happened? What occurred?”

Ouyang Xiyue knew Chi Congyu possessed immense strength; she was a prodigy of the younger generation, the Pope’s granddaughter, and the heir apparent to the papacy.

The news of the Pope’s successor going missing was bound to cause a significant stir across the continent.

However, Ouyang Xiyue remained perplexed.

When had this happened?

Why had he received no prior information?

Even Ling’er hadn’t mentioned it during their last call.

“It happened just last night,” the Pope explained. “Although I’ve ordered a complete news blackout, a secret like this cannot be kept indefinitely.

I anticipate it will become widespread knowledge before long.”

“Chi Congyu disappeared within the territory of the Undead Kingdom.”

As the Pope spoke, Ouyang Xiyue couldn’t shake the feeling that his voice sounded somewhat weak, even more weathered than before.

He wondered if it was due to the immense exertion from their last encounter, from which he might not have fully recovered, considering what a miracle it had been.

A silent wave of gratitude swelled within Ouyang Xiyue at this thought.

“Why would Chi Congyu venture into the Undead Kingdom?”

Though worry gnawed at Ouyang Xiyue’s heart, a deeper sense of bewilderment prevailed.

When he last contacted Chi Congyu, she had mentioned being on a mission and possibly losing contact for an extended period… A mission… Could it be…?

“Her mission, by all accounts, should have only taken her to the fringes of the Undead Kingdom.

Given her strength, she shouldn’t have gone missing.

There must have been some unforeseen change within the Undead Kingdom.”

“Your Holiness, Xiyue wishes to trouble you with a request.

I require the exact location where Chi Congyu disappeared, along with all information leading up to and following her disappearance.”

Ouyang Xiyue didn’t hesitate for a moment.

After all, Chi Congyu was his fiancée, and she had always treated him well, making her worth the risk.

“Are you certain?” the Pope inquired. “My reason for contacting you was precisely to ask for your assistance in investigating this matter.”

“You are more composed than that child, Chi Congyu, and your strength surpasses hers.

I can discern that your affinity for Holy Light is exceptionally potent, having already reached the level of a Divine Favored One.”

“We can discuss other matters later.

I shall await your return, bringing my unruly granddaughter back safely.”

“Very well, I shall,” Ouyang Xiyue affirmed.

After ending the call, Ouyang Xiyue pondered the terms: Holy Light affinity… Divine Favored One.

In his memories, Ouyang Xiyue recalled an instance during his travels with his Master when his ice attribute underwent an inexplicable transformation, causing him to fall into a prolonged, frozen slumber.

Within that unconscious state, he seemed to dream of a towering, snow-white figure whose features remained indistinct.

Yet, he vaguely remembered that with this figure at its core, all ice elements seemed to prostrate themselves, like children before their parent.

It was as if the figure was the very embodiment of all ice-attribute rules in the world, a natural and indivisible entity.

He couldn’t quite recall, yet Ouyang Xiyue vaguely remembered the figure speaking to him as it vanished.

What was it… From its lip movements, it seemed to be…

“My child?”

As Ouyang Xiyue softly mumbled to himself, a series of beeps from his phone abruptly pulled his wandering thoughts back to reality.

He shook his head and looked at his phone screen.

It was a message from the Pope, containing a map route and several other clues.

“Alright, if that’s the case, it’s time to stretch my limbs,” he declared. “It’s been a while since I visited the Undead Kingdom; it’s a good chance to gain some experience.

I’ll pack up and depart immediately.”

“I must find Chi Congyu and bring her back before the Blood Night on April 4th.

This time, I’ll go stealthily on my own; otherwise, Yun’er is sure to secretly report everything to Ling’er.”

Ouyang Xiyue, radiating confidence, pumped his fist, his face alight with determination.

Conveniently, this also offered an opportunity to distance himself from that scoundrel, Night Xuehui.

After packing his belongings, Ouyang Xiyue slipped away under the cover of darkness, leaving behind a note.

Moonlight streamed through the window, faintly illuminating the contents written on the paper.

[The Pope has summoned me for a matter concerning my cultivation.

I will be away for a few days.

I’ve already informed Ling’er.

Take good care of yourself and that girl.

Do not worry about me; I shall return once my cultivation is complete. – Ouyang Xiyue]

In the blank space on the note, a small cat with its tongue sticking out had been drawn, giving it a playful air.