For Zhou Yan, Yanyan’s matters surpassed everything.
When he saw Yanyan’s figure gradually solidifying and appearing, Zhou Yan’s emotions tensed up in an instant.
Facing all the geniuses under heaven, Zhou Yan could remain unflustered, but in front of Yanyan, Zhou Yan was not any Emperor Qi Sword Body, nor was he an invincible existence, he was just a father, one who, in his own eyes, was truly unfit for the role.
The majority of his Spiritual Sense had been condensed into the Purple Flame Void. Only a tiny amount of Spiritual Sense was left in his physical body to maintain its existence, and he had given up paying attention to the safety of his physical form.
In the Purple Flame Void, Yanyan’s figure gradually appeared, eventually solidifying into the image of a little girl around five years old, dressed in tattered clothes with a dirty face.
She was wearing a slightly oversized floral cotton-padded jacket, from which her exceedingly frail body peeked through.
The exposed parts of her body were somewhat pale and also tinged with purple, as if caused by abnormal nutrition, a long-term result of starvation.
But these were not all; the confused look in her eyes was what made Zhou Yan feel as if his heart was being twisted with pain.
After Yanyan solidified, she just stood there blankly, as if out of place in this world, appearing very lonely and helpless.
Zhou Yan stood beside her, as if nailed to the spot, and couldn’t move a step.
He very much wanted Yanyan to remember him, but he was also afraid, afraid that Yanyan would remember him, because every memory would be a source of pain for Yanyan.
"Yao" had once said, if Yanyan didn’t remember, her body wouldn’t suffer endless pain; if she remembered, on the contrary, she could live on obliviously, free from so many worries and suffering.
At this moment, after the initial surprise, Zhou Yan was left silent.
He had no choice but to remain silent because he had always been powerless in this matter.
"Father King...Father King, Yanyan finally remembers today. Father King, Yanyan has been naughty, so silly before, I’ve forgotten many things, but actually, Father King has been by Yanyan’s side every day."
After a moment of perplexity, the intelligent sparkle finally appeared in Yanyan’s big, adorable eyes, and at that moment, Zhou Yan’s heart ’thudded,’ as he knew something was amiss.
But Yanyan had already started speaking in her baby voice.
Zhou Yan revealed a long-lost smile, a look of affectionate love that seemed to be engraved in his bones.
He held Yanyan tightly in his arms, his nose tingling in an instant. But he wasn’t sad; instead, he suppressed those uncomfortable emotions and gently wiped the dust from Yanyan’s face. He didn’t know what kind of world existed in the Purple Flame or what kind of world Yanyan was in, why she was in such a sorry state.
So all he could do while holding Yanyan and feeling her frail body was to try to straighten her clothes and wipe her cheeks.
"Father King, Yanyan hasn’t forgotten today. Father King, I miss mother, why doesn’t mother want Yanyan?"
Yanyan murmured to herself, and while held in Zhou Yan’s arms, she mimicked his actions, wiping his face with her chubby little hands.
Her expression was serious and focused, as if she were doing the most important thing in the world.
Zhou Yan opened his mouth but couldn’t utter a word.
Because even "Yao" didn’t know the answer to this.
He couldn’t bear to lie, but after a long pause, he had to tell a well-intentioned lie with a heavy heart, "Yanyan, neither Father King nor mother doesn’t want you, we both love Yanyan. Yanyan is the most well-behaved, lovable, sensible, and clever daughter in our hearts."
Zhou Yan said gently and tenderly, cherishing her.
At this moment, his demeanor was like that of protecting the most precious treasure in the world.
Even if some Cultivators outside were speaking to him, he did not respond; he was utterly consumed as if possessed.
In fact, Zhou Yan also understood that Yanyan’s way of addressing him was not with labels like father and mother, but "Father King." From this title, Zhou Yan could actually infer some things, but he did not delve deeper, as he realized he would not find the answers.
He only wanted to find the answers in his heart as he continued to progress.
Moreover, Zhou Yan had considered forging the best Spirit Armor for Yanyan, but those things couldn’t withstand even the power of the Purple Flame Flames, let alone be made into clothing from such materials? Although the floral cotton-padded jacket Yanyan was wearing was shabby, its defensive power was surprisingly strong, and it was not affected by the Purple Flame Burning.
"Father King, am I really that good?"
Yanyan asked innocently, her eyes clear, so clear that the eager anticipation for an affirmative reply was evident.
But within such anticipation, it seemed to have triggered something terrible. Zhou Yan had just nodded, about to answer, when fear appeared in Yanyan’s eyes, and then her cute, slightly rosy cheeks suddenly turned pale, as if endless pain had surged forth in that instant.
Her small body trembled, like a withered leaf fluttering in the wind, heartbreakingly fragile.