FRGNM -Chapter 69 Where Is He?

This place was completely different from the imperial palace’s backyard. The enormous courtyard was filled with rare treasures and exotic plants. Even the celestial herbs were cultivated here, and the aura of spiritual artifacts was overwhelming—but she could only look on.

Choosing such a place to refine pills guaranteed the highest-quality elixirs. She hadn’t expected that in Northern Ning Kingdom, there would be such a serene and refined place.

“Miss Ling, you’re awake.” Huang Fan approached with the servants, smiling as he looked at her. “The master said to let you have something to eat first, fill your stomach. He’s waiting for you at the Sunset Tower.”

“Oh?” She hadn’t realized—although her Senior Brother’s Tang Sect had been destroyed, his funds were substantial. No wonder he had been wandering outside all these years—he had such a stronghold all along. If she had known, she could have come along with him back then.

Only when the delicious meal was served did Ling Ruoxi realize what hunger was. She devoured two-thirds of the table’s dishes in one sitting before patting her stomach in satisfaction. “Um… what’s your name?”

“My name is Huang Fan,” he replied. Seeing her so energetic, he relaxed.

“Thanks for the hospitality. I’m going to see Senior Brother—Sunset Tower, right? Wow, only wealthy people can go there! He really is rich!” She grabbed a pancake from the table and leapt downstairs.

Even without Dou Qi, the three-story height posed no challenge.

Huang Fan scratched his head in confusion. “Senior Brother? Wait… when did the master get a junior sister? That’s strange…”

As the sun set, the ten-story building—the tallest in Northern Ning Kingdom—stood facing south, with open windows on all sides allowing a perfect view of the sunset. This was the famous Sunset Tower. From here, sunsets were always the most beautiful.

“Senior Brother, I…” Pushing open the tower’s doors, Ling Ruoxi froze. The Sunset Tower was empty. Where were the usual guests? Every time she passed by, she would see people enjoying the sunset—but now… only a few attendants were standing there.

Seeing Ling Ruoxi arrive, the attendants hurried over. “Miss Ling, the master is waiting upstairs. Please follow us.”

“Uh… why is business so slow today?” She frowned. She felt like she was being pushed up the stairs uncontrollably, like a subway ride in Beijing.

One attendant smiled. “Miss Ling, nonsense. The master has purchased all assets of the eighteen clans. Today, we’re closed to everyone except you. Quickly, follow us upstairs.”

“Oh my, Senior Brother is so rich! Why did he pretend to be poor back then? If I had known, I would’ve stripped him bare!” Her legs nearly gave out. The eighteen clans were influential in the capital; buying Sunset Tower outright required hundreds of millions.

Drawing a deep breath, she calmed herself and followed the attendants up to the tenth floor.

By the window, the man in green stood, looking at the sunset with an air of ease. His hair flowed in the wind. Just the back of him made her heart flutter, and she had an overwhelming urge to see his face.

The attendants quickly set out the food and drinks and left, leaving the room quiet—just the two of them, one heartbeat slow, the other fast.

Ling Ruoxi was dazzled by everything before her. She reached for the exquisite pastries. “Wow, I’ve heard Sunset Tower’s pastries are the best. They really are delicious. Senior Brother, why aren’t you speaking?”

“Ruoxi… long time no see…” The unfamiliar voice echoed. The man at the window smiled faintly and slowly turned.

His face was ordinary, yet carried a familiar aura. Ling Ruoxi froze, even dropping the pastry. How could she mistake him for Tang Yinhai? Oh no—she had just taken someone else’s food, and her image was ruined.

“Sir, you are…?” She wiped her hands on the tablecloth and straightened, staring at the wealthy man before her.

Fang Xu smiled calmly, pressing a hand to his face and slowly moving it aside.

His pale fingers removed the human-skin mask, revealing his exquisite face. For a moment, even the sunset couldn’t compare.

He seemed like a cloud drifting from the horizon, untouchable and refined. His charm was irresistible, and his familiar aura stirred something in her heart.

Ling Ruoxi stood frozen, staring at him. She felt she had seen him somewhere before, but couldn’t recall where. Who was this man?

Seeing her confusion, Fang Xu smiled faintly and held out his hands. “I told you, I would protect you. I will prove with my strength that I can protect you. Everything I can give you, I will—including my life.”

“Fang Xu… you are Fang Xu!” she exclaimed, leaping up. Six years had passed; this man had changed, yet the familiar angles of his face and his aura remained unmistakable. Fang Xu—it was him!

Everything happened so fast that Ling Ruoxi barely had time to react. She never expected the person who left six years ago to appear in such a transformed form. Compared to the young man of six years past, this was an entirely different person.

What had he experienced? Ling Ruoxi’s jaw nearly dropped in astonishment.

Fang Xu smiled calmly. “It’s me, Ruoxi. When I learned you had returned to Northern Ning, I rushed from Duanyun. I purchased this place for you. Also… I sent Tang Yinhai to the palace. Your nephew and niece should be arriving soon.”

“Master, the young master and young lady are here!” called an attendant outside, knocking at the door.

The two little figures could hardly wait and rushed inside, wrapping their tiny arms around Ling Ruoxi’s legs.

“Mother!” they shouted excitedly.

“Mother, I missed you so much, Yizhui.”

“I missed you too, Mother.”

Clinging tightly, they seemed afraid to let go.

“Yizhui, Yimeng!” Ling Ruoxi crouched, stroking their heads and holding them close. “When did you two sneak out of the embassy? Didn’t I tell you to stay inside?”

“Mother, we missed you too. And… here…” Yizhui pulled out a small box hidden in his clothes, gently wiping her tears.

Ling Ruoxi shivered. That little box… it belonged to Luo Mingyu. Why was it here? She remembered back then…

“This is a gift from Father for Mother. You broke it, so Brother Yizhui and I helped Father put it back together while we were idle in the palace. Mother, open it.” Yimeng blinked and tried to open the box.

Amusingly, a gift she had broken was now returned to her by the children—but… that man had nothing to do with her anymore.

Ling Ruoxi held the box tightly without opening it. She patted Yimeng’s head. “Enough. Come, meet your Uncle Fang Xu. You may call him that.”

“Uncle Fang Xu, I remember that you used to call Huangfu Xuan this way.” Fang Xu smiled lightly.

Tang Yinhai, standing outside, frowned slightly. Was this really the choice of a husband for his junior sister?

“Uncle Fang? Will we still have Uncle Yuan?” Yimeng asked. The room erupted with laughter at the innocent question.

“Senior Brother… you…” Ling Ruoxi looked toward Tang Yinhai at the door. Back at the mountain, she had lost consciousness and didn’t know how things turned out.

Tang Yinhai nodded lightly. “I have some questions for you. Now… if you still recognize me as your Senior Brother, I am. Forever the one who brings you candied hawthorns—Senior Brother Tang.”

“Uncle Tang always said he’d bring us something nice, but it was always just candied hawthorns,” Yizhui teased, making faces.

Glancing around the room, Yimeng asked, “Mother, where is Father Huangfu?”

For a moment, the room fell silent. The atmosphere became tense; no one spoke.

Yimeng tugged at Ling Ruoxi. “Mother, did I say something wrong? Where is Father Huangfu? We’ve been in the palace… what about Father?”

“Yimeng,” Ling Ruoxi said softly, stroking her head, “you’re hungry, right? Come, eat something…”

“No, Mother! Tell me, where is Father Huangfu?” Yimeng gritted her teeth, holding onto Ling Ruoxi’s clothes.

How should she answer? That dream in the mountains—the cliff, Huangfu Xuan covered in blood—had ended, and she had severed all ties with him.

Whether facing danger alone or nearly dying, that man seemed to have vanished from her life entirely.

She had done her best to report Huangfu Xuan’s fall to the emperor, only to receive word that his fate was unknown. Ironically, Huangfu Yuan, who first found him, had returned safely with snow jade, a remnant of Huangfu Xuan.

“Yimeng, listen. Your mother is weak. Uncle Fang will tell you where Huangfu Xuan is, okay?” Fang Xu picked up the child gently, smiling. “Your Father Huangfu is undergoing his own journey. You two little ones, do you think your Father Huangfu isn’t strong enough?”