Phoenix Power: The True Colors of the Empress - Chapter 26. Missing.

Cang Ling Ye was very nervous and worried, but he still had to remain calm. Perhaps Wu’er had just gone out for a walk? Perhaps he was just overthinking things?

Cang Ling Ye had never been as flustered as he was now. In the past, no matter what happened, he could always stay composed. But now, he was nervous, and the sweat on his palms proved it.

He wanted to find Wu’er immediately. He needed to know where she was. He believed that Wu’er was not dead and did not want to think that something terrible had happened to her.

However, he was also thinking carefully about the situation. What could have caused Wu’er to suddenly disappear? And what tragedy had occurred in the Dark Moon Forest?

Cang Ling Ye looked around at his surroundings, which were filled with dried blood. He had no idea what had happened to create such a ghastly scene.

Seeing this frightening sight, his heart was gripped with pain, as if something had pierced it.

He walked out of the cave and looked around. Finally, he saw a mangled corpse, long dead and covered with flies.

Cang Ling Ye felt a surge of fear. His eyes filled with anxiety, worried that this corpse might be Wu’er’s.

As he slowly approached, a large swarm of flies flew out. Cang Ling Ye instinctively covered his eyes, nose, and mouth.

A foul stench assaulted his nostrils, making him feel extremely nauseous. The sound of the flies flapping their wings surrounded him.

They seemed to be waiting for him to leave so they could pounce on the corpse and greedily gnaw at the rotting flesh.

Cang Ling Ye slowly opened his eyes, his brows tightly knitted as he looked at the mangled body. He refused to believe this corpse had anything to do with Wu’er.

Focusing his gaze, he realized the corpse was that of a grown man, completely unrelated to Wu’er.

Finally, Cang Ling Ye breathed a sigh of relief. He could let go of his worst fear, which also meant that Wu’er might still be safe for now.

A dagger was embedded in the body, and the bloodstains indicated it had been dead for several days. Yet, strangely, the wolves hadn’t touched it.

Wolves, being cold-blooded creatures, would typically never let go of prey already within their grasp. But here, they hadn’t moved at all, which puzzled Cang Ling Ye.

Although the corpse wasn’t Wu’er’s, it was enough to make Cang Ling Ye realize that the Dark Moon Forest was no longer safe. The invasion of this intruder likely caused the bloody incident.

This intruder had already fallen, his flesh being consumed by flies. But what about Wu’er?

Wu’er should be safe, but where could she be?

Only now did Cang Ling Ye understand that Wu’er had experienced something tragic, which must have severely traumatized her, explaining her disappearance.

Wu’er had never left the Dark Moon Forest. Perhaps she was still hidden somewhere within.

Desperation began to take hold. He searched the forest frantically but found no trace of her, his anxiety growing with each passing moment.

Cang Ling Ye blamed himself. He had thought leaving Wu’er in the Dark Moon Forest would ensure her safety. But fate had other plans, and the once forbidden sanctuary had been breached by an enemy.

Never had Cang Ling Ye been so worried about someone’s safety.

Ever since he left the Dark Moon Forest, Wu’er had occupied a special place in his heart.

He had always looked forward to their next meeting, wondering what it would be like and how Wu’er would appear.

But arriving in the Dark Moon Forest, he found it deserted, with no sign of her.

It was clear that Wu’er had encountered great danger, leading to her disappearance.

Cang Ling Ye searched desperately for half a day but still found no news of Wu’er.

A foreboding feeling grew within him.

Despite being accustomed to preparing for the worst, he couldn’t bring himself to believe that something terrible had happened to Wu’er.

After all, he hadn’t seen any trace of Wu’er!

Cang Ling Ye was disheartened as he wandered aimlessly in the forest. Perhaps Wu’er would suddenly jump out from somewhere, calling his name and playing a huge joke on him.

But Cang Ling Ye wandered until the sky turned dark and still couldn’t find any sign of Wu’er.

Now, Cang Ling Ye felt like a walking corpse as he returned to the cave in a daze.

Looking at the place where Wu’er had lived, he imagined what she might have experienced. He saw traces of her life, but no sign of her.

Examining the things Wu’er had used, he tried to picture her life here. Lying on her bed, it felt just as it had six years ago.

Cang Ling Ye’s teary eyes seemed to see Wu’er return, imagining her sitting beside him, quietly looking at him with a gentle, clear smile.

Wu’er’s clear and melodious laughter had echoed in Cang Ling Ye’s ears for so many years.

Her laughter had always been something he wanted to protect, the sound that filled him with motivation, but now he couldn’t hear it anymore.

Now, Cang Ling Ye could only recall her appearance, though in his mind, her image had long since become blurry.

He used to worry that if they met again, they wouldn’t recognize each other.

Cang Ling Ye had never forgotten their promise.

He had given his most precious jade pendant to Wu’er as a token of their reunion, hoping they would meet again one day.

But now, having risked everything to come here, Wu’er was nowhere to be found. He didn’t know where she had gone.

Fortunately, there was still the jade pendant as a token of their relationship.

Perhaps in the future, they would meet again outside the Dark Moon Forest.

Cang Ling Ye sighed. He still held a trace of hope for Wu’er. He believed they would meet again someday.