Yun Yun's mind was shaken to the point of daze, leaving her momentarily unresponsive. By the time she recovered, Yun Shan had already left the room, utterly indifferent to her reaction.
She slowly sat back down on her futon in a cross-legged manner. Her graceful, noble, and beautiful face now carried an unusual fury. Yun Shan's words had truly driven her heart into an ice-cold abyss, making her feel indifferent toward the master-disciple bond they once shared.
After some time, Yun Yun sensed someone approaching. Her beautiful eyes turned toward the tightly shut door, and her delicate hands clenched so tightly that her nails pierced her palms, bringing pain.
A moment later, her brows furrowed sharply as she coldly called out, "Since you are already here, why bother sneaking around? Show yourself!"
"Ugh... ugh... to think that even with your Dou Qi sealed by Yun Shan, your senses remain this sharp..." A bitter sigh echoed in the hall. Slowly, a large human figure emerged from the shadows. When the familiar face revealed itself, it was none other than Pill King Gu He.
"It's you?" Yun Yun's expression changed as her eyes narrowed. She let out a cold laugh. "Gu He, I never thought you would stoop so low. To take advantage of others in their time of peril... and to think I once held you in such high regard."
Gu He froze for a moment before giving a bitter smile. "Yun Yun, this matter truly isn't of my own will. Everything is Yun Shan's arrangement. He asked me... and besides, I truly do..."
"Stop pushing everything onto him. If you refuse, what can he do even if it is his intention?" Yun Yun's gaze flickered coldly as she stared at Gu He. Though her Dou Qi had been sealed, her aura remained undiminished, carrying sharp pressure in every word.
Faced with Yun Yun's icy demeanor, Gu He found himself unable to respond immediately despite all his composure. After a pause, he rubbed his forehead and let out a weary sigh. "Yun Shan's proposal... it truly holds great temptation for me. You should already know my feelings toward you. Yet you have always chosen to ignore them..."
"You are a rare friend, Gu He," Yun Yun lowered her gaze, her voice calm yet resolute.
"But if you still value the bond we once shared, then reject Teacher's suggestion. Only then can we remain as friends in the future. Otherwise..." her tone grew colder, "do not blame me for discarding the past between us."
Gu He drew in a slow, deep breath, his eyes fixed upon her face, illuminated by the faint glow of the lamp—beautiful yet frostbitten. Suddenly, he asked in a low voice, "It is because of that Xiao Hua, isn't it? You rejected me... because of him."
Yun Yun's expression instantly shifted at the mention of that name. Her voice sharpened into a furious roar. "Nonsense! Don't spout such ridiculous things—it is not as you think!"
"Yun Yun, I am not a fool..." Gu He's voice trembled slightly as he clenched his fists. "Yun Shan told me everything. Now that I recall, your return from the Magic Beast Mountain Range was far later than expected, and you never explained why you failed to claim the Heavenly Flame back in the Tager Desert. Not once."
His expression turned bitter, his pride bleeding through every word. Gu He had always been a man who carried himself with dignity and confidence. Yet even now, he could not escape the shadow of that man. In talent, strength, alchemy, looks—and now even in matters of the heart—he had lost, utterly and completely.
That realization made his bitterness swell into something darker, leaving his heart heavy with envious and grief.
Yun Yun's red lips parted, but no words came at first. Her bright eyes swept coldly over Gu He before she finally spoke, her tone calm yet unyielding. "There is no need for you to trouble yourself with my reasons. I will only ask—are you willing to reject Teacher's suggestion?"
Gu He remained silent for a moment, his expression darkening. At length, he shook his head, his voice deep and heavy. "I am worthy of you. And besides, with the enmity between the Xiao Clan and the Misty Cloud Sect, you and Xiao Hua are impossible!"
"There is no need for you to meddle in my affairs. What right do you have to decide for me?" Yun Yun's voice turned icy, her lips curving into a faint, mocking smile. "You don't even have the qualification to."
Her tone grew sharper, every word cutting like a blade. "I have said before—if I am unwilling, even Teacher cannot force me. If you insist on being stubborn, then when the time comes, you may wed a cold corpse instead."
"All because of him?!" Gu He's voice rose, trembling with fury. The moment he heard her threat of death, his face twisted with envy and rage. "Is Xiao Hua so exceptional that you would go this far for him?"
"This has nothing to do with him..." Yun Yun's slender fingers curled tightly in her palm, yet her voice remained faint and composed. "Gu He, your alchemy skills are renowned across the entire Jia Ma Empire. With your status, it is not difficult to find a woman far more outstanding than me. Why force yourself into something one party is unwilling to accept?"
"But I only love you!" Gu He roared, his voice breaking with desperation. His eyes burned with unwillingness, his pride unraveling. "Perhaps I cannot surpass Xiao Hua in talent or strength, but do not forget—he already has a child with Queen Medusa! Do you think he will ever truly care for you despite that? Is he even worthy of the devotion you show him?"
Yun Yun let out a soft sigh when she saw how obstinate Gu He remained. At last, she fell silent, slowly closing her eyes, choosing to ignore him entirely.
Gu He's fury only swelled at her indifference. Yet despite his rage, he did not dare to cross the line with this woman whom he had always held in both love and deep respect. Restlessly, he paced up and down the hall, his breathing harsh, until finally—after a long struggle—he managed to rein in his emotions.
When he next spoke, his voice was deep and heavy. "Yun Shan has received word from the traitors within the Hua Alliance... about Xiao Hua's daughter."
The moment those words fell, they seemed to carry a strange weight, a force that broke through her calm. Yun Yun's long lashes lifted, and her bright eyes once again opened, fixing upon Gu He.
Seeing her reaction, Gu He could not help but laugh at himself bitterly. That a single name could stir her so deeply—he had never imagined that after being lofty and untouchable for so many years, he would one day be overshadowed by a boy so young, to the point he could no longer turn the tides.
"Through the Hall of Souls, Yun Shan has rallied many factions from beyond the empire. With them, he intends to strike. Xiao Hua's forces in the Central Plains will be tied down by the Hall of Souls, leaving him unable to return to the northwest in time."
"Yun Shan has paid an enormous price for this operation. He will not allow the slightest chance of failure. By then... that child may already fall into their hands. When that time comes, I only hope you will finally awaken, and let go of what should never have been yours to hold..."
Gu He drew in a long breath, his words faint, almost weary. He understood well what fate awaited Xiao Hua once his daughter was captured by Yun Shan—and he pinned his hopes on that cruel reality to shatter Yun Yun's devotion.
Though Yun Yun's expression remained outwardly calm, beneath her sleeves her delicate hands had clenched tightly. In the depths of her lowered gaze, a flicker of complicated emotions surfaced, betraying the turmoil she could not voice.
She understood Xiao Hua's temperament ever since the days they spent together in that secluded valley within the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Because of that, she had no doubt—he would stop at nothing to save and protect his daughter.
But such determination would only lead him into a fate crueler than death. To safeguard his child, Xiao Hua would be forced into becoming nothing more than a tool, his strength feeding the very enemies he loathed.
At this thought, Yun Yun's face unconsciously revealed a trace of worry. She knew Xiao Hua would never truly yield, that even while enduring torment he would surely plot a way to rescue his daughter. Yet the mere image of him suffering under such despair made her heart ache with a pain she could not suppress.
By her side, Gu He's gaze never left her. The momentary anxiety flickering across her features pierced him to the core, igniting an unknown flame of jealousy and rage in his heart. This kind of concern—he had never once seen her show for him.
"Once Xiao Hua's daughter falls into Yun Shan's hands, his end will be miserable beyond compare. You should cast him from your heart as soon as possible..." Gu He said heavily, his tone laced with envy and unwillingness.
Yun Yun's expression turned frosty once more. She gave Gu He a cold glance and replied, her voice sharp as a blade, "Your concern is unnecessary. I will only say this once more—if you still wish to call yourself my friend, then reject teacher's suggestion. If what you truly covet is beauty, there are countless women in this world far more radiant than I. Why must you waste your time on me, a woman who has long been a prisoner?"
"Covet beauty?" Yun Yun's words struck Gu He like a blade. His face twitched with fury as he roared, "Have I ever spared even a glance at another woman besides you all these years? When you bore the burden of Misty Cloud Sect's leadership, was it not I who stood by you, doing everything I could to steady the sect? When did I ever complain? When did I ever demand the slightest repayment?"
Yun Yun's ice-cold expression softened slightly as she looked at Gu He's flushed face. With a soft sigh, she whispered, "Big Brother Gu He, Yun Yun will never dare forget your support. But... there are matters that cannot be forced, not even out of gratitude. As for Xiao Hua and me... things are not as you imagine."
Gu He laughed bitterly at her gentle tone. With a wave of his hand, he said, "I will think over this matter carefully. Once these recent events pass, I will ask Yun Shan to undo the seal within your body. After that... I will accompany you, wherever you wish to go."
Yun Yun could only shake her head helplessly, unable to move this man's stubborn heart.
"In a few short hours, Yun Shan will lead his forces into a decisive clash with the Hua Alliance," Gu He continued after a pause, his voice low. "When the dust settles, you must remember—do not provoke Yun Shan's wrath..."
At those words, Yun Yun's face stiffened, her delicate hand unconsciously tightening into a fist.
"It is already late," Gu He sighed, noticing her silence. "You should rest."
With that, he turned and walked toward the door. Yet, just as he reached the threshold, his steps faltered. After a moment, he added, "By the way... I've sensed unusual fluctuations from the 'Gate of Life and Death' in the sect's forbidden grounds. If I'm not mistaken, Yanran, who has been cultivating within for three years, should be about to emerge..."
He did not linger after those words. The great doors of the hall creaked open, and Gu He's figure slowly vanished into the depths of the night. A moment later, the heavy doors closed again with a dull thud, sealing the silence behind him.
Yun Yun's bright eyes followed his departing back, stunned for a time. Only after a while did a faint trace of relief ripple through her gaze.
"So... that girl Yanran is finally about to emerge from her retreat..." she whispered.
Yet the light in her eyes quickly dimmed. Her hand reached beneath the futon, gently stroking a blue-colored vest. It was the Sea's Core Vest she had once lent to Xiao Hua. A few dark scorch marks marred its surface—the remnants of flames spat out by the Amethyst Winged Lion's cub.
"Xiao Hua... what should I do?" Her voice trembled, soft and broken. "I went against my teacher, but never did I expect him to turn cold, to seal away my Dou Qi... leaving me helpless when Yun Shan gave the order to attack the Xiao Clan again..."
Grief and regret surged in her heart, her eyes misting with sorrow. Memories rose unbidden—pulling her back to that quiet valley deep within the Magic Beast Mountain Range, when the two of them had once spoken in the lingering fragrance of medicinal ingredients.
That day, she had asked, almost out of nowhere, "If someone dearest to you in the Xiao Clan were to grow arrogant, bringing trouble upon others... as the Supreme Elder of the Xiao Clan, would you protect them—or punish them?"
Xiao Hua had been caught off guard. His eyes narrowed slightly, studying her with faint confusion, as though suspecting she had been stirred by something. "Why do you suddenly ask such a question?"
Her gaze shifted, landing on Zi Yan, who at that moment was tied by Xiao Hua and dangling from a tree, unable to move. Lowering her head, her voice softened to a whisper.
"Because... when you punished Zi Yan instead of shielding her before the Amethyst Winged Lion King, that thought suddenly arose within me. I wondered... should you truly treat those closest to you in the same way?"
He had laughed then, low and amused. Yet in his eyes burned a light firm as tempered steel, warm as the rising sun. "If arrogance blinds them, I will punish them—teach them that no one stands above others. But even so, I will still protect them, ensuring they suffer no true harm. However..."
His voice had grown colder, carrying a weight that made her heart tremble. "If they were ever to cross the line of morality... then even if they were my closest kin, I would personally kill them. I despise such corruption more than anything else."
"What if that causes a rift? What if they resent you for not shielding them, believing that as kin, you ought to stand on their side? What if they no longer trust you, and cast you away?" Her breath caught, her heart trembling as she pressed further, almost afraid of the answer.
At that moment, Yun Yun felt as though something deep within her was shifting, like a fragile wall beginning to crack.
At her trembling words, Xiao Hua stood silent for a breath before finally speaking—his voice calm, yet carrying the unshakable weight of one who had continued forward despite being struck by heavenly lightning numerous times, walking ever on the razor's edge of death.
"If they resent me for it, then so be it. I do not live to please others, nor to bend beneath their expectations. Even if it is my own clan—if they are wrong, I will stand against them. If they turn their backs on me, I will walk my path alone. For what worth is kinship, if it demands I forsake my own heart?"
His gaze sharpened, piercing into her very soul.
"Strength without principle is tyranny. Kinship without righteousness is a shackle. If I abandon justice for the sake of blind loyalty, then what meaning does my strength hold? If I cannot uphold my own path, then no matter how high I climb, I am nothing more than a walking corpse."
He paused, his voice softening, yet carrying a weight even heavier than before.
"Do not mistake kindness for weakness, Yun Yun. To shield one's family blindly is not love—it is indulgence that breeds ruin. To punish them fairly, yet protect their life—that is love. And if the day ever comes when my kin's path strays into darkness, then I would rather bear their hatred for all eternity… than allow the world to suffer their sins."
The words echoed through the quiet valley, each syllable like a blade carving into her heart. Yun Yun's breath trembled; she lowered her eyes, unable to withstand the force of his conviction.
His voice dropped lower still, quiet yet terrifying in its resolve.
"So if the Xiao Clan were to fall into arrogance, I would punish them. If my descendants grew corrupt, I would kill them. And if one day, even I were to fall into such darkness—then I would want the one beside me to raise their blade without hesitation."
The firmness in his tone seemed to split open a door inside Yun Yun's heart. Her breath trembled, her fingers tightening unconsciously around the fabric of her robe.
Xiao Hua's final declaration lingered in the air, unyielding as rolling thunder that refused to fade.
"Loyalty is not to a name, nor to a sect, nor even to blood—it is to the truth that defines us. That is the only path I will walk, even if it leaves me standing against the entire world."
The memory faded, leaving only silence. Yun Yun's delicate hand tightened around the vest, her heart aching as though pierced by countless needles.
"Xiao Hua… I failed to protect Xiao Yan. Even when I shielded him from teacher upon his return to Misty Cloud Sect to save his father, it only deepened the enmity between Xiao Clan and my sect."
"I failed to stop my teacher's ambitions, had my strength sealed, and was forced into seclusion by him. I could not prevent the massacre of Xiao Clan in Tager Desert, and could only watch helplessly as hatred festered deeper. Now… they even seek to capture your daughter, to use her as chains to bind you to their will…"
Yun Yun bit down on her lower lip, hard enough for a faint bead of blood to drip down. Her trembling voice escaped her beautiful lips, tears threatening to fall. Though her heart was clear, though her resolve to correct her master and sect was firm, she lacked the strength to fulfill it.
Ever since she had asked that question, her actions had already strayed from the Yun Yun from the novel—the one who hesitated and faltered. Instead, she had chosen to act: saving Xiao Yan, preventing countless elders from joining in the battle, and even daring to erase Yun Shan's tracking mark from Xiao Yan's body openly.
Even after releasing Xiao Yan and daring to confront her teacher about his embarrassing actions—sneak-attacking the younger generation, and shielding Yun Leng's crimes despite knowing the truth—she never expected her strength to be sealed by the very man she regarded as family.
A heavy unease pressed against her chest. In her heart, she sensed that her teacher would fall in this campaign against the Primer Family. A premonition whispered to her—that today would mark the end of Misty Cloud Sect, leaving it nothing more than a relic of the ancient past.
"I only pray… that the disciples and elders who are innocent, those who were dragged into this madness simply because of their bond with the sect, will not perish under my teacher's folly."
Her voice was faint, her words carried away by the cold winds. No one heard her most earnest prayer, and no one could understand the depth of her grief and sorrow in this moment.
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