In another room of the inn, under Ye Chuxue's careful care, Gu Qingyuan finally regained consciousness. His face was pale. A faint, bitter smile surfaced as he looked at Ye Chuxue and said, "You've worked hard."
His distant tone made Ye Chuxue freeze for a moment. Her expression faltered before she replied softly, "It's nothing. Didn't Master also take care of me for a long time?"
After helping Gu Qingyuan take a sip of water, she sat down nearby, awkwardly fiddling with the hem of her dress.
The incident from before had left a tension between them that couldn't simply be erased.
But Gu Qingyuan quickly broke the silence. He reached into his storage pouch and placed a beast core into Ye Chuxue's palm.
"What is this?"
"A fifth-rank demon beast's core. It's enough to help you reach the early stage of the Golden Core realm."
Gu Qingyuan's eyes were filled with guilt and tenderness. Ye Chuxue had advanced far beyond her peers from an early age, her cultivation smooth and rapid. She had formed her Foundation early, even before others had begun their first real breakthrough.
But at some point, her progress stalled. Worse yet, her injuries had caused her cultivation to slip backward.
He blamed himself deeply.
As her master, he had failed in his duty. Worse still, he had nearly overstepped and brought shame upon her... So, using both of the beast cores on Ye Chuxue didn't pain him in the slightest.
"Fifth rank?"
Ye Chuxue was momentarily stunned. As she felt the surging power in her hand, a wave of shock rippled through her chest.
Meeting Gu Qingyuan's caring gaze, she couldn't hold back any longer. Her eyes turned red, and she threw herself into his arms.
In this world, the person who treated her best was her master. Always had been, and perhaps always would be.
For the next few days, Song Wanníng had heard no news of Ye Chuxue. Just as she was preparing to leave, an overwhelming pressure suddenly descended from the sky. Her brows knit together. She stepped outside with Mo Yuan, who had disguised himself carefully to avoid attention. Together, they looked up at the sky.
Tribulation clouds had gathered above, and the immense pressure weighed heavily on the inn.
"Whoa, someone's facing a tribulation?"
"Looks like someone here is advancing!"
"Judging by the lightning, must be the Golden Core tribulation?"
"Seems like it. The lightning's not that strong."
"…"
The commotion drew nearly everyone out of the inn. Curious cultivators watched the storm gather, discussing fervently.
Others on the street rushed over as well. It wasn't often one got to witness a heavenly tribulation. And if the cultivator failed, there was even a chance to snatch some leftover treasures. No one wanted to miss out.
Song Wanníng's gaze remained fixed on the sky. A faint unease stirred in her chest. While she was still deep in thought, a figure leapt from one of the inn's windows, landing atop the roof.
At the same time, the inn's defensive array activated in full.
When she saw that familiar figure, Song Wanníng's expression darkened instantly. A wave of murderous intent surged from within, nearly causing her demonic energy to spiral out of control.
She glared fiercely at the figure. Although she had prepared herself mentally, the sight of Ye Chuxue not only unharmed but successfully breaking through to the Golden Core stage still made her blood boil.
For a brief moment, a thought stabbed through her: "Then what was all my effort for?"
But she quickly reined it in.
As Child of the Heavenly Dao, of course it wouldn't be easy for her to fall. But if she could rise once, Song Wanníng would find a way to crush her again. One day, she would destroy the Heavenly Dao plan entirely.
Meanwhile, Mo Yuan also recognized Ye Chuxue. Back then, he had tried to steal her pill, only to end up losing his manhood and suffering grievous injuries. He hadn't been able to recover for a long time.
He had never forgotten that humiliation and had been waiting for a chance to get revenge. Who would've thought she'd show up here?
Dark demonic energy surged around Mo Yuan. His fists clenched tightly, knuckles cracking with rage. His eyes blazed with hatred. He grabbed Song Wanníng's arm and pulled her toward the inn.
"Senior, we should find cover!"
"Hm?"
Song Wanníng didn't object and followed him inside. They had just slipped into a corner when Gu Qingyuan appeared at the inn's entrance. Though his face was pale, his presence was imposing. He stood there like a sentinel, the image of a protector.
The surrounding cultivators quieted. They had noticed his Nascent Soul cultivation, and none of them dared make trouble.
"So that's how it is."
Gu Qingyuan had moved quickly. Even with his damaged soul, he had made sure his disciple had everything she needed to advance first.
Such devotion was rare in this world.
Song Wanníng's eyes turned cold. In her heart, she tallied up another grudge against Gu Qingyuan.
Beside her, Mo Yuan's expression soured. "She's even got a Nascent Soul cultivator guarding her. What kind of background does she have?"
Back then, she had bid a massive amount of spirit stones to win the Heavenly Origin Nurturing Heart Pill. Her identity had to be significant.
Just as he finished speaking, Song Wanníng answered coldly, "She is Ye Chuxue, a core disciple of the Wentian Sect."
Mo Yuan blinked in surprise. "Senior, you know her?"
"Yes."
Song Wanníng nodded. "She is the personal disciple of my former fiancé."
"What?"
Mo Yuan's heart sank. "Senior… you are Song Wanníng, Song Zhēnjūn?"
They had been traveling together for so long, and he had always called her Senior, never daring to ask her true name. He had never imagined that this woman was the Song Wanníng, the renowned alchemy master of the Wentian Sect.
Everyone had heard the story of Gu Qingyuan abandoning Song Wanníng for his own disciple. The scandal had spread far and wide, drawing gasps and sighs from many. Their bond had lasted over a century, yet even that hadn't been enough to compete with a young apprentice.
But what mattered to Mo Yuan now wasn't Song Wanníng's fame. It was the fact that Gu Qingyuan, her ex-fiancé, was the man she had loved for over a hundred years.
Jealousy surged through his chest like wildfire. A sinister red flickered in his eyes. He nearly ground his back teeth into dust.
At that moment, the tribulation arrived, drowning out even Song Wanníng's last word.
The heavenly lightning fell as if it were a game, light and gentle.
Ye Chuxue handled it effortlessly, composed and confident. She didn't seem nervous at all.
Remembering her own tribulation, the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, Song Wanníng felt a spike of resentment. Her golden little sword cursed furiously in her mind, itching to rush up and fight the heavens itself.
Song Wanníng calmed it down, thoughts racing. She narrowed her eyes slightly, trying to find a way to interfere with Ye Chuxue's tribulation. But she didn't dare act recklessly. If the Heavenly Dao caught even the slightest trace of interference, it would strike her down without mercy.
Just as she was stewing in frustration, Mo Yuan spoke in a low voice beside her.
"Senior, I have a plan. Would you lend me a hand?"
"What plan?"
Song Wanníng turned to look at him.
"I have a blood feud with Ye Chuxue. She nearly killed me once. Now she dares to undergo tribulation right in front of me? I can't let her succeed."
Mo Yuan's face was like black iron. Ye Chuxue was not only his enemy, but Song Wanníng's as well.
He would not let her go.
And as for Gu Qingyuan, the man who had betrayed this senior he admired… he deserved to die too.
Mo Yuan leaned closer and whispered his plan in Song Wanníng's ear.
===
New novel on work "Mom's Apocalypse Survival Log". You can find it on my webnovel profile.
Lan Jin thought she knew how the apocalypse would end—struggling to survive for two long years, only to be betrayed and murdered by her cheating ex-husband and his mistress. But fate gives her a second chance. Reborn three months before the world collapses, she's armed with a space ability, a burning desire for revenge, and one unwavering goal: protect her child at all costs.
This time, she won't be naive. Armed with a space that keeps her supplies fresh and a burning desire to never be a victim again, she's ready. She's stockpiling food, securing shelter, and building a small but loyal team—including a tough-as-nails gym instructor, teenager who should be in college but ditched it for a gap year, a no-nonsense trainer with her elderly grandmother, and, of course, a very good dog.
But the apocalypse isn't just about surviving disasters. Earth itself seems determined to wipe humanity out in the cruelest, most unpredictable ways. And when the final catastrophe hits? No one could have seen it coming.