"He is my disciple, Song Wanning's! Anyone who dares to harm him will have to step over my body!"
"Bai Yang, you must remember this: your Master, and even the Song Family behind me, will always be your backing! Go on and do as you please without fear. If anything happens, I will take care of it for you!"
"Bai Yang..."
Scenes from the past flooded his mind, one after another. Bai Yang could still clearly recall the look of concern and pride on his Master's face as she said those words.
But now...
Everything had changed.
A sickening panic churned in Bai Yang's heart. He clutched his chest tightly, glaring fixedly in the direction Song Wanning had disappeared.
The Sect Master walked over. Looking at the three disciples lying on the ground, he felt a growing sense of helplessness.
'What could have provoked Junior Sister Song so much that she'd even abandon her own disciples?'
He looked down at Bai Yang and sighed.
Setting aside Junior Sister Song's character for a moment, Bai Yang and the other disciples were indeed in the wrong.
"Bai Yang, you were all wrong this time. Go back and apologize sincerely to Junior Sister Song. Perhaps there's still a chance to fix this!"
Seeing the indignant look that still lingered on Bai Yang's face, the Sect Master's expression turned stern.
"If a disciple of mine dared to betray me for an outsider, his fate would be far more miserable than yours!"
"Junior Sister Song has already been more than merciful!"
He offered this piece of well-intentioned advice, then called over other disciples to send all three of them back to Yunxiao Peak.
...
News that the three True Disciples of Yunxiao Peak had been carried back spread to every corner of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect in an instant. Many people cheered at the outcome.
'Grandmaster Song treated them so well, yet they still stole Elixir Pills. They deserved it!'
Naturally, this news also reached Xuelai Peak.
At that moment, Gu Qingyuan was using his Spiritual Power to purge a poison from Ye Chuxue's body when his good friend, Xiahou Shang, ran over and told them what had happened.
As he recounted this juicy piece of gossip, his gaze would occasionally land on the two of them, his expression rather complicated.
Ye Chuxue pursed her lips uncomfortably. Ever since she had woken up, she'd noticed that everyone had started looking at her strangely.
She silently tightened her grip on her sleeve, not quite understanding why.
But upon hearing that Bai Yang was seriously injured, she immediately grew anxious.
"Uncle Xiahou, is Bai Yang alright?"
Her concerned tone made Gu Qingyuan, who was behind her, pause. The flow of his Spiritual Energy instantly stagnated.
"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH—"
Gu Qingyuan began to cough violently.
Xiahou Shang glanced at Ye Chuxue, feeling it was all so unfair to his friend.
Gu Qingyuan had been injured by Song Wanning last time and still hadn't fully recovered, yet he was already rushing to purge the poison for Ye Chuxue.
But in her heart, there was only room for Bai Yang.
"He's fine. He won't die!"
"It's all my fault. If it weren't for me, Brother Bai wouldn't have..."
Ye Chuxue hated herself for being so powerless. If not for her, Bai Yang would never have angered Song Wanning.
"What does that have to do with you? The Elixir Pills were from Gu—"
"Xiahou Shang!"
Gu Qingyuan cut off the disgruntled Xiahou Shang, preventing him from revealing the truth.
He was afraid Ye Chuxue would avoid him if she found out.
His vision swam with anger. Xiahou Shang shot Gu Qingyuan a glare, frustrated by his weakness, and stormed out of the room.
Gu Qingyuan told her to rest well and chased after him.
Xiahou Shang was waiting for him in the bamboo forest outside the main hall. Seeing him approach, he felt even more baffled.
"What in the world do you like about her?"
Ye Chuxue is pretty, sure, but Song Wanning is even more beautiful. In every respect, she is far more outstanding than Ye Chuxue!
'Is Gu Qingyuan out of his mind?'
"Chuxue is exceptionally kind. She's different from everyone else."
"Did you know, she even believes that all living beings under the heavens are equal."
She's innocent, kind, and unique. It makes you want to protect that pure heart of hers.
To keep it from being tainted by the filth of the world.
"You—"
Hearing this reasoning, Xiahou Shang was even more convinced that something was wrong with Gu Qingyuan's head.
'In the Cultivation World, all are equal?'
'What a load of bullshit!'
'If everyone were truly equal, then why isn't Ye Chuxue staying in the Outer Sect instead of coming here to snatch resources meant for True Disciples?'
"What about Song Wanning, then? Are you really going to break off your engagement with her?"
At the mention of Song Wanning, Gu Qingyuan's eyes darkened. "I've already broken off the engagement. There's no future for us anymore!"
His expression was resolute, his gaze cold. When speaking of the woman he had loved for over a hundred years, it was as if he were talking about a stranger.
"Gu Qingyuan, if you let Song Wanning go, you will definitely regret it!"
Xiahou Shang's gaze was heavy. The emotion he had suppressed for so many years finally surfaced once more.
As his friend, he knew better than anyone how good Song Wanning had been to Gu Qingyuan.
He was envious. Jealous.
He had always watched over her in silence.
The one thing he had always longed for but could never have, Gu Qingyuan had cast aside so easily.
How ironic.
"Gu Qingyuan, since your engagement is off, you wouldn't object if I were to pursue Song Wanning, would you?"
Xiahou Shang stared into Gu Qingyuan's eyes.
Gu Qingyuan froze, his head snapping toward Xiahou Shang.
"What did you just say?"
Xiahou Shang didn't answer. The very air seemed to stand still.
Gu Qingyuan clenched his fists, a heavy stone seeming to lodge itself in his chest.
After holding it in for a long moment, he finally forced out the words, "Whatever happens with Song Wanning has nothing to do with me anymore."
"Is that so?"
Hearing this, Xiahou Shang's lips curled into a slight smile. He stared at Gu Qingyuan's obviously flustered eyes and said, "Then you'd better not regret it in the future!"
He turned and left, with a hint of secret delight.
'It's good that Gu Qingyuan and Song Wanning are over.'
'For all these years, he had watched as Song Wanning, consumed by jealousy over Gu Qingyuan, seemed to transform into a completely different person.'
'The woman she used to be was like the sun, high in the sky.'
'Brilliant, dazzling, and unreachable.'
As his friend walked away, Gu Qingyuan stood there, stunned, for a long time.
Deep down, he felt a sense of unease.
But he quickly calmed himself. 'Song Wanning's heart belongs only to me. So what if Xiahou Shang pursues her?'
'Song Wanning will only ever love me!'
————————
「At the summit of Yunxiao Peak.」
Bai Yang sat cross-legged on his bed, the Sect Master's words from earlier flashing through his mind.
He seemed to realize that he had been wrong.
But at the same time, he stubbornly felt that Song Wanning was the one who was wrong first. The two thoughts warred in his mind, leaving him in turmoil.
His injuries were not light, but he paid them no mind. He was far more concerned with Song Wanning's change in attitude.
After hesitating for a long time, Bai Yang struggled to his feet and took out an Elixir Pill, swallowing it.
Looking at the Elixir Pill, his resolve hardened.
'This time, I'll be the one to bow my head first. I'll take the first step back!'
Having made up his mind, Bai Yang felt a sense of relief. He pushed open the door and headed towards Song Wanning's grand hall.
He and his fellow disciples each had their own courtyard built on the mountainside, while Song Wanning resided in Chaohua Hall at the summit.
He walked quickly, a trace of anticipation in his steps.
But just as he reached the summit, the smile on Bai Yang's face vanished in an instant.
To the side of the grand hall, a magnificent-looking, three-story courtyard had sprung up from the ground.
The courtyard was surrounded by flowers, and weeping willows swayed like dancers, a captivating sight.
Outside the courtyard, Song Wanning had her head bowed, gently stroking a young girl's hair, her eyes filled with tenderness and concern.
Bai Yang froze. An immense wave of loss and anger surged through him.
He felt a sour mix of anger and jealousy, a knot tightening uncomfortably in his chest.