The Outer Sect. The Martial Arts Arena.
Feng Jiuli stood quietly in the crowd, watching the sparring matches taking place in the center of the arena.
Today was the routine sparring day for the Outer Sect, and all Outer Sect disciples were required to attend. It was a strict sect rule, designed to encourage disciples to learn from each other and progress together.
But Feng Jiuli knew that this kind of sparring was utterly meaningless to her.
Her true combat strength far exceeded that of any disciple present.
She was merely putting on a play.
"Junior Sister Feng Ling, would you like to go up and spar for a bit?"
An Outer Sect disciple walked over, a fawning smile plastered on his face.
Ever since Feng Jiuli joined the Profound Heaven Sect, quite a few people had tried to get close to her. After all, she possessed a Heavenly Spirit Root. Even though her displayed cultivation was only average, the absolute potential of a Heavenly Spirit Root was limitless.
"No," Feng Jiuli replied lightly. "I am only here to observe today."
The disciple looked visibly disappointed, but he didn't dare press the issue and awkwardly backed away.
Feng Jiuli continued to watch the matches, but her mind had already drifted elsewhere.
She was thinking about Gu Changyuan.
Last night, through the Soul Pact, she had vividly felt his fury. That anger was so heavily suppressed and profoundly deep that it made her own heart ache with a strange, uncomfortable feeling.
She knew Gu Changyuan's life in the Servant Quarters was difficult.
But she hadn't realized it was difficult to such an agonizing extent.
"Make way! Make way!"
A sudden commotion erupted from the entrance of the arena.
Feng Jiuli turned her head and saw a group of Inner Sect disciples strutting in.
She recognized the man leading the group.
Chen Xuanfeng.
Gu Changyuan's sworn enemy.
"Senior Brother Chen is here!" "Greetings, Senior Brother Chen!"
The Outer Sect disciples hurriedly bowed, their faces filled with a mix of deep respect and obvious fear.
Chen Xuanfeng waved his hand dismissively. His arrogant gaze swept across the crowd before finally landing squarely on Feng Jiuli.
"Yo, isn't this that rogue cultivator with the Heavenly Spirit Root?" He swaggered over, a playful, mocking smile on his lips. "Feng Ling, was it?"
Feng Jiuli frowned slightly.
"Senior Brother Chen, what can I do for you?"
"Nothing much, just came to take a look." Chen Xuanfeng slowly circled her, eyeing her up and down. "A Heavenly Spirit Root... what a massive pity."
"A pity about what?"
"A pity that you came from a background of rogue cultivators, meaning your foundation is hopelessly unstable." Chen Xuanfeng shook his head in mock sympathy. "A Heavenly Spirit Root paired with garbage rogue cultivation arts... it is simply a reckless waste of heaven's gifts."
Feng Jiuli didn't speak.
She knew Chen Xuanfeng was actively trying to provoke her.
But she wouldn't fall for it.
"Senior Brother Chen is correct," she said lightly. "My foundation is indeed unstable. I still need to cultivate much harder."
Chen Xuanfeng froze for a second, clearly not expecting her to agree so easily.
"You certainly know your place," he sneered coldly. "Unlike a certain someone. Clearly a piece of trash, yet still completely unaware of his own pathetic worth."
Feng Jiuli's brows furrowed deeply.
She knew exactly who the "certain someone" Chen Xuanfeng was referring to was. Gu Changyuan.
"Who is Senior Brother Chen referring to?" she asked, feigning ignorance.
"Who else could it be?" Chen Xuanfeng burst into raucous laughter. "That absolute cripple in the Servant Quarters, Gu Changyuan!"
"The number one genius from three years ago is now worse than a pig. Every single day, he feeds the swine, sweeps the filth, and does the most degrading chores imaginable."
"But the most ridiculous part? He still refuses to accept his fate! Yesterday, I told him to kneel, and he actually dared to refuse!"
"A piece of trash, daring to act tough in front of me?!"
The surrounding disciples erupted into a chorus of mocking laughter.
Inside her sleeves, Feng Jiuli's fists quietly clenched tight.
She could vividly feel her own emotions violently fluctuating.
Fury.
She was feeling explosive fury on behalf of Gu Changyuan.
"What's wrong?" Chen Xuanfeng noticed the shift in her expression. "Do you know that cripple?"
"I do not," Feng Jiuli shook her head. "I merely feel that a dignified Inner Sect disciple like Senior Brother Chen has no need to make things difficult for a lowly servant disciple."
Chen Xuanfeng's expression instantly shifted.
"Are you lecturing me?!"
"I wouldn't dare," Feng Jiuli said coldly. "I simply feel that the strong bullying the weak is nothing to be proud of."
"You—!"
Chen Xuanfeng's face darkened completely.
He hadn't expected this lowly rogue cultivator to actually dare talk back to him.
"Feng Ling, you had better understand your status," he spat menacingly. "You are merely an Outer Sect disciple, while I am an Inner Sect disciple."
"In this sect, if I want someone to kneel, they kneel."
"And that includes you."
A chilling, murderous glint flashed through Feng Jiuli's eyes.
She was a hair's breadth away from striking him down.
But right at that exact moment, she felt a familiar, overwhelming emotion wash over her mind.
It came from Gu Changyuan.
It was... restraint.
He was actively stopping her.
Feng Jiuli took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the raging hellfire in her heart.
"Senior Brother Chen is right," she lowered her head. "I misspoke."
Chen Xuanfeng snorted coldly and turned away.
"At least you're smart enough to know when to back down."
He strutted away with his lackeys, leaving behind a flurry of hushed whispers.
Feng Jiuli stood rooted to the spot, watching Chen Xuanfeng's retreating back. A highly complex emotion swirled in her eyes.
She knew Gu Changyuan was right.
Now was absolutely not the time.
But the furious indignation burning in her chest refused to die down.
That night, in the hidden cave of the back mountain.
"Why did you stop me?!"
The moment Feng Jiuli stepped into the cave, she immediately questioned him.
Gu Changyuan, who had been cultivating, slowly opened his eyes.
"You felt it?"
"Of course I felt it." Feng Jiuli marched right up to him, her beautiful eyes burning with anger. "How could I not feel the emotion you forcefully transmitted through the Soul Pact?!"
Gu Changyuan fell silent.
"Why did you stop me?" Feng Jiuli demanded. "Chen Xuanfeng humiliated you like that! What is wrong with me standing up for you?!"
"It's not that it's wrong," Gu Changyuan said quietly. "It's that it isn't worth it."
"Not worth it?"
"Yes." Gu Changyuan stood up and looked directly at her. "If you had attacked him today, it would have exposed our connection."
"Chen Xuanfeng would become suspicious. He would investigate you, and he would inevitably discover that we are secretly associating with one another."
"When that happens, your entire fabricated identity could be compromised."
Feng Jiuli fell entirely silent.
She knew Gu Changyuan was right.
If she had lashed out today, it would have undoubtedly drawn catastrophic trouble.
But she was still furiously angry.
"You clearly have the strength to fight back! Why do you keep enduring it?!" she demanded. "Three years! You've been swallowing this for three years. Aren't you tired?!"
Gu Changyuan looked at her and remained silent for a long moment.
"I am," he finally said. "Of course I am tired."
"But I had no other choice."
"Three years ago, I was framed, my meridians were ground to dust, and my master died a tragic death. At that time, I wanted nothing more than to butcher every single person involved."
"But I knew I couldn't."
"I was nothing but a crippled piece of trash. I couldn't do absolutely anything."
"So, my only option was to endure."
"Endure until the day I finally had the absolute power to strike back."
Feng Jiuli looked at him, a sharp ache twisting in her heart.
She could vividly feel the suffocating agony and absolute helplessness hidden beneath Gu Changyuan's calm words.
Three years of silent endurance, three years of utter humiliation, three years of agonizing waiting.
If it were anyone else, they would have completely broken long ago.
But he had carried it all.
"Gu Changyuan."
"Mm?"
"I'm sorry."
Gu Changyuan froze for a second.
"Sorry for what?"
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have questioned you." Feng Jiuli lowered her eyes. "I don't fully understand your predicament, yet I arbitrarily judged your actions."
"I was wrong."
Gu Changyuan looked at her, a flash of genuine surprise in his eyes.
He hadn't expected Feng Jiuli to apologize.
In his mind, Feng Jiuli was an unfathomably proud goddess who would never easily bow her head to anyone.
Yet now, she was sincerely apologizing to him.
"There is no need to apologize," he said softly. "You did it for my sake. I know that."
Feng Jiuli raised her head and looked into his eyes.
"You aren't angry?"
"I'm not," Gu Changyuan shook his head slowly. "On the contrary... I am actually quite happy."
"Happy?"
"Yes." The corners of Gu Changyuan's mouth turned up into a soft, remarkably gentle smile. "Because someone was actually willing to stand up for me."
"In three years, you are the very first."
Feng Jiuli was stunned.
Looking into Gu Changyuan's eyes, she saw profound sincerity, she saw deep gratitude, and she saw an indescribable, piercing warmth.
Her heart trembled violently.
"Gu Changyuan."
"Mm?"
"From now on, I will be much more careful," she promised solemnly. "I won't act on impulse again."
"However..." She paused, a flash of absolute, terrifying resolve igniting in her eyes. "During the Grand Sect Tournament, I will absolutely help you."
"We will make Chen Xuanfeng learn the true, agonizing price of ever bullying you."
Gu Changyuan looked at her and remained silent for a moment.
Then, he laughed.
"Alright."
"It's a promise."
The two shared a knowing, completely unguarded smile.
Outside the cave, the moonlight flowed like silver water. Inside the cave, the atmosphere was profoundly warm.
Although it was just a simple conversation, the dynamic between them was quietly undergoing a monumental shift.
From an initial cooperation based on mutual benefits, to genuine, heartfelt care for one another.
While it couldn't quite be called absolute, unconditional trust yet... at the very least, they were no longer just strangers bound by a contract.