Pei Yu was dumbfounded.
Because his elder brother had died young, his parents had poured all their boundless affection and expectations onto him. Having been a pampered young master for so many years, this was the first time he had encountered such an embarrassing predicament.
Not only had he been publicly shamed by a sword's strike, but he had also been led around by the nose by an unclean demonic entity. When the characters on the "Demonic Cleansing Talisman" were read aloud by Mo Xiaoyang, each word felt like a slap, cracking against his face.
He was made to look like a fool.
What he never expected was that Meng Xiaoting had actually prepared a Memory-Stone.
Once the images stored within were revealed, he would be utterly finished.
If he had spoken up just now to stop Meng Xiaoting's actions, it would have been tantamount to a confession without being pressed. He struggled to suppress the trembling throughout his body, his teeth chattering uncontrollably, forcing himself to maintain a calm and composed appearance.
Perhaps... a coincidence could occur.
Who knew where she had placed her Memory-Stone? If he had just happened to avoid being within its field of view, there might still be a chance.
As Meng Xiaoting gathered her spiritual energy, a luminous, smooth, round stone appeared in her palm. The clamor within the main hall quickly died down into silence.
Now that the sword formation had been restored and the evil demons completely expelled, everyone gathered together, looking up with full curiosity at the illusory image floating in mid-air.
What met their eyes was the scene inside the main hall before the sword formation was damaged.
After the first round of fierce battle, many had sustained injuries, major or minor. Disciples from various sects and families sat together in small groups, all with solemn expressions, the atmosphere grave and dignified.
Suddenly, a figure was seen gradually approaching the edge of the sword formation.
Some people glanced meaningfully, with thoughtful looks, at Pei Yu.
Pei Yu gritted his teeth.
While others wouldn't know the direction the events in the recording would take, he remembered everything with crystal clarity.
Back then, the voice hidden within his mind was eager to leave, and he himself was desperate to frame Pei Du using the Demonic Cleansing Talisman. After some discussion, Pei Yu had finally agreed to damage the sword formation to let it depart quickly.
Many people were sitting near the edge of the formation; one more or one less wouldn't make a difference. Even if he strode over purposefully, it wouldn't attract too much attention.
In the image provided by the Memory-Stone, the youth in brocade robes had already taken a proper seat.
Pei Yu wasn't stupid, of course he wouldn't directly release demonic energy. Otherwise, the moment he arrived, the formation would collapse, and he would immediately become the prime suspect.
Just a little longer... they would discover the anomaly.
Pei Yu felt as if he had been plunged into an ice cellar, his heart filled with unprecedented terror.
The voice that had bewitched him was thick with demonic energy. When it left his body and escaped amidst the chaos, it carried with it a faint, wispy trail of black energy.
It would definitely... definitely be seen by everyone.
A crimson, blood-like haze gradually filled his eyes, and an uncontrollable rage surged up violently.
It was all Pei Du's fault, all Xie Jingci's fault, all Meng Xiaoting's fault... If not for them, how could his situation have come to this!
In the surrounding silence, a murderous sword gleam flashed!
Pei Yu drew his sword from its sheath, launching a direct attack on Meng Xiaoting within the crowd. The stagnant air was torn apart layer by layer with a sharp, clear ring, accompanied by several cries of shock.
His strike was extremely fast. Just as Xie Jingci was about to draw her blade to meet the attack, in that instant, she felt a gust of wind pass by her side.
"Fellow cultivator."
Long Xiao had finally wiped the smile from his face this time. Using his own body as a shield, he formed an impregnable barrier, protecting Meng Xiaoting. "Lashing out in shame and anger is hardly the conduct of a gentleman."
By making such a move, even without watching the rest of the recording, everyone could guess its contents. Presumably, Pei Yu had already given up on himself, resigned to his fate, and in his desperation, cared for nothing else.
Xie Jingci fell silent and looked up, her gaze fixed on the continuously changing images.
By now, night had fallen. The everlasting lamps in the main hall burned undimmed, their layered light rippling like water, filling every corner.
In such brightness, any darkness appeared particularly glaring and conspicuous.
"That, that is—!"
Even though they already knew the answer, when this exclamation rang out, the cultivators erupted into an uproar.
—The sword formation was seen trembling slightly. Pei Yu sat in his original spot, his expression normal, his body imperceptibly leaning back, as if to conceal something.
He intended to hide it, but unfortunately the Memory-Stone had been placed high up by Meng Xiaoting. Without any difficulty, it captured a thin, spreading black mist.
That was undoubtedly demonic energy.
Numerous pairs of eyes turned simultaneously towards Pei Yu.
"So it was you after all! Were you so desperate to get us all killed?"
A sword cultivator, furious beyond measure, punched him squarely: "Do you know how many of us nearly died, and how many actually did die?!"
"You went to such lengths, not only allying with evil demons but even treating all our lives as a joke..."
Another person said with a trembling voice, "...all just because you wanted to shift all the blame onto Pei Du, to make him bear all the condemnation? Then what about us? What are our lives worth in your eyes?!"
"Coward! Traitor!"
A youth with bloodshot eyes rushed out from the crowd, grabbed him by the collar, and shouted with a sob in his voice: "My elder brother was severely injured in the chaos and still hasn't opened his eyes... So many lives, how will you repay them! Pei Du was risking his life to exterminate the demons, and what about you? Hiding on the sidelines watching the show! No wonder Zhan Yuan Sword willingly follows Pei Du—you will never measure up to him!"
Never measure up to him.
The youth in brocade robes trembled, his lips quivering, then suddenly let out a scornful, cold laugh.
"I don't measure up to him?"
Pei Yu laughed wildly: "Yes, I don't measure up to him! What 'Sword Dao genius,' 'Master of Zhan Yuan'..."
His expression turned fierce as he spoke, a ferocious glint flashing in his eyes: "But that's only because of his innate Sword Bone! Relying on the talent he was born with, adoration, admiration, opportunities, magical treasures... everything willingly follows him... Apart from that innate Sword Bone, in what way is he truly stronger than me?!"
Pei Du listened quietly as he continued.
"Isn't that right? In terms of diligent cultivation, I too have practiced sword day and night! Why must everyone's attention focus solely on him, reducing me to a mere foil?!"
Pei Yu grew more agitated as he spoke, once again bursting into a frenzied laugh: "Strip away that innate talent, what are you left with? A replacement who resembles my elder brother, a pauper from who-knows-where! If my family hadn't taken you in, who knows where you'd be now—"
Before he could finish his words, a sudden blade wind struck him squarely in the chest.
Xie Jingci's voice was icy cold: "Listening to a dog's barking is tiresome. There's no need for the Second Young Master Pei to continue yapping."
"Look! Even the eldest daughter of the Xie family from Yunjing stands firmly by his side without hesitation!"
Pei Yu's laughter abruptly stopped, his eyes blazing with fury. "So an innate Sword Bone is so impressive, is it? If you have the guts, seal your spiritual power and fight me in a fair, one-on-one duel!"
"Fair?"
Long Xiao stroked his chin, his unchanging smile returning. "I recall during the great competition at the Xuanwu Realm, Second Young Master Pei, wielding the Zhan Yuan Sword and possessing a Nascent Soul stage cultivation, challenged Pei Du back then. I didn't see you insisting on any 'fairness' then either."
As he spoke, he paused for a moment, pretending to suddenly realize something, and looked back at Meng Xiaoting. "Ah, right. I remember that Second Young Master Pei lost the fight back in the Profound Turtle Realm, didn't he?"
Meng Xiaoting held back his laughter and nodded in agreement.
That fight was a humiliation he could never forget in his life. Pei Yu gritted his teeth in hatred and tried hard to suppress the urge to shout abuse. He sneered and locked eyes with Pei Du. "Well, are you brave enough?"
Anyway, he was already finished.
After leaving the secret realm, the news that he had colluded with evil demons would surely spread throughout the entire cultivation world. Before he became a pariah...
Pei Yu's eyes darkened.
He wanted to drag Pei Du down with him.
It was so unfair.
Just because of his innate talent, Pei Du could have a cultivation speed three times faster than his. Without spiritual power, bloodline, or the sword energy brought by the sword bone and spiritual root, relying solely on swordsmanship, that guy would never be his match.
He wanted to let everyone see that the so - called genius of the sword path was actually just a useless person relying on the sword bone.
Xie Jingci really wanted to punch him hard.
But in the end, she held back and looked at Pei Du beside her.
Pei Du was also looking at her. At the moment their eyes met, his long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and he shifted his gaze guiltily.
His voice was extremely calm, showing no emotion. "Draw your sword."
"Alright, come on!"
Pei Yu's smile widened. "Since it's a fair duel, then you can't use Zhan --"
Before he could finish his words, he saw the young man not far away draw his sword, and a cold light flashed. However, it was not the pressure from the divine sword, Zhan Yuan.
Without his special reminder, what was held in Pei Du's hand was the long sword that Xie Shu had found for him temporarily.
Xie Jingci's heart skipped a beat. Her father liked Pei Du very much. After hearing that his sword had been taken away, besides giving him this sword in advance, he had also specially visited the number one sword - forger of the current era, wanting to give Pei Du a pleasant surprise.
The sword that had been carefully forged would probably be ready soon. Now that Zhan Yuan was back, she didn't know what her father's reaction would be.
Duels between sword cultivators were always swift and straightforward.
Pei Yu launched a fierce attack first, intending to kill that brat within five moves.
Although he kept saying "fair" all the time, in fact, he knew better than anyone that this battle could never be fair.
In terms of seniority, he had been practicing much longer than Pei Du.
In terms of physical strength, Pei Du had fought that skeletal monster and must have consumed a lot of energy, while he had been clearing out small monsters and was still quite energetic.
As for weapons, it went without saying.
Although the sword in Pei Du's hand was not an ordinary one, unfortunately, the evil demon fire was too fierce and had burned many notches on the blade.
He had been suppressed for so many years, and now finally...
Pei Yu couldn't suppress the curve of his lips and brandished his sword.
His movement was incredibly fast. The long sword left several after - images in the air, like sudden rain and strong wind. Even with his spiritual power suppressed, it still emitted a terrifying pressure.
Pei Du's expression remained unchanged. He saw the tip of the sword among the numerous after - images. When the two swords collided, there was a clear ringing sound.
Immediately afterwards, he moved.
Before Pei Yu could dodge, the young man who had just been drawing his sword to block the attack turned to the offensive. With a forceful backhand, the vibrating tip of the sword was like a dragon emerging from the sea, suddenly attacking the former.
Oh no!
Pei Yu frowned secretly and quickly dodged to the side. Unexpectedly, Pei Du's swordsmanship was so fast and fierce. The sword wind swept by, leaving a bloodstain on his side face.
This was not the end.
The sword moves never stopped. The huge sense of oppression formed a huge net, airtight, making it difficult for him even to breathe. He could only do his best to block and retreat.
The wound on his face was burning with pain. He was extremely shocked and could only repeat to himself over and over again: Be calm.
Pei Du had been practicing the Pei family's swordsmanship since childhood, and Pei Yu had also memorized the swordsmanship word for word. Since he had learned it for a longer time, he could understand the deeper meaning of the sword intent.
In this way, it should have been extremely easy to figure out his moves.
Pei Yu calmed himself down. While blocking, he diverted some of his attention to the swordsmanship Pei Du was using.
He had a very good plan in mind and could already foresee Pei Du's embarrassed look when his swordsmanship was seen through and his face full of disbelief. However, the smile on his lips hadn't even appeared before it froze.
... He couldn't figure it out.
He couldn't tell at all which move of the Pei family Pei Du was using.
How could this be?
Pei Yu was extremely shocked. He saw that the other person moved like a swimming dragon, and the after - images of the long sword kept changing. A drop of bright red blood dripped from the tip of the sword and landed with a "patter" sound, passing through the howling wind.
The huge sense of oppression squeezed his bones forcefully.
He was both shocked and suspicious. Amid the chaotic thoughts, he finally realized belatedly that what Pei Du had used not long ago seemed to be the moves of the Thousand Swords Sect.
And now, it was the moves of the Sword Sect.
Imitating the killing moves of various major sects was Xie Jingci's well - known hobby.
-- Why did this boy do the same as her?!
The Sword Sect mainly focused on quick killing and advocated a single - strike to kill.
Dense sword shadows appeared continuously. Pei Yu felt the sword wind approaching and didn't think much before blocking it downward. Unexpectedly, the other person lifted the long sword and then launched a side attack. A set of changing moves flowed smoothly, leaving him no room for any resistance.
At that moment, Pei Yu finally felt unprecedented remorse.
He was no match for Pei Du at all.
Whether before or now, whether with the sword bone and spiritual power or not, that person was far superior to him. From beginning to end in this duel, except for the initial preemptive strike, he had never had a chance to attack.
This was a complete and utter defeat, crushed without any suspense.
He had clearly been practicing hard all the time, but why... had it become like this?
The tip of the sword was pressed against his throat, reflecting a faint light from the bright lanterns around.
When he locked eyes with Pei Du and looked into those black pupils, Pei Yu clearly understood that he was finished.
Everything was over.
He would completely become the laughingstock of everyone in the cultivation world and would never be able to hold his head up again.
Pei Du drew his sword fast and put it away just as fast.
He seemed to be thinking about something. His expression and tone were extremely calm. There was neither the anger after being framed nor the joy of defeating the enemy greatly. He just said softly, "I'm flattered."
Pei Yu was so angry that he spat out a mouthful of blood from his throat. His eyes were blank, and he looked as if he was in a dream.
"I say, what 'hard work in cultivation'? When you were practicing the sword, was Pei Du lying comfortably in bed?"
Someone said, "Always only thinking about one's own good and shifting all the blame to others. With such a mentality, it's no wonder you can't achieve great things."
"Yeah, and looking at these years, hasn't the Second Young Master spent quite a lot of time on eating, drinking, and having fun?"
Another person echoed, "I've heard that the young master often stays behind closed doors all day and practices the sword hard. This is well - known in our academy. You were having a good time while he was practicing the sword; you were seeking pleasure while he was still practicing the sword. In the end, you're not as good as him and then attribute the reason to talent... That doesn't make sense, does it?"
"Why waste so much time talking to him!"
The young man who had previously grabbed him by the collar and interrogated him said sternly, "This person's heart is not in the right place; he is rotten to the core! Today's incident is so similar to the Ghost Tomb incident from before. He might just be up to his old tricks, trying to pull off another framing scheme!"
As soon as these words were spoken, discussions immediately erupted in the main hall.
In today's cultivation world, there was likely no one who hadn't heard of the incident at the Ghost Tomb. Rumor had it that the young master of the Pei family, in order to usurp the position of family head, had set up numerous traps by the cliff to kill Bai Wan and Pei Yu. Fortunately, Pei Fengnan arrived just in time to turn the tide.
Opinions varied on whether this was true or false, but looking at it now, the answer to who truly harbored sinister intentions was self-evident.
"What should we do next?"
The young man gritted his teeth. "Pei Yu has harmed so many people. We might as well end him here and rid ourselves of a great menace."
"I actually think it would be better to spare his life for now."
Xie Jingci said calmly, "Once his actions are exposed, according to the laws and family rules, he should receive severe punishment and have his immortal bones extracted. Compared to letting him die right now, this method will better appease the resentment."
She consciously ignored Pei Yu's vicious glare and smiled, raising an eyebrow provocatively. "I suggest tying him up and leaving him here. After we leave the secret realm, we'll see how the Second Young Master Pei explains himself."
Having played the role of a vicious villain for so long, she was well aware of a certain truth.
Death was but a fleeting moment. Compared to dying, living and suffering was the most terrifying nightmare.
Pei Yu, like a motionless ragdoll, was tightly bound by a Spirit-Binding Rope and placed in a corner.
"The next thing we should solve," Mo Xiaoyang scratched his head and looked around the main hall, "should be those demons and monsters outside, right?"
He had previously informed the cultivators in the main hall of the general situation. Having no other way out, everyone could only pin their sole hope on the divine sense of Wandering Immortal Yunshui.
A female cultivator looked at Chu Zheng, who was standing in the corner. "Senior, the secret realm is in chaos right now. Is there a way to solve this?"
This senior was just as the legends said, unsmiling from beginning to end. Just now, the conflicts came one after another, but the expression on his face hadn't loosened in the slightest.
"Besides the Heart-Protecting Mirror, there is one other thing that can suppress the evil spirits."
He spoke slowly and methodically. Meng Xiaoting asked curiously, "What is it?"
The young-looking puppet glanced at her, turned his hand, and pointed his fingertip directly at the tip of his own nose. "Me."
In terms of strength, Wandering Immortal Yunshui herself possessed powerful spiritual energy and was undoubtedly a walking evil-warding treasure. If she hadn't been entangled by her inner demons, how would these demons and monsters dare to be so presumptuous?
"Senior, do you mean," Xie Jingci said with a serious expression, "that we need to leave the main hall, head to the back mountain where the main body is located, and by eradicating the inner demons... awaken her so she can suppress the secret realm?"
Chu Zheng nodded.
"But in this situation, as long as we leave the sword array, no matter who it is, they won't survive for long, right?"
Mo Xiaoyang frowned, a rare sight. "How about we all rush out together and try to carve out a bloody path?"
"That won't work."
Chu Zheng shook his head. "Too many people moving together will only attract all the evil entities in the secret realm. When the demonic energy condenses, it will directly destroy the Clear Heart Array in the back mountain."
In that case, chronic suicide would instantly turn into sudden death.
"But if we only send a few people," Meng Xiaoting said, "there are numerous evil demons in the secret realm. If they encounter an accident, it will be hard to survive, right?"
"...I have a way."
After a long time, Mo Xiaoyang spoke in a deep voice.
He usually seemed unreliable and always loved to joke around. At this moment, his frivolous smile faded, and the look in his eyes was as piercingly cold as a blade. "I have a bottle of Demon-Attracting Incense in my storage bag. It can lure all the surrounding monsters to the main hall, buying time for the people going out—but in that case, the demonic energy will condense, and the sword array will have a hard time holding up."
A moment of silence.
"Bah! What kind of garbage method is this! And you say I harmed you? You are clearly sending us to our deaths!"
Pei Yu, in the corner, screamed his lungs out, completely abandoning his image. "When the time comes and all the evil demons swarm this place, how long can the sword array hold? We will all die! You are a demonic cultivator, aren't you? Who knows what kind of intentions you harbor, wanting to—"
Before he could finish his sentence, he was struck by a surge of spiritual energy that made him cough up blood.
"I think it's feasible."
The young man who abhorred Pei Yu withdrew his power and said coldly, "If we stay here doing nothing, the sword array will still shatter in a few days. Now that it is still intact and we are under its barrier, we might as well give it our all."
Either way, it was extremely dangerous. Compared to waiting for death in despair a few days later, he would rather fight for it.
"Right... just like before, the sword cultivators will guard the edge. If the sword array is forcefully breached, they will quickly mend it; the rest of the people will gather their strength and attack together to kill the monsters that charge into the array."
A young girl not far away wiped the blood off her face, her eyes bright and resolute. "Although my strength is small and my sword skills are poor, I'm still quite good with arrays."
"I agree too!"
The girl beside her said in a crisp voice, "I am a medical cultivator. I still have quite a few spiritual medicines and magical artifacts in my storage bag. If anyone gets injured, just come find me!"
At first, it was just the voices of one or two people, but after that, there were more and more, like water drops gradually converging into a river, filling every silent corner.
"I am a spell cultivator. My combat power is decent."
"I-I can repair weapons for everyone!"
"I am a puppet master... I tried it before, using puppets to confuse the demonic creatures can temporarily divert their attack targets."
"Puppet master? I have quite a few strength-enhancing talismans here. I wonder if they're useful on puppets? Or we could stick fire talismans on them! A sky full of fiery rain, how about that?"
"Since it has been decided," Chu Zheng said calmly, "who is willing to go to the back mountain with me? Inner demons are entrenched in the back mountain. Compared to the main hall, it will only be more dangerous."
"I'll go."
A clear and melodious young man's voice sounded. Xie Jingci looked at Pei Du in surprise.
"My cultivation base is passable, and today's incident also has something to do with me."
He glanced at Chu Zheng. "Senior, I wonder if one person is enough?"
"Of course it's not enough!"
Xie Jingci widened her eyes. "I'll go too!"
"Two people are enough."
The young puppet nodded. "If we split up too many people, the main hall probably won't be able to hold up—the current Clear Heart Array is extremely fragile, and the number of outsiders it can accommodate should only be two."
"Then we'll rely on you!"
Mo Xiaoyang rubbed his fists together. "We will fight with our lives to buy you time!"
Long Xiao coughed lightly. "If we can get out this time, I will set up a grand banquet at the Zuiyang Restaurant in Yunjing. If you are interested, you can all go and celebrate."
Meng Xiaoting's eyes lit up. "Zuiyang Restaurant? Really?"
"...Mhm."
The young body cultivator awkwardly averted his gaze. "Miss Meng also wants to go? Do you have any favorite dishes? I can have the chef make more... It's on the way, anyway."
Tsk tsk.
*
Under Chu Zheng's instruction, Xie Jingci and Pei Du took an inconspicuous path.
Demons and evil entities possessed an extraordinary sense of smell. The more powerful ones among them could easily detect a cultivator's aura.
Fortunately, Mo Xiaoyang's demon-attracting incense was incredibly potent. While virtually undetectable to ordinary humans, to the evil entities, it emitted a rich, intoxicating fragrance they couldn't help but chase.
Shadows streaked across the horizon one after another, all converging toward the main hall. All around them, the rustling silhouettes of trees swayed in the silent night, resembling ghouls baring their fangs and brandishing their claws.
Pei Du remained steadfastly positioned in front of her, shielding her. Xie Jingci stole a glance at him, awkwardly brushing the tip of her nose.
Earlier in the small chamber, the moment she saw Pei Du's red-rimmed eyes shedding tears, her heart had instantly shattered. Casting all caution aside, she had spoken such incredibly blunt words to him.
Thinking back on it now, her ears burned hotly. Even just walking alone beside him made the air feel inexplicably thick and heavy, as though laced with an invisible fire that seared against her heart again and again.
If only she hadn't been so impulsive.
Yet, at the same time, an eager anticipation swelled within her, desperate to know his answer.
Regardless, now was hardly the time for romance.
Reigning in her wandering thoughts for the moment, Xie Jingci looked at Chu Zheng beside her. Senior, do you have even the slightest recollection regarding the original body's inner demon?
The youthful puppet shook his head. I only inherited the memories from after arriving at the Guiyuan Immortal Estate. I suspect this inner demon was born a very long time ago.
Curious, Xie Jingci asked, Could it be related to Wandering Immortal Yunshui's experiences during her time as a mortal?
As an independent cultivator, this eccentric and mighty figure had seemingly appeared out of thin air. No one knew her origins. People had conjured up dozens, if not hundreds, of fictional storybooks speculating about Wandering Immortal Yunshui's past.
Chu Zheng paused for a moment.
Regarding the past, I vaguely recall... there was one time I left the Guiyuan Immortal Estate and traveled to the outskirts of Yunjing City to offer incense at a grave.
His tone remained utterly flat. The name on the tombstone was Zhou Yuan, a citizen of the Chuyou Kingdom. He died at the age of eighty-two.
The Chuyou Kingdom?
Xie Jingci blinked in surprise. That should be a nation in the mortal realm.
There is no need for excessive speculation.
Chu Zheng's footsteps faltered slightly, a rare, cold gleam flashing in his eyes. If the two of you can defeat the inner demon, I will be able to investigate the truth.
Just as his words fell, a sudden, chilling laugh echoed from the dense, ancient thicket of the surrounding mountain forest.
The laughter was incredibly eerie and cold, dripping with absolute disdain. When did you discover me?
Now that the original body is being eroded by demonic energy, the inner demon will only continue to grow stronger.
Chu Zheng's tone remained unchanged, truly resembling an emotionless puppet. Engaging it in battle will likely lead to being ensnared by its demonic aura, which will breed an inner demon of your own.
Xie Jingci frowned. So...
So the best method is for one person to step forward and fight, while the other enters the fighter's inner demon realm to shatter it from within.
He continued, Should either of you make a single mistake, the one fighting will perish here. As for the other... it will depend on luck.
Xie Jingci tried hard to organize her racing thoughts.
In other words, one of them had to fight the evil entity head-on, risking their life to prevent the Guiyuan Immortal Estate from being destroyed.
And the other person... had to do everything in their power to protect the fighter's mind.
Doing this was tantamount to entirely entrusting one's life into the hands of the other.
The demonic energy gathering around them grew thicker by the second.
The inner demon let out a hoarse laugh. You think two mere juniors can defeat me? Even if you join forces, you are no match for me!
The dense canopy of the ancient trees rustled wildly in the biting wind.
Amidst the sudden, sweeping gale, Xie Jingci heard Pei Du's voice.
Miss Xie.
He spoke softly. The reason I left Mount Fumeng all those years ago was not to pursue the Dao, but for you.
Stunned, she raised her head, meeting the youth's clear, bright eyes.
Her heartbeat involuntarily quickened.
The reason I exhausted myself practicing the sword every single day was not to make a name for myself, but for you.
His love was so profoundly deep that even though he spoke with such gentle understatement, it still made her eyes prickle with unshed tears.
Through so many days and nights...
Xie Jingci had known absolutely nothing.
Just knowing I would get to see you at the academy the next day made me feel happy every night as I drifted off to sleep.
Pei Du lowered his gaze. His long eyelashes, like delicate little fans, cast a shadow over a warm, tender smile. If anything goes wrong, simply turn around and leave. Do not grieve for me.
Because ever since ten years ago—
He said, I have been a sword that belongs solely to Miss Xie.
In that instant, brilliant sword light erupted in all directions.
An endless surge of sword aura poured forth from the Zhanyuan sword, tearing through the howling wind and the dark night. It charged straight into the surging black tide, illuminating the dense forest as though it were broad daylight as fierce winds swept through.
This was Pei Du's answer to her.
It was also his ultimate confession—one where he laid his life on the line in a desperate gamble.
His radiant sun sat high above.
His devotion would remain unwavering until death.
There was no need for any so-called entrustment. He had long since willingly placed his life in her hands, regardless of how it all might end.
Through countless dark nights where he could not see the path ahead, Xie Jingci had always been his eternal guiding light.
