Chapter 58: Anger and Shame

As the sun dipped behind the western mountains, the bells of the Martial Arts Platform rang out, signaling the conclusion of the day’s matches.

The rounds of fifty-one into twenty-six for both the Golden Core Group and the Foundation Establishment Group had completely finished. The Piaomiao Sect’s results were quite gratifying.

In the Golden Core Group, Wu Yan, Zhao Wuji, and Lin Xiao had all advanced to the next round.

In the Foundation Establishment Group, Su Qianqian had relied on the pure firepower of her talismans to beat her opponent into a state of existential dread. Amidst a flurry of smoke and flames, the opponent had burst into tears and surrendered.

Yu Qingyao did not disappoint, either. She used only ten moves to knock her opponent off the stage. Although her opponent’s Wood Spiritual Root was naturally countered by her own, the ease with which she won was a clear testament to her strength.

Gu Jian’s situation was more unfortunate. Though he worked incredibly hard, his luck was poor. He had crossed paths with a Queyue Palace disciple who had fought their way through the Resurrection Match to reach the second round. He ultimately suffered a regrettable defeat under the opponent’s illusions and mental attacks.

As night fell, the group returned to the courtyard in the northern part of the city for a simple celebration feast.

The main hall was brightly lit.

The members of the Piaomiao Sect sat around a massive circular table made of yellow rosewood.

Although it was called a celebration feast, there wasn’t actually much food.

There were sautéed spiritual bamboo shoots, cold Bitter Love Grass, white jade tofu soup, and a small plate of red-braised red essence meat.

“Are these damn people the reincarnations of rabbits? They ordered nothing but greens. There’s only one meat dish — is this even meant for humans?”

Yan sat beside Wu Yan, pointing at the heap of vegetables on the table while complaining. “Even though I have no need to eat this garbage, I have to say, that old geezer must still be holding a grudge over you killing Wang Teng. He’s deliberately cutting the budget to spite you!”

‘If I ever get my body back, I’ll skin him alive immediately!’

Wu Yan ate a mouthful of rice with a blank expression.

Suddenly, a pair of chopsticks reached over, placing a piece of bright red, perfectly marbled meat into Wu Yan’s bowl.

“Eat more meat.” Wu Yan looked up to see Yu Qingyao smiling at her. “Senior Sister.”

Her voice was soft, carrying the unique tenderness of a young girl.

“Thank you, Qingyao.”

Wu Yan picked up the meat and put it in her mouth.

Whether it was psychological or not, the meat that had seemed mediocre before actually tasted much better now.

“Tsk, tsk. ‘Thank you, Qingyao~'” Yan let out a strange series of vocalizations, her tone becoming quite odd. “What a pair of loving sisters. It makes me want to vomit up everything I ate in my previous life. Blegh!”

‘Don’t be fooled by this black-hearted girl’s kindness. Just wait until she stabs you in the back, then we’ll see how you feel!’

As always, Yan maintained the worst possible assumptions about Yu Qingyao.

‘If you’re really that bored, you can go sleep in the Soul-Nourishing Jade for a while.’

“I don’t want to~”

She stuck her tongue out at Wu Yan.

‘When did the relationship between Qingyao and her become so good?’

Watching the scene of sisterly affection before her, Xia Lingshuang felt a rare sense of bewilderment.

When she had first been reborn in this life, she could clearly feel that even though Qingyao maintained a friendly and respectful facade toward Wu Yan, she actually harbored the same hatred she did. In her previous life, Qingyao’s attitude toward Wu Yan had also been poor.

Why had Qingyao changed like this in this life?

It seemed to have started after they emerged from the Cangwu Secret Realm. It was the same during the treatment at Medicine Peak, and it was the same now.

‘Has some change occurred that I am unaware of?’

Xia Lingshuang’s thoughts became cluttered.

She had intended to use the memories of her past life to change the future outcome, but since her rebirth, everything had fallen into chaos.

Whether it was Yan seeking the Nine Nether Blood Lingzhi for her, her performing the Essence Blood Medicine Refinement, or her being seriously injured while protecting their fellow disciples in the Secret Realm — none of it matched the trajectory of the previous life.

Wu Yan seemed to have undergone a very different change.

Should she learn to let go of the hatred from her previous life and re-evaluate her Grand Disciple?

At the table, Wu Yan continued eating the food Yu Qingyao served her, completely unaware of the long struggle taking place in her Master’s heart.

Gu Jian had also forgotten his defeat on the stage, turning his grief into an appetite. He ate four bowls of rice in one go, causing Su Qianqian to watch him with her mouth wide open in surprise.

Meanwhile, Zhao Wuji enjoyed drinks with the honest and silent Lin Xiao. By the end, they were so drunk they were ready to swear an oath of brotherhood.

As for Sun Elder, he had returned to his room long ago, clearly not one for such social occasions.

—

The night deepened.

Outside the window, the moonlight was as gentle as water.

Though the candles in the room had long been extinguished, Wu Yan’s cultivation had not stopped.

“Little Wu Yan, why do you bother putting in so much effort?”

Yan lay beside her, her crimson lips pressed close to Wu Yan’s earlobe.

“You should know, right? No matter how much you cultivate, the seal restraining me can never return to its original strength.”

Indeed, Wu Yan knew this very well in her heart.

Since the last time she used the Soul Governance Art, a piece of her Soul Origin had gone missing. It was precisely because of this missing piece that the seal suppressing Yan had been weakened.

Although she had been cultivating the Soul Governance Art to increase the strength of her soul, the seal itself had not been reinforced. It was obvious that the seal was only linked to her original Soul Origin.

“Sigh. Once I reclaim the body, I’m going to make you feel exactly how I feel~”

“I’ll keep you bound to my side at all times. I’ll make you experience what it’s like to have nowhere to go but by my side, following me until the day you die~”

Yan’s tone was very calm, as if she were merely stating a predetermined fact.

At this moment, she was no longer as childish as she usually was; she was more like the cold and ruthless Demon Venerable of the previous life.

The cold, white airflow swirling around Wu Yan suddenly vanished, and the operation of the Soul Governance Art came to a halt. Cold sweat continuously broke out from her temples.

Yan stretched out her arms, pulling Wu Yan’s shoulders into an embrace.

“Don’t worry. As long as you listen to me from now on, I can spare the lives of Xia Lingshuang, Yu Qingyao, and those other nuisances like Bai Zhiqiu and Lin Wan’er~”

“After all, who is more understanding than I, the great demon lord?”

Her voice was full of seduction, like a siren from legend tempting sailors into the sea.

“So, you’re just afraid of being alone.”

Unexpectedly, Wu Yan spoke.

With one sentence, she completely destroyed the atmosphere Yan had worked so hard to build.

“Who told you I was afraid of being alone?!”

“I’m considering letting you live because we come from the same root — why must we burn each other so quickly? How did that turn into me being afraid of loneliness?”

Yan’s voice suddenly became very loud, causing Wu Yan’s ears to ring.

“Humph! Since you don’t know what’s good for you, once I take back the body, I’ll kill everyone you care about! It’ll be too late for you to beg for mercy then!”