With the deaths of Lidaitian and the “Ten Stars,” the Xingyue Alliance’s plan to swallow up the remaining forces and dominate Yunzhou ended in total failure.
The old-school factions, led by the Qingyun Alliance, rose in rebellion, quickly reversing the situation and purging a large number of Xingyue Alliance remnants.
As people lamented how hypocritical and evil the Xingyue Alliance was, they also began to discuss: Who exactly was the “Hero” that changed the course of the New Moon Terrace and indirectly saved the entire city?
Because Yu Yi’s group had special identities, it was naturally difficult for them to step forward.
So Blue Ling’er came up with a plan.
She found Tang Qing, who had witnessed Chi Ming’s rampage, and other scattered cultivators present at the scene.
After asking them to help conceal the truth, she pushed Fang Xiaoyu into the spotlight.
And so, Fang Xiaoyu inexplicably became a great Hero.
When other forces asked her who set the two fires at the New Moon Terrace and at the Xingyue Alliance’s main headquarters, Fang Xiaoyu answered with mysterious depth, “My two friends who wish to remain anonymous.”
Why two?
Because when Yu Yi told Fang Xiaoyu the truth of that year and offered to compensate her, Fang Xiaoyu only made one request:
“Being friends with the once-legendary ‘Master of Among the Colorful Clouds’ must be pretty cool, right?”
“Of course it is.”
Yu Yi smiled and agreed.
Although Fang Xiaoyu had some resentment towards Su Cheng, she did not choose to take revenge.
If she really had to do something, she only hoped that Su Cheng would offer incense for her parents, and she wanted to apologize to Su Cheng for the betrayal back then on behalf of her parents.
Fang Xiaoyu’s open-heartedness exceeded Yu Yi’s imagination.
“Living in the jianghu, you can’t always do as you wish. When will the cycle of revenge ever end? Let the past drift away with the wind.”
She said so.
To the other forces in Yunzhou, Fang Xiaoyu seemed so weak she looked like an ordinary person, and it was impossible for her to survive the chaos of the New Moon Terrace.
So when she said she had two powerful friends, they believed her.
She must have some special ability to be friends with the strong.
Although a large number of Xingyue Alliance members were purged, some were pitiful people coerced by Lidaitian.
After discussion among the Qingyun Alliance and other forces, it was decided to give these people a chance to redeem themselves.
They would not be killed or driven out of the city, but they would also not be allowed to join other factions.
Instead, they would remain in the Xingyue Alliance.
The Xingyue Alliance needed to be reorganized and needed a new leader.
Therefore, with the Qingyun Alliance taking the lead, the other factions decided to let Fang Xiaoyu, this “Hero,” take over the Xingyue Alliance as the new leader.
Fang Xiaoyu had wandered the world for years, calling all places home, but in truth, she also wanted a residence and a stable life.
She gladly accepted.
The scattered cultivators who survived the New Moon Terrace eventually joined the Xingyue Alliance under Fang Xiaoyu’s leadership.
Although their numbers were far fewer than before, turning from Yunzhou’s top force into the weakest, Fang Xiaoyu didn’t mind.
She enjoyed the feeling of being the big sister.
The fact that Fang Xiaoyu dared to propose friendship with Yu Yi showed her skill in dealing with people.
With her presence, it was believed that the relationships among Yunzhou’s factions could be harmonized, achieving true unity.
Fang Xiaoyu gained a bright future, and Chi Ming was ready to leave as well.
***
“Are you really not going to stay another day?”
At the city gate, Fang Xiaoyu looked at Yu Yi’s group, preparing to board the flying litter, and asked with some reluctance.
Chi Ming nodded.
She had learned from Yu Yi about Su Cheng’s return and being struck by the Ice-Sealing Sword Intent.
Although there were past grievances between Chi Ming and Su Cheng, because there were misunderstandings, Chi Ming did not act willfully.
Instead, she listened to Yu Yi and chose to return to Among the Colorful Clouds as soon as possible to save Su Cheng’s leg.
“Uu… Will you miss me? Will you come see me again?”
Fang Xiaoyu rubbed her eyes and asked Chi Ming with a hint of sadness.
“Of course. Wait, you’re not going to cry, are you?”
Chi Ming was about to say more to comfort Fang Xiaoyu, but then saw Fang Xiaoyu stick out her tongue with a grin.
“Hehe, I was faking it!”
“What the— You made me worry for nothing.”
Chi Ming blushed and pouted slightly.
“Hehehe, since you say that, does it mean you’ll miss me too?”
Fang Xiaoyu tilted her head, gazing into Chi Ming’s eyes.
Chi Ming’s face turned even redder under her gaze. She quickly looked away.
“N-no way!”
“Hehehe, all right, all right, I won’t keep you any longer.”
Fang Xiaoyu laughed heartily and patted Chi Ming on the shoulder.
“Go on, your master and senior sister are waiting for you. Safe travels.”
“Mm.”
Chi Ming nodded deeply.
“Take care.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Fang Xiaoyu suddenly rushed over and hugged Chi Ming tightly.
Chi Ming was startled. Fang Xiaoyu then stepped back and cupped her fists.
“Until we meet again!”
Chi Ming wanted to retort but finally just smiled helplessly and cupped her fists in return.
Then she turned and walked toward the Fengshen Litter.
Fang Xiaoyu also turned away silently. Listening to the rising wind behind her, she stepped forward toward the city.
But before she could take two steps, she heard someone land behind her.
She turned back in surprise, but found that it was not Chi Ming.
“Senior Blue, is there something else?”
Fang Xiaoyu asked Blue Ling’er in front of her.
Blue Ling’er did not answer but stared directly into Fang Xiaoyu’s eyes.
“Come out. Master isn’t here right now.”
Fang Xiaoyu looked at Blue Ling’er with a strange expression, as if she didn’t understand what she meant.
But soon, the confusion on Fang Xiaoyu’s face turned as stiff as a wooden puppet.
“Ling’er… You’ve grown up and become beautiful.”
Her lips trembled slightly, uttering emotionless words.
“Senior Sister… It really is you…”
Blue Ling’er recognized the purple aura appearing on Fang Xiaoyu.
Facing this senior sister she hadn’t truly reunited with for years, Blue Ling’er had much to say, but all her words condensed into one sentence.
“Are… you doing well?”
Fang Xiaoyu nodded stiffly.
“To see Master… I am very happy.”
“When can you come back?”
Fang Xiaoyu did not answer.
“Why did you leave the sect back then? Where are you now?”
Fang Xiaoyu still did not answer.
“Does Master know your current state?”
After a moment of silence, Fang Xiaoyu slowly shook her head.
“Keep it a secret for me. I have many ‘eyes’ and can see Master. I am content.”
Blue Ling’er felt very conflicted.
This senior sister rarely spoke so many words at once, which showed how much she wanted Blue Ling’er to keep it secret for her.
It also gave Blue Ling’er a sense of contentment.
“I understand…”
Blue Ling’er sighed and agreed.
“Ling’er… Thank you.”
Fang Xiaoyu said, her stiff mouth struggling to smile but unable to manage it.
“Senior Sister… If you can’t smile, don’t force yourself. Even your true body has trouble smiling, let alone when using someone else’s body…”
Blue Ling’er smiled bitterly.
Whether talkative or expressionless, this senior sister was the same as in the past, unchanged.
Perhaps this was the only thing Blue Ling’er felt grateful for.
The eldest disciple of Among the Colorful Clouds was famous as a “three-non person.”
No words, no expression, unparalleled.
“Senior Blue, is there something else? Eh, wait, why do I feel like I just said that?”
Suddenly, Fang Xiaoyu returned to normal, scratching her head in confusion as she asked Blue Ling’er.
Blue Ling’er looked at Fang Xiaoyu, silent for a moment, then quietly took out a handkerchief and handed it to her.
“Your face is a mess from crying. Wipe it off.”
Blue Ling’er said.
“Eh?”
Fang Xiaoyu froze, then wiped her face and realized it was just as Blue Ling’er said—her face was covered in tears.
“How strange… I was holding back so well just now. Why did I suddenly—Ah, Senior Blue, please don’t tell Chi Ming that I…”
She really had been enduring it.
But when a certain expressionless person borrowed her body, her endurance broke.
Once the tears started, they couldn’t be stopped.
Fang Xiaoyu couldn’t hold it back any longer and cried, red-eyed, full of sorrow and reluctance.
“Although you said you wanted to live freely and didn’t want to hide away in Among the Colorful Clouds, that’s something only my little junior sister would believe. Actually, you feel too unworthy to stand beside Chi Ming, don’t you?”
Blue Ling’er smiled.
“I can feel how much you care about my little junior sister. You dared to be friends with my master and even said you didn’t care about my little junior sister’s identity, so why are you losing heart now?”
Fang Xiaoyu was speechless, then said after a while,
“She is a noble descendant of the Fire Phoenix, and I am just a little fish. The things I said before were just putting on a brave front…”
“Even a fish in a pond has its pride. Isn’t that exactly why she likes you?”
Blue Ling’er patted Fang Xiaoyu on the shoulder.
“So please, don’t doubt yourself. Don’t feel unworthy. You have always been the senior she looked up to. As her senior sister, I should learn from you.”
Fang Xiaoyu’s shoulders trembled, and tears fell like rain.
But unlike before, at this moment, her tears represented a heart finally at ease.
I’ll ship em