Chapter 104: Crying to the Bone‑Rending

About Xiao Zhangqing's two concubines, they are a pair of sister‑flowers, and in Nanshan Fang it is a well‑known tale, a beautiful anecdote.

Zhou Yun'e naturally also knows that the female neighbor who lived next door to her and Xiao Zhangqing back then became Xiao Zhangqing's bedside companion.

So over these years, Zhou Yun'e, besides feeling regret in her heart, seems to have gone a little mad.

In her mind she is convinced that, back in the Peng Hu Qu, Lin Ziyu may already have been involved with Xiao Zhangqing!

Even her leaving Xiao Zhangqing could very well have been Lin Ziyu's hidden scheming! If it weren't for Lin Ziyu, perhaps she would never have gone blind, fallen for Hu Youquan, and chosen to leave the infinitely promising Xiao Zhangqing. After all, Xiao Zhangqing was the one who accompanied her into the Cultivation World, and in the Mortal World he was the most dazzling genius in the jianghu; how could he have remained indistinguishable among the masses in the Cultivation World? Under normal circumstances, she would not have been led astray nor abandoned over a decade of feelings.

Yet all these speculations are not entirely her own madness or obsession; there is some logic and indication behind them.

Thinking back to those days, ever since Lin Ziyu moved next door, she recalls Xiao Zhangqing mentioning this beautiful female neighbor several times.

Whenever she needed to buy some Spirit Food, wanted to wear a cultivation robe, or reside in a high‑grade cave, she would "encourage" Xiao Zhangqing to work harder to earn more Spirit Stones; when Xiao Zhangqing couldn't earn Spirit Stones, there was no solution. He would then use Lin Ziyu as a shield.

She would say that the Lin Ziyu next door is a mid‑stage Qi Refining cultivator, yet willingly lives in the Peng Hu Qu, being more frugal than they are. He never wears a cultivation robe, never buys Spirit Food, living sparingly.

For this, Zhou Yun'e harshly scolded Xiao Zhangqing several times, angrily saying that if Xiao Zhangqing thinks Lin Ziyu is good, he should go live with Lin Ziyu, not her…

Although Xiao Zhangqing always took the initiative to apologize each time, now she wonders whether all this was already secretly instigated by Lin Ziyu, sowing discord between her and Xiao Zhangqing. The two indeed do not have a normal relationship.

Think about it: since Lin Ziyu was so frugal, why did he lend money when Xiao Zhangqing decided to learn sigil drawing and needed Spirit Food to purchase materials and asked Lin Ziyu for a loan?

Clearly, this woman is extremely scheming!

She had long coveted Xiao Zhangqing, secretly scheming. Leaving Xiao Zhangqing was her fault, but not entirely her fault! Remembering these past events, Zhou Yun'e becomes even more justified in her indignation, growing more disgusted toward the radiant, fairy‑like Lin Ziyu.

That woman stole the brilliant life that should have been hers! The cultivation robe, magical bracelet, and hairpin she wears should have been her rightful spoils, not, as now, a worthless mortal long dress!

"Let me in. Do you think you have the right to block me? Don't forget what you once were."

Zhou Yun'e thought this, and felt a few degrees more justified.

When she later sees Xiao Zhangqing, she will naturally lower her voice and beg for forgiveness, discarding all pride and self‑respect. But facing Lin Ziyu, the "other woman" who stole the perfect life that should have been hers, she feels she has the right to be justified.

But her demeanor made the previously timid and embarrassed Lin Ziyu regain her composure and become much more resolute: "Why shouldn't I have the right to stop you? This is the Lord's cave; I am the Lord's concubine. While the Lord governs the cave, I have the authority to block anyone who tries to enter. Even if the head of the Cao family comes, I am equally entitled!"

If Zhou Yun'e spoke politely and lowered her attitude, Lin Ziyu might still speak to her in a gentle tone.

Although she wouldn't let her in, she could at least give her superficial respect.

But since Zhou Yun'e won't speak nicely and still dares to adopt a lofty posture before her, she need not be courteous.

"You are merely a concubine; what right do you have to be arrogant here? Don't forget what I was back then. If it hadn't been for your secret scheming, I and Zhangqing would still be Dao Partners! Shouldn't you feel ashamed?" Zhou Yun'e couldn't contain her jealousy and fury, scolding and mocking.

"I used secret scheming?" Lin Ziyu heard this, both angry and amused.

So Zhou Yun'e could still shift the blame onto her? She thinks that when she and the Lord went separate ways, it was because she was secretly scheming?

If she had truly had foresight back then, and early recognized the Lord's extraordinary potential that led to today's achievements, she might indeed have employed some improper methods.

But the crux is, she was also very foolish then, failing to notice the Lord's exceptional qualities!

If she had discovered it early and seized the chance, she wouldn't be a concubine now…

Nevertheless, Lin Ziyu does not blame fate; with such mediocre talent, becoming the Lord's concubine is already a three‑life blessing, a lofty match, and she dares not hope for more.

"The Lord will not see you; your meddling is useless. Leave, I don't want to make things ugly," Lin Ziyu said.

At this moment she actually calmed down; the fact that Zhou Yun'e can utter such words today, with such mindset, shows that aside from her beauty, she is essentially worthless.

Under normal circumstances, when Zhou Yun'e comes to visit, regardless of the Lord's thoughts or decisions, she should first report.

But Lin Ziyu today intends to act on her own, driving Zhou Yun'e away without reporting. In her view, this woman has no chance whatsoever of making the Lord like her again; reporting would only sour the Lord's mood and make her appear incompetent and indecisive.

And moreover…

Given Lin Ziyu's scant knowledge of the Lord's strength, although the Lord hasn't emerged, he should have sensed the outside situation within the cave.

Since the Lord hasn't appeared nor sent a voice command, the implication is that she should decide on her own.

Although Lin Ziyu's nature is rather soft, she is still clever.

"You… what gives you the right to drive me away?" Zhou Yun'e, furious, simply ignored Lin Ziyu and, heedless, tried to rush into the cave.

Boom! Lin Ziyu's expression turned cold; she summoned magical energy through her robe, waved a hand, and a terrifying, mountain‑crushing force surged toward Zhou Yun'e, blasting her back ten‑plus meters.

Lin Ziyu, already at Qi Refining Seventh Level, plus her cultivation robe and various magical implements, and counting the Second‑grade Talisman Script bestowed by Xiao Zhangqing, has a combat power in Nanshan Fang that would rank within the top ten.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yun'e is only at Qi Refining Fourth Level, her strength far inferior to Lin Ziyu's.

Had Lin Ziyu not shown mercy with that move, Zhou Yun'e would have been gravely wounded, spitting blood, rather than merely being blasted back.

Even so, Zhou Yun'e's face flushed red, whether from injury or angry shame, she couldn't tell.

Perhaps she recalled a similar scene from over ten years ago, when she resolutely left with Hu Youquan.

Only back then it was Xiao Zhangqing who was in a sorry state; now it is she.

"Leave quickly, or I won't be polite," Lin Ziyu said coldly.

"You… you…" Zhou Yun'e's breath was erratic, panting heavily, still trying to charge inside, but seeing Lin Ziyu's far stronger magical aura, she had to halt.

Words cannot describe her suffocation at this moment.

She prepared herself for losing face today, ready to abandon her pride, even kneeling, to beg Xiao Zhangqing to take her in; even if he sympathizes because of their decade‑long bond, it's acceptable! After all, she endured over ten years of hardship with Xiao Zhangqing in the Peng Hu Qu.

Although during those ten‑plus years, Xiao Zhangqing frugally spent all his Spirit Stones and Spirit Sand on her; sometimes Xiao Zhangqing took on three side jobs while she did nothing, and in the end, after she found a new patron behind Xiao Zhangqing's back, she left without hesitation…

But setting the facts aside, is she not pitiful? Xiao Zhangqing, and this Lin Ziyu—are they completely blameless?

"Xiao Zhangqing, come out! I know you're there! Come out and see me, I have something to say! Come out!"

Endless grievances, regret, and shame surged in her heart at this moment, causing Zhou Yun'e's emotions to completely collapse.

She dared not rush inside any longer, so she shouted loudly, caring neither for basic decorum nor her former pride.

"Zhangqing, I was wrong! I'm sorry! Do you know how I've been these years? I spend each day in extreme pain and remorse! It was my own folly that made me leave you; will you come out and see me? Whether you beat me or kill me, I have no complaints; just let me see you once more, okay?"

"I have already paid for my mistakes, paid the price; I beg you not to be so cold‑blooded, to abandon a dying person, okay? Between us there are so many beautiful memories, over a decade of feelings… I beg you, let me return to your side, okay?"

Zhou Yun'e kept shouting, and soon she was overwhelmed by emotion, tears streaming down, no longer the aloof ice‑queen, only a pear‑blossom in rain, evoking pity.

Whether from grief or other reasons, she seemed to have exhausted all her strength, unable to stand steady, collapsing weakly to the ground.

Tear‑filled, Zhou Yun'e gazed at the massive Jia Yi cave, sobbing: "Yun'e was wrong, I truly know I was wrong! If you don't come out today to see me, I can only die here…"

At this point, the bottom line she had clung to in her heart has completely shattered.

She was hysterical like this; rather than saying she knew she was wrong, it's more like she was forced into a corner with no way out.

About half a year ago, when the war had just begun, Hu Youquan, who had leveraged himself to buy multiple properties, went bankrupt, and creditors came to his door every day to collect debts.

At that time, Zhou Yun'e's life plummeted, and she was living worse than when she was in the Peng Hu Qu.

All her valuables were taken by creditors to offset the debt, and at that point Hu Youquan willingly wore the green hat, letting Zhou Yun'e turn back to ask Xiao Zhangqing for help.

But Zhou Yun'e refused, because that was Hu Youquan's debt, and Hu Youquan had reached a dead end, yet she could still barely get by.

Even if Hu Youquan bitterly begged and repeatedly persuaded her, she was unwilling to endure humiliation for his sake.

Essentially, she is just such a selfish woman.

If it weren't for her special status, in Nanshan Fang it would be impossible to find another patron; no cultivator would dare take her, and she would have likely already abandoned Hu Youquan and sought another way.

Nowadays, all the property Hu Youquan held has been forcibly seized by creditors, and he still owes more than he can pay, still owing a large sum of Spirit Stones.

Cornered Hu Youquan, under creditors' pressure, ultimately had no choice but to go to the front lines to fight Evil Cultivators, serving as a suicide squad member.

He is also at the middle stage of Qi Refining; if he dares to fight and struggle, he can kill enemies on the front lines, earn merit, and still make a decent amount of Spirit Stones.

This is the only way he can clear his debts.

Before going to the battlefield, Hu Youquan completely broke with Zhou Yun'e, harshly cursing her, saying she was a jinx, that his present situation was entirely her fault, also scolding her for pretending to be pure, still putting on a sour face at such a time and refusing to ask Xiao Zhangqing for help… In short, all kinds of unpleasant words, the pent-up resentment was fully vented.

Then Hu Youquan went onto the battlefield and never came back.

He died at the hands of Evil Cultivators.

After his death, the bereavement payment was ruthlessly seized by the creditors, not a single grain of Spirit Sand was left for Zhou Yun'e.

The matter did not end there; Hu Youquan died, but his debt was not yet paid off, still owing a sum of Spirit Stones.

In the end, the creditors could only turn their target to Zhou Yun'e, demanding she repay Hu Youquan's debt.

Zhou Yun'e said she had none, and also said she had no relation to Hu Youquan, the Spirit Stones were not borrowed by her, and she had no obligation to repay Hu Youquan's debt.

But the creditors who only recognize Spirit Stones, not people, would not listen; they forced Zhou Yun'e to take over Hu Youquan's debt, otherwise don't blame them for being impolite.

Zhou Yun'e's cultivation is at the fourth level of Qi Refining; even in Nanshan Fang it cannot be considered the lowest tier, yet how could she possibly come up with such a large amount of low-grade Spirit Stones to repay?

If she wanted to change her situation, the only way was the same as Hu Youquan's—also go to the front lines to fight Evil Cultivators.

This means, the mortality rate exceeds fifty percent…

Thus, the bottom line that Zhou Yun'e had always upheld when Hu Youquan was at his wit's end finally loosened.

She was unwilling to go to the front lines, unwilling to die just like that.

She is only in her early forties, her life has not even reached halfway; due to cultivation she still retains a lovely appearance, like that of a twenty-something… how could she die like this?

She has come to the Cultivation World, yet has not achieved her goals and ambitions, nor witnessed the vast, splendid diversity of the Cultivation World; how could she just give up like that? After enduring several days of painful deliberation, she decided to throw caution to the wind, make one final effort, and come to find Xiao Zhangqing.

As long as Xiao Zhangqing can forgive her and reaccept her, her life can return to the right track, and everything she wants can be obtained! The splendid side of the Cultivation World will unfold before her eyes.

As for those inhumane creditors, they too would feel terror and dread toward her, no longer daring to press her, only kowtowing to admit fault and beg for her mercy! All the grievances she has suffered over these years could be fully made up for.

In these beautiful fantasies, Zhou Yun'e arrived at Cave Dwelling Jiazi No. 1, weeping heartbrokenly.

Admitting fault may not be sincere; she does not feel she has done much wrong.

But her emotions at this moment are not feigned.

If Xiao Zhangqing is unwilling to forgive her, unwilling to take her in or help her, then she will stay here waiting, waiting to die! Because she has nowhere else to go.

(End of chapter)