Chapter 163

"Unexpectedly, the Palace Master truly kept the promise from twenty years ago; she could have completely ignored it, since it was a promise left by the previous generation, and if she did that, it wouldn't be considered betraying trust and abandoning righteousness." Duan Sheng sighed.

"Amitabha, the Palace Master's actions this time truly exemplify the demeanor of a great family; worthy of our admiration!" Le Bei Great Master also sighed.

"I just don't know whether, with the little Palace Master causing such a fuss now, the Palace Master can still manage our major affairs." Hong Liang said.

"She will help us." Yan Shan Hai said firmly to everyone.

"Hahaha! I hope so! Then what's our next step?" Chen Yi He laughed and asked everyone.

"Straight to the capital, force Zhang Huayu to show himself and give an explanation." Yan Shan Hai said bluntly. His ability is unquestionable; he could, by his own power, change the Five Peaks Alliance where the Huashan Sect had been the ruler for hundreds of years—without a few tricks, how could he write history?

"Is it always this direct?" Chen Yi He asked.

"What do you all think?" Yan Shan Hai countered.

"But Zhang Huayu has the strength of the Seventh Heaven, Dongfang Miss is seriously wounded, and we five have just gone through a major battle—how can we deal with him?" Hu Bao asked worriedly.

"We certainly can't meet force with force, but I estimate that Dongfang Wuji is probably also on his way to the capital now; his temperament would never let Zhang Huayu off!" When Yan Shan Hai said this, everyone around except Le Bei Great Master trembled.

A chill inexplicably surged.

Dongfang Xing was fine, merely blinking.

"I predict he will make a move; after he acts, it will be our turn to act, taking advantage of the leaderless dragons to storm the Western Depot and wipe out the Embroidered Uniform Guard in one fell swoop!"

"Excellent tactic of feigning east while striking west!" Chen Yi He clapped and praised.

Yan Shan Hai had figured out Dongfang Wuji's temperament. Zhang Gonggong will surely lose this while gaining that.

"Any objections?" Yan Shan Hai asked the crowd; seeing everyone silent, he waved his large arm, "Then let's set out at night!"

"Why wait until nightfall? Can't we set out now?" the Ximo Sword Devil asked the Yanshan Sea Devil.

"We must remain hidden. Zhang Huayu will surely expect us to counterattack, then monitor our every move. But he would never imagine our counterattack would be this swift and fierce. By traveling under the cover of night, we will be sufficiently concealed; he will notice nothing amiss. Then we will catch him off guard, strike when he least expects it!"

"As long as you have the guts, dare to drag the emperor off his horse!" the Ximo Sword Devil shouted without restraint, provoking uproarious laughter from the crowd.

Chen Yi He gently leaned on Dongfang Xing, who was resting on his knee, and a warmth spread through his heart. He felt his heart steady; as long as Dongfang Xing was with him, as long as Dongfang Xing always accompanied him, he could charge forward without hesitation.

……

Inside the Hall of Five Absolutes.

Only a single candle burned, its weak light insufficient to illuminate the pitch-black Hall of Five Absolutes. Even the Palace Master's face was lit only in a small patch.

It was a face of extreme beauty; "flawless" was insufficient to describe it, and "capable of overturning kingdoms" was no exaggeration.

She is refined and transcendent, with an innate aloof pride; her complexion is crystal clear like jade, like a new moon crowned with a halo, like snow heaped on flowering trees; her bearing is gorgeous and leisurely, her demeanor tranquil and graceful, her feelings elegant, her speech alluring, her manner soft and melodious—beauty's words cannot do her justice.

The Palace Master's red gauze fell onto the table, like a pool of fresh blood just spilled. In the candle's flicker, it seemed to flow.

The Palace Master's beauty simply cannot be described in words.

The Palace Master took that letter from the drawer, slowly opened it, and read it again carefully.

The handwriting was so unfamiliar, yet the content was so familiar—as if a figure stood before her.

He smiled at her, extending an inviting hand.

The Palace Master was too lonely. Before outsiders, even before her own daughter or disciple, she remained aloof, revealing not a trace of longing.

But whenever she was alone, that loneliness would well up, accumulating from the depths of her heart, gradually eroding it. After decades, her heart was already riddled with wounds.

Every generation entrusted with the Palace Master's mission is like this. They are the most sorrowful women in the world.

Outsiders only say they are heartless, never seeing their moments of weakness.

Outsiders only dare not love them, not realizing they too are starved for love.

The Palace Master thought, her daughter likely inherited her father's heart; that is why she rebelled, defecting from the Five Absolutes Palace, from her mother's embrace.

The Palace Master wished she could treat her daughter with a mother's affection, yet she is also the Master of the Five Absolutes Palace! How could a small family compare to the greater whole?

"All gone... all go... leave only me in this palace..." the Palace Master muttered while placing the letter on the candle, watching the scattered flames grow higher and higher, consuming the letter, reaching its climax, then after the climax returning to scattered sparks.

The Palace Master's heart is full of secrets. When a person's heart is filled with secrets, it does not feel full; instead, it is filled with bitter tears.

Twenty years ago, she was still the Little Palace Master. She earnestly begged her mother, "Mother, please give him the thousand-year ginseng!"

"The thousand-year ginseng is the Five Absolutes Palace's treasure that guards the palace; giving it to him? To save his paralyzed mother? Isn't that ridiculous?"

"Mother, I beg you, if you are willing to give the thousand-year ginseng to him, I will do anything for you, and from now on I will never oppose you again!"

"Hehe, you've fallen in love with him, right?"

"Mother..."

"The Palace can give the thousand-year ginseng to him, provided he can defeat you!"

In the end, she still defeated Yanshan Hai; at that final moment, her body seemed uncontrollable as she knocked Yanshan Hai down! Just when she thought there was no turning point, her mother voluntarily handed over the thousand-year ginseng.

Twenty years later, she also gave her daughter such an opportunity.

Unfortunately, the Little Palace Master failed to seize it, choosing a different path.

Before the bronze mirror, the Palace Master finally saw herself clearly; not knowing since when, a white hair had sprouted at her temple. She anxiously rubbed her hair—fortunately it was just that one. She ruthlessly pulled out that white hair, then rubbed it into powder in her palm.

Before outsiders, she is a peerless beauty, a supreme master who looks down on all under heaven, a sovereign who dominates her realm.

The Palace Master wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, slowly rose, and walked toward the depths of the dark corridor. She arrived at the cell where Qiu Yichen was imprisoned.

Standing outside the iron door, she could hear Qiu Yichen's low, angry roar.

The Palace Master lightly rested her hand on the iron door's handle; with just a little more force, she could push the door open and enter.

In the end, she still gave up, turned, and left.