Chapter 120: Grudges, Love, and Hatred

We both shivered at the same time, our internal Qi churned chaotically for several weeks, as if the crucial moment of our cultivation had been violently interrupted. Even I felt a hint of anger, let alone Bu Sha; indeed, his complexion was icy cold, and he stared silently at that vivid crimson figure.

I looked up and saw Cheng Er, standing daintily in the wind not far away, looking this way, her brows furrowed, her face sorrowful, yet she did not step forward.

Hong Xiu seemed completely oblivious to Bu Sha's anger, and said coldly, "Do you still intend to stay with her? How many hardships have you endured for her, and have you forgotten them?"

Her gaze shifted from Bu Sha to me; the last trace of tenderness receded like a tide, leaving only icy coldness and hatred. She spoke harshly, "You and the young master are clearly already together, so why can't you let him go? Is the harm you have inflicted on him not enough?"

A dark silhouette flashed before us, and Bu Sha's blood‑siphoning blade ruthlessly slashed at Hong Xiu. A flash of shock, pain, and fury crossed Hong Xiu's eyes; red ribbons fluttered everywhere, and the two silver beads at their tips clanged against the blade. She leapt back several steps, barely steadied herself, gasped, and glared at us.

Then, her eyes narrowed, her icy, blade‑like gaze fixed on me, but she said nothing, only seething with resentment.

"You want my explanation, don't you?" I sighed and said lightly, "People grow through suffering. Bu Sha was hurt because of us, and we likewise strive for his happiness; it's not a matter of who lets whom go."

I don't understand why everyone insists that Bu Sha likes me—does he truly like me? I like him like a brother, with familial reliance, like a close friend. As for him? Perhaps… perhaps even he himself is confused. Yes, I am the first woman to reach the deepest part of his heart. Yet, in Bu Sha's mind, the most important person is Qi Ran, and I come second. Because originally I entered Qi Ran's heart, then I could enter his, thereby loosening his defenses.

But does liking or not really matter? In fact, I'm not sure. Yet I can feel the joy when Bu Sha is with us, Qi Ran's joy, and my own joy. That's enough, isn't it?

Other people's accusations and disdain have nothing to do with us. We only need to firmly guard our own happiness, and that is enough.

Probably I was too deep in thought, and didn't notice Hong Xiu's attack even as it came right before my eyes. I heard Bu Sha's voice, almost breathless, calling "Bing Yi," and the rest turned into a wind‑like black shadow that swooped to me, catching Hong Xiu's thunderous blow.

Fine! I admit it's my fault; Bu Sha clearly knows my current strength and is confident I can take Hong Xiu's blow, but he didn't expect his usually flawless judgment to be applied to me, nearly causing a disaster.

I gave an awkward smile, watching Cheng Er, who had rushed a short distance out of worry and was anxiously watching the battle, and I couldn't help sighing: why does someone like Bu Sha, with his millennia‑old ice‑cold luck with women, have such good fortune?

It was as if a fast‑forwarding movie suddenly hit pause; the two figures abruptly froze. Bu Sha raised his blade, pressing it against Hong Xiu's velvety white neck, the tip shedding a gleaming strand of blood; his eyes were icy, murderous intent flashing.

"Bu Sha!" Cheng Er shouted, her voice trembling with tears, "Don't kill my sister! Please!"

Bu Sha turned his head, glanced at her, the murderous glint in his eyes softened slightly for a moment, then he stepped back a few paces, withdrew the blood‑siphoning blade, sheathed it, and all the blade light vanished. Cheng Er let out a sudden sigh of relief; her frail body swayed in the drizzle, nearly collapsing.

I looked up at the battlefield, which had been stalemated for nearly half an hour, while stepping back toward Bu Sha, worrying, "If this fight continues, will we both end up badly wounded? If there are still ambushes nearby and Wei Lingfeng can't arrive in time…"

"Bing Yi—be careful!" I heard Bu Sha's startled shout just a breath away.

I hadn't recovered my senses when a red flash interlaced with chilling silver light raced toward my chest's Tan Zhong acupoint. Its force was so fierce, its power so brutal that before the silver sphere even reached my body, my chest was already searing with unbearable pain.

It seems Hong Xiu had locked onto me as a target while Bu Sha restrained her. With deliberate intent or not, and while barely restrained, she seized the opportunity, catching even Bu Sha off guard.

Just as that red‑silver light roared toward my chest, a swift orange‑red flash streaked before my eyes; Cheng Er threw herself in front of me without hesitation. Hong Xiu's eyes showed shock, but the red‑silver light remained ferocious…

Clang—Bang—

I was behind, Cheng Er ahead; our chests pressed against each other's backs as we both flew backward, landing five meters away before collapsing onto the ground. I saw Bu Sha's black blade in his hand—drawn, slashed, then sheathed—endless blade shadows swirling in the sticky rain, splashing specks of bloodlight.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment. Apart from the continuous drizzle, the wind in my ears, and the distant clash…

"Bing Yi—" Bu Sha turned, took a few steps forward, scrutinized me firmly, paused, then looked at the pale‑faced Cheng Er and asked, "Are you both alright?"

I moved the hands still crossed over Cheng Er's chest, feeling my ten fingers stiff, joints about to shatter, numb and almost powerless to twitch. "Sss—" a sound rang; the binding silk that had been in front of Cheng Er automatically retracted. I struggled to withdraw my hand, glanced at both sides of my body, each bearing half of a split silver bead.

"Sister—" Cheng Er shouted, rushed to the fallen Hong Xiu, embraced the crimson figure lying in a pool of blood, and wept loudly.

"I almost lost my life!" I shook my finally recovered arms, still trembling, and said, "But Bu Sha, did you really kill her?"

Bu Sha's eyes, which had been relaxed, flashed a slight chill; he said coldly, "Not because of Cheng Er's sake. But this will be the only time!"

I let out a sly chuckle, a bit cunning. Bu Sha wore an inexplicable expression, then turned and looked anxiously at the battlefield.

A lump formed in my chest, and I couldn't smile; will Qi Ran win? I rose, walked to Cheng Er's side, crouched, and whispered, "Your sister isn't dead; let me bandage her…"

"No need your help!!" Cheng Er shoved me away hard, her face in pain, shouting, "My sister never wanted you to save her! Don't pity us!"

Those words reminded me of the stubborn little brat at home, yet I couldn't understand why she just risked her life to save me and now lashes out at me.

It seemed she understood my meaning; Cheng Er cradled the unconscious Hong Xiu, sobbing softly a few times, glanced at the expressionless Bu Sha, then turned to me and whispered hoarsely, "I'm not truly trying to save you! There are plenty of ways to rescue you without sacrificing my life. I just… I'm just unwilling to accept that he has no place for me in his heart; I just want, through this method, to make it so he can never forget me for a lifetime! I am unwilling… I simply cannot accept it. I could have given him happiness, I clearly wanted to protect him, but his heart is already firmly tied to you both, and he'll never look back at me or my sister! Heh… so I use my life to exchange for yours; that way… as long as he sees you, he'll never forget me!"

A surge of anger rose within me, and I hurled the blood‑stained medicine bottle to the ground, saying coldly, "Are you damn fools never going to stop?! Bu Sha's happiness belongs to him alone, not something given by others. On what grounds does each of you assume that Bu Sha will be happy if he's with us? Cheng Er, perhaps you truly love Bu Sha, but you are unworthy of him." I paused, feeling a strange relief after the outburst, then softened my tone and continued, "Have you ever considered that if you die and Bu Sha has no place for you in his heart, your death is merely a needless sacrifice; if he truly does have you in his heart, then your death only brings him pain—what else can it achieve? Cheng Er…" Looking at her sorrowful, crying face, recalling that love is blind, I wondered what right I had to blame her. Seeing the silk binding that had cut her arm, I couldn't help a softening in my heart, slowly crouching to sprinkle healing medicine on her crystal‑clear wrist, carefully bandaging, and said gently, "I once made a similar mistake. Sacrificing oneself to save others or achieve a goal—that foolishness I will never repeat."

Cheng Er nodded sadly, then lifted her head and turned her gaze toward Bu Sha, only seeing a pair of calm eyes with a faint hint of bewilderment and incomprehension. Though there was a trace of concern, it was so slight it could not stir any ripple.

Cheng Er finally could not hold back and wept loudly; her cries in the rain grew ever more mournful and desolate, causing even Bu Sha to furrow his brows, his expression softening slightly, a flash of pity appearing in his eyes.

After crying for a long while, Cheng Er's voice gradually steadied; she wiped her disheveled cheek with her sleeve, her eyes taking on a resolute look, looked up at Bu Sha, and trembled, "I will grow up; I will strive to become a woman worthy of you, and then, please at least give me a chance."

Bu Sha seemed dazed for a long time, then finally gave a barely perceptible nod.

Cheng Er's delicate, moving face displayed a brilliant yet sorrowful smile; she gave me a slight bow, her beautiful phoenix eyes conveying sincere apology and gratitude. Then she resolutely turned, shouldered Hong Xiu, and walked away step by step.

The orange‑red silhouette, partially obscured by red and slightly hunched, from then on appeared in the misty drizzle as unusually steadfast, beautiful, and captivating.

"Bu Sha, giving up such a wonderful girl—won't you regret it?"

Silence lingered behind for a long while, until I thought he would not answer; then a voice, cold yet tinged with a hint of warmth, faintly said, "I still cannot like her now."

I sighed inwardly, though I showed no sign. I believed that someday, such a person would appear—someone who could bring Bu Sha happiness and be happy because of Bu Sha. There will be such a person.

A hopeful smile spread across my face, then I turned to gaze at the battlefield where blade flashes grew even more intense; the smile faded instantly. I feared that soon…

"Time to decide the winner!" Bu Sha said coldly, stepping forward a few paces, his tone unable to hide his worry, his gaze fixed firmly on the battlefield.

"Bang—" a deafening crash, I stared wide‑eyed as the towering hundred‑zhang tree, which no few could surround, burst open at its top, as if split by a sword, and with a thunderous roar fell to the ground.

Two blue‑white figures hovered in the air, frozen for a few seconds, their palms striking each other, then instantly exchanging dozens of moves. Rain threads swirled around them, as if stirring a thousand layers of massive waves, yet they could not touch the two.

Finally, another thunderous crash rang out, like ice jade falling onto a plate; the white one landed first, the blue followed closely. The two fell to the ground, one ahead of the other, floating down.

The spot where Qi Ran landed was not far from us; I saw a strange crimson flash across his pallid face, his blue eyes flickering, and suddenly his body shivered, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Qi Ran!!" I shouted, my voice tinged with sobs, wanting to rush over and support him, but Bu Sha firmly held me back. A cold yet unusually soothing voice, heavy with relief, resonated beside my ear: "Qi… he won."

"Won?" I stared blankly, processing the information, turned to look at Xiao Yifei, whose complexion was a mix of blue and red. Suddenly, his chest garment tore apart piece by piece like ripped silk, the ferocious wound on his chest spewed a torrent of fresh blood, and bloodstains dripped from his mouth corner.

"Won… won… really won!" I suddenly covered my mouth, feeling my life and soul whirl in the infernal flames, just spun around, my whole body weak.

Xiao Yifei could no longer support his frail, broken body, collapsed weakly to the ground, the blood from his chest dripping drop by drop onto the rain‑soaked grass leaves; in the soil, it quietly narrated the demise of this generation's hero.

Bu Sha's body quivered slightly, then he turned to look toward the end of the mountain path behind. My heart moved, my gaze followed, and indeed I saw Wei Lingfeng, Cheng You, and a contingent of Qi soldiers, all dressed in brocade.

Wei Lingfeng's gaze swept over Bu Sha and me, finally settling steadily on the already exhausted Xiao Yifei; various complex divine lights flickered in his eyes, then finally settled into calm.

The group drew nearer; my gaze unintentionally met the entourage behind Wei Lingfeng, and I couldn't help but shiver, looking at a spot, and incredulously whispered, "Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng…?"

No, how could this be Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng? His face, his hands—any exposed skin was either blackened and purple or rotting and pus‑filled; only a pair of eyes still retained their former brilliance. This face, this body, is not much better than the No Night of years past.

Yet I still recognized him. Because of the thin woman with a face full of scars beside him, because of the deep‑seated hatred in his gaze toward Xiao Yifei, and because his eyes, though not gold and silver, were as solitary and yearning for warmth as when he played No Night.

"Bing Yi." He called my name in a hoarse, unpleasant voice; as soon as the words left his mouth, a flash of pain crossed him, he smiled bitterly, turned his head away, and refused to look at me.

The events of those years, I wasn't present, but because they involved Qi Ran, I paid close attention and inquired, and for that reason I know that the poison on Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng was placed by Qi Ran; unless he consents, no one in the world can save Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng.

"Cough— cough—" Xiao Yifei suddenly kept coughing, his body shaking violently, nearly collapsing into the blood pool. He barely steadied himself, his tone even though he could not hide the desolation, "I never expected my death to draw so many people here especially to watch."

"Xuan'er…" He suddenly lifted his blood‑splattered, pallid face toward Wei Lingfeng, croaking, "Ran'er may not know, but you should be clear: Yi Tian was once the brother I cherished most. Your appearance most resembles Yi Tian, yet your temperament is the opposite of his. Yi Tian was gentle and indecisive; you are steadfast, inscrutable, and decisive in killing. Back then I left you alone in the Qi Kingdom Palace; in truth I intended to defy Qing Ya's wishes, to completely bury or even kill you. I always… did not want to truly see you and Ran'er destroy each other. Yet I did not expect that, even after losing all memory, you would still stand up, and even… cough— cough— elevate the Qi Kingdom to the top of heaven and the continent."

Xiao Yifei coughed even harder, spitting out mouthfuls of blood, as if what flowed was not blood but clear water; even an ordinary person could tell that his days were numbered.

"Xuan'er, I have also harmed Ran'er and other princes, yet ultimately… I owe you the most… cough— cough— for shaping you into who you are today, with emotions hidden and pain buried deep… cough— cough— this life you will likely endure more suffering than joy… cough— cough— Xuan'er… cough— cough— I'm sorry."

Wei Lingfeng listened silently as he finished, without smile, without hatred, not even a hint of obvious emotion. Then he calmly replied, "What is past is past; saying more is useless."

Xiao Yifei, after hearing that, gasped and laughed loudly, laughing until his body could no longer hold, one knee giving way to both knees as he knelt, the spark in his eyes gradually fading as life drained from his body.

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng suddenly spoke in a hoarse, guttural voice, "Xiao Yifei, my master asked me to deliver a message to you."

Xiao Yifei was startled, a strange light flickering in his eyes, murmuring, "Xie… Yan… Ke…"

Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng's mouth twitched into a faint cold smile; though his face now looked terrifying, the bone‑deep hatred in that smile was clear. He pushed aside Lan Ying Ruo, who was holding his hand, and stepped forward step by step; his body swayed but did not collapse, "My master said, you ruined his entire clan, and he produced three disciples, ruining your dynasty. That ledger is settled!"

"Xie Yan Ke, well… what a Xie Yan Ke! Gentle and modest… indifferent and ruthless, yet… cough— cough— has deceived me all my life with a false mask. I truly… cough— cough— underestimated him."

Time had arrived, dusk lingered. Xiao Yifei's whole body blossomed like flowers, still radiant under the increasingly fine rain. His hazy eyes gazed at Qi Ran, his mind already clouded, yet he murmured, "Ran'er… Ran'er… I wish so much… you were my biological son… the child of me and Qing Ya…"

Qi Ran's sword, which had been limp in his hand, suddenly snapped straight with a flash. Holding cold blood, he stepped across the rain‑soaked soft grass toward the blood‑filled Xiao Yifei.

The first step, leaping three zhang, dust untouched, yet overturning the rain and the light wind that struck his face. He spoke softly, voice tinged with sorrow, "Father Emperor, for eighteen years you have raised and nurtured me. Not blood‑related, yet closer than blood, shielding me from countless harms, selfishly granting me eighteen years of peace and sky."

The second step, only three chi, his shoe sinking in mud, leaving a trace, yet carrying water tinged crimson, like drops of blood‑tears. He said, voice detached and lonely, "Xiao Yifei, you killed my parents, sowed discord among my brothers. Moreover, you constantly seek to use those around me to push me into the abyss of hell."

The third step, the sword tip flicked upward, pointing ahead, the chilling killing aura seeping through the rain veil, spreading around the dying, trembling body. His blue eyes rippled slightly, his voice softer and more melodious than the rain, "Father Emperor, I thank you for your nurturing, for all the indulgence and protection within your power, and also thank you… for the three months of freedom you once gave me."

The fourth step out, I looked from afar and only saw Qi Ran's figure in the rain, half‑visible, as if merged with all heaven and earth. Both form and formless, all natural. Yet the voice emanating from that ethereal silhouette remained crystal clear, not a word missed, "Xiao Yifei, I hate that you single‑handedly destroyed the brotherly bond between me and my elder brother; I hate that you used the step‑kill to try to push me into hell; I hate even more that you repeatedly forced me and Bing Yi into such a desperate plight, even separating life and death. All of this will today… come to an end!"

Ten‑thousand‑foot silver rays sliced the rain, the fine drizzle seeming to solidify into droplets by the sword qi, falling from a hundred‑foot height like a downpour, sparking dazzling brilliance, breathtakingly beautiful.

When the water curtain fell away, I finally saw the lone, slender figure amidst the fine rain. Water covered Qi Ran's face, gently streaming down his flawless, pale cheek. I could not tell whether those crystal droplets that crossed his eyes and seeped into the ground were rain or tears.

Xiao Yifei's face bore an oddly serene smile, as if asleep, lying quietly in the rain, not a sound, and there would be no more sound.

Three killing formations descend, the third formation—Xiao Yifei—dead!

The rain threads grew ever denser.

(End of Chapter)