Chapter 162: Who Will Betray?

Yuan Yao felt deeply moved.

Qianjue Shan said solemnly: "As your master, I want you to change your fighting style when facing others."

"Any problems?" Yuan Yao asked, puzzled.

Qianjue Shan said: "Without protective gear like the Myriad Shroud Robe, your fighting style inflicts a thousand on the enemy while damaging yourself eight hundred; I don't want you to get hurt because of that."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao thought seriously and said: "I will change."

Qianjue Shan, however, was half‑believing: "If you promise your master, you cannot go back on your word."

"Don't worry, Master, I won't go back on my word." She had confidence in her heart.

Qianjue Shan glanced at her a few times and said: "As your master, I kept you back today to personally teach you our exclusive heart method."

"What heart method?"

"It is a Heart Guarding Method that will solidify your foundation; if you cultivate it, your future cultivation path will be smoother."

"Master, please teach me."

Yuan Yao looked at him earnestly.

…

After learning the Heart Guarding Method, Yuan Yao sat in meditation for three hours; only when night fell did she slowly open her eyes.

She exhaled a mouthful of turbid qi.

At this moment, she felt both body and mind extraordinarily light, as if all impurities had been cleared.

She lifted her head and saw the master still seated in his original place, eyes closed, nurturing his spirit, motionless, like an immortal statue.

He seemed to sense her gaze, his eyelids twitching slightly, and asked: "How is it?"

Yuan Yao then related her feelings in full.

"From now on, you must diligently cultivate the heart method." Qianjue Shan instructed.

"Yes, Master!"

"Go back now." Qianjue Shan, seeing her mind wandering, felt both amused and exasperated.

Upon hearing that, Yuan Yao immediately rose with a bright smile and said: "Master, I'll head back first."

"Mm."

Yuan Yao hurried out of the hall, sending a message to the Eldest Senior Brother and the others as she walked, asking where they were.

As she reached the corridor, she suddenly bumped into a slender youth, whose appearance also entered her view.

"Junior Brother Shiziwen." Yuan Yao's smile faded.

"Senior Sister Yuan." Shiziwen pursed his dry lips and said softly: "I want to talk with you."

Yuan Yao also wanted to talk with him; she nodded without objection.

Afterwards, the two walked into a pavilion.

"Junior Brother Shiziwen, what do you want to tell me?" Yuan Yao asked.

A hesitant shade crossed Shiziwen's pale face: "You… why did you have Senior Brother Cang help me heal my wounds? Could he also know what I have done?"

"He doesn't know." Yuan Yao said.

"Then why…"

Yuan Yao cut him off: "Do you want to offset your merit with service?"

Shiziwen's eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at the girl before him, not understanding; she was of ice‑skin and jade‑bone, glowing white in the night, exuding a faint fresh fragrance that made his throat feel dry.

"... Yes."

"Then in the future, I will have you testify against Lu Xiangxiang—are you willing?" Yuan Yao suddenly stepped closer and lowered her voice.

Shiziwen's throat moved as his fingers clenched slightly.

Yuan Yao also noticed his small movement, thinking he was torn, his heart still unable to let go of Lu Xiangxiang.

She did not force him either.

Yuan Yao walked over to a nearby stone chair and sat down.

"Has she come looking for you?"

Upon hearing that, Shiziwen's eyes flickered; just as he was about to lie, he heard Yuan Yao's voice.

"Shiziwen, you had better tell me the truth, after all, you previously swore an oath that you would absolutely not betray me."

"... Yes." Shiziwen struggled inside for a moment, then finally uttered a single word.

Yuan Yao lifted her head, her gaze sharp as she fixed it on him: "Did she seek you out to plot harm against me?"

"No." Shiziwen shook his head. "She came to me to ask whether I had betrayed her."

Yuan Yao rose. "Then how did you answer?"

Shiziwen turned his head away, unwilling to answer the question.

The youth's side profile was excessively gaunt, pallid, without a trace of blood.

Yuan Yao said: "She really didn't ask you to do anything to harm me or the sect?"

"No." The youth's tone was firm as he finally looked at Yuan Yao: "Actually, Senior Sister Lu is not bad by nature; a few days ago you injured her severely, yet she doesn't want to quarrel with you—if you are willing to have a proper talk with her..."

Yuan Yao stared straight at Shiziwen.

Until Shiziwen realized something was wrong, he stopped.

"Shiziwen, I shouldn't have placed hope in you." Yuan Yao said coldly.

Having said that, she lifted her feet and walked out of the pavilion.

She left cleanly, not even giving him a final glance.

Shiziwen's complexion shifted slightly; he turned and watched Yuan Yao's retreating back.

Yuan Yao's earlier words were like a sharp spike driven fiercely into his heart.

He had just lifted his foot, then put it back down.

"Shiziwen." At that moment, a white-clad girl walked over from not far away.

Shiziwen turned toward the sound and saw that the person was Lu Xiangxiang.

"Shiziwen, I'm sorry, I actually put you in a difficult situation. The sixth senior sister has always been spoiled; her words can sometimes be hurtful, I hope you won't take it to heart." Lu Xiangxiang walked slowly into the pavilion, her brows and eyes lowered.

"I shouldn't have had you come to help me make peace with the sixth senior sister. But..."

She said, and began to choke up.

"I really can't hold on much longer. Not long ago, she actually barged into my room and beat me black and blue—you saw my injuries, didn't you? But the master and my senior brothers and sisters are all protecting her, favoring her."

Lu Xiangxiang wept, tears like pear blossoms, and threw herself into Shiziwen's embrace.

Shiziwen's body stiffened.

"Shiziwen, tell me, did I do something wrong?" Lu Xiangxiang sobbed, feeling wronged.

After a long while, Shiziwen finally raised his hand, returned Lu Xiangxiang's embrace, lowered his eyes, concealing all emotion in his gaze, and said, "You're not at fault; it's all their fault."

Lu Xiangxiang cried even harder, her whole body trembling slightly.

However, the corner of her mouth twitched up slightly, and a hint of pride showed in her eyes.

"Senior Sister Lu, no matter what you want to do, I will support you." Shiziwen said sincerely.

"The matter of the theft from the forbidden grounds..."

"It wasn't me who informed."

"Then how did the sixth senior sister find out?"

"I don't know either."

"You're not lying to me too, are you?" Lu Xiangxiang lifted her head, gazing at him with tearful eyes.

Shiziwen looked at her with heartache, shook his head, and said, "No. Senior Sister Lu, believe me—I truly don't know how she found out about our secret."

After hearing that, Lu Xiangxiang rested her head against his chest, choked up, and said, "As long as you haven't betrayed me, that's fine. I really want to leave the Carefree Sect, Shiziwen—can you help me?"

"I will help you." Shiziwen said without the slightest hesitation, but the warmth in his eyes gradually faded.

"On the day the disciples' finals end, could we..." Lu Xiangxiang said in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Okay."

Shiziwen responded, but he lifted his head, gazing in the direction Yuan Yao had just left.