Chapter 209

Yixiwen's pupils contracted slightly; she was pressed by Yuan Yao's aura and involuntarily retreated half a step.

"The one who wants to harm you isn't Li Hang; he's also forced into this!" Yixiwen said, tears welling in her eyes, heartbroken.

Cang Li was about to speak when Yuan Yao stopped him.

Yuan Yao looked at Yixiwen and said, "If he hadn't finally hysterically accused and slandered me, perhaps I could have let this matter slide. But, Senior Sister Yi, I am also human; I also feel hurt, I also feel the sense of betrayal. I am not as selfless, kind, and soft-hearted as you imagine."

"If he weren't dead and still alive in this world, I would certainly not forgive him, nor would I call him senior brother again."

"Senior Sister Yi, if it were you, could you openly prove to everyone that Li Hang hasn't harmed you, that he is pure and innocent?"

Hearing these words, Yixiwen burst into tears.

Yeah, what right does she have to make a victim prove the perpetrator's innocence?

Zong Yu'er looked at Yixiwen disappointedly and said, "Junior Sister Yi, you say the little junior sister's feelings toward us are all false, but do you still remember when you were seriously injured during outer training two years ago, who personally went to ask the Second Elder to treat your wounds? Who kept you company chatting to relieve boredom while you were bedridden? Who personally brewed your medicine? Have you forgotten all that?"

At that moment, Cang Li's voice came softly: "I remember that two years ago, Yao Yao specially asked me for a bottle of healing ointment, saying it was for Astronomy Peak's Senior Sister Yi. If I recall correctly, your arm was gouged by a spirit beast down to the bone; without that ointment, you would surely have been scarred."

Yixiwen's face flushed with shame; she remembered it all.

Everyone present had, to some extent, received tangible favors from Yuan Yao.

Not just chatting.

Although the little junior sister is lazy, whenever she sees a senior brother or sister injured, she will personally help.

She remembers the name of every senior brother and sister, and also which peak they come from.

Yixiwen, overcome with shame, was about to kneel to apologize to Yuan Yao.

But Yuan Yao held her up again.

Yixiwen gazed at her in astonishment.

Yuan Yao let out a helpless sigh, "Senior Sister Yi, you don't need to kneel to me."

"Little junior sister, I... I'm sorry..." Yixiwen's tears spilled, her face unable to hide guilt as she sobbed, "I have vilified you so... I am ungrateful... Little junior sister, can you forgive me?"

Yuan Yao looked at her tearful appearance, and her heart indeed softened.

She understood that closeness varies.

She also understood that people can lose reason when overcome with grief.

She also knew that Senior Sister Yi truly liked Li Hang.

If Lu Xiangxiang had not appeared, Senior Sister Yi and Li Hang would likely have become official dao partners in a few years.

Yuan Yao pretended to be angry and said, "Senior Sister Yi, I only forgive you this once. If you offend again, I'll ignore you."

Upon hearing that, Yixiwen cried even harder.

"Sorry... sorry..."

She kept saying it.

Her voice trembled uncontrollably.

At this moment, Yixiwen felt her soul leave her body, and she was shivering all over.

Seeing this, Zong Yu'er said, "Little junior sister, let me take her back to rest first."

Yuan Yao nodded.

After Zong Yu'er escorted Yixiwen away,

Yuan Yao looked at the people present, seeing they were still immersed in what had just happened, took a deep breath, and smiled, "Everyone, that's all for today. Tomorrow is also a day off; if you have time, come to my Full Egg Banquet!"

"What?!"

"Full Egg Banquet!"

Ao Su put his hands on his hips, "Exactly! Tomorrow we'll cook ourselves! We'll hold a Full Egg Banquet for our little junior sister who didn't drag us down in the sect grand competition, as a reward!"

"What does the little junior sister have to drag us down? Senior Brother Ao, you're really insulting the little junior sister!"

"The little junior sister still loves eggs as ever!"

"Hahahaha..."

Everyone burst into laughter.

Yuan Yao also laughed along.

Meanwhile, Song Yan stood up, walked to her side, and softly said, "Don't be sad."

Yuan Yao didn't look at Song Yan, "I'm not sad at all."

"Then there isn't."

Song Yan peeled a bird egg, pulled Yuan Yao's hand over, and placed it in her palm.

Yuan Yao raised her hand and then fed it into her mouth.

Song Yan gazed at her profile, thinking silently: Because he cares, he feels sad; because he cares, he is soft-hearted; because he cares, he lets things go. She has always been this way since childhood.

Perhaps, the one who is most emotional is not him.

But Yao Yao.

…

On the second day's Full Egg Banquet, most of the sect's members attended.

That day, the sect was bustling up and down.

After the Full Egg Banquet ended, the sect gradually returned to its former tranquility.

Meanwhile, Shiziwen was confined to the Cold Moon Cave in the rear mountains of Heaven Inquiry Peak, for a period of one month.

Yuan Yao thought it over and still decided to visit Shiziwen in the Cold Moon Cave behind Heaven Inquiry Peak.

Inside the Cold Moon Cave, it was gloomy and dark, the floor damp; the one-eyed youth sat cross-legged in the center, his clothes slightly damp, the cold seeping in from the cave.

The youth's lips were pale, and traces of moisture appeared around his eyes.

He used his internal spiritual power to resist the cold.

Suddenly, at this moment——

A faint footstep sound came from outside the Cold Moon Cave.

The youth slowly opened his eyes, using the faint light to make out the visitor.

A girl with a high ponytail held a delicate food box and walked toward him.

"Shi Shidi."

Upon hearing that voice, the youth's heart tightened involuntarily, his expression became dazed, and he thought he was dreaming.

Only when a faint fragrant scent from the girl reached his nose did he react; he saw the girl already crouched before him, the food box placed on the ground.

"Shiziwen." Yuan Yao, seeing no reaction, waved her hand in front of his eyes.

The youth's voice was hoarse, he lowered his eyes: "What are you doing here?"

"Shiziwen, although you once betrayed the sect, it's good that you have reformed and helped me; therefore, I should not continue to hold a grudge against you." Yuan Yao said seriously.

The youth lifted his gaze, his eyes dark as he stared at her.

The two locked eyes.

He suddenly said, "Senior Sister Yuan must be very happy, right?"

Before Yuan Yao could speak, he stared at her unblinkingly: "You have always hated me, just going through the motions. You still harbor killing intent toward me; these words of yours today are also meant to deceive me, aren't they? I am merely a tool you use."

Having said that, he seemed weary and closed his eyes.

"Go away."

Yuan Yao said nothing, only reached out and opened the food box.

From inside came the rich aroma of the spiritual meal.

The youth's ear twitched slightly, yet he did not open his eyes.

Yuan Yao's voice sounded: "Shiziwen, I will tell you this only once. If you do not betray the Carefree Sect again and do not harm your fellow disciples, I will always regard you as my junior martial brother. This is my promise."

Shiziwen's eyeballs twitched beneath his eyelids; finally he slowly opened his eyes and met her gaze.