Chapter 703: Letting Go

"Filthy Blood Shadow?!" Yan Buji's face changed; he recalled that years ago in the hidden realm above the clouds he had found the Corrupt Blood Pool and once battled a Nascent Soul‑stage Filthy Blood Shadow.

But the Blood Shadow that appeared now seemed completely different from the one he had met before, exuding a terrifying aura.

How could he have never sensed such a thing before?

Jian Fan chuckled: "Old Blood, you're really calculating; I never expected you to dare silently deliver the Secret Key Stack into Yan Buji's hands."

"What?!" Yan Buji's face changed abruptly.

Putting together what Yan Buji had heard before, this Secret Key Stack was precisely the Blood Daoist's ascension treasure, so why....

No wonder the Sect Master was so astonished at the Corrupt Blood Pool in my hand back then; the Ancestor had planned it all?

"There's no choice," the Blood Daoist's voice from the Blood Shadow said: "I was forced into this as well."

Those old guys forced you to act?

"Just repaying a debt," the Blood Daoist said helplessly, then glanced at Yan Buji and Ye Lin: "This doesn't concern you; leave."

"Eh!"

Before Yan Buji and Ye Lin could react, the two were teleported to the outside world.

Ye Lin froze in place, cautiously asking: "Hall Master Yan, what exactly...."

"Don't ask; even I don't know," Yan Buji shook his head.

It seems the Blood Daoist forcibly dragged me to the Great Sinful Sect back then for a deeper purpose.

"Sure enough, there's no free lunch in this world; I told you those things on me are bound to become a bomb someday," Yan Buji sighed.

Even the things I can barely use, if they have any connection to someone, I end up suffering; is this really such bad luck?

Thinking that, Yan Buji looked at Ye Lin: "Anyway, we managed to escape luckily; let's hurry back."

"Indeed."

The two were about to leave together when a figure suddenly swooped in from afar at high speed!

"Yan thief! Meet your death!"

Yunhua, who hadn't left, actually caught up with Yan Buji; seeing the opponent charge, Yan Buji's face darkened: "Damn you!"

Ye Lin frowned: "Hall Master Yan, I'll fight alongside you!"

"This time be more careful."

"Don't worry!" Ye Lin said seriously, staring at the charging Yunhua: "I won't underestimate him."

Both sides were about to engage, but at that moment a figure swooped in, blocking between them:

"Stop! Stop!!"

The newcomer turned out to be Zhang Wang of the Grand Trade Association; sweat beaded on his forehead as he saw both sides poised to kill each other, and he hurried to stop them.

"Steward Zhang, don't block me; I'm going to kill Yan Buji!!" Yunhua halted, gripping the long sword tightly.

Yan Buji sneered, holding the Sea‑Kun hammer on his shoulder: "Just you?"

"Damned thief!!" The furious Yunhua was about to rush forward, but Zhang Wang took a swift step forward and pulled Yunhua.

"Yunhua, Yunhua, calm down! What exactly is happening?!"

Yan Buji's eyes flickered; it seemed Zhang Wang and Yunhua had some connection, otherwise Yunhua's demeanor didn't look like someone who could listen to others.

He thought, perhaps it's best to first inquire about their relationship before deciding.

Yunhua glared at Yan Buji, trying to break free from Zhang Wang's grip while explaining: "That thief killed my master and caused my junior sister's death! I have an irreconcilable hatred toward him. Steward Zhang, whatever you say today, don't stop me, or don't blame me for disregarding past ties!"

Ye Lin looked at Yan Buji, whispering: "Hall Master Yan, you....."

"The events back then—if your master hadn't killed me, would he have let me go? Don't forget, you were planning to encircle me, which forced me to act," Yan Buji blurted, slightly distorting the facts.

In fact, Yan Buji had gone there that year because of the Zhi Sheng Dian's Profound Source Scripture, intervening and also rescuing the two female hall masters who might have possessed other patterns.

Of course, those are stories from centuries ago; dwelling on them serves no real purpose.

Ye Lin naturally believed Yan Buji; everyone's past differs, but now Yan Buji was sincere toward them, and Ye Lin wouldn't think of helping the distant over the close, so naturally stood on Yan Buji's side.

"You're from the Grand Trade Association? What relationship does this Yunhua have with you?!" Ye Lin frowned, looking at Zhang Wang.

Zhang Wang's forehead sweated as he explained: "These Yunhua... are stewards of our Grand Trade Association."

"Oh." Yan Buji recovered, smiling: "May I then assume your Grand Trade Association intends to go to war with our Great Sinful Sect?!"

"Fuck your nonsense!" Yunhua glared at Yan Buji: "My grudge with you is personal!"

"But I can forgive you," Yan Buji said astonishingly, immediately adding: "Regarding the events of back then, I can apologize and offer compensation. In truth, it was merely a difference of stance; I, Yan, did not harbor malicious intent to kill them. I gave them a good end as warriors, dying in the jianghu. Since we both belong to different camps, and your Grand Trade Association still trades with our Great Sinful Sect, I don't want to sour the relationship too much."

Yan Buji smiled, looking at Zhang Wang: "Daoist friend Zhang, what do you think?"

Zhang Wang quickly nodded, turning to Yunhua: "Hall Master Yan is right, Yunhua. Though I know you may find it hard to let go, consider your current life and your daughter. If you clash with the Great Sinful Sect, what will become of you and your daughter then?"

"You!!! He's twisting right and wrong! What a 'good end'—clearly it's you...." Yunhua's eyes widened, body trembling as she tried to speak clearly.

But recalling Lan'er... Qing'er's smiles, Yunhua lowered her head, stifling a surge of anger with nowhere to vent.

Finally, after an intense mental battle like a raging storm, Yunhua's hand, which had been gripping the sword hilt and trembling slightly, slowly released as if she had exhausted all her strength, letting the sword slip from her fingers. The razor‑sharp blade traced a graceful yet weighty arc in the air before plunging straight down to the ground.

When the blade struck the hard Stone Tablet, it emitted a crisp, pleasant yet slightly resolute sound; in the silent atmosphere the noise rang loudly and abruptly, as if a fragment of Yunhua's inner self shattered. As the sharp sound faded, Yunhua's whole body seemed to lose its support, her body shook involuntarily a few times, and finally she collapsed weakly onto the cold ground.

At this moment, his gaze was hollow and vacant as he stared at the sword lying quietly at his feet; his face showed an indescribable mix of relief, pain, and a faint, barely perceptible bewilderment…