Chapter 555

"I never expected Ye Baiyi to feel this way about me… but when we first met, he seemed to have no idea at all…"

"Only heard his name, never seen the man! On our way to Qingsi County, the first thing we did was eliminate the Night Thief 【Duan Longtou】—it seemed like a coincidence, but actually Ye Ge knew you were hunting 【Duan Longtou】—this was his gift to you upon meeting!"

"Oh? Then why didn't he just send me 【Duan Longtou】's head as a gift?"

"Uh… who sends a head as a gift to a girl? Besides, you're his white moonlight! He acts perfectly normal every time he talks to you, but he confessed to me—he gets so nervous his heart nearly leaps out of his chest each time!"

"Huh? No way—I thought he always seemed so calm and composed around me."

"Faking it! All of it's fake! Just his disguise! Only his heart that loves you is real! Feel it with your heart—you'll definitely sense it!"

"Is… is that true?"

Recalling how she'd once exchanged a move with Fang Yue over 【Duan Longtou】, that instant when his fingertip lightly touched her forehead, You Sisi felt half-skeptical.

Jing Yan's words were surely exaggerated, but… could it be that Ye Baiyi actually has feelings for me?

Ever since then, You Sisi began to pay closer attention to Fang Yue, increasingly sensing his affection for her.

"But we have no future… my family already arranged a childhood marriage for me in Qing Cheng…"

You Sisi had always sought an opportunity to reject Fang Yue, yet his suppressed, barely leaking "genuine affection" always moved her heart.

This man—damnably sweet!

He clearly adores me, yet he's desperately holding back!

Could he even know about my arranged childhood marriage? Does he know we have no future, which is why he's restraining himself??

You Sisi felt moved, but now, she must sever it all.

To Qingsi County, Ye Baiyi is a dangerous bomb—she could no longer let her emotions dictate her actions; she had to make a decision… or rather, she was forced to make one.

Because those three major sects would never allow Ye Baiyi to remain in Qingsi County!

Rather than let outsiders cruelly drive him away, let me be the one to utterly reject him—make him understand there's no hope between us, and let him leave this place of sorrow himself.

Taking a deep breath, You Sisi's eyes turned slightly red.

She had hardened her heart—completely hardened it.

"I can say it. This is for Qingsi County. This is for every villager in Qingsi County!"

You Sisi rallied herself, ignored Yu Baiyi's attempts to stop her, and stepped directly into the area shrouded by Black Cloud.

"Lady You?!"

Yu Baiyi panicked, but glancing at the thunderous clouds roaring above and the darkening sky—he couldn't tell if it was afternoon or evening—fearing 【Night Rain】 might strike without warning.

You Sisi noticed that the deeper she entered the Black Cloud zone, the louder the thunder became.

It was as if the closer she got to Fang Yue's location, the more likely she was to be struck by lightning.

And these lightning strikes were indiscriminate—not only targeting enemies, but possibly Fang Yue himself.

He's already trapped in such a miserable situation, yet now I must bring him an even more despairing message.

You Sisi clenched her fists, gritted her teeth, and forced herself to harden her heart.

Soon, she saw Fang Yue inside the house.

You Sisi had expected Fang Yue to be curled up in a corner, trembling in agony, or roaring at the Black Cloud, or mentally shattered.

But the result was… Fang Yue was drawing his blade.

One slash—like a dark moon cutting through black water—vanished without a trace.

Yet when it reappeared, Fang Yue's spirit momentarily dimmed, as if this slash drained immense energy.

He swallowed a pill, then resumed practicing the Dark Moon Blade Technique.

Watching Fang Yue's diligent cultivation, You Sisi froze.

Why… how could he be so diligent? How could he endure such solitude, with Black Cloud swirling above and thunder and lightning raging, yet still focus entirely on practicing his blade?

What belief sustains him?

What drives him to train with such discipline, even in this brutal environment?

You Sisi couldn't fathom it, but she felt—she couldn't block that one ordinary-looking slash.

One strike, and she'd die instantly!

It was an ordinary-looking slash, yet it seemed to contain surging tides—all suppressed, contained, held in perfect stillness!

Even a single trace of its leaked aura made her hair stand on end, her skin crawl with dread.

This slash—terrifying beyond measure!

And this blade technique… just like Ye Baiyi's feelings for me—extremely repressed, yet even a tiny leak makes one utterly helpless!

So… he's cultivating… the Emotion Blade! The Blade of Emotion!

Could this be what my second uncle meant by… Blade Intent?

My feelings are woven into his blade technique, forming Blade Intent—how deep must his feelings for me truly be?!

My damn charm!

Trembling inside, one hand pressed to her chest, You Sisi stepped into the room.

"Lady You?"

Fang Yue paused, startled, halting his practice of the Dark Moon Blade Technique.

He had already mastered the technique—reached the First Layer.

Now he was merely refining it, since it was currently his strongest blade technique and his primary offensive method.

As for the Shadow-Stepping Technique, Fang Yue had tried practicing it in spare moments, but with poor results.

The space was simply too confined for Shadow-Stepping—after an hour of no progress, he returned to focusing solely on the Dark Moon Blade Technique.

Learning and mastering the Dark Moon Blade Technique wasn't enough—he had to use it fluently!

In combat, an unrefined technique would only cost him his life.

Fang Yue was somewhat surprised by You Sisi's sudden visit.

But he quickly realized that it was already the third day since Jing Yan had provided the information.

His expression tightened, and he asked: "Has the strange army arrived?"

You Sisi said nothing, only pursed her lips and gazed at him, as if trying to etch his appearance forever into her memory.

As her gaze moved downward, You Sisi suddenly froze, her body stiffening, her eyes seeming to mist over, as if deeply moved.

And the spot her gaze fixed on was unmistakably the dirty handkerchief tied to Fang Yue's right palm, stained black with blood until its original appearance was nearly unrecognizable.

"This handkerchief is so dirty… you're still keeping it on…"

Huh? I asked you about the strange army, and you're talking about my handkerchief being dirty?

Fang Yue was momentarily baffled by the sudden shift, but still replied.

"Um… it feels cool and comfortable, so I've just kept it on."

"Take it off. I'll wash it clean and rewrap it for you."

That would be wonderful!

To be honest, ever since the handkerchief was soaked in black blood, it's not only filthy but also sticky.

If not for his strong physique, Fang Yue doubted he might have gotten an infection in his wound.

But just as Fang Yue was about to move, he suddenly snapped back to his senses.

Wait a minute! A major battle is imminent—why is You Sisi, a Qingyi, taking time to wash my handkerchief??

(End of Chapter)