The three of them journeyed towards the Great Yin Dynasty. Along the way, Yu Xiyan remained quiet, silently observing Guo Zheng and Liu Ying, the Daoist couple, as they displayed their affection.
Since her rebirth, she had never properly appreciated the beautiful landscapes and scenery. She had walked through the ethereal Mystic Peak and passed the ancient and solemn Myriad Faces Cave, feeling the warmth of the countless homes. Yu Xiyan's spirit relaxed like never before.
Entering the borders of the Great Yin Dynasty, Yu Xiyan knew she would soon bid farewell to the couple before her, returning to the throne of the emperor, back to the court filled with scheming and intrigue. Her mood inevitably became heavy.
For a moment, she began to envy Guo Zheng and Liu Ying, who could be together without worries, far from the endless plots and calculations.
For the first time, she sincerely wished them a long and happy life together.
That night, by the lotus pond under the night sky, Guo Zheng and Liu Ying sat close together, embracing each other gently in the romantic atmosphere adorned by fireflies, sharing a soft kiss.
Yu Xiyan, leaning against a nearby tree, silently watched the two of them. A blush crept onto her exquisite face as if she'd thought of something.
Just as she was about to leave and not disturb their private moment, a sharp, stern shout shattered the peace.
"Yingying! Why are you with him!"
Yu Xiyan looked up. A young man in white brocade had appeared by the lotus pond, staring at the two with disbelief.
Liu Ying's expression was visibly tense, her eyes darting as she asked, "Junyou, why are you here?"
The young man looked at Guo Zheng and said, "It's you! You're the one who stole Ying'er from me! Don't you know Ying'er is my wife!"
Yu Xiyan's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
Guo Zheng grabbed Liu Ying's hand and said to the young man, "Jiang Junyou, Ying'er likes me. What makes you think you're worthy of her? Stop being so conceited!"
Jiang Junyou looked bewildered, turning to Liu Ying. "Ying'er, is this true? We're already married. Haven't I treated you well?"
Liu Ying lowered her head, softly saying, "Junyou, I know you've been very good to me, but feelings can't be forced. I like Senior Brother Guo, so I'm sorry."
Jiang Junyou felt dizzy, barely managing to steady himself. He put on a gentle expression. "Ying'er, come back with me, okay?
Father and Mother miss you very much. They know you've been working hard after your experience outside the sect and have prepared lots of your favorite foods. Don't worry, I won't dwell on what happened before.
Please, come back with me, okay? I'm begging you."
As Jiang Junyou spoke, his aggrieved eyes reddened.
But Guo Zheng tightly held Liu Ying's hand. "Jiang Junyou, stop bothering Junior Sister Liu. Master has already agreed to let Junior Sister and me become Dao partners.
The Cultivation World and mortals are not on the same path. If you truly want what's best for Junior Sister Liu, you should let her go!"
Jiang Junyou clenched his fists, looking at Liu Ying again. "Ying'er, is this what you think too?"
Liu Ying lowered her head, remaining silent.
Jiang Junyou continued, "Ying'er, do you remember? Back then, when your face was ruined, I racked my brains to get a Beauty Pill to help you recover your appearance.
Also, because your meridians were blocked, you couldn't cultivate. It was me who begged my father to find a Meridian Warming Pill for you, to help you clear the blocked spiritual meridians.
You said you wouldn't despise me for being unable to cultivate, that you would stay with me for life. But I know your heart yearns for the path of Immortality, so I spent all my family's fortune to get the Mystic Sound Sect to accept you as a disciple.
I'm not saying this to make you feel guilty towards me.
It's just, Ying'er, I know that as a mortal, I can't bind you for life. But my lifespan is only a hundred years, can't you pity me a little?
Why are you doing this to me?"
Listening to Jiang Junyou's tearful recounting of his past, Liu Ying was speechless, her lips bitten lightly by her teeth, unsure of what to do.
And on the tree, Yu Xiyan's mind was suddenly in a daze.
How familiar was the scene before her?
That night, in the Imperial Garden, while she was playing with Lin Feng, she happened to meet Shen Zhao, who was passing by.
She and Shen Zhao had also confronted each other like this.
It was just that Shen Zhao, seeing her holding Lin Feng's hand tightly, didn't say a word.
Until Shen Zhao turned and left indifferently, leaving behind only a lonely figure.
He would always consider her face as the Empress, and he would never make things difficult for her in public.
At this moment, Yu Xiyan seemed to realize that she had never once shown Shen Zhao a pleasant face. Her gaze had always been filled with wariness, disdain, and coldness.
Now, everything before her overlapped with the scenes from her memories, and Yu Xiyan found herself increasingly disgusted with her former self.
What kind of mindset could have driven her to repeatedly harm the man who had poured all his energy into her, as if possessed by a ghost?
Just as Yu Xiyan was about to intervene, a burst of wild laughter suddenly echoed from the horizon.
"Heh heh heh, who's shouting and yelling here? Disturbing my dreams!"
"Oh, a pretty girl. Looks like we're in for some good fortune."
The next moment, two old men wearing bamboo hats and grey robes materialized beside the lotus pond.
Upon seeing their faces, Yu Xiyan's expression changed.
Yu Xiyan had met these two in her previous life. They were evil cultivators from the Great Yin Dynasty, relying on Yin-Yang Cultivation to increase their strength, and they were incredibly powerful.
However, shortly after she ascended the throne, Shen Zhao had devised a plan to eliminate them. She never expected to encounter them here.
The three of them were caught off guard by this sudden turn of events and immediately adopted a defensive posture.
One of them looked at Liu Ying's face and said, "Not bad, a good seedling. I'll enjoy her first later."
The other one said, "You get to taste the best every time. This time, no matter what, it's my turn."
Guo Zheng quickly shielded Liu Ying behind him, and angrily asked, "Who are you?"
"I am Xu Yunzi."
"I am Bai Guangzhi."
Upon hearing the two men announce their names, the three of them were immediately shocked.
"You two are the infamous Yin-Yang Cultivation villains within the Great Yin Dynasty?"
"Hehehe, since you know our names, scram! Old man is in a good mood today and doesn't want to kill anyone. Just leave the girl behind."
After speaking, Xu Yunzi and Bai Guangzhi burst out laughing.
Jiang Junyou spread his arms towards Guo Zheng behind him, saying, "You quickly take Ying'er and leave here. I'll hold them off."
As soon as he finished speaking, Bai Guangzhi struck out with a palm in the air. Immediately, Jiang Junyou spat out blood and was sent flying more than a dozen steps away.
"Junyou!"
Liu Ying was shocked and quickly let go of Guo Zheng to go and check on Jiang Junyou.
Bai Guangzhi laughed out loud upon seeing this: "I thought you were some big shot, putting on a heroic rescue show. Turns out you're just a lowly ant, unable to withstand even one of my palms."
Xu Yunzi: "This guy has no idea of his own weight. One palm strike, and he'll be dead within three days."
Then he looked at Guo Zheng: "What? Do you want to take a palm strike too?"
Guo Zheng was terrified. He glanced back at Liu Ying, unsure how to respond.
"What? You don't want to leave?" Xu Yunzi asked.
Bai Guangzhi revealed a lascivious smile: "Looks like this guy really wants to watch a live show. Let's grant his wish, shall we?"
Guo Zheng's pupils shrank, and he stammered, "You, you dare? Do you know that we are from the Mystic Sound Sect?"
Bai Guangzhi and Xu Yunzi exchanged glances and suddenly burst into laughter.
"So what if they're from the Mystic Sound Sect? What sect's female cultivators haven't I played with? Do I care about your low-class sect?"
"Alright, kid, I'll give you one last chance to scram. Otherwise, you can stay and watch us have our fun with your woman, and then we'll kill you to silence you."
Guo Zheng was drenched in cold sweat. After hesitating for a moment, he said to Liu Ying, "Junior Sister, hold on! I'll come back to save you!"
With that, he ran away from the lotus pond without looking back.
Liu Ying watched as her most trusted senior brother abandoned her and ran away on his own. Her heart was broken, and she could only hold the unconscious Jiang Junyou and grieve silently.
"I'm sorry, Junyou. I've hurt you. I've failed you in this life. In the next life, I'll be your servant to repay you!"
Her mortal husband had stood in front of her to protect her, while her senior brother, who was also from the Cultivation World, had abandoned her and fled alone.
She had loved the wrong person and misjudged others.
Xu Yunzi stepped forward, leering. "Alright, little girl, you'd better take off your clothes quickly and lie down obediently so we can favor you. That way, you won't have to suffer anymore."
Seeing the two of them getting closer, Liu Ying's face turned ashen. She was ready to self-destruct her Yuan Dan to avoid such inhumane torment.
Far away, Yu Xiyan focused her qi at her fingertips, ready to strike at any moment.
She had to kill one of them first to have any chance of success, because both of their cultivation levels were at the Nirvana Realm, fourth rank. A direct confrontation offered no chance of victory.
Just as she was about to strike, a beast's cry echoed from afar.
The next moment, under the moonlight, a fist wreathed in azure flames descended from the sky.
"Who is it!"
Bai Guangzhi turned his head, and cold sweat instantly drenched his back.
Boom!
With a deafening roar, a fist formed from the South Bright Flames directly blasted Bai Guangzhi into nothingness.
Xu Yunzi was caught in the aftershock of the fist, spewing blood as he was knocked back, his face a mask of terror as he looked up into the air.
"You... you are... who..."
As the words left his mouth, another fist descended from the sky, carrying with it a raging inferno that lunged towards Xu Yunzi.
"Not good, time to scram!"
Xu Yunzi decisively took off running, but the flames, initially shaped like a fist, suddenly spread out into a palm print that slammed down heavily.
Boom!
In an instant, Xu Yunzi's body was engulfed by the South Bright Flames, quickly turning to ashes.
This scene was too sudden; neither Yu Xiyan nor Liu Ying had time to react.
Meanwhile, on the back of a Jade-Eyed Golden Eagle in mid-air, Shen Zhao clapped his hands and said, "What a nuisance. I see them everywhere. Aren't they tired?"
Ding Bubuer, who was sitting beside him, wore a troubled expression. "Sir Shen, why did you call me to the Tang Clan? Why did you let Miss Su and the others handle the Yun Manor's affairs, while we have to deal with the Tang Clan? It seems so unfair to me. How about we change direction and join Miss Su?"
"You're old enough to be someone's grandfather. Wouldn't it be embarrassing to run around with a granddaughter? Leave these small matters to the young ones to handle. We'll stick to the high-end game.
As for going to the Tang Clan, naturally, it's to dig up Tang Ran's foundation.
Not just the Tang Clan, but also the Dragon King Palace. In short, just as we planned before, as long as our brains haven't rusted,"
"You always get dandruff, so just relax."
"Alright, if you want to go crazy, I'll go crazy with you. But I have to be clear, we split the benefits, three-seven."
"No, I feel bad that you're so busy, only getting three. You take three and a half."
"Don't be like that. That's no fun. Forget it, we split it fifty-fifty, or I'm not doing it."
"Then it depends on whether your performance is worth half."
"As long as the money's right, I'll definitely cut off Tang Ran's... you know, and give it to He Yi as a snack."
"Damn, you're disgusting."
The flying spiritual beast shot up into the sky and sped towards the location of the Tang Clan.
-----------------------
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