Guo Yun: Plays Ye Shunguang, teammate Ye Shiyuan

As dusk fell, the usually bustling streets were nearly deserted, with only a few shops still bustling with activity.

The young man at the head of the group was dressed in a black robe that was already soaked with blood and dust. His once neat long hair was now messily plastered to the side of his neck, and blood was still seeping from the wound on his forehead, sliding down his jawline. However, he quickly wiped it away before it dripped onto the pale, snow-white cheek of the girl in his arms.

He walked extremely slowly, each step seemingly exhausting all his strength, yet with astonishing steadiness. His arms were tightly wrapped around the person in his embrace, as if that person were the only precious treasure in the world that could not be lost.

The others who followed were in no better shape.

The group was disheveled and covered in wounds, surrounded by an almost frozen stillness and malevolent aura, like a group of ghosts crawling back from hell.

The people of Chenghuiping were terrified whenever they glanced at this place.

"Who...who is that?"

"Who is he holding in his arms? It looks like... Xu Shou??"

"What?! How could they be injured like this? Where did they go? Did something terrible happen over at the hollow?"

"Shh! Don't talk nonsense!"

Whispers drifted quietly behind the closed doors and windows, mingled with barely concealed panic and suspicion.

Ye Shiyuan ignored all the gazes and sounds around him.

In his world, only the faint, almost transparent breath of the girl in his arms remained.

Ye Shunguang lay quietly in his arms, her eyes closed, her long eyelashes drooping like two fragile butterfly wings, no longer possessing her former lively and playful demeanor. Her face was as white as a sheet, devoid of any color, her once jet-black hair scattered messily in her arms, stained with dust and blood, a few strands clinging to her pale forehead, making her look so fragile that she could break at any moment.

Her breathing was terrifyingly light; if it weren't for the occasional, extremely slight rise and fall of her chest, she would have been almost indistinguishable from a lifeless shell.

Ye Shiyuan lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on his sister's bloodless lips. His heart felt as if it were being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand, the pain almost suffocating him.

That was his younger sister whom he had protected since childhood.

He was his only family in this world.

She was the person he would risk his life to protect.

But now, she lies in his arms, barely alive, unable even to open her eyes to look at him.

Overwhelming anger and regret surged wildly in his chest, almost breaking through his last shred of reason.

He clenched his teeth tightly, his jawline taut, his knuckles white from the effort, and held the person in his arms even tighter.

He suppressed all his turbulent emotions and walked steadily, step by step, toward the Suibian Temple at the foot of Yunkui Mountain. It was a stronghold established by Yunkui Mountain at the foot of the mountain, where stewards were usually stationed to receive disciples who came down the mountain to carry out missions.

Despite his deep hatred for some of the people inside, he had no choice but to send his sister here, which was still somewhat familiar, for her safety.

The closer you get to Suibianguan, the more solemn the atmosphere becomes.

Finally, the group stepped onto the bluestone path in front of Suibianguan.

The temple gates were wide open, and Lu Hengzhou, who was guarding inside, had already heard the commotion outside. As soon as he saw the group, he quickly went to greet them.

Lu Hengzhou is one of the most senior stewards of Yunkui Mountain. His hair is already somewhat white, his face is serious, and he exudes the majesty of someone who has held a high position for many years.

He was usually in charge of directing disciples and guarding the stronghold at the foot of the mountain. He was quite prestigious in the sect. Even though he had been demoted by Yi Xuan and became an "outside disciple," he still believed that he retained a certain degree of dignity that could not be violated.

But when his gaze actually fell on the group of people in front of him, he suddenly stopped in his tracks, and the composure on his face vanished instantly.

He was taken aback at first, his gaze quickly sweeping over the disheveled and extremely disordered crowd. Every pale and pained face made his heart skip a beat.

When his gaze finally settled on the unconscious girl in Ye Shiyuan's arms, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his voice involuntarily changed tone.

"Ye Shiyuan? Ye Shunguang?!"

He blurted it out almost without thinking, his voice filled with disbelief and astonishment.

The girl lay quietly in the young man's arms, her face as pale as paper, her eyes tightly closed, and her breathing so light it was almost transparent, as if she would disappear completely at any moment.

Lu Hengzhou's face darkened instantly, all color draining from his forehead to his neck, leaving only a grim blue.

"What's going on?!"

He stepped forward, his tone revealing obvious impatience and dissatisfaction, even a hint of barely perceptible panic.

His brows furrowed, his gaze sweeping sternly over Ye Shiyuan, his voice rising several decibels: "How could you take her deep into this dangerous cavern without permission, and get yourselves into this state? You—"

Before he could finish speaking, he was abruptly interrupted by an extremely cold voice.

"Shut up."

Ye Shiyuan's voice was very soft, so soft that it was almost blown away by the wind, yet it was as cold as ice that had never melted for thousands of years. Each word was squeezed out from between his teeth, suppressing the murderous intent and killing intent that was about to overflow.

He didn't look up or glance at Lu Hengzhou. He remained gazing down at the girl in his arms, his steps unwavering as he walked straight past Lu Hengzhou.

He thought to himself, "Let Ye Shunguang go back to his room and lie down for a while."

But in Lu Hengzhou's eyes, that posture was cold to the point of being cruel. It was as if he were avoiding a pool of disgusting filth.

Lu Hengzhou was stunned by the sudden rebuke and froze on the spot.

Embarrassment and anger instantly surged onto Lu Hengzhou's face, turning from red to pale and then flushed, looking extremely unsightly. He stared intently at Ye Shiyuan's back, a surge of offended rage burning fiercely in his chest.

"Ye Shiyuan, what's your attitude?"

He shouted sternly, his voice trembling slightly with anger, his face so dark it could drip water: "I'm asking you a question! Why is Xiao Guang injured like this? She is the Sword Master of the Azure Sea Sword! She is Yun Kui Mountain's trump card, the hope of the entire Cheng Hui Ping! Do you even know that—"

"Don't you even have a clue why she was injured like this?"

A chilling voice interrupted him once again.

Ye Shiyuan stopped and glared at him coldly before quickly walking inside.

There was a kind of indifference in his eyes that said, "I already know everything."

That indifference was more chilling than any anger or questioning.

Lu Hengzhou felt a sudden unease under his gaze, as if some most secret, most shameful secret had been laid bare and exposed to the light of day.

He frowned instinctively, forcing a stern expression, and snapped, "Why are you looking at me like that? I'm asking you a question!"

Just as he was about to hurry up and grab Ye Shiyuan, a slightly hurried footstep came from behind.

Yi Xuan finally strode forward.

Throughout the journey, she forced herself to calm down and steady her mind, but her fingertips trembled uncontrollably, her chest heaved violently, and her once calm and composed eyes were now filled with panic and heartache.

Seeing Ye Shunguang unconscious and the disciples covered in wounds, her heart ached as if it were being cut by a knife.

Approaching him, she took a deep breath, using all her strength to suppress her trembling, and looked up at Lu Hengzhou. Her voice was as steady as possible, but she still couldn't hide a trace of undisguised hoarseness and exhaustion:

"Mr. Lu..."

Lu Hengzhou turned to look at her, his anger slightly subsiding, and his tone softened a bit, carrying a hint of grievance and urgency: "Sect Leader, you've come at the right time! Look at them! Look at Ye Shiyuan's attitude! I only asked about Ye Shunguang's injuries, and he dared to treat me like this—"

"I have a question for you."

Yi Xuan calmly interrupted him.

Her gaze was calm, yet exceptionally firm; her words were clear and distinct, sending a chill down one's spine.

"After taking Ye Shiyuan and Ye Shunguang in from Master Banyue, did you... secretly move the seal of the Qingming Sword?"

The words fell.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

Lu Hengzhou's expression suddenly froze.

That moment of panic, bewilderment, and guilt flashed across his face like lightning; though it faded quickly, it was clearly visible to everyone present.

His pupils suddenly contracted, his lips trembled involuntarily, and he froze on the spot. All the words he had prepared were instantly stuck in his throat.

Yi Xuan's heart sank completely the moment she saw his reaction.

Lu Hengzhou quickly regained his composure, his face immediately darkening as he adopted an angry expression, as if he had been slandered and suffered a great injustice. His voice rose as he retorted sharply, "Sect Master! How could you say such a thing! The Azure Sea Sword is a precious artifact of our Yun Kui Mountain Sect, its sealed location passed down through generations. It is of paramount importance; how could I possibly move it without authorization? This is utter nonsense!"

He spoke with righteous indignation and an open and honest expression, as if he had truly been wronged.

"Because you can't use it."

Just then, Ye Shiyuan came out of the room.

Ye Shunguang, who was unconscious in her arms, had already been placed in the room. She had asked Ling, who seemed to be the younger sister in the sect, to take good care of her.

The overwhelming sense of oppression emanating from him finally crashed down on Lu Hengzhou like an invisible giant wave.

Lu Hengzhou involuntarily took a half step back, a chill running down his back, and a fear arose that made him afraid to meet his gaze.

Ye Shiyuan's gaze was icy, his words piercing to the heart, as he slowly spoke:

"You have the qualifications, seniority, and cultivation. You have worked diligently at Yunkui Mountain for decades. In terms of seniority and ability, you are qualified to take charge of the important affairs of the mountain."

"But you... are not the person the Azure Nether Sword has chosen."

Lu Hengzhou's face turned pale and then red, his lips trembled, and he wanted to refute, but he couldn't utter a single word.

He devoted his entire life to cultivation, single-mindedly wanting to protect Yunkui Mountain and wield the Qingming Sword to fight against the Void Calamity. But that spiritually connected immortal sword never responded to him in the slightest.

No matter how hard he tried or how devout he was, the Azure Sea Sword always kept its doors tightly shut to him.

Ye Shiyuan watched his ever-changing expression, his eyes growing even colder, and continued speaking slowly. Each word was like a sharp knife, cruelly tearing away Lu Hengzhou's mask of pretense:

"You watched as each generation of disciples grew up, and watched the void expand time and time again, its boundaries gradually encroaching on Chenghuiping."

You recall the catastrophe ten years ago, the disaster that nearly wiped out the entire Yunkui Mountain, watching your former fellow disciples perish one by one in the empty caves, and you are filled with fear.

"You're panicking."

"You fear that Yunkui Mountain will be lost to time, that the void will completely swallow this land, that you will not be able to protect this mountain gate until your death, and that you will have no face to face your ancestors after your death."

"You are restless day and night, unable to eat or sleep, and driven almost mad by fear and anxiety."

Every word he uttered struck Lu Hengzhou's deepest vulnerability.

His emotions were in turmoil, his body trembled slightly uncontrollably, and his face was drained of color, yet he couldn't find a single word to refute him.

Because everything Ye Shiyuan said was true.

It was a secret he had kept hidden in his heart for decades, one he dared not tell anyone.

"So you came up with a 'solution'."

Ye Shiyuan's voice was lower, colder, and more cruel, like a pronouncement from hell.

"Let the sword choose for itself."

"You know that the Azure Nether Sword is sentient and can choose its own host. So you took the Azure Nether Sword out of the sealed place and placed it in a place where we, a group of children who have just come up the mountain and know nothing, can reach it."

"You disguised it as an accident, a low-level mistake by the gatekeepers, so that we, a group of ignorant children, could touch that immortal sword that could burn our souls."

"Whoever is chosen is destined to take up this sword, to bear all the dangers, to shoulder the mission of fighting against the void, and to bear the fate of burning their soul, losing all their senses, and ultimately dying a gruesome death."

He paused, and the ferocity in his eyes finally erupted like a volcano, unable to be suppressed any longer.

"And the most unfortunate, the most unlucky person..."

"She's my sister."

"It was you who did it yourself."

"She was driven down this dead end."

The words fell.

The entire place was eerily silent.

A deathly silence.

A gust of wind blew in from outside, swirling up a few withered yellow leaves on the ground. The leaves twirled gently on the bluestone slabs, making a soft, rustling sound that was all the more distinct and eerie in the deathly silence.

Everyone froze in place.

The disciples who accompanied him were shocked and looked at Lu Hengzhou in disbelief, their eyes filled with astonishment and chills.

They never imagined that this so-called "destiny" was actually a meticulously planned conspiracy.

Yi Xuan stood to the side, feeling icy cold, as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

She stared blankly at Lu Hengzhou, her fingertips trembling uncontrollably. Her heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, the pain making it hard to breathe.

She finally understood why Xiao Guang, who was only a few years old at the time, had inexplicably come into contact with the tightly sealed Qingming Sword.

Why would such an inexplicable "low-level accident" occur at a place that is always strictly guarded and governed by strict rules?

Why did Lu Hengzhou look so bad when he was made an external staff member? At the time, I thought it was because he couldn't accept his sudden drop in status.

Looking back now, I think he probably thought his secret had been discovered.

Yi Xuan clutched her head, her thoughts racing uncontrollably: '...I tried so hard to protect Ye Shunguang, to keep her from the fate my sister suffered, but in the end...it all seems to have been in vain.'

……

Lu Hengzhou's face was ashen, his body swaying precariously, yet he still stubbornly argued back, his emotions bordering on obsession and madness:

"I did it for Yunkui Mountain! For everyone!"

"The Azure Nether Sword must be wielded! Have you forgotten the tragedy of ten years ago? The entire mountain gate was almost completely buried in the void! Corpses littered the ground, and blood flowed like rivers! If no one can wield the Azure Nether Sword again, the next time the void erupts, the entire mountain will die! The entire population of Chenghuiping will die!"

This is for the sake of all living beings! Sacrificing one person to save millions is the most fitting thing to do!

Ye Shiyuan glared angrily: "All living beings? What are all living beings? Are the lives of all living beings more important than Xiao Guang's life? Just because she has a special constitution, just because she was chosen by the Qingming Sword, does that mean she deserves to die?"

My sister's life... is it less important than the lives of complete strangers?!

...You could have chosen someone willing to bear the side effects of the Qingming Sword, just like Yunkui Mountain has always done—finding a willing sacrifice to achieve your so-called great cause! ...Instead of deliberately fabricating an accident to force my sister to bear this responsibility!

My sister shouldn't have to live in constant suffering because of everyone else!

"What else can I do? What else can I do?!" Lu Hengzhou was also going crazy, saying frantically, "I did nothing wrong! I'm just making the right choice! I'm doing this for the greater good! Ye Shunguang possesses the Qingming Sword; it's her supreme honor!"

"You should see it as an honor, not a burden!"

He became more and more agitated as he spoke, his voice hoarse and hysterical, as if he were desperately trying to convince everyone present, or perhaps frantically trying to convince himself.

He was unwilling to admit that he was wrong.

Ye Shiyuan coldly interrupted him, his eyes chilling to the bone, every word carrying a sharp, blood-red edge.

"Whose glory? The glory of Yunkui Mountain, or your glory?!"

"You make it sound so easy only because you're not the one paying the price!"

"Do you think I didn't want to?! If I had a choice, I would have made a pact with the Azure Nether Sword long ago! Instead of watching helplessly as the old capital fell, and my teachers and comrades went to their deaths one by one! And I couldn't do anything about it!"

Lu Hengzhou still wanted to play the victim.

But Ye Shiyuan approached step by step, his steps slow and heavy, his aura of ferocity and killing intent almost solidifying into a tangible form.

Lu Hengzhou was intimidated by his aura and subconsciously retreated, staggering until his back slammed against the wooden pillar behind him, leaving him with nowhere to go.

Ye Shiyuan stood before him, looking down at him with eyes filled with utter contempt and coldness:

"Your jealousy of the Sword Master is your obsession. Not everyone desires the same 'power' as you!"

"You think you're saving the world? Saving Yunkui Mountain? You think you're some kind of hero who's endured humiliation and hardship??"

"Just for the glory you believed in, you randomly picked the weakest, most innocent, and least rebellious child from your former sect, pushed her to the front to die in your place, and to bear all your pain and suffering!"

"You've spent your whole life making excuses and justifications for yourself, living your whole life in the self-pity of 'I'm doing this for the greater good.'"

"But you've been nothing but a coward from beginning to end."

The last two words, though spoken lightly, struck Lu Hengzhou's heart like a massive boulder.

Lu Hengzhou's face was ashen, his lips trembled, and his body shook violently. He wanted to roar, to argue, to scream hysterically that he was not wrong.

"Enough!" Yi Xuan interrupted coldly. She couldn't listen anymore, and she dared not listen any further.

Her face was filled with guilt and self-reproach, and the sadness on her face was almost overflowing—because of her negligence, Ye Shunguang, who should have grown up happily, was forced to accept a fate that should not have been hers...

And "Yunkui Mountain has always been..."

Could it be her sister...?

……

"Shi Yuan... this matter was due to my negligence... Yun Kui Mountain... will definitely, absolutely give you an explanation!" Yi Xuan's face was full of sincerity; she truly did not want to see Shi Yuan break with the sect...

"I don't need any explanation from you. I just want you to let Xiaoguang go... Don't use all of this to tie her down anymore. Her life shouldn't be controlled by the Qingming Sword!"

"Um... Ye Shunguang has woken up..." Ling, who was hiding to the side, heard the argument seem to have calmed down and weakly reminded him.

"What?!"