Villain: My fate is in my own hands, not in the heavens.

Xie Zheng, standing behind the pillar, raised his eyebrows even higher and his smile deepened upon hearing Ye Chen's confession.

He slowly straightened up, thinking to himself: This play is getting more and more interesting.

Yan Ji, inside the ring, also became interested after hearing Ye Chen's confession.

She sat up straight: "Oh, you finally said it? It would have been better if you had done so sooner, saving us all this trouble. Too bad, your affections are unrequited; Su Qingge's heart has long since left you."

Looking into Su Qingge's resolute eyes, Ye Chen's heart sank, and all his strength seemed to be drained away.

Her voice was hoarse: "So, from the very beginning, it was just me being delusional, wasn't it?"

Su Qingge remained silent, offering no reply, but this silence itself was the best answer.

Ye Chen gave a bitter laugh, staggered back two steps, his eyes vacant: "Fine, fine, so you're saying I'm willing... I'm leaving, I'm leaving now, I'll never bother you again."

He turned and walked away, his steps unsteady, his back looking particularly lonely.

As he reached the palace gate, he suddenly stopped. Without turning around, he said in a hoarse voice, "Qingge, take care. If Xie Zheng dares to bully you, I will risk my life to come back and save you."

Su Qingge watched his retreating figure, sighed softly, and remained silent.

Xie Zheng, standing behind a pillar, scoffed and muttered under his breath, "Save her? With your abilities? You should take a good look at yourself in the mirror."

As soon as he finished speaking, he moved and disappeared silently into the shadows, leaving Su Qingge in the main hall staring at the doorway with a complicated expression.

Su Qingge has always been intelligent and rational. Since she has decided to follow Xie Zheng, she will never have any further involvement with Ye Chen. Yan Ji could figure this out even with her toes.

If it were her, she would have done the same.

But looking at the scene in the hall, she couldn't help but sigh: Why did Xiao Chen have to fight Xie Zheng so fiercely?

A faint smoke drifted through the main hall. Ye Chen clutched his forehead, his face contorted in pain, his voice trembling: "Qingge, you're lying to me, aren't you? You wouldn't say something like that!"

He simply couldn't accept that the aloof goddess he had admired for so long would use such a cold tone to distance herself from him.

Su Qingge's fair face remained expressionless, her tone as cold as ice: "Everything I said is true, and it's no use if you don't believe me. Don't bother me again, or I'll have to waste my breath explaining if Young Master Xie sees this."

She had said everything she needed to say. If Ye Chen still didn't know what was good for him, she would have no choice but to take action.

Ye Chen suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "It must be Xie Zheng! He came from the Upper Realm, he must have cast a curse on you! Otherwise, how could you have become like this!"

He looked like a wild beast driven to desperation, with not a trace of his usual composure.

Yan Ji inside the ring panicked and quickly unleashed a burst of magic power, transforming it into a cool breeze that enveloped Ye Chen: "Little Chen, are you crazy! Calm down!"

Ye Chen roared and shook his head, his voice filled with pain: "I don't believe it... I don't believe my goddess has become like this!"

Su Qingge's face darkened completely. Her long sword was drawn from its sheath with a "whoosh," its cold light flashing. It seemed that she had no choice but to take action.

Just then, a knock came from outside the hall, accompanied by Xie Zheng's enigmatic, half-smiling tone: "Is Saintess Qingge here?"

Xie Zheng leaned against the doorway, his long black robe accentuating his tall and slender figure, his handsome features, and a smug smile on his face.

Tsk, the show's almost over, it's time for him to step in and finish things off. Of course, the actual physical work should be left to someone else.

Upon hearing Xie Zheng's voice, Ye Chen's face turned green, and the pain in his eyes instantly turned into murderous intent. He clenched his fists and was about to rush out.

"Xiao Chen, run!" Yan Ji stamped her feet anxiously inside the ring. "We escaped from the dungeon, we have no grounds for attack. If he really makes a move, we'll both be doomed!"

Su Qingge was also taken aback, wondering to herself: Why is Young Master Xie here now? No, with his abilities, he might have arrived long ago and was hiding in the shadows watching her make a fool of herself. Maybe this is another test from him.

Having figured this out, Su Qingge didn't hesitate at all. With a flick of her wrist, the sword light flashed out like a startled swan, directly stabbing towards Ye Chen, who was about to break the window.

"Ah!"

Ye Chen was completely unprepared. He screamed in agony as a spray of blood splattered from his chest. Fortunately, his fighting instincts were strong, and he subconsciously took a half-step back; otherwise, the sword would have pierced his heart directly.

"Holy crap! This girl is too ruthless!" Yan Ji was startled, not expecting Su Qingge to attack so suddenly and without any mercy.

She quickly activated her remaining magic power, grabbed Ye Chen, and jumped out of the window, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

The palace doors were pushed open, and Xie Zheng slowly walked in, a look of surprise on his face that said, "I know nothing." He asked, "What happened? Was that scream just now caused by someone causing trouble here?"

Su Qingge turned around and nodded calmly: "Thank you, Young Master Xie. I'm sorry to disappoint you."

She's not stupid. How could she not see through Xie Zheng's little scheme? He hadn't left the whole time; he was watching from the shadows.

The thought that her every move was being watched by this man sent a chill down Su Qingge's spine. If she had hesitated even slightly, she would probably be doomed.

This man is truly ruthless and terrifying.

Xie Zheng walked over, unable to hide the smile on his lips, but his tone remained gentle: "What's there to be disappointed about? You did a great job."

Su Qingge frowned, somewhat uncertainly: "Really? I didn't kill him just now. Don't you think I showed mercy?"

Xie Zheng chuckled and flicked the tip of her sword: "Really. If Ye Chen were so easy to kill, would I have gone to all this trouble to lure him here?"

He paused, his tone turning serious: "The next time you meet him, it'll be a fight to the death between you two. No regrets?"

Su Qingge shook her head without hesitation: "Since I've decided to be with Young Master Xie, I've never thought about regretting it."

"Okay." Xie Zheng nodded with a smile, the coldness in his eyes lessening slightly.

Su Qingge and Ye Chen have completely broken off relations and even become mortal enemies, so there's no need for him to keep giving her the cold shoulder.

He knew the tactic of using carrots and sticks. Su Qingge possessed great fortune and her future achievements were limitless. What he wanted was her genuine submission, not just simple fear.

Xie Zheng stepped forward, reached out and pulled her into his arms, his tone deliberately gentle, mixed with a touch of silly teasing: "Don't worry, this really isn't a test. I've always trusted you, I just wanted to see a show, but I didn't expect you to be even more ruthless than me."

Su Qingge froze in his arms, her delicate body trembling slightly. Her jade-like eyes blinked, completely bewildered.