The Sword That Suppresses the Sun and Moon, the Heavenly Son

The sun was setting in the west, and the water sparkled.

It was an unnamed stream, its waters so crystal clear that one could see the colorful fragments of spirit stones shimmering faintly in the current along the riverbed.

Along both banks grew a spiritual plant known as "Sorrow-Forgetting Grass." Its pale purple flowers swayed gently in the evening breeze, emitting a faint, refreshing fragrance that had a calming effect, able to soothe the weary.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled over the river, dyeing the entire stream golden-red. The sparkling ripples looked like countless pieces of crushed gold dancing on the water's surface.

The entire scene was as beautiful as a painting, tranquil and serene.

However, this tranquility was shattered by a wretched figure by the river.

Ye Xuan crouched by the riverbank, looking at his own reflection that resembled a swollen pig's head, his teeth itching with anger.

His face was swollen like an over-fermented steamed bun. His left eye socket was a patch of black and blue, almost impossible to open, while his right cheek was puffed up high, with a trace of dried blood still hanging from the corner of his mouth.

His originally handsome face, which was enough to make women all over the world swoon, now looked as if it had been repeatedly rolled over by a rolling pin. It was a ghastly sight.

He cupped the cool river water in his hands and carefully cleaned his wounds.

The moment the icy water touched his wounds, a piercing pain shot through him. Ye Xuan drew in a sharp breath, his whole body involuntarily shuddering.

"Hiss... Those bastards really hit hard..."

He cursed through gritted teeth while cleaning himself. The water, dyed red with his blood, dripped from his fingertips, creating ripples on the surface.

Just then, a soft chuckle came from not far away.

The laugh was crisp and melodious, but to Ye Xuan's ears, it was filled with mockery.

Bai Qianqiu sat on a rock nearby, holding a jug of wine, watching him with great interest.

She wore a snow-white sword robe woven from ice silkworm silk. It was as light and thin as gauze, yet incredibly tough. Faint silver sword patterns were embroidered on the robe, glinting with a cold light in the glow of the setting sun.

Her silver hair fluttered gently in the evening breeze, tied with a red hairband. The hairband was a gift from her master, Sword Sovereign, and engraved upon it were four ancient seal characters: "Illuminated Sword Heart."

Her facial features were as exquisite as an artwork meticulously carved by the heavens, especially her eyes, which were as clear as water.

At this moment, she was sitting elegantly on a bluestone.

Her posture was casual and natural, with one leg slightly bent and the other hanging down casually. Her whole being exuded a lazy yet dangerous aura.

Now, she was leisurely drinking her wine, her eyes carrying a playful look of watching a good show.

"Wash up."

"Look at your face; it's been kicked into a pig's head."

"Is this the price of 'looking down on the world'?"

Her voice carried obvious mockery, but it wasn't repulsive. Instead, it had an intimate feeling of teasing a friend.

Ye Xuan washed the bloodstains off his face. Although there were still bruises, that face remained so handsome that it incited jealousy.

As the bloodstains were washed away, his true appearance gradually revealed itself. Even sporting two black eyes, even with his cheeks still puffed up high, his innate handsomeness could not be concealed.

His facial features were sharply defined: eyebrows like distant mountains, a straight nose bridge, and thin, sexy lips. Especially those eyes—even swollen into slits, one could still discern the profoundness and sharpness hidden within.

No wonder so many women went crazy for him. No wonder Wu Lingxiao and Zi Yao were willing to lay down all their status and position to pursue him.

This face truly possessed the magic to make women lose their reason.

He turned his head and glared at Bai Qianqiu in annoyance.

"None of your business."

"This is a tactical show of weakness."

"I was observing their flaws."

When he said this, the expression on his face was serious and earnest, as if he were truly executing some profound tactic. But paired with his pig-head face, this seriousness appeared exceptionally comical.

"Heh." Bai Qianqiu chuckled softly, her laugh crisp and melodious like a silver bell swaying in the wind. "Alright, stop pretending."

She took a sip of wine. The liquid slid down her fair throat, reflecting an amber luster in the glow of the setting sun.

She licked her lips and stared intently at Ye Xuan, her gaze carrying a mix of scrutiny and curiosity.

"You are the Ye Xuan who has been making such a fuss recently, aren't you?"

"That's me."

Ye Xuan stopped pretending. He plopped down onto the grass and lay back without any regard for his image.

He lay spread-eagled on the grass by the river, his hands pillowed behind his head, staring up at the sky.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled over him, dyeing his white clothes a golden-red.

His long hair was scattered over the grass, a few strands fluttering in the wind. His expression was relaxed and comfortable, completely lacking the wretchedness and anger from being ganged up on earlier. Instead, he had the open-mindedness of a dead pig unfazed by boiling water.

"I've heard of you for a long time."

Bai Qianqiu looked him up and down, her eyes carrying the curiosity of observing a rare animal.

"The legendary King of Soft Rice!"

When she mentioned this title, her tone carried obvious teasing.

Her gaze swept back and forth over Ye Xuan, as if studying a rare species.

She had seen countless prodigies and countless powerhouses, but this was her first time seeing someone like Ye Xuan, who "relied on women to climb the ranks" yet lived with such self-righteousness.

Ye Xuan's mouth twitched. "Could you use a different title?"

His voice carried clear helplessness and dissatisfaction.

This title had followed him for a long time. No matter where he went, people would point fingers behind his back, calling him the "King of Soft Rice," a "gigolo," or a "freeloader." This made him, a former peerless sword sovereign, feel incredibly stifled.

"No."

Bai Qianqiu replied righteously. She set down her wine jug, leaned forward slightly, and her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "I heard that the Joyous Union Sect's Alluring Ancestor and Demon Venerable Lengyue fought fiercely over you, ending with both sides suffering heavy injuries."

"This matter has spread throughout the entire cultivation world."

When she said this, her tone carried obvious excitement.

Clearly, such explosive gossip was a rare topic of conversation even for a sword cultivator like her.

Her eyes were sparkling, like she had discovered a fun toy.

"Oh?"

Ye Xuan raised an eyebrow, his tone flat. "Neither of them died? What a pity."

His voice was cold and detached, as if the two women who risked their lives for him had nothing to do with him.

Bai Qianqiu was stunned.

The wine jug in her hand paused in mid-air. Her eyes widened, and her mouth gaped slightly in an expression of sheer disbelief.

She had originally thought that upon hearing this news, Ye Xuan would show worry and heartache. After all, those were two women who fought to the death for him, and they were renowned powerhouses in the cultivation world.

But she never expected that Ye Xuan's reaction would actually be regret that they hadn't died!

What kind of reaction was this?

She looked at the man before her, finding it somewhat unbelievable.

"Those two are both your Dao companions from your past life."

"They fought desperately for you; why don't you wish them well?"

Her voice carried clear confusion and questioning.

Ye Xuan looked at the sky, his eyes becoming incredibly hollow, and his voice cold enough to drop ice:

"Dao companions from my past life?"

"They were nothing but bitches."

"Every single one of them cheated on me."

He spoke with absolute certainty, leaving no room for doubt. His tone carried a bone-deep hatred, deep-seated resentment, and a barely noticeable trace of pain.

Bai Qianqiu's hand trembled, nearly dropping her wine flask to the ground.

She widened her beautiful eyes, her eyeballs almost popping out of their sockets.

Her face was written all over with shock and disbelief.

The Demon Venerable? The Ancestor of the Joyous Union Sect?

Cheating?

"Care to elaborate?"

Bai Qianqiu's interest was instantly piqued. She leaned forward, the fire of gossip burning fiercely within her.

She was like a little girl who had just heard some juicy gossip, eager to know what happened next. That excited expression completely contradicted her usual image as a cold and arrogant sword cultivator.

Ye Xuan, however, couldn't be bothered to say any more.

He rolled over, pulled out a small, prepared notebook from his robes, and began to write furiously by the light of the setting sun.

It was a palm-sized black notebook with three large characters embroidered in gold thread on the cover: Book of Life and Death.

The material of the notebook was very special; it was made of animal hide that could permanently preserve whatever was written inside, never fading or deteriorating with the passage of time.

He flipped open the small notebook. It was already densely packed with countless names, each followed by detailed crimes and revenge plans.

At this moment, he was adding new entries:

"Zhao Ritian, kicked my left cheek three times."

"Qian Que, smashed the back of my head twice with a brick."

"And some guy in green, sneak attacked my crotch..."

He gritted his teeth as he wrote, as if he wished he could carve these people's names right into his bones.

Bai Qianqiu leaned over to take a look and was immediately rendered speechless:

She saw countless names densely packed into the small notebook, each followed by a detailed crime.

Some were stole my spirit fruit, some were mocked me for living off women, some were looked at me the wrong way, and there were even baffling reasons like is uglier than me.

"Why are you remembering all these people?"

Her voice carried obvious speechlessness and amusement. She had seen people who held grudges before, but this was her first time seeing someone like Ye Xuan who recorded his grudges so meticulously and systematically.

Ye Xuan didn't even lift his head, his pen tip carving fierce indentations into the paper:

"Keeping score."

"When I get out of here, I'm going to kill them all."

"Not a single one will escape."

Bai Qianqiu chuckled. "These are all Holy Sons of major sects. They hold exalted statuses and have life-saving trump cards in their hands. How could they be so easily killed?"

Her tone carried obvious disapproval. She knew the backgrounds and identities of those people; not a single one of them was someone to be trifled with.

Zhao Ritian was the Holy Son of the Azure Cloud Sect, backed by the behemoth that was the Azure Cloud Sect; Qian Que was the Young Master of the Mad Saber Sect, holding countless resources and experts in his grasp; as for the guy in green, although she didn't know who he was, anyone capable of entering the Heaven's Origin Secret Realm was no simple character.

Wanting to kill these people was easier said than done.

Ye Xuan closed the small notebook and carefully tucked it back into his robes, revealing a smile that would make one shudder:

"I can't do it myself."

"But..."

"I can have the Empress do it."

He spoke with perfect self-assurance, as if this were the most natural thing in the world.

Bai Qianqiu froze for a moment before sudden realization dawned on her, followed immediately by a burst of loud laughter:

"Hahahaha!"

"Don't tell me you're planning to... tattle to the Empress?"

"Have the Empress stand up for you?"

She laughed so hard she rocked back and forth, almost falling off the rock. She clutched her stomach, laughing until tears nearly sprang to her eyes.

She had seen shameless people, but this was her first time seeing someone like Ye Xuan take shamelessness to such an absolute extreme.

When beaten up, his first thought wasn't to take revenge himself, but to run and complain to his Dao companion?

That... wasn't that just too humiliating?

But upon closer thought, it truly was the most effective method.

After all, the Great Xia Empress's strength was clear for all to see. As long as she was willing to make a move, let alone a few Holy Sons and Young Masters, even the sects standing behind them would have to weigh the consequences.

"Right." Ye Xuan nodded self-righteously, without a shred of shame on his face: "I'll just have her do it."

"What? Is there a problem with that?"

Bai Qianqiu laughed until tears practically leaked from her eyes.

She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, a hint of amusement and appreciation appearing in her gaze as she looked at Ye Xuan.

She realized that although this man was shameless and utterly brazen, he possessed a unique sort of charm.

This charm didn't stem from his strength or his appearance, but from his tranquil confidence of I just want to live off a woman, what are you going to do about it.

"It works. It works perfectly."

Bai Qianqiu wiped her eyes, looking at Ye Xuan with a touch of playful curiosity:

"It seems the rumors are true."

"The Empress really dotes on you and listens to your every word?"

Her tone carried obvious curiosity and probing. She wanted to know exactly what kind of magic this man possessed to make the iron-blooded, ruthless Great Xia Empress so devoted to him.

"Naturally." Ye Xuan raised his chin, his face full of confidence. "If I say one, she doesn't dare say two. If I tell her to go east, she doesn't dare go west."

"You're bragging." Bai Qianqiu mercilessly exposed him.

Ye Xuan didn't bother to explain. He simply lay down beside her, his expression indifferent: "If you don't believe me, forget it."

The two of them continued to chat casually by the riverbank.

Soon, the setting sun gradually sank, and the fiery clouds on the horizon slowly dissipated. The color of the sky shifted from an orange-red to a deep blue, finally turning pitch black.

Night fell.

"Let's go."

Bai Qianqiu stood up and patted the grass clippings off her skirt:

"Seeing as you're so interesting, this lady will protect you for now."

Ye Xuan didn't stand on ceremony, eagerly trotting after her:

"That's great."

"I happen to be hungry. Do you know how to cook?"

He looked at Bai Qianqiu with anticipation.

"No."

Bai Qianqiu said coldly.

"Then I do. I'll cook for you."

Ye Xuan said with a grin, not feeling that there was anything wrong with this at all.

Bai Qianqiu's footsteps paused for a moment, an imperceptible smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Over the next few days.

Ye Xuan and Bai Qianqiu traveled together.

Their journey could only be described as complete chaos.

Bai Qianqiu displayed an extremely terrifying cultivation in the Dao of the Sword.

Her sword arts had already reached a state of pure perfection.

Her vertical sword techniques were sweeping and expansive, every strike carrying the momentum to split heaven and earth with astonishing power.

Her horizontal sword techniques were unpredictable even to ghosts and gods, the sword light like a phantom, erratic and impossible to defend against.

Ye Xuan had to sigh in admiration; to be able to become the disciple of the Sword Sovereign, her talent truly was astonishing.

Nighttime.

The nights in the secret realm were even more bizarre than the days.

There were no stars in the sky, nor was there a moon, only a profound darkness, like a massive black cloth shrouding the entire world.

In the distance, bursts of wild beasts howling could be heard, mournful and terrifying, echoing through the silent night sky and sending a chill straight to one's heart.

Ye Xuan and Bai Qianqiu found a mountain cave to serve as a temporary resting place.

It was a naturally formed cave, about three meters wide and two meters high. The space inside was actually quite large, a full dozen square meters.

By the campfire.

Ye Xuan skillfully prepared two newly caught Void Spirit Fish.

He had caught them in a nearby stream. The Void Spirit Fish was a precious type of spiritual fish; its body contained abundant spiritual energy and its meat was incredibly tender, making it one of the favorite foods among cultivators.

Scaling, gutting, marinating, and skewering.

Ye Xuan's movements were as smooth as flowing water, as if he had done this thousands of times.

First, he used a sharp small knife to scrape the fish clean of scales. The blade slid across the fish, making a faint rustling sound as the scales fell like snowflakes.

Next, he expertly sliced open the fish's belly and removed the innards. His movements were precise and swift, not wasting a single shred of meat.

Then, he took various seasonings from his spatial ring—salt, pepper, spirit herb powder, and a secret sauce—and spread them evenly over the fish.

These seasonings were all carefully formulated by him. Each had unique effects, not only enhancing the delicious flavor of the meat but also boosting the absorption of spiritual energy.

Finally, he used a sharpened wooden stick to skewer the fish from head to tail, suspending it over the campfire to roast slowly.

The campfire was built using a special kind of Crimson Flame Wood. When this wood burned, the flames took on a faint red hue. The temperature was moderate, making it absolutely perfect for roasting food. The flames danced, emitting a crackling sound and releasing a faint, woody fragrance.

Ye Xuan turned the wooden stick from time to time to ensure the fish heated evenly. Every so often, he brushed a layer of oil over the fish, allowing the skin to turn a crispy golden-brown.

Soon, an enticing, savory aroma filled the air.

It was a complex scent that blended the savory meat, the fragrant spices, and the fresh aroma of spiritual energy, making anyone who smelled it instantly ravenous.

"Here."

Ye Xuan handed Bai Qianqiu a golden, crispy roasted fish.

The outer skin of the roasted fish was golden and crisp, still steaming. The aroma of the fish assailed the nostrils, making it impossible to resist taking a bite. The fish was even garnished with some green herbs, adding a touch of color.

Bai Qianqiu took it and, half-doubting, took a bite.

With a crunch, the crispy skin shattered in her mouth, followed immediately by the tender meat melting on her tongue.

The next moment, her eyes lit up.

"Mmm!"

"Delicious!"

Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, overflowing with savory flavor, and with the spiritual energy locked right into the meat—it was simply a worldly delicacy.

The fish melted in the mouth, its savory juices bursting forth, carrying a faint trace of spiritual energy that made one's entire body feel invigorated. This feeling was like drinking a mouthful of iced spiritual spring water in the dead of summer, refreshing from head to toe.

Bai Qianqiu devoured the fish in a few quick bites. Licking her lips, still wanting more, the way she looked at Ye Xuan completely changed:

"I never would have guessed..."

"For a kept man, your cooking is actually this good?"

"Is this how you tricked the Empress into falling for you?"

Her eyes were full of surprise and curiosity.

Ye Xuan poked at the fire, the flames casting flickering shadows across his face.

"Could you not call me a kept man?"

He said, slightly annoyed.

"Then what should I call you?" Bai Qianqiu leaned in with a smile, her stunningly beautiful face looking exceptionally captivating in the firelight. "A househusband?"

Her eyes curved into crescents, smiling brightly. The firelight reflected on her face, coating her in a soft halo that made her look even more beautiful.

Ye Xuan had nothing to say and could only sigh.

"Don't get too close to me."

He shifted to the side, his voice somewhat deep:

"Otherwise... you'll fall in love with me."

He said this very seriously, without the slightest hint of a joke.

"Tch."

Bai Qianqiu rolled her eyes, her face full of disdain:

"You're too narcissistic."

"Although, now that the swelling on your face has gone down, you are indeed a handsome man. And your cooking isn't bad either."

"But I, Bai Qianqiu, am the Holy Maiden of the Sword God Palace. My heart is devoted solely to the sword. How could I fall in love with someone so easily?"

"Especially a massive womanizer like you."

She spoke with absolute certainty, as if she truly had zero interest in Ye Xuan.

But her gaze unknowingly lingered on Ye Xuan for a moment.

Ye Xuan didn't retort. He just quietly stared at the fire in a daze.

The dancing flames illuminated his face, making his expression look exceptionally complex. His eyes were hollow, as if recalling some distant memory.

"Hey."

Bai Qianqiu nudged him with her shoulder:

"Tell me, just how many Dao Companions do you have by your side right now?"

Her tone carried obvious curiosity and a desire for gossip.

Ye Xuan fell silent for a moment before slowly holding up two fingers:

"Currently, there are two."

"Their strength is at least at the Mahayana Realm."

His voice was calm, as if he were stating an insignificant, trivial matter.

"Hiss!"

Bai Qianqiu gasped:

"Two Mahayana Realm experts? And both are by your side?"

"Aren't you a bit too amazing? Can your body even handle that?"

She looked at Ye Xuan with a face full of envy:

"With such powerful Dao Companions protecting you, you can walk sideways through life without a care in the world."

"You're truly so blessed."

Her eyes were full of envy and yearning. In her view, having two Mahayana Realm Dao Companions was simply a monumental blessing.

"Blessed?"

Hearing this word.

The wooden stick in Ye Xuan's hand suddenly snapped with a crack.

The stick broke into two pieces in his grip, green smoke still rising from the splintered ends.

His fingers trembled slightly, clearly having exerted a great deal of force.

He raised his head. In those previously calm eyes, a heart-palpitating agony and hatred suddenly surged forth.

It was a hatred that seeped deep into the marrow, as freezing as ten-thousand-year-old ice, yet as scorching as a raging inferno. This look made Bai Qianqiu's heart tremble.

"What is so blessed about it?"

Ye Xuan's voice was hoarse, as if squeezed through his teeth:

"If you knew... that for the sake of their respective Grand Daos, for the sake of benefits, they once drove their swords right into your chest without a moment's hesitation."

"If you knew just how many times they cuckolded you behind your back."

"If you knew that their so-called doting now is nothing more than compensation for treating you like a caged canary, like a plaything..."

Ye Xuan turned his head, staring dead at Bai Qianqiu, his eyes covered in bloodshot veins:

"Would you still think... that this is a blessing?"

His voice carried a bone-deep hatred and endless agony. This pain was not faked; it was genuinely carved into the very depths of his soul.

Bai Qianqiu was stunned.

She was completely intimidated by the pain in Ye Xuan's eyes.

It was not merely resentment; it was a despair that had penetrated the marrow, one that had weathered the vicissitudes of life.

It was the look of someone who, after enduring betrayal, deception, and injury, had become utterly disappointed in this world.

"I..." Bai Qianqiu opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.

She had never seen such a gaze before. Even when facing life and death, she had never been so moved.

She subconsciously reached out her hand, wanting to pat Ye Xuan's head, wanting to comfort this man who suddenly looked so very fragile.

Her hand slowly reached out, looking exceptionally gentle in the glow of the firelight.

However.

Just as her hand was about to touch Ye Xuan's hair.

Don't touch me!

Ye Xuan violently threw off her hand, his body springing away as if he had been electrocuted.

His movements were extremely fast, like a startled wild beast, instantly retreating three meters away.

Don't get too close to me.

Beware of the Empress taking action.

That lunatic... is capable of doing absolutely anything.

His voice regained its calmness, but the vigilance in his eyes did not disappear.

Bai Qianqiu's hand froze in mid-air.

Looking at Ye Xuan's manner of keeping people at arm's length, an inexplicable emotion suddenly surged in her heart.

A little angry, a little curious, and a little... heartbroken?

She didn't understand why she would feel this way toward a man she had never met before.

Hmph.

Bai Qianqiu withdrew her hand and snorted coldly to cover up her embarrassment:

So what if it's the Empress?

My master is the Sword Sovereign!

If the Empress dares to touch me, my master could level her Great Xia Imperial Palace with a single strike of her sword!

At the mention of the Sword Sovereign.

An expression of immense worship appeared on Bai Qianqiu's face, her voice carrying obvious pride and arrogance.

The Sword Sovereign, that was her master, the deity in her heart, and the goal she pursued all her life.

Sword Sovereign, huh?

Hearing this name, Ye Xuan's fingers, which were poking at the dry branches, paused slightly.

His eyes glazed over for a moment, as if through these few words, he caught a glimpse of a past he couldn't bear to look back on.

The firelight danced in his eyes, reflecting endless, complex emotions.

The Three Thousand Dao Continents were vast and boundless. Sword Gods, Sword Saints, and Sword Venerables were as numerous as carp crossing a river, with stunning and brilliant talents emerging from every major continent.

But only the title of Sword Sovereign belonged to just one person throughout the ages.

The master of the Sword God Palace, the one who suppressed the Three Thousand Dao Continents with her sword, the true number one sword in the world.

Legend had it that she severed the Heavenly River with one strike, split the void with another, and slayed the Demon Lord with a third. Her sword was the fastest in the world, and also the strongest.

Heh...

The corners of Ye Xuan's mouth curled into an extremely sarcastic sneer, his eyes filled with undisguised contempt:

Your master? She's nothing much.

He casually tossed a dry branch into the fire. Sparks flew, illuminating that face written with arrogance and disdain:

Bai Qianqiu, believe it or not, in less than five sentences, I could make that high and mighty master of yours kneel before me.

His voice was calm, but that contempt and disdain were clearly conveyed.

Clang!

Before his voice even faded, a clear, resonant sword cry suddenly exploded.

A cold gleam, like a poisonous snake flicking its tongue, thrust straight at Ye Xuan's throat. The sword qi was chilling to the bone; before it even reached his body, it had already severed a lock of hair at his temple.

A lock of hair fluttered down in the air, like a feather, slowly falling into the fire and instantly turning into ash.

Ye Xuan's pupils shrank slightly. His body instinctively leaned back, and he rolled on the ground in an extremely miserable manner, only just managing to avoid this fatal strike.

His body rolled on the ground a few times, his clothes covered in dirt and dust.

He scrambled up awkwardly and patted the dust off his body.

Bai Qianqiu stood with her sword, the tip pointing diagonally at the ground. Those normally aloof eyes were now covered in frost, killing intent surging like the tide:

I kindly saved you, yet you dare to insult my master!

That was her faith, the inviolable deity in her heart.

The Wenqing Sword in her hand now emitted a piercingly cold light. On the blade, countless runes flickered, radiating a terrifying sword intent.

The surrounding temperature plummeted, and a thin layer of frost formed on the ground.

Ye Xuan patted the dust off his body. He wasn't angry; instead, the mockery in his smile grew thicker:

Insult? This doesn't count as an insult.

He sat cross-legged back in his original spot, looking straight into Bai Qianqiu's murderous eyes, his tone so flat it was as if he was narrating a trivial matter:

Your master, she was my Dao Companion in my previous life!

His voice was calm, but this sentence exploded in Bai Qianqiu's heart like a clap of thunder.

The hand Bai Qianqiu used to grip the sword suddenly stiffened, the killing intent in her eyes instantly turning into astonishment:

What... what did you say? My master... could take a fancy to you?

She looked Ye Xuan up and down.

Lazy, roguish, lacking the demeanor of a powerhouse. How could such a person be worthy of a master who was like a goddess from the Nine Heavens?

More than just taking a fancy.

Ye Xuan acted as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. He sneered, a trace of tyrannical pleasure flashing in his eyes:

Back then, when I was in a bad mood, I could reward her with a few slaps. She even had to smile and ask if my hand hurt.

You!

Bai Qianqiu's chest heaved violently. If it were anyone else, she would have long chopped them into eight pieces.

But for some reason, looking at Ye Xuan's eyes—which seemed to be smiling but were actually bottomless and hid endless, deathly stillness—she couldn't bring herself to thrust the sword in her hand no matter what.

She gritted her teeth, sheathed her sword, and kept her voice extremely low:

The reason I saved you... is because in my master's boudoir, there hangs a portrait.

The person in the portrait looks exactly like you.

She stared fixedly at Ye Xuan's face, trying to find a single flaw:

Are you... really that Ye Xuan?

Close enough. Ye Xuan waved his hand lackadaisically, as if that name was a burden: I am his reincarnation.

Getting confirmation, the look in Bai Qianqiu's eyes became extremely complex. There was shock, inquiry, and a trace of imperceptible envy.

Then you are truly fortunate.

She sighed from the bottom of her heart:

To have a Dao Companion as powerful, perfect, and standing at the pinnacle of the world as my master as a bond from your past life... this is a blessing that countless people could never beg for.

Her voice carried obvious envy and yearning.

Perfect?

These two words seemed to touch Ye Xuan's reverse scale.

He abruptly raised his head. His originally calm face instantly twisted, and his eyes were as cold as ten-thousand-year-old black ice, piercing Bai Qianqiu's heart with a tremble.

You don't understand at all what I went through.

His voice was hoarse, every word squeezed out from between his teeth like bloody foam.

His eyes were full of pain and hatred. That kind of pain wasn't faked; it was genuinely carved into the depths of his soul.

Oh? Bai Qianqiu narrowed her eyes. That curiosity grew wildly like vines. She leaned in a bit closer, Tell me about it?

Her eyes were full of curiosity and anticipation.

Ye Xuan, however, had already shut his mouth and turned away, leaving her only a lonely, cold back.

That was a posture of rejecting the whole world.

His back, illuminated by the firelight, looked exceptionally lonely and desolate.

The firelight danced, stretching his shadow very, very long, like a solitary traveler walking in endless darkness.

In the distance, the howl of a wild beast rang out, mournful and terrifying.

The night grew deeper.