Ye Xuan Has Long Since Gone Mad

Bai Qianqiu had completely lost her ability to speak at this moment.

She stood stiffly in place, watching the absurd scene before her that completely overturned everything she knew. Her mind was a total blank. Relying solely on instinct, she gave a dull, mechanical nod.

She believed it.

At this point, she had no choice but to believe.

Being mercilessly humiliated by Ye Xuan in such a way, Ye Jiuhuang, the dignified Sword Sovereign, not only failed to produce a single ounce of anger, but instead lowered her posture completely in endless panic.

She tremblingly reached out that pale hand, which had once only been used to command slaughter. Her fingertips curled slightly as she probed the empty air, wanting to carefully tug at Ye Xuan's clothes just like an ordinary mortal wife.

A pair of phoenix eyes that normally looked down upon the world with supreme arrogance were now brimming with crystalline tears. Within them intertwined the wild joy of regaining what was lost and the deep terror of losing it all over again.

Husband... please do not be like this.

I know you hate me. I know I was wrong...

I beg you, do not look at me with those eyes... My heart hurts so much...

Shut up!

Ye Xuan abruptly took a step back, his clothes cutting through the air with a cold, ripping sound.

He avoided Ye Jiuhuang's outstretched hand as if she were a venomous snake, his eyes filled with undisguised disgust.

Husband?

Who is your husband?

Ye Xuan's chest heaved violently. He suddenly raised his hand, pointing right at Ye Jiuhuang's nose. Forcibly suppressing the irritation deep in his heart and the accumulated pain from his past life, he gritted his teeth and growled low.

Ye Jiuhuang, stop flattering yourself!

The Ye Xuan from back then is long dead! He was forced to death by your own hands!

The one standing before you now is merely a reincarnated, wandering ghost!

No... that is not true...

Ye Jiuhuang shook her head desperately. The hairpin on her head, a symbol of supreme authority, fell loose from her violent movements, letting her black hair drape down her temples.

Her tears fell like pearls from a broken string, smacking against the dusty ground. Her voice was shrill and desperate. In my heart, you will always be my husband, always the only one...

Enough!

Ye Xuan's chest tightened. He took a deep breath of the freezing air, the corners of his eyes twitching slightly.

He suddenly turned around, his profound gaze piercing through the distance to lock onto Bai Qianqiu, who was still standing far away, looking as dumbfounded as a clay statue.

Wife.

In the instant he turned, Ye Xuan's voice retracted all its violence, restoring a trace of his usual calm.

Step aside for now.

I have words to speak with your master alone.

Ah?

Bai Qianqiu froze for a moment. She subconsciously glanced at her master, who was kneeling on the ground and weeping uncontrollably, her eyes full of helplessness.

Go.

Ye Jiuhuang did not stand up. She did not even move her knees a single inch.

She merely tilted her head slightly, catching a glimpse of her disciple from the corner of her eye. Her gaze was incredibly complex, carrying a heavy warning and reluctance. Although her voice was thick with crying, it still carried the undeniable, absolute authority of someone who had long held supreme power.

Step down. Seal your five senses. No eavesdropping.

Yes... Yes! Master!

Bai Qianqiu felt as though she had received a grand pardon. Her legs went soft and she almost fell, but she hastily scrambled up using both hands and feet. Turning into a streak of light, she retreated hundreds of zhang away and obediently formed hand seals, setting up the strictest soundproofing barrier.

Only, before she went into seclusion to seal her five senses, the look in her eyes as she gazed at Ye Xuan through the halo of the barrier had completely changed.

From her previous adoration and dependence, it had turned into a deep reverence, even carrying a trace of instinctive trembling.

Her husband... was simply too terrifying. He could actually make her master submit and bow her head so humbly.

Once Bai Qianqiu's figure had retreated far enough, completely vanishing at the edge of his vision, Ye Jiuhuang immediately raised her hand. Dazzling divine light burst from her fingertips, instantly laying down a Great Dao barrier capable of isolating heavenly secrets.

The void was entirely sealed off. Within this barrier, not even a true immortal from the highest heavens could pry into their conversation.

As soon as the barrier was formed, all the noise from the outside world was completely cut off.

The last string of Ye Jiuhuang's tense rationality finally collapsed. Unable to control her surging emotions any longer, she ignored the crushed stones on the ground and shuffled forward on her knees, desperately trying to hug Ye Xuan's thighs.

Ah Xuan! You are finally willing to see me!

These eight thousand years... I have searched for you so bitterly!

I know I was wrong back then. I truly regret it!

Her tears soaked her robes, and her voice was horribly hoarse.

Stand up.

Ye Xuan looked down at her coldly from above. His profound eyes did not stir up even the slightest ripple; there was not a hint of emotion.

Ah? Ye Jiuhuang paused, tilting up her tear-stained, flawlessly beautiful face to look at him in bewilderment.

I told you to stand up. Speak properly.

The disgust between Ye Xuan's brows was revealed without any concealment. He frowned.

Looking at you like this makes me feel sick.

The moment the word sick came out, Ye Jiuhuang's entire body shuddered violently, as if she had been struck by ten thousand heavenly lightning bolts at the same time.

That word was a thousand times more unbearable than killing her with the cruelest torture in the world.

But how could she dare to defy him in the slightest at this moment? She could only endure the tearing agony in her heart and tremblingly stand up.

She lowered her head. Her spine, which had once proudly looked down upon all heroes, was now bent like a little wife who had done something wrong. Her hands were twisted tightly together, her knuckles turning white as she stood awkwardly and uneasily before him.

Ye Xuan closed his eyes and took a deep breath, calming the violent mood churning in his chest.

He opened his eyes again and looked coldly at the woman before him.

Even though a thousand voices in his mind were madly screaming to kill her, to grind her bones to dust, his remaining rationality held him back tightly, telling him that now was not the time.

He needed her.

For Bai Qianqiu.

Long time no see, Ye Jiuhuang.

Ye Xuan's voice was as indifferent as the ice of the extreme north, completely devoid of any joy or anger.

Ah Xuan... Ye Jiuhuang's eyes were red, her voice choking with sobs as she greedily stared at this face that had haunted her dreams for eight thousand years.

I did not come to find you today to catch up on old times.

Ye Xuan got straight to the point, holding nothing back, his sharp gaze staring directly into her sorrowful eyes.

I have a favor to beg of you.

Beg?

Ye Jiuhuang turned pale with fright. Her pupils shrank rapidly, and her whole body began to tremble uncontrollably.

This man, who had once been so proud and unyielding, who dared to draw his sword even against the gods and buddhas of the heavens, was actually saying the word beg to her?

This did not make her feel any sense of vindication; rather, it brought upon her a suffocating, almost breathless heartbreak and terror.

No! Do not say beg!

Ye Jiuhuang anxiously took a step forward, reaching out a hand wanting to touch him but not daring to. Tears threatened to spill over again like a bursting dam.

I will do whatever you want me to do! Even if you want my life, even if you want to destroy the Sword God Palace... as long as you say it, I will do it right now!

As long as you... as long as you are willing to forgive me, even just a little bit...

Good.

Ye Xuan nodded straightforwardly, speaking no more nonsense, his gaze as sharp as a blade.

"I know your true body is still in secluded meditation, and what has come now is merely an avatar."

"But you are the Sword Sovereign. Even this avatar of yours remains invincible in this world."

Ye Xuan slowly turned his head and reached out, pointing at the faint figure of Bai Qianqiu inside the distant barrier. When looking at her, Ye Xuan's eyes revealed an extremely rare, almost morbid, and even somewhat crazed pleading:

"I want you..."

"To take her back to the Sword God Palace."

"Let her cultivate in the Sword God Palace. Give her the best resources and the best guidance."

"But..."

Ye Xuan's tone suddenly grew heavy, smashing down like a heavy hammer, emphasizing every single word:

"She is not allowed to leave!"

"Not even a single step!"

"If she strongly demands to go out, you must follow her personally, never leaving her side for a moment!"

"Do you understand?"

Ye Jiuhuang looked in the direction he was pointing and saw her naive and ignorant disciple.

An overwhelming surge of sorrow and jealousy, so intense it was almost suffocating, instantly welled up in her heart. Her nails dug deeply into her palms, drawing blood.

Did he... care about that girl so much?

For the sake of that girl, a man as proud to his very bones as him was actually willing to bow his head to the person he hated the most?

"Alright."

Even though her heart was bleeding madly from jealousy, Ye Jiuhuang gritted her teeth and gave a heavy nod:

"I promise you."

"I will keep her locked in the Sword God Palace, give her the best, and protect her thoroughly."

Hearing this guarantee, Ye Xuan seemed to finally breathe a sigh of relief, his tense shoulders relaxing slightly.

He turned his head and looked at Ye Jiuhuang again, a faint smile curving the corners of his lips as he threw out a fatally tempting promise that was enough to drive Ye Jiuhuang mad:

"As long as you can accomplish this, I will let bygones be bygones regarding the past."

"R-really?"

Overjoyed, Ye Jiuhuang abruptly raised her head. An unprecedentedly brilliant light burst from her eyes, and even her breathing stopped.

Let bygones be bygones!

These were the words she had dreamed of hearing while trapped in endless remorse and the abyss!

"I understand! I will definitely get it done! I swear!" She was so excited that she stuttered, her whole body trembling. Her knees even gave way, wanting to kneel down and thank him once more.

However, just at the moment Ye Jiuhuang thought she had ushered in hope.

Ye Xuan slightly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his expression not only became more indifferent, but even emanated a bone-chilling, eerie coldness.

"There is one last thing."

"This matter is the most important."

Ye Xuan snapped his eyes wide open, suddenly stepping forward and approaching Ye Jiuhuang step by step.

His gaze was piercingly cold, devoid of a single trace of human emotion, like a vengeful ghost crawling out of the lowest depths of hell to claim a life:

"You will monitor Bai Qianqiu at all times."

"There cannot be any men around her."

"Not even a male mosquito!"

Ye Jiuhuang was momentarily stunned, but then a wild joy surged in her heart like a tsunami.

Monitor her? Allow no men?

What did this mean? It meant that although Ye Xuan cared about that wretched girl, he didn't completely trust her!

In his heart, not only was there an extremely strong possessiveness, but also a deep suspicion!

Bai Qianqiu's status in his heart was only so-so!

Just as she was secretly rejoicing, Ye Xuan raised his head and stared fixedly into Ye Jiuhuang's eyes. His gaze coiled around her like a venomous snake as he enunciated every word:

"If..."

"I mean if."

"If Bai Qianqiu shows any signs of straying, or harbors any thoughts of betraying me..."

Ye Xuan slowly and coldly raised his hand, making a throat-slitting gesture. Murderous intent was fully exposed in his eyes, without the slightest pretense of mercy:

"Do not hesitate."

"Kill her immediately."

"What?"

Ye Jiuhuang's pupils shrank drastically, completely shocked by the ruthlessness in his words. She couldn't help but cry out:

"K-kill her? But she is your..."

"Besides, she has a pure and kind nature. She shouldn't..."

"There is no 'shouldn't'!"

Ye Xuan suddenly erupted, completely losing control.

Like a beast driven into a corner, he violently reached out and grabbed Ye Jiuhuang's wrist in a death grip. His strength was astonishing, nearly crushing her immortal-like bones.

His eye sockets were completely red, holding tears of despair, yet the corners of his mouth pulled into a terrifyingly manic smile:

"Ye Jiuhuang, do you still not understand?"

"I have been through countless reincarnations and endured so much suffering."

"Every time I offered my true heart, all I got in return was betrayal!"

"I'm scared."

"I'm truly scared."

Ye Xuan's voice trembled violently, stripped of all its coldness and defenses. At this moment, he was as fragile as a helpless, bruised child lost in the dark:

"Now that I am living another lifetime, I only hope that this life will be without regrets, that I can have a pure and clean person accompany me to the very end."

"Can you understand me?"

Ye Jiuhuang stared blankly at the man before her, whose mind was on the verge of collapse, feeling as if her own heart had been ruthlessly thrown to the ground and crushed.

Yes... he had been hurt too deeply.

So deeply that he had completely lost the ability to love and trust, unable to fully trust anyone, even the seemingly flawless Bai Qianqiu who loved him with all her heart.

"I understand... I understand!"

Her heart twisting in pain, Ye Jiuhuang backhandedly gripped Ye Xuan's hand tightly, trying to warm his freezing fingers with her own body heat. Tears streamed down her face as she nodded desperately:

"I understand it all... It's all my fault... I made you like this..."

"Alright! I promise you!"

"I will watch over her like a prisoner! I will absolutely not give her any chance to betray you!"

"If she dares to fail you... you won't need to lift a finger. I will personally clean house!"

Hearing this promise from the bottom of her heart.

Ye Xuan's tense muscles finally relaxed, and the madness in his eyes gradually receded like the tide, replaced by a trace of peace following extreme exhaustion.

"I hope so."

He lowered his eyelids, and at an angle Ye Jiuhuang couldn't see, a flash of extremely cruel coldness darted through the depths of his eyes.

Having experienced so much, his psyche had long since become severely twisted.

Since he could not control the unpredictable human heart, he would use absolute violence to control life and death.

He raised his head again, looking at Ye Jiuhuang whose face was full of heartache, and casually threw out a sentence:

"As long as you can accomplish all these things."

"On the day your true body comes out of seclusion..."

"Will be the time of our grand wedding."