Chu Yu's Decision, the Tearful Su Bailian

Chu Yu stood in shock, trembling with overwhelming emotion, unable to believe what was happening.

She rose from the rocky outcrop, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath of the familiar air—the distinct fragrance of the Violet Bamboo Forest.

"I... Chu Yu... have truly returned."

Tears, scalding with emotion, streamed down her cheeks as she clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms. Gritting her teeth, she spat out the name: "Su Bailian..."

"You never expected this, did you?"

"I’ve actually been reborn!"

The memories of her past life flooded back.

Ever since Su Bailian had joined the sect, Chu Yu—once the adopted daughter of the revered Sect Master Feng Yutian, the treasure of the entire sect, the beloved youngest sister doted on by all her senior brothers—had been systematically reduced to an object of scorn and disgust through Su Bailian’s machinations.

In the end, even the sect master, whom she had regarded as her own father, convened a grand assembly to force her to publicly apologize to Su Bailian.

The entire sect had turned against her, condemning, humiliating, and cursing her as a vile, scheming woman who bullied and assaulted the "innocent" Su Bailian.

But they didn’t know—could never know—the true face of that wretched Su Bailian!

Her pitiful, fragile demeanor? All an act!

Heh.

Chu Yu had never imagined that she, the most gifted prodigy of the sect, would be pressured into groveling before Su Bailian.

In the end, she had relented and agreed to apologize.

Because she believed her senior brothers and master had merely been deceived. She needed to endure, to expose Su Bailian’s true nature.

How laughable.

A bitter smirk twisted Chu Yu’s lips as she recalled what came next.

There had been a pivotal sect competition, one so grand that not only the factions of the Profound Heaven Realm participated, but even envoys from the Modern Alliance had attended.

The most formidable opponent of the Primordial Sacred Ground was the Profound Demon Sect.

As the most talented cultivator in her sect, Chu Yu naturally represented them in the tournament.

She had fought with everything she had, sacrificing half her lifespan to defeat the demonic prodigy known as the "Demon Prince."

And then came the finals.

Against all expectations, Su Bailian—barely at the Nascent Realm—had somehow advanced to the final round.

The moment they faced each other, Chu Yu’s hatred flared. Without hesitation, she struck Su Bailian down with a single palm strike, sending her tumbling off the stage.

When she claimed victory, Chu Yu had thought she would finally regain her peers' respect.

Instead, the backlash was even worse.

She could still remember Su Bailian’s performance that day.

Chu Yu had merely knocked her unconscious—no lethal force, no lasting harm.

Yet Su Bailian had feigned near-death, gasping weakly, her face pale with "suffering."

In an instant, the entire sect turned on Chu Yu.

"Chu Yu! How could you be so cruel?!"

"I—I didn’t! I barely used any force!"

"Lies! Look at Bailian! She’s barely alive because of you!"

"I swear, I didn’t hurt her! Please believe me!"

"It’s... it’s okay... I know Sister Chu Yu dislikes me... If this helps her make peace with all of you... then I’ll gladly endure it..."

"CHU YU! KNEEL AND APOLOGIZE TO HER RIGHT NOW!"

...

BANG!

The memory sent Chu Yu’s emotions spiraling. She lashed out, her fist slamming into a nearby violet bamboo stalk, splintering it.

Her expression darkened.

In her past life, after being vilified despite bringing glory to the sect, she had snapped.

She executed Su Bailian in front of everyone.

But that wasn’t enough.

She fled the sect, hunted down Su Bailian’s parents in the Su family, and slaughtered them too.

And then...

Just as she sought to join the demonic path...

A single figure appeared before her.

The mere thought of that person sent a chill down Chu Yu’s spine.

One palm strike—just one—and her body had exploded into a mist of blood and flesh.

She would never forget that name.

Su... Muwan.

Su Muwan.

This time, she would cross paths with her again.

Chu Yu closed her eyes, steadying herself.

In her past life, she had acted rashly, killing Su Bailian in a fit of rage—only to meet her own brutal end.

This time...

Her expression hardened with resolve.

This time, she would do things differently.

She would make every single person in the Primordial Sacred Ground... regret everything.

---

Time flowed onward.

Soon, the day arrived for the ancient sects and the Modern Alliance to formalize their peace treaty.

Outside the Su family villa...

"Waaahh! This is a joke, right?!"

Su Bailian clung to Su Muwan’s leg, her oversized travel pack strapped to her back, her eyes red from crying.

"You’re telling me I’ll DIE if I go to the Primordial Sacred Ground?! How am I supposed to go now?!"

She was on the verge of hyperventilating.

Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.

Her past undercover missions had been risky, sure—but at least they were calculated risks.

No actual mortal danger!

But this time?

Su Muwan had casually warned her to "be careful, or you might get yourself killed."

And when Su Bailian pressed for details?

Oh, perfect!

Turns out, Qin Luo’s divination showed her future death.

"Waaahh! Su Muwan, you monster! I’m your sister! Your own flesh and blood!"

"How can you just send me—and poor Boqi—to our doom like this?!"

Still gripping Su Muwan’s leg, Su Bailian tilted her tear-streaked face upward, her voice trembling with betrayal.

She’d finally psyched herself up for this mission!

She’d packed her bags, resigned to her fate!

And now this bombshell?!

For once, Su Muwan seemed almost... gentle. She sighed softly and crouched down to meet Su Bailian’s gaze.

Reaching out, she ruffled Su Bailian’s hair—an uncharacteristically tender gesture.

"Little Bailian, stop crying. Do you really think we’d send you to die?"

Su Bailian froze.

That voice—so unlike Su Muwan’s usual sharp, mocking tone—made her hiccup mid-sob.

She stared at the woman she’d once despised as a venomous witch... and for some reason, her panic began to ease.

Right...

They’d had their share of feuds in the past.

But things were different now.

They’d both changed.

Grown.

Made peace.

Su Muwan wouldn’t... hate her enough to sacrifice her, would she?

Sniffling, Su Bailian wiped her nose and whispered, "You... you really have a plan? Don’t lie to me. I don’t want to die."

Even as she asked, her heart settled.

She trusted Su Muwan had figured something out.

Then—

Su Muwan grinned, her teeth gleaming, her eyes alight with mischief.

"Of course not! Go embrace your tragic fate, little sister~"

"......?!!"

Su Bailian’s face blanked for a second—before her eyes welled up again.

With a shriek, she lunged at Su Muwan.

"SU MUWAN! WHAT KIND OF SISTER ARE YOU?! I’LL BITE YOU TO DEATH!"

"Ow—! You little brat, you actually bit me?!"

"Damn right I did! I’ll bite till you bleed!"

"Are you even my sister?!"

"You’re sending me to die! Why should I act like one?!"

"Let go! Let go right now!"

"No! If I’m gonna die anyway, I’m taking all my years of suffering out on you first!"

"YOUR suffering?! Before Qin Luo showed up, I was the one suffering in this family!"

"You! It’s all because you stopped talking to me after starting your cultivation! I just wanted to get your attention!"

"That’s because you’re a harem enthusiast!"

"What’s wrong with being a harem enthusiast?! Qin Luo might even like having a harem too!"

Qin Luo: "........"