The Flowing Cloud Sword Sect was situated amidst a range of spiritually endowed mountains. Clouds and mist wreathed the peaks, and celestial cranes called out—it should have presented the image of an immortal realm.
Yet when Liu Yunge stepped into the sect's main hall, accompanied by a figure clad entirely in black whose presence was as cold and biting as ice—Li Hanzhou—an indescribable sense of oppression and wrongness washed over them.
Inside the hall, Sect Master Ling Yun sat upon the main seat. His expression appeared calm on the surface, but deep within his eyes lurked a faint trace of obsession and fanaticism that was not easily detected.
Liu Yunge's fiancée, Junior Sister Lin, stood to one side. Her features remained lovely, yet her gaze toward Liu Yunge carried a chilling "pity" and an unquestionable "persistence."
That excessively favored junior brother, Zhao Yan, stood on the other side, head lowered, wearing an appearance of meek gentleness and pitiable helplessness.
"Yunge, you've returned." Ling Yun spoke, his voice flat and revealing no emotion—neither joy nor anger—as if Liu Yunge had simply returned from a journey, rather than having defected for ten years. "And this person is?"
His gaze fell upon Li Hanzhou, carrying a hint of scrutiny and wariness. Li Hanzhou's aura was unfathomably deep, instinctively making him uneasy.
Liu Yunge took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil within. He spoke in a low voice: "Master, this is Elder Li Hanzhou of the Heavenly Alliance's Immortal Spirit Holy Land."
"Heavenly Alliance Elder?" Ling Yun's brows furrowed slightly, a trace of displeasure flashing through his eyes. "Yunge, our sect's internal affairs—why must we trouble the Heavenly Alliance to intervene? You left without permission for ten years, and now upon your return, you bring an outsider to question your master?"
Junior Sister Lin also stepped forward, her tone gentle yet carrying a strange note of reproach: "Senior Brother Yunge, how could you be like this? Master has been thinking of you all these years. Do you know how worried Master and Junior Brother Yan were during your willful departure?"
Liu Yunge looked at these two people, and the last shred of illusion in his heart completely shattered.
He gave a bitter smile. "Thinking of me? Worried? You mean thinking about when my Heaven-grade Wind Spirit Root could be given to Zhao Yan, right?"
These words caused the atmosphere in the hall to suddenly freeze!
Ling Yun's face instantly darkened. "Presumptuous! Cease your slander!"
Junior Sister Lin's face paled slightly, yet she forced herself to remain composed. "Senior Brother, how... how could you think such things of us? We... we are all doing this for your own good, for Junior Brother Yan's good, and for the sect's future!"
"For my own good?" Liu Yunge seemed to have heard the greatest joke in the world. He pointed at Zhao Yan. "For my own good means gouging out my spirit root to give to him? Making me into a complete cripple?!"
"Senior Brother! You've misunderstood!" Zhao Yan spoke up at just the right moment, his voice carrying a sobbing tone. His eyes instantly reddened, wearing the appearance of someone who had suffered a tremendous injustice. "Senior Brother, I... I never wanted your spirit root! Truly! It's all Master and Senior Sister... they care about me too much... Senior Brother, I don't want the spirit root. I just want Senior Brother to be happy! Truly!"
He spoke with such sincerity, tears flowing on command—his acting skills were impeccable.
Watching him like this, Liu Yunge felt only a wave of nausea.
Ling Yun, however, seemed deeply moved by Zhao Yan's "kindness" and "grievance." He said to Liu Yunge with pained disappointment: "Yunge! Look at that! See how kind and sensible Yan'er is! He thinks of you in everything, yet you suspect him like this, question your master! You have disappointed me greatly!"
Junior Sister Lin also added with teary eyes: "That's right, Senior Brother. Junior Brother Yan has a pure and kind heart. He has never harbored any intention to harm you. We... we only hope you can fulfill this kindness. The sect will remember your contribution! We will... we will take good care of you for the rest of your life!"
"Take care of me?" Liu Yunge's voice was bone-chillingly cold as his gaze swept over his master and fiancée. "One of you is my master—the grace of teaching me is weightier than a mountain! The other is my childhood sweetheart, my long-betrothed dao companion! You keep claiming it's for my own good, that you'll take care of me... Then let me ask you—in your hearts, is there even the slightest bit of genuine consideration for me, Liu Yunge?"
He stared at them fixedly. "Gouge out my spirit root, and I become a cripple! My immortal path severed, no hope of eternal life! Can your so-called care make up for all this?! Can it let me regain my dao path?!"
Facing this soul-piercing question, Ling Yun and Junior Sister Lin's expressions momentarily froze, but were quickly covered by an even deeper sense of "righteousness."
Junior Sister Lin's eyes gleamed with a self-moved, twisted light as she urgently said: "Senior Brother! You're only losing your spirit root and immortal path, but Junior Brother Yan... he's losing our care and concern! Without your spirit root, his dao path will be ruined! How can you be so selfish?"
These words—completely reversing right and wrong, utterly absurd—made Li Hanzhou's gaze suddenly turn as cold as a blade.
Ling Yun snorted coldly, completely tearing away the last of his disguise. His tone was ice-cold and heartless: "Even with your spirit root, Yan'er will always be first in our hearts! This will never change! As for you... the sect will remember your contribution of the spirit root and ensure you have food and clothing for life. This is already a tremendous grace! Don't be ungrateful!"
Naked, unreserved favoritism and cruelty!
Liu Yunge listened to these words—enough to make any person of firm will collapse. He watched his master's cold, heartless face. He watched his fiancée's self-moved, twisted expression. He watched his junior brother's hidden smugness beneath that pitiful facade...
He suddenly smiled.
In that smile, there was no anger, no sorrow, no unwillingness—only complete despair and... release.
He slowly turned his head to look at Li Hanzhou, who had remained silent as eternal ice beside him. His voice was calm without a single ripple:
"Elder Li,"
"Make your move."
...
[
Dear Readers,
I am currently posting two chapters every day along with bonus releases and early access to new novels. The workload is steady, and I am putting in the effort to keep the schedule consistent for everyone.
Right now, the financial situation is not great. Patreon support is what keeps this translation work sustainable. If you have been following the stories and want to help, joining a tier makes a direct difference.
Here is what membership offers:
$3 per month
10 chapters in advance of other platforms for all works, plus 8 chapters per week for each fiction
$7 per month
15 chapters in advance ahead of other platforms, plus 8 chapters per week for each fiction
$10 per month
Now get 30 advanced chapters instantly for the same price as the old 20-chapter tier. That is 56 chapters per month for each fic, and I work on 3 fics simultaneously. You can do the math on how much you are getting to read. This tier also includes access to character images.
Important note: Subscribing through the Apple App adds an extra 30 percent fee because of Apple and Patreon policy. Subscribe through your browser to avoid the extra charge. Apple also processes payments very late, around 2 to 3 months, which makes it much harder to receive money quickly after you subscribe.
If you can support, it would genuinely help continue the daily releases and early access content. If you cannot, reading and sharing the work is also appreciated.
Thank you for your time.
Patreon: patreon.com/Alex_Cruise
]