Ye Yushi led Chen Tang to a secluded valley, a place somewhat distanced from where the other disciples resided, making it relatively tranquil.

Trees surrounded them, lush and green, with a simple hut nestled on the hillside, seemingly cut off from the world, connected only by a meandering, winding path.

Chen Tang glanced around and chuckled, "You’ve got quite the setup here, living in a single room, nestled by the mountains and water, with such great greenery."

Hearing words like ’single room’ and ’greenery’, which were somewhat peculiar, Ye Yushi wasn’t surprised; he could somewhat understand.

After all, having known Chen Tang for a long time and having lived closely with him for over half a year, he’d grown accustomed.

Sometimes, this person would utter strange phrases, occasionally even howling a tune, as if singing an odd melody.

When they first returned from the Celestial Cauldron Continent, on the merchant ship, he suddenly began to howl while staring at the vast sea from the bow, startling her, even disrupting her flute melody.

However, as she listened for a while, the tune was quite pleasant, the lyrics filled with boldness and grandeur, ending with a hint of desolation and loneliness.

Ye Yushi said, "I don’t like noise. Growing up by my master’s side, this is where I ended up living."

The house was built from stones and wood, its roof covered with blue tiles, appearing simple and natural.

In front of the door, a few orchids were planted, unassuming and quietly exuding a light fragrance.

A clear stream flowed by the house, its sound adding a touch of life and spirit to this quiet place.

After they entered the hut, Chen Tang took a glance around.

The layout was even simpler, with no excess decoration, just some essential living items.

Ye Yushi asked Chen Tang to sit down first, then went to the stream to fetch some clear, sparkling water, pouring two cups for him, saying, "I don’t have tea leaves here, only the stream water from the valley."

Chen Tang laughed, "Fresh rain on the empty mountain, clear spring on the stone; better than tea a hundred times."

Once Ye Yushi also sat, she gazed at Chen Tang without blinking, saying nothing.

Chen Tang gazed back at her.

Even though he was already familiar with her, seeing her each time still left him amazed.

The two stared at each other for a while, neither speaking, making the atmosphere a bit strange.

Never had Ye Yushi been so forward, causing Chen Tang’s heart to race a bit faster.

There was no one else here.

They were alone together, though after all, this was still the Ba Mountain Sword Sect, making it slightly thrilling...

"Sigh."

While Chen Tang was lost in thought, Ye Yushi sighed softly, breaking the stillness.

"You’re actually not dead."

"Hm?"

Chen Tang stared at Ye Yushi.

What kind of talk was that?

The slight warmth he felt instantly cooled halfway.

Chen Tang said, "How come it sounds like you were hoping for my death?"

"I originally thought you were dead."

Ye Yushi said, "So I planned to use your death to hone my sword heart. I never expected you to come back alive..."

"Using my death to hone your sword heart?" Chen Tang was surprised.

Ye Yushi nodded, saying, "After your death, from now on, I would no longer be moved by emotion, focusing solely on the Sword Dao, in hopes of reaching the realm of ’Sword Heart Clarity’ sooner."

"Sword Heart Clarity?"

Chen Tang murmured softly.

"Sword Heart Clarity is having nothing but the sword,"

Ye Yushi said calmly, but looked deeply at Chen Tang, "Yet now, besides the sword, I find myself entangled, my sword heart disrupted and flawed."

Chen Tang was taken aback.

Though they had spent half a year closely together, mutually interested, Ye Yushi had never truly revealed her feelings.

Sometimes, she even intentionally avoided the topic.

Unexpectedly, this time upon meeting, Ye Yushi spoke so candidly, unlike before.

"Yushi, you’re a bit too fixated."

Chen Tang laughed, "Actually, honing the sword heart doesn’t necessarily require such a method."

"Are there other ways?"

Ye Yushi asked.

Chen Tang, recalling theories from past books, regardless of the truth, began to guide her gently, advising, "Having nothing but the sword is, of course, a state of mind. But I once heard of a Sword Dao Grandmaster, who shattered the void through the Sword Dao, relying on another state of mind."

"Only through extreme emotion can one reach the extreme of the sword!"

Ye Yushi was visibly moved upon hearing this, falling into deep thought.

Chen Tang chuckled inwardly.

Those words were indeed lofty. Even a Grandmaster would ponder them deeply.

"Is it true to shatter the void?"

After a moment, Ye Yushi suddenly asked.

"Huh?"

Chen Tang was momentarily stunned, not realizing it immediately, subconsciously responding, "It... should be true, right."

He intended to advise Ye Yushi that love and the Sword Dao were not in conflict, that even deep emotion could hone the sword heart.

He didn’t expect Ye Yushi, after thinking for a long time, to fixate on shattering the void.

Ye Yushi seemed reminded of something, her eyes growing brighter, "Chen Tang, let’s make a promise."

"Huh?"

Chen Tang was even more bewildered.

How did his words lead Ye Yushi’s thoughts to jump so far?

Ye Yushi stood, gazing into the distance from the window, speaking slowly, "Life spans just a century. Even for a Grandmaster, there’s no escape from such laws of life and death."

The power of a Grandmaster of Transformation Realm, though all-pervading, seemed to offer a lifespan of just over a hundred years.

Ye Yushi continued, "Even if one goes to emotional extremes, it is still just a century, fleeting. If ever there’s a day to shatter the void and glimpse the path to immortality, only then can we truly stay together forever."

Chen Tang asked, "And then?"

Ye Yushi, looking at the bewildered Chen Tang, smiled, "So, our promise is that a hundred years from now, after shattering the void, we’ll meet on the path to immortality!"

"..."

Chen Tang’s vision dimmed momentarily, unable to help but retort, "I’ve heard of three-year pacts, ten-year pacts, but you’ve gone straight for a century, all the way to the next life."

Even if both were extraordinarily gifted, achieving the realm of a Grandmaster of Transformation in a hundred years, half would already be in the grave.

As for shattering the void and the path to immortality, those were still merely legends.

Chen Tang asked, "So, what about the hundred years in between?"

"That’s up to you."

Ye Yushi smiled slightly, "As long as you remember, a hundred years later, beyond the shattered void on the path to immortality, someone will be waiting for you."

This promise was too ethereal, with too many uncertainties.

Chen Tang had many words he wanted to joke about, but at this moment, they suddenly stuck in his throat.

He noted that when Ye Yushi spoke these words, her gaze was resolute, her cheeks seemingly radiating light.

The worldly love, power, wealth, were ultimately just trifles.

They could not forge Ye Yushi’s sword heart. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Though shattering the void was just something Chen Tang mentioned casually, it seemed to unveil another realm for Ye Yushi, forging an unbreakable and indomitable sword heart!

The flaw in her sword heart had silently mended just now.

At the same time, Chen Tang understood another layer of this promise’s meaning.

Ye Yushi disdained competing with others.

No matter how many women surrounded Chen Tang, a hundred years later, they would inevitably grow old.

If the void was truly shattered, on that path to immortality, only the two of them would remain, walking hand in hand.