Chunlan and Qiuyue had to forcibly restrain themselves from acting out, their faces dark as they led her into the living room. Xie Xiaoyan was as beautiful as ever, as vibrant as a blooming flower. Her cheeks were fair and tender, her red lips luscious, the curve of her chin soft, and her nose bridge elegant and straight. Her long, silky black hair was not tied up but cascaded over her sharp, delicate shoulders. She wore a pristine white robe that cinched around a waist so slender it could be encircled by a single hand. Deep within her limpid, autumn-water eyes, a hint of loneliness was hidden. She forced a smile at Ling Xiao.

"I bet you never thought I’d appear before you again, did you?" Xie Xiaoyan initiated the conversation, her tone soft.

"What do you want?" Ling Xiao said indifferently. A strange emotion welled up from the bottom of his heart—part longing, part inferiority... but he couldn’t muster much resentment. A bitter feeling arose in Ling Xiao’s heart. ’To think the previous owner of this body was so deeply in love with Xie Xiaoyan.’ A thought suddenly occurred to Ling Xiao: ’No wonder Ling Tianxiao was so heavy-handed back then. He was probably just furious with his son!’

"I know what I did hurt you deeply. And my actions afterward rubbed salt in the wound again and again. So I’m not here to ask for your forgiveness..." A layer of mist suddenly clouded Xie Xiaoyan’s bright eyes. "Ever since I was little, I’ve been the genius of the family. Everyone doted on me, treating me like the apple of their eye. I got whatever I wanted; no one ever refused me. To be honest, I was just a spoiled child. So, when I learned... that I was going to marry a Celestial Vein Master, my first reaction was to resist!"

"What does that have to do with me?" Ling Xiao glanced at Xie Xiaoyan coolly. "You didn’t come here to reminisce about your childhood, did you? If so... then I’m sorry, but I’m not in the mood to listen."

"No, you... just let me finish, please?" A single tear slid from the corner of Xie Xiaoyan’s eye, but she didn’t wipe it away. With a self-deprecating, bitter smile, she said, "Perhaps... this is the last time I’ll ever speak with you. We’ll likely never meet again. We’re destined to become people of two different worlds. So, there are some things I want to say to you all at once."

"Fine. Go on," Ling Xiao sighed softly, gesturing for Xie Xiaoyan to sit down.

Xie Xiaoyan smiled gratefully and continued, "I hated my father. I hated him for betrothing me to someone else without asking how I felt. As for you, from the day we met, I only felt hatred, nothing else. Looking back, you were a very good person. After we got to know each other, you always gave in to me and indulged my spoiled temper. It’s just a shame that the better you were to me, the more I looked down on you. I felt... hehe. Eventually, I fell into a state of anguish. Just seeing you made me feel like I was going to lose my mind. So, one day, I finally lost control and did... that. Afterward, I was scared. I was scared it would be exposed. I was scared of being mocked and despised by everyone. I was scared that my reputation as a ’genius girl’ would be replaced with ’shameless woman’..." As Xie Xiaoyan spoke, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

"Is that all?" Ling Xiao’s heart suddenly grew agitated. To the current Ling Xiao, Xie Xiaoyan had nothing to do with him. But he had once sworn to get justice for the original owner of this body. Cultivators valued promises and believed in karma above all else. Therefore, Ling Xiao wanted no further entanglement with this woman. Steeling his heart, he said, "You said you weren’t here to ask for forgiveness, so why are you saying all this?"

Xie Xiaoyan gave a bitter smile and said, "Yes. Although I say I’m not asking for your forgiveness, I believe the torment this has caused me in my heart is no less than yours. Ling Xiao, did you know that when you defeated Qin Kang of the Bauhinia Clan, I even wanted to join forces with him against you... I’m despicable, aren’t I? But I was truly afraid. You changed so much after that incident. The old me was so naive, so blind. But that’s all in the past. We... are enemies now."

When Ling Xiao heard the word "enemies," it was as if a needle had pierced his heart, a sharp, stinging pain. His face paled slightly, and he frowned, shouting softly, "That’s enough!"

Seeing Ling Xiao finally angered, Xie Xiaoyan felt neither fear nor sadness. A brilliant smile bloomed on her tear-streaked face, seeming to light up the entire room. "You’re still you!"

With that, she stood up, her eyes filled with gentleness. "I’m sorry. Whether you accept my apology or not, I have to say it. I was wrong, and I regret it. It’s enough that only you have heard this. One day, when I... when I have the courage, I will tell the world the truth. Now, for the main reason I came to see you today. Don’t go to Penzes City. The Beastmen aren’t the danger; the Southern King would never allow the Beast Race to attack Penzes City! The real danger... is that you’ve been targeted! You have to believe me! The ones who’ve targeted you aren’t ordinary people. They... sigh. I’m sure you’ve heard of the ancient families and sects on the continent. A lot of people are interested in you now. So, whatever you do, don’t leave the Imperial Academy. I’m not asking you to forgive me, but I hope you can live a good life and become strong! I made my own mistakes, and I must bear the consequences. Otherwise, how could I live up to my title as a ’genius girl’!"

The tear tracks on Xie Xiaoyan’s face were still wet, yet she wore a proud expression. "From this day forward, I will also truly be myself. Ling Xiao, I hope you grow strong. When that time comes, even if you kill me, I will have no complaints."

Hearing Xie Xiaoyan’s final warning, Ling Xiao suddenly felt he had some understanding of her actions today. He shook his head faintly. "I have my own plans for what I do. You should go. I don’t want to see you again. The harm you caused the Ling Family can’t be smoothed over with just a few words. Perhaps if I don’t see you, I won’t be reminded of it."

Xie Xiaoyan pressed her thin lips together tightly and gave Ling Xiao one last deep look. Her expression gradually returned to calm. She took a handkerchief from her robes and carefully wiped the tears from her face, then gave a serene smile. She had said all she needed to say, and her heart had calmed. She turned to leave. When she reached the doorway, she paused slightly and tilted her head, but ultimately, she didn’t look back.

Chunlan wore a disdainful expression and pouted slightly. "What kind of person is she? The moment she sees the Young Master has grown stronger, she comes running over to cry and say she regrets it and is scared. Hmph. It’s only because the Young Master is kind-hearted. If it were me, I’d have given her a vicious tongue-lashing!"

Behind her, Qiuyue had a thoughtful look on her face. She said softly, "Somehow I feel there was a hidden meaning in her words. Young Master... what do you think?"

Ling Xiao chuckled. "Xie Xiaoyan has probably been accepted into some major sect. But that has nothing to do with us!"

"Right! I support the Young Master! I just don’t like her. She’s so two-faced! If she knew it would come to this, why did she do it in the first place? Her methods were so despicable. Qiuyue, have you forgotten the ridicule we faced when we first came to the Imperial Academy?" Chunlan looked indignant, clearly still holding a grudge about their past circumstances.

Qiuyue, however, just smiled gently. Her temperament was milder, not fiery like Chunlan’s. Although she too believed deep down that Xie Xiaoyan had gone too far back then, seeing her like this today made her feel a bit of sympathy. It was truly a sad thing to not be in control of one’s own destiny. However, this didn’t mean Qiuyue could forgive her in her heart. She would never forgive anyone who hurt her Young Master.

Ling Xiao smiled but said nothing. Just then, Shangguan Yutong and Ye Wen Ni arrived together. When the little female thief saw Ling Xiao, her pretty eyes lit up. "I hear you’re going to your fief?"

Shangguan Yutong’s bright eyes were also on Ling Xiao. The two had just returned from Marshal Qiu’s place. Although her body had fully recovered, Marshal Qiu had grown accustomed to living there and had refused the new residence offered by His Majesty the King, choosing to remain where he was.

Ling Xiao looked at Ye Wen Ni, whose disposition was slowly changing to become ever more noble, and said with a smile, "What, are you here to persuade me not to go, too?"

"Why would I persuade you? I’m just here to tell you, whenever you leave, take me with you!" Ye Wen Ni said nonchalantly.

Shangguan Yutong was taken aback and thought with some annoyance, ’This girl, how could she change her mind the moment she saw Ling Xiao? A minute ago, we agreed to persuade him not to go to his fief.’

But then, thinking about what Marshal Qiu had said, Shangguan Yutong also gave up on the idea of persuading Ling Xiao. She said with a hint of helplessness, "Elder Qiu already figured you’d be leaving. He told me to tell you to take Uncle Fu with you when you go."

Ling Xiao paused, just now recalling the old man at Elder Qiu’s place who seemed to tremble when he walked. ’Uncle Fu is so old,’ he thought, ’what am I supposed to do with him?’

Shangguan Yutong said with a smile, "You don’t know, do you? Uncle Fu is a First Rank Demon Sword Master! He grew up with Elder Qiu and has been by his side all these years. He was once the captain of Elder Qiu’s personal guard. After Elder Qiu was poisoned and fell ill, he refused the position of General offered by His Majesty the King and has lived in seclusion with Elder Qiu ever since, taking care of him. Actually, a lot of people know about this. For you, Elder Qiu is actually willing to let him leave. Ling Xiao, you have some serious clout!"

Ling Xiao smiled wryly. Although his own strength hadn’t been very high, he had always been confident in his ability to judge people. He never expected to be so wrong about Uncle Fu. To think he was actually a hidden master!

"Elder Qiu is too kind. To have Uncle Fu suffer along with me at his age..." Ling Xiao didn’t refuse. He was a Demon Sword Master! Only a madman would say no. Ling Xiao planned to travel to Penzes City in disguise, but having a Demon Sword Master by his side would certainly make things much safer!

Shangguan Yutong rolled her pretty eyes at Ling Xiao. "I really don’t know what you’re thinking. Things are perfectly fine here, so why must you go to the south? Can’t you give people less to worry about?"

Ling Xiao felt a slight ripple from his Space Ring and gave another wry smile. ’I have too many secrets. How can I possibly stay here and wait to be exposed? At least in the south, I can focus on my Cultivation in peace.’

’Those people who are interested in me?’ Ling Xiao sneered inwardly. ’They can go look for me in the Penzes Swamp.’

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Alright, this novel is now premium. I’ll be releasing at least 10,000 words a day as a baseline. If you want Xiaodao to go even crazier, hit me with those monthly tickets!!!! (To be continued. If you want to know what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com. There are more Chapters, so please support the author and read the official version!)