"Now you're pretending to be a good person? Is that for real?"
Ye Chuxue laughed aloud, then lowered her head and realized just how rotten this man truly was. He looked disgusting to even behold.
But with Song Wanníng's arrival, Bai Yang was saved from disaster once again. Meeting a master like Song Wanníng was nothing short of blind luck for him.
"You're talking nonsense!"
Bai Yang reflexively wanted to argue back, but his lips trembled and no words came out. Because everything Ye Chuxue said was the truth. That was his youthful ignorance—now he had come to realize it. So why was Ye Chuxue still clinging to the past?
"Master, it was I who was blinded before. I have since repented sincerely. Please don't listen to her provocations."
A flash of urgency crossed Bai Yang's face as he hurriedly looked at Song Wanníng. Yet Song Wanníng remained calm, expression serene without a flicker of emotion.
For some reason, unease stirred in his heart. He cautiously called out, "Master?"
Song Wanníng did not reply but lifted the corner of her mouth in a faint smile, glancing at Bai Yang with a hint of amusement.
Then her gaze returned to Ye Chuxue, sharp and playful.
"They are nothing but trash. If you have charm, take them all for yourself. I have no interest."
Neither Gu Qingyuan nor Bai Yang or the others were anything special—just ordinary people.
In the past, familial bias had gilded them. Once the filter faded, they were worthless. As for Ye Chuxue's smug pride in her charm—what real meaning did that hold?
Whether men liked her or not was irrelevant. Strength was the only truth.
Song Wanníng's heart longed only for power now. Those so-called worthless men would only hold her back.
Yet Ye Chuxue refused to believe Song Wanníng was truly that indifferent. She scoffed. "Song Wanníng, you are so hypocritical. You're clearly burning with jealousy inside, but you put on a careless act. Looks like you really are cut from the same cloth as Bai Yang!"
Her words grew crueler. Just as she tried to use Gu Qingyuan to needle Song Wanníng, a sudden slap came out of nowhere.
The immense force, filled with unshakable momentum, sent Ye Chuxue flying hundreds of meters before she slammed into the mountain and tumbled down heavily.
"Pfft!"
She spat blood, sprawling on the ground, her head lifting with a venomous glare toward Song Wanníng.
"How… how did I… I hit the mark… made you angry… right?"
She forced a grin, blood pouring freely. A single slap had left her badly injured and unable to get up. Ye Chuxue hated it with all her heart. How did a poisonous woman like Song Wanníng keep advancing in cultivation so rapidly?
While she herself trained so hard, why was she always pushed into a corner?
She refused to accept it.
"Tsk, those eyes of yours are truly ugly," Song Wanníng said softly, staring into Ye Chuxue's eyes.
A chill rose suddenly from the ground. Ye Chuxue shivered and immediately went on guard.
"What… what are you planning?"
Song Wanníng leisurely withdrew her palm and smiled slightly, but said nothing.
Instead, she turned to Bai Yang.
Though it was the same face and smile, Bai Yang felt an inexplicable unease. When he left, Master had given him plenty of ways to protect himself. He must be overthinking it. Bai Yang tried to comfort himself, opening his mouth to speak.
Suddenly, Song Wanníng raised her hand and delivered a fierce slap.
Bang!
Bai Yang flew back like a kite with a broken string. When he landed, every internal organ felt like it shattered. He lay on the ground, his pupils trembling, unable to understand why Master would harm him.
Not far off, Ye Chuxue was stunned, surprise flashing across her face.
Wasn't Song Wanníng supposed to care most about Bai Yang? Why would she treat him like this?
It seemed that she was mad at herself!
Hmph, she always knew Song Wanníng was jealous deep down, caring fiercely but forced to pretend otherwise in front of her.
It was all for appearances.
"Given so much by you, yet you can't even beat Ye Chuxue. You're truly useless!"
Song Wanníng's cold voice rang out again, filled with contempt.
She truly despised him.
Ye Chuxue had been relentlessly hunted and had exhausted much of her resources, yet Bai Yang still lost to her and almost got killed in the process.
The male lead aura was gone.
Tsk.
Song Wanníng slowly walked toward Bai Yang, her gaze growing ever more complex.
Bai Yang, for some reason, felt fear as Song Wanníng approached. He painfully tried to crawl backward. Master should be here to save him, but his eyelids twitched violently. He felt calamity looming.
"Master… Master, I… I am useless, I have brought shame upon you… I… I was wrong…" His voice trembled, his face pale, eyes reddened.
But Song Wanníng's eyes showed not a trace of mercy. Her calmness was terrifying.
Even Ye Chuxue noticed something was wrong. Her clenched fists turned white.
What was Song Wanníng going to do?
"Master… Master…"
Bai Yang was quickly cornered, a large rock blocking his retreat while Song Wanníng pressed forward step by step.
"You… you…"
He opened his mouth but could not find the words to express his fear.
Song Wanníng looked down at him as if staring at a corpse, emotionless.
Memories of the past life seemed to flood back.
Bai Yang had once led people to invade the Song family to force her out. When she appeared, he attacked without hesitation.
She had screamed herself hoarse in anger and questions.
He had been cold and indifferent throughout.
He had looked down on her from above, enjoying her shock, confusion, pain, and unwillingness.
At her most desperate moment, he had crushed her utterly.
Her pain then was unbearable.
More than her body, it was her heart that bled.
Even if her teaching methods were flawed, she had cared for and guided Bai Yang for decades. No credit, but no small effort either. She never expected Bai Yang to save her. But Bai Yang had personally killed her and wiped out the entire Song family!
Such pain, such hatred—she had never forgotten for a moment.
Blood color spread in Song Wanníng's eyes. Her numb face twisted into a strange smile.
Bai Yang's heart skipped a beat as Song Wanníng drew her long sword.
Its cold tip pointed straight at him.
In that instant, the air froze around them. Both Bai Yang and Ye Chuxue held their breath, eyes wide with terror.
"Master… what… what are you going to do? I… I am Bai Yang, I am your… disciple!"
Bai Yang was drenched in sweat, tears welling in his eyes. He could not understand why his master suddenly turned so cold. But he did not want to die. He especially did not want to die at the hands of his master.
"Master… I… I know I was wrong, please forgive me…
You... I truly saw you as my birth mother..."