Bai Yang's voice trembled. He could not believe that the master who loved him most would one day draw her sword against him. At the same time, he was truly confused. Could it be that because of Ye Chuxue's provocation, Master had taken things this far?
In the distance, Ye Chuxue's eyes flickered briefly as she concealed her shock.
Perhaps Song Wanníng was only trying to scare Bai Yang this time?
After all, her attitude toward Bai Yang was different from the other two disciples. Though they were all novice disciples, Bai Yang had been raised by her personally, into whom she had poured great effort. While Lu Nan Feng and An Ze were mostly led by Bai Yang himself. There was a clear difference between closeness and distance—even between master and disciple.
But this time, Song Wanníng's behavior seemed off.
Ye Chuxue's suspicion grew as she watched the drama unfold, all while trying to find a chance to escape.
Then she was horrified to find something pressing down on her body, heavy enough that every movement caused sharp pain.
It felt like her bones were breaking.
"Ugh—"
She gasped, clutching her fists tightly, her glare toward Song Wanníng burning with fury.
But Song Wanníng did not give her a single glance.
Her eyes fixed coldly on Bai Yang, full of sarcasm.
"You say you treated me like a mother? But you talk badly about your own mother behind her back, openly slander her in front of others, and even steal from her for outsiders? To have a son like you is truly a misfortune."
Song Wanníng lightly moved the sword she held, causing Bai Yang's eyelids to twitch violently.
"Master, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have stolen the pills, nor spoken ill of you. I really know my mistake. Can you please forgive me?"
Bai Yang's eyes pleaded sincerely, full of regret. He truly understood his errors and felt deep remorse. No one is perfect—why did Master refuse to let go?
Had she never made mistakes herself?
All of Bai Yang's silent accusations entered Song Wanníng's eyes—filled with appeal, but more so with confusion and resistance.
"Do you think the whole world revolves around you? That just by apologizing, everything can be erased?"
Song Wanníng scoffed, finding Bai Yang utterly ridiculous.
If that were the case, would he accept an apology if she killed him and then said sorry?
Apologies mean nothing.
The damage done can never be repaired.
"Bai Yang, since you joined the sect, I have painstakingly nurtured you, spending more effort on you than on cultivation itself. I raised you like my own son, treating you better than Gu Qingyuan, because I believed that once I accepted you, I had to be responsible.
As for your junior brothers, though I later had less time to teach them, I never neglected them either. Yet in the end, I raised three ungrateful traitors!
You all betrayed me for a woman, causing me great harm. From that moment, our master-disciple bond was broken! Don't you understand yet?"
Song Wanníng's expression was cold. Although her emotions had long settled, mentioning the past still made her heart chill.
She was no saint; on the contrary, she was passionate and fierce.
She dared to love and hate, and confront the darkest feelings inside.
Her words sent Bai Yang's heart crashing to rock bottom. He stared blankly at Song Wanníng, feeling the master before him was utterly strange.
"Master, you— What does all this time mean?"
His eyes reddened. He refused to believe that Master would completely despise him. Master had treated him so well lately, as if it were a dream. Falling from heaven to hell was no different.
"What does it mean? It means you are unlucky."
Song Wanníng's lips curled with mockery.
"Still, I must thank your good Luck. Without you, my plan wouldn't have gone so smoothly."
Her teasing eyes were completely bare before Bai Yang.
Almost instantly, the murderous aura in her body swept Bai Yang away again
His eyes filled with black demonic energy. Bai Yang gritted his teeth and glared back fiercely.
"You—used me?!"
All these days had been a lie.
All of it.
The shock nearly drove Bai Yang insane. The master he had believed in was fake too.
"Ha ha ha—"
He laughed suddenly.
Ye Chuxue was fake, Master was fake.
He had been toyed with and deceived by two women. Struggling to stand, his hand trembling as he gripped the long sword, his eyes darkened with hatred.
"I trusted you so much, and yet you deceived me."
A tear slid down his cheek. This was the second time Bai Yang cried since discovering An Ze's death. Being betrayed by the one you love hurts too much. He pointed the sword at Song Wanníng, stubborn like a child.
When Master lowered her cultivation to spar with him, he could never win, but he kept fighting with all his might, refusing to give up.
But this time, Master would never let him win.
"Bai Yang, I never thought you'd still refuse to see the truth."
Song Wanníng shook her head. Even now, Bai Yang failed to realize his own faults.
In his eyes, only he mattered.
But she no longer wanted to waste words.
"You have already fallen into demon. You should know your fate."
She did not even need an excuse to strike him down. Even if she killed him in front of everyone, no one would question it.
"Master."
Bai Yang suddenly grew cold, his tone icy. But if you looked closely, madness filled his eyes.
"You should know very well—you cannot kill me!"
He straightened his chest, showing no fear. Since the mask was torn off, he no longer needed to respect Song Wanníng.
She wanted to kill him?
Ha, in her dreams.
Had she forgotten he was a child of the Heavenly Dao?
If heavenly punishment fell, Song Wanníng would suffer instead.
Thinking this, his smile grew ever more smug.
"If you release me now, you might avoid being struck by lightning. Consider this my final filial act as your disciple. But if you stubbornly refuse and get struck by lightning, don't blame me!"
He looked like a petty man rejoicing in his own spite, no longer pretending.
Song Wanníng curled her lips and glanced back at Ye Chuxue, clicking her tongue.
"Ye Chuxue, look at the kind of people you fancy. Luckily you cut ties with him and broke his Luck aura, or I really wouldn't be able to kill him."
Her words left both Ye Chuxue and Bai Yang dumbfounded.
"What do you mean?"
They asked in unison.
"What do I mean?"
Song Wanníng smiled.
"You'll understand soon enough."
With that, her sword slashed directly toward Bai Yang.
This had long been a matter that needed settling!