A flash of blood-red flickered in Mo Yuan's eyes. He looked at Song Wanníng with shock and disappointment, full of unwillingness and stubbornness. He wanted Song Wanníng to tell him it was all a lie. That Ye Chuxue was the one who had harmed him.
But Song Wanníng remained cold and indifferent from start to finish, offering no explanation.
Nor did she feel the need to.
She did not care about Mo Yuan's feelings, nor did she believe she had done anything wrong.
In their past lives, these three had never shown her any mercy.
So she treated them all with cold detachment.
"Song Wanníng, is it really you?"
Gu Qingyuan's lips trembled.
Had things not yet deteriorated so badly?
His Junior Sister actually wanted to kill him?
A bitter feeling filled his heart, but he no longer stood on the moral high ground to accuse Song Wanníng like before.
Song Wanníng shrugged, refusing to deny it.
Instead, she smirked with a hint of malice, folding her arms.
"So what if it is me? I did not come here to listen to your nonsense today."
"You—"
Ye Chuxue did not expect Song Wanníng's shamelessness and grew even angrier.
"Master, did you hear that? She admitted it. She wants to harm you!
I've told you all along, but none of you believed me! If only you had believed me from the start, would we have ended up like this?"
Resentment rose in her heart. At first, Gu Qingyuan and Bai Yang had even excused that bitch.
And what was the result?
They all suffered terribly while Song Wanníng grew more and more powerful. Her righteous anger filled the room, but Gu Qingyuan remained silent.
Mo Yuan stood stunned beside them, his gaze on Song Wanníng turning unfamiliar. Replaying everything in his mind, he finally realized that there had been signs all along.
But Song Wanníng had given him a sense of trust, making him unwilling to look deeper, willing to be a fool.
Now that the truth was ripped open, he did not know how to face it, his mind a complete mess.
"Enough."
Song Wanníng cut off Ye Chuxue before she could speak further.
"Stop babbling nonsense. I'm not here to reminisce about the past. As an outsider, Ye Chuxue, have you always thought you were different from others?"
Her sudden use of the word "outsider" drained the blood from Ye Chuxue's face.
"You—you—"
How could Song Wanníng know this secret?
Not even Gu Qingyuan or Bai Yang knew.
But Song Wanníng...
"Heh, I not only know you came from another world, I also know your luck is running out."
Song Wanníng chuckled lightly, scrutinizing Ye Chuxue from head to toe.
"I'm really curious what qualities you have to be chosen as this sacrificial pawn."
"Shh—"
Ye Chuxue's eyes widened and she covered her mouth in exaggeration.
"You were probably just a loser in that world too, right? So the Heavenly Dao sent you here to die, never caring if you lived or died, ha ha ha—"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Ye Chuxue's heart trembled, panic rising again. Her heartbeat raced, and her face turned pale.
"You should understand what I mean. I'm here to end the life of this invader."
The smile vanished from Song Wanníng's face in an instant. Her longsword slid from its sheath with a hum, radiating a dense killing intent.
The blade vibrated and flew out on its own, standing beside Song Wanníng with the tip aimed straight at Ye Chuxue.
The overwhelming murderous aura locked onto Ye Chuxue, freezing her in place, sending chills through her whole body.
Gu Qingyuan panicked immediately.
Though he didn't understand what Song Wanníng meant by "invader," he could not stand by and watch Ye Chuxue in danger.
He pushed himself forward and shielded her behind him.
"Song Wanníng, don't kill her. Kill me if you want!"
Gu Qingyuan's face was pale, but his back straightened like a spear. No matter what, he would never show weakness before Song Wanníng. He was forever the proud and aloof favored son of heaven, never to change. But his brave defense did not earn Ye Chuxue's gratitude.
Her mind was filled with fear, and Song Wanníng's words echoed endlessly.
Sacrifice?
Invader?
Abandoned?
Lower-ranked?
Each phrase struck a nerve deep within Ye Chuxue.
She clenched her fists, refusing to accept the truth.
But the last panic she felt was still fresh in her memory.
Her good luck was slipping away, her heroine's aura shattered.
No, no!
It could not be.
Ye Chuxue shook her head repeatedly.
She would never become a sacrifice.
Never!
Dark thoughts stirred inside her again.
Her shattered Dao heart could no longer be repaired.
The heart demon pushed back fiercely.
Within moments, her eyes glowed red.
Gu Qingyuan, with his back to her, noticed nothing.
But Song Wanníng clearly saw it.
The smile in her eyes deepened as she lightly moved her finger.
The longsword shot toward the two like a lightning bolt.
The sword tore through the air, cracking the atmosphere with trembling shockwaves.
Gu Qingyuan's pupils contracted.
Gathering the last bit of spiritual energy in his body, he counterattacked but was still pierced by the blade.
"Chuxue, be careful!"
He shouted urgently, turning in panic.
What he saw next would haunt him forever.
Ye Chuxue, whom he was protecting, ran without looking back toward another cave exit.
That was the escape route they had discovered in their last panic.
At this moment, Ye Chuxue fled without hesitation, completely ignoring him who stood in front of her blocking the sword.
Something shattered inside him.
Thud.
He fell to his knees, staring fixedly at the cave entrance, tears welling up.
He never imagined that the one he risked his life to love would choose to abandon him in danger.
Ye Chuxue had run away.
Song Wanníng did not move, only watching coldly.
All the words she had said before were just for this moment.
She wanted Gu Qingyuan to die.
But not just die—she wanted him to suffer pain, unwillingness, and regret until his last breath.
Hoping for a hero to save the beauty and feel moved?
Heh, she would grant him that.
Mo Yuan, who had been standing dazed beside Song Wanníng, instinctively wanted to chase after Ye Chuxue.
But after only a few steps, he recalled Song Wanníng's deeds and hesitated.
His expression conflicted, but seeing Song Wanníng's cold face, his heart trembled.
He closed his eyes, then chose to follow his heart and pursued.
He thought to himself, "At least this is repaying Song Wanníng for killing the Demon Sovereign."
Soon, the cave was left with only Song Wanníng and Gu Qingyuan.
The scent of blood filled the air, but the corner of Song Wanníng's mouth lifted in triumph.
Her mocking gaze fell on Gu Qingyuan with satisfaction.
The betrayer will ultimately be betrayed, won't he?
"So this is the kind, innocent, and egalitarian girl Senior Brother talked about? This is quite an eye-opener, ha ha ha..."
Humph, she must make Gu Qingyuan this blind bastard choke on betrayal!
Make him taste the bitterness of treachery!