Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Not long after our parting in the mortal realm, Pei Yi returned with Qianqian.

I noticed the gloom between his brows had deepened.

Because of what happened last time, he no longer showed any of us a kind face. Upon returning to the Mountain Gate, he didn’t even offer a greeting, heading straight toward Master’s quarters.

However, Master was currently in secluded meditation. Unable to find him, Pei Yi took Qianqian back to his own cave dwelling and set up two new barriers outside.

In the past, when our hearts were one, we shared our barriers. These two new ones he established were outside our shared Spell Arts; it was painfully obvious who they were meant to keep out.

Pei Yi kept a very tight watch on Qianqian, as if terrified that one moment of carelessness would allow someone to harm her.

As for Qianqian, she was not at all as she had claimed-that a journey through the mortal realm had taught her mercy and great love.

When she occasionally appeared within the Sect, the way she looked at everyone remained the cold, inorganic stare of a wild beast.

In her heart, we were nothing more than food for monsters.

Those hollow eyes had no room for anyone besides Pei Yi.

I stopped paying attention to Pei Yi and simply focused on my own cultivation.

If Pei Yi wanted to degrade himself by entangling with a monster, that was his choice.

There was no need for me to wait for him or let him hinder my own progress.

What I didn’t expect, however, was for the Mermaid to take the initiative to seek me out.

One day, I received an invitation from her to meet at Hanyue Peak in the back mountains.

When I arrived, she didn’t say a word. She simply stared at me for a while with those blue pupils unique to her kind.

Then, she turned and leaped from the peak. This was the scene Pei Yi witnessed as he came rushing over.

In that instant, he nearly went mad. Without hesitation, he drew his sword and lunged at me.

I didn’t indulge him. I summoned my Lifebound Sword and engaged him. After a dozen exchanges, Pei Yi was defeated.

He looked at me, his eyes swirling with frantic hatred.

Amidst the howling wind, he hissed at me, “I didn’t break my engagement with you! She could never be a threat to you! Why do you still want to kill her?!”

I didn’t answer. I simply increased the pressure of my sword, drawing a thin line of blood across his neck.

I asked him, “Pei Yi, do you still recognize your own sword heart?”

Pei Yi froze, a flicker of dazed confusion appearing on his face.

But that confusion was soon shattered by a cry coming from the base of the mountain. That familiar obsession and madness returned to his eyes.

He jumped directly off the peak, rushing down in a panic. It wasn’t until he saw Qianqian, who had been rescued by the Junior Disciples, that he finally began to calm down.

“Ah Yi…” Qianqian called out to him timidly, lying half-submerged in the snow.

Pei Yi charged straight over and pulled her into a tight embrace. He was so afraid of losing her that even now, his arms were trembling slightly.

“Tch, what’s with the act? There’s a cold pool right at the bottom of the peak. She’s a Mermaid; jumping into the water won’t hurt her at all…” One of the Junior Brothers, unable to stand the sight, started to speak up.

I cut him off and led the group away.

“There’s no need to explain. He won’t listen,” I said. I looked back at Pei Yi’s receding figure as he carried Qianqian away. The black mist swirling behind his heart had grown thicker, already showing signs of manifesting into something physical as it crept toward his shoulders.

I gradually found my answer.

My coming here today was merely to confirm a few things.