Chapter Sixteen: The Revealed "Truth"

“Oh? Let me see.”

After Xiao Chenxin finished speaking, she looked toward Su Yao.

Su Yao quickly hid the memory stone behind her back, folding her hands behind her, wearing a shy expression.

“I can’t let my great-uncle see it; it would tarnish my glorious image.”

Her words made Xiao Chenxin laugh heartily.

In the memories of her previous life, there weren’t many recollections of Su Yao, the Sacred Lord of the Yaoguang Sanctuary, and most depicted her as a figure of justice.

But after spending some time getting to know her, Xiao Chenxin dismissed that notion.

This girl is a troublemaker!

Her scheming mind surpasses anyone else’s.

If she were truly pure-hearted by nature, how could she possibly say something like “cutting the weeds to the root”?

And she even tried to instill this idea in me.

Xiao Chenxin immediately exposed Su Yao’s little scheme.

“What glorious image do you even have?”

“I’m your great-uncle; I eat more rice than you eat salt.”

“Let me see what other mischief you’ve been hiding.”

At that moment, Su Yao felt a little awkward.

Wasn’t she hiding it quite well?

Seeing that Xiao Chenxin’s smile didn’t waver, her tension finally eased.

It seemed great-uncle wasn’t too bothered!

She then took out the memory stone and handed it over to Xiao Chenxin, gently shaking her hand.

“Great-uncle, you’re so kind!”

“Unlike my master, who says that noble sects don’t use these kinds of methods.”

“We’re noble sects, not fools. Are we supposed to let others bully us for nothing? Great-uncle, you agree, right?”

Xiao Chenxin couldn’t help but smile.

“You’re absolutely right.”

After watching the images on the memory stone, Xiao Chenxin inhaled sharply and gave Su Yao a thumbs up.

“Ruthless!”

“I like it!”

...

On a dark, quiet night, Ling Hu suddenly received an invitation from Xiao Chenxin.

She quickly got up, swiftly dressing in the darkness, and then rapidly skimmed through the notes left on the table.

Just as Xiao Chenxin said, inviting her to the Yaoguang Sanctuary was only to teach her the way of a master.

A highly respected elder of the Yaoguang Sanctuary became her teacher, imparting many principles, all of which she meticulously recorded.

Her attitude toward learning was exemplary.

And her sole purpose in studying so diligently was clear.

She wanted to master everything as soon as possible, leave the Yaoguang Sanctuary, and appear before Ye Chen as a qualified teacher.

...

Now that she had a physical body again, no longer a distant, intangible spirit.

This was the surprise she had prepared for Ye Chen.

After reviewing the notes and recalling the lessons in her mind, she headed toward Xiao Chenxin’s residence.

This was also the trouble that came with having a body again; she hadn’t yet restored much cultivation and couldn’t move about as freely as before.

Just as she arrived at the door, before she could knock, she overheard a conversation inside.

“Let’s not tell Ling Hu about this for now. I’m afraid it would be too much of a blow for her, especially since it concerns Ye Chen.”

Hearing Ye Chen’s name, Ling Hu’s heart tightened instantly, and her hand froze.

What happened to Ye Chen?

Every time she thought of Ye Chen, her heart became restless, and her reason often vanished.

She secretly pressed her ear against the door, carefully eavesdropping.

Su Yao’s voice came through.

“No one expected Ye Chen to actually reject his master, sigh.”

Xiao Chenxin sighed deeply as well.

“Though they’re just master and disciple, Ling Hu’s feelings for him have gone beyond that. Even if it’s a life-saving grace, she should’ve repaid it after blocking that blade. I really don’t know what she’s thinking.”

“Should I be the villain and forcibly keep her within the sect?”

“Perhaps the elder can give her some emotional guidance; maybe she can still be saved.”

...

Inside the room, Su Yao secretly pointed outside the door, a smile playing at her lips.

Ling Hu had already heard everything; that was their plan.

Everything that needed to be said was said; now it was up to her to discover the “truth” on her own.

Su Yao stood up directly.

“Then we’ll follow great-uncle’s plan; I’ll arrange for the elder to speak with her.”

“What should we do with the memory stone?”

Xiao Chenxin deliberately pondered for a moment, then glanced toward the door before producing a prepared excuse.

“Throw it in the back mountain. If no one pays special attention, no one will know this stone is a memory stone.”

“After a month or two, once the spiritual energy dissipates completely, the evidence will be destroyed.”

“No need for any special handling.”

Su Yao rose, the hem of her skirt lightly swaying with her movement.

“Fine, I’ll leave now. Great-uncle, you should rest early too.”

Ling Hu quickly hid in the shadows outside the door.

She saw Su Yao close the door, flick her fingers toward the back mountain, and the memory stone traced an arc through the air before landing among the rocks there.

Once Su Yao had gone far enough, Ling Hu disregarded her appointment with Xiao Chenxin and dashed to the back mountain, where among many stones she found the memory stone.

She infused the little spiritual energy she had into it, and the recorded scenes appeared before her eyes.

In the footage, Ye Chen held a wine cup, wearing an indifferent expression.

“I just feel that a beauty far away on the horizon is unreachable; it’s just a daydream.”

When she saw this, Ling Hu actually felt somewhat okay.

As a devoted admirer, she had a thousand reasons to deceive herself—maybe he was just admiring the scenery?

Suddenly, the scene flashed.

Ye Chen stood at the entrance of the Fierce Beast Forest, and beside him, a woman tightly held his hand.

Seeing this, Ling Hu’s jealousy flared wildly, her broad chest heaving violently.

“How dare she hold Ye Chen’s hand!”

“They’ve only known each other for a few days!”

“How dare they!”

Already burning with jealousy, the voice in the scene dealt a fatal blow.

“Brother Ye Chen, I’m a little scared; the Fierce Beast Forest is dangerous.”

Ye Chen gently reassured her.

“With me here, there’s nothing to fear.”

...

Ling Hu’s eyes instantly filled with tears.

As a full-fledged admirer, she could accept a lot, even tolerate Ye Chen’s ambiguous relationship with Liu Ruyan.

After all, back then she had no body; even if she wanted to comfort Ye Chen when he was discouraged, she couldn’t.

But Liu Ruyan could, so she had to pretend she didn’t care.

But now she had a body, could give Ye Chen a hug, no longer an unattainable presence.

Even Xiao Chenxin had told her that one day she would give Ye Chen a surprise.

Yet now, while she patiently studied and carefully prepared that surprise inside the Yaoguang Sanctuary, she received Ye Chen’s betrayal in return.

Why should a newcomer steal her place?

Ye Chen should be hers!

They’ve only known each other for a few days; how is that fair?

The stars in the sky shone bright and brilliant, each tear sliding down her cheek struck the stone below, scattering like shattered fragments of her heart.

...

The next day at noon, Xiao Chenxin knocked on Ling Hu’s door.

“Ling Hu, what’s going on with you today? The elder came to see me earlier and said you didn’t attend your studies.”

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded inside. She opened the door halfway, revealing only half her face.

“Sorry, master, I…”

Xiao Chenxin saw the still-wet tear stains on her cheeks and understood how deeply she had been hurt.

But for a devoted admirer, this was a necessary step toward awakening.

She took a deep breath and said solemnly,

“If you have anything troubling you, you can tell me. As your master, I should care for your emotions.”

“If you want peace and quiet, I will leave now.”

“Don’t worry about the elder; I’ve already helped you get out of it and even arranged a five-day leave for you.”