“What is the meaning of this!?” one of the elders exclaims as, suddenly, there now stand three sects between him and Lan Xiaohui.

“Elder Li, please calm down first,” Elder Mo is the first to speak.

“Are you protecting this Zhu Xuelian, Elder Mo!? She killed my son!” Elder Li exclaims, his hateful glare fixed on my owner, even when he speaks to Elder Mo.

“That is not the case, Elder Li,” Elder Mo says. “But the protective formations are down, and if you do something extreme… many will be hurt.”

The other elders nod in agreement, but the disciples adamantly stand in front of, and next to, my owner. Even Mu Jingyu, who should have no reason for doing something like this — especially putting herself in danger, considering how important she is to the Frozen Peak Palace — has her hand resting on the hilt of her sword.

Lan Xiaohui looks at her, the obvious question burning in her eyes: why?

In response, Mu Jingyu simply smiles and then lightly shrugs her shoulder. “I am sure you had a good reason…” Mu Jingyu quietly says, after a moment. “I want to at least hear it.”

In truth, Lan Xiaohui did not know what, if any, reason she had. On the way here, she told herself time and time again to not cause an incident — to simply win the points and back off. She promised herself that there is always a time for settling grudges, but this one Conference wasn’t for her — it was for Yun Fei.

If she could win, and demand the Seven-Colored Rebirth Lotus as a reward, no one would question Yun Fei’s sudden recovery. Even if the Eternal Red princess could not keep her end of the promise — to cure Yun Fei — the wonder drug could do that too.

And all those affirmations and reminders disappeared when she imagined Yun Fei being hurt by those disciples.

“Then just let me crush her skull in my hands! That will do!” Elder Li exclaims, still full of rage. All of them are enraged to the point that they barely even look at Lan Xiaohui — that is to say, it doesn’t matter who is to be killed to satisfy them, only that they be allowed to vent.

“No one is going to hurt my disciple,” Elder Qin says, stepping forward.

“You will stop me, girl?” Elder Li roars. “You would dare?!”

“Dare?” Elder Qin replies. “I would like to see you try; I will send you straight to your son.”

“Everyone, please calm down,” Elder Mo says.

“That is right, let us calm down, we are making a scene,” one of the Frozen Peak Palace elders echoes the sentiment.

Lan Xiaohui remains still, observing the proceedings. In truth, she had not expected anyone to come to her rescue. Even now, she still held her sword at the ready, moments from deploying the Void Boundary technique — though to what purpose, not even she was certain of anymore.

At first, she wanted to kill at least one elder from the Seven Killing Swords sect, but now she no longer had any advantages. If anything, this interruption only made her situation worse. An angry Elder Li was simple to predict, and whether or not he was invincible, at least Lan Xiaohui had a chance to find out. But this close, if Elder Li wanted her dead, she could no longer do anything about it, or react in time.

And it wasn’t just Elder Li that wanted her dead. Three other elders stood behind him, and dozens of disciples. Some of those disciples even recognized Lan Xiaohui, but in this situation, they decided to remain quiet.

“Zhu Xuelian,” Elder Mo looks at her before Elder Li can speak again. “Please explain what happened.”

The worst came to happen, causing Lan Xiaohui to frown.

“Why did you kill my son!?” Elder Li asks, glare so hateful that Lan Xiaohui could feel his killing intent boring into her soul and heart, causing actual internal injuries.

The only reasonable card Lan Xiaohui had to play in this situation was to point out the existence of the Heart Sacrifice Sutra, and explain that because of this demonic art, she decided to kill them.

But such a claim would only backfire on her, especially in this situation. There is no guarantee that those disciples even studied that secret internal art, and accusing a sect of demonic practice — it was virtually suicide and simple to overturn. Who was Lan Xiaohui and what was her word worth?

As for admitting that she took vengeance because of Yun Fei — that was simply not possible either. In their eyes, Yun Fei is no one. There was no merit.

“They offended me,” Lan Xiaohui says, pupils dilating and her heart rhythm slowing down as if all her blood had been replaced by ice.

“What?!” Elder Li roars in anger. “Say that again, junior!”

Lan Xiaohui looks up, fingers tightening around the hilt of her sword. She could not see any other way out of this, anymore. The only way out was to kill them all; why beat around the bush?

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“Your useless son offended me, so I butchered him like a pig,” Lan Xiaohui says. “What are you going to do about it?”

“… You!!” Elder Li’s howling scream was akin to that of a dying wolf, filled with unspeakable pain and rage as Lan Xiaohui’s words cut him down to the core.

In fact, the words enrage him so much that even the other Seven Killing Swords elders have to hold him back.

“Zhu Xuelian!!” Elder Qin exclaims, unable to comprehend why Lan Xiaohui would say something like this.

My owner, also, never thought she would speak such words, but in this situation, she had no other choice. Deep in her heart, she was glad she killed those disciples, but she no longer held any ill sentiments toward them. If anything, the words she threw at Elder Li cut both ways. However, negotiation was no longer possible — words will not save her now — especially because the Seven Killing Swords sect also wanted to capture her.

Lan Xiaohui had spent so long in exile, and fighting for her life, that even her reasoning abilities have become twisted and skewed towards the most simple solutions, and in this case, I have to agree with her instinct.

She had sold her life and body to Lady Yue already — long ago, she had decided that she would do anything it took to live and to kill Yu Shun. Even though she did not like being rude, and causing unnecessary suffering, she would use anyone and anything to live.

In this case, it was either Elder Qin’s protection or Elder Li’s predictable rage. Only those two paths had the potential of seeing her through this day alive.

“You…!” Elder Qin hisses, staring at Lan Xiaohui, eyes wide, but understanding. She can read my owner’s intentions as if they were an open book; even the fact that she is being forced to make a decision.

“It’s not true!” Mu Jingyu exclaims. “Please… Zhu Xuelian; tell us the truth. Why…?”

“You…” Lan Xiaohui looks at Mu Jingyu, frowning. A tremor of concern, bordering on fear, strummed the lifesaving threads my owner wove, on the brink of being unrivaled by this pure-hearted and straightforward sword maiden. Still, strangely enough, my owner's affinity ranking for Mu Jingyu improves because of it.

Elder Mo looks at Mu Jingyu, then at Lan Xiaohui. “Zhu Xuelian, this morning I received an interesting letter; it said that you had a deep grudge against the Seven Killing Swords sect. Is this true?”

Lan Xiaohui blinks, then looks at Elder Mo. Without speaking, Lan Xiaohui confirms by nodding.

Suddenly, all the paths to salvation and death become unclear in Lan Xiaohui’s mind. What was the meaning of this? What letter? Who sent it?

“I see,” Elder Mo quietly says.

“What do you mean, Elder Mo!?” Elder Li asks, slowly but surely managing to get a grip on his overwhelming rage. “She broke the rules and spilled blood on the podium; she must be executed! Either by me or you!”

This was the one scenario that Lan Xiaohui had to avoid at all costs. As long as she could keep Elder Li enraged to the point that he demanded to deal the finishing blow, there was a chance; but now that Elder Li asked the lawfully appointed party to execute her, there should be no one to object — not even Elder Qin!

“Ah, in this matter, I am afraid I will leave it to your sects to figure it out; since this is a matter between your two sects, we should not interfere,” Elder Mo says, to the complete shock and surprise of everyone present.

The entire situation suddenly got overturned as simple as that. Was it because of the letter?

“The right to decide her fate should naturally fall to us,” a voice comes from above, as two figures descend from the sky, gently landing amongst the elders. “This so-called Zhu Xuelian is originally a fugitive of our sect. Therefore, her life is subject to our law.”

Lan Xiaohui’s eyes narrow, and her hands tremble, causing my vessel to rattle. Escape? Survive? All those thoughts disappear in an instant, replaced by a deep vulnerability and an ember of deep-seated, unfathomable hatred.

“Grand Elder! Young Master!” the elders and disciples greet Grand Elder Zhuo and Yu Shun.

Grand Elder Zhuo steps in front of Elder Qin and stares into her eyes. “Step aside.”

“Whether Zhu Xuelian is a fugitive of your sect or not does not matter,” Elder Qin says coldly, to the mixed reception from the other four Galaxy Sword elders. “She is a member of our sect now; so we will punish her.”

“No. No matter what, Zhu Xuelian will die here today, either by our law or yours, and her possessions will be transferred to us,” Grand Elder Zhuo says, and his demeanor is more than indicative of being willing to let this come to blows.

Lan Xiaohui stares at Yu Shun, her heart is dark and empty — but not like the last time she saw him. There he was, only a dozen or so steps away from her — not even looking at her, as if she was beneath him — but his cultivation gave her pause. Nascent Soul Ascension.

Was it even possible for her to kill him? And Grand Elder Zhuo was right there. Even if she tried, all she would accomplish is jumping into her own grave.

“If I am not mistaken, this grudge is between Zhu Xuelian and the young patriarch,” Elder Mo says. “So why not let them settle it? In a few months, this arena can be made ready for it. Until then, we will keep Zhu Xuelian imprisoned here.”

Lan Xiaohui blinks, shocked beyond words.

“Elder Mo, you must be joking,” Grand Elder Zhuo says. “Why would we risk the Young Master’s safety for such a frivolous matter?”

“We want this resolution,” Elder Qin says. “Grand Elder Zhuo, Yu Shun, and Zhu Xuelian were destined to meet in the Core Disciple promotion anyway; what difference does it make if they settle it here or then?”

The other Galaxy Sword elders nod in agreement.

“The difference is that she dies right now,” Grand Elder Zhuo coldly says. "There will be no other—"

“This is fine,” Yu Shun finally speaks, looking toward Lan Xiaohui. Slowly, the corners of his lips lift into a cold, emotionless smile. “My former betrothed was always meant to die by my hand. I wouldn’t let anyone else have the honor.”

“But…” Grand Elder Zhuo begins but is quickly cut off by Yu Shun’s glare.

“Zhu Xuelian was it?” Yu Shun says, glancing at her. “An excellent name. But the only blood you will bathe in is the bitter destiny and debt you owe to me; never forget who holds the reigns of your ultimate fate. The next time we meet will be the last.”

There is a crack as one of Zhu Xuelian’s fingers dislocates from the force with which she is holding my vessel, and as she watches Yu Shun’s back recede into the distance, she is not even aware of the pain, or the fact that her hands have turned completely white.

“Yu Shun… I will definitely… kill you!”

She wasn’t sure if she only chanted those words in her heart or if she spoke them out loud but everyone could see them and feel them in her hateful glare.

Zhu Xuelian has always been just a fabrication of my owner — an entity that was never real — but until now, no one present could see this, until this moment, when they saw the depths and escalating heat of that burning hate in her eyes, and the true reason for which she lived for this long.

Even when her hands are bound in chains and she is escorted to one of the prison towers in the city, that look in her eyes never fades, nor does she stop glaring in the direction in which Yu Shun left.