The new hall master of the Netherworld Hall was hosting a banquet, and any faction with some reputation in the Demonic Realm had to show some respect.

Besides showing face, it was also an opportunity to gauge the capabilities of this young successor.

A week before the banquet began, the invited guests speculated whether the arch-enemy of the Netherworld Hall, Sky's End Valley, would attend.

Although the new Valley Master was a woman, her methods were thunderous, decisive, and ruthless.

She appeared gentle and unassuming, but when she took action, she showed no mercy.

Sky's End Valley underwent a complete overhaul from top to bottom, and its demeanor changed dramatically, hinting at a return to its former glory.

The invitation sent by the Netherworld Hall to Sky's End Valley was more like a challenge than an invitation.

While others speculated and concluded that Sky's End Valley would ignore it, to everyone's surprise, on the day of the banquet, the Valley Master actually arrived with her Left Envoy.

When Chu Liuxue stood at the entrance of the hall, the originally lively atmosphere of the banquet quieted down.

She traveled without an entourage, only accompanied by the Left Envoy. It was unclear whether this showed her absolute confidence in leaving unscathed or if it was a reckless move.

The Valley Master was not fond of smiling, her gaze always calm and unruffled. The world knew that this Valley Master Chu had lost her family at a young age, wandered for years, and suffered greatly.

Thus, she was reclusive and introverted, even if a great joy fell before her, she would only glance at it calmly and move on.

People said she was cold and eccentric, but they didn't know she had once stayed up all night to watch a flower bloom, finding joy in such trivial matters.

Chu Liuxue didn't care about the opinions of outsiders. Let alone these irrelevant people, she didn't even regard Hall Master Tan.

She simply found an empty seat and sat down.

The Left Envoy stood by her side, eyes lowered, silently guarding his Valley Master, not seeming like a talkative person.

Although the two entered quietly, without exchanging glances or words with anyone, their strong presence was undeniable.

The Netherworld Hall and Sky's End Valley had always been at odds, to the point where even the dogs raised by the two sides would fight each other.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

People couldn't understand why Tan Fang would invite Chu Liuxue, and were even more puzzled by her attendance.

The two involved parties naturally wouldn't explain it to them.

Some sects that didn't want to offend either side and tried to mediate approached Chu Liuxue to greet her. Chu Liuxue exchanged a few polite words but didn't engage in deep conversation.

Those proactive guests, seeing her reluctance to talk, sensibly refrained from disturbing her.

Gradually, only the area around them was empty in the middle of the banquet, like an invisible barrier separating them from the outside world.

Among the invited guests, some were already dissatisfied with Chu Liuxue and couldn't help but whisper, saying if she didn't want to come, she shouldn't have, why put on airs.

Before their friends could respond, another voice interjected into their conversation.

"It's an honor for Hall Master Tan that Valley Master Chu graces the Netherworld Hall with her presence. Guests are guests, let her be."

The guests who were gossiping were interrupted and simultaneously stopped their conversation, turning to find the owner of the clear voice.

Turning around, they saw a young man in fine clothes smiling at them.

The lights reflected on his handsome face, his eyes deep and dark like ink, unfathomable.

It was none other than Tan Fang, the hall master of the Netherworld Hall.

Being caught gossiping was extremely embarrassing, especially in front of the host of the banquet. The guests laughed it off, complimented the new hall master, and tried to quickly move past the incident.

Tan Fang didn't hold it against them, giving them an out, and shifted the conversation to other topics.

As he left with his wine cup, the guests breathed a sigh of relief and then realized.

Could it be that Hall Master Tan was speaking on behalf of Chu Liuxue?

This was more terrifying than the sky falling.

After some inner conflict, they thought, it must be a misunderstanding, definitely a misunderstanding.

Tan Fang's father was the enemy who killed Chu Liuxue's parents. The fact that they could coexist under one roof was already a miracle, how could they possibly speak for each other?

Compared to the aloof Valley Master Chu, Tan Fang was clearly adept at socializing, smooth and skillful.

He exchanged pleasantries with the other guests, finally reaching Chu Liuxue.

However, just as he approached with a cup of wine, Chu Liuxue stood up first.

Her eyes were fixed incredulously on a corner of the hall.

In the corner, there was a wine table, with someone drinking alone.

She recognized that face; it was none other than Xue Han, whom she had met a few times.

Shopkeeper Xue doing business with the Netherworld Valley was not surprising.

Chu Liuxue hadn't paid it much mind. But as she withdrew her gaze, she caught sight of another person sitting up on Xue Han's right side.

That person had been lying beside the table, which was why she hadn't noticed. He seemed unwell, his face pale, breath weak, his brows and eyes drooping, looking dejected.

Xue Han let him lean against the pillar behind him and handed him a calming sachet. He took it with one hand, using the edge of his wide sleeve to cover the sachet, then covered his nose and mouth, so the scent wouldn't be too overwhelming.

Chu Liuxue knew why he was unwell, because before coming to the Demonic Realm, he had to be infused with Soul Return incense for three days.

His appearance had slightly changed from her memory, perhaps using illusion to alter his features slightly to avoid trouble.

Not much had changed, and Chu Liuxue could still recognize him.

Footsteps approached, getting closer. Chu Liuxue didn't turn her head, still watching the person's every move.

She bit her tongue slightly, forcing herself not to show too much emotion.

She almost choked out the words.

"Our matters shouldn't disturb him, I thought this was our unspoken understanding."

The person beside her didn't immediately respond, but after a moment of silence, he turned slightly, looking at the person through the crowd.

"Parting makes longing hard to quell. I didn't want to disturb, but the yearning was too strong."

This might be the only sincere sentence Hall Master Tan would say tonight, amidst the false pleasantries and cunning words, it was precious.

Chu Liuxue believed he was telling the truth, but she still couldn't accept it.

"Chu Suiyan," she still called him by his past name, "the grievances between us can't be explained in a few words. Tao Mian is innocent, he only saved two unfortunate children out of kindness, maybe it would have been better if he hadn't saved us.

You called me here to support you, fine, but why involve Tao Mian? Do you think he'd enjoy a show of siblings turning against each other? Can you bear to cut his heart again?"

Chu Liuxue lost her composure, the unexpected encounter with Tao Mian here left her shocked and furious.

She had fought so hard to push Tao Mian out of the whirlpool, willing to keep her mouth shut forever, no matter how wronged or difficult things got, she wouldn't ask Shi Fu for help.

But all these years of effort were so easily ruined by Chu Suiyan, and Chu Liuxue immediately felt a murderous intent.

One of them, either she or Chu Suiyan, had to die, they couldn't coexist here.