The gloomy weather seemed to drape a melancholic veil over the peaks of the Heavenly Palace in the Central Continent. Atop the Red Leaves Peak, one of the 108 summits, the rustling ginkgo tree released its golden yellow leaves to dance in the cold autumn breeze, swaying to a tune that only nature could hear.

Beside the ginkgo tree stood a small house, where two figures could be seen. One of them was a man, who seemed gentle yet charming.

"Here, have a cup of tea." He gently placed a cup of tea towards the girl before him.

Wearing a tight-fitting robe that accentuated her proud figure, Chang Ai took the cup of tea and held it in her hand, but she didn't drink it.

"Thank you," Chang Ai said slowly, gazing at her boyfriend.

As a couple who had been together for two years, she could see that there was something different about Bai Yun today, something that gave her an ominous premonition.

Bai Yun noticed her gaze but didn't say anything. Having already known that Chang Ai had seen his abnormality, he spoke softly, with a tranquil tone, "We have dated for two years."

"Hmm..." Chang Ai clenched the hand holding the tea slightly, causing the tea to overflow a bit. The dark premonition in her heart intensified.

Bai Yun continued, "We have shared so many experiences together."

"Um."

Chang Ai nodded, feeling a lump forming in her throat.

"I also made a lot of mistakes during that time."

"Um..."

"Chang Ai, do you know why I called you today?"

"..."

Chang Ai didn't answer this time, but bit her lips lightly, as if wanting to nod but in the end, shook her head and said, "I don't know..."

Her voice was soft because she didn't want to admit it.

Bai Yun shook his head slightly, still seemingly gentle as before, and continued, "No, you are aware."

Chang Ai panicked a little, and her gaze staggered as she hurriedly continued, wanting to change the subject, "Xiao Yun, do you still remember that time we saw the aurora in the Icewind Valley?"

Bai Yun thought for a while, remembering what the girl was talking about. It happened in their first year of dating.

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"Well, I remember you wanted to drink wine that day, so you called me there, right?"

Chang Ai, who thought she succeeded in changing the atmosphere, smiled sweetly, "I was really happy at that time..."

Bai Yun also laughed and said, "So, your happiness is based on my troubles?"

His voice was still gentle, but it seemed exceptionally sharp to Chang Ai, who felt a bit suffocated. She never thought she would be so nervous because of a boy.

She couldn't meet Bai Yun's gaze as she stuttered, "No...I just wanted to see you." Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Bai Yun shook his head but remained silent.

Chang Ai had been on a sightseeing trip with her companions in the Icewind Valley when a sudden urge to drink the sect's exclusive summer joyous wine seized her. She called Bai Yun, insisting that he bring it to her, even if it meant traveling hundreds of miles. It was a vexing request, but he eventually left what he was doing and complied with the request in the end.

In a similar manner, Chang Ai often made such absurd requests even threatening to break up at times if he showed a hint of refusal. Such mind-numbing behavior confused him at first, but he eventually understood the reason for it.

Chang Ai was scared. She feared that he didn't care for her anymore.

To the rest of the world, Bai Yun was the fabled Innate sword body, while Chang Ai, despite possessing a rare ice spirit root, couldn't match his talent. When one person in a relationship outshines the other, it would breed the feeling of inferiority, so much so that they may subconsciously test whether their significant other still cares by making drastic requests to them.

While such behavior can create a sense of security for them, it often comes at the expense of causing trouble for the other person.

Chang Ai bit her lip, her eyes were red, and she seemed to be on the verge of tears. "You don't like me anymore?"

Bai Yun still seemed at peace, as he gently nodded.

"Um."

Suddenly, the temperature in the room dropped drastically, as the air seems to freeze.

Bai Yun didn't move, but he spoke softly, "Chang Ai!"

The voice brought Chang Ai back as she controlled the sudden outburst of Qi, as the room once again started to warm up.

The two sat in suffocating silence, Chang Ai biting her lip, trying to find the right words. "I...I know I have flaws, but I can fix them," she said at last.

"Thank you, but it's not necessary anymore," Bai Yun replied firmly.

Chang Ai hurriedly got up from the table and grabbed Bai Yun's hand, pleading with him. "Xiaoyun, why? Is it because we didn't do it? But didn't we decide that it was too early?" she asked, her beautiful eyes filling with tears.

Bai Yun's expression remained unchanged, and he didn't speak.

Chang Ai's eyes grew redder with desperation. "If it's because of that, then we can do it right now..." she trailed off, hoping that Bai Yun would change his mind.

But he didn't.

"No," Bai Yun said, shaking his head as he tried to remove his hand from her grip.

Chang Ai's grip tightened, and her eyes darkened. "I can really change," she insisted.

Bai Yun tried to loosen his hand out by circulating qi, but it was to no avail. So, he resorted to calling out her name instead, "Chang Ai."

Under normal circumstances, calling each other's names solemnly was reserved for either confessions or fights, but Bai Yun and Chang Ai were already lovers. So, what Bai Yun wanted to do was...

"Let's break up," he said firmly.

Chang Ai was shaken. She removed her hand from his grip and stood there soullessly, her emotions running wild. Before she could lose control and cause any harm, she turned around and ran out of the house.

Bai Yun watched her leave, his face returning to its impassive state. He looked down at his hand, which had a red handprint from Chang Ai's tight grip, and then at the spilled tea. "Tsk. The tea was wasted," he muttered.

Breaking up with a loved one typically leaves one with a maelstrom of emotions, but for Bai Yun, the experience was different. He felt nothing, for he lacked emotions.