"Are you leaving?" Su Ying repeated the question, her clear eyes brimming with disappointment.
Though they'd spent less than a month together, the image of this young man had already etched itself into her heart, impossible to erase. She knew he would leave, yet hearing it still stirred chaos in her chest.
"Miss Su, is something wrong?" Xiao Ye asked, puzzled.
"No… nothing." Su Ying bit her lip, forcing a fragile smile before turning away in despair.
Xiao Ye watched her go, sensing something amiss but choosing not to dwell. I wonder how the village fared, he mused. It had been two months since the three village chiefs and Xiao Yang intercepted Blood Wolf to escort him out of Qingyang Town. I hope everyone's safe.
News of Xiao Ye's departure spread quickly through the Su Clan.
"Young man, you've done so much for our family. Stay longer, let us host you properly," Su Meng urged, stepping forward.
"Thank you, Lord Su, but I have urgent matters to attend to," Xiao Ye declined politely.
Su Meng sighed, his sharp eyes studying the young man. He's changed… The boy before him now radiated an unshakable confidence. "The Gu Clan won't let this go. They'll target you the moment you leave these gates. Be cautious."
Xiao Ye nodded. He knew Gu Chuchen, the Gu Clan patriarch, was a Posterior Heaven Realm ninth stage cultivator—no small threat—but he wasn't afraid.
"The Vein-Purifying Pool must've granted you extraordinary gains," Su Meng added, his tone laced with unease. Xiao Ye's growth had surpassed even his wildest expectations.
On the Road
Xiao Ye left the Su Clan estate, the Flame Blade strapped to his back. His heart raced as he headed toward Qingyang Town. Home. My village. I must see them.
But fate intervened. Ten miles from the city, a familiar pressure suffocated the air.
He's here, Xiao Ye thought, turning to face Gu Chuchen.
"So, you've finally left the Su Clan," Gu Chuchen sneered, his aura exploding like a storm. For a month, he'd waited outside Su Manor, itching to confront this thorn in his side.
"You anticipated this?" Xiao Ye asked, unsheathing the Flame Blade.
"Of course. Who else in Wutang City dares follow you?" Gu Chuchen's pride burned hotter than his rage.
The patriarch lunged, his Mountain-Cracking Fist—a second-tier combat skill—cracking the air with devastating force. Xiao Ye countered with his refined Advanced Rupture Palm, the clash sending shockwaves across the plains.
Not bad, Xiao Ye thought, though Gu Chuchen's mastery of the technique far surpassed his own. Still, the Flame Blade's aura amplified his strength, narrowing the gap.
The Blade of Oppression
Gu Chuchen's face twisted as Xiao Ye's blade flashed—a casual slash that bent reality itself. The Blade of Oppression! Gu Chuchen paled. This was no ordinary strike; it carried the weight of martial intent, crushing his attack mid-air.
"Impossible!" Gu Chuchen roared, charging again.
Xiao Ye smirked. Time to end this.
With a roar, he reversed the Flame Blade, slamming its hilt into Gu Chuchen's gut. A surge of true Qi erupted, followed by a thunderous punch to the jaw. Gu Chuchen crumpled, defeated not by skill, but by the crushing humiliation of his own arrogance.
"You… you won't kill me?" Gu Chuchen gasped, clutching his stomach.
"Why bother?" Xiao Ye turned away. "I'm here to return the favor."