In the vision, Su Yunying wore a worried expression as she desperately searched for a way to ensure Shen Zhao's army could safely reach Huangquan Pass.
"Your Majesty," one of her subordinates said, "there's no need for us to get involved in this matter.
Commander Shen belongs to the Yintian Dynasty. If anyone should be worried about his safety, it should be the Yintian Empress, not us."
"Enough."
Su Yunying interrupted him.
After a moment of thought, her eyes suddenly lit up.
"Go at once and spread a message along every route leading to Huangquan Pass."
"Tell everyone that I possess the Xuanhuang Bloodline and am currently in Longyuan Valley."
"No matter what, make sure Lin Feng hears this news."
"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"
The subordinate was alarmed.
"Lin Feng is ruthless and treacherous. If he learns where you are, he'll stop at nothing to target you. Please reconsider!"
"I don't have the luxury of worrying about that."
"Carry out my orders immediately."
"If buying Shen Gege even a little more time costs me my life, then it's worth it."
"Your Majesty, please think carefully!"
The subordinate's voice trembled.
"I know you admire Commander Shen, but he may not even know who you are.
Is it really worth sacrificing your life for someone who doesn't even know you exist?"
Su Yunying smiled softly.
Bathed in sunlight, her smile was breathtaking.
She slowly took out three spirit crystals, looked at them for a long moment, then clenched them tightly in her hand.
"It's worth it."
"If Shen Gege hadn't helped me back then, my life would have fallen completely apart."
"That year... he saved me."
"He also taught me how to live with dignity."
"I made a vow."
"If I ever had the chance, I would repay his kindness."
"Even if it costs me my life."
"So go."
"Do as I ordered."
The subordinate's eyes filled with tears.
"Your Majesty... there are many ways to repay a debt of gratitude. You don't have to choose such an extreme path."
"Right now, everyone in the world misunderstands the Pojun Manor."
"They all think Shen Gege is pursuing fame while abandoning the people."
"Everyone is eager to distance themselves from him."
"That's exactly why I must stand up now."
"I'll support him silently... where he can never see me."
"I've already made my decision."
"Go."
The subordinate let out a heavy sigh.
Though utterly unwilling, he could only obey.
...
Seeing this, Su Yunying finally relaxed.
At least until this point, she had never done anything to betray or harm Shen Zhao.
That realization filled her with relief.
Meanwhile, Yu Xiyan's face had turned deathly pale.
She stared fixedly at Su Yunying, her heart in turmoil.
Why...?
Why would she do something like this?
From everything shown so far, Shen Zhao clearly didn't even know Su Yunying existed.
Yet she had willingly helped him from the shadows without asking for anything in return.
Why?
Unable to understand, Yu Xiyan turned back toward the vision.
...
The scene changed again.
Su Yunying stood atop a massive boulder.
Her body was covered in blood.
Her hair hung in disarray.
She barely remained standing.
Around her stood five figures led by Lin Feng, completely blocking every avenue of escape.
Even gravely wounded, her gaze remained unwavering.
Her head never lowered.
"Su Yunying."
"I bet you never imagined you'd end up like this."
"This is the price for opposing me."
Lin Feng looked down at her arrogantly, as though she were prey already caught in his hands.
"I'll give you one chance."
"Submit to me."
"Become my dual cultivation furnace."
"If you do, I won't kill you."
"I'll even give you unimaginable wealth and glory."
Su Yunying only sneered.
"Become your furnace?"
"Are you worthy?"
"You're nothing more than a pampered pet raised by women."
"A pathetic excuse for a man."
"And you still have the nerve to say something like that?"
Lin Feng's face immediately darkened.
Su Yunying continued.
"Compared to Shen Gege..."
"You're nothing but a maggot crawling in a latrine."
"No."
"You're not even worthy of being compared to a maggot."
"Shen Gege took the Yintian Dynasty from an insignificant kingdom and built it into today's mighty empire."
"His Pojun Manor is famous throughout the Nine Realms."
"And you?"
"Can you even accomplish one fraction of what he has?"
"Aside from deceiving foolish women into pitying you so they satisfy your selfish desires..."
"What is there about you that's worthy of respect?"
"In the end..."
"You'll spend your entire life beneath Shen Gege's feet."
"You'll never escape the fact that you're incompetent."
"Shut up!"
Lin Feng roared.
"Shut up!"
"Who gave you permission to mention Shen Zhao?"
"Don't ever say his name again!"
"If you say one more word..."
"I'll drain your blood."
"I'll rip every bone from your body."
"I'll throw your corpse to the wolves!"
Su Yunying laughed.
"What?"
"Did I hit a nerve?"
"Lin Feng..."
"Your entire life is a joke."
"Nothing you've obtained came through your own strength."
"You've relied on despicable tricks every step of the way."
"Other than wagging your tail before women for scraps..."
"Your life has no meaning."
"The real lapdog..."
"is you."
"And do you know something?"
"Even you coming here to kill me..."
"was part of my plan."
"Hahaha..."
"Lin Feng..."
"Don't you think you're pitiful?"
"Shut up!"
"Stop talking!"
"Die!"
"Just die!"
"Die!"
Having his deepest insecurity exposed, Lin Feng completely lost control.
He struck out with several furious palm attacks.
The other four attacked at the same time.
Five overwhelming blasts pierced through Su Yunying's body.
In an instant, she became a blood-soaked figure.
"Shen Gege..."
"This is the last thing I can do for you..."
She struggled to take out the three spirit crystals.
Her eyes lingered on them one last time, filled with nostalgia.
"Shen Gege..."
"I wish you..."
"a victorious return..."
"I..."
"have..."
"no..."
"regrets..."
The three spirit crystals slipped silently from her fingers.
They landed upon the bloodstained rock, shining brilliantly.
Even in death...
Su Yunying remained kneeling.
She leaned against her broken spear, Lone Goose, as blood slowly drained from her body.
...
The vision ended there.
Perhaps sensing Su Yunying's pain, the Kunlun Mirror did not reveal what Lin Feng did to her corpse afterward.
Instead...
Only a desolate wilderness appeared.
A lonely forest.
Pairs of wolves' eyes glowed green within the darkness.
Sweat beaded on Su Yunying's forehead.
Her expression was filled with pain.
But soon she let out a long breath.
For the first time...
She looked completely at ease.
She had never betrayed her leader.
She had never failed him.
Even in death...
She had stood firmly by his side.
The burden weighing on her heart had finally been lifted.
Yu Xiyan, meanwhile, was utterly stunned.
So...
Su Yunying's death in her previous life had been orchestrated entirely by Lin Feng.
She had willingly used herself as bait...
Ready to die just to buy Shen Zhao's army more time.
Then Yu Xiyan compared that to the way she herself had treated Shen Zhao.
The difference was overwhelming.
At that moment...
She completely broke down.
"Tell me!"
"Why did you do it?"
"What exactly is your relationship with Shen Zhao?"
"Answer me!"
Her voice became shrill.
She simply couldn't accept such an enormous contrast.
She had hoped the mirror would reveal some disgraceful relationship between Su Yunying and Lin Feng to make herself feel better.
Instead...
Compared to Su Yunying...
She looked like nothing more than a fool.
Su Yunying answered calmly,
"You want to know?"
"I don't mind telling you."
"When I was ten years old, I suffered from hunger and poverty."
"It was Boss who bought me my first full meal."
"He also gave me every coin he had."
"Among them..."
"were these three spirit crystals."
Those words struck Yu Xiyan like a bolt of lightning.
A single meal.
Three spirit crystals.
That insignificant kindness had inspired Su Yunying to willingly sacrifice her own life...
Just to delay the enemy long enough for Shen Zhao's army to reach Huangquan Pass safely.
Then...
What about everything Shen Zhao had done for her?
Whatever heavenly treasure she wanted...
He risked his life to obtain it.
He governed the dynasty until it prospered beyond anything she had ever imagined.
After giving her all of that...
What had she done?
Instead of treating him better...
She had hurt him again and again.
No...
Impossible.
This can't be real.
How could someone exist who would repay such a tiny kindness with their life?
Even if the person they were helping didn't even know they existed?
Thinking about it...
Yu Xiyan completely collapsed.
Compared to Su Yunying's gratitude...
Only three words could describe her own behavior.
An ungrateful wretch.
In an instant, shame turned into anger.
She drew her sword and pointed it at Su Yunying.
"It was you!"
"You're the reason Shen Zhao changed his heart!"
"Why did you steal my husband?"
"He belongs to me!"
"I won't let you take him away from me!"
"Why are you so despicable?"
"Why did you destroy the relationship between my husband and me?"
"Answer me!"
Without hesitation, Su Yunying summoned her spear, Lone Goose, and answered coldly,
"Your Majesty."
"I advise you to calm down."
"I never once tried to destroy the relationship between you and Boss."
"In our previous life, I never interfered in your lives."
"So don't blame your own mistakes on me."
"The reason Boss no longer wanted to be with you..."
"was entirely because of your own actions."
As soon as she finished speaking, Su Yunying froze.
"Hm?"
"Why... do I suddenly remember all of this?"
-----------------------
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(End of Chapter)