Yuyi opened his eyes, his entire body weak and powerless, as if he didn't even have the strength to lift a finger. Sunlight streamed through the window lattice into the room, and he realized he had been unconscious for two days and two nights.
The door was suddenly pushed open. Shaying, dressed in white gauze, rushed in, her eyes full of worry. She quickly walked to the bedside, looking at Yuyi's pale face, her voice slightly trembling. "You're finally awake. I was so worried about you."
Yuyi forced a smile, wanting to sit up but was pressed back down by Shaying's hand on his shoulder. "Don't move. Your body is still very weak." Shaying's voice carried a hint of reproach, but even more heartache.
"Shaying, I'm sorry." Yuyi said softly. "I've spent too little time with you in the past."
Shaying froze, then tears gushed from her eyes. The grievance she had suppressed for so long was finally released in this moment. She crouched down, burying her head in Yuyi's palm, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Yuyi slowly recounted his experience of being pursued by Xueji. Those seven days and nights of escape, every moment filled with the threat of death. Xueji's sword qi followed him like a shadow—no matter how he hid, he couldn't escape that cold killing intent. He had nearly fallen multiple times; if not for his profound cultivation base, he would have long since turned to dust.
"I thought I'd never see you again." Shaying raised her head, looking at Yuyi through teary eyes. "Do you know how scared I was these past two days?"
Yuyi reached out to gently wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes, deep guilt welling up in his heart. He realized he had been immersed in cultivation and battle, yet had neglected the most important person beside him. Shaying had always waited silently, never complaining, but her heart must have borne too much loneliness and worry.
"In the future, I'll spend more time with you." Yuyi promised solemnly. "I won't let you worry alone anymore."
Shaying smiled through her tears, tightly gripping Yuyi's hand, as if afraid he would disappear again. They looked at each other without words, yet it spoke volumes.
Meanwhile, in another courtyard in Youyue Valley, Xueji slowly opened her eyes. She had been unconscious for two days, her body still weak, her spiritual power even more severely depleted. Attendants carefully cleaned the filth from her body. Hanshuang and Yanxue stood to the side, their expressions grave.
Xueji sat cross-legged and began circulating her energy to recover spiritual power. Her breathing gradually steadied, a faint spiritual light rising around her body. Hanshuang watched her pale face, secretly worried. Xueji's condition was clearly not good, yet she insisted on keeping her appointment the day after tomorrow.
"Xueji, your body..." Yanxue started to speak but hesitated.
"It's fine." Xueji opened her eyes, a trace of coldness flashing through them. "Mere injuries can't harm me."
Hanshuang and Yanxue exchanged glances, both seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes. Xueji's character was stubborn—once she decided something, nothing could change her mind. The appointment she was to keep was obviously of great importance.
Hanshuang secretly sent people to find Shuanghan for snow lotus, and also sent people to find Feiyue and Shuanghua for Guiyuan Pills. Her heart was filled with contradictions—on one hand worried about Xueji's safety, on the other wanting to save Yuyi. She knew that when Xueji went to keep this appointment, she would definitely seek revenge on Yuyi. And Yuyi, now weak and powerless, was no match for Xueji at all.
Two days later, Xueji had taken the Guiyuan Pills and snow lotus. Her condition had recovered somewhat, and her spiritual power had returned to about eighty percent. Though her complexion remained pale, the killing intent in her eyes was even more intense.
"Yanxue, Hanshuang, prepare information on Youyue Valley for me." Xueji's voice was ice-cold. "I want revenge on Yuyi."
Yanxue and Hanshuang exchanged another glance, both seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes. Xueji revealed that she had been pursued by Yuyi for eight days and eight nights—this was a humiliation she had never experienced before. She wanted to settle this debt personally.
Hanshuang sighed inwardly. Yuyi's luck was truly bad. Having offended Xueji, he was probably in for a rough time.
Heartbreak Cliff, sunset.
Xueji let down her long hair, transforming from eerily beautiful to elegant and serene. She wore bright red silk robes, standing on the cliff platform like a blooming red lotus. Her opponents were a man and a woman: the yellow-robed woman in Emei Sect style, with unbound hair and delicate features; the tall man was handsome and cold, wearing Chunyang Sect robes.
The man looked at Xueji's pale face and frowned. "Xueji, your condition isn't good. Why not reschedule for another day?"
The woman sneered, "If she wanted to reschedule, she would have done so long ago. Why wait until today?"
Xueji smiled faintly, standing with hands behind her back, sword qi restrained around her body. She slowly raised her right hand, white sword qi rising in her palm like an invisible sharp sword.
"Let's begin."
The woman struck first, unleashing the Emei Sect's ultimate technique, the Hundred Flowers Sword Art. Sword light rained down like a shower of flowers, each strike carrying sharp killing intent. The man followed closely, swinging the Chunyang Sect's sect-guarding Three Pure Ones Sword, sword qi like a rainbow, directly targeting Xueji's vital points.
Xueji thrust both hands into the center of their sword forms. Sword qi collided, emitting ear-piercing sounds. Both sides retreated a step, the ground marked with deep traces from the sword qi impact.
The woman's eyes flashed with surprise. "Her spiritual power is damaged by at least twenty percent!"
The man also detected Xueji's condition. They exchanged a glance, their morale soaring. They intensified their attacks, sword qi crisscrossing, sending sand, dust, and stones flying in all directions.
Xueji's speed was extremely fast, her figure like a phantom. The two barely managed to neutralize her attacks but could never gain the upper hand. Xueji's sword qi was incomparably sharp, each strike carrying intense killing aura, making their minds unsteady.
"Careful of her Sky Silk Gloves!" the man warned.
The woman nodded, her sword technique becoming even sharper. But Xueji's palms attacked in rapid succession, extremely fast. The two, wary of Xueji grabbing their blades, seemed hindered in their movements. The flowers and grass on the cliff platform were blown away by sword qi, and the ground was pitted with craters from the impacts.
At sunset, the afterglow covered the mountains, trees, and rocks near the cliff, clothing them in beautiful rosy light. Xueji stood with hands behind her back, her expression pale, but the coldness in her eyes even more intense.
"Enough." Xueji said calmly. "You've withstood my attacks. The vow is lifted."
The woman was soaked in sweat, panting as she retorted, "You were clearly in poor condition. Why did you still keep the appointment?"
Xueji didn't answer, only murmuring to herself, "Next year on this day, this place will still be as beautiful as before."
She turned to leave, her voice drifting from afar. "Thanks to Yuyi. Otherwise, these two would never have survived three hundred exchanges against me."
Xueji's figure disappeared into the sunset, leaving the two looking at each other in bewilderment.
Xueji walked along the mountain path, complex emotions welling up in her heart. She admitted she had found an excuse. She had long lost interest in that vow, continuing to keep the appointments merely because she didn't want her opponents to live happily.
But Yuyi's appearance had changed everything. Those eight days and nights of pursuit had made her feel unprecedented pressure. Yuyi's sword technique was sharp, his will determined—if not for her higher realm, she might have already fallen to his hand.
Xueji stopped her steps, gazing at the distant sunset, a complex light flashing through her eyes. She didn't know why she wanted to thank Yuyi. Perhaps those eight days and nights of pursuit had made her rediscover the passion for battle. Or perhaps Yuyi's persistence had made her see her own shadow.
She shook her head, casting aside these distracting thoughts. Yuyi, she would definitely take revenge. This was Xueji's dignity, not to be trampled.
The sunset gradually sank below the horizon, and Heartbreak Cliff returned to tranquility. Though the flowers and grass on the cliff platform had been blown away by sword qi, the traces on the ground would forever record this fierce battle.
Xueji's figure disappeared into the distance, while Yuyi remained in Youyue Valley, staying with Shaying. Neither knew that a greater storm was about to arrive.
Hanshuang stood in the courtyard, gazing in the direction Xueji had left, deep worry welling up in her heart. The people she had sent had already brought back the snow lotus and Guiyuan Pills, but whether these could save Yuyi, she had no certainty.
Yuyi, you must be careful. Hanshuang prayed silently in her heart.