Heaven Slaying Blade

"Huh?" Miao Yi Niang was taken aback.

Chu Yan and Chu Mo were also stunned.

At this moment, Chu Mo took out an elixir and swallowed it, secretly regulating his internal energy. He then looked at Sun Yifei with some confusion. Because at this moment, Sun Yifei seemed to have completely transformed into another person.

"You must be curious why I would join the Vermilion Bird Association, why I would walk side by side with my enemy?" Sun Yifei murmured, "I'm sorry, I lied to you before. Actually, there are too many of our past enemies in the Vermilion Bird Association. But when you forced me to answer... for the sake of pride, I could only answer you that way, because I didn't want to... really didn't want to... be a traitor to the sect, a villain who betrays my junior sister. Even if... that is the truth."

Tears flowed down Sun Yifei's face. She took a deep breath, "Even though I did something that betrayed the sect and betrayed you, I dare not hope for forgiveness. But I need to say that it was not my intention."

A sorrowful light flickered in Miao Yi Niang's beautiful eyes. She looked at Sun Yifei but did not speak.

Sun Yifei forced a self-deprecating smile, letting the tears remain on her face: "I know whatever I say at this moment is powerless to cover up my mistakes. But... I still want you to know the truth. I don't want... the truth to be forever buried under this worldly hypocrisies. I want you to know."

Miao Yi Niang still didn't speak, she just quietly watched Sun Yifei.

"Back in the day, the senior members of our sect sent the twelve of us into the teleportation formation. That teleportation formation is said to be left by an immortal from the ancient times. We can only use it, but we can't comprehend its true meaning. Hence, we none of us really had any idea where we would end up. You, my junior sister, probably understand the feeling of waiting for fate to decide our destination best," Sun Yifei said.

Miao Yi Niang silently nodded.

Sun Yifei sighed lightly: "At that time, I truly believed that I would leave the Vermilion Bird Continent and be far away from that land of dispute. So, when I came out of the teleportation formation, I was eager to know where I was."

Miao Yi Niang remembered her own past and said in a soft voice: "I felt the same way."

"But you were luckier than me!" Sun Yifei repeated this sentence again. She looked at Miao Yi Niang, "You arrived at the Azure Dragon Continent, you found a good man. But I... I never left the Vermilion Bird Continent at all; I was just transported tens of thousands of miles away from the sect. There, I met Hua Nan."

As she spoke, Sun Yifei cast a glance at the stiff one-armed man in her arms, her demeanor tender: "He treated me very well, agreeing to almost everything I asked. Only later did I find out that he had guessed my identity at first sight. Because his sect was also involved in the attack on the Piaomiao Palace. But at that time, he was not yet qualified to participate in that war."

Sun Yifei gave a small smile, her gentle gaze falling on Hua Nan's face: "He guessed my identity, but never asked, and never mentioned the word 'Piaomiao Palace'. That period was the happiest of my life. But... good times don't last."

There was a hint of fear in Sun Yifei's eyes as she recounted, "The senior members of his sect, who had participated in the destruction of Piaomiao Palace, returned soon. The news of the fall of Piaomiao Palace and the escape of the twelve disciples had fully broken out. The entire Vermilion Bird Continent posted a madly high reward for us. I could feel that Hua Nan was burdened, similarly torn and conflicted."

Sun Yifei smiled: "You know my temper. The disciples of Piaomiao Palace are not that timid. I fell in love with Hua Nan and didn't want him to suffer. Between the choice of loyalty to the sect or honesty to my lover, I chose the latter. I told him that I was one of the twelve disciples, and he could turn me in."

Yiniang sighed: "He didn't agree, did he?"

"Of course, if he had agreed at that time, none of these subsequent events would have occurred, and he probably wouldn't have died." Sun Yifei's face showed a trace of sorrow as she spoke. "He just smiled and said that he had known all along, but because he loved me, he pretended not to. When I asked him what we should do, he suggested we elope."

Sun Yifei laughed bitterly. "The world seems vast, but in reality, there are very few places where we can take refuge! Not long after we fled, his sect began to hunt him. These actions were motivated by a betrayal from someone close to him. Fortunately, he had a good father who held a high and influential position within the sect. He had found us before the pursuers could reach us."

Yiniang looked at Sun Yifei and sighed lightly. "His father took you to join the Vermilion Bird Association, right?"

Sun Yifei nodded. "Yes, at that time, only the Vermilion Bird Association could protect us. For the sect, the Vermilion Bird Association was a colossal entity, and they didn't have the qualifications or strength to defy it. At that time, I had no other choice. Either die or join him in the Vermilion Bird Association."

Sun Yifei looked at Yiniang. "I didn't want to die, so... I had to compromise. However, it wasn't easy to enter the Vermilion Bird Association, even if I was willing to give up the inheritance. It depended on whether the higher-ups wanted to accept me. After all, the Vermilion Bird Association had many powerful enemies from our sect."

Yiniang nodded. "Indeed, if they sheltered you, those people would be uneasy."

"Yes, it was Hua Nan's father who used his extensive connections and influences, exhausting all his accumulated resources to get us into the Vermilion Bird Association," Sun Yifei said in a low voice. "At that time, I was...completely lost. A man who loved me deeply, risked everything for me, how could I not be moved? So, even if it meant giving up my life for him, I was willing."

Having said so much, Sun Yifei seemed to feel somewhat better. She held the man in her arms tighter and her vacant eyes showed a spark of life. "With Hua Nan's abilities, he should have been a high-ranking silver-executor in the Vermilion Bird Association long ago. However, due to the secret machinations of some of his sect members in the Association, he was never promoted. This time, we thought that by acquiring your inheritance and taking over the business of the Gluttonous Pavilion, we could both be promoted to high-ranking silver-executors... I'm sorry, Junior Sister, please forgive my selfishness. I know I am unworthy of addressing you as junior sister. But... Can you not harbor a grudge against a dying person?"

"Why bother..." Yiniang sighed as she looked at Sun Yifei. "I didn't say I was going to kill you. You should go, whether it is to the Black Tortoise Continent or the White Tiger Continent. No matter what, just leave here and stay as far away as possible. All past grievances have nothing to do with you from now on."

Sun Yifei stared blankly at Yiniang for a long time, then at Chu Yan and Chu Mo who didn't react. Finally, she shook her head and said with a bitter smile. "As I said, you are still that proud and kind-hearted little girl. Your greatest luck is your good fortune. Because of your fate, you can choose to stay true to your heart, unlike me... I'm not so lucky."

"Hua Nan loved me madly, but he... did not really respect my opinions, and he was very stubborn. In fact, we had multiple opportunities to retire completely during these years, but alas... let's not talk about this anymore. Let me remind you of one last thing. The Vermilion Bird Association won't take the murder of a golden elder lightly. Although the Azure Dragon Hall is here, and the Vermilion Bird Association won't go too far, they will still try to assassinate you. Also, beware of Hua Nan's father. When he finds out his son died here, he will go mad."

As she spoke, Sun Yifei took out a ring and threw it to Yiniang, saying softly, "This is my inheritance. What I gave away back then... was a counterfeit! I secretly made changes to several parts. Hehe, without eight or ten years, those people wouldn't find out at all. This is the only time I've done right by my sect. My dear junior sister, I have a final request. Please bury us together... Thank you!"

"Sister, don't die..." Unable to hold back her tears any longer, Yiniang took the ring and the word 'sister' slipped from her lips.

"Good little sister, I'm sorry! I was wrong, and this is the retribution I deserve! Hua Nan... wait for me, I am coming to you!" As Sun Yifei spoke, her eyes bulged, then blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. She had breathed her last, her body going limp... collapsing onto Hua Nan.

"Sister..." Tears blurred Yiniang's vision. A variety of emotions surged in her heart, making it difficult to articulate her feelings of love and resentment. Her heart ached tremendously. Yiniang sobbed uncontrollably, crying like a child.

Chu Mo and Chu Yan remained silent. (To be continued. If you like this book, please visit qidian.com to vote and support the author. Your support is my greatest motivation. You can also visit m.qidian.com on your mobile for reading.)