Fang Cheng Lang and the others flew forward in a daze, their faces ashen, looking like lifeless shells of people.
Even though they didn’t want to believe it, the sounds they had just heard were unmistakably caused by Senior Sister Zhou.
During the first two rounds of attacks, Senior Sister Zhou had already exhausted all the artifacts she could use. The only means left to cause such a commotion would have been…
Self-detonation.
This was the last choice any cultivator wanted to make.
Self-detonation didn’t just mean the destruction of the body—it obliterated the soul as well. Once a soul was scattered, there was no reincarnation, no future.
Someone couldn’t help but sob aloud.
The crying spread quickly until it became a collective wail.
He hated himself for being so powerless—unable to save Senior Sister Zhou or anyone else. He felt utterly unworthy of facing their master.
Clenching his fists tightly, tears poured from his eyes as guilt consumed him entirely.
In his blurred state of mind, he thought he heard her voice again.
“Second Junior Brother.”
“Ughhh!”
Zhang Jun could no longer hold it in and began sobbing uncontrollably. Amid his wails, he kept calling out to his senior sister.
Anyone who saw or heard this would have been deeply moved, their hearts aching in sorrow.
Many disciples, affected by his grief, also began crying out loud.
Ye Cong Xin, under the guise of wiping her tears, discreetly curled her lips in disdain.
Hypocrites.
Suddenly, a crisp smack echoed.
“Why are you crying? I’m not dead yet!”
The sudden slap nearly sent Zhang Jun flying. He staggered, turning around in disbelief.
There stood Zhou Jin Yue, hands on her hips, glaring fiercely at him.
Behind her stood Yu Zhao and Mu Ye, a disciple of the Green Wood Sect.
Mu Ye waved cheerfully. “Hi there!”
“Senior Sister! It’s really you!”
Zhang Jun was stunned, his joy overwhelming him.
The other disciples of the Five Elements Dao Sect turned around at the commotion. Seeing Zhou Jin Yue and her companions alive and well, they looked equally astonished.
“Grand Senior Sister!”
Zhang Jun, like a bird returning to its nest, threw himself at Zhou Jin Yue.
She was carrying Yu Zhao and Mu Ye on her sword, so there was nowhere to dodge. Zhang Jun grabbed hold of her tightly.
Annoyed, Zhou Jin Yue turned her face away in disgust. But soon, she felt warm drops trickling onto her neck.
Her stern expression softened. She gently patted Zhang Jun’s back.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Zhang Jun was too emotional to speak, shaking his head as tears and snot smeared across Zhou Jin Yue’s face.
She endured it as long as she could. Finally, with a swift kick, she sent him flying. “Enough already! Don’t push it!”
But the next moment, she regretted it.
Because even more disciples of the Five Elements Dao Sect surrounded her, all tearfully calling out “Senior Sister Zhou” as they threw themselves at her.
Yu Zhao and Mu Ye were squeezed out of the crowd.
The two exchanged glances and burst into laughter simultaneously.
Having shared a life-and-death experience, they had become true friends.
Looking back at the thrilling rescue earlier, Yu Zhao still felt lingering fear.
If they had been a moment too late, Zhou Jin Yue would have perished along with the Scarlet Flame Lion.
She had nearly lost such a wonderful senior sister again.
With a faint smile, Yu Zhao felt a deep sense of gratitude and joy that Zhou Jin Yue had been saved.
But just then, three people she didn’t want to see appeared in front of her.
Fang Cheng Lang’s disheveled appearance couldn’t hide the concern on his face. “Little Six, are you alright?”
Lan Zi Yu said nothing, but his eyes scanned Yu Zhao from head to toe as if trying to examine every strand of her hair.
Ye Cong Xin clasped her hands tightly at her chest, a tear at the corner of her eye, looking pitiable.
“Sixth Senior Sister, it’s so good to see you safe!”
Mu Ye looked at Yu Zhao with envy, silently praising the camaraderie and deep bonds among the disciples of the Five Elements Dao Sect.
Since her recent breakthrough in understanding, Yu Zhao had gained clarity on things that once confused her.
She could tell Fang Cheng Lang and Lan Zi Yu’s concern was genuine, not feigned.
But their feelings had come too late. She no longer needed others’ affection to fill the emptiness in her heart.
She now understood what she wanted and was determined to pursue it unwaveringly.
In her past life, she had clung too tightly to her obsessions and suffered the consequences.
In this life, they would only be strangers.
“I’m fine,” Yu Zhao replied with a faint smile.
Fang Cheng Lang initially breathed a sigh of relief. But when his gaze fell on Yu Zhao’s smile and her empty, emotionless eyes, his expression froze.
[Little Six, without proper etiquette, you can’t stand firm. Even if you meet someone you dislike, you can’t show them a cold face. You need to learn polite smiles.]
[Polite smiles mean your face smiles, but your eyes remain still, and your heart remains untouched.]
[It’s simple. Let me teach you. Just smile like this…]
The words echoed in Fang Cheng Lang’s mind, and a sharp pain gripped his chest, nearly knocking him off his feet.
When Little Six had ignored them before, he had comforted himself, thinking it was just childish temper. He thought he could coax her back.
But now, Little Six smiled at them, and his heart was filled with dread.
Had she already lumped him among the people she hated?
Would Little Six never forgive him?
“Little Six, don’t smile like that. Please don’t smile like that…”
Fang Cheng Lang’s voice trembled as he gazed at Yu Zhao, his eyes red with a mix of sorrow and despair.
Yu Zhao hadn’t expected Fang Cheng Lang to be so perceptive.
She had intended to use her smile to brush him off. But since her intentions had been seen through, she made no effort to hide them.
With a serene expression, Yu Zhao raised her gaze, the calm depths of her eyes reflecting Fang Cheng Lang’s figure.
For the first time, Fang Cheng Lang clearly saw a pitiful, despicable version of himself in her eyes.
At that moment, he realized with piercing clarity that Little Six no longer needed him.
A deafening buzz filled his ears as the world around him seemed to fade into silence. His heart ached so much it felt like he couldn’t breathe.
His trembling hand reached out for Yu Zhao, but a white haze clouded his vision, and his consciousness dimmed.
Then, he collapsed backward, unconscious.
“Eldest Senior Brother!”
Lan Zi Yu and Ye Cong Xin panicked, rushing to catch Fang Cheng Lang. Lan Zi Yu checked his condition.
“Luckily, he’s just exhausted and passed out. He’ll be fine after some rest.”
Lan Zi Yu reassured Ye Cong Xin.
Ye Cong Xin wept tears of joy. “Thank goodness.”
Lan Zi Yu turned to tell Yu Zhao the news, but he froze.
Yu Zhao stood in place, looking down at them with a face as calm and indifferent as still water.
Lan Zi Yu was incredulous.
Eldest Senior Brother had fainted, yet Yu Zhao remained completely unmoved. She didn’t even show a trace of concern.
Did she not care about Eldest Senior Brother at all?
Was this still Yu Zhao?
A chill ran through Lan Zi Yu’s body, sinking deep into his bones. He didn’t dare to think further.