Bi Lian seemed to smile, a smile of immense mockery, but his voice was filled with the grievances of youth and a naive cruelty.
"But this is something I gave to Yueyue."
"It's unique."
"If I'm unhappy, they all must die."
These words made the attending maids turn pale. They now seemed to know that only Shen Yue could save them.
So, all eyes turned towards Shen Yue.
Many pairs of eyes gazed at Shen Yue, mostly with pleading, despair, and fear.
This Immortal Lord looked benevolent; she surely wouldn't stand by and watch them perish.
Shen Yue clenched her fingers tightly, her crimson lips pressed into a thin line. The cold aura emanating from her brow and eyes was almost palpable.
A maid, who had been kneeling and kowtowing, accidentally glanced at Xiao Die, who was beside her with a look of panic. Xiao Die's pupils dilated slightly, and her expression suddenly became very agitated.
She suddenly remembered seeing Xiao Die sneakily hiding something previously. At the time, she hadn't seen clearly, but she could discern the outline – it was a jade pendant!
This jade pendant was something she had found, thinking its color was beautiful, and she had harbored greed.
Now, it seemed entirely possible that Xiao Die had deliberately dropped it!
Under so many gazes begging for help, Shen Yue's face grew slightly pale. Her frosty white eyelashes, blood-red lips, and pale ear tips were both refined and noble.
She silently closed her eyes. Strangely, though she could not see, she seemed to see a lot of blood, so much blood.
Shen Yue didn't understand. She felt that Bi Lian must hate her, which was why he was humiliating her like this.
Seeing Shen Yue's face grow paler, Xiao Die felt a pang of sorrow. She instinctively wanted to stand up but was pulled back by her sleeve.
It was another maid, who lowered her head but looked over, gritting her teeth and saying, "Don't be foolish at a time like this!"
If this fool stood up now, wouldn't she be made a target?
Xiao Die slowly pulled her hand away.
"They, they are all forcing the Immortal Lord."
She showed a smile, but her eyes were intensely red. "I've lived for so long and never met anyone better than the Immortal Lord. I promised to take her away, but I broke my promise. She treated me so well; I can't, I can't just stand by and watch her be troubled."
"My Lord, that jade pendant... it, it was stolen by this slave."
A maid with a plain, fair complexion crawled out from the ground, her head pressed against the hard floor, her hands flat on the ground.
"...It was stolen by this slave. This slave's heart was filled with greed, deceiving the Immortal Lord's blindness..."
Xiao Die's voice trembled. She was also very afraid, very afraid.
Bi Lian looked down carelessly at the maid kneeling on the ground. She was ordinary, without any distinguishing features.
Her whole body trembled with fear, but her eyes dared not look at the white figure. Her voice was dry and shaky, "This slave deserves death. This slave deserves the most severe punishment."
Shen Yue was startled. Xiao Die's voice, cutting through the heavy vibrations, reached her ears.
She was wearing only a thin, plain white robe, her face pale and frail, as fragile as porcelain. Her exceptionally beautiful face was like a white magnolia blooming on a branch under the moonlight.
She awoke in a daze, looking at Xiao Die's direction with a face full of confusion.
Xiao Die was lying. Things were not as she had said.
It wasn't stolen; it was given.
Shen Yue couldn't help but walk over. She wanted to explain.
But then she heard Xiao Die say,
"The Immortal Lord is kind. This slave stole something, and the Immortal Lord did not punish me. This slave has no face to face the Immortal Lord."
As if she knew Shen Yue would plead for her, she cut off her own escape route. She wasn't foolish; from Bi Lian's inexplicable attitude, she knew that the previous plan had likely failed.
No one is not afraid of death. She was also afraid of death. However, she was more afraid of the Immortal Lord suffering.
She was just a lowly maid; if she died, she died.
No one would care.
It was unimportant.
The maid who had been wrongly accused of theft was also shocked. She turned her head to look at Xiao Die, her eyes widening almost in disbelief.
She understood Xiao Die's character well and didn't believe Xiao Die had the courage to steal.
Was she looking for death then?
"Fool," she muttered to herself. "Fool."
Shen Yue stood still, her gaze looking into the distance. Her clear, elegant face was like the morning mist diffused by sunlight on the sea, hazy and mysterious, subtly faint.
She called out softly.
"Xiao Die."
Xiao Die heard her, her body stiffened, then she buried her head even lower. She shifted her direction and kowtowed twice towards Shen Yue.
The two thuds seemed to strike Shen Yue's heart.
Xiao Die knew Bi Lian intended to force her to her death. It truly was a bother for the Venerable Lord to go to such lengths to deal with someone like her.
She slowly stood up, reached for the hairpin on her head, took one last look at the white figure, closed her eyes, and without hesitation, plunged it into her carotid artery. The sound of flesh being pierced was followed by a spurt of warm, fresh blood.
At this moment, time seemed to slow down, flowing gradually. The bright red blood sprayed onto the ground like rain, instantly soaking her clothes.
It truly hurt.
It hurt more than she had imagined.
Bi Lian remained expressionless, his eyes fixed tightly on Shen Yue.
Shen Yue seemed to sense something. Her steps faltered, her snow-white robes now stained with blood. She looked around blankly, her hands instinctively reaching out.
Her voice was very soft, so soft that even a gentle breeze would hesitate to blow it away.
"Xiao Die... Xiao Die..."
Xiao Die, lying in a pool of blood, seemed to hear her. Her lips twitched, as if wanting to say something, but as she opened her mouth, a gush of blood choked in her throat.
She coughed, suffocated by the thick blood, her vision darkening, her consciousness fading. Yet, her eyes remained fixed on Shen Yue, greedily wanting one more look.
Her fair face was smeared with blood. She felt a strange sense of relief that Shen Yue couldn't see now.
She must look ugly in this state.
"I, I'm sorry..."
Sorry, she had promised to take Shen Yue away, but she had broken her promise. She couldn't do anything right, only watch Shen Yue being locked in this cage, watching an Immortal Lord reduced to a plaything.
She truly wanted... truly wanted to save Shen Yue.
It wasn't right. Someone like Shen Yue shouldn't be locked in a golden cage.
She should be soaring in the azure sky.
But she hadn't done it right.
It had been like this since childhood; she had never done anything properly.
She had no grand ambitions, only wishing for the Immortal Lord to be well, to be happy, and to smile more.
Xiao Die felt immense sadness. She was sad that until her death, she hadn't done anything for Shen Yue. Her voice was broken, bloodstains continuously appearing, "It, it will be okay. I, I will bless you..."
"Do you believe me..."
"Believe me one last time..."
It would be alright. Everything would be alright. The Immortal Lord would surely break free from the cage.
Then she would go to Qingyun Sect, break the seal on her body, and join with other sects to work together. The Immortal Lord was powerful. Since ancient times, evil had never triumphed over righteousness. At that time, the Immortal Lord would still be the revered Immortal Venerable Xiyu, worshipped and admired by all.
Then ascend.
That's how it should be.
Shen Yue listened, listening to Xiao Die's voice grow weaker and weaker until it finally vanished, until Xiao Die completely stopped breathing. She didn't utter a single word.
She didn't need it. She didn't need Xiao Die's blessings.
Xiao Die had done enough for her. How could she bear to let Xiao Die be restless even in death?
Now, it seemed she had nothing left. The only person close to her was gone like this.
If she hadn't insisted on giving the jade pendant to Xiao Die, would Xiao Die not have died?
Shen Yue's vision blurred, her breathing grew rapid, and her chest rose and fell. She pressed her forehead, breathing softly, her legs turning weak. Just as she was about to fall to her knees, a strong, firm pair of hands suddenly appeared and supported her.
A broad, solid chest radiated warmth. The pounding heartbeats were so vibrant. The clothes carried a pleasant fragrance.
The man's arms tightened, and his voice was gentle, "Are you feeling unwell?"
Bi Lian held her hand tighter. Shen Yue's fingers were perpetually cold and white, as if they could never warm up, making her heart tremble with unease.
Shen Yue lowered her head, her silky soft silver hair obscuring her face, making her shoulders appear even more slender and thin.
He cupped Shen Yue's face, meeting her beautiful, vacant eyes. His voice was as soft as if he were coaxing, "She stole your things. Do you know how angry I was? Those items were all carefully chosen by me; they represent all my affections... Why are your hands so cold?"
Shen Yue suddenly reached out and clutched Bi Lian's collar. Her eyes widened slightly, her lips red and luscious like delicate roses. All the calmness and indifference on her face shattered.
There was anger, helplessness, sadness... and more.
It shouldn't be like this. His Yueyue should be cold-hearted and unfeeling. His Yueyue should not be sad. She should always be cold-blooded and ruthless, never moved.
Bi Lian lowered his head and gently kissed her lips. His voice was husky, as if laced with a smile.
"Why are you showing such an expression? Are you sad, Yueyue? Do you want to cry?"
The person in his arms showed extreme emotional fluctuation. She opened her mouth but couldn't utter a sound. Her trembling body suddenly went limp. The man kissed Shen Yue's soft hair with pleasure, his voice dripping like whispered secrets between lovers.
"Stay by my side obediently. Don't think about running."
This was just a small punishment.
If you are disobedient again next time, it won't be so simple.
The commotion ended just like that. The maids' legs were already weak with fear. As one maid retreated, she glanced back.
The tall, strong man was tenderly and protectively holding the slender, white-robed immortal. His gentle, submissive demeanor and soft, amiable words were unlike anything she had ever seen.
One white, one black – two extreme colors, peculiar yet harmonious.
---
"Do you know that a major event has occurred recently? Our clan has been fighting with the immortal sects and orthodox schools for three days and three nights."
"What's there to fear? Our Lord is the Demon God, a deity! Our demonic race will never be defeated!"
"That's true. Now that Qingyun Sect has lost Immortal Venerable Xiyu's presence, they are no longer a threat."
"Speaking of Immortal Venerable Xiyu..."
Shen Yue had long grown accustomed to the subsequent vulgarities, but what caught her attention more were the words of her maids earlier.
Qingyun Sect...
A sharp pain shot through her mind. Countless images flashed by, too quickly to grasp.
Xiao Die had said—she was from Qingyun Sect.
Qingyun Sect...
Soul-Slaying Hall. In the palace, white curtains hung to the ground. The windows were tightly shut, not a breath of wind.
Inside, the lights were bright, illuminating every corner.
Bi Lian washed off the smell of blood. When he entered the hall, it was as quiet as before, so quiet that one could hear the sound of candles burning.
Bi Lian swept his gaze around casually and slowly walked inside.
He easily found the white figure.
Shen Yue was kneeling on a cushion, with several books laid out in front of her.
Bi Lian found them familiar, but they weren't the ones he had sent. They were left by the deceased lowly maid.
His brows furrowed. His previously gentle expression vanished instantly, replaced by a deep, indifferent aura. His dark eyes were deep and blazing, simmering with intense waves.
He walked over step by step, then knelt on the ground and embraced Shen Yue from behind.
So thin. Bi Lian was displeased. "Why are you so thin? Are you not drinking your medicine properly?"
Shen Yue, who had always treated him as air, suddenly spoke coldly.
"Qingyun Sect, do you know it?"
Finally, she spoke. He had thought Shen Yue might remain silent forever.
Bi Lian smiled, resting his chin intimately on Shen Yue's shoulder. He tilted his head, his thin lips brushing against the cool skin of her neck.
He leaned in front of Shen Yue to look at her expression.
Seeing this, Bi Lian was completely stunned.
Shen Yue's eyes were red, the corners of her eyes also red. Tears flowed silently from her eyes, yet her expression remained devoid of emotion.
But those crystal-like tears rolled down one by one.
Ever since Xiao Die died, Shen Yue had not spoken a word. Bi Lian had not been angry, nor had he forced Shen Yue.
Now Shen Yue was crying. What was she crying for?
That lowly maid.
Or Qingyun Sect?
Bi Lian turned Shen Yue's body around so they were facing each other. His tall frame almost pushed Shen Yue against the desk.
He kissed away the tears on Shen Yue's face. Every movement was exceptionally gentle, as if treating an extremely precious treasure.
"Why are you crying? Can't you tell me properly what's wrong? You know, if you say a few soft words, I'll agree to anything. If you coax me a little, I'd die for you. Did I do something wrong? Then I apologize. Why are you still crying aggrievedly?"
Bi Lian smiled. He looked truly handsome when he smiled. "I don't know Qingyun Sect very well. It's probably someone gossiping behind your back. You don't need to pay it much mind."
"Don't cry," Bi Lian said, hugging Shen Yue as if coaxing a child. "You're melting my heart."