The Villain Marked the Protagonist's Fiancée (Through the Book) - Chapter 32

Xiangyun stared at Yun Xiao for a few breaths before shifting her gaze to Fang Zhiluo. She murmured under her breath, “Isn’t this just the classic ‘love-hate’ trope from those romance novels? Can you really go through with it?”

Yun Xiao shot Xiangyun a sharp glance. “When are you leaving?”

Xiangyun exclaimed in disbelief, “I’m your person now! How can you just kick me out?”

Even though Yun Xiao knew Xiangyun, like Cangwu, had a knack for saying shocking things at random moments, hearing this still left her feeling utterly exhausted.

Suddenly remembering Cangwu’s instructions, Xiangyun blurted out, “Cangwu told me to get the Spirit Stone back from you.”

Fang Zhiluo was still reeling from Xiangyun’s earlier remark. Yun Xiao has someone else now? Does she not love me anymore?

The thought gnawed at her heart like a swarm of ants, draining the color from her face. Her eyes burned with pain. She turned away, tilting her head back to desperately keep the tears from spilling.

Yun Xiao’s peach-blossom eyes flickered as she caught a glimpse of Fang Zhiluo’s profile—lonely and sorrowful. She paused, looked again, and saw only the familiar, cool beauty.

I must have misread her expression, Yun Xiao thought. She’s always been so reserved. How could she possibly reveal her emotions in front of others?

With a calm expression, Yun Xiao handed over the prepared Storage Pouch. “Here, I’m returning this to you.”

Despite the clear, cloudless sky, Fang Zhiluo felt a chill run through her. Does she really want to sever all ties with me?

Fang Zhiluo lowered her gaze, concealing the desolation and bitter smile in her eyes. She didn’t dare turn around, her voice trembling slightly. “There’s no need.”

“One shouldn’t accept gifts without merit,” Yun Xiao replied. “Especially given our current relationship, returning these Spirit Stones is even more appropriate.” With that, Yun Xiao handed the pouch to Xiangyun, signaling her to pass it to Fang Zhiluo.

Xiangyun took the pouch, pursing her lips. “This distance is so short, and you’re making me play messenger? Even if you couldn’t reach, you could have used a Technique. This is just creating unnecessary trouble.”

Xiangyun’s words rang clearly in Fang Zhiluo’s ears, her tightly clenched fingertips turning white.

Staring down at the Storage Pouch held out before her, she finally reached out and took it.

As the Lightning Tribulation intensified, Yun Xiao watched Cangwu with growing anxiety, ready to intervene at any moment.

Seeing this, Fang Zhiluo felt a pang of bitterness. There was a time when Yun Xiao’s gaze lingered only on me. Now, it’s as if I don’t even exist.

For over a month, Yun Xiao hadn’t spoken a single word to Fang Zhiluo, aside from a few initial remarks.

As the final bolt of Purple Lightning descended, Yun Xiao’s heart leaped into her throat, her hands clenching into tight fists.

Fang Zhiluo couldn’t resist offering reassurance. “A Top-Grade Magic Artifact can block two-thirds of the Lightning Tribulation. Given her physical resilience, she should be able to withstand the remaining strikes without issue.”

Xiangyun glanced at Fang Zhiluo with surprise, thinking, This person is truly strange. Once the Lightning Tribulation ends, Yun Xiao will be coming to collect her debt.

Yun Xiao knew Fang Zhiluo’s words were logical, yet her heart remained suspended in anxiety, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on Cangwu.

As the tribulation clouds dispersed, she immediately unleashed her Divine Sense to assess Cangwu’s condition.

Every inch of his flesh was battered, but thankfully, he still clung to life.

Spirit Rain, a reward from the Heavenly Dao, began to fall, rapidly healing Cangwu’s wounds.

By the time the Spirit Rain ceased, Cangwu’s injuries had healed by seventy to eighty percent, and his Spiritual Energy had recovered sixty percent. Sensing the surging power within him, he grinned at Yun Xiao. “Elder Sister, let’s join forces and crush those old geezers from the Heavenly Evolution Sect!”

Yun Xiao smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Alright.”

When Cangwu noticed Fang Zhiluo was still present, his expression darkened instantly. “Why are you still here?”

He glared at Yun Xiao. “Elder Sister, you promised that the next time you saw her, you’d settle accounts. You can’t go back on your word.”

Yun Xiao’s lowered lashes trembled slightly before settling back into their usual composure. She summoned Purple Frost, turned to face Fang Zhiluo, and radiated a palpable aura of battle intent.

This was for Cangwu’s sake, and for her own.

Cangwu flew over, his voice brimming with excitement. “Elder Sister, just go! I’m a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator now. Those weaklings hiding nearby can’t even scratch me.”

Yun Xiao hummed in acknowledgment. She had already scanned the area with her Divine Sense and confirmed that most of the cultivators converging on their location were at the Great Ascension or Body Integration stages. While their cultivation levels were lower than Cangwu’s, he had only recently survived his Lightning Tribulation, and his Spiritual Energy hadn’t fully recovered.

She tossed Cangwu a Storage Pouch containing not only High-Grade Formation Plates but also numerous Thunderclap Orbs she had personally modified.

Cangwu caught the pouch and urged her onward with a look.

Fang Zhiluo had once tried to kill his Elder Sister. This debt had to be repaid.

She had made up her mind: if her Elder Sister couldn’t bring herself to strike the final blow, she would avenge her herself. Fang Zhiluo must not escape justice.

Yun Xiao soared into the air, hovering above the battlefield, waiting for Fang Zhiluo to rise and face her.

Suppressing the pain in her heart, Fang Zhiluo activated the Communication Talisman she had prepared earlier, sending a message back to the Azure Cloud Sect. She then flew to face Yun Xiao, positioning herself opposite her.

The agony of being struck down the Broken Cliff by Fang Zhiluo’s palm that day remained vivid in Yun Xiao’s mind. Without hesitation, she launched her first strike, her sword slashing toward Fang Zhiluo.

Seeing Fang Zhiluo only evade, Yun Xiao’s fury intensified. “Fight back!” she roared.

Yun Xiao’s relentless attacks left Fang Zhiluo struggling to keep up with her evasive maneuvers.

Wiping the bl00d from the corner of her mouth, Fang Zhiluo gazed at Yun Xiao’s crimson-red eyes, a flicker of hope rising within her. If I unleash all my hatred, will she finally forgive me?

This time, she abandoned her defensive stance and met Yun Xiao’s assault head-on.

Thanks to her Sudden Enlightenment in Flower City, Yun Xiao’s cultivation had reached the peak of Tribulation Transcendence, just half a step away from ascension. Even if Fang Zhiluo unleashed her full power, she stood no match against Yun Xiao.

Her white robes were stained with streaks of bl00d, and her neatly coiled black hair had come undone. The Spiritual Energy within her body was steadily dwindling.

She knew she could withstand no more than thirty of Yun Xiao’s attacks. After that, Yun Xiao would finally avenge the sword strike and palm strike she had suffered.

Though she felt no fear, a pang of reluctance tugged at her heart—reluctance to leave this world, this world that held Yun Xiao.

At the Azure Cloud Sect, Bai Mofeng received Fang Zhiluo’s Communication Talisman. His fingers trembled as he read the message.

Martial Aunt Fang had instructed him to prevent the Sect’s Supreme Elder from seeking retribution and to ensure no one sought revenge against Yun Xiao. This was her debt to Yun Xiao.

These were clearly Martial Aunt Fang’s final words.

Chu Hui, hearing news of another battle between Tribulation Transcendence cultivators, rushed to the scene only to find Bai Mofeng pale-faced, enveloped in a shroud of grief.

Having never seen the usually composed Bai Mofeng so distraught, she immediately sensed a grave matter had arisen.

Abandoning all decorum, she snatched the Communication Talisman from his hand.

After listening to Fang Zhiluo’s message, she staggered backward, muttering, “How could this be? How did things come to this?”

Tears welled in her eyes as she shook her head. “No, it can’t be true. Senior Yun would never kill Martial Aunt Fang. Five hundred years ago, she cared so deeply for her, unable to bear even the slightest injury to her. She wouldn’t do it… yes, she wouldn’t.”

Wiping away her tears, she turned and fled.

If it came to that, she would bring Martial Aunt Fang back herself. She couldn’t let her be abandoned out there.

Bai Mofeng didn’t stop her, his thoughts aligning with Chu Hui’s for once.

In her Cave Abode, Yu Hui suddenly felt a surge of unease. She rushed to Fang Zhiluo’s Cave Abode, only to find it empty.

Forced to settle for second best, she hurried to the main peak and confronted Bai Mofeng, who sat on the main seat. “Do you know where Immortal Fang Jie is?”

Bai Mofeng, who had just managed to compose himself, froze. He forced out the words, “Martial Aunt Fang is currently battling Senior Yun.”

“Absurd!” Yu Hui stormed out, her face ashen.

She should never have allowed Fang Zhiluo to leave the Sect. Even with the formidable Yunhua Sword Technique, he was no match for Yun Xiao. As a Cultivation Art Practitioner, even with his mastery of Formations, he stood little chance against her.

Moreover, Yun Xiao had achieved Sudden Enlightenment in Flower City, likely elevating her cultivation to a higher level. Now, Fang Zhiluo’s chances of victory in a battle against her were even slimmer.

At the Heavenly Evolution Sect, Xie Yunfan learned that Fang Zhiluo had clashed with Yun Xiao, his face brimming with schadenfreude.

He had initially been furious that Yun Xiao’s Sudden Enlightenment in Flower City had thwarted his plan to frame her and incite the wrath of the Three Great Sects. But now, without him lifting a finger, Yun Xiao had provoked the Azure Cloud Sect herself.

Given Yu Hui’s temperament, this matter would not end peacefully, regardless of the outcome.

With two of the Four Great Sects already at odds with Yun Xiao, a little pressure would force the remaining two to join the fray, however reluctantly. At that point, no matter how high Yun Xiao’s cultivation, she would be overwhelmed.

Yun Xiao was doomed.

Wild Mountain.

Yun Xiao struck Fang Zhiluo’s left shoulder with a palm strike.

Fang Zhiluo’s body plummeted like a kite with a severed string, crashing heavily onto the parched ground and sending up plumes of dust.

She spat out a mouthful of stagnant bl00d, her white robes stained with grime.

Pressing one hand against the ground, she propped herself up halfway, gazing at Yun Xiao as she approached step by step. “Has your anger finally dissipated?” she asked softly.

Yun Xiao tightened her grip on Purple Frost, retorting, “What if it has? What if it hasn’t?”

“If it hasn’t dissipated, then raise your sword and strike me,” Fang Zhiluo forced a smile. “Would that make us even?”

A knot of resentment twisted in Yun Xiao’s chest, the fading hatred gradually coalescing anew.

Yun Xiao threw her head back and laughed, her peach-blossom eyes swirling with complex emotions. She pointed her sword at Fang Zhiluo, whose eyes still held a flicker of hope, and sneered, “I didn’t survive because you showed me mercy. Cangwu sacrificed his essence bl00d to save my life.”

She laughed again, mocking her past self for her arrogance and wishful thinking.

Even though Fang Zhiluo had rejected her, even though she knew Fang Zhiluo’s heart belonged only to his Sect’s responsibilities, even though she had witnessed his hatred firsthand, she had still failed to guard against him.

Wasn’t Fang Zhiluo’s sneak attack exactly what she deserved?

The hope in Fang Zhiluo’s eyes shattered. Her qi and bl00d surged violently, and she coughed up another mouthful of dark bl00d, whispering, “I’m sorry. That strike was just instinct. I… I thought you were going to attack me.”

“Enough. Don’t think these words will make me soften now,” Yun Xiao said firmly, striding toward Fang Zhiluo. “I told you, our next meeting would end with either your death or mine.”

Fang Zhiluo’s eyes were dull and lifeless, as if all her strength had been drained away. She collapsed weakly to the ground.

Rain began to fall in large, heavy drops. Each drop that struck her face felt like the pain in her heart, seeping deep into her soul.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, mingling with the rain, yet they could not wash away the grief and despair that consumed her.

She didn’t blame Yun Xiao; she blamed herself for letting anger cloud her judgment, for repeatedly striking out at the one who loved her.

This was the punishment for her past wrongs.

But she desperately wanted to see Yun Xiao again—to see her smile, to witness her unrestrained spirit, to watch her infuriate others without remorse, to see her pout, to see… everything about her.

When a cultivator dies, their body and spirit dissipate, leaving no chance for reincarnation.

Fang Zhiluo didn’t want to vanish like that. If she disappeared, she would never see Yun Xiao again.

Yun Xiao stopped before Fang Zhiluo and snapped, “Get up! Who are you putting on this death act for?”

Fang Zhiluo’s hand, which had been lying limp on the ground, twitched. A ball of spiritual energy gathered in her palm, and she hurled it forcefully at Yun Xiao.

Yun Xiao dodged the attack, her sword pointing straight at Fang Zhiluo’s chest. But at the moment of impact, she deliberately shifted her aim by an inch.

Fang Zhiluo lowered her gaze to the sword piercing her chest. Crimson bl00d mingled with rainwater, staining her white robes, yet she seemed oblivious. A flicker of color returned to her eyes as the corners of her lips curved slightly. Her voice rang with conviction as she declared, “You can’t do it. There’s still a part of me in your heart.”

She had been gambling, betting that Yun Xiao wouldn’t kill her.

Even if she lost, it wouldn’t matter. At least Yun Xiao would have vented her anger.

Yun Xiao retreated two steps, vehemently denying it. “No! I’d rather love a pig than someone who tried to kill me. Absolutely not!”

Fang Zhiluo forcefully yanked Purple Frost from her chest, bracing herself against the rain-soaked ground with one hand as she struggled to sit up. She extended the sword to Yun Xiao. “You missed the first time. Try again.”