In Zhu Xian, people start to rise from plundering entries

The hall was so quiet that the two people could be heard breathing softly.

After a long while, Lu Xueqi finally raised her eyes and looked at Biyao. Her clear, cold eyes reflected the light of the spirit lamp, making them appear exceptionally deep.

"Where the Way lies, I will go, even if it means facing a million men." Lu Xueqi's voice was soft, but it carried a resolute strength. "I saved you because you saved me first, because your heart is inclined towards goodness, and you are not a villain. This is the Way in my heart, and it has nothing to do with how others see it or whether it is the Way or the Demonic Way."

She paused for a moment, then continued, "As for my sect... I will report everything myself. I believe my master and senior uncle, the sect leader, will make a fair judgment on right and wrong, gratitude and resentment. If I am criticized and blamed for doing righteous things in accordance with my conscience, then I might as well not follow this path."

These words, spoken by the usually reserved and taciturn Lu Xueqi, carried immense weight.

A flicker of shock crossed Biyao's eyes. She hadn't expected Lu Xueqi to answer like that, so...resolutely.

“But…” Biyao wanted to say something more.

“No buts.” Lu Xueqi interrupted her, her tone still calm but unquestionable. “I have my own principles. You don’t need to think too much. The most important thing right now is to focus on healing. Only when you are fully recovered will you no longer be a ‘burden,’ only then can you truly decide your own path, and only then… will you not let down everything Su Han has done for you.”

She spoke the last sentence slowly, her gaze lowered slightly, avoiding Biyao's eyes.

Biyao was stunned. She looked at Lu Xueqi's beautiful but expressionless profile and a complex and indescribable emotion welled up in her heart.

There was admiration, gratitude, a hint of understanding, and also a touch of... indescribable bitterness.

She got it.

Lu Xueqi stayed, partly out of consideration for her injuries and partly out of a sense of duty, but perhaps also for a reason she herself wasn't fully aware of—because of Su Han.

Because she knew that Su Han would protect Bi Yao at all costs, and if anything happened to Bi Yao, Su Han would be devastated.

She stayed to help Biyao, but wasn't she also helping Su Han, preventing him from falling into that desperate situation again?

This feeling was hidden very deeply, perhaps even Lu Xueqi herself had never delved into it. Perhaps it was just an instinct of camaraderie and comradeship. But Biyao, as a woman, also deeply loved that man. She keenly caught that extremely subtle ripple hidden beneath his cold exterior.

“…I understand.” Biyao finally said softly, without trying to persuade her further. She just looked at Lu Xueqi and said earnestly, “Lu Xueqi, thank you. Really.”

This time, she didn't address her as "Miss Lu," but called her by her given name.

This is a form of recognition, an attitude that places the other party in an equal, or even respectable, position.

Lu Xueqi nodded slightly, accepting the gratitude. Her face remained expressionless, but a faint, almost invisible blush seemed to flit across her ears, quickly fading away.

"You should rest well. I'm going to check on Su Han." Lu Xueqi stood up and walked towards the palace gate.

Before she pushed open the stone door, Biyao's voice rang out again softly, tinged with weariness, yet incredibly clear:
"Senior Sister Lu, you are a very, very good person. Su Han is lucky to have met a fellow disciple like you."

Lu Xueqi paused almost imperceptibly as she pushed the door open. Without turning around, she simply hummed in agreement and walked out, the stone door closing gently behind her. Inside the hall, Biyao stared blankly at the closed door, her gaze somewhat vacant. After a long while, she sighed softly, closed her eyes, and a bittersweet smile played on her lips.

……

Outside the hall is a corridor that encircles the tower, spacious and quiet.

Su Han was leaning against the railing, gazing absently at the vast sea of ​​clouds outside the tower, when she heard the door open and immediately turned around.

“Senior Sister Lu, she…” Su Han looked at Lu Xueqi, her eyes filled with inquiry.

“She was tired and fell asleep again.” Lu Xueqi walked to a short distance away from him, and also stood by the railing, looking at the sea of ​​clouds. “She just said some words of thanks and advised me to leave.”

Upon hearing this, Su Han breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled wryly and said, "Yao'er... she's just too thoughtful, always afraid of implicating others. Senior Sister Lu, please don't mind her."

“No,” Lu Xueqi said calmly. “What she said is also the truth.”

Su Han remained silent; he knew what Lu Xueqi meant. Bi Yao's identity had always been a huge chasm between them and the righteous path of the world.

"Senior Sister," Su Han hesitated for a moment before asking, "Are you... really not in a hurry to go back? What about the Sect Leader and Master..."

"I have already sent a message back to the mountain using a secret method, briefly explaining the changes in the East Sea and our current situation, but I did not mention Biyao's specific identity or details of her injuries," Lu Xueqi said calmly. "My senior master replied that I should act according to the situation, prioritizing the safety of myself and my fellow disciples, and investigating the source of the East Sea disturbances. Returning to the mountain to report in detail can give me some time."

Su Han was somewhat surprised, not expecting Lu Xueqi to have already sent a message back, and even more surprised that Dao Xuan Zhenren's reply was so... flexible. This might be related to the seriousness of the East Sea matter, or perhaps, the sect leader had an extraordinary trust in his prized grand-disciple.

"I see." Su Han nodded. "So, what are your plans next, Senior Sister?"

“Wait.” Lu Xueqi said succinctly, “Wait until Miss Biyao’s injuries stabilize, wait until Elder Mu further investigates whether there are any other connections between Zhenyue Tower and the East Sea, and also wait…” She looked at Su Han, “wait until you recover. There are many suspicious points about the East Sea. That mysterious black aura and the existence beneath the abyss are definitely not ordinary. Since Qingyun Sect has already been involved, we need to get to the bottom of this.”

Su Han's expression turned serious: "Senior Sister is right. The strangeness of that black aura and the terror of the abyss are indeed unprecedented. I have a feeling that there is probably a huge conspiracy behind this matter."

The two whispered about the details of their trip to the East China Sea, as well as the origin and purpose of the strange black mist and the abyssal creatures.

Lu Xueqi is knowledgeable and meticulous, often able to pinpoint the key issues; Su Han, with his personal experience, has a more accurate grasp of details. The two complement each other, gradually clarifying the situation in the East China Sea. However, the core mysteries—the source of the black energy, the purpose of the abyssal creatures, and their connection to ancient legends—remain shrouded in mystery.

"It's a pity that Senior Shi is asleep, otherwise we might have been able to learn more from him." Su Han glanced regretfully at the deep space inside the tower below.

"The opportunity hasn't arrived yet, so forcing it will be pointless." Lu Xueqi said calmly, "The most urgent task is to improve my own strength. After this battle, I also realized my own shortcomings. The Zhenyue Tower is rich in spiritual energy and has the advantage of the flow of time, making it an excellent place for cultivation."

Su Han wholeheartedly agreed. During his trip to the East Sea, whether facing the black mist or the monsters of the abyss, he felt immense pressure. If it weren't for Bi Yao's sacrifice, the consequences would have been unimaginable. His desire to become stronger had never been as intense as it was at this moment.

"Senior Sister is absolutely right," Su Han said solemnly. (End of Chapter)