Departure

The three of them rested at Xuanjin Pavilion for only one day before deciding to embark on their journey again. They needed to catch up on the few days they had lost in Jiangzhou.

Throughout the journey, Jiang Yingyue seemed somewhat absent-minded. She couldn't help but recall Xiao Wen's figure that day. Seeing him calmly face death, she didn't know how to describe that feeling. She only felt a tightness in her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Ji Wushuang and Xiao Changmin continued their investigation into any remaining members of the Dark Lotus Sect. Before departing, she specifically instructed Jiang Yingyue: whatever Jiang Yingyue encountered, she could come to her. She also specially selected sturdy horses for them to travel on.

"I heard from General Qi that she once went to Rifeng Mountain. It's not as dangerous as other places, but finding the divine artifact is quite difficult." Ye Qingzhu pondered, though her mind was not entirely at peace. Of the three, only Ji Yinglei seemed completely unmoved.

She quickly sensed their emotions: "Are you still thinking about what Xiao asked?"

He listened with a smile as Xiao Changmin read out his verdict. Since his resurrection, Xiao Wen had remained the same as he had twenty years ago, while Xiao Changmin, when he sat on the high throne with his tired and haggard body, made it difficult to tell who was the father.

How could such a scene not leave an imprint on their minds? Especially for Jiang Yingyue, she couldn't imagine the torment and pain Xiao Changmin had endured.

“Reality doesn’t always go according to our wishes,” Ji Yinglei comforted him. “You two get some rest for two nights, and I’ll take care of keeping watch.”

“How can this be?” Jiang Yingyue was about to refuse when Ji Yinglei interrupted her: “I’m not at ease with you all being so distracted.”

After some refusals, Jiang Yingyue ultimately didn't mention Ji Yinglei. As the moonlight fell, the three of them found an open space and lit a fire. Because they needed to keep an eye on their supplies, they even kept a few steps apart from each other.

In truth, Ji Yinglei had no interest in Xiao Wen. After the two fell asleep, she secretly began applying medicine to herself. Not only her shoulder, but she also had new wounds on her waist. Although she was fortunate to have the armor given to her by Ji Wushuang, the arrow had still pierced through her quite a bit.

She tended to her wounds alone, her thoughts drifting away.

When did it all begin? If she were to say that over all these years she had no feelings whatsoever for the Jiang family father and daughter, Ji Yinglei would know perfectly well the kindness Jiang Yuan had shown her, yet her heart would remain unmoved. She had worked so hard, giving her all for the Bright Moon Sect; the position of sect leader should rightfully belong to Ji Yinglei.

Ji Yinglei is trying her best to play the role of a proper, strong, and reliable apprentice, senior sister, and friend. She thinks that if she continues to act like this, it won't be difficult to live a whole life.

Yes, even though she didn't get the position of sect leader, she didn't complain at all, even though it was one of the few things she wanted.

But just as she was about to try to persuade Jiang Yingyue, she overheard their conversation outside the door.

It turned out that everything should have been hers—the position of sect leader, the Thunder Sword—should all have been hers. That was the first time Ji Yinglei had felt such intense emotional turmoil. She hated that the person she treated like a father didn't believe her, and that Jiang Yingyue could obtain everything based on her laughable bloodline.

The pure land in people's hearts can be completely polluted and then destroyed with just a little bit of hatred.

With his years of experience, finding Bai Yu was a piece of cake. Even he was surprised that Ji Yinglei had come to hate the entire Mingyue Sect so much in a short time.

Until the very last moment, she played the role of a dutiful eldest disciple. When Shen Ci attacked Jiang Yuan from behind, Ji Yinglei stood by and watched it all. She even gouged out Jiang Yuan's eyes before he died.

All her anger subsided into a deathly calm at that moment, devoid of any joy. She thought: That's because Jiang Yingyue is not dead. As long as she lives, Ji Yinglei will never be able to reclaim what is rightfully his.

So she started playing the role of the perfect senior sister again. Even though she had countless opportunities to kill Jiang Yingyue, it wasn't enough. She had to make sure that Jiang Yingyue died according to the script she had set, otherwise she would never be able to truly put her mind at ease.

Yan Tang said she looked ruthless, and Fang Lingfeng said he had considerable ambition; it seems they were both right.

She simply wants everyone to acknowledge her as the sect leader of the Bright Moon Sect; it's that simple. She wants to correct the previous mistakes.