Chapter 248 Epilogue - The New World Arc (45)
traitor……
Yu Qingzhou...
Before hearing the conversation between the sect leader and her senior master, Zhenzhu could never have connected the two words together.
After the initial shock, the girl suddenly realized that she seemed to have heard something incredible.
Should we turn around and leave immediately, pretending nothing happened?
Just as she was hesitating, the door suddenly opened from the inside and almost bumped into Zhenzhu's face.
"Li... Senior Brother Li?!"
Li Xiao was clearly taken aback when he saw Zhen Zhu standing outside the door.
"you……"
A fleeting look of hesitation crossed his face.
The boy said coldly and firmly, "You heard everything."
"I……"
Zhen Zhu was speechless for a moment—Li Xiao's eyes were just too cold.
This was the first time she had ever seen such a gloomy expression on the boy's face.
Especially the hint of crimson that flashed deep within those emerald eyes.
It was just like those ferocious monsters she had encountered before... Suddenly, all sorts of scenes she had seen while clearing the battlefield flashed before her eyes, along with that thick, pungent smell of blood that was impossible to ignore, which resurfaced at the tip of her nose.
The girl's breathing became rapid.
How terrifying...
How scary... how scary...
It's like a frog being targeted by a snake.
Zhenzhu stiffened involuntarily.
"Whatever you hear, remember to shut your mouth."
Li Xiao didn't seem to notice the girl's strange behavior, and just coldly said that.
It wasn't until she watched the other person turn and leave that Zhenzhu finally came to her senses.
My back was already soaked with cold sweat.
"I'm sorry, that child is just that kind of stubborn person."
A gentle voice, tinged with apology, suddenly rang out from not far away.
Zhen Zhu turned her head and saw that it was Master Chang, the most easy-going person in the sect.
Master Chang seemed to have followed the boy to the door, but then stopped for some reason.
As if sensing Zhenzhu's doubts, Master Chang sighed softly, a rather helpless smile appearing on his kind, round face.
"There's no harm in being alone for a while at this time. Talking too much might backfire."
Finally, he muttered something to himself.
“Ah Zhao used to be like this too…”
During her years in the sect, Zhen Zhu had heard some things about this Senior Uncle Chang.
The other party once had feelings for Senior Brother Li's biological mother.
Unfortunately, the falling flowers were willing, but the flowing water was indifferent.
The woman did not accept Master Chang's love. Later, she became entangled with a demon of unknown origin and gave birth to Li Xiao, who had half-demon blood.
However, Master Chang did not hold a prejudice against his old friend's son because of this.
Instead, he treated the latter as his own son.
His protectiveness of his own was so extreme that it was common knowledge within the sect.
When Zhenzhu first heard this story, she felt somewhat indignant for her Uncle Chang.
It was both because of the other person's misplaced affection and because of the natural sense of justice in my heart.
Zhenzhu witnessed the destruction of the village by demons when she was young.
Although I was just passing through, I was almost injured by a monster that had feigned death and blended into the corpses, nearly losing my life. If it weren't for later... later...
Thinking of this, Zhenzhu paused, lost in thought once again.
strangeness.
Perhaps due to the passage of time, she could hardly remember what happened afterward.
It seems she was rescued by a kind passerby.
—That's right. It must be.
Zhenzhu silently affirmed this in her heart.
But who was that person... the person who saved her...?
Memory is like being trapped in a deep, dark fog.
It's impossible to see through it or understand it.
Even the mere thought of touching upon this matter carries an unspeakable taboo.
Can't.
Absolutely not.
Whenever she wanted to go further, a similar voice would appear in her mind, pulling her away from that dark forbidden zone.
Therefore, that experience left an indelible shadow in Zhenzhu's heart.
As a result, she developed an extreme aversion to demons. It was quite natural that she later went through layers of selection to enter the sect and aspired to become a powerful cultivator capable of eliminating demons and protecting the righteous path.
However, Zhenzhu did not dislike Li Xiao.
In their subsequent interactions, she even developed an inexplicable feeling for this senior brother Li.
Even though the boy also had the blood of the demons he hated most flowing in his veins, he just couldn't... confuse the boy with the demons he had seen before.
Perhaps it's because of that beautiful appearance, no different from that of an ordinary human...
Perhaps it was because of the familiar scent of another human being on the other person...
It gave the girl a strange sense of intimacy.
She eventually convinced herself.
The reason she had this strange idea was that, to some extent, her senior brother Li was in the same boat as her.
Zhenzhu herself almost lost her life at the hands of the demon.
As for Senior Brother Li, if it weren't for the burden of his demonic bloodline...
She wouldn't be so out of place with her fellow disciples, nor would she end up in a completely lonely situation.
If he had a few friends of the same age, he wouldn't need to follow Senior Brother Yu around all day. Anyone with eyes could see that Senior Brother Yu's heart and soul were completely devoted to Senior Sister Shen...
Senior Sister Shen clearly did it on purpose.
It was originally just a matter of understanding the situation, and all that was needed was for Senior Sister Shen to nod her head.
Once the two are married, whether Li Xiao likes it or not, everything will be settled.
—That's how it was originally.
But everything changed overnight.
It should be said that everything has changed dramatically.
Upon learning that Senior Brother Yu might betray them, Zhen Zhu was immediately shocked and incredulous.
But after the initial shock...
Suddenly, the girl's heart was seized by a dark and unspeakable thought.
if……
If Senior Brother Yu really colluded with demons and betrayed the sect, does that mean he will never come back?
Admittedly, Yu Qingzhou had never mistreated Zhenzhu before; in fact, one could say he had treated the young girl well.
When I first arrived—
Ordinary days of spiritual practice—
Although they weren't the kind of people who were particularly warm and attentive, they provided a lot of genuine help.
only……
I wish I had been the one who met Li Xiao first.
Occasionally, such strange thoughts would suddenly flash through my mind.
Like a tiny feather falling into the heart of a lake, it can create ripples without making a sound.
Whenever such a thought arises, Zhenzhu can't help but reflect on herself, feeling ashamed of how she could have such a selfish idea.
But what if Senior Brother Yu really does...?
"It would be better if this kid could be more sociable."
"..."
I almost forgot where I was standing.
Zhen Zhu suddenly looked up, staring blankly at Master Chang who was speaking. She belatedly realized that she had just been caught eavesdropping.
A look of panic and fear immediately flashed across the girl's face.
Uncle Chang waved his hand gently, a relieved smile appearing on his rather troubled face.
"I was wondering how to tell you, but this makes things much easier."
"Huh?"
Upon hearing this, Zhenzhu felt puzzled and became increasingly uneasy.
"What do you mean, Master?"
"Hey, little girl, don't be nervous, it's really nothing serious. It's just..."
Master Chang paused for a moment, then straightened up slightly before continuing the conversation.
"That child is too dependent on his senior brother Yu. Although there are restrictions involved, it's not a long-term solution. He's stubborn and unwilling to open up to others. Once he's made up his mind, he'll stick to it until the end."
"Actually, Senior Brother Li—"
Zhenzhu couldn't help but murmur aloud.
He immediately shut up after realizing his rudeness.
Master Chang simply smiled.
"It's alright. I can tell from your old man that you genuinely care about this silly boy."
"I……"
Zhenzhu suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
What you think is one thing, but having it pointed out to your face is another.
Although as an elder, the other party didn't directly say it out loud.
"In the years he's been in the mountains, he hasn't made many friends, and you're the only peer he can truly talk to and genuinely care about."
She was the only one...
These words stirred something within Zhen Zhu.
yes.
And that is indeed the case.
As if she had suddenly realized this fact, a warm breeze filled her heart.
What Master Chang said next completely exceeded the girl's expectations.
He implored her, speaking in the tone of a kind elder rather than a condescending teacher, to ask Zhen Zhu to spend more time talking to Li Xiao.
That's all...
On the way back, Zhenzhu felt lightheaded.
She never imagined that she would gain the approval of her elders so easily.
Reason and emotion are pulling at each other.
Ultimately, they succumbed to the more irreversible path.
However, on the surface, the girl could still tell herself in a grand manner that she was doing this because she was asked to do it by someone else.
Moreover, by standing with Master Chang and the entire sect, he was undoubtedly on the side of justice.
And so she completely forgot the fear she had felt when she met the boy's dark eyes earlier.
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