Zhang Yuan stepped out of the private room, his mind swirling with concern as he searched for Xue Hua.
He spotted her slender figure walking toward the large balcony at the end of the corridor, her silver hair gleaming in the warm evening light.
"Hua..." he called out softly, but she didn't stop.
Xue Hua reached the balcony and leaned against the railing, gazing out at the sprawling city of Northern Pearl bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun.
Her shoulders were tense, and Zhang Yuan could see her body shaking slightly and he quickened his pace, approaching her.
"Hua..." he called again, standing beside her now.
Leaning back on the railing, he looked at her... Her eyes, usually calm and icy, were shimmering with unshed tears.
She quickly turned her face away from him, embarrassed to show her crying face.
Raising a trembling hand, she brushed a tear away with her fingers. "Master..." she muttered, her voice shaky and soft.
With a soft sigh, Zhang Yuan patted her head and muttered "I am sorry.. Hua."
Xue Hua shook her head and replied "No Master.. It is not your fault... so you don't have to apologize."
Now, how can she kill Hong Shi if she becomes her master's disciple?
With a heavy sigh, she spoke "The only reason I am still alive right now is to get my revenge against Hong Shi for killing my family... and master, now..."
Zhang Yuan stayed silent and continued patting her head, ruffling her silver hair.
Tears welled up in Xue Hua's eyes again as she thought of her mother, the promise she had made to her... to avenge their deaths.
But now, with Hong Shi becoming someone close to her beloved master, the very man who had saved her from despair, how could she fulfill that promise?
'Mom... forgive me,' she thought as guilt twisted her insides.
Her fingers trembled, and she clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms. 'I can't fulfill my promise to you...'
'If I kill Hong Shi, I will hurt Master. How can I hurt him? He is the only reason I survived this far... b-but...'
She turned her head to look at him, tears scorching down her cheeks "M-Master, what should I do... I want to kill her.. but..."
Zhang Yuan's eyes quivered seeing her tears and even he didn't know how to console her.
*tap* *tap* He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the sound of footsteps coming down the corridor.
Xue Hua's body stiffened, and before he could react, she buried her face in his chest, clutching his robes tightly to hide her tear-soaked face, so no one would see her face.
Surprised, Zhang Yuan instinctively wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer. His eyes flickered toward the corridor, where two elderly cultivators were walking out of a nearby private room.
Seeing the two of them embracing on the balcony, one of the elders chuckled. "Haha, it seems like they're lovers," he said with a teasing tone.
"Come on, don't disturb the youth," the other replied, smiling fondly as they walked past.
As the old people crossed them, Xue Hua's eyes trembled feeling the warmth of his hug which reminded her of her mother.
Her fingers curled up in his robes as she brawled her eyes out, starting to cry "MOTHER!! Waaahhhhhhhh!!" she wailed, the sorrow she had kept buried deep inside finally breaking free.
Her cries were filled with years of bottled-up pain and anguish.
Her fingers clutched his robes as if she were afraid to let go, afraid to lose the only connection she had left to the warmth she once knew.
Ming Yuelin's hand faltered but she held on as the table also began to tremble.. it had not broken till now because Feng Xinyi had coated the table with her profound energy.
If not, the table would have shattered to pieces by now.
Ming Yuelin's teeth clenched as she regained her footing, her eyes blazing with determination.
She wouldn't let Hong Shi win this so easily. "Tch... you've got quite the mouth on you, cunt." Ming Yuelin muttered, her voice strained as she held her ground.
Long Yue, watching from the sidelines, could feel the intensity of their battle, her eyes flicking between them, waiting to see who would come out on top.
Ming Yuelin's muscles burned, but she refused to give in. "Don't think that just because you have better resources, you're automatically better.. I am also a genius." she spat, pushing with everything she had.
Hong Shi's eyes narrowed, her smirk faltering ever so slightly as she felt the strain on her arm. "Big words for someone who's barely holding on," she shot back, though there was a hint of frustration in her voice now.
She hadn't expected Ming Yuelin to be this strong.
But considering it is her Master's disciple, she expected this much.
The table beneath them began to creak as the pressure of their battle continued to mount.
Sweat dripped down Ming Yuelin's brow, her muscles screaming in protest, but she didn't care.
She couldn't let Hong Shi win. Not after everything.
"Give up," Hong Shi hissed, her own arm shaking slightly as she pushed back against Ming Yuelin.
"You can't win this."
But Ming Yuelin's grin only widened, her eyes gleaming with defiance. "We'll see about that," she growled.
Her fingers tightened around Hong Shi's hand, her entire body trembling with effort.
Hong Shi's smirk had all but vanished now, replaced by a look of grim determination.
She hadn't expected Ming Yuelin to be this tenacious, and it was starting to wear on her.
Her arm ached, her muscles burning with effort, but she refused to lose.
"You're stronger than I thought," Hong Shi admitted through gritted teeth, her voice strained. "But it won't be enough."
"We'll see," Ming Yuelin replied, her voice low and steady, despite the exhaustion creeping into her limbs.
She refused to back down and her gaze sharpened as she gathered her remaining strength, ready for one final push.
A red glint passed through her eyes and her gaze condensed.
Hong Shi's eyes widened as she felt the sudden surge of power from Ming Yuelin. "What the-" but it was too late.
"AHHHHHH!!!" Ming Yuelin roared in defiance, slamming Hong Shi's hand down onto the table with a resounding *thud* that echoed through the room like a thunderclap.
For a moment, there was silence.
Hong Shi stared in disbelief at her hand, now pinned to the table, before her gaze flickered up to meet Ming Yuelin's triumphant smirk.
"Looks like I won," Ming Yuelin said breathlessly, her chest heaving from the effort.
Feng Xinyi was surprised as she turned to Ming Yuelin 'Another genius...'
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I hope you guys liked this chapter!