623: Lu Xueqi and Biyao (6)

The inside of the hall was so quiet that the faint breathing of the two women could be heard.

After a long while, Lu Xueqi finally raised her eyes and looked at Bi Yao. Her cold eyes reflected the light of the spiritual lamp, appearing exceptionally deep.

"Where the Dao lies, I shall go, though ten thousand may oppose me." Lu Xueqi's voice was soft, yet it carried a decisive power. "I saved you because you saved me first, and because your heart is inherently good, not that of a wicked person. This is the Dao within my heart; it has no absolute connection to how others perceive it or the views of the Righteous Path and the Demonic Path."

She paused and continued, "As for my sect... I will report everything clearly myself. Right and wrong, gratitude and resentment, I believe my Master and the Sect Head Senior Martial Uncle will make a fair judgment. If one is criticized and blamed for upholding their heart and doing what is righteous, then this Dao is not worth keeping."

These words, coming from the mouth of the cold and taciturn Lu Xueqi, carried immense weight.

A flicker of shock passed through Bi Yao's eyes. She hadn't expected Lu Xueqi to answer like this, so... firmly.

"But..." Bi Yao wanted to say something more.

"There are no buts." Lu Xueqi interrupted her, her tone still calm but brook no argument. "I have my own principles for how I act. You need not overthink it. Right now, the most important thing is for you to recover in peace. Only when your injuries are healed will you no longer be a 'burden,' truly be able to decide your own path, and... not fail everything Su Han has done for you."

She spoke the last sentence somewhat slowly, her gaze dropping slightly to avoid Bi Yao's eyes.

Bi Yao was stunned. Looking at Lu Xueqi's exceptionally beautiful yet expressionless profile, a surge of extremely complex and indescribable emotions suddenly rose in her heart.

There was admiration, gratitude, a hint of realization, and also... an unspeakable bitterness.

She understood.

Lu Xueqi staying behind certainly involved considerations for her injuries and an adherence to moral principles, but perhaps there was also a reason she might not even be clearly aware of herself—because of Su Han.

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

By staying, she was helping Bi Yao, but she was also helping Su Han, preventing him from falling into that state of despair again.

This intention was hidden very deep. Perhaps even Lu Xueqi herself hadn't looked into it, or perhaps it was just an instinct born of sect fellowship and camaraderie. But as a woman who also deeply loved that man, Bi Yao keenly captured that extremely subtle ripple hidden beneath the cold exterior.

"...I understand." Bi Yao finally said softly. She didn't try to persuade her further, but looked at Lu Xueqi and said earnestly, "Lu Xueqi, thank you. Truly."

This time, she did not call her "Miss Lu," but addressed her directly by name.

This was a form of recognition, an attitude of placing the other person on an equal, even respectable, level.

Lu Xueqi nodded slightly, accepting the thanks. Her face remained expressionless, but a very faint, almost invisible blush seemed to flash across the tips of her ears before quickly dissipating.

"Rest well. I'm going to check on Su Han." Lu Xueqi stood up and walked toward the hall door.

Before she pushed open the stone door, Bi Yao's voice rang out softly again, carrying a hint of exhaustion but sounding incredibly clear:

"Senior Sister Lu, you are a very, very good person. Su Han is lucky to have a fellow disciple like you."

Lu Xueqi's movement to push the door paused almost imperceptibly. Without looking back, she simply gave an "Mhm" and walked out, the stone door closing softly behind her.

Inside the hall, Bi Yao stared at the closed door, her eyes somewhat blank. After a long while, she sighed softly and closed her eyes. The smile on her lips carried a bit of bitterness, but also a sense of relief... Outside the hall was a corridor circling the tower, empty and quiet.

Su Han was leaning against the railing, lost in thought as he gazed at the vast sea of clouds outside the tower. Hearing the sound of the door opening, he immediately turned around.

"Senior Sister Lu, she..." Su Han looked at Lu Xueqi, his eyes filled with inquiry.

"She was tired and fell asleep again." Lu Xueqi walked to a spot not far from him and also stood by the railing, looking at the sea of clouds. "She just said some words of thanks and tried to persuade me to leave."

Hearing this, Su Han breathed a sigh of relief and then smiled wryly. "Yao'er... she just worries too much, always afraid of burdening others. Senior Sister Lu, please don't mind her."

"I don't," Lu Xueqi said calmly. "What she said is also the truth."

Su Han fell silent. He knew what Lu Xueqi was referring to. Bi Yao's identity would always be a massive chasm lying 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? Regarding the Sect Head Senior Martial Uncle and Master's side..."

"I have already used a secret method to send a message back to the mountain, briefly explaining the incidents at the East Sea and our current situation, though I didn't mention Miss Bi Yao's specific identity or the details of her injuries," Lu Xueqi said calmly. "The Sect Head Senior Martial Uncle replied, instructing me to act as I see fit. The priority is to ensure the safety of myself and my fellow disciples and to investigate the root cause of the East Sea's disturbances. Reporting back to the mountain can be delayed for a short while."

Su Han was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected Lu Xueqi to have already sent word back, and even less expected Immortal Master Dao Xuan's reply to be so... flexible. Perhaps this was related to the severity of the East Sea matter, or perhaps the Sect Head Immortal Master had an extraordinary level of trust in his prized grand-disciple.

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

"Wait," Lu Xueqi said succinctly. "Wait for Miss Bi Yao's condition to stabilize, wait for Elder Mu to further investigate if there are other connections between the Town Yue Tower and the East Sea, and also wait..." She looked at Su Han, "...for you to recover. There are many suspicious points regarding the East Sea matter. That mysterious Black Qi and the existence beneath the Abyss are definitely not ordinary. Since the Qingyun Sect is already involved, we must investigate until the truth comes out."

Su Han's expression turned solemn. "Senior Sister is right. The eeriness of that Black Qi and the horror of the Abyss are indeed unprecedented. I always feel that there might be a massive conspiracy hidden behind this matter."

The two of them began to converse in low voices about the details of the East Sea trip, as well as the origins and purposes of that eerie Black Qi and the abyssal creatures.

Lu Xueqi was knowledgeable and meticulous, often able to point out key issues incisively. Su Han had experienced it personally and had a better grasp of the details. The two complemented each other, gradually clarifying the threads of the East Sea events, but the core mysteries—the source of the Black Qi, the purpose of the abyssal creatures, and their connection to ancient legends—remained shrouded in mist.

"It's a pity Senior Shi is in a deep sleep, otherwise we might have learned more from him," Su Han said with some regret, glancing at the deep space inside the tower below.

"If the Opportunity hasn't arrived, there's no use forcing it." Lu Xueqi was quite indifferent. "The urgent matter is to improve our own strength. After this battle, I also feel my own inadequacies. The Spiritual Qi inside this Town Yue Tower is abundant, and with the advantage of the flow of time, it is an excellent place to Cultivate."

Su Han deeply agreed. During the East Sea trip, whether facing the Black Qi or the abyssal monsters, he had felt immense pressure. If Bi Yao hadn't sacrificed herself, the consequences would have been unthinkable. The desire to become stronger had never been as intense as it was at this moment.

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