44: Chapter 44 A Harmonious Pact, the Empress Takes the Bait

Reputation?

What else could possibly be related to a woman's reputation?

A terrifying thought instantly and wildly sprouted in Phoenix Unrivaled's mind.

Her gaze subconsciously swept back and forth between Leng Hanshuang and Su Yun.

One was the icy Sect Master whose temperament had drastically changed, now harboring a deep aversion toward her beloved.

The other was a mysterious Disciple with the talent of a Prodigy, who shared an ambiguous relationship with her and knew the inside story.

Coupled with Liu Yuqin's remark about it "concerning the Sect Master's reputation," these clues connected together, causing Phoenix Unrivaled's heart to sink abruptly.

She didn't dare think any further.

If her suspicion was true, then things were dire; this was no longer a simple incident, but a catastrophe.

"Yuqin, shut up!" Leng Hanshuang suddenly turned around and harshly rebuked Liu Yuqin. "Who told you to run your mouth?"

A hint of panic and shameful indignation surfaced on her cold, beautiful face.

To Phoenix Unrivaled, this appearance was the perfect proof of a "guilty conscience."

"Revered Master... I didn't mean to."

Rebuked, Liu Yuqin's eyes reddened as she lowered her head in grievance.

"I just couldn't bear to see you suffer such great injustice all by yourself..."

"You're still talking!"

"Enough, Sister."

Phoenix Unrivaled finally couldn't help but stand up, interrupting their argument.

Her expression had become incredibly solemn as she looked at Leng Hanshuang and asked, emphasizing every word.

"Sister, tell me, is your primal yin... already gone?"

These words were like a bolt from the blue, exploding within the great hall.

Beside them, Lin Rou's hand holding a teacup trembled violently. She didn't even notice the tea spilling all over the floor, her eyes wide with utter disbelief.

The Sect Master's primal yin is gone?

How is that possible?

Hadn't she sworn to remain pure for Lin Aotian?

Lin Rou's gaze also involuntarily drifted toward the innocent-looking Su Yun, her heart instantly churning with stormy waves.

You little rascal!

I thought you had only won over Yuqin and me, but I never expected you'd even... When did you make your move? How did I not know at all?

In an instant, a strong surge of bitterness and jealousy flooded Lin Rou's heart.

Upon hearing this blunt questioning, Leng Hanshuang froze on the spot.

The color drained from her face bit by bit until she was as pale as paper, her body trembling uncontrollably.

She didn't admit it, but she didn't deny it either. And that was the best answer.

"As I thought..."

Phoenix Unrivaled gave a miserable laugh, feeling the world spinning around her, nearly losing her footing.

The thing she feared most had happened after all.

That pure and noble sister of hers, who had waited faithfully for years for a vague promise, had actually lost her virginity?

Who on earth did it?!

Her gaze shot like a sharp sword toward the only man present—Su Yun.

"Is it you?"

Her shrill voice was filled with endless rage and Killing Intent.

"Was it you, you little beast? Did you use some despicable means to defile her?"

A terrifying Killing Intent locked onto Su Yun.

However, before he could speak, Leng Hanshuang suddenly blocked the way in front of Su Yun, spreading her arms to shield him firmly behind her.

Her ice-blue Phoenix eyes stared fixedly at Phoenix Unrivaled, filled with determination and madness.

"It has nothing to do with him! Everything was of my own free will!"

"What?"

This time, not only Phoenix Unrivaled, but even Lin Rou and Liu Yuqin were completely dumbfounded.

Of her own free will?

The Sect Master actually said it was voluntary?

Was this still the Leng Hanshuang who deeply loved Lin Aotian?

"Voluntary?"

Phoenix Unrivaled could hardly believe her ears. She pointed at Su Yun and roared hysterically at Leng Hanshuang.

"Sister, have you gone mad? How could you possibly be willing? Have you forgotten Aotian? Have you forgotten his promise to you?"

"Lin Aotian?"

Hearing that name, Leng Hanshuang was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on; she instantly bristled and laughed with desolation and irony.

"Promise? His promise was to have me guard this mess for him in the Lower Realm, being tortured by cold poison until I could neither live nor die? His promise was for him to enjoy himself with other women under the moon and flowers in the Upper Realm?"

"Phoenix Unrivaled, stop deceiving yourself! That man doesn't love us at all; we are merely pawns he uses to stabilize his rear and consolidate his power!"

Every word Leng Hanshuang spoke seemed to carry blood, stabbing deeply into Phoenix Unrivaled's heart, making her beautiful face grow paler and paler.

"No... that's not it..."

Phoenix Unrivaled subconsciously retorted, but it sounded so weak and hollow.

Because she knew that what Leng Hanshuang said was very likely true.

Lin Aotian was deep and extremely ambitious; his feelings for them were definitely mixed with too much exploitation and calculation.

"I gave everything for him, but what about him? He only thinks of his Ascension. Even when I was afflicted by cold poison, he didn't offer a single word of concern! If not for him, how would I have ended up like this today?"

Leng Hanshuang's voice carried a sob, and her weak, helpless appearance was enough to make any man feel pity.

Su Yun watched her Oscar-level acting and chuckled inwardly, knowing it was time for him to step in and reap the rewards.

He slowly stepped out from behind Leng Hanshuang and gently pulled the still "acting" woman into his embrace.

Then he looked up, gazing at the completely disoriented Phoenix Unrivaled with eyes full of guilt and self-reproach.

"Her Majesty the Empress, please stop pressuring the Sect Master."

His voice was hoarse and heavy.

"It's all my fault. Back then, the cold poison attacked the Sect Master's heart, leaving her life hanging by a thread. All Medicinal Pills had lost their effect."

"I couldn't bear to see her perish, so I used my Lin family's ancestral secret technique. Using my own Nine Yang Sacred Body as a medium, I drew the cold poison from her body into mine. This process required the union of Yin and Yang to be completed. So..."

Su Yun didn't continue, but the meaning was already self-evident.

This half-true, half-false explanation instantly made the entire story seem "reasonable."

So, it wasn't defilement, but to save her life?

Phoenix Unrivaled was stunned.

She looked at the man before her, who held Leng Hanshuang tightly in his arms, his face etched with deep affection and guilt.

The towering rage in her heart inexplicably dissipated by more than half, replaced by an extremely complex emotion.

There was sympathy, understanding, and even a hint of envy.

Indeed, when Frost was at her most desperate and helpless, the one by her side wasn't Lin Aotian, far away in the Upper Realm.

It was the man before her eyes who was willing to sacrifice himself for her.

Comparing the two, the difference was stark.

If it were her, she probably would have made the same choice in that situation.

"So, you two..." Phoenix Unrivaled's voice was a bit dry.

"Afterward, I intended to just leave and pretend none of this had ever happened."

Su Yun sighed, a helpless, bitter smile appearing on his face.

"However, the Sect Master refused to let me go. She said she was already mine."

Su Yun once again hesitated to speak, vividly portraying the image of a "victim" who was forced into a corner yet remained deeply affectionate.

And in his arms, Leng Hanshuang appropriately buried her head deeper, looking ashamed to face anyone yet clearly acquiescing.

This performance in tandem was seamless.

Looking at the two "gazing affectionately" at each other, Phoenix Unrivaled felt as if her heart had been violently wrenched by something.

An inexplicable bitterness and unwillingness surged wildly from the depths of her heart.

Why?

Why could Frost find a man willing to give everything for her?

But what about me?

I, the Empress of a nation, can only wait bitterly for that hypocritical man.

And I even have to help him keep an eye on another woman?

Why?!

At this moment, the scale in her heart named "loyalty" tilted violently for the first time.