225: Let's break off our relationship.

Gu Yingying's Horse-Chopping Saber swept in again, wreathed in a violent Astral Wind.

Just as the blade was about to strike, Cao Bu sidestepped, reached out, and grabbed her wrist in one fluid motion.

"Clang!"

The Horse-Chopping Saber flew from her hand and embedded itself deep into the wall, the hilt vibrating with a low hum.

"Yingying, listen to me first."

Cao Bu gripped her wrist, trying to keep his voice as steady as possible.

"I won't listen! You're a liar! A hypocrite!"

Gu Yingying's eyes were bloodshot, tears welling at the rims, as her other hand gathered Spiritual Energy and struck toward Cao Bu's face.

Cao Bu's gaze sharpened, and he quickly raised his other hand to block the palm strike.

At the same time, under Gu Yingying's startled gaze, he leaned down and kissed her lips, which were trembling with rage.

"Mmph—!"

Gu Yingying's whole body jolted, and all her angry curses were caught in her throat.

She pushed desperately against Cao Bu's firm chest, but it was to no avail.

This kiss carried an overbearing dominance that brooked no resistance, instantly overwhelming her fire-filled mind.

Suddenly, memories of the Peach Blossom Forest came flooding back.

Amidst the fluttering petals, she had been the one to stand on her tiptoes and kiss him.

He had said: There is no right or wrong in feelings themselves; only by following your heart can you find true happiness.

He had promised: I won't let anyone bully you ever again.

Those words, those looks, and those gentle touches clashed wildly with the scene before her that had caused her breakdown.

For a moment, she was in a daze, not knowing what to do.

Cao Bu felt the body in his arms slowly soften from its rigid state, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against hers, letting their breaths intertwine.

"Yingying, calm down. Do you remember the Peach Blossom Forest?"

"You said you loved me, using every ounce of your courage."

"You said that even if you had to use death as a threat, you would convince your mother, just so we could be together."

"Were those words all lies? Are you going to negate all your feelings for me, and even try to kill me, just because you saw something you couldn't understand?"

Gu Yingying's pupils contracted, large tears rolled down her cheeks, and her breathing became rapid.

The vows of the Peach Blossom Forest and the betrayal before her eyes tore at her mind, making her feel as if her heart had snapped in two.

Cao Bu continued in an alluring voice, his fingers gently brushing her cheek with a familiar and intimate motion:

"Your mother was also just following her heart, just like you did back then, breaking free from those worldly shackles."

"Neither of us wanted to hurt you, but feelings aren't something that can be controlled just because you want them to be."

"Didn't you also say back then that while it was clearly wrong to fall for your Brother-in-law-to-be, you couldn't help yourself?"

"Shouldn't the current you understand me even better?"

"Yingying, you love me, don't you?"

"If you love me, shouldn't you try to understand instead of pointing a blade at the two people you love most?"

"True love is both possession and tolerance, especially when this love has grown so deep it cannot be severed."

Gu Yingying's eyes fluctuated violently.

Under his words, her heart was a tangled mess.

Those words completely shattered her existing perceptions, then used the vows of the Peach Blossom Forest and the essence of love to piece together a twisted logic, leading her to gradually accept the reality.

It was true.

Hadn't she been the one who recklessly initiated things and pushed him down?

Then what right did she have now to criticize her mother's actions?

Love was the ultimate form of possession and protection.

But what if the object of that possession was inherently connected to another person who couldn't be let go?

She looked at Cao Bu's face so close to hers, wanting to hate him but finding she couldn't.

Under his forceful kiss and alluring words, her anger and pain gradually dissipated.

Finally, her tense body softened completely, and she leaned into Cao Bu's embrace, weeping silently, no longer shouting for blood.

Cao Bu gently patted her back and looked at the flustered Su Li nearby, giving her a reassuring look.

Su Li had just breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the storm had finally passed.

But in the next moment.

Gu Yingying suddenly lifted her head from Cao Bu's chest, her sharp gaze piercing toward Su Li!

That look was filled with the fire of betrayal and naked hostility!

Her train of thought had cleared from a bizarre angle and completely shifted direction.

For Cao Bu, she understood his lack of self-control and how feelings were beyond one's power.

But for Su Li.

This rival who had stolen her man!

That was a different matter entirely.

"Su Li! You dare steal my man! I'll kill you!"

Gu Yingying's voice was bone-chillingly cold, filled with intense hatred.

As soon as she finished speaking, her figure blurred as she bypassed Cao Bu and struck a fierce palm toward Su Li!

Her target was clear, her strike ruthless, without the slightest hesitation.

"Yingying! You're crazy!"

Su Li was pale with shock, never expecting Gu Yingying to turn her spearhead entirely toward her.

Although her cultivation was high, she felt guilty toward Gu Yingying and could only retreat helplessly.

"Stop!"

Cao Bu barked, trying to intervene.

"Cao Bu, get out of the way! This is between her and me!"

Gu Yingying seemed to have found an outlet, transferring all the rage she couldn't vent on Cao Bu onto Su Li.

"Su Li! Don't you dare hide if you've got the guts!"

Su Li easily dodged a palm strike aimed straight at her face.

Her face was pale as she couldn't help but call out to Cao Bu for help: "Cao Bu! Stop her, quickly!"

Cao Bu's gaze turned sharp as he watched the chaotic scene.

The next moment.

"Boom!"

A majestic Quasi-Emperors Might crashed down, firmly enveloping the entire room.

Gu Yingying and Su Li's movements froze simultaneously, their Spiritual Energy circulation becoming incredibly sluggish.

Cao Bu instantly appeared behind the two of them, his voice low and deep:

"Since reasoning is useless, I'll solve this my way."

Ten days later.

Cao Bu sat upright on the edge of the bed, his clothes neat and tidy.

Below, Gu Yingying and Su Li knelt on the floor, listening quietly.

"Have you had enough?"

"Now, remember this."

"From now on, you are not allowed to be hostile toward each other, let alone draw weapons."

"Home is not a battlefield."

"If there is a next time..." He paused, his tone turning cold: "I don't mind using more time and more thorough methods to make sure you remember my, Cao Bu's, rules."

Su Li's expression was complex as she stole a cautious glance at Gu Yingying.

Gu Yingying bit her lip and snorted coldly, turning her face away.

Seeing this, Cao Bu hesitated for a moment before getting up and leaving the room.

This matter had to be resolved by the two of them; his interference would only be counterproductive.

Of course, he didn't go far, watching everything from the shadows.

To prevent any uncontrollable situations from arising.

After Cao Bu left, the room fell into a long silence.

Su Li tidied her slightly disheveled lapel, her gaze toward Gu Yingying incredibly complex.

There was guilt, embarrassment, and a hint of dazed relief after the ordeal.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know where to start.

She had thought she would accept all this quite calmly, but when the reality arrived, it was a different story.

Gu Yingying kept her head lowered, her thoughts unknown.

After a long while, she slowly looked up.

"Mother."

Su Li's heart skipped a beat.

"Yingying."

Gu Yingying turned to look at her, her tone terrifyingly calm: "Let's break off our relationship."