A man dressed in white stepped out from the darkness, gazing at that delicate face that had captivated countless men’s hearts. The smile on his lips contained not just admiration, but also a hint of bitterness.
“I just wanted to go out for a walk. I don’t understand what you’re talking about. I’m very tired, I’ll go rest first.”
Her voice was light and ethereal, devoid of any emotion. Yet the glistening in Cheng Ying’s eyes betrayed her most genuine inner thoughts.
“Don’t you fear that I might kill him? I know he’s here too!”
Seeing Cheng Ying preparing to leave, Ye Kong made no move to stop her, though his voice carried a chilling edge. Why did that man always occupy Ying’er’s heart, while he himself had never managed to enter this woman’s heart?
“Is that a threat?” Behind Ye Kong’s back, a faint sweat had formed. He vaguely sensed a glint of killing intent flashing through Cheng Ying’s eyes—an anger she had genuinely revealed.
“Not a threat. I just want to talk with you, and more importantly, I want to know what’s so special about that man, that the perfect goddess in everyone’s heart has kept him in her heart all along!”
Letting out a bitter smile, Ye Kong realized that this time he might have truly offended Cheng Ying. Although this woman had always been indifferent toward him, at least they had been half-friends before. He hadn’t expected that a single careless word would touch the most sensitive part of Cheng Ying’s heart.
“No matter what kind of person he is, you will never equal him. When I was at my lowest point and left the Cheng family, it was he who gave me all the support.”
Her eyes, usually calm, now shimmered with tenderness. Cheng Ying smiled gently, and at this moment, even Ye Kong—who had grown accustomed to her breathtaking beauty—was momentarily stunned.
“If you’ve already chosen to leave, why do you still think about him so much? You should know, he already has more than one woman by his side. Perhaps he has long forgotten you!”
Ye Kong tried to comfort her, unable to bear seeing Cheng Ying caught in the pain of the past. He didn’t understand what was so special about that man that had so many beautiful women surrounding him.
“You will never understand love, because like me, you’re also pitiable, bound by your family’s arrangements.”
“No, I’ve never felt pitiable. If I could have you, I would be the happiest man. Don’t you know how much I’ve always liked you, even…”
For the first time, Ye Kong’s face showed a rare excitement. Thoughts he had never expressed before seemed to break through a dam in an instant. Yet looking into Cheng Ying’s still-calm gaze, his words abruptly stopped.
In the past, Ye Kong had once believed Cheng Ying loved him. With his excellence, no man could ever take her from him. Thus, he had been confident for years, never imagining that this heavenly beauty had never even acknowledged him in her heart.
“Love is mutual affection; it cannot be forced. Without experiencing profound love, perhaps you will never understand. When I decided to leave, using another man as a cover, only I knew how much pain I endured!”
A tear silently slid down her cheek. Cheng Ying’s eyes lost some of their usual brilliance, like a perfect work of art that had lost its soul. Ye Kong’s heart twisted painfully. This was the first time he had seen this woman reveal her vulnerable side.
“Perhaps I really don’t understand. But that guy is truly lucky!”
A flash of cold light vanished as quickly as it appeared. Ye Kong realized that maybe only by making that man disappear could he bring Ying’s heart back. Otherwise, he would never win this woman’s heart.
“If you harm him, I will kill you. Don’t doubt my strength—remember, I’ve also reached the peak of the Late Heaven Stage!”
As if reading Ye Kong’s thoughts, Cheng Ying’s face turned icy. She would not allow anyone to harm Xiao Yufan. If this man dared to hurt Xiao Yufan, she would retaliate with interest.
Ye Kong’s expression instantly turned grim. He could sense Cheng Ying’s coldness. It seemed this woman was truly furious. If before he hadn’t been too afraid, now he could feel that her strength was in no way inferior to his. If he acted against Xiao Yufan, he would truly face her wrath.
“You’re only hurting yourself more. Forgetting him would actually be a good thing…”
“These are things even the elders of the Guardian Temple couldn’t achieve. Do you really think a few words from you could make me give up?”
A mocking smile curled Cheng Ying’s lips, though she didn’t turn around. Back then, those people had forced her to leave the one she loved most, and she had compromised once. Now, she would compromise with no one.
If the Cheng family and the Qingling Divine Temple dared to harm her man, she wouldn’t mind showing everyone her determination.
Watching her graceful figure disappear into the room, Ye Kong’s expression darkened and lightened unpredictably. Though confident in his own strength, he had no confidence in defeating Cheng Ying.
“Perhaps all I can do for you is this much. I believe my man is definitely the best. If you rule the world, if you reach the peak, would you allow me to stand by your side?”
For the rarest of times, Cheng Ying’s beautiful face flushed slightly with a charming pink. The Xiao Yufan of today was no longer the same as a few years ago. If only she had shown a little more trust back then, perhaps even the Guardian Temple wouldn’t have been able to confine her.
Though the goddess might harbor feelings, she didn’t know whether the king across the river still reciprocated. Cheng Ying didn’t know whether Xiao Yufan still loved her after so many years. These past two days, she had secretly observed that man who haunted her dreams, but the women surrounding him had shaken her confidence.
Whether it was Yingluo or Xian’er, each was a rare beauty, and Cheng Ying knew the status of Huangpu Xian’er—the youngest princess of the hidden Huangpu family—was naturally not low.
Even such exceptional women were willing to share their affections with others. Cheng Ying didn’t know, after years of separation and so many changes, how much love Xiao Yufan still held for her.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yufan remained unaware that a woman was so deeply concerned for him. After receiving his grandfather’s profound guidance, he had entered a period of retreat. He believed this transformation would significantly elevate his power.
A single day passed in an instant. The much-anticipated Ancient Martial Arts Tournament arrived as scheduled. Within just a few days, nearly all the hidden aristocratic families across China had gathered in the hidden Guo family residence, including the hidden Huangpu family, the hidden Tan family, and the hidden Situ family. A new era of ancient martial arts had begun. As martial arts revived and powerful cultivators returned to the world, it was destined to be a grand occasion. Besides some transcendent hidden families, even the guardian temples had appeared before the public’s eyes…
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