As if sensing Xiao Yufan’s gaze, Guo Chen suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of blood-red cold light vanishing in an instant. Yet, he remained motionless…
Xiao Yufan’s heart skipped a beat. This guy was actually this calm—was this still the same Guo Chen he once defeated effortlessly? Regardless of what had happened to this fellow, Xiao Yufan and the hidden members of the Guo family had reached a point of no return. Although Guo Chen’s transformation shocked him, what difference did it make?
Everyone from the hidden Guo family deserved to die. After dealing with this guy, it would be the entire Guo family’s turn!
Since Guo Chen didn’t step forward, Xiao Yufan naturally had no intention of provoking him. Standing alone atop the high platform, he appeared quite solitary. Having defeated four experts at the Later Heaven stage in succession had already made many people wary of him.
This certainly included members of the Guardian Temple. Nuotiangong might not have been the top figure in Jiugong Palace, but he was definitely among the top three. With someone of his caliber defeated, many people began to measure their own abilities carefully.
However, with Nuotiangong’s defeat, several individuals’ fighting spirits surged even more intensely!
Among them was Ye Kong. He was extremely eager to fight Xiao Yufan—not only because this man possessed sufficient strength to earn his respect, but also because of a woman, a woman for whom he would willingly sacrifice everything.
“If you hurt him, I will definitely kill you!”
This sentence painfully pierced Ye Kong’s heart. He knew all along that this man had always lingered in Cheng Ying’s heart, but he never realized that such feelings had gradually taken deep root in her heart over time.
Ye Kong’s confidence was well-founded. As the nominal top young expert of Qingling Temple, his strength was even slightly superior to Nuotiangong’s…
Of course, this was just a conservative estimate. With Qingling Temple’s ancient martial arts techniques and his formidable power, Ye Kong was confident he could defeat even an expert at the Half-Step Early Heaven stage. This wasn’t arrogance—it was self-assurance!
His gaze quietly shifted toward Cheng Ying’s location, and a gentle smile surfaced on Ye Kong’s lips. He loved Cheng Ying, deeply ever since childhood. Once, he had believed they were a pair of childhood sweethearts, but because of one man, their relationship had become so strained.
Ye Kong had never admitted defeat, and certainly not in matters of the heart!
After Cheng Ying returned, Ye Kong had always been by her side, hoping that one day he could completely melt this snow lotus flower. Yet, sometimes timely help mattered more than adding flowers to an already flourishing situation. During the hardest times in Cheng Ying’s life, it was that man who had stayed by her side for several years. That kind of bond ran extremely deep—very, very deep!
Xiao Yufan might not have known, but Ye Kong did. Ever since Cheng Ying returned, she had been longing for someone every single day, as if she had lost her very soul.
Even on the occasions when Cheng Ying left Qingling Temple to go north, it was for that man. Although Ye Kong refused to admit it, he had truly lost—at least in matters of love, he had lost to Xiao Yufan.
He wanted to leave an impression on Cheng Ying’s heart, yet from beginning to end, he had never succeeded.
“Perhaps you’ll be angry, but I still must prove to you—I will be even better than him, no matter how formidable his strength may be!”
Finally, Ye Kong made up his mind. He had to go up and properly confront Xiao Yufan. Nuotiangong was strong, but there was still a significant gap even among Later Heaven peak experts. Moreover, Ye Kong’s abilities weren’t limited to just that!
Suddenly, Ye Kong stood up from his seat at Qingling Temple, drawing many people’s attention—including Cheng Ying, who turned around as well.
Seeing Ye Kong’s expression, Cheng Ying’s delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed. Her white, delicate face revealed a hint of subtle anger as her teeth lightly bit her upper lip, but as always quiet, she said nothing.
Meeting Cheng Ying’s gaze, Ye Kong helplessly shook his head. It seemed this time, he had truly offended the little princess. But having made his choice, he would not retreat!
At this moment, Xiao Yufan’s gaze also shifted over, but it did not settle on Ye Kong. Instead, it was directed toward that exquisitely beautiful face…
In an instant, Xiao Yufan felt as if a thunderclap had exploded in his ears. Memories surged like smoke and mist before his eyes—heart-wrenching separation, their encounter at the wedding, the words Cheng Ying had carved in the cave, all flooding back!
Some emotions are indescribable, yet deeply imprinted in one’s heart. No matter what happened, in Xiao Yufan’s heart, there had always been a sacred place reserved solely for Cheng Ying.
“So, you’ve really come. This time, will you run away again?”
Slowly exhaling, Xiao Yufan thought silently. From the words Cheng Ying had left behind, he could sense that she had left with some hidden reason. Observing where she was seated now, he became even more convinced of this.
Qingling Temple—Cheng Ying was actually a member of the Guardian Temple. No wonder she had been unable to act freely…
As if sensing that tender gaze, Cheng Ying’s delicate body trembled slightly. Her beautiful eyes lowered, unwilling to directly meet his gaze. She feared she would cry, unable to contain the unbearable longing that pierced her heart, rushing forward to give this man a big embrace.
Seeing this scene, Ye Kong’s smile became even more bitter. Was that man really that extraordinary? To make Ying’er miss him so deeply. Unconsciously, his resentment toward Xiao Yufan deepened further.
Cheng Ying’s every move was clearly visible to Xiao Yufan, his gaze carrying a hint of infatuation. This woman had become even more remarkable than years ago, yet she had grown thinner. Thinking of this, his throat felt as if it were blocked.
It was his own stubborn pride that had been too strong, never considering this woman’s feelings. Even after her departure, he had never thought of anything related to her again, leaving all the suffering for Ying’er to bear alone.
Suddenly, Xiao Yufan’s heart trembled. This time, he had to get to the bottom of it. Even if it meant confronting the Guardian Temple, nothing would stop him from doing what he must!
Entirely overwhelmed by Cheng Ying’s presence once again, the feeling remained as vivid as ever. It was as if the two of them had undergone a destined cycle, going through twists and turns only to return to the starting point once more.
“Qingling Temple, and this guy who looks like a flower-guarding knight—I will prove to you all that Ying’er’s choice back then was not wrong!”
Finally, Xiao Yufan’s gaze settled on Ye Kong. Seeing the latter’s somewhat hostile look, he seemed to understand something and murmured softly.
Since someone bore ill feelings toward him, and was even from Qingling Temple, Xiao Yufan might as well put on a good show. If he threw out the fellow who had stepped forward from Qingling Temple, their expressions would surely be quite spectacular…
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