Han Lie stood frozen, silence his only answer.
Li Susu seemed to understand his unspoken turmoil. Overcome with desperation, she stumbled forward, almost tripping over her elaborate robes, and threw herself into his arms, embracing him tightly.
“Lie’er, I’m sorry, I’m sorry… All these years, you’ve suffered so much. Mother thought… Mother thought…”
Li Susu’s tears soaked through the fabric of Han Lie’s Daoist robe, wetting his shoulder.
“Thought I had died in the Heavenly Void Sect?” Han Lie finished the sentence for her, his voice flat.
“Mother didn’t… I didn’t mean that!” Li Susu shook her head repeatedly against his chest, her heart filled with immense, crushing guilt. “In this lifetime, Mother has never owed anyone anything, except you… Lie’er, your father and I owe you far too much.”
“I’m sorry, Lie’er. Mother is truly sorry!”
“No need to apologize.”
Han Lie gently but firmly pushed Li Susu away. His own eyes were unknowingly moist, glistening with unshed tears.
“I never blamed you for the choice you made back then. You chose to sacrifice me to ensure the family’s survival and continuation. It was a logical decision.”
He took a breath, steeling himself. “As far as I’m concerned, there is no debt between us anymore.”
“I came to participate in this martial competition only because the sect sent me. That is all.”
Having said his piece, Han Lie turned around and began walking forward, step by step, away from the life he could have had.
“Lie’er! Lie’er!”
No matter how Li Susu called out from behind, her voice cracking with grief, Han Lie did not look back.
If Li Susu could have seen his face at that moment, she would have discovered that the instant he turned away, his tears had burst forth like a breached dam, streaming down his weathered cheeks.
Han Lie walked with resolute determination, yet his retreating figure carried a profound, aching loneliness.
“I’m sorry, Lie’er… Please forgive your mother…”
Li Susu collapsed to her knees, powerless to do anything but watch as her son gradually faded into the distance until he disappeared from sight.
She was helpless. Just like back then, when to secure the family’s survival, she and Han Zhentian could only sell Han Lie into the hell of the Heavenly Void Sect.
Elsewhere.
After walking several miles until he was sure no one was watching, Han Lie finally wiped away his tears. He summoned his energy and soared into the air, flying towards the Heavenly Void Sect’s mountain gate.
“Daoist Han, is it necessary to leave in such a hurry?”
Suddenly, a figure caught up, blocking Han Lie’s path mid-air.
It was Xiao Yuruo.
“Is Fairy Xiao here to kill This Senior? If so, This Senior doesn’t mind playing with you.”
Facing Xiao Yuruo again, Han Lie wasted no words. His black blade immediately materialized in his grip, humming with lethal intent.
Perhaps there are no truly righteous or evil factions in this world. But Immortals and Demons are truly opposing camps, sworn enemies by nature.
Therefore, after Xiao Yuruo learned his true identity as a disciple of a Demonic Sect, Han Lie held no illusions about her intentions.
Xiao Yuruo had removed the bamboo hat she wore at Clear Breeze House.
She revealed a breathtakingly beautiful face, framed by long black hair that seemed to flow like a waterfall. She exuded an ethereal aura, her bearing extraordinary, like a banished immortal who had stepped out of a painting to grace the mortal world.
Any ordinary male cultivator would surely be captivated, dropping to his knees to worship.
Han Lie, however, tightened his grip on his blade.
“Daoist Han, I know your mood may not be good right now, but there is no enmity between us. It seems unnecessary to resort to blades so quickly.”
Xiao Yuruo’s red lips curved slightly upward. She seemed to harbor no hostility.
“What? Aren’t you disciples of so-called righteous immortal sects always viewing demonic sect disciples as thorns in your side?” Han Lie sneered. “Since you’re not here to hunt This Senior down, are you here to mock me instead?”
“Daoist views people rather narrowly,” Xiao Yuruo replied softly. “Though we haven’t known each other long, through these past few days of observation, I dare say you are definitely not a genuine demonic cultivator.”
“You are a man of true feeling and character, Daoist Han.”
She took a step closer on the air. “Earlier you said you came from the Servant Disciple division of the Heavenly Void Sect. Combined with your relationship with City Lord Han and his wife, this confirms my conjecture.”
“As for what kind of people end up in the Servant Disciple division… I might know even better than you.”
Han Lie raised his eyelids slightly. “If This Senior were an inexperienced youth, perhaps your honeyed words would have broken through my defenses.”
“Fairy might as well speak plainly. What exactly is your purpose in intercepting me halfway?”
“Before that…”
Xiao Yuruo clenched her jade-like hand, and the sword at her waist unsheathed itself with a melodic ring.
“Daoist Han, I suspect you must really want to vent some of those pent-up emotions right now.”
“How about I accompany you in a sparring match?”
Hearing this, Han Lie gazed deeply at Xiao Yuruo.
The more beautiful a woman is, the more dangerous she is. Yin Susu’s words truly were an eternal truth.
Xiao Yuruo seemed to have completely seen through his thoughts. She knew that right now, no matter what she said, he probably wouldn’t listen.
Therefore, she offered a distraction—a way to vent the complex, obscure turmoil raging within him.
She was too good at this.
“Gladly.”
After a long moment of contemplation, Han Lie accepted the challenge.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sounds of metal clashing rang out across the sky above the deep mountains.
Han Lie and Xiao Yuruo became two streaks of lightning, engaging in fierce collision after collision. They battled fiercely for three days and three nights. The ancient forests spanning dozens of miles were devastated, trees shattered and earth upturned.
Yet, neither could determine a victor.
Finally, after one last intense clash that shook the air itself, both parties tacitly withdrew their weapons simultaneously.
They landed at the edge of a pristine lake hidden deep within the ruins of the forest.
“Only at the mid-Golden Core stage, yet able to fight me for so long without defeat. Daoist’s cultivation is far deeper than I imagined,” Xiao Yuruo spoke first, her tone filled with genuine admiration.
At first, she thought she would need to hold back. But as the battle progressed, she was astonished to discover that Han Lie’s actual combat strength was terrifying.
“This Senior merely benefited from Fairy holding back.”
Han Lie smoothed his robes. “Now you can state your purpose.”
Xiao Yuruo pondered for a moment before speaking seriously. “With Daoist’s level of cultivation, remaining as a Servant Disciple in the Heavenly Void Sect must be stifling.”
“My purpose remains as before: if Daoist is willing, I can recommend you for entry into the Myriad Sword Pavilion.”
“The Heavenly Void Sect carries many unbearable memories for you, doesn’t it? Surely Daoist wishes to escape that place?”
Han Lie neither confirmed nor denied it. He looked at her, his gaze piercing.
“That place indeed holds many unbearable memories for me, but it also contains all my life’s history.”
“This Senior simply does not understand… why is Fairy Xiao so persistent in wanting me to join the Myriad Sword Pavilion?”
Xiao Yuruo offered an enchantingly gentle smile, her eyes curving into crescents.
“It’s very simple. Because I fell in love with you at first sight, Daoist.”
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