“…”

“You… you know everything?”

Bai Ling’s face darkened, a trace of visible panic flashing in her eyes. The firelight flickered, casting long, menacing shadows around her.

“Saintess, does This Senior look like a fool to you?”

Han Lie stepped closer, his boots crunching softly on the dry leaves. One step at a time, he closed the distance, his presence looming larger with each stride.

“Let’s just say you were too indecisive. You had too many scruples. If you had been ruthless with This Senior from the start, you wouldn’t have ended up in this situation.”

At the beginning, Han Lie was only at the Qi Refining Stage. Bai Ling, already at the peak of Foundation Establishment, could have crushed him as easily as squashing an ant. But she had been too cautious, refusing to dirty her own hands.

To put it nicely, it was caution. To put it bluntly, it was weakness.

“You… what do you want!”

Faced with Han Lie’s relentless advance, Bai Ling retreated, her back hitting the rough bark of a tree. Her face was full of fear. She knew that with her current cultivation level, she was utterly helpless against him.

Han Lie stopped a few feet away, a playful, dangerous smile curling his lips.

“Saintess, you wouldn’t want the Sect Leader to know you’re a spy within the sect, would you?”

“What do you mean?” Bai Ling froze. Her mind raced. He hasn’t reported me yet? Does that mean… there is room for negotiation?

“I’m sorry… Old Man Lin, I’m sorry!”

The pressure was too much. Bai Ling’s psychological defenses shattered completely. She sank to the ground, squatting down and hugging her head, sobbing with immense guilt.

“I really didn’t want to do this to you! I had no choice, wuwuwu…”

“?”

A question mark practically appeared in Han Lie’s eyes.

This didn’t seem like an act. Recalling how downcast Bai Ling had looked when she returned from outside that day… it seemed she truly had her own difficulties.

Originally, Bai Ling’s troubles had nothing to do with him. But considering that Ye Qingxuan didn’t want to lose such a talented disciple…

Just as Han Lie hesitated, Bai Ling grabbed onto her last lifeline. She lifted her tear-streaked face and pleaded, “Old Man Lin, I’m sorry! Please, please help me!”

“How can I help you?” Han Lie frowned.

“I was forced! If I didn’t do this, my family…”

“Family?” Han Lie’s eyes narrowed. “Tell me everything truthfully. I’ll decide whether to help you after hearing your story.”

“Okay… listen to me!”

Bai Ling took a trembling breath. “My family originally sent me to the Sun Moon Sect. But… not long after I entered, they ordered me to infiltrate the Heavenly Void Sect as a spy. My mission was to obtain the cultivation method of the Yin Yang Demonic Art from my master.”

“They threatened me with my parents’ lives! With the lives of my entire clan! I had no choice!”

“If I didn’t come… they would kill my whole family!”

“I really didn’t mean to harm you, Old Man Lin! But once I’m exposed, all is lost. For my family’s sake, I had to do it!”

“Wuwuwu!”

Bai Ling cried pitifully, tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms in the rain.

“…”

Han Lie fell silent.

It sounded plausible. But there were holes. With Bai Ling’s near-ninth-grade heaven-defying spiritual veins, why would the Sun Moon Sect treat her like a disposable tool? Was a top-tier genius less valuable than a single cultivation manual?

Han Lie voiced his doubt.

Bai Ling sniffled, her voice hoarse. “That’s because… besides me, the Sun Moon Sect has another… a true genius with ninth-grade spiritual veins. I…”

Her voice broke. “I am just a sacrificial pawn!”

Hiss.

Han Lie sucked in a cold breath. Good heavens, why are all the monsters flocking to the Sun Moon Sect?

“Old Man Lin, please, don’t tell Master! She… she will kill me!” Bai Ling clung to Han Lie’s leg, her grip desperate.

Now, not only her life but her family’s lives were entirely in Han Lie’s hands.

However, Han Lie shook his head.

“Wh-why!” Bai Ling looked on the verge of collapse. “As long as… as long as you keep this secret, I’ll do anything you ask! Please!”

“It’s simple,” Han Lie said calmly. “Because the Sect Leader is already suspicious of you. Even if I help you keep the secret, you won’t be able to obtain the Yin Yang Demonic Art. You’ve already failed.”

“Dragging it out is meaningless. To save your family, you must confess everything to the Sect Leader.”

“I will explain your situation to her. If she is willing to forgive you, perhaps there is still hope for you and your family to survive. With the Sect Leader’s power, protecting your family might be possible.”

“No… she won’t! Master won’t forgive me!”

Pure terror filled Bai Ling’s eyes. She knew the stories. The Heavenly Void Sect dealt with spies mercilessly. And Ye Qingxuan? She was a notorious demon lord. Bai Ling didn’t dare to gamble.

“Calm down and think it over.” Han Lie sighed softly.

Comparing their situations, Bai Ling’s fate seemed even more tragic than his own. Her parents had chosen the wrong path for her, and now she was trapped between two colossal sects, a pawn in a game she couldn’t win.

“I thought the Heavenly Void Sect was ruthless enough; I never expected the Sun Moon Sect to be even more inhuman,” Han Lie muttered.

“Master… will Master really forgive me?”

After an hour of silence, Bai Ling finally raised her eyes again. She looked exhausted, broken.

“I won’t promise you that the Sect Leader will definitely forgive you,” Han Lie said honestly. “But from what she said during our conversations… I can tell she doesn’t want to lose you.”

“Besides, haven’t you caused no actual losses for our sect yet? As long as you go back, sincerely apologize, explain your difficulties, and swear absolute loyalty…”

“I believe there is room for negotiation.”

“…”

Bai Ling remained silent for a moment before whispering timidly.

“Actually… I have already caused losses for the sect.”

“?” Han Lie’s eyes widened. “Sister, you aren’t joking, right? What losses?”

Bai Ling looked down at her hands. “When I reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage, Master gave me a technique called the Ten Thousand Blood Pagoda Art.”

“Although it isn’t comparable to the Yin Yang Demonic Art, it is still a top-tier secret technique of the sect…”

She swallowed hard. “After mastering it, I made a copy… and gave it to the Sun Moon Sect. In exchange for my family’s temporary safety.”

“…”

Han Lie felt both angry and amused. “Congratulations, Saintess. The probability of forgiveness just dropped a few more points.”

“What… what should I do then?” Bai Ling’s voice trembled.

“What else can you do? Do you have any other choice?” Han Lie sighed. “Now you can only pray the Sect Leader won’t execute you on the spot.”

Bai Ling fell silent.

She knew he was right. Ahead of her lay an abyss. Confessing to Ye Qingxuan was the only path that offered even a sliver of light.

“Alright then… Old Man Lin…”

Bai Ling pleaded humbly, looking up at him like a drowning woman. “Your relationship with Master… it’s good, right? Can you help plead my case?”

She knew that Han Lie was the only person who could speak for her. Ye Qingxuan needed a reason to show mercy, a step down from her platform of authority. Han Lie was that step.

“Okay.” Han Lie agreed.

“Really… really? Thank you, Old Man Lin! I knew you wouldn’t be so heartless!” Bai Ling excitedly wiped the tears from her eyes, seeing a glimpse of hope.

“But…”

Han Lie’s tone suddenly shifted.

“What?” Bai Ling froze.

“I can help plead your case to the Sect Leader. But Saintess… how should we settle the account for your three attempts on my life?”

Han Lie’s expression turned serious. “You know how much effort I spent just to survive your schemes? This Senior cannot pretend these things never happened.”

Bai Ling was pitiable, yes. But wasn’t he pitiable too? If he didn’t possess the Pure Yang Sacred Body, he would be a corpse rotting in the ground right now. Debts must be paid.

“Old Man Lin, I’m sorry!” Bai Ling apologized solemnly. “You… tell me how I should compensate you.”

“Well,” Han Lie said slowly, a strange light in his eyes. “Saintess should know that the Yin Yang Demonic Art requires a specific method of cultivation. Last time you asked, I told you it was a Dual Cultivation technique.”

“So. Saintess, you need to assist my cultivation.”

He held up three fingers.

“You attempted to kill me three times. To repay this debt… you owe me three Dual Cultivation sessions.”

Han Lie’s tone was firm, brooking no argument.

Others might criticize him for taking advantage of her desperation, but he didn’t care. It wasn’t the first time he’d done such a thing. Didn’t his relationship with Ye Qingxuan start exactly the same way?