**Chapter 493: No Regrets for Them**
“Now I look all obedient and humble because I have no friends to let me be this spoiled, right?”
“Maybe I’m not entirely wrong. Perhaps I truly have changed—completely changed.”
“I can’t be spoiled anymore.”
Master Youyue mumbled to herself, staring at the ground, “I didn’t keep my promise. I didn’t protect that child properly.”
Her mind sank into memories from the past:
Ling: “Hey, Xiaobai, don’t be mad, okay?”
Bai: “Ignoring you! I hate Xiaoling!”
Ling: “How could you….”
Ah, those were the days when she was being all sulky.
It was just a little while before Xiaoling went missing.
Bai: “Why did you win the game, Xiaoling! Hmph!”
Ling: “B-but you said we should play seriously…”
Bai: “If I can’t even win at a game, how am I ever going to win against you, Xiaoling!”
Ling: “N-no! You’re very brave, you always protect me well.”
Bai: “Liar! Your cultivation level is higher than mine; you’re just pretending to lose to me!”
Ling: “Um, that’s not true…”
How boring to lose at something she was good at just because of a silly reason.
Seriously spoiled, that’s why they fought.
Ling: “So, um, tomorrow…”
Bai: “Hmph!”
Xiaoling hadn’t done anything wrong but still tried to make up.
Ling: “Tomorrow, let’s go flower picking in the mountains, okay?”
Bai: “I’m not going!”
Ling: “Not going…?”
Bai: “Didn’t I say I’m not going? I’m not playing with Xiaoling anymore!”
Ling: “Xiaobai… didn’t you say you really wanted to see the flowers? There are so many pretty flowers in the mountains.”
Bai: “…”
Ling: “Tomorrow, I’ll pick a lot of beautiful flowers for you…”
Ling: “All of them will be for you, Xiaobai… Can we make up?”
Ling: “I’ll pick lots and lots of pretty—”
And just like that, Xiaoling set off.
And she never came back.
What’s more, the next day, Master Youyue had to leave Tianhai City with her family because of family matters.
Out of spite, she didn’t even think to say goodbye to Chen Leling.
When she finally returned, it was three years later, and she learned that Chen Leling had gone missing that day.
Of course, in hindsight, it seemed that Chen Leling accidentally stumbled upon the Chen family’s secret in the mountains and got dealt with. But back then, to Master Youyue, it was a huge shock.
She had failed to protect her.
She should have promised to go to the mountains with her.
If they had gone together, Xiaoling wouldn’t have faced danger alone.
For all these years, Master Youyue might have been trapped by this incident.
It was her fault!
She couldn’t even protect the person she cherished.
It was her fault!
She was the bad kid here; she was the one who deserved punishment.
It was her fault!
With this mindset, she couldn’t protect anything, let alone save the world.
Yun Zhonghe noticed how dark and heavy her eyes were.
It was as if she was breeding inner demons.
Who would’ve thought that the aloof and indifferent Master Youyue would be so stubborn?
Regret, self-reflection, self-mockery, and scrutiny.
Even Yun Zhonghe understood her heavy feelings.
But he didn’t know what to say to comfort her; he felt like he wasn’t qualified enough.
The almighty Master was now so fragile.
Master Youyue took a deep breath, “I’ve said so much, I’m sorry.”
Yun Zhonghe shook his head, signaling it was okay.
Master Youyue didn’t know why she was willing to share all this with him, a mere disciple and junior.
She must really be sick in the head.
Even if Yun Zhonghe was now Chen Leling’s guardian, she didn’t have to spill everything.
But…
Maybe it was because Yun Zhonghe had always given her a very reliable impression, so she unconsciously relied on him.
“Sorry, don’t think about making me and Xiaoling friends again.”
“Just give it up, I’ve taken everything from that child…”
“How is it possible to still be friends with her?”
…
Although she’d sent out the things made by Leling, it didn’t seem to lift Master Youyue’s spirits.
If anything, it only brought more heavy news.
As he walked back alone, Yun Zhonghe felt a whirlwind of emotions.
Perhaps it was due to the rift between the two close to him that he felt so conflicted as the middleman.
—How is it possible to still be friends with her?
—I’ve taken everything from that child…
In that instant, it hit Yun Zhonghe what Master Youyue had said.
She said she took everything from Leling.
But ah…
Wasn’t she the one who had taken away Leling’s last remaining thing, her most important friend?
Yun Zhonghe halted, feeling he should do something.
Since she claimed to be Leling’s guardian, as her guardian, he definitely needed to fulfill Leling’s wish!
With that thought, Yun Zhonghe’s expression grew serious.
He was supposed to go back but instead headed toward the Scripture Pavilion of the Outer Gate.
……
Calm down, he thought.
How could he be so anxious and expect to grasp the Way?
Master Youyue attempted to calm her spirit while in her cave dwelling, but waves of pain erupted from deep within her heart.
Fragments of those memories surged up like a flood, breaking free from their confines, and attacked her, making it hard for Master Youyue to focus at all.
Her face turned pale.
No, no… I can’t keep falling apart like this.
She kept telling herself, but if only it were that easy to calm her heart.
Yet, the moment of the final battle was approaching, and here she was, falling apart. How could she face everyone?
Her state of mind was incredibly poor.
Master Youyue even started to doubt herself.
She abandoned her meditation, stood up, and looked around her cave, but didn’t see Mu Jixue.
“This kid, where has she run off to be lazy?”
But just then, she faintly heard sounds from outside her cave.
“Shh, keep it down, don’t let my master hear.” It was her disciple, apparently talking to someone outside.
“Aren’t you saying Master Youyue is in meditation?” That voice… wasn’t it Yun Zhonghe?
What were they sneaking around doing at this hour?
Master Youyue quietly approached the cave entrance.
Through the weak light, she glimpsed an unusual sight outside.
So, she pushed the door open, and the space was engulfed in a bright white light.
As her eyes slowly opened, she was met with a breathtaking scene—a flower sea shimmering with moonlight!
An awe-inspiring sight!
