Chapter 281: Brother and Sister Parting

Chu Yuechan flew rapidly through the air, her beautiful eyes unfocused and vacant. She ignored Chu Yueli's urgent shouts from behind, appearing utterly distraught, as if she had lost her soul.

Finally, she landed on the Sword Management Platform. Standing before the enormous Heaven Punishing Sword, she gazed at its towering blade reaching into the clouds and its majestic, oceanic aura. Her usually icy eyes, cheeks, and cherry-petal lips began to tremble. "Dead... dead... you're actually dead... dead..."

"Sister!" Chu Yueli finally caught up. Chu Yuechan's unprecedented state deeply unsettled her. Grabbing Chu Yuechan's arm, she frantically asked, "Sister, what's wrong with you? What's happened? Please tell me..."

Chu Yuechan showed no reaction to her presence or voice. She stared blankly at the Heaven Punishing Sword, muttering distractedly, "Why did you die... why... why!!"

Bang!!

A surge of frigid, violent power erupted from Chu Yuechan, pushing Chu Yueli far away. Chu Yuechan charged towards the Heaven Punishing Sword, and countless ice lotuses exploded madly against its blade, emitting mournful, shattering cries. Each of her attacks unleashed every ounce of power she could muster. The release of a nearly berserk Throne-level force generated a terrifying spectacle. Icy winds swirled across the entire Sword Management Platform, and ice crystals filled the air...

"Why... why did you die..."

"I don't believe it... Come out... Come out!!"

"Why did you die... why... Did you forget what you told me... You clearly told me you were a real man... How could you die... Come out... Come out!!"

"Weren't you going to conquer me... Weren't you going to find me at the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace... So why did you die... Come out..."

"...Please come out... If only you'd come out... I'll agree to anything you say... Come out... Please, come out...!"

Countless ice crystals hammered against the Heaven Punishing Sword like a torrential downpour, yet they failed to even slightly budge it, let alone leave a single scratch on its blade. The deafening impacts were accompanied by an incredibly mournful swirling wind. Chu Yuechan's voice evolved from despair and heartbreak to resentment and fury, finally dissolving into the most sorrowful sobs and pleas...

In that moment, she was no longer the Ice Chan Fairy, whom men worldwide could only admire in dreams, daring not to look directly at her. She was merely an ordinary woman, her very soul ripped away...

"Sis... sister..." Watching Chu Yuechan's actions, sensing her profound grief, and listening to her voice, Chu Yueli was utterly stunned. No matter how unbelievable it seemed, she couldn't help but consider an utterly absurd possibility... And when that possibility surfaced in her mind, she nearly had a breakdown.

The enormous commotion at the Sword Management Platform quickly drew attention from the Heavenly Sword Villa. Ling Yuefeng and several elders, who were nearby, rushed over, their eyes widening in disbelief at the scene before them.

With the arrival of outsiders, Chu Yueli's heart tightened. She quickly stepped forward, tightly embraced Chu Yuechan, and cried out, "Sister, stop hitting it! That's the Heaven Punishing Sword; it's impossible to move... Yun Che is dead... He's already dead!!"

Chu Yuechan's body stiffened, and her actions abruptly ceased... Chu Yueli's words were like the final, cruel straw, transforming her last shred of hope into utter despair.

"Pfft..."

A long stream of blood spurted from Chu Yuechan's mouth, splattering onto the Heaven Punishing Sword. Her eyes closed, all consciousness fading into a blank despair, and she slowly toppled backward.

"Sister!!"

Chu Yueli cried out in alarm. After a moment of stunned disorientation, she quickly picked up the unconscious Chu Yuechan and flew towards the courtyard.

"Ice Yueli Fairy, what happened?" Ling Yuefeng quickly asked.

Chu Yueli, however, seemed not to hear him. She flew far away with Chu Yuechan, quickly vanishing from their sight.

Seeing the puddle of crimson blood on the Heaven Punishing Sword, Ling Yuefeng's mind was instantly thrown into turmoil. He urgently commanded, "Quick! As soon as Granny Jiumu finishes healing Princess Cang Yue, go immediately to the courtyard where Ice Chan Fairy is staying!!"

Yun Che's death caused regret for most people, but it was just that—regret. However, the chain of reactions triggered by his death was something they had absolutely not anticipated.

Chu Yuechan had overestimated herself. She had believed her accidental union with Yun Che was merely a forced necessity. She thought that, with her disposition, she could completely sever all emotional ties with him. She thought she had come to Heavenly Sword Villa to see Yun Che one last time, to settle all their past grievances, and thereafter, have no further worldly attachments.

But she understood herself too little, and she understood her role as a woman even less.

In the Dragon God Trial Realm, those five months of close embrace, five months of living and eating together, five months of watching him constantly stand before her, cutting through all dangers, five months of him willingly enduring wounds to protect her from even a single scratch... these experiences were enough to completely melt even a woman with a heart of stone.

Furthermore, Chu Yuechan had never been heartless. And in this world, apart from the dead and the living dead, it's impossible for anyone to be completely devoid of emotion. She merely lived in the frigid Ice Cloud Immortal Palace, her emotions frozen by the environment and her sect's profound cultivation methods. But once these frozen emotions began to melt and release, the heat generated would far surpass that of ordinary people, and even her own imagination...

When the news of Yun Che's death arrived, and the pain and despair of her soul being instantly torn apart assailed her, she finally understood this truth. But it was already too late...

"Junior Sister Xia, are you alright? Are you... seriously hurt?"

Shui Wushuang and Wu Xuexin stayed by Xia Qingyue's side, asking worriedly. After hearing the news of Yun Che's death, Xia Qingyue had seemed utterly lost, staring blankly ahead for a long time without moving. They had thought that Xia Qingyue's marriage to Yun Che was merely to repay a kindness and fulfill her father's wish, and that she harbored no true feelings for him; at most, his death would be a regrettable event. But Xia Qingyue's current reaction completely exceeded their expectations.

After their repeated calls, a faint focus finally returned to Xia Qingyue's beautiful eyes. Her chest began to heave violently. After a long pause, she softly shook her head. "I... I'm alright."

She slowly rose, her movements as stiff as a puppet on strings. The moment she stood, her foot faltered, and she nearly fell to the ground. Shui Wushuang and Wu Xuexin quickly supported her, their gazes filled with complex worry.

"What Master said... is it all true?" Xia Qingyue asked, her voice light as smoke.

Both nodded simultaneously. Shui Wushuang said, "He saved your brother... He pushed your brother away, but he himself fell into the demon's hands and was struck by the demon's palm... almost completely piercing his body. He died on the spot, and even his body vanished with the demon..."

"Don't say another word." The last vestiges of color completely drained from Xia Qingyue's face, leaving her as pale as someone suffering from a severe illness. Her hands clutched the hem of her clothes, her slender fingers white at every knuckle. Her entire being was consumed by a desperate sense of powerlessness, and her heart felt as if pierced by a thousand needles, making life unbearable.

Why did it turn out this way...

Was I truly unqualified to be a wife...

Why didn't I choose to go to the Sword Management Platform with him...

She murmured these thoughts to herself, then gently pulled free from their supportive hands. With slow steps, she walked forward, her eyes vacant, saying, "I want to go to the Sword Management Platform... by myself."

Shui Wushuang and Wu Xuexin exchanged glances, seeing the same unease in each other's eyes. They didn't stop her, nor did they accompany her. After Xia Qingyue had gone some distance, Wu Xuexin sighed softly, "It seems our ancestors were absolutely right; matters of the heart between men and women truly cannot be touched... They are too harmful. This might even become an inner demon for Junior Sister Xia."

Shui Wushuang said, "I never thought Junior Sister Xia would actually develop feelings for Yun Che. Ah, well, perhaps it's for the best. With Yun Che dead, this inappropriate root of emotion will be completely severed..."

Leaving the courtyard, Xia Qingyue wandered aimlessly for a while. Suddenly, she saw Xia Yuanba's figure ahead. He walked forward mechanically, his head bowed, like a zombie, with two streaks of dried blood still on his face. When Xia Qingyue saw him, he also saw her. Every previous time he had seen her, he would run over with a face full of joy, shouting "Sister." But this time, fear appeared on his face. He stumbled backward frantically, then let out a low growl, turned, and fled.

"Yuanba!"

Xia Qingyue's eyes trembled. She flew after him, landing in front of Xia Yuanba. He stopped, holding his hands up defensively, and yelled in a hoarse voice, "No... Don't come near me... Don't approach me!!"

"Yuanba, what's wrong?" Xia Yuanba's current state twisted Xia Qingyue's heart even more. She knew that Yun Che's death must have pained Xia Yuanba the most. He was not only suffering from internal grief but also from millions of times more painful guilt and regret.

"Don't come near me!" Xia Yuanba's body recoiled, tears streaming down his face like springs. "I already caused Brother-in-law's death, I don't want to cause Sister's death too. Please don't come over, don't approach me!"

"Yuanba, don't be like this, it's not your fault..."

"No! It's my fault! It's my mistake!" Xia Yuanba knelt to the ground with a *thud*, crying out in agony. "It was this good-for-nothing, me, who killed Brother-in-law... It was all me... It was all me... Why wasn't it me who died... Why didn't I die sooner! Ah!!"

As he wept, he raised his fists and pounded his head violently, each blow incredibly heavy. Xia Qingyue took a step forward: "Yuanba, don't..."

"Don't come near me!!" Xia Yuanba scrambled backward, his hands held defensively in front of him. Tears streamed relentlessly down his face, his voice hoarse and pained. "You're my sister, my family. Brother-in-law was my brother, also my family... Brother-in-law grew stronger and stronger, becoming someone I admired. He brought a good-for-nothing like me to the Azure Wind Profound Palace, which I'd always dreamed of, and to the Azure Wind Ranking Tournament, which I never even dared to imagine before... When I was bullied, no matter how strong the other person was, he would severely teach them a lesson, making them never dare to bully me again..."

"I complacently enjoyed everything Brother-in-law brought me. His glory was my glory, because he was my dearest brother-in-law... But... but what did I do for him... What did I do... I caused Brother-in-law's death... I caused Brother-in-law's death, oh... I'm a good-for-nothing... A good-for-nothing worse than pigs and dogs... The good-for-nothing who killed Brother-in-law... Good-for-nothing!!!"

"Yuanba..." Xia Qingyue bit her lip, unsure how to comfort Xia Yuanba's now shattered heart.

Xia Yuanba's anguish lasted for a very long time. He cried like a desperate child, and his continuous tears quickly soaked a large patch of the ground. Xia Qingyue remained silent, quietly watching his tears... Crying was fine; at least it allowed some of the pain in his heart to be released...

The wind rustled mournfully. After an unknown amount of time, Xia Yuanba's anguished cries finally ceased, and gradually, even his sobs faded away completely. He knelt on the ground, his hair hanging loose. After a long silence, he slowly rose from the ground and suddenly said softly, "Sister, I'm leaving."

"Leaving? Where are you going? Are you going home?"

"No, I'm not going home. I have no face to go home..." Xia Yuanba smiled sadly. "A good-for-nothing like me, even if I go home, I'll have to live under Father's protection, and perhaps one day, I'll even cause Father's death... I don't want to be a good-for-nothing anymore, I don't want to cause the death of my loved ones around me..."

"I'm leaving... I'm going to seek a power that will make me no longer a good-for-nothing... I want to become strong... I never want to be just a good-for-nothing again..."

Xia Yuanba raised his hand and wiped away his tears. Then, with a determined smile, he said, "Sister, don't worry about me. I promise you, I will not die... Because this life I have now was exchanged for Brother-in-law's life. No matter what, I will not allow myself to die... I only ask that you don't stop me, and don't look for me... One day, I will return... When I return, I will use my own strength to protect you, Sister, protect Father... protect everyone I want to protect..."

Xia Qingyue: "..."

Xia Yuanba left. His back to Xia Qingyue, his steps were exceptionally slow yet incredibly resolute. He carried nothing, not even a single Yellow Profound Coin. No one knew where he was going, perhaps not even he himself. And no one could truly know or understand the immense sorrow, pain, self-reproach, regret... and the burning desire for strength that filled the heart of this sixteen-year-old boy in that moment...

Xia Qingyue did not pursue him. She stared blankly at Xia Yuanba's receding back. Through her hazy, misty eyes, she saw her brother, usually so simple, cheerful, carefree, and full of enthusiasm, growing up strong.

"Yuanba, take care. I'll wait for your return." Xia Qingyue murmured softly, pressing her hand to her chest and closing her eyes. "Yuanba... thank you for teaching me strength..."