Chapter 880: Life and Death in a Single Thought

As Yun Che, in a fit of rage, was about to incinerate them all, Su Hengshan's urgent shout echoed from behind him: "Yun Che! Don't hurt them!"

Yun Che paused for a moment, but only for a moment. Immediately, his palm churned, and flames mercilessly crashed down from the sky.

"Stop... stop!!!" Su Hengshan's roar almost tore his throat. Instantly, the sky-filling flames froze. Yun Che's expression flickered. Amidst everyone's terrified gasp, he finally took a deep breath and withdrew his hand.

The flames above completely extinguished. The members of Tai Su Sect were instantly freed from the terrifying inferno. They all collapsed to the ground, trembling uncontrollably.

Su Hengshan's lips trembled, and then he said, full of pain, "Please let them go. The Four Words of Seven Star Divine Mansion are too terrifying. They were forced into this, not just to save their own lives, but for their entire families... their crime is not punishable by death."

"Not punishable by death?" Yun Che's voice was low and heavy. "Do you deserve to die, then? Did those disciples whose bodies lay in the bamboo forest deserve to die?"

"Those truly loyal to the Tai Su Sect suffered a tragic end, yet these individuals who betrayed our sect, abandoned their ancestors, harmed their own Sect Master and fellow disciples, and acted as dogs for others — they deserve to live?"

Remembering the fellow disciples who had fallen in pools of blood while defending him, Su Hengshan's heart ached, and his eyes welled up with tears. "Today's outcome is primarily due to my incompetence as Sect Master and my failure to properly guide my son. They were unkind to me, but I cannot be unjust to them. Too many have already died in the Tai Su Sect... Let them go..."

Yun Che's words made all the Tai Su Sect disciples lower their heads, while Su Hengshan's words made them tremble all over, filled with such shame that they wished they could die, almost burying their faces in the ground.

Since Yun Che had already withdrawn the Golden Crow Flame, he had no intention of continuing to slaughter them all. He swept a cold gaze around him, his tone exceptionally grim: "Kowtow ten times to Sect Master Su, and then, you can get out of here! From now on, never say you are members of the Tai Su Sect!"

Yun Che's words were undoubtedly an act of pardon. All the Tai Su Sect disciples immediately knelt down in a panic, kowtowing deeply to Su Hengshan. Their kowtows were exceptionally heavy, not only for their lives but also out of gratitude and profound shame in their hearts.

"Sect Master, we have wronged you. We are worse than pigs and dogs. We will never have the face to see you again. Please... take good care of yourself!"

"Sect Master, for your immense grace of forgiveness, we will surely repay you in the next life, even if we must be oxen or horses..."

Some Tai Su Sect disciples were already in tears after finishing their kowtows, while others repeatedly kowtowed dozens of times, hitting their heads until they bled. Some bowed their heads to Su Hengshan in farewell, while others couldn't bring themselves to meet his gaze.

Soon, they retreated, then quickly scattered in all directions. Yun Che watched them flee with cold eyes, offering no hindrance.

Su Haoran, Su Hengyue, and Su Wangji huddled together, cautiously trying to escape with the others, but a heavy, chilling aura suddenly pressed down, instantly freezing them in place.

"Did I say you could leave?" Yun Che's grim and piercing voice echoed from behind them.

The three trembled as they turned around, their legs so weak they felt ready to give way and collapse to the ground. Their lips moved repeatedly, but not a single sound escaped.

"Su Hengyue, Su Wangji," Yun Che's gaze was sinister as he stared at the two pale-faced men. "Six years ago, you two colluded with Blackwood Fortress to coerce Sect Master Su. Your actions were tantamount to treason, and even if you had been struck down on the spot, it would have been entirely justified. Yet, Sect Master Su, out of consideration for fellow disciples, not only refrained from severe punishment but completely overlooked the matter, holding no one accountable. Not only did you show no gratitude, but you dared to commit such an ungrateful act again!"

"And you, Su Haoran." Yun Che's teeth clenched slightly. "As the Young Sect Master of the Tai Su Sect, for your own selfish gain, you harmed fellow disciples, you harmed your own father, and you destroyed centuries of the Tai Su Sect's foundation! You are utterly devoid of conscience, worse than pigs and dogs, and you deserve to be struck down by divine thunder! What face do you have left to live in this world?!"

Su Haoran's entire body trembled, and then he suddenly fell to his knees, kowtowing repeatedly to Su Hengshan. "Father, I was wrong... I truly know I was wrong, please save me... save me... Father!!"

"You still have the face to call him 'Father'?" Yun Che slowly approached them, dozens of methods for them to die in the greatest agony already flashing through his mind. "For Sect Master Su to have a son like you, and for Ling'er to have a brother like you, is truly the greatest shame of their lives!"

"You can leave now." From behind Yun Che, Su Hengshan's despondent voice rang out, making Yun Che's body suddenly stiffen.

"Never appear before me again... I never want to see you." Su Hengshan's eyes were downcast, his voice faint, as if he were talking to himself.

Yun Che's footsteps halted, his expression hardening.

Su Hengshan's words made Su Haoran and the other two almost disbelieve their ears. The three of them stared wide-eyed, trembling as they rose, tentatively backing away a few steps... then, like three dogs with their tails cut off, they scrambled and fled frantically.

Yun Che remained standing rooted to the spot, making no move to pursue them. After a long moment, he finally turned around and walked over to Su Hengshan.

Su Hengshan sat slumped on the ground, his head bowed amidst his disheveled hair. He mumbled, "Yun Che, you must think very little of me in my current state... Hehehe..." He let out a bitter laugh. "If it were any other Sect Master, they would have long wished to tear them into a thousand pieces with their own hands, but I... I just can't bring myself to do it..."

"Over the years, I always thought of our shared lineage and fellow disciples, compromising at every step, retreating at every turn, believing that I could soften everyone's hearts. I truly... am utterly unfit to be this Sect Master. If it weren't for my soft-heartedness and indecisiveness, the Tai Su Sect would not have come to this point under my leadership today..."

Su Hengshan's shoulders twitched, and hot tears streamed down his face.

Yun Che remained silent, not refuting Su Hengshan's words, for he had already recognized Su Hengshan's soft-heartedness six years prior.

"Sect Master Su, you may indeed not be suited to be the head of a sect, but at the very least, you are a respectable man, and everything you have done in this life has been with a clear conscience," Yun Che said sincerely.

Su Hengshan's shoulders stopped twitching. He lifted his head and fixed his gaze on Yun Che. "Yun Che, did you come for Ling'er this time? Do you still... still remember what you said six years ago? Are you still willing... to take care of Ling'er?"

Six years ago, Yun Che had already given him a sense of being too distant and ethereal. Today's Yun Che was even more powerful, to an extent he could never comprehend in his lifetime. And with a long six years having passed in between, he truly didn't dare to hope that such a man would still be willing to marry his ordinary daughter.

"I remember, of course, I remember," Yun Che nodded with great emphasis. "I haven't been back these past few years because... because of irresistible circumstances. But in these six years, I have worried about Ling'er every single moment. Don't worry, I will go find Ling'er immediately. No matter what, even if I have to risk my life, I will bring Ling'er back safely."

"Good... good!" Su Hengshan's eyes welled up with emotion again. He could feel the unadulterated sincerity and concern in Yun Che's voice and gaze... From the moment Yun Che was willing to kill all the people from the Seven Star Divine Mansion for him and for Su Ling'er, he had no reason not to trust him.

Su Hengshan reached out and took a small crystal from his chest. The crystal was rhombic-shaped, emitting a faint purple light.

"What is this?" Yun Che asked subconsciously.

"This is Ling'er's Soul Crystal," Su Hengshan said softly, then carefully and gently placed it into Yun Che's hand, his demeanor so solemn it seemed he was entrusting his entire world to him. "As long as the Soul Crystal is not shattered, it proves that Ling'er is still alive. If Ling'er is nearby, its light will shine even brighter... Please, you must find Ling'er."

Ling'er's... Soul Crystal!

Yun Che gently held it in his hand and nodded solemnly. "Alright, don't worry. I will definitely bring Ling'er back safely."

"Good, good," Su Hengshan nodded gently, a relieved smile finally gracing his face. "I'm entrusting Ling'er... to you."

Just as Yun Che was about to respond, he suddenly felt that something was amiss with those words.

The moment he became alarmed, Su Hengshan's entire body trembled. His pupils lost their color, and his body slowly slumped to the side, a stream of crimson blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"Sect Master Su!!"

Yun Che was greatly alarmed. He shot out his hand like lightning to support Su Hengshan's body, only to find that his life force was rapidly dissipating, like water gushing out.

This was... self-severing his heart meridians!

Yun Che understood instantly: Su Hengshan wanted him to go rescue Su Ling'er without any distractions. He feared that his continued existence would become a burden, delaying Yun Che's time to save Su Ling'er.

Furthermore, he had released the Tai Su Sect disciples and felt he had failed his deceased fellow members. He also believed that the current plight of the Tai Su Sect was entirely his responsibility...

Thus, after entrusting Su Ling'er's safety to Yun Che, he chose to sever his own heart meridians and die.

"Sect Master Su... Sect Master Su!!"

Yun Che roared repeatedly, but Su Hengshan was completely unresponsive. This instantly reminded Yun Che of the time beneath the Sword Handling Platform at Heavenly Sword Villa, when his grandfather, Yun Canghai, had chosen to sever his own heart meridians so that Yun Che could see the light of day again...

Yun Canghai had done it for him.

Su Hengshan was doing it for Su Ling'er.

He might not have been a qualified Sect Master, but he was undeniably a great father.

Back then, he couldn't save his grandfather and could only kneel and weep in agony...

Now, facing a similar situation, how could he allow such a thing to repeat itself?!

Yun Che clenched his teeth. He fully activated the Great Way of the Buddha, and a golden pagoda instantly appeared above his head. He pressed one hand on Su Hengshan's brow and the other on his chest, vigorously channeling pure heaven and earth energy into his body. He desperately tried to lock down Su Hengshan's last vestiges of life force and attempted to slowly repair his severed life meridians.

"Sect Master Su... don't die! Ling'er is still waiting for you! Don't die!" Yun Che roared, sweat beading and rolling down his forehead.

In his previous life, Ling'er had devoted herself to him, her eyes always holding an unbreakable melancholy.

How could he allow the Ling'er he had miraculously regained to become that way again!

Half an hour passed. Under the miraculous power of the Desolate God, Su Hengshan's life force stopped dissipating and even began a slow recovery. Su Hengshan slightly opened his eyes, and his dim pupils slowly regained their focus. His lips trembled, and he let out a hoarse voice: "Don't... mind me... save Ling'er... quickly save Ling'er..."

"I will definitely bring Ling'er back!" Yun Che roared, his brows furrowed deeply. "But you absolutely cannot die! If you die, what will become of Ling'er?! Will you leave her an orphan, without father or mother, all alone in the world?!"

"I..." Su Hengshan's face was etched with pain.

Su Hengshan believed himself to be a dying man, utterly unable to care for Su Ling'er for the rest of her life... Yun Che knew this deeply, but Su Hengshan did not. If Su Hengshan also died, then Su Ling'er would truly be all alone in the world, with no one to depend on.

"Sect Master Su, if you truly want what's best for Ling'er, then live! Do you think what you're doing is great?! Nonsense! Do you want Ling'er to lose her father at such a young age and then live her entire life in the painful shadow of her father dying by severing his own heart meridians? This is utterly selfish! And foolish!"

"You might not want a father-daughter reunion, but Ling'er does... she definitely does!!"

Yun Che's furious roar caused Su Hengshan's pupils to continuously contract, gradually becoming hazy. His eyes then closed, and he fell into unconsciousness once more.

However, Yun Che clearly felt that Su Hengshan's will to die had completely vanished, replaced by a powerful will to live.