Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 279 277: Lin Qianyan's Concession

Lin Qianyan nestled in Pei Yuhang's arms, inhaling his scent—the same reassuring and wonderful scent from his youth. But the flames in her heart only burned hotter.

It was precisely because Brother Pei was so wonderful that her revulsion was so intense, knowing he had been defiled and had his first time stolen by those wicked, evil women.

'It was like a brand-new white garment she couldn't bear to wear, wanting to wait until she came of age to put it on in her most beautiful state.'

'But in the end, that white garment was snatched away by a group of wicked women who tore at it without a care, casually threw it on, and even took turns wearing it...'

'When she finally managed to get it back, the white garment was already filthy and soaked through, filled with scents that weren't her own.'

She secretly comforted herself. 'It's fine, it doesn't matter...'

'As long as I wash it clean, wash away the stains, wash away their scents, it'll be just like new.'

'But... that would never change the fact that the garment had already been trampled upon by others.'

This wasn't to say that Lin Qianyan was disgusted by Pei Yuhang for being unclean. She would never think of her Brother Pei that way. Her Dao Heart was clear and her perspective broad; she knew that the ones she should hate most were the people who had stolen that white garment from her!

'Now, the "white garment" that should have been hers is back. Even though it already has a new owner to cherish it, that doesn't matter...'

Lin Qianyan wouldn't think about Ye Liyuan right now.

She would find out from Pei Yuhang who the mastermind behind this whole tragedy was.

'All those lonely days and nights over the years, all the times I woke with a start from nightmares where I heard the sounds of Brother Pei being tormented...'

She would repay all this humiliation, with interest, to the true villains!

Lin Qianyan's body trembled slightly, and a flash of heartache crossed Pei Yuhang's eyes.

Just as he was about to tell Lin Qianyan the whole truth.

BUZZ—

Pei Yuhang felt an unprecedented chill in his chest. He let out a stifled grunt and pulled open his robe, revealing the Ice Heart Divine Jade, which had now turned pure black.

This jade was a treasure the Nameless Daoist had given Pei Yuhang to suppress the Evil Yang Fire Qi in his body. After mastering the Yang Emperor Heart Scripture, he basically no longer needed it and only wore it out of habit.

"Brother Pei, are you all right? Your chest is frostbitten!"

Lin Qianyan's worried voice rang out as she reached out to remove the blackened jade pendant.

"Qianqian, wait... This was a gift from my master."

Pei Yuhang stopped Lin Qianyan's delicate hand before she could destroy the Ice Heart Divine Jade.

He picked up the ice-cold black pendant, recalling the words the Nameless Daoist had vaguely told him all those years ago.

*"Yuhang, I asked an old friend from the Celestial Secret Pavilion for this Ice Heart Divine Jade for you. I also had that old blind man inscribe three Celestial Secret Techniques for divining fortune and misfortune. They might show you the way in the future and help you avoid disaster."*

'Just now... did Master's secret technique for divining fortune and misfortune just activate? Is this pure black jade a sign of great misfortune?!'

Pei Yuhang swallowed hard, his eyes filled with doubt.

To be honest, for all these years, he had thought his master had been tricked by that old blind man from the Celestial Secret Pavilion. After all, the Ice Heart Divine Jade's divination function had never once activated.

'It didn't even give the slightest warning when Shang Miaoyan came for me. Isn't all this romantic trouble I'm in now because of her?'

'That day was a clear turning point in my fate, a definite sign of great misfortune! If you don't even warn me about that, what good are you?!'

'Poor Master, he was definitely duped by that old blind man. After all, the old charlatans at the Celestial Secret Pavilion are the best at swindling people.'

But Pei Yuhang never expected... that the thing would actually work today.

And the omen of misfortune it gave seemed to be related to him telling Lin Qianyan... about the years he was toyed with by Shang Miaoyan.

It seemed that if he said anything, something irreversible would happen.

*"Qianqian is no longer the powerless girl who could only watch helplessly as you were taken away."*

*"I am the Jade Pool Saintess, a Void Refining Realm Great Cultivator! The women who once bullied you—I will make them pay their blood debt in blood, and their Divine Souls will be annihilated!"*

Lin Qianyan's furious, teeth-gritting voice echoed in Pei Yuhang's mind again. His pupils contracted as if he had just realized something.

'If I confess everything, Qianqian, in a fit of rage, will definitely not spare Shang Miaoyan. This will trigger a conflict between the two Sacred Lands, which will then spread throughout the entire Cultivation Realm. It could very well lead to a second great war between the righteous and demonic sects!'

Faintly, the stench of blood from the mountains of corpses and rivers of blood on the battlefield long ago seemed to fill Pei Yuhang's nostrils again.

As a High Tier Cultivator who had come from the battlefield, he understood better than anyone what a scene from Hell looked like.

"Brother Pei, Brother Pei, what's wrong?"

Seeing Pei Yuhang standing there dazed, Lin Qianyan's brow furrowed slightly, a trace of concern flashing in her eyes.

Her voice was soft, yet held a hint of urgency. "Brother Pei, Brother Pei, what's wrong?"

Pei Yuhang snapped back to his senses. His gaze flickered as he hid the complex emotions in his eyes. His fingers gently stroked the Ice Heart Divine Jade in his hand, and his voice was low and calm as he said:

"Oh... I-I'm fine. This Jade Pendant turning black is related to the Cultivation Technique I've been practicing recently. It's nothing serious, so you don't need to worry about it, Qianqian."

"As for the people who bullied me... Qianqian, how do you think I earned my title as a Sword Immortal? I've already avenged every grudge myself, one sword strike at a time, during the great war between the righteous and demonic sects."

"Now, I've completely severed ties with that unbearable past. Don't bring it up again in the future..."

Pei Yuhang silently put away the Ice Heart Divine Jade and put on his usual gentle smile.

Hearing this, a flash of guilt crossed Lin Qianyan's face.

"I'm sorry, Brother Pei. I got carried away and made you think about those unpleasant things again... It's good that you've moved past it."

As Lin Qianyan spoke, her fingertips traced down Pei Yuhang's arm, quietly reaching for his large hand. It seemed she wanted to slide her slender, pale fingertips between his, to interlace their fingers.

Startled by the tickle on the back of his hand, Pei Yuhang quickly pulled it away.

"Wait, Qianqian... We can't do this right now."

"Why not?"

Lin Qianyan took a step forward, her breath ghosting warmly against Pei Yuhang's ear as she whispered, "Brother Pei, I told you I'm not a petty woman. I don't mind Sister Liyuan."

"Actually, back when the Emperor summoned you to the capital to serve as an official, I had already made up my mind."

"You had a boundless future, so some powerful figure was bound to marry their daughter to you. I was just a humble country girl; I could never compete with them, nor could I dare to."

"So I thought to myself back then, at the very least, I must become your concubine. No matter what, I had to be your woman, to have some kind of status..."

Lin Qianyan's voice grew softer and softer, and her beautiful eyes welled up, growing misty.

Just as her lips were about to press against his, Pei Yuhang turned his head slightly, avoiding her advance.

Lin Qianyan opened her eyes, a flash of irritation in their beautiful depths.

"Brother Pei, what are you doing?"

Pei Yuhang gently pushed her delicate, Soft Jade-like body away from him. His voice, low and hoarse, was laced with distance and bitterness.

"Qianqian, when Liyuan and I became Dao Companions, we promised to give our hearts only to each other from that day forward, and to never betray one another..."

"Perhaps I'm no longer worthy of reciting such a vow of pure love, but at the very least, I must give Liyuan that sole title. I cannot betray her in this regard."

"Besides... Liyuan is someone who takes things very seriously. When we first got together, she told me she could never accept the mortal custom of having multiple wives and concubines. She would not accept you."

Pei Yuhang forced a smile and said softly to the noble Fairy before him:

"We... we missed our chance. We both have new lives now."

"Knowing now that you're not only alive, Qianqian, but also have a limitless future, I am already very gratified. As for anything more... I don't want to be greedy for more."

"...Is that all you have to say to me?"

At his words, the tender expression on Lin Qianyan's pretty face instantly froze. The smile in her eyes receded like the tide, replaced by an unconcealable coldness.

Her lips pressed into a thin line and her brow twitched, her heart filled with resentment and grievance.

'I, Lin Qianyan, am the one who is a match made in heaven with Brother Pei! Since when did I need someone else's permission to be with him?'

The tumultuous emotions in Lin Qianyan's heart were about to burst from her chest. She felt she had already conceded enough, even lowering herself to offer to be his concubine, just to stay by Pei Yuhang's side.

But even so, Pei Yuhang still rejected her.

'After all this trouble, I finally got my beloved white garment back—the one that should have belonged only to me...'

A suppressed humming sound faintly filled the air. Pei Yuhang felt the roiling Suppression from within Lin Qianyan's body, and his expression tensed.

"Qianqian, you—"

"I'm fine~! Brother Pei!"

Lin Qianyan looked up, a bright smile blossoming again on her pretty face.

The oppressive Suppression that had faintly enveloped the entire courtyard instantly dissipated with the wind.

Pei Yuhang swallowed, and his slowly tightening fist relaxed slightly.

Though he felt a little ashamed, he had just instinctively thought that if Qianqian lost control of her emotions, he would have to act at the first possible moment to restrain her for a few breaths' time and escape with his Dao Companion.

Pei Yuhang sighed guiltily and thought to himself, 'Damn it, what nonsense am I thinking? How could Qianqian possibly attack Liyuan?'