Chapter 753 - 413: Lifelong Foes, Mutual Ruin
"Mother! What happened, why is it like this?"
Wu Yiren looked at Lin Yuan’s pale face within the array’s light curtain, extremely anxious, trying to rush out but was repeatedly bounced back.
Tantai Mingyue also stared blankly at Lin Yuan, covered in blood and full of despair, with an indescribably complex feeling.
She hated Lin Yuan, constantly wished to knock her down, to make her kneel before Crown Prince Wu’an and repent.
Yet she never imagined seeing Lin Yuan in such a defeated and pathetic state.
Moreover, the cause of all this was the father of her own daughter!
She and Lin Yuan had both been deceived by the same man, and both bore daughters for him.
"Ha, we’re all fools, fools..."
Tantai Mingyue collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face.
At the peak of Yunlin Mountain.
Lin Yuan’s face was ashen, staring vacantly at the gently smiling Chen Qingmo, murmuring:
"Who are you, who are you really..."
"Good question."
Chen Qingmo smiled, his appearance changing again, from an eunuch to Zhou Qing, then from Zhou Qing back to Chen Qingmo.
Lin Yuan’s eyes widened, her cheeks pale, voice bitter:
"Chen Qingmo? Sect Leader of Zhenyang Sect! Why did you deceive me? Why?!"
Chen Qingmo said, "I told you before, I just wanted you to give me a daughter."
"Alright, Yuan’Er, all things come to an end, our bond is over, take care of yourself."
Chen Qingmo placed Lin Yuan on the ground, thoughtfully tidying her hair:
"Yuan’Er, you are a worldly traveler of Immortal Flying Pavilion, also the Western Empress, maintain some dignity."
Finishing, he stood to leave, but his arm was caught by Lin Yuan, the elegant woman now with reddened eyes, sorrows uncontained:
"Why?"
Chen Qingmo slightly impatient: "Must I repeat it again..."
"Why do you want my daughter? Where will you take Yiren?"
Lin Yuan stared directly at him, her beautiful eyes filled with despair and hatred.
Chen Qingmo laughed: "Disappointed in your husband, you pinned all hopes on your daughter, huh? It’s human nature, but unfortunately, I must take Yiren."
With that, he freed Lin Yuan’s hand, his figure flashed, appearing inside the room.
"Beast! Bastard!"
Seeing him appear, Wu Yiren angrily charged forward, only to be hit by Chen Qingmo’s finger, her body limp as she fell.
Chen Qingmo caught her, with his other hand summoned the unconscious Su Xin over, holding them both.
"What are you doing? Let go of Xin’Er!"
Tantai Mingyue tried to stop him, but her spiritual power was sealed, she could only rush forward, clawing like a madwoman.
Pa!
Chen Qingmo slapped her face, sending Tantai Mingyue flying, breaking through the isolation array and landing beside Lin Yuan on the Yunlin Mountain peak.
Pff! Tantai Mingyue spat a mouthful of blood, her face bruised severely, hair disheveled, struggling to rise.
Only to see Chen Qingmo already flying out of Yunlin Mountain with Wu Yiren and Su Xin.
"Chen Qingmo!!"
Tantai Mingyue crawled with hands and feet, wanting to chase.
But her cultivation was sealed, aside from her injuries, she could only lie there, helplessly watching her daughter being taken away by Chen Qingmo, eventually disappearing from sight.
"Ah!!"
Tantai Mingyue wailed in agony, hair flying wildly, seemingly deranged.
Moments later, as if all strength was drained, she slumped down.
Falling beside Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan, too, was like her, tears flowing endlessly, demeanor dazed, as if her soul had departed.
The pair of foes, having battled for twenty years, now lay together, stripped of everything, utterly disheveled.
The picturesque Yunlin Mountain returned to tranquility.
Time unknown passed.
"Sob, sob..."
A poignant sobbing arose.
"Xin’Er, Xin’Er..."
Tantai Mingyue attempted to rise from the ground, ultimately failed, left only to weep lying there.
"Heh, heh heh..."
Laughter sounded behind, abruptly turning, Tantai Mingyue glared at Lin Yuan:
"Your daughter was taken away too, you can still laugh, Lin Yuan, truly you are a heartless and cruel person!"
Lin Yuan lay on the ground, blood tears streaming from her eyes, blankly staring at the bright sky.
"I’m sorry."
Tantai Mingyue froze, incredulously looking at her:
"What are you saying?"
Lin Yuan’s ink-black hair spread behind her head, splayed on the ground like a blooming black mandala flower, her body covered in blood, half her face stained with it, lips pale and slightly parted:
"I never intended to kill Wu’an; I told him, stay in Yong’an Hall, I’d ensure a life of peace and prosperity."
"He agreed, but once I left, he set Yong’an Hall ablaze."
Lin Yuan slightly turned her head towards Tantai Mingyue: "His last words to me were to not kill you."
Pa!
Tantai Mingyue suddenly raised her hand, slapping Lin Yuan, leaving half her unstained face severely bruised.
A trickle of blood flowed from Lin Yuan’s lips, she suddenly laughed:
"Our first meeting, in Jianxian City, was when I had just come down the mountain; I knew to fulfill my master’s orders, I might sacrifice much, so I suddenly wanted to drink."
"Seeing you and Wu’an drinking together, for some reason, I wanted to join in."
"Later, we ventured to Northern Wilderness, stormed South Demon... I knew you loved him, I was already planning to leave."
"But suddenly, I found he was the Crown Prince of the West Imperial Dynasty."
"From that day, I knew the three of us could never return to what we once were."
"Lin Yuan." Tantai Mingyue interrupted, suddenly asking: "Did you ever think of living for yourself, regardless of sect orders?"
Lin Yuan remained silent for a moment, slowly replied: "I thought about it... but it’s too late."
At this moment, the sunlight was slanting, the sun gradually descending to the horizon, its final rays increasingly radiant.
Tantai Mingyue lay on the ground, watching the sunset with Lin Yuan.
"Was it worth it?" Tantai Mingyue asked.
"I don’t know." Lin Yuan shook her head, perplexed.
"Since young, my master taught me, Immortal Flying Pavilion is to guard the world and maintain balance, I must devote all to it."
"Including severing emotions and causing harm to those who love you most?"
"...I’m sorry."
Lin Yuan closed her eyes.
Tantai Mingyue turned her head to watch her: "What exactly is the Immortal Flying Pavilion?"
At this point, an enchanting red shadow descended from above, standing before them.
"Lin Yuan, you can’t escape."
Si Minglan’s eyes were icy, filled with murderous intent.
"Ming Yue."
Lin Yuan opened her eyes, spoke to Tantai Mingyue:
"I have no family or friends left in the world, I can only ask you... please help me save Yiren, she is innocent."
After speaking, Lin Yuan slowly stood, facing Si Minglan, smiled tragically:
"I no longer have a reason to run."