Published: February 25, 2025
Tan Yun remained unmoved by the accusations, his tone chillingly cold.
"I encountered someone chasing me outside the Huangfu Sacred Sect."
"And you intervened to save me, claiming that you were on your way home to visit family, and that you acted because of a sense of justice. You even disguised yourself as someone innocent and naïve, hiding your true strength. All of this was premeditated, wasn't it?"
"Your true purpose was to make me regard you as a close friend, only to then recruit me into the Zhongli Family!"
Tan Yun paused, his tone growing colder, "That's right, you succeeded. I, Tan Yun, was indeed deceived by your perfect disguise, and considered you a true friend."
"I later realized that Zhongli Bo had dispatched the chief of the holy gate artifact lineage, Xie Juechen, to the Meritorious Sacred Realm, intending to persuade me to betray my sect and join forces with you!"
"I refused to go at that time, which is why Zhongli Bo gave up on recruiting me, ultimately leading to the outbreak of civil war with the seven lineage spies!"
At this point, Tan Yun looked down at Zhongli Xiner and asked, "Am I right, Yuxin?"
"You're almost completely right," Zhongli Xiner's expression finally softened a bit. She sighed, "We could have been close friends, confidants, but we've come to this point because of your actions!"
"And my name is not Yuxin; I am Zhongli Xiner, the only daughter of the Zhongli Family!"
"Tan Yun, do you know? Over twenty years ago, from the moment we first met, I never meant to be your enemy. I only wanted to bring you into the Zhongli Family and let you enjoy wealth and honor!"
"I even thought that only an exceptional man like you was worthy of me!"
"Zhongli Bo wanted to kill you multiple times, but I ordered him not to lay a hand on you..."
At this point, Zhongli Xiner didn't continue. Deep regret filled her beautiful eyes. "I never wanted to discuss things like this with you today."
"I admit, I deceived you from the very beginning, but as we interacted, I genuinely wanted to become close friends with you. I even developed some feelings for you."
Tan Yun suddenly raised his hand, stopping her from continuing. His expression was cold enough to chill the bone!
The higher-ups thought that Tan Yun might spare Zhongli Xiner today.
However, to Yingying, Su Bing, Mu Mengyi, and Shiyao, it seemed like a precursor to murder!
"No matter whether you are Xiner or Yuxin," Tan Yun said as he closed his eyes, "what I hate most is not betrayal. Because there are many reasons that can lead to an unavoidable betrayal!"
"What I abhor is the kind of betrayal you represent, where you gain my trust from the very beginning only to trample on it, destroying the friendship I had for you!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a formless killing intent surged from within Tan Yun, enveloping Zhongli Xiner.
She had considered that she was unafraid of death, but when death truly approached, she realized that her so-called prestigious identity would be completely shattered!
"Tan Yun, don't kill me! I swear, when I return to my family, I will make my father give up his invasion of the Huangfu Sacred Sect for all eternity."
"Please don’t kill me… I was wrong… I truly understand my mistake…"
Tan Yun still kept his eyes closed, coldly stating, "I can forgive other things, but you, I will never forgive."
"I, Tan Yun, fear neither anyone nor any force. As for your Zhongli Family, even if you don’t attack my Huangfu Sacred Sect, I will still wipe out your family!"
Zhongli Xiner cried out, "Tan Yun, don't be so heartless… Wuwu… I really understand my mistake…"
"To be wrong is to pay the price!" Tan Yun said coldly. "Huixin, kill her and give her a proper burial!"
"Understood!" Song Huixin responded. A beam of sword light sliced through Zhongli Xiner's jade neck, and blood gushed forth as she succumbed to death.
"Buzz—"
As Song Huixin's soul and the eight domain souls flew out in an instant, she gently raised her hand from a distance, causing the souls to turn to ashes.