Leng Qingqiu screamed in disbelief, her stunning face darkening. “Lin Luochen, what are you doing? You’re giving him the jade pendant bestowed upon you by Master, and even… even my flute!?”
At that moment, it felt as if her chest had been struck with a heavy hammer.
That flute meant everything to her—it was her late mother’s only keepsake, something more precious than her own life.
She recalled that day atop the mountain, surrounded by mist, when Lin Luochen played a mournful tune using just a leaf. From behind him, a tearful beauty appeared, her eyes glistening, her cold face filled with sorrow.
When the song ended, Leng Qingqiu choked up. “Your flute playing is filled with grief and longing… it reminded me of my mother. She used to play the flute to lull me to sleep.”
Lin Luochen had frozen, then gently comforted her. “Don’t be sad, Senior Sister. If you like it, I’ll play for you every day.”
Leng Qingqiu had softened her icy expression and taken out a pristine white flute. “This belonged to my mother before she passed. I’m giving it to you.”
“Senior Sister, I can’t accept something so precious…” Lin Luochen had tried to refuse.
Leng Qingqiu had said softly, “If I want you to take it, then take it.”
Unable to argue, he eventually accepted the flute.
“This is the most important thing I own. You must take care of it. Don’t lose it!” Leng Qingqiu had told him.
“Yes. I’ll guard it with my life, even if it costs me—”
Before he could finish, Leng Qingqiu had stopped him.
“Don’t say such things.”
…
The memory ended abruptly. Leng Qingqiu felt her heart being peeled open, layer by layer. A burning pain spread through her entire body, sharp and excruciating.
“Didn’t you say you’d protect this flute? Why are you giving it away!?”
Her voice was beautiful, but now tinged with fury—an emotion rarely seen from her.
“Giving it away? How can you call Ye Chen ‘someone else’? He’s the little junior brother you all dote on most. How can he be ‘someone else’?” Lin Luochen responded coldly as he handed the flute to Ye Chen.
Ye Chen’s eyes lit up with joy.
He held the flute carefully, unable to put it down. Though it wasn’t a powerful artifact, he knew it held great meaning to Leng Qingqiu.
Watching the scene, Leng Qingqiu felt her heart shatter. Her mind went blank. After a long pause, she looked at Lin Luochen with disbelief. “You’ve changed…”
Lin Luochen didn’t reply, only sneered at her.
[I’ve changed? In the previous life, when Ye Chen slandered me, you nearly had me nailed to Mount Wangwu. That’s what I remember most.]
[You snatched this very flute from me and looked at me with disgust, saying a vile person like me didn’t deserve to hold your mother’s keepsake. And now, you tell me I’ve changed?]
[Who’s really changed? Me… or all of you?]
Hearing his thoughts, both Yu Youwei and Leng Qingqiu’s expressions changed drastically.
The previous life… nearly having Lin Luochen nailed to Mount Wangwu…
How could they have been that cruel?
Among the many mountains within the Cloudveil Sect, Mount Wangwu was the highest. It was where the descendants of the Golden Crow resided.
The flames of the Golden Crow could burn the soul. The pain was so unbearable that even a grand power would feel every second as a year, dying in utter despair.
“Senior Brother Lin, these gifts are too precious—I can’t accept them!” Ye Chen said righteously, but his hands betrayed him as he quietly stashed away both the jade pendant and the flute.
“There’s no need to feel burdened. Since they’re gifts of apology, it’s only proper to accept them,” Leng Qingqiu said. Her voice was frosty, without the slightest warmth.
Yu Youwei saw the veins in Leng Qingqiu’s eyes and felt a sharp sting in her heart. “Senior Sister…”
She knew how much Leng Qingqiu treasured that flute—it was her mother’s only memento.
“I’m fine. There’s no way my mother’s relic should fall into the hands of a malicious man who harms his fellow disciples!”
Leng Qingqiu forced her trembling body to stand tall. Her delicate fingers gripped tightly, turning pale. “Even if he hadn’t given it away, I would’ve taken it back myself!”
With that, Leng Qingqiu snatched the flute out of Ye Chen’s hands.
“Huh?” Ye Chen was stunned. Seeing the fury on her face, he dared not speak, but a nameless rage surged in his heart.
Damn woman. If Lin Luochen gives it, why can’t I take it? Do you really think you’re that special?
He had long planned to bring all his senior sisters and Master into his harem. Each one of them was a rare beauty—dreamlike and unparalleled.
So even a hint of being treated differently made his blood boil.
Still, he consoled himself: at least the jade pendant made by Yun Wangshu was still in his hand. That hadn’t been taken back.
Looking at it, his eyes were filled with greed.
The most beautiful woman in the Northern Dipper Ancient Star Domain—just holding this pendant, he could still smell her lingering fragrance…
Imagining her silhouette, Ye Chen drifted into fantasy.
Lin Luochen cupped his hands. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
His voice was cold, devoid of emotion. “Tomorrow, I will personally hand over the Supreme Bone and Life Sword.”
[The slanders and betrayals have carved deep scars in my heart. I still remember how much you all hated me.]
[Three days from now, I’ll be gone for good. I will never return.]
He had considered killing Ye Chen. But in his past life, he had learned Ye Chen’s true identity—he was the child of destiny of this universe. Not even a Saint could kill him.
No matter how many times he was hunted down, he would always survive, his fortunes rising again and again…
Lin Luochen’s departing figure was desolate and resolute. In his past life, he gave everything to his senior sisters and Master—even his life.
Now that heaven gave him a second chance, he would live for himself. On the path to becoming an Emperor, he wouldn’t mind competing!
Listening to Lin Luochen’s inner thoughts, both Yu Youwei and Leng Qingqiu’s faces changed dramatically.
Leaving… wasn’t a joke. He truly meant it…
That pierced their hearts. Leng Qingqiu finally lost control. Her icy voice rang out, “Lin Luochen, from today on, I no longer have a junior brother like you!”
“As you wish,” Lin Luochen replied plainly as he walked away.
Leng Qingqiu’s heart was in chaos. Lin Luochen used to always cling to her, flatter her, and cultivate alongside her. But now, he was so cold and distant.
The flute she once gave him, which he guarded like a reverse scale, was now tossed aside without a second thought.
Thinking of this, Leng Qingqiu’s pale fingers tightened around the flute until they turned white.
Was sending him to Punishment Cloud Cliff… a mistake?
But admitting fault—she could never do that!
“Hmph!” Leng Qingqiu snorted and turned to leave, leaving behind only her graceful silhouette.
Yu Youwei gave one last glance at Leng Qingqiu’s anguished figure, then looked at Ye Chen and sighed. “Don’t blame me, Junior Brother. Things have gotten beyond my control.”
Her voice no longer held its usual warmth. It now carried a trace of distance. After speaking, she too left the scene.
Ye Chen’s hand trembled as he gripped the jade pendant. His face twisted in rage.
He seemed to have won, but in truth, he had lost everything.
Until now, he had always been in control. Lin Luochen had suffered endlessly without fighting back. But now, he dared to resist!
“Damn Lin Luochen. What a clever trick… Why isn’t he dead yet!?”
“I slandered you, and that should’ve been your honor! And now you dare to fight back!?”
This was a scene Ye Chen couldn’t accept. In his eyes, he was the child of destiny. Every woman, every opportunity should revolve around him.
Even that duel had been premeditated. He had willingly broken three ribs, yet gained nothing.
“Chen’er, don’t act in haste. I too have noticed his change. But it doesn’t matter. He still can’t threaten you.”
An old voice echoed from the ring on Ye Chen’s chest—only he could hear it.