Choice

In the desolate ruins, only three figures remained.

Ling Xi stood beside Bai Ye, silently watching the scene before her.

Yi Qingluan was speaking with that Centipede, while she and Bai Ye watched their exchange. The Centipede had offered Yi Qingluan a choice, and likewise, that choice had been extended to Bai Ye as well.

From the moment Yi Qingluan awoke, Ling Xi had keenly sensed an incomparably sharp aura slowly gathering around Bai Ye, concealed but poised to strike.

It felt like an arrow drawn upon a fully taut bow, its power already stored, waiting only for the archer's fingers to let go.

Though that aura was well concealed, the sharpness it inadvertently revealed made even Ling Xi, a Spirit Array Grandmaster, feel a faint sense of danger.

If such power were truly directed at the severely wounded Yi Qingluan, the outcome would be obvious. There would not be the slightest suspense.

In truth, if Bai Ye had encountered such a situation under normal circumstances, there likely would not have been this whole process. He did not like making choices. He simply acted according to his own will—cleanly, decisively, without hesitation.

But this time, things were slightly different. Yi Qingluan was, after all, someone connected to his Mother. With that bond between them, Bai Ye wanted to find himself a suitable reason.

But which choice did he truly hope Yi Qingluan would make?

Or rather, what Ling Xi cared about was which choice Yi Qingluan could make without going against Bai Ye's wishes.

She did not want Bai Ye to hear an answer he did not wish to hear. If that happened, she would be heartbroken for him.

Ling Xi's Jade Hand unconsciously reached out and gently rested on Bai Ye's shoulder. Bai Ye showed no reaction. Only the frost that had lingered within those gold-and-silver eyes seemed to fade slightly...

At the same time, Yi Qingluan turned around in shock and looked at the Centipede again, the Killing Intent in her eyes so intense it seemed ready to spill over.

"Vermin, do you really think I can't kill you?"

"If you kill me, you'll never learn the truth about what happened back then." The Centipede's tone was relaxed and casual, entirely unhurried. Under Yi Qingluan's beautiful eyes brimming with Killing Intent, it even shifted its body and found itself a more comfortable position.

"I know you still doubt my words, but I wouldn't dare say such things before a trusted aide of the Saintess without any evidence."

A dark glimmer flickered in the Centipede's tiny eyes, as though it were recalling something.

"Why not hear my explanation before making your decision?"

"Shut up."

Yi Qingluan spoke coldly. She only wanted to leave this place now. She did not want to hear a single word from this vermin. What kind of joke was this? That was the Saintess—the Saintess of their Yan Tian Sect, the future Sect Leader of the Yan Tian Sect. Why would she have any reason to destroy her own home?

Everything this vermin said was utterly idiotic. She refused to listen.

Yet even though she repeated those words countless times in her heart, her feet seemed glued to the ground. She stared fixedly at the Centipede, the Killing Intent still present in her eyes. But the way she stood there without moving made her seem increasingly like she was... waiting for an answer.

Seeing her like this, the Centipede revealed an extremely human-like expression, as if it were telling Yi Qingluan, "I knew it."

"A year ago, I did indeed come to this Cold Pool, and through a moment of carelessness, I lost my original body."

The Centipede's voice became serious. "But do you think that Heaven Transforming Realm brat alone could have driven me into such a state?"

Yi Qingluan said nothing, merely listening quietly to what came next.

"The reason I became like this is because someone left two lingering shadows within this Cold Pool. One naturally belonged to the master of this Cold Pool—your master. As for the other, guess who it was?"

As though it had thought of something amusing, the Centipede looked at Yi Qingluan teasingly.

But Yi Qingluan still did not speak. All she wanted was an answer. There was no need to play along with this vermin.

Besides, she truly feared that she might lose control and kill this vermin right now.

If that happened, she would no longer hear that so-called answer, and she would no longer need to struggle over this matter.

The Centipede had no intention of dragging things out. Seeing that Yi Qingluan remained silent, it continued on its own. "You know that person's name very well. Every one of us who participated in the Heaven Suppression War knew it well. I only saw him once from afar, yet I was already captivated by his bearing. After all these years, that face has never faded from my mind."

"Who was she?"

Yi Qingluan's voice was hoarse, as though she were desperately suppressing something.

"Heh." The Centipede stared at her and slowly spoke a name.

"The former Holy Son of the Ice Spirit Clan, Bing Yan."

"Perhaps they only..."

Yi Qingluan wanted to defend her.

"The two appeared together."

"But maybe..."

"They were holding hands."

"But..."

"They called each other husband and wife."

"..."

Yi Qingluan fell silent. She lowered her head, not knowing what she should say.

"During the Heaven Suppression War, Bing Yan and she opened up a battlefield of their own. No one but the two of them knew the exact details of that battle. At the time, Bing Yan returned from the battlefield alone and claimed that Luo Yuwei had already been executed. But after so many years, when you see a scene like this, doesn't everything suddenly make sense?"

"Who was the mastermind behind the Heaven Suppression War?"

"Who was the true culprit behind the destruction of the Yan Tian Sect?"

"Now tell me, isn't the Saintess you cherish so dearly the greatest traitor of your Yan Tian Sect?"

Each of the Centipede's questions was like a blade stabbing into Yi Qingluan's heart. She could only lower her head in silence. Perhaps, in her eyes, there was nothing she could say at a time like this.

The Centipede did not stop speaking. Instead, it continued, "Join forces with me. I know they left behind a child. That is the bloodline of her and Bing Yan—the bloodline of a traitor and an enemy. How does that sound? Doesn't it feel exhilarating just thinking about it? Get me out of here, and I'll tell you that child's identity. Without me, you'll never find him. Cooperate with me, Yi Qingluan!"

The Centipede's tone was filled with fervor. It seemed certain that Yi Qingluan would agree to its request.

No, not seemed. It was certain.

No one would forgive a traitor, especially one whose betrayal had destroyed her family and left her alone.

"Thank you."

Just as the Centipede waited for an answer, Yi Qingluan spoke softly. "Although you're a vermin, I still have to thank you."

Beside her, Bai Ye slowly closed his eyes and let out a breath. The ice blue Phoenix Shadow behind him grew increasingly solid.

"Heh, no need to thank me. We are cooperating—"

"Pfft." Just as the Centipede was about to say something with a smile, someone laughed before it could. Bai Ye opened his eyes and looked toward the source of the sound.

A faint smile actually appeared on the lovely face of Yi Qingluan, who had always been so unsmiling. "Honestly, saying such things to a vermin is disgusting, but I truly must thank you. Thank you for telling me that my young lady did not die in that battle, that she lived well through the years that followed. And thank you for telling me that she still has bloodline left behind. This way, the rest of my life will not be without meaning."

No one would forgive a traitor. That was an ironclad rule.

But the reason this choice had appeared now was because, between the two options, it was unclear who mattered more, wasn't it?

If she figured out who mattered more, then the definition of "betrayal" seemed... to change as well.

So...

"Someone like you, who thinks that way, should just die."

Yi Qingluan's gaze was cold and sinister. Spiritual energy gathered around her as she seemed prepared to force herself to act despite her injuries.

But at that moment, the Centipede raised its head, a half-smiling expression appearing on its face.

The next instant, every image in heaven and earth began to crack apart inch by inch like a shattered mirror.

Yi Qingluan was somewhat stunned by the sudden change. As space shattered bit by bit, the fractured mirror-like surface came crashing down with a clatter, vanishing without a trace.

At the same time, what appeared before Yi Qingluan were those gilded gold eyes.

He simply watched her. Not the slightest emotion could be read from those eyes.

Until he extended his right hand toward her.

"Congratulations. You have earned the right to know the truth."