Yun Yun's Self-Reproach

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King stared disdainfully at Pill King Gu He, who was sprawled on the ground like a madman, and said coldly, "You pointed your left hand at my Master. Today, I'll take one of your arms. Next time, it will be your head!"

Gu He's face went pale. The Aura emanating from the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King shocked him to the core. His eyes widened at once. "Such terrifying pressure, and those purple flames... You are... a Sixth-Tier Magical Beast... the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King..."

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King snorted. "Since you know who This King is, then get lost!"

Gu He shifted his gaze to Jiang Cheng. When the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King tore off his arm, this man had not even blinked. That meant he had already tacitly approved of everything.

"Who exactly are you...?"

"I told you, you are not qualified to know. If not for the sake of Yun Yun, the Misty Cloud Sect Leader, my Master would have destroyed you long ago."

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King ruthlessly stepped on Gu He's face and ground it beneath her foot. The stench made Gu He unable to open his eyes, leaving him no choice but to beg Yun Yun for help.

"Sect Master Yun, save me!"

Yun Yun instinctively wanted to draw her sword, but a large hand pressed it back down.

Jiang Cheng gently brushed across Yun Yun's delicate cheek, removing the fallen peach blossoms from her hair. "If you intervene today, the nature of this matter will truly change."

"This time, I gave you face and did not kill him. But next time, I cannot guarantee I will still be in such a good mood."

"Though I am honored as the Confucian Sage, I am not a coward. I simply convince others with reason and judge by evidence, rather than resorting to violence."

Yun Yun silently released her hand. Gu He had only himself to blame for all of this; she had already told him the truth. Yet he refused to listen and repeatedly insulted Mr. Fire. Even if such a person died, she likely would not be able to say another word on his behalf.

But no matter what, Gu He was still an Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, a Sixth-Grade Alchemist. Yun Yun could not bear to watch him die before the Sect Leader.

"Mr. Fire, could you..."

Yun Yun pursed her lips, unsure how to excuse Gu He's responsibility.

Gu He had already lost an arm and would only be able to refine pills with his right hand for the rest of his life. This was already the greatest punishment he could receive.

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King turned to look at her Master. Receiving Jiang Cheng's silent permission through his gaze, she boredly kicked Gu He off the mountain.

Whether he lived or died would depend entirely on fate.

"Thank you, Mr. Fire." Yun Yun cupped her hands in gratitude.

"Miss Yun, you should continue cultivating here from now on. Gu He will certainly notify Yun Shan about this, and Yun Shan will not simply let the matter rest. If you return now, you will only invite unnecessary trouble."

Jiang Cheng took a sip of Hot Tea, then turned and walked calmly toward his room. The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King vanished as well. She needed to make sure those cunning people had completely left Peach Forest Mountain.

Yun Yun held her hands before her chest, her pitiful gaze fixed on Mr. Fire's room. Her body went limp until she sank onto the stone chair.

Her flawless white thighs were revealed beneath her fluttering robes. If Gu He saw this, he would surely spray three pounds of blood from his nose.

Jiang Cheng sat cross-legged on the bed, sensing the violent Dou Qi within his body as the system's voice rang out.

[Main quest activated. The host is now a Dou Saint Expert. The system issues a special directive: travel to the depths of the Tagor Desert and obtain the nineteenth-ranked Heavenly Flame on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, the Green Lotus Core Flame. Reward: the Cultivation Method capable of infinitely merging Heavenly Flames, the Flame Mantra.]

The mechanical voice rang out In his mind. Upon hearing that he was being sent to the depths of the Tagor Desert, his expression froze.

His eyes immediately widened, and his voice carried a trace of anger. "System, are you screwing with me? You want me to go to the Tagor Desert? When you sent me there before, do you remember that I nearly died there?..."

Eight years ago, when Jiang Cheng was still a Dou Wang, he had received a mission from the system: gain the favor of Queen Medusa, an Expert of the Snake People Tribe. But that woman could not be swayed by either soft or hard tactics, and he had nearly died at Queen Medusa's hands.

Although he was no longer afraid of Queen Medusa, the psychological scar remained, especially considering the scorching climate of the Tagor Desert. If it were anyone else, they would likely have smashed the pot and broken ties with the system already.

[Please complete the task assigned by the system. Once the task fails, the system will throw a little tantrum and will not issue the host any tasks for three years.]

Jiang Cheng: "???"

A little tantrum...

Who doesn't have a little temper?

Jiang Cheng nearly lost control and cursed aloud. Fortunately, he reacted in time, or the system would have activated conversation mode and held a friendly exchange with him.

"Fine, but I will not be going to the Snake People Tribe first. I still need to visit an old friend."

Jiang Cheng took a deep breath and maintained the best possible mood. He could not let that damn system get the better of him!

You tell me to go east, and I'll go west!

You tell me to beat a dog, and I'll beat a chicken!

[Task countdown: thirty days.]

Jiang Cheng shrugged. Thirty days was more than enough. At his speed of tearing through space, reaching the depths of the Tagor Desert should not take very long.

"Xiao Yi Xian."

As soon as his voice fell, Xiao Yi Xian's gentle voice came from outside the door. "Mr. Fire, what is it?"

Jiang Cheng opened the door and looked at Xiao Yi Xian in her nightclothes, speaking softly.

"I will be leaving for a while. You and Little Fire should continue cultivating here. If people from the Misty Cloud Sect come knocking, the decision will be yours. Kill or spare them—follow your hearts."

"But Sister Yun Yun..."

At that moment, Yun Yun was still staring blankly at the Light Boat, completely unaware that Jiang Cheng had been watching her all along.

"Yun'er surely has her own thoughts. Just do as I say. If anything happens, crush this jade shard, and I will sense it."

As he spoke, Jiang Cheng took a jade shard containing his Dou Qi from his Storage Ring. This jade shard could not only alert him, but also use the Dou Qi within it to form a protective shield. Even a Dou Venerate would have no chance of breaking it in a short time.

Xiao Yi Xian nodded obediently. "Mm-hm, I understand, Mr. Fire. If you have something to do, then hurry and go. Don't delay your journey."

Jiang Cheng rubbed Xiao Yi Xian's head, glanced at Yun Yun again, then turned sideways, tore open space, and stepped through.

Only after Jiang Cheng left did Yun Yun snap out of her daze. Looking at the empty mountain peak, an empty feeling unexpectedly arose in her heart.

It felt as though something was missing...

Xiao Yi Xian walked over and gently held Yun Yun's small hand. "Sister Yun Yun, Mr. Fire actually cares about you."

"Cares about me..." Yun Yun's pretty face flushed as her gaze darted away. "Why would Mr. Fire care about me... I... Every time, I only make him feel disappointed..."

Jiang Cheng had invited Yun Yun to cultivate with him many times, but Yun Yun had always been preoccupied with her sect and refused every time.