"Am I really going to betray the Clear Sky Sect?"
Moonlight Pavilion
Tang Yuehua sat on the chair with her legs crossed, appearing elegant and composed, but her heart was in turmoil.
Tang Yuehua dared not face it, but it was indeed as Gu Wuchen had said: no one in the Clear Sky Sect had ever truly cared about her.
Since the Clear Sky Sect closed itself off from the world, it has relied on the Moonlight Pavilion for financial support and information transmission.
This allowed them to understand the situation on the mainland, but the Clear Sky Sect kept demanding more, and the two Tang Hao and Tang Xiao, never expressed any concern.
It was indeed a pleasant surprise that Gu Wuchen was able to help him.
Just as she was pondering this, a maid suddenly approached, bowed, and said, "Miss Tang, a man in black robes who visited before has arrived and wishes to see you."
Tang Yuehua opened her eyes, suppressed the turmoil in her heart, and said calmly, "Let him in."
The maid bowed and withdrew.
A short while later, a tall man in black robes entered the room and closed the door behind him.
He removed his hood, revealing a sharply defined face; he was none other than Tang Long, the messenger who frequently traveled between the Moonlight Pavilion and Clear Sky Sect.
Tang Long did not bow; his tone was so stiff it sounded like he was giving an order.
" Tang Yuehua, the sect leader sent me to collect five thousand Gold Soul Coin. The sect's expenses have been high lately, and we're on the verge of collapse."
Tang Yuehua's heart sank.
She regularly sends three Gold Soul Coin to the sect every month, and now, only halfway through the month, she's asking for money again.
Over the years, she has emptied most of the Moonlight Pavilion's income to support the sect, only to always receive the same answer, "It's not enough."
She gripped the silk handkerchief in her hand, her voice trembling slightly:
"Isn't the sect leader supposed to have anything else to say to me besides asking for money?"
Even if it's just a simple "Take care of yourself," or even just a "Thank you for your hard work," all her years of dedication have had some meaning.
Tang Long paused for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. The sect leader specifically instructed me to do so."
Tang Yuehua's eyes lit up instantly, and she leaned forward slightly, a hint of barely perceptible anticipation in her eyes. "What did he say?"
"The sect leader said that you should do your job well, provide the sect with funds and information on time, and never forget the sect's nurturing grace. Without the Clear Sky Sect, you wouldn't be where you are today."
Tang Long's words struck Tang Yuehua's heart like a cold hammer.
The expectation on her face vanished instantly, leaving only a deathly pale expression.
It turns out that in their eyes, her only value was to make money for the sect, and the debt of gratitude for raising her was nothing more than a shackle to bind her.
For so many years, she has guarded the empty Moonlight Pavilion, shouldering all the pressure alone, and sheltering the sect from the wind and rain.
But they never asked her if she was tired, never cared about her well-being, and even when she was stuck at level nine Soul Power for decades, they only felt it was a pity, a pity that they had lost a powerful person who could contribute to the sect.
Tang Yuehua felt a tightness in her chest, making it hard to breathe, and a bone-chilling cold spread from her feet throughout her body.
She had always been unwilling to admit it, but the truth was right in front of her: in the Clear Sky Sect, she had never been family, but merely a useful tool.
She stood up dejectedly, took a gold card from the drawer, and handed it to Tang Long.
Her fingers were trembling, and her voice was as soft as a breeze:
"There are five thousand Gold Soul Coin inside. You can go back now."
Tang Long took the gold card, casually put it in his pocket, and added:
"Oh, right, the sect leader also said that starting next month, the monthly offering will increase to eight thousand Gold Soul Coin. The sect needs a lot of funds to cultivate talent. When the sect emerges in the future, you will definitely benefit."
Tang Yuehua didn't speak, she just nodded numbly.
Seeing that she had no objections, Tang Long didn't linger any longer and turned to leave.
The door slammed shut, leaving Tang Yuehua alone in the room.
She slowly sat back down in her chair, and finally, tears streamed down her face.
She covered her face, her shoulders trembling slightly.
All the grievances and resentment accumulated over the years erupted at this moment.
"Waaah..."
It turns out that Gu Wuchen was right all along.
The Clear Sky Sect has never treated her like a human being.
She upheld the so-called family honor and the so-called debt of gratitude for being raised, only to be met with endless demands and indifference.
Tang Yuehua raised her head, her eyes blurry with tears, and looked out the window. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on her, but it brought her no warmth.
She already knew the answer in her heart.
After a long while, Tang Yuehua's gaze gradually hardened into determination.
Wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, Tang Yuehua steadied herself and took a deep breath.
She had to become stronger; she absolutely couldn't continue like this. If things continued this way, she would only be treated like a puppet.
What kind of bullshit is this "gratitude for raising me"? I've been a tool for so many years, and they haven't shown me a single word of concern.
She dedicated over a decade to the Clear Sky Sect, with money flowing out of her account every day.
If Moonlight Pavilion were to pass away one day, wouldn't she become an unwanted old woman?
She couldn't give up while there was still a chance, a chance to change things.
Only by becoming strong can one protect oneself. Moreover, Young Master Gu said that he would make her the representative of the Gu Clan among the nobles of the Heaven Dou Empire.
With the Gu Clan backing her up, what did she have to fear?
Even if she were to reject the Clear Sky Sect, she wouldn't be afraid at all.
Composing herself, Tang Yuehua turned and left, heading towards the Gu Clan, her dress swaying, her steps firm.
At this moment, the Gu Clan...
The person in charge of Heaven Dou City has delivered a newly improved hidden arrow. It is small and exquisite, extremely convenient to carry, and most importantly, when infused with Soul Power, it can shoot an extremely powerful ice arrow.
This achievement was the result of eight years of trials and failures.
Besides the hidden arrow in the sleeve, there are also snow-covered ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), dresses, and so on.
He didn't like it, but the Two Empresses of Ice and Snow liked it very much.
Bo Saixi actually liked it too, but she didn't express it.
At her age, she's shy about expressing herself.
"Auntie, if you like it, I'll secretly slip it to you."
Gu Wuchen leaned close to Bo Saixi's ear and whispered something.
"Who, who wants it?" Bo Saixi blushed slightly and said coquettishly.
"Auntie, I understand. What woman doesn't love beauty?" Gu Wuchen said with a smile.
"Remember to put it in my room," Bo Saixi whispered.
So sensible.
Chen'er still thought about her.
At that moment, there was another knock on the door.
Ice Empress opened the gate, Gu Wuchen looked ahead and saw Tang Yuehua, who had returned after leaving.
There were still faint tear stains at the corners of her eyes, and her eyes were slightly red, clearly indicating that she had just been crying.
"Miss Tang has come to a decision?"
Tang Yuehua bowed slightly, her eyes resolute. " Young Master Gu, I've thought it through. I want to break through, and I'm willing to accept any of Young Master Gu arrangements, as long as they can help Yuehua."
"Miss Tang seems to have suffered a lot of injustice. Now that you've come to your senses, I'm determined to help you."
"When the time comes, I will deal with the Clear Sky Sect, and this place will be a crucial hub for transmitting messages."