Chapter Thirty-One: Distant Madness Sparks Slaughter

The azure sky was as beautiful as a boundless sea, pristine and flawless, and the drifting clouds resembled pure white waves floating atop its surface, striving to display their most enchanting forms to the world. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, scattering warmth across the earth and enveloping everything in a gentle embrace. A light breeze carried the fragrance of bamboo leaves, brushing against one’s cheeks and filling the heart with tranquil delight.

Meng Youyuan stood quietly outside, gazing at the scene before her, feeling a deep peace and serenity within. Thanks to the careful care of everyone over the past few days, she had almost recovered. As for the two mysterious forces coursing within her, they continued to flow unchecked, showing no signs of dissipating. Fortunately, aside from occasional bouts of oppression and irritability, she was otherwise unharmed.

“This could be considered a blessing in disguise,” Meng Youyuan comforted herself. After all, although she had suffered a minor injury, the concern and affection she received from her companions more than made up for it. Most importantly, she could now stay by Brother Xian’s side at all times, which was truly worthwhile.

“It seems you’re enjoying a rather comfortable life, to the point that standing here makes you giggle like an idiot. Has someone knocked your head foolish?” A mocking voice, sharp and full of ridicule, interrupted Meng Youyuan’s reverie.

She turned to look and replied with disdain, “I wondered whose grating voice it was—turns out it’s you, Yin Boxuan!” As she uttered the man’s name, her expression was full of bitterness, as if she wished to tear him apart.

“Well, not bad—you still remember my full name. So you haven’t lost your wits entirely!” Yin Boxuan laughed, teasing her.

“A person as vulgar and repulsive as you, so lewd it makes one sick, I doubt there’s another like you in the whole academy. With someone so ‘distinctive,’ how could I possibly forget you?” Meng Youyuan shot him a glare, her tone full of annoyance.

“So I’ve left such a deep impression on you? Don’t tell me you actually have feelings for me!” Yin Boxuan feigned surprise, his sly smile making no attempt to hide his mischief.

“Please! You, with your broken fan, pretending to be some dashing scholar every day—I have absolutely no interest in boys like you!” Meng Youyuan retorted mercilessly, making it clear she truly despised him.

“Well, you already have someone impossible in your heart. How could you possibly make room for me?” Yin Boxuan’s tone revealed a faint hint of disappointment, though he continued coldly, “But you should know your place. Don’t think that moving in here puts you on equal footing with them—that’s never going to happen.” His words dripped with sarcasm.

“That’s none of your business. This place doesn’t welcome idlers. If you know what’s good for you, leave now!” Meng Youyuan said, anger rising.

“I’m just kindly reminding you. You should understand what kind of person Brother Lan is, and what kind of person you are. Don’t keep dreaming impossible dreams!” Yin Boxuan spoke slowly, his words a strange mixture of scorn and admonition.

“Yin Boxuan, enough! Don’t force me to throw you out!” His words stabbed at her like venomous silver needles, wounding her deeply. For so many years, this had always been her greatest pain. She had thought herself immune to others’ cold mockery, but now, with the truth so brutally exposed, she found herself unable to accept it, unable to face it, lacking even the courage to refute him.

Ignoring her threats and fury, Yin Boxuan continued, “Even if Brother Lan reluctantly accepts you, what about Master? Do you think he would agree? You know how much he dislikes you. Would he really stand by and watch his beloved disciple pair with someone he despises? Ah... speaking of this, I almost pity you.”

---

“I’ll kill you, Yin Boxuan!” At this moment, Meng Youyuan’s eyes blazed red, as if flames were about to burst forth. A chilling aura of demonic intent radiated from her whole body; she seemed transformed, no longer herself but a terrifying demon whose eyes contained nothing but slaughter.

Yin Boxuan sensed something amiss and hurriedly said, “Meng Youyuan, don’t do anything foolish—you know you’re no match for me. I don’t want to hurt you!” He tried to restrain her, grabbing her arm, but she flung him off with surprising strength, then turned and gathered her energy to strike at him.

Yin Boxuan, not wanting to harm her, could only dodge frantically, unable to retaliate. Meng Youyuan’s attacks were ruthless, each move intent on ending his life. Fortunately, Yin Boxuan’s cultivation was not lacking, and he managed to avoid disaster; otherwise, he would have met a grisly fate. The trees and vegetation caught by the waves of energy were left battered and broken, stripped of their former vitality, bearing only scars and ruin—a scene of utter chaos.

“What’s wrong with her? Usually, no matter how I tease her, she just gets angry and walks away, never like this—so vicious and deadly. Could something have possessed her, taking control of her will?” Yin Boxuan wondered. If he did not subdue her, his situation would be dire indeed. Though he often mocked and bullied her, he could never bring himself to attack her, especially since her wounds had only just healed; if she were hurt again because of him, what then? As he hesitated, Yan Xue Su and Lan Wu arrived, drawn by the commotion.

“What’s going on here?” Lan Wu asked, startled by the scene. She was truly frightened; she had never seen Meng Youyuan so furious, so intent on killing. This was nothing like the gentle, kind girl she knew. Had she not seen it with her own eyes and confirmed the terrifying woman before her was truly Meng Youyuan, she would never have believed it.

“Don’t ask questions—just help! If Meng Youyuan keeps going like this, someone’s going to get hurt!” Yin Boxuan called out to the newcomers.

“I think you’re the one in danger right now!” Yan Xue Su remembered Yin Boxuan as the man who had gossiped with a group of girls about them on the way to the Divine Armory Pavilion. Frankly, her impression of him was poor; she disliked men who spoke to women without tact or kindness. But personal feelings aside, stabilizing Meng Youyuan was the priority. Yan Xue Su and Lan Wu exchanged a glance and nodded, then moved forward to help.

They leapt to seize Meng Youyuan’s arms, hoping to restrain her, but the force she exerted, now half-possessed, was astonishing—she threw them several meters away. With no other choice, they drew their swords to try to confine her, but failed. The energy Meng Youyuan wielded seemed to suppress their blades, entangling them in demonic energy and preventing them from approaching her. She now possessed an unnerving level of cultivation; the three together could not overcome her, and Meng Youyuan was about to kill Yin Boxuan. But suddenly, a flash of white light struck her, knocking her to the ground, and with that blow, she regained some clarity.

With the white light came the old Headmaster, Leng Huaiyi, and Lan Bingxian. Without a word, the Headmaster stepped forward, lifted the fallen Meng Youyuan, and sent a surge of energy into her body to investigate. After a moment, he frowned, his expression turning fierce as he said, “Just as I suspected—there’s no keeping you here!” He raised his hand, intent on ending Meng Youyuan’s life. Fortunately, Lan Bingxian and Yu Leng Huaiyi reacted quickly—one shielded Meng Youyuan, the other stopped the Headmaster.

“Master, what are you doing? Even if Senior Sister has done wrong, a punishment will suffice. Why take her life?” Lan Bingxian asked, bewildered. He suddenly felt his master before him was terrifying and cold-blooded, about to kill his own disciple.

“Yes, Master. If she’s wrong, punish her, but why must it end in death? Unless there’s something we don’t understand here,” Leng Huaiyi added. Upon hearing this, Yu Shang and others arrived, witnessing the strange scene and withdrawing to observe silently.

“This is my family’s matter. You two, stay out of it!” the Headmaster barked.

“She’s our junior sister. Maybe she did wrong today, but why not first ask the reason before sentencing her to death? That’s not fair! Unless you have a real explanation, we won’t let you harm her!” Lan Bingxian declared, his words righteous and resolute. For the first time, he defied his master, the first time he summoned the courage to stand against him. He thought, if he remained timid now, he would truly lose the one he cherished and regret it forever.

“Master, this is my fault. Let all punishment fall on me—it has nothing to do with Youyuan. If you must kill someone today, then take me instead!” Yin Boxuan stepped forward, shielding the badly injured Meng Youyuan.

---

Though he often bullied and hurt her, it could be seen as his inability to express affection. He knew Youyuan’s heart belonged to Lan Bingxian, and he could never enter her heart as a lover, so he provoked her to make himself more memorable, even if the impression was bad. As long as he had a place in her heart, that was enough.

“Though I’ve always respected you, if you harm my friend without reason, I won’t hold back!” Yan Xue Su drew her sword and stood before the Headmaster.

“If you dare hurt her, you’ll answer to me! We may not match you in strength, but we’re not afraid—even if it means mutual destruction. I’ve always treated her as my own sister. If anyone wishes to harm my family, they must get past me first!” Lan Wu declared, preparing for battle.

“And you—do you plan to stop me as well?” After a long silence, the Headmaster turned to Yu Shang and the others.

“I don’t know what happened here, but if Yan’er wishes to protect someone, I’ll stand with her!” Yu Xiaoran said, his tone unwavering.

“Me too. What kind of man lets his woman fight while he stands by watching?” Xiao Yin smiled at Lan Wu.

“I won’t take sides just yet, but at least let me understand what’s happened here. Of course, you can choose not to say, but you absolutely cannot kill her in front of me. You know the competition is soon—if you oppose us now, the consequences will be dire,” Yu Shang spoke calmly, but his words carried weight.

“Hah, are you threatening me?” the Headmaster sneered.

“Not a threat. I simply don’t want someone I know to die for no reason before my eyes,” Yu Shang replied quietly.

“I’d like to know why you’ve always hated me so much—why must you now insist on my death?” Meng Youyuan asked weakly, dragging her frail body forward.