Chapter 713: A Silver Hairpin

Outside the gates of Azurecloud Court.

Mi Tianhe hung his head. His entire body was tense and stiff, and his heart welled with dense bitterness.

He was the third elder of the House of the Skywalking Sword and a Spiritual Incarnation Realm expert. He’d never even considered the possibility that the words he’d uttered ten days ago would force him to show up at Su Yi’s door and apologize today.

But he had no choice.

Ten days ago, his status meant that he dared disregard Su Yi.

But now that the curtains had set on the shocking battle outside the city gates, no matter how brave he was, there was no way he’d dare to disregard Su Yi’s threats!

Had I known, I wouldn’t have burned those bridges…?Mi Tianhe was inwardly overcome with regret.

However, he was well aware that if he didn’t show up and apologize, given Su Yi’s strength and disposition, he really was bold enough to kill his way into the House of the Skywalking Sword’s territory!

Su Yi’s calm voice then emanated from within the courtyard——

“Repeat what you said back then.”

Mi Tianhe stiffened, and his expression shifted erratically. Indescribable shame welled within his heart.

Forcing someone to kowtow was little better than killing them!

He’d come to beg forgiveness of his own volition, but it seemed Su Yi had no intention of letting him wriggle out of this!

For a moment, Mi Tianhe was tempted to throw all caution to the wind and leave.

However, in the end, he suppressed the impulse.

He’d experienced his share of wind and rain, and he knew full well that if he left, Su Yi’s revenge wouldn’t just end in his death; it would affect the rest of the House of the Skywalking Sword too!

The price would be far too great!

A moment later, Mi Tianhe submitted to his fate and wilted like an eggplant. His lips quivered as he said, “Very good… Su Yi. You refused to do this the easy way, so…. just you wait.”

It was just one sentence, but it seemed to take everything Mi Tianhe had in him.

When he finished, he slumped in dejection, his face ashen.

Every word felt like a hammer; it was as if he’d been forced to smash his own dignity to pieces…

“Excellent. You didn’t leave out so much as a single word.” Su Yi’s voice resounded from within the courtyard once more. “You can leave.”

“I?can go?” Mi Tianhe was stunned; it seemed he dared not believe it.

And here he’d thought Su Yi would seize the opportunity to ruthlessly trample and humiliate him. He’d come resigned to this fate.

Who’d have thought that none of his fears would come to pass?

After a while, Mi Tianhe took a deep breath, then said in a low voice, “Fellow Daoist Su, many thanks for your magnanimity!”

Only then did he turn to leave.

As he walked into the distance, he heard nothing else from within Azurecloud Court.

This came as a relief to Mi Tianhe, but at the same time, he felt an indescribable sense of despondency.

In his eyes, I was perhaps never worthy of his attention to begin with. How could he possibly make trouble for me?

Disregard was the greatest expression of contempt!

….

Within Azurecloud Court.

“Heh, I’m afraid he thought you’d take this opportunity to teach him a bitter lesson. How could he possibly understand? Someone of your status and with your horizons couldn’t possibly lower himself by squishing an ant like him,” laughed the old blind man.

Su Yi sprawled out in his wicker chair, soaking up the sun, his eyes barely open as he muttered, “Oftentimes, those who know when to stand tall and when to submit live longer than the rest of us.”

Then, completely out of nowhere, he said, “The true Radiant Epoch will arrive in less than a month.”

The old blind man stiffened. After a moment’s silence, he said, “It seems to this old man that the effects of the Radiant Epoch will take the world by storm. An age of upheaval is about to begin.”

He’d long since determined that numerous top factions of greater worlds would get involved once the Radiant Epoch began!

For instance, the Meng Po Palace’s forces had already appeared on the Azure Continent.

And the Bright Sky Realm’s Purple Moon Foxes had come here too!

“They call it the Radiant Epoch, but it’s really just the destruction of the Origins of the Azure feeding back into the world. It will bring about an unprecedented, dramatic transformation,” said Su Yi. “This will be a golden age for cultivators to rise to prominence, as well as an age of endless turmoil. However, it seems to me that afterward, the Azure Continent is destined to wane.”

He recalled what the Divine Monarch of Tragedy had told him about the Sixth Star Ruin, the ruins of what was likely once a world. No life remained; the land was completely dead.

This was a vision of the Azure Continent’s future!

But the Seed of the Azure is with me. That’ll be enough to help the Azure Continent turn things around once it hits rock bottom…?thought Su Yi.

“Brother Su, we’re back.” Suddenly, a clear, joyful voice emanated from beyond the courtyard.

Su Yi didn’t even need to think. This was obviously Wen Xinzhao.

When he looked over at the gates, he saw Wen Xinzhao, Daoist Master Coldsmoke, and Qing Ya walking right in.

The Xia Emperor and Weng Jiu followed shortly afterward, as well as a beautiful young woman in a pale purple dress. This was none other than Xia Qingyuan.

However, the typically crafty, lively young woman seemed like she had a lot on her mind, and her fair, exquisite features were racked with unconcealable worry.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, the Xia Emperor walked over and solemnly bowed to Su Yi. “I, Xia Yunjing, thank you on behalf of the entire imperial family. Thank you for saving our lives!”

Weng Jiu and Xia Qingyuan bowed as well.

Su Yi had broken through their enemies’ ranks outside the city, turning the tides. He really had saved the imperial family from otherwise certain doom!

Su Yi shook his head. “It was no more difficult than raising my hand. You needn’t be so polite.”

He owed the Xia Emperor quite a few favors. For instance, he’d borrowed the Nine Tripod Suppression Barrier Foramtion’s power to refine Abstruse Celestial.

Besides, the ancient factions had come targeting the imperial family, but they were out for his blood too. It was perfectly reasonable for him to help kill them.

“Hahaha! Fellow Daoist, for you, it might have been as easy as raising your hand, but to us? It was an enormous act of benevolence!” The Xia Emperor burst into hearty laughter.

However, he was well aware that Su Yi disliked pleasantries, so he didn’t linger on the subject.

Wen Xinzhao invited everyone to sit down, and she and Qing Ya brewed tea for the group.

She was the famed Little Sword Demon, but now, she seemed busy as could be. Su Yi, meanwhile, was sprawled out in his wicker chair, soaking in the sun. He didn’t move a muscle.

However, it didn’t seem at all improper. If anything, it seemed perfectly natural.

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

There was nothing for it. All of them were familiar with Su Yi, and they’d long since gotten used to his habits and temperament.

Wen Xinzhao understood him too, which was why she took on the responsibility of welcoming their guests. She was like the hostess of Azurecloud Court.

“Fellow Daoist, I dare say with certainty that after today’s defeat, the five ancient factions won’t try anything any time soon.” The Xia Emperor sat beside Su Yi and said in a low voice, “It’s highly likely that they’ll choose to endure for now and bide their time until the onset of the true Radiant Epoch.”

“Hm,” said Su Yi, but it seemed he wasn’t paying much attention. Such things didn’t interest him.

Instead, Su Yi looked at Xia Qingyuan, who was seated not far away. She’d been out of sorts ever since she’d entered the courtyard, and she just sat there in silence. “Miss Qingyuan, I told your mother that if you weren’t willing to leave, no one could take you away.”

“Uh…” Xia Qingyuan reacted as if awakening from a dream. She calmed herself, then said, “Brother Su, what if I?was?willing to leave with my mother? Would… Would you stop me?”

The atmosphere was instantly heavy.

The Xia Emperor reacted as if he’d been struck by lightning, and he shot to his feet, his face full of disbelief. “Lass, are you planning to leave me?”

He was the emperor of the Great Xia, yet now, he’d completely lost his bearing.

Weng Jiu was frantic too. “Princess, after you were born, your mother ruthlessly cast you and your father aside, without any further contact. There’s no bond between you two at all! If you?leave with her, what… what will your father do?”

Before he could continue, the Xia Emperor waved for silence. “Say no more!”

He sighed, then looked at Xia Qingyuan, his expression complicated. “Lass, if you really want to leave, I naturally won’t stop you, but… might you tell your father why you’ve chosen to leave?”

Xia Qingyuan’s reaction had caught him completely off guard. He would never have guessed that Xia Qingyuan would say such a thing to Su Yi!

Su Yi, meanwhile, watched Xia Qingyuan in silence throughout this entire exchange.

The young woman lowered her head, as if afraid to meet the emperor’s gaze. “Father, no matter what, she… she’s my mother. I’ve always wondered just what kind of person she was, and why she left us, and why she never once came back…”

Her fists clenched, and she said with determination, “I want answers!”

The Xia Emperor froze, and his expression shifted. This obviously came as a devastating blow.

“I can give you the answer you want.” Su Yi suddenly rose from his chair and walked right up to Xia Qingyuan.

She was stunned, and she seemed alarmed. She instinctively rose from her chair and stammered, “Brother Su, what are you going to do?”

“Don’t panic. I’m helping you,” said Su Yi. He suddenly stretched out his hand and plucked a thin silver hairpin from her black hair.

It was only about three inches long, and its surface was carved with mysterious, contorted markings reminiscent of worms.

“Give it back!” Xia Qingyuan cried out in alarm and suddenly tried to seize it. She was obviously worked up.

Su Yi pushed down on her shoulder with his free hand, instantly sealing her movements.

Crunch!

He exerted strength through his fingers, crushing the silver hairpin into snowy metal fragments.

Xia Qingyuan let out a muffled grunt. A moment later, all her power seemed to leave her, and her slender, delicate figure slumped into Su Yi’s arms.

The crowd was unwittingly flabbergasted and alarmed. They had no idea what was going on.

The Xia Emperor said, “Fellow Daoist Su, that…”

“A soul treasure used to lead the mind astray,” Su Yi said casually. “Earlier, Miss Qingyuan was obviously under its influence, which is why she said things so out of character.”

He then passed the unconscious Xia Qingyuan to Wen Xinzhao. “She’s fine. She just needs to sleep for a while.”

The Xia Emperor seemed to realize something, and his face was ashen. “Pu Surong, that bitch! She was actually depraved enough to use a secret art on her own daughter!?”

It was then that a sigh rang out from beyond the courtyard.

“I’m her mother, and all I want to do is take my daughter with me. What’s wrong with that?”