Volume 1, Chapter 124 – A Protective Master

As the other disciples withdrew, silence returned to the hall. Only Gu Han and A-Yao, who stood beside her, remained.

Yun Yun, Li Hanyi, Liu Ruyan, Gu Luoli, and Ye Ling’er had not left either.

Liu Ruyan took a deep breath, stepped forward, and solemnly knelt before Gu Han.

“Master, this disciple has committed a grave offense and has come to accept punishment.”

Her voice remained gentle, but a faint tremor ran through it.

Gu Han’s gaze settled on her. She did not speak at once, merely regarding her in silence.

Standing beside Gu Han, A-Yao anxiously clutched the corner of her robe with one small hand.

Her large eyes darted between her Second Junior Sister kneeling on the floor and Master Mama, and she seemed unable to understand what had happened.

Yun Yun and Li Hanyi exchanged a glance, a flicker of understanding passing through both their eyes. Evidently, they already knew something of what had happened in the secret realm.

Gu Luoli and Ye Ling’er stood half a step behind Liu Ruyan, their expressions tense and their faces filled with concern for their Senior Sister.

“What offense have you committed?”

Gu Han spoke slowly, her voice calm and even, betraying neither joy nor anger.

Liu Ruyan raised her head and recounted everything that had happened in the secret realm without concealing a single detail: how Huo Wushuang and the others had surrounded and attacked them, how her fellow disciples had been in mortal danger, and how she had been forced to use Samsara: Imprisonment and Samsara Draw.

She explained how she had ultimately killed Huo Wushuang and the other two Golden Core cultivators, and how she had used that opportunity to break through.

“…This disciple knows that Samsara Draw is an overbearing and ruthless art. It goes against the natural order and closely resembles the methods of the demonic path. Worse, I used it to kill the young valley master of Heavenly Fire Valley, which may bring disaster upon the Immortal Palace.”

Liu Ruyan’s voice gradually fell, laden with deep remorse and unease.

“This disciple had no other choice if I wished to save my fellow disciples, but after reflecting upon it, I still feel that my actions were improper.”

“What I did may tarnish the Immortal Palace’s reputation and betray Master’s teachings.”

“This disciple is willing to accept any punishment without complaint.”

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With that, she bowed her head deeply and waited for her master’s judgment.

The hall was so quiet that a falling needle could have been heard.

Yun Yun frowned slightly and gave Liu Ruyan a surprised look.

Li Hanyi’s expression remained cool and aloof, but when her gaze fell on Liu Ruyan, it carried an almost imperceptible trace of scrutiny.

Clearly, although they knew that Liu Ruyan had killed Heavenly Fire Valley’s young valley master in the secret realm, neither had expected her to possess such a sinister cultivation technique.

Gu Luoli remained silent, but Ye Ling’er could not help speaking up.

“Master, Second Senior Sister only did it to…”

Gu Han raised a hand, cutting off the rest of Ye Ling’er’s words.

She slowly rose, stepped down from the cloud couch, and walked over to Liu Ruyan.

The hem of her moon-white palace gown swept across the gleaming floor, trailing a cool, faint fragrance.

“Look up.”

Gu Han’s voice rang out.

Liu Ruyan obediently raised her head and met Gu Han’s calm, profound eyes.

There was none of the fury or disappointment she had imagined in those eyes. There was only tranquility.

“Ruyan,”

Gu Han called her by name, her tone mild,

“let me ask you this. In those circumstances, if you had not used Samsara Draw, could you have kept your fellow disciples safe?”

Liu Ruyan froze for a moment, then shook her head, her voice bitter.

“This disciple… could not.”

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“Samsara: Imprisonment places an immense burden on me. If I hadn’t used Samsara Draw to replenish myself, I would have immediately fallen into a weakened state, and the situation would have spiraled out of control.”

“Then,”

Gu Han continued,

“did Huo Wushuang and the others intend to kill you and slaughter every one of your fellow disciples?”

“…Yes.”

Liu Ruyan nodded. Huo Wushuang’s vicious face and ruthless killing moves seemed to flash before her eyes once more.

“Did he hold back in the slightest or hesitate at all because of who you were?”

“No.”

“In that case,”

Gu Han’s voice rose slightly, carrying an unshakable finality,

“you killed him. So what? What offense did you commit?”

Liu Ruyan looked up in astonishment.

“I told you before that cultivation techniques and divine abilities are neither righteous nor evil by nature.”

Gu Han’s gaze swept across everyone in the hall. Her voice was clear and resolute, as though she were proclaiming an immutable truth of heaven and earth.

“They are righteous when used for righteous ends and evil when used for evil ends. What matters is not the art itself, but the heart behind it and the purpose for which it is used.”

“You were forced to use a forbidden technique to protect your fellow disciples, and you turned the tables on powerful enemies. Your conscience is clear. That is taking responsibility. How could it be a crime?”

She reached out, gently took Liu Ruyan by the arm, and helped her to her feet.

“As for Huo Wushuang of Heavenly Fire Valley…”

Gu Han straightened, her gaze seeming to pierce through the hall toward the distant Eastern Region as her tone turned cold.

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“He was arrogant and domineering, and he repeatedly provoked you. He deserved to die.”

“Never mind that he was only Heavenly Fire Valley’s young valley master. Even if he were a Palace Master, anyone who dares lay a hand on someone from my Yaochi Immortal Palace must die!”

The domineering protectiveness in her words was utterly undisguised.

Liu Ruyan’s eyes grew hot, and a warm current instantly swept away every trace of unease and self-reproach in her heart.

She looked at Gu Han, her voice choked with emotion.

“Master…”

“There is no need to say anything more.”

Gu Han patted the back of her hand, her gaze softening once again.

“You did very well. You remained calm in the face of danger and struck decisively.”

“You protected your fellow disciples and even found an opportunity to break through in a desperate situation. That is what I expect from my disciple.”

She turned and walked back to the cloud couch before sitting down again. Her gaze rested on Liu Ruyan with a trace of approval.

“The Samsara Dao Scripture embodies a supreme Great Dao, and the divine abilities contained within it are profoundly mysterious. For you to have mastered the Draw formula while still at the Golden Core stage is already a rare achievement.”

“But you must remember never to abuse this art, much less become dependent upon it. Otherwise, you may lose sight of your true heart and fall onto the demonic path.”

“This disciple will remember Master’s teachings!”

Liu Ruyan nodded firmly, the doubts in her heart swept away.

“As for Heavenly Fire Valley…”

The faintest smile curved Gu Han’s lips.

“I would like to see whether they dare come here.”

She had already displayed the strength of an Immortal Ascension expert on the Tianqiong Plains.

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If Heavenly Fire Valley lacked even that much judgment, then it could only be said that such a faction had no need to continue existing.

“This matter ends here.”

Gu Han’s verdict was final.

“Ruyan, you have just broken through and need to stabilize your cultivation. Go and rest.”

“Yes. Thank you, Master!”

Liu Ruyan bowed once more, her voice now filled with relief and conviction.

Gu Luoli and Ye Ling’er also stepped forward in turn and bowed solemnly to Gu Han.

“This disciple bids you farewell.”

Gu Luoli’s voice remained as cool as ever, but the respect for her master in her double pupils was unmistakable.

“Ma… Master, this disciple will take her leave as well.”

Ye Ling’er’s voice carried an almost imperceptible tremor.

The instant she turned to leave, she could not resist stealing another glance at the figure seated on the cloud couch.

The words Master had just spoken to Second Senior Sister had carried an unquestionable dominance and protectiveness beneath their calmness. Every word had struck heavily at Ye Ling’er’s heart.

This was her master: powerful, gentle, beautiful, and fiercely protective. She was almost perfect.

Ye Ling’er took a deep breath and suppressed the complicated emotions surging in her heart. Her fingertips unconsciously brushed over the cold twin Nether Moon blades at her waist.

She had to work harder.

She had to become stronger, strong enough that one day, she would not only be able to protect herself, but perhaps even…

The doors of the hall slowly closed behind the three of them, shutting out their figures along with the thoughts each carried in her heart.