No matter if Ye Jiuyou is willing or not, this fight seems unavoidable.

An entangled battle involving almost all the peak forces of this world, which, according to Huangfu Qing and others, required everyone to be prepared for injuries, was simplified from the complex by Yue Hongling’s challenge to the Sword Emperor. In the end, everyone’s role was just to create "momentum" for Zhao Changhe’s conversation.

Ye Jiuyou had to admit that with these women surrounding him in the Four Symbols Formation, especially with Piaomiao on the side, she indeed felt apprehensive. Blocked by Zhao Changhe’s cross blade, she was extremely annoyed but couldn’t make a move.

Ye Jiuyou’s expression alternated between sunny and dark as she looked at the Dragon Sparrow blocking her for a long time, slowly saying, "Do you really want to open up to me, or are you using these reasons to stop me from going after your brother? You know it in your heart. Saying these seemingly nice words, it’s better to admit you feel guilty towards me."

Zhao Changhe remained silent.

That’s right, no matter how many excuses were made to convince himself and Ye Jiuyou, the essence was to save Han Wubing.

Otherwise, why would he bother to block with a cross blade? Isn’t it just clearly telling the other party, "If you don’t talk to me, then talk to my blade"?

This threat with a cross blade was no different from Han Wubing pointing his sword at Chichi: it’s all about trampling on the other party’s friendship. Zhao Changhe felt discontented looking at that scene, just as Ye Jiuyou felt now.

Zhao Changhe finally sheathed his blade, whispering, "Sorry."

Ye Jiuyou sneered, "Han Wubing apologized with a severed arm for this, and you just say two words?"

Of course, everyone knew that Han Wubing’s severed arm was not just for this matter, but also for Zhao Changhe’s criticism of not being able to trust him, avoiding communication, and the guilt of not saving Zhao Changhe when he escaped. It also meant using the severed arm to save himself, allowing the Four Symbols Sect to obtain the White Tiger Body to eliminate the conflict.

For someone like Han Wubing, he would never consider any more complicated matters. Faced with complex, indescribable emotions, self-mutilation was the most straightforward choice. With one swing, Zhao Changhe’s annoyance disappeared, replaced by a pang of heartache.

This feeling made him a bit uncomfortable, and he finally sighed, "Why do I feel like you’re jealous of Han Wubing?"

Ye Jiuyou: "?"

"Do you also want me to sever an arm?"

Ye Jiuyou’s beautiful eyes glanced at his arm, sneering, "I think that’s possible."

A murderous aura emanated from the surrounding women, making Ye Jiuyou’s expression even worse. As comforting as it sounds, if you really have the guts to chop off your arm, wouldn’t these women fight to the death with me? But if Ye Jiuyou were to choose, what does severing an arm mean? Severing the fifth limb would be better, considering you still have so many allies...

Zhao Changhe sighed and said, "So, I say I will help you achieve your goal as a compensation, and you still don’t believe it?"

"Goal?" Ye Jiuyou sneered and suddenly snapped her fingers.

The corpse puppets of Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, and Xuanwu appeared beside her, now showing a bit of vitality instead of their previously withered and lifeless state.

Ye Jiuyou said indifferently, "They are plotting against me, but how am I not plotting against them? Do they really think I’m a fool to be easily manipulated?"

Zhao Changhe said, "I have always known you’re not. You have a lot of secret plans."

Ye Jiuyou pointed at the corpse puppets, "Originally, I didn’t need to show these corpse puppets so early. It’s more valuable to keep them hidden. Do you know why I showed them early?"

Zhao Changhe thought about it, "The White Tiger is alive. You are using the connections among the Four Symbols to let the vitality and memories of the White Tiger stimulate these three, achieving some sort of resurrection conditions under your control. Although the previous battle seemed to be against you, it was actually not a big deal. The longer the delay, the longer the vitality stimulation, which is more beneficial to you. When the time is right, the seemingly dormant Four Symbols will fully revive, and along with other subordinates surrounding them, even the Sword Emperor and the White Tiger might be captured by you. This is also why you rescued the White Tiger in the chaos, as you didn’t want any harm to come to him."

Ye Jiuyou was somewhat surprised by his accurate judgment, yet she still said coldly, "Since you know, you should understand that your unnecessary interference is just adding trouble for me?"

"You have plans, and so do they. Ultimately, no one can predict whose plan will succeed. I think the result is more likely to be mutual destruction. Actually, if we hadn’t interfered and were lying in ambush waiting for the right moment to strike, the possibility of you picking the fruits of our plan would be higher."

Ye Jiuyou snorted coldly. Since Zhao Changhe and Piaomiao could escape in time, there was indeed the possibility of the fruits being plucked, but no one knew which possibility was higher. Since things were already chaotic, there were no ifs.

Zhao Changhe said, "I don’t really want to know what the result would be if things developed according to the original plan. I think that this is the best way, at least nothing unwanted has happened. As long as the people are fine, it doesn’t matter if the plans fail, we can always try again."

As long as the people are fine...

Ye Jiuyou felt that the surrounding women’s murderous aura had seemingly acquired a scent, and those pairs of vigilant beautiful eyes suddenly became a bit strange...

You just blocked me with a blade!

Not knowing exactly what he was thinking, Ye Jiuyou really didn’t want to converse with Zhao Changhe under everyone’s watchful eyes. Finally, she said, "If you really mean to offer me any compensation, come to the mountaintop before nightfall, alone."

With that, she vanished with a swoosh.

Zhao Changhe looked in the direction she disappeared, pondering for a moment. Based on Ye Jiuyou’s escape skill, it wasn’t really his cross-blade that could stop her.

What stopped her was actually his attitude, not the blade.

Zhao Changhe sighed and finally walked towards Huangfu Qing. She was controlling a ball of flame, within which black mist writhed and twisted.