Her voice was frighteningly hoarse: "We just want to live! Even if it's like living like a dog!"

Zhou Qing looked at her pathetic state, momentarily unsure whether he should sympathize or despise.

But soon, she started laughing neurotically: "Originally, I wanted to contact Xiang Fei to set a trap, capture you all and hand you over to the Nangong Family, thus luring Ao to willingly walk into the net."

"But he has disappeared; you should have seen it too. Ao has returned... and he's settling scores one by one..."

Then, a look of relief appeared on her face that seemed to liberate her: "Do it, I now only regret that I ever met your senior brother."

"And I shouldn't have been enthralled by his bold charm, mindlessly followed him to the Imperial City."

Her gaze gradually grew distant, looking into an empty void: "Had I stayed in the sect... I should be... already an Elder by now."

A faint, illusory smile appeared on her lips, "Taking on a few obedient disciples, teaching them cultivation... walking the path my master walked... It really would've... been nice..."

"Indeed, no matter which path a person chooses… they'll always regret."

As a murky tear slid from the corner of her eye, she slowly bowed her head, silent and speechless.

Zhou Qing stood silently for a while, the sound of dripping water in the cave was clearly audible.

He looked at this woman who once appeared atop the canopy of Cyan Wood City, full of spirit, yet now in such a state, a feeling he couldn't decipher rose in his heart.

Suddenly, he recalled a saying from the past when he followed the Second Uncle at the White Jade Taixu Courtyard: "On the path of cultivation, every choice is a tribulation crossing, every karma is cultivation."

"Indeed, none of us is actually wrong; it's just the positions we find ourselves in are different," he muttered softly.

"You chose self-preservation, senior brother chose his Dao Heart, the Nangong Family chose revenge... everyone walks within their own karma."

"But after making your choice, you must bear the corresponding cost."

As Zhou Qing finished speaking, he came to her side, a faint golden glow emanating from his fingertip: "Now, I only hope senior brother is alright." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Saying this, he pointed a finger at her brow, conducting a direct Soul Search.

Lan Caiwei suddenly breathed heavily, her whole body trembling.

A moment later, Zhou Qing withdrew his hand, looking at the unconscious Lan Caiwei, and nodded slightly at Luo Lingling.

"She didn't lie, as for how she will be handled, let senior brother decide then!"

Luo Lingling nodded, her expression complex as she looked at Lan Caiwei.

"The hardest thing for cultivators is not severing emotions and desires but maintaining that bit of original heart amidst the vast worldly affairs."

"None of them actually realized, the reason for choosing betrayal isn't because of the leader, but out of jealousy and injustice!"

Companions who once adventured side by side and shared life and death, now due to differences in talent, grow increasingly distant.

Senior brother, because of a unique realm, advanced his cultivation rapidly, like a sharp blade, shattering the past equilibrium among everyone.

These talents born of noble families now can only drag their scarred bodies, watching helplessly as their companion's silhouette fades into the distance.

When the scale of balance tips, the poison seed of jealousy sprouts rampantly in the heart.

The discontent and resentment, like a bone-attached ulcer, erode the Dao Heart, eventually turning into the fire of poison that incinerates reason...

"By the way! There is still one matter to be cautious of." Luo Lingling securely bound Lan Caiwei again, suddenly becoming serious and turning to Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing raised his sword-like eyebrows: "What is it?"

"In killing Nangong Ye, we offended not only the Nangong Family..." Luo Lingling's voice deepened, "but also the Royal Family."

Zhou Qing frowned slightly, silent and wordless.

Through the Soul Search, he indeed discovered some insights.

"Though the information isn't complete, the Royal Family's emphasis on Spirit Severing families has become an open secret." Luo Lingling exhaled deeply, "These families' direct descendants remain stationed in the Imperial City, naturally enjoying privileges."

"The leader severed the direct descendent Nangong Xiao, and you killed the Elder Nangong Ye of Divinity Transformation Perfection. With their vengeful ways, this matter won't easily resolve."

"Combined with other Spirit Severing Realm families stirring up trouble from the sidelines," her eyes flickered with cold light, "we may have to face the dual hunt of the Nangong Family and the Royal Family."

Zhou Qing agreed with a nod: "Luckily, you and I both wore masks that day, at least leaving us with some leverage."

"But there's still a flaw." Luo Lingling frowned, "Nangong Ye's two concubine partners and some attendants were also in the carriage below at the time; they must have heard Lan Caiwei's cries for help and the name of the leader."

"So you and I will still be seen as being on the leader's side."

Zhou Qing merely let out a cold laugh, a glimmer of sharpness flashing in his eyes: "It doesn't matter anymore. Even if they trace it to the Taiqing Sect, so what? Don't forget, we have the two elders from the Lu Family backing us up."

He paused for a moment, his tone increasingly calm, "Moreover, Prince Xuanyuan Shuo wants to maintain stability on the border, and he still needs my transformed Golden Roc to assist him."

Luo Lingling looked at the young man before her who used to follow her, calling her senior sister, now exuding the demeanor of someone in power, a surge of unspeakable pride and joy filling her heart.

"Hm?" At that moment, Luo Lingling suddenly looked towards Lan Caiwei's storage bag at the side.

The items inside had long been taken out and checked carefully by her, lest there be something that could contact the Nangong Family.

At this moment, a Jade Scroll emitted a faint glow.

Zhou Qing also noticed this scene, lightly waving his hand, bringing the Jade Talisman to him.

With a surge of spiritual power, a few lines of small characters wriggled and appeared as if alive:

[Wei, Chuan has found Ao's tracks, hurry to Blood Maple Forest! — Lan]