The Villainess Refuses to Repent

After saying her piece, Song Wanníng didn't spare Gu Qingyuan a second glance. She turned and left, Li Ruò following closely behind.

Gu Qingyuan's fists were clenched, his spiritual energy unstable and surging erratically. But in the end, he didn't move to stop her. With outsiders present today, he didn't want Ye Chuxue to be caught in scandal.

As Song Wanníng walked away, Bai Yang took a few hesitant steps. In the end, he didn't follow her.

Ye Chuxue remained unconscious. They were all deeply worried.

But they knew perfectly well that no matter how hard they pleaded with their Master, she would never agree to save her.

"Uncle Lan, if Master refuses to help, can't you at least try?"

An Ze suddenly turned to Lan Le, who had been sitting silently nearby. Earlier, when Ye Chuxue collapsed, Lan Le had examined her condition. But he lacked a Heavenly Origin Heart-Nourishing Pill, which was why Gu Qingyuan had turned to Song Wanníng in desperation.

Now that she had refused to intervene, all their hope rested on Lan Le.

Lan Le frowned and stepped forward. He swept his divine sense over Ye Chuxue's body, but remained silent.

Gu Qingyuan's heart sank. He quickly asked, "Senior Brother Lan, her dantian has recovered, and only traces of poison remain. Isn't it possible to treat her now?"

He had already purged most of the poison before. Why was it flaring up again?

Lan Le's brows furrowed deeper.

"This poison is... strange. I haven't yet found a way to counter it."

He had to admit, his medical skills still couldn't compare to Song Wanníng's. No matter how hard he worked to catch up, he was still losing in raw talent. With a trace of frustration, he said, "I can help her regain consciousness for now, but as for detoxifying..."

He handed Gu Qingyuan a pill, his expression full of helplessness.

Gu Qingyuan's heart grew heavy.

He took the pill and carried Ye Chuxue away in silence.

Bai Yang and the others followed, weighed down by their own troubled thoughts.

The duels had been thrown into chaos, and the spectators, after indulging in gossip, slowly shifted their attention as the finals began.

Neither of Wentian Sect's participants made it to the final match. The Sect Master's face was stiff, but he forced himself to smile while entertaining the other sect leaders.

Still, in his heart, he couldn't help blaming Song Wanníng for everything.

…

"Uncle Gu, we can't let Senior Sister Ye stay like this. There has to be another way!"

An Ze clenched his fists, furious now that Song Wanníng was no longer around.

"Master's narrow-minded. She won't save Senior Sister—she'll only try to harm her!

If it weren't for Master, Senior Sister Ye wouldn't be poisoned in the first place!"

His voice was full of resentment. When he mentioned Song Wanníng, it was as if she were his enemy, not his master.

Neither Bai Yang nor Lu Nanfeng said a word. Clearly, they too believed Song Wanníng would only bring harm to Ye Chuxue.

Gu Qingyuan stood silently, his expression dark. He looked down at the unconscious girl in his arms, heart aching. An Ze was right. Song Wanníng was no longer the woman she used to be. He couldn't place his hopes on her.

He had to find another way.

On Yunxiao Peak, Li Ruò sat quietly at her Master's side, her eyes fixed on Song Wanníng's profile. Though her Master had appeared calm earlier, she had held Li Ruò's hand with unrelenting force.

"Master must be hurting too, right?"

"Master, you still have me." Li Ruò reached out and gently grasped her Master's hand, eyes filled with admiration and affection. She didn't understand why the Senior Brothers all sided with outsiders.

Hearing those innocent words, Song Wanníng lowered her head and softly patted Li Ruò's hair. She had only accepted Li Ruò as a disciple to repay a life debt. Who would've thought that in this vast sect, she was the only one who still stood by her?

"In a few days, I'll enter closed cultivation. From tomorrow onward, come to me here each day." What she had said earlier today served two purposes. First, she didn't want to suffer in silence anymore. Let the whole world know just how passionately Gu Qingyuan loved.

Second, she wanted to provoke those people—to force them to visit the ruins of the Medicine King Sect ahead of schedule.

When she had first come out of the Three Lives Mirror, her mind was consumed by a single thought: kill them all, leave none alive.

But after calming down, she chose restraint.

Because she knew that protagonists like them were blessed by fate, possibly even protected by the Heavenly Dao itself.

If she struck too forcefully, it would only lead to her own destruction.

So she had to play the long game, move one step at a time.

They wanted to climb to the top by stepping on her?

Then she would reverse the game. Let them experience that same despair.

Revenge and survival—for herself and the Song family—this was her true goal.

A faint smile curved her lips. It wouldn't be long before they started to squirm.

…

After settling his disciple, Gu Qingyuan headed toward the scripture pavilion, hoping to find something useful for detoxification.

But halfway there, he caught sight of a familiar figure.

It was Xiahou Shang.

He had left Wentian Sect in a hurry after their last conversation. It looked like he had just returned.

Gu Qingyuan saw him walking quickly in the direction of Yuanxiao Peak.

He paused.

A strange hesitation filled his chest. Before he realized what he was doing, his steps had shifted. He followed.

Gu Qingyuan pressed his lips tightly together, silently telling himself it was only for Ye Chuxue's sake. Nothing more.

On Yunxiao Peak, Song Wanníng had just finished guiding Li Ruò in her cultivation when she noticed a figure standing at the door.

The man wore fitted black robes, the dark silk tailored perfectly to his lean and upright frame. Broad shoulders, narrow waist. His posture was impeccable. His sharp brows and deep eyes gave him a striking presence, his jawline firm and cold. He stood with his hands behind his back, watching her from afar.

Song Wanníng blinked. Xiahou Shang?

He and Gu Qingyuan had grown up together in the same village, supporting each other through hardship, climbing the path of cultivation side by side.

Because of that, she also knew him well.

His personality was the opposite of Gu Qingyuan's—talkative and sharp-tongued, always bickering with her, always leaving her fuming. So what was he doing here now, suddenly appearing at her door?

Song Wanníng's expression didn't change. She strode toward him without hesitation.

"What is it? Here to enjoy the spectacle?"

She spoke with self-deprecation, but a faint smile still played on her lips.

Watching her approach, Xiahou Shang's usually glib tongue faltered. He looked… nervous?

By the time she reached him, his face was completely red.

"What, did you get poisoned too?"

Song Wanníng arched a brow, amused by his odd behavior.

"No—I didn't!" He retorted quickly. "I just came to check on you."

"Tch. Really came to see me, did you?"

She raised her brows higher. "Were you hoping to see me crying and broken, or ranting and raving like a madwoman?"

"Neither!" Xiahou Shang frowned. Clearly, she had misunderstood him.

Behind his back, the jade box in his hand was clutched tightly.

Just as he was about to take it out, a voice called out behind them—