Could it be that I am the cruel villain?
Chapter 215 - 152 Departure

Chapter 215: Chapter 152 Departure

Alas, neither of them ultimately managed to get the explanation they awaited from Yu Ying.

Actually, it was only Cen Yueyue who did not receive the answer she wanted.

Swoosh—

A gigantic figure streaked across the sky.

Resembling an eagle, its beak’s arch was gentle, its body mostly covered in down, with thick and strong amethyst feathers. Its wings, when fully spread, spanned a full twenty feet, and the terrifying wind pressure created upon landing was enough to leave one breathless.

The giant Amethyst Egret hovered above, and the woman tinkering with her musical instrument by the campfire only glanced up briefly, her lips curling slightly as she gently flicked the cow intestine string with her finger.

The aimlessly wandering Amethyst Egret, as if having found its target, swooped down directly towards her.

This scene made the young girl huddled exhausted in the corner unconsciously open her eyes, her expression somewhat tense.

Covered in a fuzzy cloak, her body was lying sideways on a split-open tree trunk, makeshift as a refuge.

Ever since Yu Ying had ruthlessly slaughtered Wu Mingsheng, they could only temporarily seek refuge and rest in these mountains. Putting aside whether there were any villages nearby, both her and Jiang Feng’s physical condition made it impossible for them to traverse long distances.

Before she could react, a languid female voice arose not far off.

"There’s no need for alarm; this is the Amethyst Egret that Purple Cloud Palace exclusively uses to greet new disciples. Miss Cen, please rest assured."

She still maintained that dignified and elegant demeanor, and by appearances alone, one would never associate her with the notoriously malicious woman.

It was telling that she, residing deep in the Southern Border at least a thousand miles away from Shuangfeng City, was well aware of Yu Ying’s reputation—a testament to the magnitude of her notoriety at the borders.

Compared to their first meeting, Yu Ying was noticeably more impeccably made up, her energy not as languid as before. The serene and melodious Soothing Melody constantly echoed in the empty woods, undoubtedly alleviating the pain and fatigue on one’s body.

Staring intently at Yu Ying’s mature and flawless profile, she seemed to want to discern the truth about this woman. Yet she found she could never penetrate the woman’s realm, even when she had struck down Wu Mingsheng.

She still could not fathom the other’s realm.

"With your strength and talent, you should not—and probably could not—have been exiled to the border."

"Even within Purple Cloud Palace, you wouldn’t be considered weak. You should be much younger than that old worthless thing, much, much younger."

"Those who specialize in the rhythm are extremely rare within the entire Cultivation World. Talent, effort, musical ear, and fortune are indispensable. Purple Cloud Palace should have no reason not to cultivate you."

The same question. This couple’s way of thinking was indeed alike.

The beautiful lady merely smiled.

"It is an honor for me to receive commendation from the Little Saintess of the Southern Border."

"Hmph."

She didn’t directly address the question; the young girl glanced at her side and noticed Jiang Feng lying on the ground like a dead pig.

The reason he was lying down was due to the bandages wound across his back and the three terrifying wounds that, fortunately, had not reached his bones—it was a stroke of luck in an unlucky situation.

The giant Amethyst Egret landed soon after, clearing all the snow in the mountains around it. Upon landing, it made no threatening gestures.

Instead, it nuzzled the woman’s palm with its head, emitting a quiet hum as if to convey something. After a while, the woman tenderly replied.

"Mm, now that they’ve found a place to settle, you can lead them further tomorrow. I’ll catch up the day after."

"Quack!"

A sound akin to a duck’s quack.

Clearly unhappy with this decision, the Amethyst Egret even waved its wings to express its feelings, occasionally directing its beak towards a young man lying on the ground like a dead pig, its eyes showing disdain and confusion.

But...

"How about this: After returning to the sect, you can go complain to Master Liu about her junior brother dragging you down. How’s that?"

The gaping beak promptly closed.

It nodded obediently, then reluctantly took off into the sky. The scene appeared a bit comical, but Cen Yueyue understood the weight of those words, as well as the significance of the young man beside her.

A true Sword Immortal descendant—merely mentioning it seemed incredible. How many people have sought discipleship in vain?

Among them are heirs of powerful clans, prodigies who began cultivating at the age of five or six, or talented youngsters who have reached Qi Refinement or even Foundation Establishment in their teens.

Even she had not been chosen.

Did you really think the Cen Family Patriarch invited Liu Tangxi to Cen Family Village, merely to have him there for a celebratory drink?

She watched silently as the Amethyst Egret disappeared into the distance. Her fingers had barely touched the cow intestine strings, which she personally forged from the intestines of Demon Beasts. For ordinary people...

A single pluck of the strings could be lethal.

"Since you knew he is a disciple of Liu Jianxian, why did you stand by idly? You must have known someone was following him long ago. Or is it that those old men in your sect really disapprove of him?"

She posed an icy question.

A surge of nameless anger welled up in her heart. If Jiang Feng’s abilities had been any weaker, or if his luck worse, he likely would have already met a violent end.

Yu Ying’s expression briefly showed surprise. The sharp young girl was indeed smart, making accurate judgments about the internal situation—a worthy choice from among the Southern Border Twelve Villages.

To outsiders, the title of a Sword Immortal Disciple certainly seemed glorious, but was the reality truly so?