Xiao Yuan looked at Yi Chunjun and shook his head reassuringly to put his mind at ease.
“Xiao Juyuan, your misfortune began on that rainy night when you stole the Heavenly Sparrow Sword. You shouldn’t blame anyone.”
These words made Xiao Juyuan turn pale and take a step back. She looked at Xiao Yuan with some fear.
"You know that Pei Junwu and Yi Chunjun lost all their inner strength because of me, and that your two senior uncles also expended a lot of their true energy to save me, so you came here seeking revenge without any fear. But you didn't expect that I was the silly girl you tricked into worshipping the wishing tree back then. In terms of cunning, I have never been as good as you since childhood, but in terms of luck, I am much better than you."
Xiao Juyuan staggered back another step.
"My two senior uncles each gave me thirty percent of their power. Now I can really have a good fight with you. Who lives and who dies is up to fate!"
"Fate!" Xiao Juyuan closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face. "Why is my life so bad? I was tormented by my alcoholic father since I was a child, living in poverty, never even able to get a full meal. What do I want? I'm not greedy! I just want a good man and a stable life! Even that, heaven won't give me! I refuse to accept it! I refuse to accept it!"
No one said anything. Actually, she... was pitiful too.
"It's all fate! They're pushing me step by step towards a dead end!"
Xiao Yuan looked at her and said, "If you had confessed to Junwu when you couldn't keep up the pretense and couldn't produce the treasure, instead of causing his family to be destroyed, how could things have turned out like this? It wasn't fate that forced you; you chose to walk down this dead end yourself."
Xiao Juyuan looked at her and smiled, a hint of sarcasm in his voice, "Miss Xiao, you've been lucky since you were little, you don't understand! People who are afraid of hardship can't afford to lose, so they dare not gamble!"
Xiao Yuan remained silent.
Chapter 70 of "The Smiling Flower": Blood and Sighs
Xiao Juyuan heard Yan Minyu behind her let out a soft "ah," and her deep-seated wariness caused her to instinctively scoot to a corner where she could see everyone directly.
She looked at Hang Yisu, who had already helped Yan Minyu up from the ground, and sneered, "I'm really surprised, Young Master Hang, your lightness skill has improved again."
Hang Yisu looked at her coldly, his disdainful gaze provoking Xiao Juyuan's anger.
"Give her the antidote." A cold glint flashed in Hang Yisu's eyes.
"No." Xiao Juyuan sneered.
"Give her the antidote," Hang Yisu repeated in the same tone.
The morning sun warmly illuminated the surrounding golden bamboo forest, which stretched like a sea, and the gentle color made the world appear soft and harmonious.
However, everyone's heart was cold, filled with the melancholy unique to autumn, a bittersweet feeling.
Everyone watched Hang Yisu and Xiao Juyuan in silence.
Xiao Yuan's hand was gently but firmly held by Yi Chunjun, who told her not to make a sound or touch him. A man, no matter what kind of man he is, will not allow anyone to interfere when protecting the woman he loves.
"You finally... came to find me after all..." Yan Minyu's face was pale, but the expression on her face as she nestled in his arms was one of happiness and contentment. In Hang Yisu's eyes, her smile was incomparably beautiful.
Xiao Yuan's eyes stung, and tears welled up. Senior sister... Whether this love was happiness or torment for her or Hang Yisu, no one but them could truly understand.
"Hmm." Hang Yisu looked into her eyes.
“Yi Su,” she smiled, her smile brighter than the autumn sun, “we will never be apart again! Even if it’s just to keep you company, I want to be by your side.”
"Hmm." Hang Yisu's expression remained unchanged, but a mist welled up in his eyes. His forced calm was even more heartbreaking than if he had actually cried or laughed.
“Yi Su…” She took the initiative to hold his always cold hand.
"I'll settle the score with her first." A hint of tenderness finally appeared in Hang Yisu's cold phoenix eyes. He gently settled her in, stood up, and slowly drew his long sword.
Xiao Juyuan had been watching them the whole time. Seeing Hang Yisu draw his sword, she grinned maliciously. So you love her, huh? She'd make sure Yan Minyu died! Why should everyone else find love besides her? And even if they did, so what? To have love but not be able to be together—ha, that's more painful than having no love at all!
"Xiao Juyuan, you've lied to me so many times," Hang Yisu sneered.
"Hang Yisu, if you hadn't betrayed me at the crucial moment, and everything had gone according to my plan, how could I have ended up in this state!" Xiao Juyuan laughed venomously. Hmph, just for this, she should take revenge on him properly.
Hang Yisu looked at her and said, "Even if I hadn't betrayed you, you would still have ended up like this. You always choose the wrong path, the wrong path, and the wrong path."
"Stop talking nonsense! I don't have time to waste on your chatter! My opponent is Li Yuan'er, not some nobody like you."
"I don't care who your opponent is, I don't care if you live or die. But you can't hurt her. Give me the antidote."
"Want the antidote? Fine, wait until I kill Li Yuan'er. Or would you be willing to help me? After all, if I die, your Xiao Yu will be beyond saving," Xiao Juyuan said with a smile.
Hang Yisu looked at her calmly.
“You’ve really gone mad.” He pointed. “Look.” His finger traced across each person opposite him. “Even if you can kill Li Yuan’er, do you think these people will let you go?”
Xiao Juyuan followed his finger and looked at each face, each one filled with indifference and condemnation.
She suddenly burst into laughter.
"I knew Pei Junwu had given up all his inner strength to save her; he didn't want to live anymore. I didn't come here expecting to leave alive either!" Living was torture for her, because she was losing something every day! "But how many people can I take down with me?" She smiled cruelly. "Senior Sister Yan, your luck is really bad!"
"Give her the antidote," Hang Yisu repeated, his eyes even colder.
"Looks like I can't have a proper fight without dealing with you first," she laughed. "What do you think I've been doing these past few months? Look!"
Before she finished speaking, the long sword in her hand flew out like flowing water. Hang Yisu was slightly surprised. This woman's martial arts skills had improved too much!
The sparks from the clash of swords flashed briefly and dazzlingly in the increasingly glaring sunlight, sending chills down one's spine.
Sweat beaded on Hang Yisu's forehead; he had already fallen behind.
"Master, how is my swordsmanship?" Xiao Juyuan asked proudly, pressing Hang Yisu tightly into a sea of sword light. "Am I stupid? Master, if you were willing to teach me as patiently as you taught Pei Junwu, becoming the best in the world wouldn't be impossible!" She became more and more relaxed as she fought, while Hang Yisu became increasingly embarrassed.
Zhu Liancheng sighed softly, "I was wrong. I didn't teach him kung fu well, and I didn't teach him how to be a good person either. Stop! He's no match for you. Xiao Yuan, go ahead, you can do it." He gave Xiao Yuan an encouraging look.