Chapter 530 485: Ye Liyuan Meets Nangong Jin Again, Always Suspecting Junior Sister Nangong of Cheating with Her Man

「On Guanxian Island.」

Ji Xichan sat with her eyes closed in meditation. Behind her, the translucent, illusory figure of a Divine Maiden quietly materialized.

The Divine Maiden's robes fluttered as if in a celestial breeze, her posture graceful and otherworldly. A lustrous glow circulated around her, casting a light that made Ji Xichan's profile look even more refined and ethereal.

Wherever the divine light fell, the flowers and grasses around her swayed. At times they grew wildly, only to wither and crumble into dust moments later. Yet, from the ashes of their decay, new buds would break through the soil, beginning the cycle anew, life unending.

The cycles of life and death intertwined, playing out like a profound and mystical melody of the Dao.

Suddenly, the corner of Ji Xichan's brow twitched as if she sensed something. Her thoughts, which had drifted into an ethereal state, slowly returned to her body.

As Ji Xichan opened her eyes, the Divine Maiden's phantom form vanished. The plants beneath her were now lush and green, as if the recent spectacle of life and decay had been nothing but a dream.

"Very good, Miss Ji. Your control over this divine body has improved.

When the time comes, with you holding the key from Abyssal Sea Palace, the chances of opening the Ancient Divine Court might be as high as seventy percent."

Nangong Jin's cool voice, as crisp as Soft Jade falling onto a plate, sounded from beside Ji Xichan.

She walked over and handed Ji Xichan a Spirit Pill to restore her Spiritual Qi and vitality.

Ji Xichan's long lashes fluttered. The moment the pill entered her mouth, a touch of color returned to her pale face. She was about to thank her, but she saw that Nangong Jin had already turned and was walking toward the hall entrance.

"Elder Nangong, where are you going?"

Nangong Jin paused at the entrance and glanced back, her tone indifferent as she said,

"Ye Liyuan has fallen gravely ill and even gone blind. I am her junior sister; naturally, I must go see her."

'Ye Liyuan fell gravely ill and even hurt her eyes!'

Ji Xichan froze for a moment.

'But I just saw her yesterday, and she was perfectly fine. How could she have had an accident in the blink of an eye?'

'Sword Immortal Pei must be worried sick... After all, he loves his Dao Companion more than anything.'

Ji Xichan recalled the gentle smile Pei Yuhang had given her the day before, and she unconsciously clenched her fists.

"Elder Nangong, I'd also like to visit Fairy Ye..."

Before Ji Xichan could finish her sentence, Nangong Jin had already taken a step out, soaring into the sky and leaving a single sentence behind.

"Miss Ji, as I told you yesterday, you should be focusing on your own cultivation right now. Don't let others distract you... When I return, I will inspect your progress."

Forbidden from leaving, Ji Xichan tilted her head back, watching Nangong Jin's disappearing figure and pouting slightly.

'Why do I get the feeling... Elder Nangong doesn't want me to see Sword Immortal Pei?'

...

...

「In the Cold Palace Sword Mansion.」

Ye Liyuan sat in a wheelchair, a plain white silk ribbon covering her eyes. When the breeze blew past, the ends of the ribbon lifted gently, like two wisps of flowing clouds draping over her shoulders.

Pei Yuhang pushed her through the courtyard for a walk. He lowered his head, watching the sunlight fall on Ye Liyuan's pale skin. It was almost translucent, clearly revealing the faint blue veins on the side of her neck.

"Ah Han, I can't believe you stayed up all night to build this clever device for me. I'm so, so happy!"

"Thank you for being with me when I'm at my weakest."

Ye Liyuan sat in her chair, feeling the gentle headwind as Pei Yuhang slowly pushed her forward. A sweet, blissful smile bloomed on her lips.

Hearing this, Pei Yuhang lowered his gaze, feeling he didn't deserve such praise from Ye Liyuan.

'Because... in the end, it was his fault his Dao Companion had ended up like this.'

'If he hadn't lost himself in the tender embrace of another woman that day, Liyuan wouldn't have become so haggard, and her eyes wouldn't have gone blind from crying.'

He sighed softly and reached out to brush a few stray strands of dark hair from Ye Liyuan's forehead.

Ye Liyuan quickly leaned her face forward, nuzzling his hand obediently like a kitten. When Pei Yuhang pulled his hand back, she would even pout her pink lips, her expression full of reluctance to let him go.

Looking at his Dao Companion, who clung to him so dearly, Pei Yuhang's heart grew even more conflicted.

'Liyuan relies on me so much. After she recovers... how are we supposed to live apart?'

'If I suggest that we separate, will Liyuan—'

Pei Yuhang's pupils contracted as he couldn't help but imagine the terrible consequences.

'If Liyuan were to truly waste away and perish because of him, I could never forgive myself.'

He looked down at his Dao Companion in the wheelchair, who seemed as innocent and carefree as a child, his eyes filled with helplessness.

'It feels... as if I'm being "kidnapped" by Liyuan, forced to stay by her side.'

"What's wrong, Ah Han?"

Ye Liyuan suddenly spoke, pulling Pei Yuhang back to his senses.

He shook his head, not wanting the current Ye Liyuan to overthink things, and said,

"It's nothing. I was just thinking about what we should eat later."

"Ah Han is lying!"

Ye Liyuan suddenly pouted, puffing her cheeks out as she spoke.

Pei Yuhang was a little confused. 'Liyuan can't see me right now, so she shouldn't know how melancholic I feel. How can she know I'm lying to her?'

"Because Dao Companions are connected heart-to-heart."

"I can feel that Ah Han is distracted right now... and also very sad."

At this, Ye Liyuan seemed finally unable to hold back the words she had been keeping in her heart for so long.

She pressed her lips together, gathered her courage, and said in a small voice,

"Ah Han, ever since you saw Nangong Jin, you've been acting strange, especially toward me..."

"Can you tell me what Nangong Jin said to you back then?"

"..."

Pei Yuhang looked at his Dao Companion, who had tilted her face up toward him. Through the white silk ribbon wrapped around her face, he could feel her eyes staring intently at him.

He... didn't know how to answer.