Chapter 451 - 271: Yin Crow Tong Yinyin

Chapter 451: Chapter 271: Yin Crow Tong Yinyin

In the early hours of the morning, by the banks of the Tang River, the night wind blew against their faces.

This was a remarkably famous river in Hang Lake. Its waters surged and churned, crashing against the dam at the trio’s feet again and again.

The three of them stood casually, but their formation was somewhat strange. Li Ye seemed to be intentionally standing off to the side, giving the other two space to talk.

He held a purple bamboo instrument, similar to a flute, to his lips. It was likely a piece of purple bamboo Li Ye had procured from the Cyan Cloud Sect’s Secret Realm at some point. He held it with both hands and began to play softly, a gentle, beautiful melody that seemed to physically wrap itself around the other two.

The cool night wind brushed against them, a seeming accompaniment to the music. Su Xing watched the scene and couldn’t help but remark,

"Hang Lake really lives up to its name as a tourist city. The scenery has a unique charm. I’m a southerner myself, but this is my first time here."

Most people in Xia Country had heard of Hang Lake, as its tourism industry was exceptionally well-developed. Unfortunately, Su Xing wasn’t fond of traveling, so this was his first visit. Still, the trip was proving to be well worth it.

"Yes. In recent years, I’ve often lived in the Central Plains, far from the sea, to take care of certain things. But the coastal south is where I grew up, after all. It always feels more comfortable here."

"To live in seclusion in a beautiful, quiet place like this, singing and drinking, chatting with a couple of old friends every day... just thinking about it is relaxing."

Tong Yinyin said with a nod, gazing at her surroundings.

Just then, Su Xing turned his head and instinctively began to say, "In that case..." But the words caught in his throat.

He had stopped because he saw how the riverside lights seemed to deliberately avoid her slender figure. Her heavily made-up face was hidden in the night, creating an indescribable feeling, as if she were being swallowed by the darkness.

"Why stop halfway, little one?"

Tong Yinyin looked at Su Xing, who was bathed in the light, and smiled faintly. "But even if you don’t finish, I know what you’re trying to say."

"You still want to convince me to give up the Silent Extinction Demon Skill, don’t you?"

"I was harmed by others, yes. Back then, the Cyan Cloud Sect was new to the mortal world. They looked pristine on the outside, but they were rotten to the core. Their disciples committed countless unforgivable deeds."

"Brother Ye was harmed because the conflict between the Sword and Qi factions grew so intense that they began harming their own."

"As for Jile Valley and Chi Yu, the people who died at our hands... in the end, they were just opportunists, fishing in troubled waters and trying to profit from the chaos."

"So I don’t actually hold any resentment toward them. I’m even a little grateful to Jile Valley for taking me in when I was at my lowest."

"Unfortunately, Chi Yu killed Brother Ye’s fiancée, so I had no choice but to kill him with Brother Ye. And as for the people from Jile Valley who surrounded us today, they were just trying to block our escape. They brought it on themselves."

Tong Yinyin spoke in a calm, matter-of-fact tone, but her words made Su Xing frown.

"So, you haven’t let go of your hatred? You still despise the Cyan Cloud Sect?"

"Heh," Tong Yinyin chuckled softly. "Little one, do you think I refuse to give up the Demon Sect’s legacy and cling to this meager life of mine out of hatred? For the sake of future revenge?"

"..."

Su Xing remained silent, merely gazing at the woman shrouded in darkness, as if waiting for her answer. Tong Yinyin didn’t hesitate, her voice quiet as she continued,

"I just never want to feel that powerless again. Little one, can you imagine what it’s like? Having to use your lover’s corpse to kill the person in front of you just to survive?"

"Back then, I didn’t have the strength I have now. I could only hide in the shadows, using the power I had just awakened. I terrified them with the thought that someone had come back from the dead, and I used their fear to drive them away."

"To do that, I had to defile my lover’s body, impaling it with all sorts of blades to make him look more terrifying, more intimidating."

"That man, Ye, didn’t actually come himself that day. It was only some of his disciples. If he had, I never would have escaped."

"But they were disciples of the Cyan Cloud Sect, after all. Many of them had successfully completed their Qi Cultivation and had some combat ability. Even in their terror, they would still instinctively fight back..."

"Swords, blades, fists, staves... they all landed on his already ravaged body..."

"And in the end... in the end..."

Tong Yinyin seemed to sink deep into her memories. Her voice, unlike its usual self, grew hoarse and began to tremble. She looked at Su Xing, repeating the phrase "in the end," but was still unable to continue.

"Don’t say any more."

"I know the gist of your story."

Su Xing said, unable to bear hearing more. He had never seen her like this. Ten years had passed, and revenge had been taken, but the events of that year had clearly left an indelible scar on the young woman named Tong Yinyin.

Su Xing had already heard the gist of Tong Yinyin’s story from Yao Yixiao. But hearing it again from the source herself, the sorrow and desolation felt entirely different.

Su Xing was not a cold-blooded man. Hearing her story, a pang of sadness rose in his heart, compelling him to interrupt her.