CHAPTER 49: CONFESSION

"So that’s why you captured us?" she asked.

The sect master smiled. "That’s right," he said. "Did you really believe I was kidnapping talented children so my sect can have a successor when I died? Stop dreaming," he said.

Xueling thought to herself that for her, it didn’t really matter. He had kidnapped her and killed her family. His reasons didn’t matter - they were sworn enemies from the start.

The sect master noted that she was surprisingly calm.

"Why give me such a look? I’m actually the one who saved you," the sect master said, cleaning his ears with his finger. "Do you think the emperor would’ve let such shame to the royal family name exist?" he asked, causing Xueling to grit her teeth.

"If it wasn’t for me kidnapping you and slaughtering the rest of your family, the emperor would’ve done it the next day. And that time, not even you would’ve survived," he said. He then smiled. "Why don’t you pay your respects to me for saving your life?" he said mockingly.

"Nothing? What a rude princess. Can’t even pay your respects to your savior. No wonder you were exiled," he said, putting emphasis on the last part.

Xueling’s eyes flashed red upon hearing his taunts.

He smiled - in the end, she was still the same girl. But unlike what he had expected - for her to attack him, she instead took to the skies and flew away.

"That brat..." He jumped into the sky and rushed after them.

"Love really does change people. Even someone like her can take all that without fighting back," he said with a smile.

"Can we really escape like this?" Xueling asked.

"Probably not, but this is the only way at the moment," Yu Tian responded.

That’s right, it was the only way, she thought. She could see the Twin Secret Tombs just a few hundred meters away. It was said that after entering the secret tomb, you are transported to a random location.

They were betting on entering the tomb - since they were in contact, they would go to the same location. As for the sect master, if he decided to join them, he would also be transported randomly.

Even if this plan succeeded, it would just buy them some time. They still had no way to face the sect master when they eventually left the secret tombs.

As she was thinking of this, someone suddenly appeared beside her.

"Going for the secret tombs is smart, but did you really think I’d let you?" the sect master asked, throwing a kick towards them.

She instantly turned her body around, allowing herself to take the full attack.

She was thrown through the air, smashing against a few trees before finally coming to a stop. Even so, she made sure that Yu Tian wasn’t hurt, focusing all her energy on protecting him and using her body to tank the damage.

"What are you doing? If you just listen..." he began.

"But then you’d be hurt," she cut him off.

"That’s not the point. Now that you’re hurt, do you know by how much our chances of survival have decreased?" he asked.

"For someone so smart, you’re surprisingly dumb," she said.

"What?" Yu Tian exclaimed.

"All these calculations and plans are all happening in your head. If you’re hurt, the chances don’t just decrease - they disappear completely. I need you in top condition to make these calculations. As long as you’re okay, there is still a chance. Do you understand?" she asked.

At the same time, the sect master landed before them. "Did you get into a lover’s quarrel?" he asked.

Xueling got up and stood before Yu Tian protectively.

"Don’t forget about me," a female voice appeared from behind.

Xueling’s gaze darted between the woman and the sect master.

Yu Tian placed his hand on Xueling’s shoulder. "I’ll handle her. Just focus on taking on the sect master," he said.

"Weren’t you listening to..." she began.

"I was. You’re the one who is mistaken about me," Yu Tian said. He looked directly into her eyes. "I know you have feelings for me, but I don’t feel the same way."

...

"Ooof, rejected in such a place. I would never love again," the sect master joked.

"Wh-what are you talking about?" Xueling asked, her face flushed.

"Everything I do is calculated. Every word I say to you is calculated to get the most out of you. I was just leading you on to get benefits," he said coldly.

"Why are you telling me this?" she asked, tears appearing at the corners of her eyes.

"So you can understand what I really am. I’m using you for my own benefit. It’s not that I disregard my own life - I am the person who wants to live the most," he said, his voice flat and emotionless.

"Tell me, would someone like me ever care for someone like you to the point of intentionally getting myself hurt?"

She stared at him, the weight of his words sinking in.

"Every choice I make is rational. Every decision is based on what gives us the highest chance of survival. I’m not sacrificing myself to save you - I don’t care enough about you to do that," he continued, his eyes meeting hers without a trace of warmth.

"Do you understand what this means?"

She looked at him, processing his words. Since he didn’t like her, since he wanted to live above all else, all his choices were purely logical - choices that gave them the highest chances of survival. He wasn’t making emotional sacrifices. Which meant her caring for him, her need to protect him, was actually a burden that interfered with his calculations and wasn’t helping either of them.

"I-I understand. I will believe in you," she said, wiping her tears and turning around to face the sect master, her sword drawn.

"What a weird couple," the sect master said. But in the next second, Xueling’s sword was already before him, ready to strike. He raised his own sword, blocking the attack.

"Hey, don’t take it out on me. I’m not the reason you were rejected," he said, stepping back.

But Xueling didn’t respond, just looked at him emotionlessly.

"Fine... I’ll take you seriously," the sect master said, gathering qi around his sword and facing Xueling.

On the other hand, Yu Tian looked calmly at the woman before him, his sword pointing at her.

This was a Core Formation first layer warrior. The difference in power between Core Formation and the peak Foundation Establishment he had just fought was quite high. He wondered if he could bridge the gap.

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"Damn."