So long as they launched an attack on Xu Yuan and sabotaged the peace talks, the war could continue, and they could rely on the power of the Sect Alliance to keep avenging their dead kin!

But very soon, their thoughts fell into chaos.

They saw that ink-robed girl.

They saw her closely following behind that man.

They also saw that man holding her hand.

The fury and hatred burning in these people’s eyes, more or less, all congealed into despair.

Because,

that was... their Sword Sect’s chief disciple.

Lord and vassal can be the most intricate of relationships in this world, yet at the same time also the simplest.

Trust and loyalty.

In his past life, Xu Yuan had not truly understood lord and vassal, had not understood a life lived as another’s subordinate, but in this feudal Immortal Dynasty, nothing could be more normal.

Common folk might not even know what the Emperor looked like, yet when he passed, they would still weep with snot and tears.

The Imperial Court was thus, the Prime Minister’s Mansion was thus, and so too was the Sword Sect.

The proud backbone in the hearts of the Sword Sect’s loyalists, which had not bent in the slightest even before the iron hooves and towering colossi of the Imperial Court, was easily pierced and crushed the moment they saw that almost intimate posture between Xu Yuan and Ran Qingmo.

Xu Yuan knew this, yet he still chose to make use of Ran Qingmo.

He deliberately, in front of all Sword Sect Disciples, took her by the hand to walk upon the void, letting everyone clearly see that what had once been their faith and their pride was now trailing step by step at the enemy’s heels.

Only in this way,

could the grassroots faith of the Sword Sect completely collapse.

Only in this way could he fulfill his promise to Ran Qingmo.

And only in this way... would the Sword Sect have any chance of completely submitting at the feet of him, Xu Yuan!

The mountain wind was faintly cool as it brushed past the charred forests, giving rise to a rustling wail. Xu Yuan descended straight onto the plaza before that magnificent main hall. Beneath his feet, on the white jade tiles, the lines of the Formation were circulating, emitting a faint glow that reflected his dark and uncertain black pupils and that tightly closed vermilion hall door. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Once he landed, Xu Yuan let go of Ran Qingmo’s hand.

This instead left Ran Qingmo somewhat at a loss.

It was not the timidity of nearing home, but a kind of utter shame at about to face the condemnation of all. Ran Qingmo did not know from what stance she ought to greet this impending peace negotiation.

Thus, the girl walked very slowly, every step as if treading upon the corpses of Sword Sect Disciples.

As the Sword Sect’s chief disciple, she had undoubtedly already failed. While her junior brothers and sisters under the sect risked their lives in battle, she had been living in ease within the Palace of the new lord of the Prime Minister’s Mansion...

She lowered her eyes in silence, following behind him along this familiar path before the hall.

She was familiar with everything here; she even knew, with perfect clarity, every line on the steps that had been eroded by the passage of years.

When she arrived before that familiar hall door, she still subconsciously halted her steps and gazed forward.

Entering her sight,

was his back, likewise come to a stop—broad and steady, like the master who had always once stood before her, as weighty as a mountain.

He seemed to have sensed her abnormality long ago. Without turning around, still staring at that heavy hall door, Xu Yuan’s voice shed the oppressive might from earlier and became calm and gentle:

"Everything before us now, whether the war or the positions you and I stand in, was all wrought by my hand alone. After we push open this door, no matter what stance you take, I will not blame you."

At this point, he seemed to smile and added:

"Of course, I will still do my utmost to fulfill that promise.

"Keep up."

As his words fell,

Creak—

The hall doors swung open, and Xu Yuan stepped inside.

After that,

the boundless darkness outside surged madly inward, eroding into the hall.