Chapter 15: Her Promise, Their Unworthiness
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Zhou Jin Yue and Lan Yuan Zhi never criticized others behind their backs. Even though they had their reservations about Quan Ye, they chose their words carefully, always leaning toward subtlety.
But Yu Zhao didn’t bother with such niceties. Her voice was as sharp and cold as frost. “A person’s nature doesn’t change because of their environment. A beast in a cage remains bloodthirsty.”
Zhou Jin Yue’s pupils constricted suddenly, as if she had realized something shocking. She turned to Yu Zhao, disbelief written across her face.
Yu Zhao smiled faintly. “So, Senior Sister Zhou, what do you think Quan Ye might do, confined on Lone Moon Peak?”
He would use sparring as an excuse to beat Yu Zhao.
When her body was battered and bruised, he would put on an apologetic face, apply medicine to her wounds, and plead for her forgiveness.
Then he would do it all over again.
Of the five senior brothers, Yu Zhao respected Eldest Senior Brother Fang Cheng Lang. But Fifth Senior Brother Quan Ye? She feared him—deeply and to her very core.
Shock, anger, and disbelief flashed through Zhou Jin Yue’s eyes.
Quan Ye… How dare he?
Yu Zhao was his junior sister!
“How… what about the others on Lone Moon Peak? Why didn’t they stop him?” Zhou Jin Yue initially wanted to ask why Yu Zhao hadn’t exposed him or sought help from the sect. But on second thought, she realized she couldn’t blame a victim. Instead, she turned her criticism toward the other Lone Moon Peak disciples.
“They tried, but they couldn’t stop him. There were always moments when I was alone.” Yu Zhao hesitated. “And… Quan Ye once saved my life.”
Years ago, Quan Ye had indeed saved her once.
It started when he secretly took Yu Zhao outside the sect. In his carelessness, he left her behind in a remote mountain forest. At the time, Yu Zhao was merely a beginner at the Qi Refinement Stage, practically defenseless. She nearly lost her life to a wild beast, but Quan Ye returned in time to save her.
From that moment on, she felt indebted to him.
Even when his actions became increasingly heavy-handed, she endured the humiliation, never daring to resist.
Looking back now, Yu Zhao only felt foolish.
Quan Ye had saved her because he was the one who abandoned her in the forest in the first place. If not for him, her life wouldn’t have been in danger.
Moreover, she had saved him later on—multiple times.
Even if she owed him a debt, it had long since been repaid.
But she had clung to the past, indulging in memories, forgetting that people and circumstances change.
“You’re so naïve! So what if he saved your life? That doesn’t give him the right to act as he pleases!” Zhou Jin Yue fumed.
Today’s revelations had completely shattered her view of Lone Moon Peak.
The disciples of this seemingly dignified sect were far from virtuous.
Zhou Jin Yue demanded, “Did he take your spot in the Thorny Secret Realm too?”
Yu Zhao gave a bitter smile and nodded.
Quan Ye was domineering and forceful. Even though Yu Zhao had longed to enter the Thorny Secret Realm, she had been no match for his threats.
“Unbelievable!”
Zhou Jin Yue was trembling with anger.
She had always assumed that Yu Zhao’s life on Lone Moon Peak was smooth and fulfilling. She never imagined it to be a living nightmare.
If she had known, she would have insisted on keeping Yu Zhao on the Main Peak to spare her such suffering.
“Junior Sister Yu, come to the Main Peak. Stay with me!” Zhou Jin Yue suggested suddenly.
Yu Zhao was stunned for a moment before shaking her head.
Zhou Jin Yue grew anxious. “Why not? Don’t you trust me to protect you?”
“Senior Sister Zhou, I don’t want to drag you into this. Besides, I’m not who I used to be. Don’t worry—they won’t hurt me again.”
Yu Zhao was deeply grateful for Senior Sister Zhou’s support. Precisely because of this, she couldn’t burden her. The people of Lone Moon Peak were not easily dealt with.
Moreover, debts from her past life needed to be settled in this one.
If she left them, how would she witness their descent into an inescapable abyss?
The unyielding determination in Yu Zhao’s eyes left Zhou Jin Yue no choice but to respect her decision. Still, she reminded Yu Zhao to come to the Main Peak for help if she ever needed it.
Yu Zhao expressed her thanks and silently renewed her resolve to help Senior Sister Zhou avoid her destined misfortune.
When they returned to the sect, the two parted ways.
Yu Zhao retreated into her cave dwelling to inventory her spoils.
This time, she had seized the opportunity to obtain thirteen items from Su Ming, claiming them as repayment for a debt.
Twelve of them were extraordinary treasures destined to become famous in the cultivation world. Among them was a strikingly beautiful feather.
One item, however, stood out.
Yu Zhao picked up a dusty pouch with a crude, twisted bird embroidered on it. It was remarkably ugly.
When she opened the pouch, a yellowed piece of paper fell into her hand.
Yu Zhao unfolded it and read the large characters written on it. Her lips curled into a sneer.
“With this slip, one wish may be granted.”
The signature read simply: Zhao.
This pouch was a birthday gift Yu Zhao had sewn for Su Ming years ago, complete with a promise to fulfill one wish.
She vividly remembered how Su Ming had grinned from ear to ear upon receiving it, claiming it was so precious he would treasure it forever.
He never imagined that years later, he would use the pouch to demand its owner kneel and slap herself until he was satisfied.
Yu Zhao’s fingers tightened around the paper, crumpling it.
When she opened her hand again, only wet shreds remained.
Her promise—they didn’t deserve it.
Having resolved one of her future troubles, Yu Zhao felt a weight lift from her heart. She turned her attention back to the twelve treasures.
Since she was short on spirit stones, she needed to sell one of the items to ease her financial burden.
However, every single treasure was rare and valuable. The thought of parting with any of them pained her.
She needed a discerning and generous buyer to ensure the treasure wouldn’t be undervalued.
Staring at the twelve items, Yu Zhao fell into deep contemplation.
…
“What the—! Yu Zhao’s gone mad! She gave away the Purple Cloud Bamboo Flute!”
Su Ming shot to his feet, his face filled with disbelief.
He had been too preoccupied preparing a gift for a junior disciple to pay attention to sect news. Upon returning, he rushed to Second Senior Brother for details.
Lan Zi Yu glanced at him indifferently, but his clenched fists betrayed his inner turmoil.
Su Ming sank back into his chair, still unable to accept it.
He knew better than anyone how much Yu Zhao cherished the Purple Cloud Bamboo Flute.
Once, he had borrowed it to play for a moment, and Yu Zhao had nearly severed ties with him in her panic.
After that, he never dared touch it again.
Su Ming mumbled under his breath, “She even took back the pouch she gave me. What is she planning?”
Though he spoke softly, Lan Zi Yu caught every word.
Lan Zi Yu’s expression shifted. “She took back that bird pouch?”
Su Ming nodded awkwardly.
Back when he had received the pouch, he had shown it off smugly. Now, recalling that made him feel utterly humiliated.
“Taking back what she gave… how petty.”
So, she’s gonna take all her gifts back and get rid of them.
Wait, she’s doing the ritual for getting rid of Pennywise.