Chapter 140

Chapter 140: Drive a Wedge Between Them

Ye Zhao Zhao turned to Li Shuang with a hopeful look and said: “Fellow Daoist Li, I am already at the Golden Core Stage. I should be able to help you all.”

As she spoke, she released a wave of Golden Core aura.

Li Shuang raised an eyebrow and said calmly: “No need. We do not like traveling with strangers.”

She did have the thought of keeping Ye Zhao Zhao close to watch her, but right now the one in a hurry was Ye Zhao Zhao, not her. [The more I refuse, the more anxious she gets. People slip up when they are anxious. I want her true face to show.]

Sure enough, when Ye Zhao Zhao heard this, a hint of dissatisfaction flashed in her eyes. She had gone along smoothly at Ling Xu Peak before, so running into a block on the very first step annoyed her. After glancing at the two from Ling Xu Peak, she made up her mind and said to Li Shuang: “Daoist Friend, are you unhappy with me? Or do you have issues with Fellow Daoist Sheng or Fellow Daoist Shen, so you also dislike me because I know them? You are the same sect. There is no need to be hostile. If you have a misunderstanding, why not talk it out face to face?”

Sheng Yuan’s expression turned dark as he stared at Li Shuang and said: “Senior Sister Li, do you think you are the only one in this world who suffered a huge wrong? Even if you were hurt before, haven’t we paid enough? Because of you, Master lost the seat of Peak Master; because of you, I ended up with a lame leg; because of you, Third Junior Brother’s sword arts fell into chaos; and Fourth Junior Brother is still locked in a cold dungeon! Are you really made of stone? Do none of these move you even a little?”

He ground on with a harsh breath and said: “Fine, even if you refuse to forgive us, we came this time to help you slay demons. What does your attitude mean now? To you, are our personal grudges more important than slaying demons?”

He fixed his eyes on Li Shuang. [He dreamed of Li Shuang coming back, but her icy attitude only stirred up his unwilling anger.] Her time with the people of Emotionless Peak made him mad with jealousy.

He knew he should not speak this way and should soften his tone, but he could not do it. [Why won’t the Senior Sister who used to treat me so well even look at me now?] Shen Yue sighed, then stopped trying to hold him back. First, he could not stop him. Second, he also wanted to know what it would take for Li Shuang to forgive them. [Does she need us to die first?]

Li Shuang looked at Sheng Yuan and Shen Yue with calm eyes. The people of Ling Xu Peak had never changed. Ye Zhao Zhao was “dead,” but without Ye Zhao Zhao, there could always be a Zhang Zhao Zhao or a Li Zhao Zhao. Now that Ye Zhao Zhao had returned by Corpse-Seizing Rebirth, Li Shuang could tell Luo Ming Yue and the others that she sensed malice, and the senior brothers and sisters of Emotionless Peak would choose to believe her. But if it were the people of Ling Xu Peak, they would only think she was jealous of this Fang Qing Yu.

She let out a quiet breath and thought: [It was never that I refused to forgive them. It is that there is no need. We are not the same kind of people. If we are not walking the same road, we do not have to force ourselves onto one path.]

Luo Ming Yue shot Sheng Yuan a warning look and said: “Sheng Yuan, stop talking nonsense. Our Emotionless Peak affairs are ours to handle. We do not need you dragging us down.”

Sheng Yuan gave a cold laugh and said: “Dragging you down? All of us are Golden Core Stage, while Senior Sister Li is only at the Foundation Establishment Stage. If anyone is dragging others down, who would that be?”

The moment the words left his mouth, he felt a stab of regret. He glanced at Li Shuang and saw she was still cold and distant, not even changing expression. He let out another cold laugh. [I was actually worrying about her feelings? I was worrying for nothing. This woman lost her heart long ago. What kind of Emotionless Path is that? Without feelings, are you even human?]

Ye Zhao Zhao’s eyes flickered. With a worried look, she said softly: “Fellow Daoist Sheng, please do not argue because of me. If Senior Sister Li does not like me, I simply will not go. I only wanted to do my part for slaying demons.”

She lowered her head, looking very sad.

Seeing this, Shen Yue hurried to comfort her and said: “Miss Fang, do not be sad. We know you mean well.”

Ye Zhao Zhao lifted her sleeves as if to leave and said: “Do not fight your same sect because of me. I will go first.”

Sheng Yuan reached out and grabbed her sleeve. Ye Zhao Zhao’s eyes flashed, and when she looked back, she wore a surprised face and said: “Fellow Daoist Sheng?”

Still holding her, Sheng Yuan stared at Li Shuang and said: “Fellow Daoist Fang is a rogue cultivator, but her heart for slaying demons is truly moving. Unlike some people, who push away help offered to them just because of private grudges.”

Ye Zhao Zhao looked at Luo Ming Yue with a small, wronged frown and said: “Maybe Fellow Daoist Li simply does not like me. I do not know how I offended her. If there is a misunderstanding, we can talk, and I will apologize.”

When she had first joined Ling Xu Peak, Li Shuang was the First Senior Sister. She was born serious and did not like to joke, but Ye Zhao Zhao knew Li treated all junior brothers and junior sisters the same. When Ye first entered, Li Shuang had cared for her many times. But that did not stop Ye from smearing her.

That day, Li Shuang had been talking to another disciple and did not notice Ye standing nearby. Ye then went to complain with teary eyes, saying Li Shuang had deliberately cold-shouldered her. Back then, Li Shuang was far less calm than now. She was stunned by the accusation and kept explaining. But Li Shuang was not good with words. Ye caught a few phrases and twisted them, making everyone think Li Shuang was targeting her on purpose.

The trick she used then was almost the same as today. Since it worked back then, it should work again now. If Li Shuang really said she sensed malice and Ye paired it with this pitiful act, Luo Ming Yue and the others might think Li Shuang was picking on her and then feel the urge to protect her. That would be normal.

Ye Zhao Zhao’s little plan sounded perfect. Back then, Li Shuang had over ten years of ties with Ling Xu Peak, and Ye had still driven a wedge between them one by one. She had only spent a short time with Emotionless Peak. Driving a wedge here should be even easier.