Chapter 19

Chapter 19: How Can You Be So Heartless?

Putting on a wronged look, Ye Zhao Zhao spoke up: “Senior Sister Li! We agreed to a sword match, so why did the people of Emotionless Peak suddenly bully with numbers? Senior Brother Shen is hurt so badly. Do you not feel even a little guilty? And me, I was standing outside the ring, yet Senior Sister Jiang used her body’s strength to attack me without warning. Was all this your order, Senior Sister Li?”

Tears rolled down as she stared at Li Shuang with reddened eyes: “Senior Sister Li, do you really hate us so much? You never liked me, and I can accept whatever you do to me. But Senior Brother Shen… he kept hoping you would come back to Ling Xu Peak. If you will not return, fine, but why… why let them beat Senior Brother like this?”

Her hand that supported Shen Yue kept trembling, as if she felt deep injustice for him. Shen Yue stayed silent. He knew his Junior Sister was speaking for him. In the past, he would have joined her and questioned Li Shuang without holding back. But this time, something clogged his chest, and he could not speak for a long while.

Ye Zhao Zhao waited for Shen Yue to explode, but he did not. Glancing at him, she pushed harder and said: “Senior Brother Shen, if you feel wronged, say it. So many people are here. They will stand up for you.”

Shen Yue said nothing, still staring dazedly at Li Shuang. Liu Jun Cheng let out a cold laugh and said: “He is wronged? We agreed to test only swordplay, yet he suddenly used spiritual power. By the rules, the moment he did that, he lost. If First Senior Sister had not reacted in time, what would have happened to Li Shuang? He dared to bully someone from Emotionless Peak. I taught him a lesson for Little Shuang, and that was not wrong.”

He turned to Jiang Rong Yi and said: “Senior Brother Jiang, you witnessed the match. Judge who is right and who is wrong. If I am at fault, I will take the punishment.”

Jiang Rong Yi was about to speak when Li Shuang stepped forward and said: “Senior Brother Jiang, Senior Brother Liu acted for my sake, so if there is any punishment, let me take it.”

Watching this, Shen Yue grew even paler. Liu Jun Cheng had not held back when he hit him; even now his blood and qi churned wildly. In the past, if she had seen him hurt, First Senior Sister would have been terribly anxious.

He remembered when he had just joined the sect and Disciples from another peak bullied him, leaving a small scratch on his face. It was nothing serious, hardly even an injury, but First Senior Sister was furious and took him straight to confront them. That day, she challenged three in a row on the ring and left that peak with no one daring to fight. In the end, she forced that Disciple to apologize before letting it go.

But now? [First Senior Sister, please look at me.] He was hurt badly, and there was still fresh blood on the ground. [Why will you not look at me anymore?] His steps turned unsteady. The one who used to defend him was now defending someone else.

His chest heaved; he spat blood again. Ye Zhao Zhao cried at once: “See? Senior Brother Shen is this badly injured! Senior Brother Jiang, please say a fair word!”

Jiang Rong Yi spoke with fairness: “Shen Yue first had the intent to harm. If we count from the beginning, both sides deserve blame. My suggestion is that both step back and end it here.”

“End it here?” Ye Zhao Zhao grew anxious and said: “Li Shuang is unharmed, but Second Senior Brother is seriously injured. How can this be ended? I absolutely—”

“Zhao Zhao,” Shen Yue grasped her arm. His face was pale as he said softly: “Then listen to Senior Brother Jiang.”

He stared at Li Shuang. [I do not believe First Senior Sister truly does not care about me. She will look at me, she must.] As soon as he spoke, Li Shuang did look back. Hope flickered in his eyes. But she only nodded calmly and said: “I agree as well.”

Shen Yue’s gaze dimmed bit by bit. [Nothing else to say? Not even one word of concern?] Jiang Rong Yi nodded and said: “These two matters cancel out. The result of this match is Li Shuang’s victory. According to the bet, Shen Yue’s storage pouch goes to Li Shuang.”

Worry flashed through Ye Zhao Zhao’s eyes. Li Shuang not only won, she also gained benefits. If Li Shuang moved forward smoothly, then Ye Zhao Zhao would be the one to suffer. She spoke again, voice tight: “Senior Sister Li, that is Senior Brother Shen’s whole fortune. If you take all of it, what will he do? You are fellow Disciples. Are you really so heartless?”

Li Shuang calmly took the storage pouch from Jiang Rong Yi, then glanced at Shen Yue and said: “A bet is a bet. Junior Brother Shen, do you have any objections?”

Ye Zhao Zhao looked at Shen Yue with bright hope. His lips were bloodless. After a long pause, he shook his head and said: “No objections.”

Li Shuang nodded and put the pouch away. Luo Ming Yue smiled and said: “Come, Junior Sister. We have plenty of spirit stones now. I will take you to the market.”

Li Shuang agreed. The group from Emotionless Peak left the Martial Arena. Throughout the whole time, Li Shuang did not look at Shen Yue a second time. Shen Yue watched her back until even that vanished, then his body swayed and he nearly fell.

“Second Senior Brother!” Ye Zhao Zhao supported him and said, “How can you just let them go? Senior Sister Li cannot stand to see you doing well and did this on purpose. She won only because she knows you too well. If—”

“Zhao Zhao,” Shen Yue interrupted softly, “a bet is a bet.”

His eyes were a little lost. Ye Zhao Zhao, standing outside the matter, might not see it clearly. But from inside, he knew very well that the gap between his sword skill and Li Shuang’s was vast. Looking back now, First Senior Sister’s guidance had been piercingly accurate and completely right.

Images overlapped in his mind, one of Li Shuang patiently teaching, another of her cold gaze from moments ago. His heart cramped in pain; he spat blood and fainted on the spot.

“Second Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother!” Ye Zhao Zhao looked anxious on the surface, but inside she was thrilled. [Good. Good. Good. Shen Yue was angered by Li Shuang to the point of vomiting blood. When I go back and fan the flames, Master and the other Senior Brothers will be furious for sure.] [Li Shuang, I do not believe you can keep being this heartless.]