Chapter 183: The Malicious Love Obsession in Xianxia (45)

Chapter 183: The Villainous Love Obsession in a Xianxia Story (45)

He Yong stood at the forefront of the crowd, his gaze sweeping across the room. Tang Qing could clearly sense a piercing chill settled over her.

The next moment, the previously silenced bride suddenly spoke!

"You bitch!"

He Yong had lifted Liu Ru's seal, allowing her to finally speak. "Honored elders! It was this wretch! The moment she entered, she held a knife to my throat and poisoned me!"

"She even claimed she once had a romantic past with Senior Brother... Her intentions today are clearly malicious!"

"Please, elders, uphold justice for me..."

Among Liu Ru's words, the phrase "had a romantic past" lingered on by He Yong.

His eyes darted between Tang Qing and Bai Mufeng before finally settling on his own disciple.

He Yong spoke, "Mufeng, tell me—did you truly have feelings for her?"

Under his master's scrutiny, Bai Mufeng pressed his lips together, unwilling to answer.

This reaction once again goaded Tang Qing, who coldly interjected, "Pfft, the esteemed elders must be overthinking. How could a Taoist Enforcer of the Heartless Way possibly harbor feelings for me?"

"Shut your mouth, trash!"

Tang Qing's words immediately drew Tie Wei's ire. "When the Second Elder asks a question, who are you to interrupt?"

"One more word, and I'll rip your tongue out!"

Tie Wei's threat only earned a mirthless laugh from Tang Qing.

Feeling further provoked, Tie Wei was about to speak again when He Yong intervened, "Since my disciple refuses to answer... Tang Qing, was it?"

"You tell me—what transpired between you and my disciple?"

With Bai Mufeng unwilling to speak, the question was thrown back to Tang Qing.

"Between him and me?" She pointed mockingly between herself and Bai Mufeng, her tone laced with venom. "What feelings could there be? It was just some illusionary..."

Before she could finish, Bai Mufeng—unusually rushed—cut her off.

"I report to Master, there is *nothing*."

"Between this disciple and her... there are no feelings."

The same denial, repeated twice, hit Tang Qing like physical blows.

She had lost count of how many times Bai Mufeng had distanced himself like this.

The defiance she'd mustered from the beginning wavered. Tang Qing closed her eyes... She had known all along. She should've known better.

When had Bai Mufeng ever had feelings for her?

The disappointment in her eyes was unmistakable as she dug nails into her palms.

The charged tension between the two did not escape He Yong, especially Bai Mufeng...

This disciple of his, whom he had raised since childhood, was the most suited to cultivate the Heartless Way—naturally detached. Yet just now, He Yong had sharply noticed the subtlest fluctuation in Bai Mufeng's aura.

As if a thought had occurred to him, an unexpected smile suddenly appeared on He Yong's face, and his expression toward Tang Qing became uncharacteristically kind.

"Perhaps this is for the best..."

"Mufeng, I was just thinking that the girl from the Liu family I selected for you might not be the right match... Now, it seems the truly suitable one has appeared."

What was he implying?

In an instant! Bai Mufeng and Cang Jing both looked up, their eyes locked sharply onto He Yong!

"Master's meaning... this disciple does not understand."

He Yong spoke: "Mufeng, I have told you many times..."

"The Great Dao knows no mercy."

"Since you have already found someone you care for, follow through with the plan!"

With just a few words, Tang Qing's fate had been decided!

The master was actually ordering him to kill Tang Qing!

Realizing this, Bai Mufeng hurriedly spoke! "Master, I beg you to reconsider!"

"This disciple and her... barely know each other..."

He Yong cut off Bai Mufeng's flimsy lie, "Truth or lie, I can see it clearly."

"Mufeng, do not forget—the skills you've mastered were all taught to you by me..."

"Do you still wish to deceive your master?"

As the conversation twisted and turned, the Liu family girl was first to understand the situation and rushed forward, "Second Elder, you promised me! You promised I would marry Senior Brother!"

"As long as I married Bai Mufeng and died as promised, my Liu family would prosper for three generations!"

"Second Elder, you cannot go back on your word!"

In that moment, her supposed willingness was finally exposed—her voluntary sacrifice was just a business deal...

He Yong maintained that same faint smile as he slowly said, "My word still stands."

"Unfortunately, my disciple has already set his heart on another..."

"Miss Liu, I fear you will be disappointed."

Facing He Yong's smile, Liu Ru took a step back, whispering brokenly, "No... we had a deal."

The Liu family was too poor... and she had no talent for cultivation. After struggling for so long, she remained just a low-ranking outer disciple.

There was no chance of advancement in this life...

But the three generations of prosperity promised by the Second Elder would ensure her younger siblings lived comfortably.

So, when He Yong had approached her years ago, Liu Ru had not hesitated for long before agreeing to the deal.

As she watched Bai Mufeng grow ever more outstanding, a secret joy had bloomed in her heart—someone so celestial would become her husband.

Even if it meant death, she had accepted it.

Everything had been prepared, yet at the critical moment, they wanted to change the person!

Liu Ru's eyes suddenly burned with venomous hatred!

Catching Tang Qing off guard, she swiftly pulled out her phoenix hairpin and lunged at Tang Qing!

"You bitch! It's all because of you!"

You stole my chance by showing up!

This is all your fault!

In a sudden fit of rage, the phoenix hairpin was about to strike Tang Qing when, in the blink of an eye, Tang Qing murmured, "Time's up."

What do you mean?

Liu Ru, still holding the hairpin, didn’t even have time to react before she lost all consciousness and crashed to the ground!

Yan Wang claims his due—life extinguished, cultivation destroyed.

From the very beginning, Tang Qing had spoken the truth, but Liu Ru had brushed it off entirely, naively believing that with the backing of the Cloud Ripple Sect’s elders, some poison was nothing to worry about.

Liu Ru’s sudden death instantly sent a chill through the hall.

Tie Wei was the first to react!

"You dare?! You dare to kill in cold blood a disciple of the Cloud Ripple Sect!"

"What do you take our Cloud Ripple Sect for?"

With a single palm strike, he lunged at Tang Qing, his palm strike sent a gust that instantly loosened Tang Qing’s already haphazard updo!

Bai Mufeng moved just as swiftly!

In an instant, the Army Breaker Sword followed his will, materialized before Tang Qing in the blink of an eye!

"Clang—"

A shrill clang rang out as Tie Wei was forcefully pushed back three zhang by the Army Breaker Sword!

Bai Mufeng had indeed broken through—his single strike was powerful enough to repel Xingfa Hall’s elder, Tie Wei!

Pointed at by the Army Breaker Sword, Tie Wei roared, "Bai Mufeng! This is treason!"

"Look closely, you fool, and see who you’re pointing that sword at!"