# Chapter 280: Sister and Brother Part
Chu Yuechan flew through the air with lightning speed, her beautiful eyes glazed and vacant, completely unresponsive to Chu Yueli's urgent calls from behind. Her entire being seemed as if her soul had been ripped away.
Finally, she landed on the Sword Control Platform, standing before that enormous Xingtian Sword. Gazing at the sword body that towered into the clouds, its aura as vast and overwhelming as an ocean, her usually icy eyes, cheeks, and cherry-like lips began to tremble violently. "Dead... dead... you actually died... died..."
"Sister!" Chu Yueli finally caught up. Chu Yuechan's unprecedented behavior threw her into utter panic. She grabbed Chu Yuechan's arm, frantically asking, "Sister, what's wrong? What's happened to you? Tell me quickly..."
But Chu Yuechan showed no reaction to her arrival or her voice. She stared blankly and dazedly at the Xingtian Sword, muttering in a lost, soul-stricken manner: "Why did you die... why... WHY!!"
Boom!!
A surge of icy, violent force erupted from Chu Yuechan's body, sending Chu Yueli flying far away. She charged toward the Xingtian Sword, countless ice lotus flowers exploding madly against the sword's surface, producing mournful, shattering sounds. Each of her attacks poured out every ounce of power she could possibly muster. The release of power from a Throne-level figure, nearly insane in its ferocity, created an absolutely terrifying display. The entire Sword Control Platform was swept by chilling winds, ice crystals filling the air...
"Why... why did you die..."
"I don't believe it... come out... come out!!"
"Why did you die... why... have you forgotten what you said... you told me yourself, you were a real man... how could you die... come out... come out!!"
"Aren't you supposed to conquer me... weren't you going to come find me at Bing Yun Fairy Palace... then why did you die... come out for me..."
"...I beg you to come out... just come out... whatever you say... I'll agree to it... come out... come out... ah..."
Countless ice crystals crashed against the Xingtian Sword like a violent storm, but not only did they fail to shake it, they didn't even leave a single scratch on its surface. The thunderous impacts were deafening, yet the swirling winds carried an indescribable desolation. Chu Yuechan's voice shifted from despair and heart-wrenching anguish, to resentment and bitter fury... until finally, it dissolved into the most sorrowful wailing and pleading...
At this moment, she was no longer the Ice Chan Fairy whom men could only admire in dreams but dared not even look directly upon. She was merely an ordinary woman whose seven souls and six spirits had been completely ripped away...
"Sis... sis..." Watching Chu Yuechan's actions, feeling her grief-stricken emotions, hearing her cries, Chu Yueli was utterly stunned. No matter how much she wanted to deny it, she couldn't help but think of an absurdly impossible possibility... and when that possibility emerged in her mind, she nearly had a mental breakdown.
The massive commotion at the Sword Control Platform quickly drew the attention of Tian Jian Villa's people. Ling Yuefeng, who was nearby, rushed over with several elders. The scene before them left them all dumbfounded.
Seeing outsiders arrive, Chu Yueli's heart tightened. She quickly stepped forward, hugged Chu Yuechan tightly, and cried out, "Sister, stop fighting! That's the Xingtian Sword—it can't be shaken! Yun Che is already dead... he's already dead!!"
Chu Yuechan's body went rigid, and her movements froze... Chu Yueli's words were like that final merciless straw, turning her last lingering hope into complete and utter despair.
"Pfft..."
A long stream of blood shot from Chu Yuechan's mouth, splattering onto the Xingtian Sword. Her eyes closed, all consciousness dissolving into blank despair, and her entire body slowly slumped backward.
"Sister!!"
Chu Yueli cried out in alarm. After a moment of dazed shock, she quickly gathered up the unconscious Chu Yuechan and flew toward the direction of their courtyard.
"Fairy Bingli, what happened here?" Ling Yuefeng quickly asked.
But Chu Yueli seemed not to hear him, carrying Chu Yuechan away and soon disappearing from their sight.
Looking at the patch of bright red blood on the Xingtian Sword, Ling Yuefeng's mind became greatly disturbed. He said urgently, "Quick! Have Granny Jiumu heal the Azure Moon Princess immediately, then go at once to Fairy Bingchan's courtyard!"
Yun Che's death made most people feel regret, but it was only regret. The chain reaction his death set off was something they could never have imagined.
Chu Yuechan had overestimated herself. She had thought that her mistaken union with Yun Che was merely forced by circumstances. She believed that with her temperament, she could completely sever all emotional ties with Yun Che. She thought that coming to Tian Jian Villa was to see Yun Che one last time, to resolve all their entanglements, and then never again have any worldly attachments.
But she didn't understand herself at all. Nor did she understand her own role as a woman.
Inside the Dragon God's Trial Realm, those five months of holding each other tightly, five months of sleeping and eating side by side, five months of watching him always stand before her, cutting through every obstacle with his figure, five months of him preferring to cover himself in wounds rather than let her suffer even a scratch... such things were enough to completely melt even the most iron-hearted woman.
Let alone the fact that Chu Yuechan had never been iron-hearted. And in this world, apart from the dead and the living dead, no one could possibly be completely devoid of emotions. She had only lived in the icy Bing Yun Fairy Palace, her feelings sealed by her environment and the sect's profound arts. But when those sealed emotions were released through melting, the resulting heat would far surpass that of ordinary people—far surpass even her own imagination.
When she heard the news of Yun Che's death, and the pain and despair of her soul being torn to pieces in an instant surged over her, she finally understood this truth. But it was already too late...
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"Junior Sister Xia, are you alright? Are you... okay?"
Shui Wushuang and Wu Xuexin stood beside Xia Qingyue, asking with concern. Because after hearing the news of Yun Che's death, Xia Qingyue seemed to have lost her soul. She just stared blankly ahead, motionless for a long time. They had originally thought that Xia Qingyue had married Yun Che only to repay a debt of gratitude and fulfill her father's wish, and that she wouldn't have any real feelings for him. At most, she would just feel regret at his death. But Xia Qingyue's reaction now completely surprised them.
After their repeated calls, Xia Qingyue's beautiful eyes finally regained a bit of focus. Her high chest began to heave violently. After a long while, she gently shook her head. "I... I'm fine."
She slowly stood up, her movements as stiff as a puppet pulled by strings. The moment she rose, she stumbled and nearly fell. Shui Wushuang and Wu Xuexin quickly supported her, their gazes filled with worry and complexity.
"Was what Master said... all true?" Xia Qingyue asked, her voice as faint as smoke.
Both nodded. Shui Wushuang said, "He was trying to save your younger brother... He pushed your brother away, but fell into the demon's hands himself. The demon struck him with a palm... it almost pierced through his body. He died on the spot. Even his corpse, along with the demon..."
"Stop. Don't say anymore." The last trace of color left Xia Qingyue's face, turning as pale as if she were suffering a serious illness. She clutched at the hem of her clothes, every knuckle on her slender jade fingers deathly white. Her entire body was filled with a hopeless sense of powerlessness. Her heart felt as if thousands of needles were stabbing into it, causing unbearable pain.
Why did it have to be this way...
Was I truly unworthy of being a wife...
Why didn't I choose to go with him to the Sword Control Platform...
She murmured to herself, then gently pulled free from the hands supporting her. She walked forward slowly, her eyes vacant, saying, "I want to go... to the Sword Control Platform alone."
Shui Wushuang and Wu Xuexin exchanged glances, both seeing the strangeness in the other's eyes. They didn't stop her, nor did they go with her. After Xia Qingyue had walked far away, Wu Xuexin sighed softly, "It seems the elders were absolutely right. This thing called romantic attachment... really shouldn't be touched at all. It's too harmful. This might possibly become Junior Sister Xia's inner demon."
Shui Wushuang said, "I never expected Junior Sister Xia to actually develop feelings for that Yun Che. Oh well, it's just as well. Now that Yun Che is dead, this inappropriate emotional root is completely severed..."
Leaving the courtyard, Xia Qingyue stumbled about in a daze for a while. Then, before her eyes, she suddenly saw Xia Yuanba's figure. He was hanging his head low, moving forward mechanically like a walking corpse, with two still-wet streaks of bloodstains on his face. When she saw him, he also saw her. In the past, every time he saw her, he would run over with a face full of joy, calling out "Big Sister." But this time, his face showed panic. He stumbled backward frantically, then let out a low howl and turned to run away.
"Yuanba!"
Xia Qingyue's gaze trembled. She flew after him and landed in front of Xia Yuanba. Xia Yuanba stopped, raising his hands in front of him, and roared in a hoarse voice, "Don't... don't come near me! Don't get close to me!!"
"Yuanba, what's wrong?" Xia Yuanba's current state made Xia Qingyue's heart clench even more. She knew that out of everyone, Yun Che's death hurt Xia Yuanba the most. He was not only bearing the pain in his heart, but also suffering guilt and regret a thousand times more agonizing.
"Don't come near me!" Xia Yuanba's body was backing away, tears streaming down his face like a spring: "I've already killed Brother-in-law. I don't want to kill my sister too. I beg you, don't come near me! Don't get close to me!"
"Yuanba, don't be like this. It wasn't your fault..."
"No! It was my fault! All my fault!" Xia Yuanba fell to his knees with a "plop," wailing in anguish: "It was this useless waste who killed Brother-in-law... all because of me... all because of me... Why didn't I die instead? Why didn't I die sooner! Ah!!"
As he wept bitterly, he raised his fists and pounded heavily against his own head, each punch landing with tremendous force. Xia Qingyue stepped forward: "Yuanba, don't..."
"Don't come near me!" Xia Yuanba scrambled backward, his hands shielding his face. Tears poured down his cheeks like a raging torrent, his voice hoarse and tormented: "You are my sister, my blood. Brother-in-law was my brother, also my blood... Brother-in-law became stronger and stronger, made me admire him. He brought this useless waste to the Cangfeng Mystic Palace I'd always dreamed of, brought me to the Cangfeng Ranking Battle I'd never dared to imagine... Whenever I was bullied, no matter how strong the opponent, he would teach them a harsh lesson, making them never dare to bully me again..."
"I took everything Brother-in-law brought for granted. His glory was my glory too, because he was my most beloved brother-in-law... But... what did I do for Brother-in-law? What did I do? I killed Brother-in-law... I killed Brother-in-law... Aaah! This waste, this pig-dog of a waste who killed his brother-in-law... waste!!!"
"Yuanba..." Xia Qingyue bit her lip, not knowing how to comfort Xia Yuanba's now shattered heart.
Xia Yuanba's anguish lasted for a very, very long time. He cried like a hopeless child, his unceasing tears soon soaking a large patch of the ground. Xia Qingyue said no more, quietly watching his tears... Crying was good, at least it allowed some of his heart's pain to be released...
The wind rustled. No one knew how long had passed before Xia Yuanba's wails finally ceased. Gradually, even his sobbing faded away. He knelt on the ground, his hair hanging down. After being silent for a long time, he slowly rose to his feet and then said softly, "Sister, I'm leaving."
"Leaving? Where are you going? Are you going home?"
"No. I'm not going home. I have no face to go home..." Xia Yuanba laughed bitterly. "A waste like me, even if I go home, I'll still live under Father's protection. And maybe one day, I'll even kill Father. I don't want to be a waste anymore. I don't want to kill the people I love around me again..."
"I'm going to leave... I'm going to search for the power that can keep me from being a waste anymore... I'm going to become strong... I will never again be just a waste..."
Xia Yuanba raised his hand, wiped the tears from his face, and then, with a determined effort, revealed a smile: "Sister, don't worry about me. I promise you, I definitely won't die. Because this life of mine now was bought with Brother-in-law's own life. No matter what, I won't let myself die. I only ask that you don't stop me, and don't look for me. One day, I will come back... On the day I return, I will use my own power to protect my sister, protect Father... protect everyone I want to protect..."
Xia Qingyue: "..."
Xia Yuanba left. He turned his back to Xia Qingyue, his steps exceptionally slow, yet unwaveringly resolute. He carried nothing with him, not even a single Yellow Xuan Coin on his person. No one knew where he was going—perhaps not even he knew. Even less could anyone know or understand how much sorrow, pain, self-blame, regret... and longing for power filled the heart of this boy, who was only sixteen years old...
Xia Qingyue did not chase after him. She stared blankly at Xia Yuanba's receding figure. Through her misty, hazy gaze, she saw her usually honest, smiling, carefree, and enthusiastic younger brother grow up strong and resolute.
"Yuanba, take care. I'll wait for you to come back." Xia Qingyue whispered softly. She pressed her hand to her chest and closed her eyes: "Yuanba... thank you for teaching me what it means to be strong..."
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