Chapter 167: Sword Practice and Unspoken Feelings

Everything he had done was for the peony demon.

Now that the demon had been captured by Dan Zhu and would inevitably be sent back to the Demon Cave, Li Changshou was willing to follow, even if it was just to see her one last time.

Bai He stood beside Dan Zhu, while Ye Shiyuan followed behind with Li Changshou.

"You really know how to be lazy," Dan Zhu remarked.

"Second Senior Brother, bringing me along doesn’t make a difference, does it? There’s no room over there with Shiyuan anyway."

Bai He did not want to use his sword to fly, so he simply grabbed onto Dan Zhu’s clothes.

Dan Zhu did not say anything more and allowed it, showing a hint of indulgence toward him.

Ye Shiyuan and Li Changshou, however, were completely different from the other two.

"Shiyuan, back when we used to drink together, you said that in Lingguang Sect, there was no one you valued except me."

"Back then, I treated you as a good brother, but Master is different..." Ye Shiyuan’s tone grew heavy. "The person you love just now clearly tried to take my Master’s life."

"For Bai He? As expected, someone is protecting him again. He can stand high above everyone in Lingguang Sect once more. In his eyes, people like us are probably no different from trash."

They were all disciples of the same generation, yet the difference between Ye Shiyuan and the others was like heaven and earth.

Jealousy?

Who had never felt it.

"I have never thought that way."

"Whether you have or not, who knows? I wanted to leave that place. Why, as my best friend, could you not let me go? Why did you track me down here? Why..."

There was a struggle in Ye Shiyuan’s eyes.

"Then why didn’t you tell me earlier?"

"If I told you, would you have helped me?"

"No."

Li Changshou laughed. "Exactly. You wouldn’t. So why should I have told you?"

"If you had told me, I could have stopped you. It wouldn’t have come to this. Li Changshou, you had such a bright future. And for what? For a demon that barely even cares about you?"

If Li Changshou had simply fallen in love with a demon, that would have been one thing.

But it had to be this kind of demon.

How could Ye Shiyuan possibly support them or help them?

Bai He looked at Ye Shiyuan and Li Changshou behind him.

It was clear that Ye Shiyuan’s expression was far from good.

He must be feeling terrible about this.

Ye Shiyuan lifted his head and looked at Bai He.

He then walked over and said, "Master, let’s go back to Baize Peak. I will teach you sword practice."

"But..."

"Let’s go."

Ye Shiyuan did not even turn back to look at Li Changshou.

He simply left with Bai He.

After walking a long distance, they saw Dan Zhu taking Li Changshou away.

Bai He secretly glanced at Ye Shiyuan, whose expression was stern.

"Shiyuan, Li Changshou... he violated the sect rules. That is a serious crime. I... I might be able to help."

"Master, Li Changshou made his own decision. You don’t needs to trouble yourself because of him. He is not worth it."

"But Shiyuan, he is your best friend, isn’t he?"

Ye Shiyuan let out a long sigh. "I once thought Li Changshou was different from others. Although he could not compare to you, Master, who would stand up to protect me in times of danger, Li Changshou still did his best to help me. I remember one time I made a mistake and I was punished by my Master and beaten until I was covered in wounds. It was Li Changshou who secretly brought me medicine."

Bai He felt a deep sense of emotion.

Back then, for someone like Ye Shiyuan, even the smallest bit of kindness would be enough for him to feel grateful.

"But even if Li Changshou made a mistake, before that he..."

Ye Shiyuan placed both hands on Bai He’s shoulders, his expression serious. "But Master, he encouraged me to let you be captured and used as a threat against Lingguang Sect, so that he and that woman could leave."

Ye Shiyuan had truly regarded Li Changshou as a good friend.

But he also had his bottom line.

"Then you..."

"How could I possibly agree? The moment he said those words, we were no longer friends. Master, as long as I am here, I will not let anyone harm you, not even as part of a plan."

Bai He looked into Ye Shiyuan’s sincere eyes and found it hard not to be moved.

Could he not say things like that?

He really...

"I was just joking. How could I be in danger? Still, thank you. Hearing you say that puts me at ease."

"I am not joking. I mean it. Master, even if my strength is not enough right now, I will work hard to cultivate and protect you."

He was already so strong, yet still so humble.

Bai He did not know what to say, but Ye Shiyuan working hard to cultivate was ultimately a good thing.

"In that case, I will not go to Yaoxing Peak. Let’s return to Baize Peak and practice swordsmanship. I have to master the sword technique Sky Cutting Sword gave me within ten days, or I will be in serious trouble."

"I will help you, Master."

...

Although Bai He had been training diligently before, with Ye Shiyuan’s help, his progress was much faster than he had expected.

"Master, the sword technique you and Senior Brother are practicing... is it some kind of romantic paired sword art?"

Xu Feng had been sitting nearby, watching them for quite a while.

He was clearly upset that Bai He and Ye Shiyuan had gone out without him, so his tone carried a hint of sarcasm.

Bai He sheathed his sword and shot him a glare.

"If you cannot speak properly, then do not speak at all. This is Sky Cutting Sword’s sword technique. And you, why are you just sitting there watching us practice? Have you learned the technique Shiyuan taught you last time?"