Chapter 612 - 296: Hua Jing’s Request

"Yaoyao, take her away."

Hua Jing gracefully turned around with a flick of her sleeve, and in the dark valley, only the flicker of campfire remained. The silver strands of hair danced like the glow of a full moon, dreamlike and ethereal.

"As for the Divine Son You Su, follow me to continue seeking demons."

"Hua Jing..." Tiao Yaoyao’s eyes showed reluctance, her voice pleading softly.

"Are you also going to defy me for her sake?"

Without turning around, Hua Jing’s elegant silhouette exuded a cold aloofness.

Tiao Yaoyao clenched her teeth, ultimately letting out a helpless sigh.

She walked to Zi Yiyi’s side and gently took Zi Yiyi’s delicate arm, preparing to lift her up from the ground where she had confessed her guilt.

"Yiyi, let’s go..."

It was only then that Tiao Yaoyao realized her lifelong friend was limp and exhausted, her face ashen, which made her feel even more heartache.

You Su stood transfixed, feeling that the suspicion was becoming ever more substantial.

Considering the previous actions of offering Tiao Yaoyao to him to test Zi Yiyi’s feelings, he saw her as a woman who would stop at nothing to probe the human heart.

In front of a starving person, deliberately presenting an apple tainted with forbidden magic, judging her by whether she would eat it.

You Su felt it was inappropriate, because humanity cannot be tested under extreme conditions. From the very beginning of the test, the tester showed disrespect and mistrust towards the tested.

Yet he had no evidence to prove that all this was orchestrated by Hua Jing behind the scenes.

"Hua Jing, I feel..."

"Divine Son You Su, do you think I’m too lenient?"

Hua Jing interrupted coldly, her voice icy as snow.

"I..."

"Divine Son, no need to say more, this is what I deserve, luckily it didn’t cause a catastrophe, harming the Divine Son."

Zi Yiyi finally spoke her first words after being convicted, a bitter smile barely twitching at her lips, a hint of grievance at the eyes, but a trace of relief on her brow.

You Su observed her expression, pressing his lips together, choosing silence.

His suspicion remained just conjecture, unable to be confirmed, while Zi Yiyi’s attempt to embrace darkness was already a fact.

"Divine Son, may I borrow your sword?"

Zi Yiyi was about to pass You Su but suddenly halted.

"Yiyi, don’t... You still have a chance to purify the evil energies; there’s no need for self-harm..."

Tiao Yaoyao hastily tugged at Zi Yiyi’s sleeve, fearing she might act recklessly.

Zi Yiyi shook her head with a smile, "Since childhood, under Hua Jing’s care, I’ve taken it as my duty to repel evil and protect the way. I wouldn’t perish easily."

"Then why do you need the sword..." Tiao Yaoyao remained worried.

Unlike Tiao Yaoyao’s concerned questioning, You Su appeared much more relaxed.

He drew out the Mo Song Sword, carefully gripping the blade, pointing the hilt towards Zi Yiyi.

Zi Yiyi gave him a gentle smile, slightly bent her knees in gratitude, and then took the Mo Song Sword.

She raised the formidable sword above her head, startling Tiao Yaoyao to flowers of pallor, her eyes widening like copper bells.

In a flash of movement, she swung the sword downward; her snow-white neck remained intact, yet a silver strand of hair floated in the wind.

It was a particularly unique strand among her bangs, specifically dyed silver at Hua Jing’s permission to express her admiration.

Yet now, she had severed this thread herself.

"Zi Yiyi has become a creature of darkness, unworthy to serve Hua Jing. This descent into darkness was entirely my fault. Hua Jing need not intercede for me; I accept any punishment from the Exorcism Bureau alone, unrelated to Hua Jing or Tiao Yaoyao. These years, I thank Hua Jing for her nurturing, with nothing to repay, only promising to do so in the next life."

After saying her final words, Zi Yiyi dragged Tiao Yaoyao, walking further and further away.

Tiao Yaoyao’s beautiful eyes brimmed with affection, barely holding back the tears. She knew Zi Yiyi better than anyone, aware of the heavy pain beneath her tranquil facade.

You Su felt it a pity; if it truly was Hua Jing orchestrating behind the scenes, how could Zi Yiyi’s descent into darkness be unrelated to her?

To overturn Zi Yiyi’s conviction, You Su knew he must first determine if Hua Jing was truly uninvolved.

The silver strand fluttered in the wind, eventually landing near Hua Jing’s feet.

Hua Jing slightly turned her head, casting a glance at the departing maid behind her without word or even a sigh.

"She severed ties to protect you." You Su suddenly spoke.

Hua Jing’s personal maid had turned towards darkness—a disgraceful matter. Unwilling to accept the redemption enforced by Hua Jing, even severing ties with her was an effort to preserve Hua Jing’s reputation.

"Hmm."

Hua Jing responded flatly, clearly aware, yet seemingly indifferent.

"So you still believe she is guilty?" You Su asked without hesitation.

"Should I explain her crimes to the Divine Son again?" Hua Jing was relentless.

The implication: mistakes are mistakes, undeniable regardless.

You Su hesitated to speak, eventually clenching his fists.

"If you truly wish to help her, the best course is to find the true Heart Buddha to sever her ties with darkness."

Hua Jing spoke coldly and elegantly took a step, "Let’s go."