Chapter 618 - 298: Are You... Interested in Me?

Time rewinds to fifteen minutes ago.

"I want you to kill me."

The half-saint, half-evil Hua Jing stood tall with an elegant poise, silver hair swirling, and in her pure white eyes, there was only indifference.

You Su’s face froze, and instinctively stepped back, lips twitching, unsure of how to respond.

"Is it difficult to understand?"

Hua Jing’s eyebrows, like distant mountains or hibiscus, arched, not only her hair but even her eyebrows and eyelashes were this mysterious and misty silver.

"You are the Divine Son of the Exorcism Bureau, eliminating evil is your mission. Now that I’ve deeply descended into evil, I need you to give me release."

Her crystal red lips parted and closed, the words of calmly facing death drifted coldly, as if she wanted You Su to kill not her, but some insignificant person.

"Wh-why me?"

You Su instinctively placed his hand on the hilt of the Mo Song Sword.

"Because you passed my test. The one who should have done it was Yiyi, but her hesitation made her lose this qualification."

"Indeed, since entering the valley... no, since you instructed Sister Yiyi not to take me deeper into Luoxing Valley, everything has been manipulated by you from behind the scenes... No wonder you can control the evil subjects, for they originally obeyed you!"

Hua Jing slightly tilted her head, not denying You Su’s speculation.

You Su took a deep breath, "Then what about Sister Yaoyao? She can travel in the valley with you, she must have passed your test."

"Yaoyao is soft-hearted; she couldn’t bring herself to do it. At critical moments, the sword cannot be placed in the hands of someone indecisive."

For some reason, an unidentifiable anger surged in You Su’s heart.

The indifferent demeanor of this woman chilled him. Was it really necessary to turn her close maid into an evil subject for the sake of this so-called test?

"Then why don’t you find the Chief Elder? Or Henglian? They are much more qualified than I am to kill you!"

"What I carry is too dangerous; they cannot see it. Even if there is a one-in-ten-thousand chance they might be bewitched, I cannot take that risk for Zhongyuan Continent."

Hua Jing’s matter-of-fact tone made You Su feel uncomfortable.

"Then, knowing the human heart can’t be tested, why did you test Sister Yiyi! She just confessed, claiming she brought it upon herself, unrelated to you. But if she knew you were deliberately guiding her, turning cause into effect, how saddened would she be?!"

At this point, You Su was still speaking up for Zi Yiyi, unable to comprehend Hua Jing’s actions. Already tainted, why drag her family into the mess?

In his view, this woman treated the human heart like a toy. She wanted to prove someone could be tainted, so she lured them with ever-greater temptations.

When Zi Yiyi knelt before Buddha, hesitating, her words ’pray’ didn’t sound like a reminder but more like the last straw that broke Zi Yiyi’s limit.

Hua Jing remained silent, whether unwilling to explain to You Su, or not knowing how to explain.

You Su tightened his grip on his sword hilt, furrowing his brows, "I’ll bring Sister Yiyi back! You have to explain to her! If anyone should kill you, it should be her!"

Hua Jing’s eyelashes trembled slightly, her voice calm:

"No need, she can’t be brought back."

"What exactly are you trying to do?!" You Su’s anger surged uncontrollably.

Hua Jing raised her head, her vacant gaze looking toward the end of the valley, seeming to reflect two figures walking close together in her eyes.

She didn’t speak, but with a gentle motion of her jade hand, You Su’s body was drawn forward uncontrollably, his forehead meeting the slender forefinger extended by Hua Jing.

Suddenly, a light screen appeared in You Su’s Sea of Consciousness, reflecting the image from Hua Jing’s eyes—Zi Yiyi and Tiao Yaoyao walking side by side into the distance.

Though these sisters were not separated by life and death, the feeling was more poignant than life and death partings.

This deep sisterhood scene moved You Su deeply, until he saw Zi Yiyi’s heartfelt confession, leaving You Su momentarily stunned.

He then realized Zi Yiyi was not succumbing to demonic temptation; she was willingly facing the dangers knowingly.

He also understood why Hua Jing said ’she can’t be brought back’ because if she stayed by Hua Jing’s side, she was destined not to fulfill her aspirations, so she had to choose to leave.

"I’m sorry..."

You Su murmured softly, as if apologizing to the agitated Zi Yiyi, and also the misunderstood Hua Jing.

He wasn’t sure whether to feel happy or regretful for Zi Yiyi realizing her true heart, watching a righteous Fairy, by choice, walking the path of the Evil Cultivator, a complex feeling took root in his heart.

If he felt like this, how much more so for Hua Jing, who meticulously nurtured her.

He looked at this woman’s face, blending holiness and evil, how could her seemingly indifferent heart remain truly undisturbed?

"Divine Son, no need to apologize; you just need to raise your sword and pierce it into my chest."

You Su pressed his lips, surprisingly releasing the sword hilt.

Although he barely knew Hua Jing, he knew she was a woman with countless achievements, her existence vitally important to the whole of the Five Continents; how could she die so easily.

"From my observation, the Divine Son does not seem to be a person who hesitates."

Hua Jing urged in a faint voice.

"A bit of time won’t matter; without clear answers, I can’t act." You Su said.

Hua Jing was silent for a moment, then calmly said, "Ask your questions."

"If Zi Yiyi had resisted the temptation, do you think she would have had the heart to hold the sword and kill you?"

"I would have told her how much I’m suffering, she would hesitate, but she would eventually do it."

Hua Jing was exceptionally certain, understanding the ’daughter’ she personally raised all too well.