Chapter 499 What Are You? [Bonus for Dong Ping’s Sudden Chill]

Lu Ye's frown was deep enough to squash a fly.

No...

Even through the curtain, Lu Ye could recognize this figure at a glance—it was unmistakably Shangguan Huanling.

Because even in this posture, she still gave off a goofy vibe, lacking any real allure.

Awkward and pathetic.

"Hu—Fellow Daoist Lu Ye!"

Vermilion Bird appeared, started to say "husband" but caught herself at the last moment.

Lu Ye stared at her.

Calling him "Fellow Daoist" was somewhat tolerable, but if she dared call him "husband" again, he'd probably punch her.

Who was her husband? Quit the nonsense!

Their karma was already cut. Lu Ye wanted absolutely no further connection with Vermilion Bird.

"So, what's this about?"

"Fellow Daoist Lu, Huanling rose from the Fifth Heaven but encountered a true celestial trial. I helped her withstand it, which is why she succeeded in her tribulation."

"However, if she wishes to ascend from the Sixth Heaven to the Seventh Heaven now, she must endure the tribulation of earth, wind, water, and fire. On my own power, I cannot help her overcome it—only Fellow Daoist Lu can."

"If Fellow Daoist Lu refuses to aid her, her cultivation path ends. Yet she is determined to follow in your footsteps, and the only outcome awaiting her then is death and loss of cultivation."

"I know I'm a hypocrite by nature, unable to distinguish right from wrong, and have wounded you deeply. I don't dare hope for your forgiveness..."

At this point, Vermilion Bird's voice suddenly choked up.

Her eyes were already brimming with tears.

Her words became fragmented.

"Don't dare hope... hope for your forgiveness. We're done—we are now strangers."

"But Huanling is different. She is innocent and pure-hearted, merely deceived by wicked people, unaware of right and wrong. She has now abandoned the Path of Emotion for the Path of Ultimate Emotion. After all she's been through, she is no longer as foolish as before."

"She's learned her lesson. Nobody's perfect—we all make mistakes? Huanling never meant harm. Fellow Daoist, please give her a chance!"

Vermilion Bird poured out all at once.

It was clear that, without anyone noticing, Shangguan Huanling had become everyone's favorite.

Chu Ling stood up for her.

Vermilion Bird stood up for her.

She had even saved Yue Hongling.

Yue Hongling used to despise Shangguan Huanling because she always triggered Yue Hongling's low tolerance for fools.

But now, if Shangguan Huanling were in danger, Yue Hongling would probably take a bullet for her.

Lu Ye kept a straight face.

The words of Vermilion Bird had struck a chord in Lu Ye's heart.

Recalling every moment he shared with Shangguan Huanling, Lu Ye even felt the urge to slap himself.

How had he failed to notice that this girl's mind wasn’t right?

It was purely a case of letting his little head think for the big head.

"Brother Lu Ye..."

From behind the gauze curtains, Shangguan Huanling's voice was mumbled, but clearly calling for Lu Ye.

Vermilion Bird's words had indeed left Lu Ye unsettled.

The reason behind Shangguan Huanling's betrayal back then, what she had been thinking—Lu Ye didn’t really care.

Because what broke him wasn’t just that one betrayal.

That betrayal had simply been too overwhelming, so brutal it shocked him awake, snapping him out of his delusion.

After Lu Ye awakened,

After his guardian’s path broke,

After surviving his TriLife Tribulation—it took him three lives to grasp that you can’t love others till you love yourself—

When he looked back at his past lives,

He realized that these women hadn’t just betrayed him once—they had stabbed him in the back every chance they got.

Enough was enough!

So in response to Vermilion Bird’s plea, Lu Ye uttered just four words.

Four short words.

"You can’t lose if you don’t play!"

He would no longer stake what little affection he had left on the gambling table.

Because with his limited wisdom, he simply couldn’t comprehend what the hell went on in Shangguan Huanling’s head.

The wounds of the past still fresh—Lu Ye would never repeat the same mistakes!

Vermilion Bird went pale.

With just those four words, she knew Shangguan Huanling had no hope left.

A desperate Lu Ye might’ve bet his heart for another’s.

But a Lu Ye who no longer lacked love would only cherish his own, keeping it safe from harm.

Vermilion Bird’s tears could no longer be held back, rolling down her cheeks.

She closed her eyes.

"Fine then, if you want my blessing, then give Shangguan Huanling what she wants!"

Without another word, Lu Ye wasted no more words and marched straight to the gauze curtains.

Before Lu Ye could get close to the gauze curtain, Shangguan Huanling had already lunged out from it, charging straight toward him.

Clad in a sheer layer of gauze, her figure was barely visible through the sheer fabric, her face flushed crimson, her breath sweet like orchids.

Lu Ye reached out and grabbed Shangguan Huanling by the throat, yet her arms still wrapped tightly around his.

At that moment, Vermilion Bird took a daring step—her clothes fell away completely as she flew toward Lu Ye.

Seeing Vermilion Bird like this, Shangguan Huanling grew even more exhilarated.

But then, a piercing shriek tore from Shangguan Huanling’s lips as a thin stream of Primordial Morning Mist flooded into her body.

Vermilion Bird’s figure was sent flying with a kick, vanishing without a trace.

Damn it, trying to ambush him from both sides?