Chapter 543 Yin Qingcheng’s Monologue

Yin Qingcheng smiled sadly.

"In my youth, I was a disciple of the Forgetful Immortal Palace. Because of my exceptional talent and devotion to cultivation, the sect intended to make me their saintess, and so I trained even harder."

"The cultivation method of the Forgetful Immortal Palace differs from the norm. At the stage of Dao Merging, everyone must merge with the Path of Ultimate Emotion. But upon reaching the Immortal Realm, one must choose whether to cultivate the Path of Ultimate Emotion or the Path of Forgetfulness. This is a critical juncture in the Supreme Emotion Scripture."

"Back then, I was unmatched in talent, and few of my peers impressed me—let alone won my affection. So, I chose the Path of Forgetfulness."

"I thought my entire life would be solely dedicated to seeking the Dao. But I never expected that one day, I would meet my husband."

Yin Qingcheng looked at Lu Ye, her gaze so tender it could melt a person.

"That day, beneath the peach tree of the Forgetful Immortal Palace, I was practicing my swordplay. I didn’t notice when you appeared. My mind was wholly immersed in my training, but in a fleeting glance, I caught sight of your face. Thinking you were some lecher, I angrily struck at you."

"But I never imagined you were so strong—far beyond anyone else our age. When I heard you were an honored guest of the sect, I felt both indignant and a little curious."

"Later, I learned your name and your deeds, and I was repulsed. I loathed a man who played with women's hearts. In this world, love should be exclusive. If two hearts cannot belong entirely to each other, how can it be called love?"

"I thought I would never see you again. Yet, when I was pursued by demonic beasts, you were the one who saved me."

"I remember that moment—you held me by the waist, drew your sword, and a dozen demonic beasts fell. In your arms, I saw your profile."

"At that time, I already regretted why I had cultivated the Path of Forgetfulness instead of the Path of Ultimate Emotion."

"But my path was chosen, and I could not change it."

"After that, we shared countless trials."

"I truly love you—so, so much. Even though I cannot abide you having so many women, even though I cannot bear you treating them as well as you treat me, I endure it all."

"I thought if I gave you enough love, the most love, then you would love me the most. I truly gave you my whole heart, even to the point of dying for you."

"But you still don’t love me more than you love them. In your eyes, all of us are equal. Even though I gave you the deepest love, even though among those women, there are failures like Shangguan Huanling, who managed to cultivate her Path of Emotion into nothingness."

"Yue Hongling’s heart belongs to another, forever pining for that ridiculous Feng Wuxie."

"Bai Qiulan is hypocritical, putting on airs of virtue while making you shoulder her guilt."

"Jiang Die is ambitious, only exploiting you for power."

"The Vermilion Bird can't tell black from white and doesn’t trust you in the slightest."

"An Li has hidden agendas—a treacherous viper in our midst."

"Chu Ling can't tell right from wrong, always making waves."

"These women aren't even worthy. What right do they have to your love?"

"When I love you with all my heart, why should they be entitled to the same share of your affection?"

"In my eyes, they don’t deserve it at all!"

"But I love you so much. Even knowing they’re unworthy, I know that exposing them would only make you suffer, unable to let them go, bearing all the pain yourself."

"I’ve been enduring it!"

"But every time I see their foolishness, every time I see how they hurt you, my tolerance wanes. I can’t fathom how these women, who possess the love I crave, can act this way."

"I can’t imagine what depths of hell you endure, my husband."

"Your strength has been growing, but I can feel your heart constantly wounded, already torn to shreds."

"I finally couldn't hold back anymore."

"So, I decided to uproot all these beasts who hurt your heart, devour your flesh, and drink your blood. I only had one chance—when you underwent tribulation to achieve Sainthood."

"I couldn’t bear the thought of you truly becoming a Saint, with these vile creatures forever by your side. How much pain you would endure, and how much agony I would feel seeing you suffer."

"Thus, I concocted a plan—to make all of us betray you. I never wanted to betray you, but I had to set an example for them to believe it."

"So, I used the Fragrance of Enlightenment."

"The Fragrance of Enlightenment wouldn’t harm you at all. It only made those watching your tribulation charge at you blindly."

"Husband, do you know? When I told them this fragrance could shatter your Guardian Path, they foolishly thought this was the ultimate cruelty."

"Hahaha..."

"Little did they know, when your Guardian Path shattered, none would be left standing!"

"And husband, do you know? Those truly worthy of your protection had long since laid down their lives in battle. After all the hardships we endured, those who recognized your protection and returned your kindness—all of them perished."

"Those who survived yet called themselves your friends were the very ones who plunged daggers into your heart under your protection."

"They deserved to be slain by your own hand!"

"Husband, amputation requires a clean cut. Though painful in the moment, it brings permanent cure."

"But I know... I was still wrong."

"I was wrong, husband. I shouldn’t have been so jealous. But it was because I loved you so much that the thought of sharing you tore me apart. I wanted every last drop of your love."

"I was wrong, husband. Betrayal is always betrayal, even if it was for your sake."

"I was wrong. When you once asked whether I cultivated the Path of Forgetting Emotion or the Path of Ultimate Emotion, I lied to you. I was afraid of losing you."

"Whether Path of Forgetting or Path of Ultimate, I loved you with all my strength."

"Husband, how could you forget your Qingcheng?!"

Yin Qingcheng collapsed into wrenching sobs.

She was truly drowning in bottomless grief.

Everything she had done, in her heart of hearts, was for her husband's sake. She knew she was wrong now.

Even if it was for Lu Ye’s good, she should never have betrayed or hidden things from you.

Shen Xitong listened to Yin Qingcheng’s entire monologue, her face darkening with gravity.

Trouble.

Another dangerous rival in love.

Everything that happened in the past life—even in this life—was distorted through Yin Qingcheng’s telling to favor her.

In her telling, Yin Qingcheng was without question the one who loved Lu Ye the most, beyond measure or rival.

Every ounce of love under heaven combined couldn’t match what Yin Qingcheng alone felt for Lu Ye.

Lu Ye’s brows knitted together in troubled thought.