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Chapter 211 – One Last Clash

Wen Shiyin\'s hall was close to Xie Lun\'s, and I headed straight that way after coming out of Teng Yuan\'s study. Though I hesitated a little outside the gate, debating what would be the best way to explain things to her.

Telling her the full truth clearly wasn\'t a choice—not that I was afraid of more judgment, but spreading the news too fast could lead to the Gatekeeper changing his mind, and I didn\'t want any last-minute surprises before leaving Mount Hua for good. But smart as Wen Shiyin was, she would be able to see through a crude excuse too easily, and I didn\'t want that to lead to her mistaking my intentions either. I was still considering my options when the gate suddenly creaked, opening in front of me.

It was Su Nian on the other side, about to step forward over the threshold. She stumbled in her tracks a little when she almost bumped into me. A brief shock showed on her face before it turned into rage and disdain as she recognized who was at the gate.

"What are you doing here?" she snarled, the look in her eyes murderous. "If you are trying to make some snarky remarks before you leave, save the energy for it. I don\'t have much patience left to pretend and act civilized towards you."

I found it impressive how she was able to make herself believe that the world revolved solely around her. "I\'m here to find Senior Wen," I said, "not to talk to you. Besides, you haven\'t really acted civilized towards me except on our very first meeting."

Su Nian gaped at me. "You seem to enjoy talking back to me quite a lot these days, Yun Qing-er. Did you think your success at seducing Bai Ye entitles you to being so haughty?" She made a disgusted face. "Don\'t forget that you are merely an expelled disciple from Mount Hua now. If I were you, I would be ashamed of what you have done and go hide in a corner where no one knows you."

I cocked my head, surprised by her words. I had expected hatred from her, or maybe ridicules out of jealousy, but not this—not judgment. Because although we were rivals to some extent, we were also similar, and I had thought that she would understand me better than most others at Mount Hua.

"You speak as if this isn\'t what you\'ve always wished for yourself," I said. "I find it more shameful that you are hypocritical enough to make such grand statements in front of me, knowing that you wouldn\'t have wanted anything different if only you had a chance."

Su Nian looked as if she was choked by what I said. "You are more thick-skinned than I gave you credit for," she glared at me. "Do you not know shame at all? I was never his real disciple, and I would\'ve never done what you did if I were! You committed such a sin and dragged not only yourself but also him into disgrace, and you dare compare your morals to mine?"

"Love is not a sin," I said. "If it harms no one else, why should it be forbidden? Why should we not declare it loudly and proudly, why should we be ashamed?"

Su Nian\'s eyes couldn\'t have widened more. "Only naive and reckless young women like you would ever say such a thing. I see now it\'s a waste of time to teach you shame, Yun Qing-er." She bit out the words. "I have no idea how you tricked him, especially with such a plain face like yours, but one day he will come around. He would understand this is a mistake, and that this so-called love is not worth what he is sacrificing. I look forward to that day when he returns to us, to Mount Hua. Without you."

Looking at her enraged face, I felt at a loss for words. She would never know what sacrifices Bai Ye had made for this "so-called love", and she didn\'t need to. I sighed. "I had always thought you were just unlucky … and I even felt a little sorry for your unrequited love at some point. But now I see I was wrong." I shook my head. "You don\'t love him. Because if you did, you would\'ve known that he is never one to care about vanity. Not a pretty face, and not a reputation in front of anyone else. Those \'sacrifices\' in your eyes are nothing to him, nor should it be to any worthy man that truly understands and treasures the woman he loves."

Su Nian\'s expression only changed very slightly, and I expected nothing more. Maybe it was just as much a waste of time to teach her love, I thought. "Either way," I continued, "I came here to look for Senior Wen like I said. May I see her?"

"She isn\'t here," Su Nian snapped. "Now get out of my way. Some people have real businesses to attend to, instead of sitting on their hands all day batting eyelashes at men."

She banged the gate shut behind her and strode forward, shoving my shoulder while she passed me. With another hard glare, she summoned her flying sword and disappeared into the distance.

I rubbed my temple. Bai Ye had once told me that Su Nian used to be a quiet and kindhearted girl, and she hadn\'t vied for his attention so much until recently. I supposed she hadn\'t grown such a hot temper and vicious tongue until recently either … What had happened?

At least it was fortunate that Wen Shiyin didn\'t pick up such traits from her. Turning around, disappointed that I had missed my last chance to clarify the misunderstandings to Wen Shiyin, I took the pebbled path outside their hall and started my way back downhill. But then I stopped when a bush by my side rustled, and a figure stepped out from behind.

It was Wen Shiyin, and the look on her face told me that she had just heard everything.