Chapter 1073: Chapter 1073: Clear Distinction of Gratitude and Resentment
After dealing with Grandma Mad, Ye You finally turned around, his gaze cold as he looked at Aunt Mei, who was cowering in fear.
Aunt Mei instinctively took a step back, recalling the time when Patroness Ge Wan passed away. The little boy who silently shed tears and stubbornly refused to let anyone take his mother’s body away had fiercely injured the guards who tried to take him away.
At that time, he hadn’t yet activated his Magic Source and didn’t have much strength. Yet, even so, several guards couldn’t withstand his punches and kicks. One guard’s hand had a deep bite mark imprinted into the flesh, leaving a permanent scar. He had used his very life to guard his mother’s remains.
Now, that little boy had grown up, and the person he wanted to protect had changed to Qin Sisi. And she, Aunt Mei, had become like those guards who tried to take away the one thing he vowed to protect.
With a heavy thud, Aunt Mei dropped to her knees, her voice trembling as she pleaded, "Your Highness, please don’t be angry. It was an accidental mistake on my part. I never intended to harm Ms. Qin."
"Liar!" Grandma Mad cut her off sharply, speaking respectfully to Ye You. "Your Highness, I witnessed it with my own eyes. Dong Mei used a magic skill to attack Ms. Qin, causing her to fall off the cliff."
Ye You’s gaze grew colder and colder. Lies upon lies, utterly unrepentant—how could he continue to trust such a person?
Dong Mei hadn’t expected Grandma Mad to have seen the incident. The fear in her heart grew stronger, and she no longer dared to argue. Tears streaming down her face, she begged, "Your Highness, please forgive me! I was momentarily confused. You know in your heart that I’ve been completely loyal to you. Everything I’ve done, it wasn’t for myself—it was all for you!"
Ye You’s brow tightened further. He despised Aunt Mei’s self-justifying mindset and detested such manipulative excuses even more.
All for me? Then why didn’t you ever think to ask me what I wanted?
Ye You raised his palm and gently pushed forward. A surge of Fire Attribute Magic Power shot toward Dong Mei. Like a long rope, it bound her tightly.
The rope burned with violet Ziwei Heaven Fire, and as it restrained Dong Mei, the flames began to consume her body.
Dong Mei collapsed to the ground, letting out pitiful cries of pain. She continued to ramble, trying to defend herself: "Your Highness, have mercy! I am loyal to you. Everything was for you! For you! Qin Sisi doesn’t deserve you. She doesn’t deserve..."
Ye You walked up to Dong Mei, loosening the Fire Dragon Lock Chain slightly to lessen her suffering. Squatting down slowly, he stared at her with deep, unwavering eyes and said in a low voice, "Aunt Mei, this is the last time I will call you Aunt Mei. Do you understand? Without Qin Sisi, there would be no me as I stand here today."
Dong Mei stared into Ye You’s violet eyes, fathomless like deep pools, and finally, a faint realization dawned on her—she had made a grave mistake. Qin Sisi had now become Ye You’s most untouchable reverse scale. As a servant, she had conspired to harm His Royal Highness’s most beloved person, which amounted to insubordination, rebellion, and courting her own death.
But she didn’t want to die—she wasn’t old yet. She could still live for many years. Even if Ye You banished her, with her status as an Intermediate Magic Spirit, she could still live a comfortable life.
So, she began to plead desperately: "I know I was wrong. Please, Your Highness, for the sake of Patroness Ge Wan, spare my life! I dare not ever disobey again!"
At the mention of his mother’s name, Ye You’s expression faltered. After all, Dong Mei had been his mother’s close maidservant since her youth and had even fostered him. Could he really kill her just like that?
Ye You’s face was filled with inner turmoil and anguish. There was both gratitude and hatred—how was he supposed to decide? If he forgave her out of past gratitude, how could he face Qin Sisi? But if he struck her down ruthlessly, wouldn’t that make him ungrateful?
Yun Wang and Grandma Mad saw Ye You’s hesitation. The two exchanged a glance but didn’t dare to say anything more. Dong Mei’s identity was far too delicate; this truly was a dilemma for Ye You.
"Your Highness." A clear, soft voice rang out from the cave’s entrance.
Ye You’s expression froze. He immediately turned around and walked up to Qin Sisi, gently wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "Why did you come here? You should be resting."
Qin Sisi glanced at Dong Mei, who was writhing under the torment of the Fire Dragon Lock Chain, and said softly, "Dong Mei has been good to you, Your Highness. You shouldn’t kill her."
"But..." Ye You faltered. He truly couldn’t bring himself to strike. But how could he let the one who tried to murder Qin Sisi go unpunished?
Understanding Ye You’s thoughts, Qin Sisi continued, "Gratitude and resentment should be kept separate. She once helped you, but now she has deceived you. Let her kindness cancel out her wrongdoing. From now on, have no ties with her. Would that suffice?"
Ye You gazed at Qin Sisi’s serene, water-like face. Gradually, his icy heart began to thaw. He nodded in agreement. "Alright."
Behind them, Aunt Mei felt an overwhelming joy, thinking she had narrowly escaped death thanks to Qin Sisi’s plea for mercy.
Unfortunately, her relief was premature. After helping Ye You untangle his dilemma, Qin Sisi turned her gaze to Dong Mei, who was slumped on the ground. Slowly, she said, "But she has done me no favors. This time, she schemed to kill me. Had Grandma Mad not intervened, I might have ended up as a meal for the Devouring Sky Golden Python. Therefore, I must repay my grievances and settle my scores."
Aunt Mei’s eyes widened in terror. So Qin Sisi hadn’t intended to spare her after all. She had merely used this incident to sever Ye You’s ties with her completely.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Ye You raised his hand with a gentle wave. The Fire Dragon Lock Chain binding Dong Mei disappeared. However, after enduring such torment, her body was already riddled with wounds.
Qin Sisi stepped forward, upturning her palm to reveal the glimmering Moon Spirit Golden Feather. Pointing it at Dong Mei, she declared decisively, "Make your move!"
Dong Mei leaned against the wall, struggling to stand. Gritting her teeth, she said, "I’m already severely injured. This is unfair."
Qin Sisi smiled and countered, "I’ve also lost significant Vigor and am still recovering from serious injuries. How is this unfair? Besides, when you drugged me yesterday and made me lose all my mana, did you ever consider fairness?"
Dong Mei was left speechless. The only path before her now was to fight Qin Sisi in a duel.
Clenching her fists tightly, she retrieved her weapon from her storage ring—a pair of sharp Flowing Cloud Daggers, resembling massive iron needles, tightly gripped in her hands.
Qin Sisi’s expression remained unchanged. Raising the Moon Spirit Golden Feather high, she brought it down swiftly, unleashing a move known as the Vigor Gold Knife toward Dong Mei.
Dong Mei quickly conjured a Freezing Wall to block the attack. Since Patroness Ge Wan hailed from the Qing Ming Family, Dong Mei’s intrinsic attribute was also Ice Attribute, the same as hers.
The ice wall shattered, and the golden knife dispersed—the first round ended in a draw.
However, this cave was far too narrow. The rippling energy waves from their clash struck the surrounding rocky walls, causing the cave to tremble. Rocks, large and small, fell like leaves fluttering in the wind.
