Supreme Cultivation Master

Chapter 693: Chapter 692: Knowing the Difficulty and Retreating

The Demon Sky Monkey and the Misfortune Pangolin made their stance clear. They did not call just anyone their master; they had only one, and that was Ye Fan. And Huang Ji was Ye Fan’s woman.

"Kill this malicious woman!" Huang Ji commanded.

"Alright, leave it to us!"

The Demon Sky Monkey and Misfortune Pangolin suddenly lunged, charging at the middle-aged woman.

Mu Keqing was shocked. Although she knew her master’s abilities were unmatched, she was uncertain whether her master could handle these two monstrous creatures. For a moment, her heart filled with worry.

The middle-aged woman was taken aback and quickly moved to retaliate. But as the two Divine Beasts launched their attack, the sky plunged into darkness—the Demon Sky Monkey had made his move.

The Misfortune Pangolin also attacked, and the two Divine Beasts coordinated their assault seamlessly. After Ye Fan had helped suppress the Curse Power within them, they both now possessed the strength of a Main God. This was why the middle-aged woman wore such a look of panic.

"Fear Spreads!"

"Demon Monkey Devours the Moon!"

The two Evil Clan beings unleashed their powers. The middle-aged woman was no weakling; as a Main God herself, she emitted a beam of white light, hoping to illuminate the darkened sky. However, the "Demon Monkey Devours the Moon" technique was too powerful, and its darkness slowly consumed even her white radiance. Coupled with the Misfortune Pangolin disrupting her with its power of fear, she quickly fell to a disadvantage. Down on the ground, Huang Ji’s face was a mask of pure hatred. This woman had tried everything to have her killed, and she would not let her off easily. She would make her taste the full meaning of humiliation and despair.

When the two Evil Clan Divine Beasts finished their attack, the sky grew calm. The darkness dissipated, revealing the middle-aged woman clutching her wounds, half-kneeling on the ground. She was clearly injured, her face deathly pale as she glared at Huang Ji with rage.

Then, Huang Ji spoke. "Kill her!"

"Right!"

The two Evil Clan Divine Beasts charged forward again.

"Master!"

At the most critical moment, Mu Keqing rushed forward, shielding the middle-aged woman with her own body.

"Kill me!" she said to Huang Ji. "If you want to kill my master, you’ll have to kill me first!"

In that instant, it was as if everything had been reversed. Moments ago, Huang Ji had been the one in a sorry state, but now the situation was completely the opposite.

The middle-aged woman spoke, her voice strained. "Disciple, this has nothing to do with you. If someone must be killed, let it be me. I’ve lost to your mother and you in this lifetime. I concede defeat!"

Her words were tinged with both resignation and deep unwillingness. This was not the outcome she had ever wanted. It was bad enough that she could never defeat the mother, but now she couldn’t even defeat the daughter. In that moment, the middle-aged woman lost all hope.

"Master!" Mu Keqing cried, her heart breaking, unable to believe things had come to this.

Mu Chen Dong hurriedly interjected, "Sister-in-law, don’t be rash! Let’s talk this out calmly!"

"Right, right! Let’s talk it over. We all know each other; there’s no need to ruin our harmony!" Wu Fa quickly added.

In truth, they felt helpless. With their sister on one side and their sister-in-law on the other, this was not an outcome they wanted. In their view, the middle-aged woman had instigated the entire affair.

Huang Ji replied, "I never intended to kill her. But I want her to understand that another person’s dignity is not something to be trifled with, unlike what she did earlier!"

With that, Huang Ji relinquished her killing intent.

Then, she addressed the middle-aged woman. "Whatever grievances you had with my mother, she is dead now. I thought your feud could finally be put to rest. If your hatred cannot be resolved, then direct it all at me. I will bear the brunt of your anger on my mother’s behalf!"

At that moment, Huang Ji showed remarkable maturity.

"I don’t need your false sincerity!" the middle-aged woman retorted.

"I am not being insincere. If I were, I could have them kill you right now, but I haven’t," Huang Ji countered coolly. "Because I know that someone who could never best my mother certainly cannot best me."

Mu Chen Dong and Wu Fa breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that no lives had been lost. They had no idea how they would have explained such a thing to Ye Fan.

"What’s going on?" a voice called out. It was Ye Fan, who had just returned, only to stumble upon this scene.

Mu Chen Dong promptly explained everything to him.

Finally understanding the situation, Ye Fan turned to Mu Keqing and said, "Long time no see."

"We aren’t close. There’s no need for such politeness," Mu Keqing replied curtly.

Her heart had already been grievously wounded by Ye Fan. She felt a terrible ache, desperately wanting to run up and embrace him, but she found herself unable to take a single step. Perhaps this is affection... perhaps this is love.

Ye Fan knew that Mu Keqing was no longer the same person she once was, just as he was no longer the same man. "As long as you’re alright, I can rest easy," he said gently, then turned his attention to Huang Ji.

Watching this, Mu Keqing cursed inwardly, You won’t even show a sliver of concern? You won’t ask where I’ve been? How heartless you are!

With a cry, she drew her sword and charged at Ye Fan.

"Careful!" Huang Ji warned.

The others watched, stunned. Ye Fan spun around in a flash, blocking Mu Keqing’s blade with the Supreme Demon Sword.

"You want to kill me?" he asked, his voice low. He never would have expected that his best friend from the Divine Domain would turn against him.

"Do you truly have no feelings for me at all?" Mu Keqing demanded, her voice choked with emotion.

"None like that. I’ve only ever wanted to look after you, like a big brother," Ye Fan replied.

Mu Keqing shook her head. "I understand now. I worked so hard to break through, hoping you would finally accept me. It seems you still won’t. I was just being wishful."

Tears streamed down her face. Her heart ached terribly. No matter how hard she tried, she could never find a way into his.

She turned and helped the middle-aged woman to her feet. "Master, let’s go."

As they left, Ye Fan wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come. Perhaps that’s just how men are. Some things can be explained, but there’s no desire to explain them. All the bitterness must be shouldered alone.

***

Inside the bamboo cottage, Ye Fan asked Huang Ji, "Honey, are you alright? I’ve removed the Phoenix Power from your body."

"I feel much better, my love," Huang Ji replied.

"That’s good. I didn’t expect her to progress so quickly."

The "her" Ye Fan was referring to was, of course, Mu Keqing. He knew she was gifted, but he had never anticipated her talent would reach such a degree that she had already surpassed a top-tier prodigy like Huang Ji in just a few short years.

"My love," Huang Ji said to Ye Fan, "I can see that she’s deeply in love with you. Utterly."

Ye Fan sighed. "Liking someone and loving them are two different things. I just see her as my closest little sister."

At that, Huang Ji leaned into Ye Fan’s embrace and asked, "My love, if she and I were to fight again, whose side would you take?"

The question was rather awkward. Ye Fan said sheepishly, "Well, I wouldn’t let the two of you fight in the first place!"

"That’s not an answer. You have to choose!" Huang Ji insisted, holding him tight.

Ye Fan relented with an awkward laugh. "Of course I’d help you! You’re my wife, after all."

He knew he had to side with Huang Ji in this moment. It was the classic test. It’s like when you’re walking down the street with your girl and a beautiful woman walks by. Your girl asks, "Who’s prettier, her or me? Just be honest, I won’t get mad." But would she really not get mad? Absolutely not. If you say the other woman is prettier, you’re done for.

Birds of a feather flock together; of course, he sided with Huang Ji.

"Oh, my love, you’re so good to me," Huang Ji said sweetly.

"I have to treat my woman better than I treat myself. Honey, you were injured today. Get some rest," Ye Fan said softly. "The war with the Little God Monarch is about to begin. I need to go train for a bit."

At the mention of the Little God Monarch, Huang Ji frowned, worried that Ye Fan wasn’t his match.

She said, "My love, I’m sorry. If it weren’t for my father, you wouldn’t have to face the Little God Monarch so soon."

"It’s alright. I’m prepared," Ye Fan said with conviction. "I’m determined to win this battle. Either he dies, or I do!"