[Spirit Mountain Sect - Courtyard]
The revelation of Yaretzi's manipulative intentions had taken a toll on my emotional equilibrium. Her pleading gaze attempted to latch onto the remnants of my love for her, "Don't you love me anymore?" she implored, her voice trembling with emotion.
"Didn't I tell you before? I lust after you, I don't love you."
But the essence of my feelings had drastically altered. All the warmth and affection that once resided in my heart had frozen over, replaced with a wall of chilling indifference. I held her gaze, my face impassive. My heart ached, yet it was steeled in resolve.
The surrounding atmosphere tightened as Kunlan's monstrous aura began carving trenches into the earth beneath us. The visible power display forced a gasp from Yaretzi, her eyes flickering between me and Kunlan in growing fear.
"Grandfather," she whirled towards Viracocha, her voice pleading. "This concerns us. This concerns the Spirit Mountain Sect."
