Inside the Haotian Mirror.
Xiao Fan and Leng Ruoxue had been together for ten years.
During these ten years, Xiao Fan not only taught Leng Ruoxue how to cultivate but also took care of her daily needs, playing the roles of both father and mother.
Finally, on Leng Ruoxue's eighteenth birthday, her cultivation had surpassed his, reaching the peak of the Qi Refining stage.
To create the Foundation Establishment Pill that would help Leng Ruoxue break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, Xiao Fan went through countless life-threatening situations to gather the necessary ingredients.
His body, already deteriorating and barely holding on, was kept alive by sheer willpower. The effort to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill further drained his energy and strength.
Once Leng Ruoxue consumed the pill and successfully advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage, Xiao Fan's last wish was fulfilled.
The only thing left was to have Leng Ruoxue kill him, her enemy, to end all the hatred.
Xiao Fan called Leng Ruoxue, who was still reveling in her breakthrough, to his side and sighed, "I can't believe it's been ten years. The little girl I once knew has now grown into a beautiful young woman."
Hearing this, a blush appeared on Leng Ruoxue's face.
Is this finally the moment when he sees me as a woman?
Leng Ruoxue looked at Xiao Fan, who was wearing his ever-present smiling mask, her eyes filled with happiness. Over the past ten years, Xiao Fan had not only meticulously taught her cultivation but also cared for her in every possible way.
How could any young girl, whose heart had just begun to stir, not fall for such a wonderful brother? She had long since fallen deeply in love with him.
Unfortunately, Xiao Fan had always seen her as a little girl, which made her feel unsatisfied. But now, it seemed like he finally saw her as a woman.
Just as she was about to feel overjoyed, a cold bucket of water was poured over her happiness.
Xiao Fan said in a serious tone, "Your cultivation has now surpassed mine, and there's nothing more I can teach you. It's time for you to leave."
Leng Ruoxue looked at Xiao Fan in disbelief, her eyes instantly welling up with tears. She felt deeply wronged. "Brother, are you trying to drive me away?"
"There is no banquet that never ends," Xiao Fan sighed. "Have you forgotten the reason you wanted to become my disciple in the first place?"
Hearing this, Leng Ruoxue clenched her fists, a hint of anger flashing in her eyes.
Of course, she hadn't forgotten her goal of avenging herself against Xiao Fan. But now, revenge wasn't her entire life anymore. Besides revenge, she wanted to stay with her brother forever.
With determined eyes, Leng Ruoxue said, "I will definitely avenge myself, but..."
Her tone softened, and her eyes filled with affection as she looked at Xiao Fan's masked face. "Brother, I..."
Leng Ruoxue wanted to confess her feelings but was too shy and reserved to say it out loud. She changed her words, saying, "Brother, I don't want to be separated from you. After I get my revenge, can we continue to travel together?"
Leng Ruoxue looked at Xiao Fan with anticipation, afraid of hearing a rejection.
Xiao Fan could sense Leng Ruoxue's feelings for him, and under his mask, he wore a bitter smile.
What would Leng Ruoxue think if she found out that her beloved brother was actually her sworn enemy, Xiao Fan?
But he would never let her know the truth.
After a long silence, Xiao Fan finally said, "Alright."
Hearing the answer she wanted, Leng Ruoxue was overjoyed, her eyes sparkling like stars. She was so happy she could burst, dancing around like a child.
She had already decided that after she avenged herself, she would confess her feelings to her brother. If he rejected her, she would pester him endlessly.
After all, her cultivation was now higher than his, and he couldn't escape her.
Watching Leng Ruoxue's delight, Xiao Fan felt a pang of sadness.
He knew he was destined to break his promise.
After her joy subsided, Leng Ruoxue frowned and stared at the mask on Xiao Fan's face. For ten years, he had worn the mask, and she had never seen his true face. Every time she asked him to take it off, he refused.
She had tried to sneak a look, but he always caught her, and his anger would keep him from talking to her for a long time.
So she eventually gave up trying.
Thinking about this, Leng Ruoxue carefully asked, "Brother, can you promise me one more small favor?"
"Go ahead," Xiao Fan replied.
"Brother, when I come back after avenging myself, can you take off the mask and let me see your face?"
Afraid that her request might anger him, she quickly added, "No matter what you look like, I will still like you."
Unexpectedly, Xiao Fan responded readily, "Alright."
"Great!" Leng Ruoxue was thrilled.
If she had known he was so agreeable, she would have asked for more favors. After all, she knew nothing about him, not even his real name or appearance.
But she wasn't in a hurry. After her revenge, there would be plenty of time to learn everything about him.
She was now eager to seek out Xiao Fan and get her revenge.
After making plans to meet him again after her revenge, Leng Ruoxue set off with confidence.
Once she left, Xiao Fan slowly removed his smiling mask.
His once handsome face was now gaunt and pale, his complexion ashen. He looked gravely ill.
"Ugh..." Xiao Fan coughed violently, black blood staining his lips.
Wiping the blood away, he looked determinedly ahead.
He couldn't die yet; he had to die at Leng Ruoxue's hands to end all hatred.
Xiao Fan took out a red pill from his pocket and swallowed it.
It was a Revival Pill, one of the recipes he had stolen from Elder Zhao in the Qingyun Sect. It could forcibly extend his life and restore him to his peak state, but it was merely a fleeting reprieve.
Knowing his time was short, Xiao Fan quickly followed the path Leng Ruoxue had taken.
He finally "accidentally" ran into her on her way back.
Leng Ruoxue looked at him in surprise. She hadn't expected to run into him so soon after descending the mountain, but it saved her the trouble of finding him.
"Xiao Fan, today is the day you die!" she declared.