Xuanwei had completely lost it. She was in full rampage mode, lashing out at anyone in her path. The feeling of no longer having to maintain an image, of being free to act as she pleased, was intoxicating for her.
Most of the ordinary cultivators dared not voice their grievances, but the Empresses were not about to let Xuanwei humiliate them without retaliation.
Leng Ruoxue was the first to fire back, refusing to be outdone. "And who are you to criticize us? Don't act like you're not partly to blame for what happened to Master! Or have you forgotten that the Heavenly Execution Array was set by all seven of us Empresses? Without even one of us, it wouldn't have worked."
Her point was clear: if responsibility was to be assigned, Xuanwei's share was no less than theirs. She had no right to stand on some moral high ground and pass judgment.
Xuanwei, however, defended herself with self-righteous indignation. "That's only because I had lost my memories! I heard all of you slandering Xiao Fan, calling him a demon, and I believed I was saving the world by joining you!"
"If I hadn't lost my memories, I would never have stooped so low as to ally with the likes of you!" She sniffed, suddenly shifting to a more pitiful tone, as if she had been the real victim all along. "So, in the end, I'm a victim too!"
"If it weren't for your lies, I would never have harmed Xiao Fan!"
Her once haughty demeanor now crumbled into a display of mock vulnerability, as if she were the one who had been wronged. She looked at them with righteous indignation, adding, "If any of you had any sense of shame, you'd leave Xiao Fan alone!"
"Because being with you will only bring him more pain!"
Her words struck like a dagger, aiming directly at their hearts. But Huo Ling'er, with her fiery temper, wasn't having any of it. She retorted sharply, "And who are you to tell me what to do?"
"Do you still think you're some high and mighty fairy from the Immortal Realm?" Huo Ling'er's tone was laced with a warning. "You're in the mortal realm now, and here, you play by our rules!"
"Otherwise, don't blame us for using our numbers against you!"
Her words were a clear threat. Xuanwei might have once been a fairy from the Immortal Realm, once superior to all of them. But now, with the path to immortality severed and the essence of the world drained of celestial energy, Xuanwei was no longer the untouchable being she used to be. Her strength was, at best, equal to theirs.
One-on-one, it was hard to say who would win. But with the four Empresses allied against her, the odds were heavily stacked in their favor. They didn't care if they gained a reputation for ganging up on someone—what mattered was rescuing Xiao Fan. What happened afterward could be dealt with later.
Wen Yaxian remained silent, but it was clear she agreed with Huo Ling'er. True, they had misunderstood and hurt Xiao Fan. Even if Xiao Fan didn't want to see them or accept their apologies after they rescued him, they would bear no resentment. But Xuanwei had no right to lecture them. It was obvious that her real goal was to keep Xiao Fan for herself.
Having seen the glimpses of Xuanwei's more twisted side through the Vast Heaven Mirror, Wen Yaxian had no doubt that Xuanwei's companionship would be just as torturous for Xiao Fan. In her mind, Xuanwei and Gongsun Yarou were now in the same category—neither could be allowed to have Xiao Fan.
Long Xiaoxiao, too, was grinding her teeth, glaring daggers at both Xuanwei and Gongsun Yarou. She didn't particularly like Leng Ruoxue and the others, but she despised Xuanwei and Gongsun Yarou even more. For now, it made sense to ally with Leng Ruoxue's group; their primary goal was to rescue Master Xiao Fan, and the side with more people seemed more likely to succeed.
Seeing that the other side was ready to play dirty with a four-against-one strategy, Xuanwei felt a pang of nervousness. But she couldn't afford to lose her composure—she needed to maintain her bravado.
As her memories continued to return, Xuanwei recalled more of her past interactions with Xiao Fan. These memories bolstered her confidence, and she sneered at the Empresses. "Fine, fine, there's no point in arguing with you. We'll see how this plays out!"
To the others, her words seemed like nothing more than a desperate attempt to save face. They didn't take it seriously. But Gongsun Yarou, ever perceptive, noticed a strange sense of confidence in Xuanwei's voice. Could it be that Xuanwei had already done something to Xiao Fan?
Just the thought of it ignited a furious rage within Gongsun Yarou. If Xuanwei had indeed done something to Xiao Fan, she would make sure Xuanwei paid dearly for it.
Xuanwei, of course, sensed the surge of murderous intent from Gongsun Yarou. It was clear that Gongsun Yarou's hostility was directed entirely at her. The four of them might bully her with their numbers, but if it was just one-on-one, was she really supposed to be scared?
Xuanwei waved her hand, sending a wave of peaceful energy toward Gongsun Yarou, forcefully calming her down.
Afterward, Xuanwei taunted, "Why are you so angry? Do you think that just because you've sacrificed so much for Xiao Fan, he'll fall in love with you?"
"Dream on!"
"Haven't you realized yet? Xiao Fan would rather die than be indebted to you!"
Gongsun Yarou knew Xuanwei was trying to provoke her, but she couldn't stop herself from getting angry again. However, just as her fury reached its peak, Xuanwei sent another wave of calming energy, forcibly suppressing her emotions.
"Heh heh, I'm just playing around!" Xuanwei grinned mischievously at Gongsun Yarou, who was now seething with frustration. Every time she worked herself up to give Xuanwei a piece of her mind, Xuanwei would calm her down, leaving her in a state of forced tranquility where she felt nothing and wanted no conflict.
It was as if Xuanwei was perfectly designed to counter her, leaving her utterly powerless. In the end, Gongsun Yarou chose to ignore Xuanwei completely, no matter what she said.
High above, the Jade Pool Empress watched the unfolding drama with delight. She was on the verge of clapping her hands in glee. The more the Empresses fought among themselves, the more entertained she became. She couldn't wait for them to realize that all their efforts were in vain, that Xiao Fan was already doomed. That moment would be even more satisfying.
Inside the Vast Heaven Mirror.
Xiao Fan had lost track of how many days had passed. Each day felt like an eternity, filled with endless torment.
"Well, how does it feel to have a disciple like me? Aren't you lucky to have me, even if it's taken you several lifetimes to earn it?" Xuanwei said smugly as she shoved a celestial fruit into Xiao Fan's mouth.
Xiao Fan nearly choked but managed to nod between coughs. Why? Because Xuanwei didn't allow him to express any dissenting opinions.
Over time, Xiao Fan had come to realize that Xuanwei was far more problematic than he had initially thought. At first, he had assumed that Xuanwei was simply lonely and awkward, not knowing how to interact with others properly. But as he spent more time with her, he discovered that her personality had serious flaws.
She was domineering, overbearing, and completely oblivious to the feelings of others. She behaved exactly like a spoiled little girl who had never been taught to consider anyone else's emotions.
To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link https://youtu.be/GnU613H6xm8