Fairy Zi Li fell silent, believing she had unconditional trust in Yu Mu. However, regarding a certain matter, she felt more like she was frustrated with him for not living up to expectations, and even with Liu He's corroboration, she didn't think deeply about it.
"Mu'er…"
"Elder Fairy Zi Li wants to ask who my master is?" Yu Mu raised his hand, interrupting Fairy Zi Li's next words. He turned to Elder Yun Buqi and respectfully bowed, biting his fingertip, causing a drop of blood to appear, shimmering in the sunlight that poured down from the sky.
"I, disciple Yu Mu, wish to take Elder Yun as my master. No matter how the world changes, my heart remains unchanged. I will treat him as a father. If I speak falsely, may my soul be destroyed. I swear by my blood, with heaven and earth as witnesses!"
"Buzz!"
An unsettling wave of energy surged through the garden, as if the heavens were angered! This bow put immense pressure on even Elder Yun Buqi.
It seemed that, on one hand, he could not bear this bow from Yu Mu, yet on another hand, he could.
"Good… good!" Tears glimmered in Elder Yun Buqi's old eyes, as if he were filling a void in his life.
With shaky hands, he helped Yu Mu up, completely ignoring Fairy Zi Li who stood nearby.
"Yu Mu! It was I who took you from the wild dog's mouth, brought you in, taught you the techniques, and elevated your status! Now… you betray me?!"
Fairy Zi Li didn't even realize how hoarse her voice had become.
Betrayal? Yu Mu was momentarily lost in thought.
She had once shouted at him, claiming that Ye Tian had betrayed her, calling him a rebellious disciple for leaving the Yunhe Sect to join the Central Continent sect. Back then, she was glad to see Ye Tian's true colors and the corruption of the Yunhe Sect, all thanks to him.
But in the end, she was the first to disregard the master-disciple ethics and threw herself into Ye Tian's arms.
"What betrayal is there? Little Mu has always contributed under your guidance. You could say that your Zhi Yun Hall has been supported solely by him for the past decade."
This time, Elder Yun Buqi unconditionally defended Yu Mu, just as he had in a previous life when facing the many sects that attacked Yu Mu, being the only one to stand up for him.
"Fairy Zi Li, think carefully. Does this peak Golden Core cultivation of his have anything to do with you or your Zhi Yun Hall?!"
"It doesn't matter. If the elder wants this cultivation, take it. I can start over."
Watching Elder Yun Buqi's back, a warm current surged in Yu Mu's heart again.
This sense of safety had been absent for too long. Was this what it felt like to be protected?
Losing his cultivation was painful.
But he had already endured enough suffering; did he still care about this little bit?
Meanwhile, Fairy Zi Li stood frozen, feeling that something important was slipping away from her grasp, something perhaps irretrievable.
But she was the master! She had done nothing wrong! Previously, she had wrongly accused Mu'er of neglecting his training, but hadn't he forgiven her?
"Mu'er… I was wrong. You… were right. Your senior sister, and little junior sister, yes… and your junior brother, they are all waiting for you…"
Fairy Zi Li grasped at straws, knowing Yu Mu cherished Liu He the most, had always admired senior sister Xiao Yu, and cared for junior sister Liu He.
He must still have feelings!
He was just trying to provoke her; that old man Elder Yun Buqi was no better than her! In every way, he was inferior!
Yes, it had to be that way.
"Mu'er…"
Suddenly, Yu Mu felt a headache coming on. Accompanied by waves of inexplicable nausea. Had he really been so foolish in the past? Was it Ye Tian's overwhelming fortune that had clouded his basic reason?
Seeing Yu Mu's expression change, Elder Yun Buqi thought it was compassion stirring within him, but it didn't seem like that…
This feeling… felt like wanting to hit someone!
No, he couldn't let Yu Mu act out; otherwise, he would really struggle in the Yunhe Sect. Thinking this, Elder Yun Buqi quickly spoke up.
"Elder Fairy Zi Li, please return. You entered my residence without prior notice, which is against the rules. Yu Mu, as the chief prodigy, has the right to transfer to my hall. However, Elder Fairy Zi Li, do not disrupt the rules that have been in place for a thousand years."
Upon hearing this, Fairy Zi Li's face turned pale, and she stumbled.
Yes! Yu Mu was the chief prodigy; he had the right and qualifications to do this.
But… Little Mu had always respected her as if she were his mother. He had feelings for his senior sister Xiao Yu and cared for his little junior sister Liu He. How could he have changed like this?
Fairy Zi Li looked at Yu Mu, his tall figure and handsome face.
Yet that handsome face, which no longer bore the innocence of his youth, began to merge with the image of the small boy who had once believed in everything, pulling at her sleeve and calling her master…
He had said he would protect her for a lifetime.
He had said he had never met his mother, and she was his mother.
And he had always done so. She had been in seclusion for years, Xiao Yu was cold, and Liu He was weak; he had always been the one supporting the Zhi Yun Hall.
"Mu'er… have you forgotten what you said?" Fairy Zi Li clutched Yu Mu's wrist, her eyes shimmering with tears, causing Yu Mu's face to blur in her vision.
She quickly wiped her tears, feeling that if she couldn't see Yu Mu's face clearly, she might never have the chance to see it again.
"Mu'er, please come home with me…"
"My home is in the Xingyun Hall." Yu Mu forcefully shook off Fairy Zi Li's hand.
In his previous life, he had heard such expressions and words far too many times.
Each time, he believed! He believed in this master whom he regarded as a mother figure. He wanted to protect her, to protect them, even if it meant going against the world, even knowing that his opponents were backed by the fortune of the Heavenly Dao.
But what he received in return… was repeated harm.
Now, if it weren't for Elder Yun Buqi, he would probably find a way to leave the Yunhe Sect, even with his cultivation sealed, distancing himself from these people, far, far away.
Home… in the Xingyun Hall?
It must be! It must be that old man Yun Buqi who has bewitched Mu'er! He had always wanted to compete with her! Unable to defeat her, he used his most valued disciple to strike her down!
Fairy Zi Li raised her eyes, looking at Yun Buqi, her gaze filled with anger.
However, she knew that this was not the time to be angry; otherwise, she would only push Mu'er further away…
That day, many disciples saw the once ethereal Fairy Zi Li, the elder of the Yunhe Sect, looking lost and lifeless, as if she were a walking corpse.
As Yu Mu watched her departing figure, he couldn't even muster any other emotions.
He simply looked up, and in a vague sense, his gaze seemed to meet the non-existent giant eye in the sky.
"Help… help me… help…"
That grand yet weak voice seemed to arise from the depths of Yu Mu's heart.
"Master, did you hear any noise?" Yu Mu tilted his head and pulled a small cucumber from the vine.
Yun Buqi's old eyes twitched: "If you want to eat, just eat. Why find such a strange excuse?"
After watching Yu Mu crunching on the cucumber, Yun Buqi, after a moment of silence, spoke up: "She… after all, raised you since childhood. Was your action today sincere, or was it intentional?"
"Disciple sincerely wishes to take you as my master; didn't you also say that I have this right?"
Supporting Yun Buqi, seeing the genuine joy on his face, Yu Mu couldn't help but feel happy as well.
However, in his heart, that grand voice grew more urgent.
"Help me… Emperor… please… help me…"
While helping the smiling Elder Yun Buqi back to the hall, a trace of indifference crossed Yu Mu's eyes, unnoticed by the elder.
In his heart, he coldly replied.
"Get lost!"