"I have something I want to say to you..."

Upon hearing the Third Elder's words, Ah Lian found it difficult to control herself, her gaze falling upon his eyes. She was eager to hear what he had to say, yet terrified of what it might be. In the end, she shook her head, signaling for him to stop. No matter what he said, the time for it had long passed.

But the Third Elder seemed not to see her expression, continuing on his own. "Ah Lian, I was too cowardly back then. I shouldn't have... I should have... I should have been like him..." He couldn't go on, resting his tightly clenched fists on his knees. He looked deeply pained. He was a man with one foot in the grave, yet in the end, he still couldn't muster that kind of courage.

A few seconds later, when Ah Lian spoke three simple words, the Third Elder nearly collapsed.

She said to him, "Yes, a little."

The Third Elder's body began to tremble. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down as a strange sound escaped from deep in his throat, like a sob he could no longer suppress. Seeing this old man in such distress made Ah Lian regret her words. But then, a sudden sense of peace washed over her as she saw a hint of relief on his face. Yes, relief. It was as if her three words had allowed this lifelong bachelor to let go of everything at once, making all the suffering he had endured in his life suddenly feel worthwhile.

Before the crumbling Third Elder, Ah Lian began to think of her own miserable situation and felt the urge to confide in someone. She desperately wanted to find a person—even a mute would do, as long as they could listen—and tell them of the bitterness she had endured for so many years. People need an outlet; confiding is a form of medicine.

Not looking at the Third Elder, she said, word by word, "Senior Brother, I have something I want to say to you, too."

The Third Elder drew a sharp breath, listening intently.

Ah Lian paused. "I must have been blind to fall for him."

Blind to fall for him. With that one sentence, I understood everything!

The Third Elder shot to his feet, reaching for Ah Lian's hand. Though they were inches apart, an invisible barrier seemed to separate them. His hand moved slowly, with great effort, as if it took a lifetime of courage to bridge the gap. Staring at her face, he asked with heartache, "Your face... Did he hit you?"

Ah Lian recoiled slightly. She shook her head, then nodded.

Seeing his hand about to touch her, she snapped out of her daze as if waking from a dream. "Senior Brother," she said hurriedly, "I have had a very hard time these past few years. It's been agonizing, painful... I've even thought of dying. But he is my husband, after all, and there is nothing between you and I. Please, come to your senses. My coming here this time... I've wronged you. He made me..."

"Forget him!"

The Third Elder seemed possessed. He stopped trying to touch her hand and, like a drunkard, waved his arm dismissively. "If you're not happy, then leave him! That little brother of mine was telling me about the world below on our journey. Down there, if a man and a woman can't get along, they get divorced immediately. They call it cutting your losses. Ah Lian, why don't you cut your losses?"

If Su Xuan heard this, he wouldn't know whether to laugh or cry. *Third Elder, you're unbelievable. I was just telling you about the world below to pass the time, not to encourage you to steal someone's wife.*

The Third Elder couldn't even suppress the reek of alcohol on his breath. His eyes were bloodshot as he said, "How about I help you escape? I'll quit as an elder of the Jiuding Gate. I'll stop refining pills. We can find a place where no one knows us and live our lives together, alright?" He didn't know what came over him, but he even found it in himself to joke at a time like this. "Who knows, you might even bear me a few children!"

"Children..."

As soon as she heard the word, Ah Lian's demeanor became strange. Her eyes filled with tears as she shook her head frantically. "No, no! We can't have children! We can't have children..."

Ah Lian suddenly shoved the aggressive Third Elder away. "Senior Brother," she cried out, "for the sake of a child, he and I did something that could lead to eternal damnation! He's using it to threaten me, to make me come to you! He sent me to find you—do you understand what that means? He wants to ruin your reputation! He wants to destroy you! You have to run! Go, as far away as you can!"

"I know." The Third Elder had become surprisingly calm. "I knew you hadn't come to see me for no reason. There had to be something more to it. But I don't care anymore. I've said what I needed to say, and I'm willing to trade all my fame and fortune for this chance to speak my heart to you. I don't care. I don't care about anything..."

BANG!

Just then, his door was kicked open.

The Third Elder didn't turn to look, his eyes remaining fixed on Ah Lian, a look of release on his face. Even without looking, he knew who had arrived. It had to be Fu Yong. And Fu Yong certainly wouldn't have come alone. He must have come to pin a crime on him—the crime of seducing and bullying his wife! The accusation would undoubtedly stick. Ah Lian was already crying inconsolably, her expression a mess of grief, pain, and turmoil. That was all the evidence they would need. He knew his fate. He would likely be beaten to death by Fu Yong, a humiliating end.

Was it right for him to come? Or was it wrong?

For the first time, the Third Elder gave Ah Lian a pure, childlike smile. He no longer used his True Qi to project his voice, murmuring, "Ah Lian, I have no regrets. I came... That's better than never coming at all. I said it... and that's better than never saying it. I have no children, and my parents are long gone. No family of mine will bear any shame because of me. I..."

He looked up and laughed. "I'm so happy!"

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP!

Someone strode into the room and grabbed the Third Elder by the shoulder. Still, the Third Elder didn't look, simply closing his eyes with an air of resignation, as if to say, *do what you will*.

But Ah Lian stared at the newcomer, her eyes wide with astonishment.

It wasn't Fu Yong, there to catch them in the act.

It was Su Xuan!

"Old Xie, Old Xie!" Su Xuan had barged in for some unknown reason. He grabbed the Third Elder's shoulder and started pulling him out of the room, talking nonstop. "I was just reviewing our pill formula and found a major flaw! The blood qi of the Blood Immortal Vine can't be suppressed by ordinary Spirit Grass; the refinement will definitely fail! Hurry, come help me think of a solution! We're about to get the Pill Furnace! This is an emergency!"

The moment the Third Elder heard Su Xuan's voice, he froze, completely dumbfounded. He whipped his head around to stare at Su Xuan, his expression clearly asking, *What are you doing here, kid?*

Just then, a group of people arrived outside the door, led by none other than Fu Yong. His expression was utterly foul. When he looked at Su Xuan, he looked like he wanted to tear the man apart with his bare hands.

Damn it! I painstakingly arranged this perfect show, and this kid kicked the door down for me! You kicking the door is completely different from me kicking it! But... it doesn't matter anymore. How things were meant to unfold was already set in stone...

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