She truly wanted to ask—what had she, Song Wanníng, ever done to wrong Gu Qingyuan?
If he had simply fallen out of love with her, she could have endured it. It would have hurt, yes, but she would have accepted it in time. What she could never accept was that in the end, Gu Qingyuan stood with the so-called protagonists and helped wipe the entire Song clan from existence.
Gu Qingyuan had come from a humble village. Though talented, he had no background, no connections. He suffered countless hardships after joining the Wentian Sect. It was her parents who pitied him, a young boy alone in the world, and every time they prepared supplies for her, they always packed an extra set for him.
Later, when they learned she had feelings for him, they treated him like a son.
And what did the Song clan get in return?
Slaughter.
Her blood turned cold at the memory.
She hated him. Not just hated—loathed him. Enough to want to rip him apart with her bare hands. But she also knew death was a mercy. What she truly wanted was for every one of them, Gu Qingyuan included, to suffer the way she had. Over and over, until despair drove them mad.
"Shut your mouth."
Gu Qingyuan's voice trembled as he raised his sword. He struggled to steady his grip, but the fury behind his words was clear.
"Chuxue is the kindest person I've ever met. She's nothing like you. Not selfish. Not cruel. Not twisted. She's never hurt anyone. She never came between us. She never once interfered with our relationship!"
He was nearly shouting now.
"If you insult her again, don't blame me for what happens next."
Every word landed like a slap. His face was twisted with righteous anger, as if she were the one who had wronged him.
Song Wanníng smiled coldly. How blind she had been. Gu Qingyuan had never defended her like this. Maybe it wasn't that he changed—maybe he had never truly cared.
"Never?" She stepped forward slowly, her voice calm but deadly. "So from the beginning, you approached me just for the Song clan's backing?"
"You stayed by my side for years. Played the part of a doting fiancé. Proposed of your own accord. Was that just to secure support?"
Gu Qingyuan's expression faltered. "I didn't! I truly thought I loved you. I didn't know what love was back then. I mistook my feelings. That's why I proposed sincerely. I never used you or your family."
"But now that you've met Ye Chuxue," Song Wanníng said, her voice rising slightly, "you're suddenly sure what love is?"
She laughed. Laughed hard. But there was no joy in it.
Ye Chuxue had only been five years old when she joined the sect. Gu Qingyuan had practically raised her. And now he wanted to claim it was true love?
Disgusting.
Twisted.
"Everyone here heard that, right?" Song Wanníng swept her gaze across the gathered elders and the sect master.
"I, Song Wanníng, have never betrayed Gu Qingyuan. It was he who betrayed me. He is the one who fell for someone else. He is the one who wronged me. You are all witnesses."
"Today, I, Song Wanníng, officially dissolve my engagement with Gu Qingyuan. From now on, he walks his path, and I walk mine."
Without hesitation, she drew her sword and severed a lock of her hair.
The strand floated to the ground, settling in the dust. The past, like that fallen hair, was gone.
With that gesture, Song Wanníng severed all ties. She had ended the engagement with her own hands.
"Junior Sister Song, please, don't act on impulse!" the sect master pleaded, alarmed.
So much had happened in such a short time. Everyone was overwhelmed. Song Wanníng had loved Gu Qingyuan deeply. To see her voluntarily end their betrothal was unthinkable.
The watching disciples stared in shock. Those who had been betting on how many words it would take to pacify her were speechless. No one expected things to escalate this far.
Gu Qingyuan's pupils contracted sharply. His hand gripped the sword hilt until his knuckles turned white.
"She really meant it?"
"You've thought this through?"
"If you regret it now, it's not too late."
It sounded almost generous. As if he were offering her a way back.
If Song Wanníng just apologized, healed Chuxue, and accepted his offer, he would still marry her. He stood there as if making some grand sacrifice, and the sight of it made Song Wanníng want to retch.
"I've thought it through. Gu Qingyuan, our engagement is over."
Love? Nonsense. She no longer wanted any part of it.
"You—"
Gu Qingyuan froze.
"She truly meant it?"
The onlookers were stunned. It seemed Song Wanníng's fury this time was real.
"Junior Sister, we can still talk this out. You've known each other for so long. There's no need for things to end like this," the sect master tried to mediate.
"Exactly. Junior Brother Gu just got confused. And besides, there's no way he and Ye Chuxue—"
"No need?"
Song Wanníng laughed again, a mocking glint in her eyes.
"Then I hope your descendants all get to experience this same kind of 'no need.'"
"Junior Sister—" one of the elders blurted, "we're only trying to help. Why are you being so unreasonable?"
"You're breaking off the engagement now, but you'll come crying later, begging to get back together."
"How dare you curse us like that?"
The elders fumed. They felt she was taking her anger out on the wrong people.
Song Wanníng glanced at them sideways.
"Then shut up. My business is not yours to comment on."
"You—" The elders nearly exploded with fury, but none dared speak again.
This matter was beyond their control now.
"Song Wanníng, don't come crawling back."
Gu Qingyuan watched the entire exchange unfold, a bitter vow forming in his heart.
No matter what tricks she played, he would never take her back.
"Only a coward regrets," Song Wanníng said coldly, turning to leave.
Panic flared in Gu Qingyuan's eyes. He raised his sword and slashed toward her.
"Leave the antidote!"
His sword light surged with murderous intent, locking the air around her in place. Song Wanníng looked up, her eyes as cold as winter frost. She drew her sword without hesitation and met his attack.
Their blades clashed midair, both radiating a deadly killing aura. The wind howled around them, as if sensing the storm that was about to break.
"This is bad!" the sect master cried, immediately ordering the disciples to evacuate.
They scattered in a frenzy, none daring to linger.
"Junior Sister! Junior Brother! Stop this at once!" shouted an elder.
"What are you doing?!"
The elders panicked. This was turning into a civil war within the sect. No matter who got hurt, it would be a tragedy.
Song Wanníng's gaze was sharp as a blade, devoid of warmth.
"Gu Qingyuan, your beloved is dying."
"If I don't act, she'll be dead within the hour."
She curled her lips into a smile that sent chills through the air, shattering Gu Qingyuan's last shred of hesitation.
His eyes turned glacial. He struck first.
With a flash of hand seals, his spiritual sword, Chìtù, shot from its sheath, transforming into a streak of light that stabbed toward her without mercy.