Ye Shixue wasn't angered by Ye Feifei's words. Instead, she laughed charmingly, "Ye Feifei, I know you're powerful. I'm no match for you! But I was able to injure Ye Tian, and you couldn't, right? So, in the end, you still can't compare to me!"
"Shameless! You used Brother Tian's trust in you to do something like this. I'm truly ashamed for you! Having someone like you in the Ye Family is a disgrace," Ye Feifei said angrily. At that moment, she desperately wanted to rush up and teach her a lesson.
"Haven't you ever heard that all's fair in war? A duel on the fighting stage isn't just a contest of strength; wits are also very important. I don't believe I've broken any of the competition's rules, have I? Even though you're the young mistress of the Ye Family, you have no right to speak to me like that. After all, I haven't done anything wrong," Ye Shixue said, looking at Ye Feifei.
"Feifei, that's enough! Step down! My duel with Ye Shixue isn't over yet. Don't worry about me, I'm fine!" Ye Tian said.
At that moment, the Dragon Pearl inside him was emitting a powerful Energy, repairing Ye Tian's injured Heart Vein. In just a short while, it had already healed considerably.
"Brother Tian, I'm afraid you'll get hurt again. Please, let me help you!" Ye Feifei said to Ye Tian, her face full of heartache.
Ye Tian waved his hand. "No need. Some things need to be settled once and for all. She may be heartless, but I cannot be unjust. I'll handle this carefully!"
Ye Feifei knew that once Ye Tian made up his mind, he wouldn't easily change it. She didn't want to make things difficult for him, so she said, "Then be careful. Ye Shixue isn't as good as you think. The gentle and refined Sister Xue you once knew has long since changed."
"Don't worry. I've already experienced it firsthand today," Ye Tian said faintly, his eyes turning to Ye Shixue in the distance.
Ye Feifei walked up to Ye Shixue and said, "You'd better watch yourself. Don't think I don't know what you did last night. Surprised that Brother Tian wasn't poisoned? If you dare to hurt him again, I'll take your life."
After speaking, she didn't bother to see Ye Shixue's expression and walked straight off the stage. When a woman sees the man she loves get hurt, she can sometimes do terrifying things.
A flicker of surprise appeared on Ye Shixue's face, but it was gone in an instant. 'Now isn't the time to think about what Ye Feifei said,' she thought. 'I'll ponder it after the duel is over.'
The color had returned to Ye Tian's face. He slowly walked toward Ye Shixue. "Why would you do this to me? I trusted you so much. Could you really be so ruthless as to strike a venomous blow against me? What if I hadn't been able to dodge? Your sword could have taken my life. Wouldn't you feel guilty? Wouldn't you have any regrets?"
Ye Shixue had already prepared her answer for this question. "Brother Tian, you know this is a competition, don't you? My strength isn't a match for yours, so of course I had to be a little cunning. You should know very well what a better ranking means to me."
"Tell me your real reason. The Ye Shixue I know wouldn't be so cold and heartless. Is someone forcing you to do this?" Ye Tian still didn't believe her. For his childhood friend to change so drastically overnight was truly difficult for the sentimental Ye Tian to accept.
Seeing the confused look on Ye Tian's face, Ye Shixue laughed. "You injured my Brother Hu, and I want revenge. Is that reason enough? I am Brother Hu's woman. What more do I need to explain? Come on, let's fight again. Don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're injured. I won't!"
Her words pierced Ye Tian's heart. He had always regarded her as a confidante, a dear sister, but at this moment, he understood. It had all been his own wishful thinking. In Ye Shixue's heart, his position was now insignificant. Or rather, she now saw him as a stranger—not even a casual friend.
He couldn't understand why things had become like this. He had been so good to her and had never done anything to wrong her. Now, what he felt for her was hatred—a complete and utter hatred. He wanted nothing more than to cut her down, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it yet.
"I understand! This time, I won't hold back! Show me your true strength. It might be your only chance to live!" Ye Tian said faintly, his face devoid of emotion. How could there be any expression when his heart was already dead?
Ye Shixue smiled faintly. "If you're going to kill me, then come on! To die by your sword... I would have no regrets!"
Those same unbearable words again. Ye Tian truly despised her now. Using a trick once was enough, but she had dared to use it twice, right to his face. This time, he really wouldn't be merciful.
At this moment, Ye Tian's heart was filled with an even deeper hatred for Ye Shixue. With a single thought, he swung his Fine Steel Sword, striking out with eighty percent of his strength. The power of the blow was immense.
Yet Ye Shixue watched Ye Tian's attack approach without a change in her expression. However, Ye Tian was also wary of her repeating her old trick, so he held something back.
A powerful wave of Sword Qi instantly materialized, striking toward Ye Shixue with the force of a thunderbolt. But Ye Shixue still made no move to dodge. If the Sword Qi hit her, she might truly have her life extinguished like a fading fragrance.
Ye Tian was stunned. 'Crazy woman! You're asking to die!' he cursed inwardly. Though he hated her, he couldn't bring himself to kill her with his own hands. If he really did, he would probably feel guilty for the rest of his life.
In the nick of time, Ye Tian's figure shot forward, executing the Flowing Cloud Step to its fullest. He tried to divert his Longsword, but the Sword Qi attack was still heading for Ye Shixue.
With his other hand, he threw a powerful palm strike, sending Ye Shixue flying and knocking her out of the Sword Qi's path.
But this desperate blow was no laughing matter. Ye Shixue flew back like a kite with a broken string. Several of her ribs were broken, and her internal organs were displaced, but the injury wasn't fatal.
Lying on the ground, Ye Shixue tried to get up, but after several failed attempts, she finally gave up. Something crystalline glittered in her eyes, looking as if it might fall at any moment.
"Sister Xue!" In a flash, Ye Tian was by Ye Shixue's side, helping her up. "Why did you do that? Are you in some kind of trouble?"
"Brother Tian, with this palm strike, I have paid my debt! From now on, you are you, and I am I. We are finished! Don't get involved in my affairs, and I won't bother with yours! Now, please let me go!" Ye Shixue said, gritting her teeth.
"Why? Why are you doing this? You must have a reason. I want to hear the truth!" Ye Tian was stunned. Ye Shixue was doing all this just to sever ties with him.
"I believe you know very well what is inside your body. I have obtained the same kind of thing. But what I have and what you have are natural-born enemies! That's why we can't be together. We are destined to be mortal enemies!" Ye Shixue said slowly.
Her voice was so quiet that only the two of them could hear. This had to be their biggest secret. The shock in Ye Tian's heart was immense. 'She also obtained a Dragon Pearl? And she knows I have one too? Then why didn't the Divine Dragon Remnant Soul sense it?'
'What did she mean by 'mortal enemies'?' he wondered. He desperately wanted to know, but at that moment, Ye Shixue pushed him away. "From now on, we are strangers. When we have both grown into powerful experts, I will not show you any mercy! You'd best look after yourself!"
After speaking, Ye Shixue, with a sudden burst of strength from who-knows-where, managed to climb to her feet and walk straight off the stage, leaving a distraught Ye Tian staring blankly at her retreating figure...
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