Chapter 29: A Broken Heart in the Final
“Yin Mengwan”, clad in a black robe that hugged her graceful figure, stepped onto the stage with elegance. Her delicate face was concealed by a veil, and her steps were light and melancholic. She exuded a mysterious and alluring aura.
On the other side, Shen Shuanglian was still wearing the light blue palace dress that Chen Yin had chosen for her. Her face was calm and composed, seemingly unaffected by the thunderous cheers of the crowd.
But her appearance had already ignited a wave of excitement in the audience.
Countless cultivators chanted Shen Shuanglian’s name and her title, Frost Moon Sword Immortal, as if the entire event had transformed into her personal performance.
She walked to the front of the stage and stood still.
Yu Xiang, seemingly oblivious to the deafening cheers for Shen Shuanglian, looked at her opponent calmly.
“Alright! Welcome our two finalists to the stage!”
Wan Yunhai gestured with his hand. “On one side, we have the dream lover of countless cultivators, the leading figure of the younger generation, Frost Moon Sword Immortal Shen Shuanglian.”
“On the other side, we have the mysterious veiled fairy, Yin Mengwan, who has fought her way to the final with overwhelming dominance.”
“Who will have the honor of winning the championship? Without further ado, I declare the final of the Number One Fairy Conference officially begun!”
A deafening gong resonated through the air, signaling the start of the final amidst the roaring cheers of the crowd.
However, neither Shen Shuanglian nor Yu Xiang moved.
The surrounding commotion seemed to have no effect on Yu Xiang. While all of Shen Shuanglian’s fans assumed that Frost Moon Sword Immortal would claim the title of Number One Fairy, she stood there silently, like a specter unrelated to the match.
Then, she raised her veiled eyes and scanned the crowd.
…After a moment, her gaze landed on Chen Yin.
Chen Yin froze. Although Xiang’er’s face was concealed, he knew she was looking at him.
Her beautiful eyes seemed to hold a mix of unreadable emotions.
Chen Yin knew she was waiting for him to cheer for her.
Even if the entire world was cheering for the protagonist, if he, just one person, cheered for her, the villain, Yu Xiang would still fight Shen Shuanglian with all her might.
Chen Yin hesitated. Cheering for Yin Mengwan would make him stand out from the crowd, but if Xiang’er truly wanted it, he would support her.
But just as he was about to speak, a cultivator beside him nudged him.
“Hey, brother, you’re here to watch Frost Moon Sword Immortal’s match too, right? Which sect are you from?”
“Uh…” Chen Yin said awkwardly, “I’m a disciple of the Mist Spirit Sect branch, Mount Yu.”
“Oh, oh!! I know, I know,” the man said excitedly. “That’s also a branch sect of the Mist Spirit Sect, right?”
“So, you’re here to cheer for our Senior Sister too?”
Chen Yin was speechless.
If he denied it, he wouldn’t be able to explain his relationship with Yin Mengwan. But if he went along with it, he wouldn’t be able to cheer for Xiang’er.
Following the man’s voice, more and more people turned to look at him, making Chen Yin feel trapped.
…This won’t do.
If he cheered for Xiang’er now, not only would he be unable to explain their relationship, but he might also expose her demonic identity.
After much deliberation, Chen Yin forced a stiff smile.
“Y-yes. Senior Sister is so strong, she’ll definitely win.”
“Right?! I told you!”
The cultivator seemed delighted to have found someone who shared his sentiment. He put his arm around Chen Yin’s shoulder and cheered, “Silk-Robe Fairy is the biggest obstacle to Senior Sister’s victory.”
“Now that even Silk-Robe Fairy has been eliminated by Senior Sister, even if this Yin Mengwan who suddenly appeared is strong, she’s definitely no match for Senior Sister!”
“Come on, let’s cheer for Senior Sister together!” With that, he started chanting, “Frost Moon Sword Immortal! Invincible!”
His voice was followed by a wave of chants from the surrounding crowd:
“Frost Moon Sword Immortal! Invincible!”
“Frost Moon Sword Immortal! Invincible!”
Although Chen Yin smiled awkwardly, he frowned slightly, feeling incredibly uncomfortable being interrupted like this.
But with everyone around him cheering for Shen Shuanglian, it would be too conspicuous for him to cheer for Yin Mengwan at this moment.
That wouldn’t be good for him or Xiang’er.
After careful consideration, he could only follow the crowd with a stiff smile and raise his hand slightly. “Fr-Frost Moon Sword Immortal.”
“Invincible…”
His voice was drowned out by the roaring crowd.
“Frost Moon Sword Immortal!!! Invincible!!!”
***
Yu Xiang’s gaze never once landed on Shen Shuanglian.
Through her veil, her eyes remained fixed on Chen Yin in the stands.
When she saw Chen Yin, with a troubled and awkward expression, join the crowd and chant Shen Shuanglian’s name…
Yu Xiang suddenly felt exhausted.
So tired that she couldn’t even keep her eyes open.
She swayed slightly, only managing to steady herself with the System’s constant reminders.
Shen Shuanglian was still standing opposite her, seemingly in no hurry to attack. She was quietly observing Yu Xiang’s actions.
Yu Xiang took a deep breath, blinked, and asked softly in her heart:
“…System.”
“Yes?”
“Are villains destined to be unloved, only to become stepping stones for the protagonist?”
“What?”
“Is it because I’m not good enough?”
“Wait… what are you talking about?”
“Is it because I’m not the Number One Fairy in Senior Brother’s heart?”
“No, Sister, wait a minute…”
“If I were good enough, if I could win the title of Number One Fairy, would Senior Brother finally see me?”
“What the hell are you talking about! Sister, calm down—”
“If I win…” Yu Xiang suddenly closed her eyes.
…Then Senior Brother’s eyes will only be on me, right?
The next moment, she transformed into a shadowy figure and charged towards Shen Shuanglian.
Shen Shuanglian was not to be outdone. Her cold sword light flashed as she met Yu Xiang’s attack with an ethereal grace.
Damn it… The System wanted to curse.
After all the pep talk it had given her before the match, she had instantly broken down after seeing her crush cheer for her opponent?
All its hard work had gone to waste!
The moment their figures clashed, the entire audience erupted, a wave of cheers washing over the arena.
Chen Yin also focused his attention on the match.
…He had to admit, Xiang’er’s ability to dominate her way to the final wasn’t without merit.
The technique she was using wasn’t Master’s “Forgotten Everlasting Heart Sutra” nor a demonic cultivation technique. It was something strange and unorthodox.
Compared to Shen Shuanglian’s grand and elegant movements, her swordsmanship imbued with the profound principles of the righteous path, Yu Xiang was like a guerrilla fighter navigating a complex terrain. Her every move was unpredictable, yet she managed to perfectly counter Shen Shuanglian’s powerful sword intent.
No one had seen this technique or style before, and Chen Yin had never heard of it.
Only the System knew that this was a technique from another world that Yu Xiang had exchanged for using her task points in the System Shop.
Its power was only slightly inferior to her demonic cultivation technique, the “Quenching Nether Mantra.” If it were introduced to the cultivation world, it would be enough to cause chaos and bloodshed.
But what made the System even more anxious was that Yu Xiang using this technique meant she was starting to fight seriously.
…This isn’t what we agreed on, Sister!!!
We agreed that this was just a formality, a few symbolic moves, and then you’d surrender? Why are you fighting for real now?
You tricked me!
Seeing Yu Xiang getting serious, the System, despite its despair, could only desperately try to use its authority to prevent the fight from escalating further.
But as soon as it tried to intervene, an invisible force nullified its actions.
It immediately realized—it was the other System!
Shen Shuanglian most likely possessed the legendary protagonist System, which could block the abilities of other Chosen Ones’ Systems.
Now, it was truly helpless.
As the battle intensified, the System could only repeat in her ear over and over again, its voice filled with despair:
“Wuu, wuu, Sister! Ancestor! My dear grandpa!”
“We agreed not to fight seriously, please don’t lose your temper!”
Yu Xiang’s gaze remained fixed on Shen Shuanglian, her swordsmanship becoming even fiercer. It was unclear how much of the System’s pleas she had heard.
Shen Shuanglian didn’t back down, countering every move.
They exchanged blows, their attacks clashing like sparks, eliciting cheers from the audience. The atmosphere was even more intense than during the match against Luo Qiaoqiao.
Everyone was captivated by this breathtaking display of skill.
Only Chen Yin, after watching for a while, suddenly frowned.
…He could sense that something was wrong with Xiang’er’s demeanor.
Although her attacks were still precise and controlled, Chen Yin had a feeling that she was fighting out of anger.
She wasn’t fighting to win. She was fighting because she didn’t want to lose.
Chen Yin couldn’t explain this feeling, but it was a kind of unspoken understanding that came from years of living with Xiang’er.
While everyone else was amazed by the intensity of the fight, Chen Yin could already see the outcome.
If they continued fighting like this…
Xiang’er would lose within half an incense stick’s time.
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