Chapter 508: Fear
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Su Cheng extended his hand with the same grace and chivalry as before, as if inviting the girl before him to dance.
The girl graciously accepted, hesitating only briefly before taking his invitation.
"That red dress suits you perfectly. I like it very much."
The woman said nothing more. Perhaps begging for mercy might have earned her a way out.
Su Cheng was a man whose heart softened easily—she knew this well.
But since the deed was done, she had no intention of living.
Much less live on her knees.
The four kings who had risen with her had all been dealt with.
This outcome had clearly surpassed her expectations. After all, Xiao Ai alone had dealt with three rebels. Combined with the man who had trapped Ye Qinghan and his companions in the alternate dimension, every rebel except her had now been executed.
The moment this news reached her ears, she knew her fate was sealed.
Moments later…
As the howling wind transformed into drumbeats, the two began their dance.
Without sun or moon, there could be no inversion of day and night.
What remained was only the sword light capable of shattering the entire world—a light so intense it seemed to absorb even the light itself!
Chu Youwei could see very little, for her eyes simply couldn't keep up.
But even if she could, Chu Youwei couldn't bear to watch this battle any longer. At some point, perhaps because her master was so engrossed in the fight, she found herself bleeding from the nose without realizing it.
This signaled her poor physical condition, and upon noticing, Mengdie promptly carried Chu Youwei away.
The outcome of the battle had been predetermined from the very start.
Chu Youwei had clearly received her answer.
She was too weak—too weak to even stand beside her master, too weak to witness this final farewell.
As her former pride shattered, as the armor protecting her crumbled, Chu Youwei was forced to confront her own weakness.
After administering basic treatment to Chu Youwei, Mengdie let her go.
What she could do for her was essentially over.
From here on out, it was up to the child's own destiny.
Chu Youwei did not go to sleep. As a cultivator, she felt no fatigue. Moreover, she wished to see her master.
Seated in the side chamber of the Burning Heart Hall, Chu Youwei's mind raced with thoughts, making even meditation difficult.
Su Cheng returned only after a long while, though most of that time was spent arranging the woman's funeral arrangements.
Su Cheng agreed to spare the woman's family, but Xiao Ai refused.
The slaughter, leaving no survivors, unfolded almost in sync with Su Cheng's actions.
"Spare not a single one. You understand my meaning."
"Rest assured, Master. Xiao Ai knows what must be done."
"Hmm, and… wait. Why is Youwei in the Burning Heart Hall?"
Without Mengdie's barrier, Su Cheng detected Chu Youwei almost the moment he entered the courtyard. After all, he had initially assumed she was one of the other attendants.
Su Cheng was unaware that Chu Youwei had witnessed nearly everything—even Xiao Ai's slaughter of her family. Mengdie had even brought Chu Youwei over for a glimpse.
Su Cheng grinned cheerfully, as if seeing Chu Youwei always brought this expression to his face.
"Youwei, why haven't you rested yet? You're still growing—how can you not get proper rest?"
Thoughts swirled through Chu Youwei's mind, especially after learning her master's other side. While she liked this doting master who cherished his disciple, she seemed to prefer the mad master even more.
She showed no cracks in front of Su Cheng, but that didn't mean Xiao Ai couldn't see through her. Chu Youwei understood this very well.
When she realized this affection had taken on a different flavor, she began to crave the same level of trust Xiao Ai enjoyed.
Yet she understood this trust would come at a price. She suspected it might be tied to the period when Ye Qinghan vanished—the so-called sudden fire.
"Master, Yuwei can't sleep alone. Can Yuwei sleep with you?"
Su Cheng had clearly reverted to being her master at this moment. That expression, a mix of indulgence and alarm, was the familiar feeling.
Though Chu Youwei cherished this affection, it did not satisfy her.
There was a difference between being close to someone and being truly close to someone.
But Chu Youwei forgot that among countless worlds, there was only one person like Xiao Ai—a personal attendant whom Su Cheng truly regarded as a sibling, granting her absolute power to act on his behalf and wield royal authority.
In this entire world, Xiao Ai was the only one chosen by Su Cheng and treated with such favor.
"Please, Master! I promise I won't do anything useless!"
"Youwei is scared… scared that Master will abandon me again…"
"Please? Master, just tonight. Youwei won't tell anyone!"
Observing Chu Youwei's pleading expression, Su Cheng could sense genuine unease beneath her words.
Su Cheng glanced at Xiao Ai beside him. She immediately understood and backed out of the Burning Heart Hall.
Once Xiao Ai had left, Su Cheng wore an exasperated expression. "What can I do with you?"
"But you must promise not to get handsy. Otherwise, your master will be furious!"
Chu Youwei dismissed it as utter nonsense!
Angry? What could anger do to her?
If you've got the guts, go ahead and kill me!
She refused to believe her master could bring himself to kill her!
She was certain that as long as she didn't betray him or commit any fundamental errors, he would never truly be angry with her!
With that, Su Cheng motioned for Chu Youwei to wait nearby. He’d review the two documents on the desk before joining her for bed.
Su Cheng moved swiftly, though his only intention was to quickly get the child to sleep.
Su Cheng's bedchamber held no lavish decorations. His stern and unsmiling master seemed to reveal his doting expression only when he was with his few disciples.
Beyond that, Chu Youwei couldn't even fathom what hobbies her master might have.
She had only glimpsed a fraction of the battle between her master and the so-called King of Gods. After a few tentative strikes at the outset, once Su Cheng unleashed a full-power strike, she could only withdraw in frustration.
Her body felt unworthy even to witness the battle. Her life, as fragile as paper, felt tangible. She’d even thought that with enough effort, she could become as powerful as Xiao Ai.
Now, thinking back, hmph. In the eyes of these gods-slaying kings, she was nothing but a fart.
No Godslayer King would give her a second glance. Whether it was Xiao Ai or Mengdie, all they saw was the mark etched upon her back.
As for the name Chu Youwei, it held no significance. Even if that inscription were carved onto a dead dog, its treatment would be no different—merely a noble dog beneath the throne.
Recalling the expressions on those Godslaying Kings' faces as they entered the hall one by one, she realized Mengdie had been right.
She truly didn't understand her master. With her petty tricks that weren't fit for the table, she might have been able to compete for favor with a few direct disciples within the Lingxian Hall.
But in the eyes of these Godslaying Kings? Hah. She was nothing.
These individuals simply didn't care. Xiao Ai, Ye He, Mengdie, or even Yu Yan, Qingcang, and Kumu—they all knew Su Cheng couldn't do without them.
Chu Youwei's understanding of her master had certainly deepened somewhat, but more than that, she now understood this Xiao Ai a little better.
For the first time, she felt apprehension. Chu Youwei had never even feared the so-called deities, the impending greatest calamity.
But she felt profound apprehension toward this personal attendant.
Xiao Ai was stronger than her, loved the Master more than her, and understood the Master better than her.
Ye Qinghan had once shared stories about Lord Gu Ai with her, and she had heard those two famous sayings.
【Common whores, useless in battle and incapable of offering counsel—nothing but lowly bed warmers.】
"Xiao Ai sees it as merely the Master going out to have some fun. If the Master takes a liking, finding him a few more cheap trinkets like that wouldn't be a problem at all."
"Master, may I hold Youwei?"
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