A week had passed.
The cultivators on the street were all chatting about whether Su Ye was in the right or in the wrong.
Firstly, it was because he was so powerful that not even Li Tao, who was at the top 10 cultivators that were in the 5th step.
Secondly, this was one of the first time that someone had so blatantly tried to break one of the 4 great cultivation family.
These were 4 families that had a tight grip on cultivation resources due to their powers.
Su Ye sat by the pond as he fished.
He couldn't understand the act of simply sitting and waiting for a fish to bite.
Su Daoxuan by his side laid down lazily on a wooden rocking chair.
"Sometimes, waiting, is also a course of action."
"I understand," Su Ye nodded but retorted, "but brute force can move the course of a river in a instant. All these fishes can be brought up instantly if I were to–"
"Stop right there~" Su Daoxuan yawned, "Why would you do such a meaningless thing?"
"Meaningless?" Su Ye looked around with nothing happening, "Isn't this meaningless?"
Su Daoxuan shook his head, "There's a difference. You and I fish not because we want to eat fish, but so that we have something to do while we enjoy the peace. If you brought all of the fish up, it would be meaningless as we won't be able to eat all of it and only be a waste."
"Then how would you do it?"
"Child, sometimes I can't figure you out. You can come off as smart, but also sometimes very dumb."
Su Ye tried to keep a calm and cold face, but his heart was a little disturbed.
Su Daoxuan spoke.
"These fishes have their natural courses. If you keep disturbing them to the point of extinction, there would be no fish for you to eat or enjoy."
"But if all of these fishes were filthy? Rather take them out and refill the fish with fresh fish."
"But what if not all of them are filthy?"
Su Ye began thinking to himself.
"I..."
Then his eyes widened.
What was he doing?
This way of thinking...how was he any different from Li Tao?
Su Ye stood and bowed to Su Daoxuan.
"Thank you for leading me back to the right path, Patriarch."
"Aigh~ small details, don't sweat it." He pointed to the pond, "So? What will you do?"
Su Ye looked at the pond.
"I'll first get rid of all the filthy fish, greedy fish, and those that have grown too big that they hurt the other fishes.
Su Ye nodded and continued with this line of reasoning.
"As for the other smaller fish, I'll leave them a way out...If they grow and become like the filthy fish, then I'll keep fishing them out. If they stay fresh, then I'll leave them be."
"A fruitless effort. Without taking out the root, all you'll do is repeat a never ending cycle."
"If I can't do this or that, then what can I do?"
"Didn't you want to be the greatest evil? Just turn into a fish 3 times their size and jump in!"
Su Daoxuan joked aloud while laughing to himself.
"When they see you eat the filthy fish over and over again, then the other fishes will understand that if they turn out like the filthy fish, they'll be eaten as well."
"A warning to the masses..."
"If you become like Li Tao and rush to devour all of the filthy fish and those that seem to be turning filthy, you might not even start to realize that you've become part of the problem."
"...I've learned a lot."
Su Daoxuan smiled cheerfully, as if looking like a innocent young man. He leaned towards Su Ye.
"Still think fishing has no benefits?"
For the first time in a while, Su Ye slightly smiled.
"Fishing once in a while...is nice."
The pond lay quiet beneath the late afternoon sun, its surface smooth as polished jade.
Dragonflies skimmed the water, their wings catching the light in brief flashes, while the slow ripple of koi disturbed the reflection of swaying willow branches.
A faint breeze carried the scent of damp earth and fresh grass, cooling the warmth of the day.
Su Daoxuan smiled.
Through these 15 years, Su Daoxuan had taught him a lot. Su Ye had already considered him to be a teacher or an master.
"Young master! Young master!"
Xiao Lan came running in, bowed to Su Daoxuan and quickly turned to Su Ye.
Su Daoxuan questioned her.
"What's wrong, Xiao Lan? You're going to scare the fishes away!"
"O-outside! You won't guess who came here to meet you!"
Su Daoxuan looked at Su Ye. Su Ye nodded.
"Is it someone from the Li family?" He asked Xiao Lan.
"I-Its–"
The sound deafened. Su Ye eyes widened. His hands clutched to a fist.
Without listening to another word, he rushed to the main hall.
"Y-young master, wait for me!"
Xiao Lan rushed after him. Su Daoxuan sighed as he looked at both of their fading backs.
"Sigh~ a good fishing day was interrupted just like that."
He stood up and stretched. Then he slowly followed in their footsteps.
Su Ye arrived right outside the main hall. His breath was heavy and his red eyes seemed to be even more cruel.
Xiao Lan stood behind him, not wishing to bother him even a bit. She shadowed him towards the main hall.
He took 1 step forward. Then another.
Before he knew it, he was face to face with another person.
A woman.
Her face was neutral. There was no happiness nor any sadness. There was only acceptance.
"You've come."
Su Ye could have never forgotten her face.
Even in his dreams, he saw her.
"Ling. Yu!"
Even simply saying her name made him want to tear her apart. She may not have been the cause of his mother's death, but she was naturally a part of it.
But he calmed his nerves.
Even as the Yin Devouring Aura was shouting at him to unleash it from its binds and devour his enemies in front of him.
"What are you doing here? Looking to die!?"
But to his surprise–
She chuckled.
"You could say that."
Su Ye eyes widened, and finally managed to remain completely still, like a unwavering tree.
His face erased any signs of hatred.
"What are you scheming now?"
Ling Yu wore a melancholic smile.
She looked right in Su Ye's eyes with no fear.
"I'm not scheming anything. I'm only here for you to punish me."
Su Ye scoffed, "You would be so kind?"
"Think what you want. Aren't I here now? Do what you want with me. I won't move a single finger."
Su Ye eyes became fierce and the Yin Devouring Aura spread towards her.
However she didn't flinch and merely closed her eyes.
Seeing this, Su Ye stopped with the Yin Devouring Aura inches away.
From the corner of his vision, he saw Xiao Lan. Or rather he looked at the Soul Gathering Orb on her wrist.
Then Su Daoxuan's words repeated into his mind like a beating drum.
"If you become like Li Tao and rush to devour all of the filthy fish and those that seem to be turning filthy, you might not even start to realize that you've become part of the problem."
He closed his eyes.
When he reopened it, Su Ye eyes became clearer.
The Yin Devouring Aura lost its edge and became smoother.
"Why did you do it?"
His voice held a bit of anger, but it was mostly filled with sadness.
Ling Yu opened her eyes. She was tired.
"For revenge."
"Revenge?" Su Ye looked at her closely.
"Nothing much." Ling Yu simply sighed, "Just some past grudges with Li Tao."
"Li Tao..."
He unknowingly took a step back in unwillingness. It was so idiotic he wanted to laugh.
"My mother died just for your scheme!?" His tears filled his face as he gritted his teeth.
Ling Yu looked down in shame.
"I won't lie to you. The moment I sought out revenge I gave up all of my morals. Su Ru was the perfect weapon to stab through the Li family."
Su Ye nodded while he wiped his tears, "As my mother dies, the Su family would naturally fight against the Li family. Even if the Li family doesn't die, they would be greatly weakened and you could find a opportunity to strike."
Ling Yu smiled, "But what I thought would take centuries of years was done in only decades. I finally achieved my revenge..."
Su Ye chuckled, but no happiness was seen, "So now you feel guilty and want to die for your sins?"
"...Even though it was for the sake of revenge. She was innocent. There were many times where I faltered as I saw her meeting you. Her eyes would glow so bright. So beautiful. And yet I took that away from you. In the end, I'm an even worse villain than Li Tao."
"Then do you regret it?"
"..." She closed her eyes. A single word.
"No."
"...My mother died because of you. If not for you, my mother would be here talking with me."
His Yin Devouring Aura shifted into the shape of a spear.
He held it towards her. The spears edge against her neck made her peerless skin bleed.
Su Daoxuan watched silently from a corner. Xiao Lan also kept her silence and held her robes tightly in her hands.
Su Ye's eyes closed. Taking a deep breath in and out, he opened his eyes.
His eyes were different, it was more clear.
As if he awoke from a dream.
Su Ye didn't say a single word.
Only one action,
Slash-!