At night, the mountain of Yunlan stands majestic, its towering peaks hidden in darkness, while countless delicate lights dot the slopes like fireflies. Though the night is deep, the mountain's defenses are more rigorous than during the day—clear watch posts and hidden sentries throughout the darkness keep every movement within the mountain under constant observation. At the summit of Yunlan Mountain, the vast sect stands firmly, its form veiled in the hazy night, resembling a fierce beast crouched there, exuding a subtle, unsettling pressure. Deep within the Yunlan Sect, in a secluded hall, soft lights sway gently in the breeze, casting a warm glow that dispels the lingering chill. The grand hall is otherwise empty, save for the white dress at its center, which lends the space a touch of life. Yun Yun sat upon the mat, her graceful and noble face now flushed with unusual anger. The words spoken by Yun Shan when he arrived had immediately caused her body to grow cold. "Married to Gu He?" As she recalled those words from Yun Shan's mouth, the chill within her deepened further. How could the current Yun Shan still bear any resemblance to the kind and gentle master she once cherished? "Looking at the situation now, Yun Yun was also taken aback, then arched her brows, coldly remarking, 'Gu River, I never expected you to be someone so opportunistic—taking advantage of others' difficulties. I truly did value you in the past.' Hearing Yun Yun's sharp scorn, Gu River paused, then seemed to grasp the situation, offering a wry smile, 'This matter has absolutely nothing to do with me—it's all Yun Shan's idea...' 'If you don't marry him, then even if it's his idea, what can you do?' Yun Yun fixed her gaze on Gu River, her tone firm and commanding, her presence unyielding despite the restrained strength of her demeanor. Yet, even with Guo He's capabilities, under such circumstances, he found himself somewhat overwhelmed. He rubbed his forehead and only after a moment sighed, "Yunshan's proposal truly holds immense appeal for me. You're well aware of my feelings toward you, yet you consistently seem to forget them." "You are indeed an invaluable friend. However..." Yun Yun lowered her eyelids and shook her head, "If you still wish to preserve our past friendship, then decline the teacher's proposal. That way, we can remain friends. Otherwise..." "Yun Yun, I'm not stupid... Yun Shan has already told me all about it. Now that I think about it, every time I stepped in to save Xiao Yan when he was pursued by powerful Serpent Clan warriors in the Tagor Desert back then, there must have been a reason behind it." Ancient He's expression was notably bitter. He had always been proud and reserved, yet today, he found himself unable to outmatch a mere young lad. Yun Yun's lips moved slightly, but she remained silent. She glanced at Ancient He and said, "You don't need to know why I'm doing this. All I ask is this—do you truly refuse your teacher's proposal?" Ancient He remained silent for a while, then shook his head, his voice slightly subdued. "I believe I am worthy of you, and it's impossible for you to be with Xiao Yan." "My matter is none of yours." "Yun Yun coldly scoffed, then lifted a corner of her lips with a mocking smile, "I've told you before—I won't agree to anything I don't want, not even if it's the teacher himself. If you truly insist, then go ahead and marry a cold, lifeless corpse." "Only for that boy?" Hearing Yun Yun threaten to die, Gu He's face instantly flushed with anger, and he growled softly. "It has nothing to do with him... Besides, you're well known throughout the Gamma Empire for your skill in preparing medicinal herbs. Finding someone better than me shouldn't be difficult. What makes you so unwilling to do this?" Yun Yun said calmly, gently tightening her fingers. "But I only love you!" Gu He roared, "What could I possibly have that doesn't surpass him? Just a young, inexperienced boy—worthy of your constant attention?" Seeing Gu He so stubborn, Yun Yun sighed lightly and finally fell silent, slowly closing her eyes, choosing not to respond at all. Seeing Yun Yun in this state, Gu He's anger intensified, yet he dared not make so much as a single infringement upon the woman he had long admired and deeply respected. After pacing back and forth in the hall for a while, he finally calmed himself and suddenly said, "Xiao Yan has indeed returned to the Jima Empire." As soon as those words were spoken, they seemed to carry a magical power, causing the woman, who had closed her eyes, to open them once more and gaze steadily at Gu He. To hear the name mentioned, even just casually, is enough to provoke a reaction from Yun Yun—something that leaves Goha chuckling to himself, self-consciously. After all, he hadn't expected that after all these years of prominence, he'd be outmaneuvered by a mere young upstart. As ancient He said, Yunlan Sect's current strength was something she was thoroughly familiar with—its power could indeed be described as sweeping across the Gama Empire. Though the aura she sensed that day suggested that Xiao Yan had grown quite strong, it still fell short when compared to Yunshan, who had already reached the Douzong level. Therefore, if Xiao Yan truly intended to engage in a direct battle with Yunlan Sect, his outcome would likely not be very favorable. Upon reflecting on this, Yun Yun couldn't help but feel a growing sense of anxiety on her face. This man was truly a stone statue—fully aware of his inability to match the opposition, yet persistently choosing to confront head-on. Back then, he had managed to escape with a narrow margin of luck; this time, however, that same fortune might well vanish. "As long as Xiao Yan suffers a defeat this time, he will be in for a fate of unending calamity. Forget this person sooner rather than later," Ancient He said, frowning. His expression on his cheeks grew steadily colder. Cloud Yun glanced at Ancient He and coldly replied, "No need for you to worry. As before, if you still wish to remain friends, simply decline the teacher's proposal. If you truly value beauty, there are countless women more beautiful than me—why waste your time on someone like me, confined here?" "Value beauty?" Ancient He's face twitched with anger. "Over the years, besides you, have I ever paid even half my attention to any other woman? When you were the head of Yunlan Sect, I devoted myself wholeheartedly to support you, never once complaining, never once asking for anything in return?" Gazing at the flushed face of Guo He, the cold composure of Yun Yin's own cheeks gradually softened. With a gentle sigh, she spoke softly, "Brother Guo, your assistance—I never forget it. Yet some things cannot be merely overcome by feeling. My relationship with Xiao Yan is not what you might imagine." Hearing Yun Yin speak so gently, Guo He only managed a wry smile, waving his hand. "I'll think this over carefully. Once this current storm passes, I'll personally request Yun Shan to unlock the seal within your body. Then, wherever you go, I'll accompany you." Seeing him so resolute, Yun Yin could only shake her head in resignation. "Two days from now, it will likely be the day of Xiao Yan's decisive battle against Yun Lan Sect. On that day, pay close attention—don't offend Yun Shan." Guo He paused, then suddenly added. Yun Yin's face slightly changed, and her delicate fingers tightened once more. "It's getting late now. You rest first..." Gazing at Yun Yun, who remained composed, ancient River sighed and turned toward the door. As he was about to step out, his steps halted momentarily. "By the way, I've heard that the 'Life-and-Death Gate' deep within the temple has been showing unusual fluctuations lately. If my intuition is correct, Yanran, who has been practicing there for three years, should be nearing her breakthrough..." With that, he continued without further pause, pushing open the grand hall doors and gradually fading into the night. As ancient River disappeared into the distance, the massive doors closed gently once more.