14: Meng Yao: I realize I was wrong

Everyone listening to Tan Zhengzhi's words clicked their tongues in wonder.

An Epiphany in a single morning, immediately reaching Nascent Soul—this was a plotline only heard from storytellers in the mortal world.

They never expected such a mystical event to happen right beside them.

Regardless of Gu Liangyuan's future achievements, at least this current feat would surely be passed down through generations, enduring endlessly.

As everyone was talking, a graceful figure not far away suddenly caught everyone's attention.

“Is that… Meng Yao?”

“That’s right, it’s the woman Senior Grand-Uncle was so infatuated with before.”

“Senior Grand-Uncle said he would sever all ties with the Meng family before, and I thought it was just a tactic for Senior Grand-Uncle to make Meng Yao submit. Now it seems, this is a manifestation of Senior Grand-Uncle completely Forgetting Love.”

“This is great, there’s really a show to watch now.”

“Senior Grand-Uncle treated her so well before, and not only was she ungrateful, she even fooled around with other men. Today’s consequences are precisely the result of yesterday’s actions!”

“Who says it isn’t? I don’t know how Senior Grand-Uncle ever fell for someone like her.”

“I suddenly remembered, news came from Yaochi that she was deemed to have improper conduct and has been expelled from the Holy Land.”

“Serves her right! Such a heartless and unrighteous person deserves this outcome.”

“Oh, she’s heading towards Forget-Love Peak.”

“Let’s go, follow her and see.”

As these Disciples spoke, they didn't intentionally hide their words, and every bit of it reached Meng Yao's ears.

If it were Meng Yao's old temper, she would have cursed back long ago.

But now, she was completely enveloped by a sense of unease, with no mind for anything else.

How could this be?

Are they telling the truth?

Gu Liangyuan pursued me for so long just to Cultivate?

Looking at the path leading to Forget-Love Peak, Meng Yao hesitated.

This bluestone path, which she had walked countless times before, now seemed so unfamiliar to her.

Before, she always walked this path with a sense of disgust.

Now, her heart was filled with trepidation.

She had thought that everything Gu Liangyuan did, and the harsh words he spoke, were merely to obtain her body.

This time, she had come prepared.

Before entering the Supreme Sacred Ground, she was still comforting herself, thinking of it as merely being bitten by a dog.

But the current turn of events had completely exceeded her imagination.

For the first time, she felt fear. What if Gu Liangyuan truly didn't accept her, what then?

Impossible, he clearly loved her so much.

He even said he was willing to abandon his Cultivation for her.

This news should also be deliberately arranged by him, and its purpose is to make her submit!

It was unclear whether Meng Yao truly believed this or if she was just deceiving herself.

Her anxious mood calmed down a bit, and she stepped forward.

Meng Yao arrived before the mountain gate of Forget-Love Peak, flipped her hand, and took out a palm-sized token.

This token was specially given to Meng Yao by the former Gu Liangyuan, who clearly treated Meng Yao as the mistress of Forget-Love Peak.

However, Gu Liangyuan's deep affection was met with Meng Yao's increasingly excessive demands and infidelity.

As soon as Meng Yao activated the mountain protection array, Gu Liangyuan, who was sitting cross-legged on Forget-Love Peak, sensed it and suddenly opened his eyes.

Counting on his fingers, there were still three days left until the ten-day deadline.

Why was she coming at this time?

Had the assets been sorted out?

With this thought, Gu Liangyuan left his Cultivation room and came to Forget-Love Hall.

Not long after, Meng Yao's figure appeared in Forget-Love Hall.

As soon as Meng Yao entered the hall, her first glance fell upon Gu Liangyuan, who was seated at the head.

At this moment, Gu Liangyuan was seated on a gilded wooden chair. Having just undergone a Breakthrough, he hadn't fully reined in his power, and a faint Nascent Soul pressure subtly emanated, commanding respect without needing anger.

Although he wore only a simple green robe, it couldn't conceal his transcendent, Immortal-like aura.

Meng Yao felt as if the Gu Liangyuan before her could at any moment achieve Immortal Ascension and Ascend to the Immortal Realm.

This left her in a trance; she had never noticed before how handsome Gu Liangyuan was.

It seemed… giving herself to him wouldn't be a loss after all.

Before she could speak, Gu Liangyuan spoke first, his tone indifferent, devoid of any emotion:

“Have you brought all the assets?”

Hearing Gu Liangyuan speak these words first, Meng Yao's heart immediately sank.

However, she still forced a smile, took two steps forward, and said in a feigned casual tone:

“What’s the rush about this? I came this time because I want to show you a treasure.”

Saying that, she made a gesture with her hand, and the door of Forget-Love Peak behind her closed with a bang.

Then she bit her lower lip tightly and walked towards Gu Liangyuan step by step.

With each step she took forward, a piece of her clothing fell off.

By the time she reached Gu Liangyuan, she was completely naked.

Meng Yao's emotions were complex, a mix of shyness, resentment, and perhaps even… anticipation?

And Gu Liangyuan looked at Meng Yao as if she were mere goods, without the slightest hint of lust.

Seeing that Gu Liangyuan didn't show the eager expression she had imagined, Meng Yao bit her lip and moved closer to Gu Liangyuan:

“You win.”

“Isn’t this what you’ve always wanted? I’ll give you everything.”

Gu Liangyuan frowned slightly, and the Nascent Soul pressure surged outwards, directly sending Meng Yao flying backward!

Bang!

She only stopped her backward flight when she hit a pillar inside the main hall.

Sliding down the pillar, she lay sprawled on the ground.

At this moment, Meng Yao had no mind to care about the pain in her body.

Her eyes showed a look of horror!

Nascent Soul-level pressure!

So, what the Holy Land Disciples said was true!

Everything Gu Liangyuan did to her was for Cultivation!

How could this be!

As Meng Yao felt humiliated, a hint of regret also emerged in her heart.

Breaking through two realms in one day, unprecedented in all ages!

If she had honestly stayed with Gu Liangyuan, she would have shared in these glories.

And her status as a Holy Land Disciple wouldn't have been lost; perhaps, she might even have become a Saintess because of it.

This was all something she could have had.

It was all because of her single thought that led to today's situation…

Gu Liangyuan finally understood. Even now, Meng Yao still thought he would fawn over her like before.

How could you be so shameless?

Looking at the disheveled Meng Yao, Gu Liangyuan only said coldly:

“Remember, you still have three days!”

With that, he didn't spare Meng Yao another glance and turned to leave.

Seeing Gu Liangyuan's attitude, Meng Yao was truly panicked.

She had said before that she would return everything to Gu Liangyuan, but that was all to provoke him.

All those resources had been used by her and the Meng family members, what could she use to repay him?

Gu Liangyuan obviously knew Meng Yao couldn't repay him and didn't expect to get those things back. This was just an excuse for him to destroy the Meng family.

After all, as a Senior Grand-Uncle of a Holy Land, one had to pay some attention to their reputation when doing things.

That's how the Righteous Path is; even if you commit murder and arson, as long as you can make the reason for it sound noble, then you are considered virtuous.

Just as Gu Liangyuan was about to leave, a muffled thud of a kowtow suddenly came from behind him, followed by Meng Yao's tearful voice:

“Gu Liangyuan, I realize my mistake. Please don’t be like this, okay? Can we go back to how things were before?”

Gu Liangyuan paused slightly, without turning his head:

“You haven’t realized your mistake; you’ve only realized that everything you have is about to be lost.”