After Changing to the Ruthless Way, the Brothers Cried and Begged for Forgiveness Chapter 71: Another Nightmare

.

“Junior Brother Fang,” Zhou Jin Yue forced a polite yet awkward smile. “I truly don’t know where Junior Sister Yu has gone.”

Fang Cheng Lang’s gaze darkened. “Thank you for your ti, Senior Sister Zhou.”

To Zhou Jin Yue’s surprise, Fang Cheng Lang didn’t press further. After receiving her answer, he simply turned and left.

Zhou Jin Yue watched his retreating figure and shook her head.

Fang Cheng Lang wandered back to Lone Moon Peak, disheartened.

Three days ago, Master Qing Yan finally allowed him unrestricted access to the sect’s caves. He imdiately decided to visit Yu Zhao. However, when he reached her residence in the inner courtyard, he found it abandoned, devoid of life.

He inquired with several inner-sect disciples, but none knew Yu Zhao’s whereabouts. Left with only a sliver of hope, he sought out Zhou Jin Yue.

Standing in the vast training grounds of Lone Moon Peak, he felt an overwhelming sense of desolation. The once-familiar warmth of the mountain was now replaced by an unbearable coldness.

And it seed that his constant thoughts of Little Six were not without consequence.

Once again, he had a nightmare.

This ti, the dark void revealed unsettling images.

The person in the visions resembled him but felt entirely different.

He was still the renowned Gentleman Sword of the Five Elents Dao Sect. Yet, in the presence of Little Six, he seed utterly transford.

In one scene, Little Six asked for a lantern. Without hesitation, he refused.

In another, she brought him ticulously prepared food, only for him to toss it aside without even a glance.

When she sought his guidance in swordsmanship, he struck her wrist so severely that she couldn’t hold a sword for months.

Over and over, he watched himself reject her kindness, and over and over, he saw her heartbroken tears.

“No, that’s not ! That’s not !” Fang Cheng Lang roared within the nightmare.

But no one could hear him.

Trapped in the quagmire of despair, he struggled in vain as he sank deeper, helplessly witnessing his own downfall. First his fingertips, then his arms, and finally his entire body trembled uncontrollably.

“Eldest Senior Brother,” a voice broke through.

Fang Cheng Lang slowly lifted his head.

Cui Jue stood before him, his expression filled with concern.

Fang Cheng Lang tried to force a smile, but after several failed attempts, he gave up. His voice was hoarse as he said, “Ah Jue.”

Fang Cheng Lang avoided using formal titles like “Junior Brother” or “Junior Sister,” preferring the intimacy of nicknas. To him, they sounded more familial.

“Eldest Senior Brother, let’s go find Yu Zhao and bring her back.”

A glimr of hope flickered in Fang Cheng Lang’s eyes, only to be quickly extinguished. He shook his head bitterly. “Little Six doesn’t want to see us.”

“If she doesn’t want to see us, should we just avoid her forever? We’ll never earn her forgiveness that way.”

Cui Jue had noticed Fang Cheng Lang’s despair and loss of confidence in nding their relationship with Little Six. It was why he had beco so withdrawn and dispirited. But Cui Jue didn’t believe Yu Zhao was heartless.

If they demonstrated enough sincerity, wouldn’t there be a chance for her to return to them?

It all depended on whether their sincerity could touch her heart.

“Yu Zhao has embraced the Path of Emotional Detachnt,” Fang Cheng Lang said heavily.

Cui Jue’s pupils dilated in shock.

The Path of Emotional Detachnt?

Impossible!

Yu Zhao was soone deeply emotional and empathetic. How could she ever choose such a path?

His disbelief was evident. “Eldest Senior Brother, you must be joking.”

Fang Cheng Lang had expected this reaction from Cui Jue.

After all, Cui Jue often secluded himself in alchemy practice. In recent years, he had barely seen Yu Zhao—perhaps five tis in total. Naturally, he hadn’t noticed how much she had changed.

If soone had told Fang Cheng Lang this four years ago, he, too, would have thought it a joke.

But it wasn’t.

Fang Cheng Lang’s silence made Cui Jue even more uneasy.

He forced the words out of his mouth. “Three years ago?”

Fang Cheng Lang nodded.

The confidence and composure on Cui Jue’s face vanished entirely.

Cui Jue was clever. Previously, he had stubbornly refused to believe Yu Zhao would abandon their bond as senior and junior brothers and sisters. But now, faced with the truth, he had no choice but to admit her resolve to leave.

The two stood in silence, unable to find the right words.

After what felt like an eternity, the confusion on Cui Jue’s face dissipated, replaced by determination.

“Senior Brother, no matter what, I still want to et Yu Zhao.”

Cui Jue wanted to know what led Yu Zhao to make such a decision and wondered if, in her eyes, he was an incompetent senior brother.

Under Cui Jue’s influence, Fang Cheng Lang also began to waver.

He couldn’t accept severing all ties with Little Six and living the rest of his life as strangers.

Cui Jue was calm and sharp-minded; with him around, there might really be a chance to reconcile with Little Six.

Fang Cheng Lang nodded firmly. “Alright, I’ll go with you.”

After a brief discussion, they decided to set out early the next morning.

Cui Jue, considering that the journey might last at least half a year and that unexpected events could arise, decided to prepare his junior sister’s dicine in advance.

Fortunately, he had crafted plenty of body-nourishing pills. After sorting through his stock, he set aside a two-year supply and delivered it to Ye Cong Xin’s quarters.

Ye Cong Xin initially thought Cui Jue had co to question her about Yu Zhao again and was ready to brush him off with an excuse. But she was surprised when he ntioned he was going on a long training journey.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Of all the people on Lone Moon Peak, Cui Jue was the one with the highest affection for her. His departure jeopardized her plan to complete her first mission of gaining his favor.

As she secretly studied Cui Jue’s expression, she feigned distress and said, “Fourth Senior Brother, you’ve only just left seclusion, and now you’re leaving again. This makes so sad.”

Then, with a shift in tone, she proposed, “Why don’t you take along for the training?”

Cui Jue frowned. “Little Junior Sister, your health has just started improving. It’s still not wise for you to overexert yourself.”

“It’s no problem,” Ye Cong Xin said, tugging at his sleeve and sweetly pleading. “With Fourth Senior Brother by my side, you wouldn’t let suffer, would you?”

Seeing her persistence, Cui Jue eventually revealed the truth.

“Little Junior Sister, the truth is, Senior Brother and I plan to look for Yu Zhao. She’s no longer in the sect and has gone training sowhere unknown. We’re worried about her, so we want to check on her.”

The smile in Ye Cong Xin’s eyes vanished.

She had thought that Cui Jue’s lack of inquiries about Yu Zhao ant he had given up on her. But it turned out his heart was entirely preoccupied with Yu Zhao.

If that were the case, she definitely couldn’t let him succeed.

“Fourth Senior Brother, please let co along. I want to help Sixth Senior Sister too. Or… are you blaming as well?”

Tears welled up in Ye Cong Xin’s eyes as she spoke, her voice trembling.

Cui Jue hesitated for a long ti before finally agreeing.

His feelings for Ye Cong Xin weren’t so much love as they were pity.

He still rembered when he first t her—she was frail and small, much like when Yu Zhao had just joined the sect.

Over ti, Yu Zhao thrived under their care. Ye Cong Xin’s arrival had stirred those old mories, prompting him to give her extra attention.

In truth, it wasn’t fair to Ye Cong Xin. He cared for her only because of Yu Zhao.

To ease his guilt, he had been tirelessly crafting body-nourishing pills for her.

Now, as he looked at Ye Cong Xin, her face beaming with joy from his promise, a sense of confusion crept into his heart.

Ye Cong Xin’s health had stabilized under his care, but it struck him that it had been a long ti since he had made a batch of pills for Yu Zhao.

For a mont, Cui Jue stood frozen in thought.