Jun Wuyi offered a slight smile, yet his expression was unyieldingly firm as he slowly drew a plaque from his robes. The purplish-bronze surface shimmered with brilliant gems, forming the complete character "Jun." On the reverse side, etched with meticulous strokes, was the character "Ling" (Order).

The Jun Family Head’s Edict.

“Mo Ye, three months ago, your grandfather personally placed this plaque in my hands. From that moment on, I, Jun Wuyi, became the current Head of the Jun Family! Every decision I make while holding this plaque is a decision of the Jun Family, and no disciple of our clan shall disobey! Do you understand what I am saying?”

Jun Wuyi articulated each word heavily. Having finished, he suddenly raised the plaque, his face hardening, and commanded, “The third generation senior wife of the Jun Family, Guan Qinghan, step forward and kneel to receive orders!”

Guan Qinghan glanced fearfully at the Third Master, seeing the cold severity in his expression left no room for appeal. She could only sigh inwardly, stepped forward, and gracefully knelt before Jun Wuyi.

“Guan Qinghan, the senior wife of the Jun Family, possesses a gentle nature and proper demeanor, currently twenty years of age; at the time, by the decree of our parents and the words of the matchmaker, an engagement was tentatively set; regretfully, Jun Wuyou, the eldest son of the third generation, died unexpectedly on the battlefield before the marriage was consummated. Guan Qinghan, in the prime of her youth, her body pure as ice and jade, has waited faithfully for five years, already fulfilling the bond between our two families. However, the Jun Family cannot let this delay her entire life. She has not married, yet she is not widowed. Today, I, Jun Wuyi, in the name of the current Head of the Jun Family, sign this dissolution document, to validate Guan Qinghan’s status and restore her freedom. From this day forward, marriages between men and women are their own affairs. Witnesses: Dugu Shijia, Dugu Xiaoyi, and the direct heir of the Jun Family, Jun Mo Ye, may all attest. Heaven and Earth bear witness.”

Guan Qinghan had anticipated this decision, but when these words flowed from Jun Wuyi’s mouth without the slightest hesitation, they struck her ears clearly, each syllable seeming to carve itself into her heart. She could not help but weep uncontrollably.

Dugu Xiaoyi stood to the side, her delicate little mouth wide open, utterly amazed that she was witnessing such a momentous event.

Jun Wuyi finished speaking with solemn gravity, his face stern. He turned toward Jun Mo Ye and commanded, “The direct heir of the Jun Family’s third generation, Jun Mo Ye, step forward and kneel to receive orders!”

Jun Mo Ye started in alarm. “Third Uncle… is there something else?”

“The direct heir of the Jun Family’s third generation, Jun Mo Ye, step forward and kneel to receive orders!” Jun Wuyi repeated sternly.

Jun Mo Ye muttered under his breath twice, but given the circumstances, he could only kneel down reluctantly, feeling listless.

“Jun Mo Ye, heir of the third generation, is resolute and broad-minded in his youth, fully capable of shouldering great responsibilities; today, I, Jun Wuyi, pass the position of Family Head to Jun Mo Ye! Heaven and Earth bear witness!”

Although he had vaguely guessed this outcome, Jun Mo Ye still jumped in genuine shock upon hearing the command spoken aloud. He stood up, shaking his hands rapidly. “Uncle Jiang, this absolutely will not do! You are in the prime of your years, still robust. No, no, you are still in your vigorous prime! Why rush to pass the position to me? I… I really do not wish to be the Family Head…”

“Insolence!” Jun Wuyi snapped, his eyes blazing. “Under the Family Head’s Edict, any descendant who disobeys the command is deemed rebellious! Jun Mo Ye, why have you not accepted the order yet?”

Jun Mo Ye rolled his eyes helplessly and finally accepted it with great reluctance. He said, “Third Uncle, I know you are worried about tomorrow’s battle, perhaps even having resolved to die. But let me tell you, I am not truly accepting this order; at most, I am keeping it safe temporarily. If Third Uncle returns unharmed, this Family Head’s Edict must be returned.”

Jun Wuyi couldn't help but smile faintly. “That is as you wish.”

As Jun Mo Ye suggested, Jun Wuyi had already harbored the will to perish, fully believing that tomorrow’s battle offered absolutely no chance of survival. This was why he made this hasty decision tonight, settling two major matters weighing on his heart.

Facing Jun Mo Ye’s earnest assurance, Third Master Jun could only treat it as comforting words, something he could not possibly believe. For the battle tomorrow, Jun Wuyi fully expected those so-called experts to swarm out, leaving the path wide open before him, the commanding general. At that moment, countless Profound Beasts would surely rush in and tear him to shreds!

Even more predictable was the possibility that experts from the Blood Soul Manor and the Wind Snow Silver City would launch insidious attacks against him amidst the chaos of battle.

With internal and external threats converging, let alone his mere Heaven Profound cultivation, even a God Profound expert, aged and alone, might not escape alive!

“Mo Ye, if I manage to return safely from tomorrow’s battle, that is best. But if I unfortunately fall in battle, then the Jun Family rests entirely on you,” Jun Wuyi said calmly. “Your grandfather is old; you must serve him well. Furthermore, regarding Qinghan, remember this: even though the engagement is dissolved, she was once the wife of my Jun Family. Under no circumstances is she to suffer any insult! By anyone! Except for death, there are no greater matters.”

“I remember, Third Uncle.”

Jun Wuyi let out a long breath, his gaze drifting far into the distance, laced with tenacious emotion, as if murmuring in a dream. “Also… I have one more important matter to entrust to you… If one day you ever make it to the Wind Snow Silver City, and meet… her, please say two words for me…” At this point, Jun Wuyi’s voice suddenly faltered!

Jun Mo Ye listened quietly, asking no questions. He knew that the ‘her’ mentioned by Jun Wuyi must be that pitiable woman who had kept vigil atop the ten-thousand-foot snow peak—the very origin of all this turmoil, Han Yanyao.

Regarding Han Yanyao, Jun Mo Ye’s feelings were complex. The reason was simple: if it were not for Han Yanyao, none of this tragedy would have occurred! A princess of the Silver City comes to the mortal realm to amuse herself, fine, but why provoke Jun Wuyi? Did she not know he was engaged since childhood? Xiao Han’s actions were utterly damnable, yet viewed from another angle, which man would willingly accept being cuckolded? His fiancée of over a decade suddenly running off with a stranger… such an event pushes the limits of a man’s endurance. Anyone in that position would instantly go mad!

But Jun Mo Ye also understood that love is illogical. When love arrives, even the wisest among men becomes a fool. Both parties maintained propriety, yet feelings developed through intimate proximity—who could explain why?

Love requires no justification. Seeing that both Jun Wuyi and Han Yanyao had suffered for ten years, yet their true affection remained unchanged, separated by distance but still hopelessly devoted, how could even a heart of stone not be moved by it?

Jun Mo Ye knew that Jun Wuyi’s heart must be in turmoil now, past events flashing before his eyes, a moment when emotions were most volatile.

Asking him to deliver a message to Han Yanyao was perhaps the distillation of Third Uncle’s entire emotional life!

After a long while, Jun Wuyi softly exhaled, sounding like a sigh that encompassed the lingering devotion of three lifetimes. A desolate smile touched his lips, yet it held infinite tenderness and sweetness, as he slowly recited: “Unforgettable grievances… unforgettable you, only for infatuation… only for you; departing for the Yellow Springs… still dreaming, between heaven and earth… one… wisp… of… soul!”

Dugu Xiaoyi suddenly burst into quiet sobs.

Guan Qinghan’s beautiful face was also streaked with tears.

Both women knew Jun Wuyi’s past through different channels. Hearing him utter these lines as if giving his final testament, they could not help but weep sadly. From this short poem, one could grasp the depth of Jun Wuyi’s love for Han Yanyao. Both women felt their softest points instantly touched, feeling deep sorrow for this desperate love.

Unforgettable grievances, unforgettable you, only for infatuation, only for you; departing for the Yellow Springs, still dreaming, between heaven and earth, one wisp of soul!

Despite all the grievances and disputes that have occurred, I remain infatuated, for you. Today, as I depart for the Yellow Springs, I still think of you. Even in death, in heaven or on earth, I shall never forget you, never cease to remember you! This wisp of my yearning soul shall exist forever!

This is love that transcends life and death! All oaths, all promises, pale in comparison to such love!

Jun Mo Ye, who overheard Third Master Jun’s inner whisper, felt a shock resonate through him!

It turned out the mixture of affection, hatred, sorrow, and longing in his Third Uncle’s heart was this fiercely intense and enduring! Within this mere twenty-eight-character poem, Jun Mo Ye discerned the undying loyalty of his Third Uncle’s love, but simultaneously perceived another layer of meaning in Jun Wuyi’s words.

Unforgettable grievances, unforgettable you—the grievances actually preceded ‘you.’ The grievances clearly meant that Jun Wuyi remained deeply resentful over the deaths of his two elder brothers and two nephews! Even ‘her’ could not erase them! They could not be erased!

The greatest affliction of the heart.

“I remember, Third Uncle, rest assured.” Jun Mo Ye had initially intended to allay Jun Wuyi’s worries by leaking some secrets, perhaps weaving a massive lie about his mysterious master having ties with the Beast King of Heavenly Punishment…

But hearing these two layers of meaning changed his mind. The resolve for death residing in Jun Wuyi’s heart was already deeply entrenched; even if revenge were eventually taken, he would still feel guilt toward his brothers and nephews. Even if vengeance were achieved and Han Yanyao recovered, Jun Wuyi’s life was fated to know no further happiness, destined to torture himself for a lifetime.

Torment inflicted by others might be alleviated, but the torment from within his own heart had no solution, only becoming more obsessive over time.

Whether it was Jun Wuyi’s life of lifelong disability, being separated from his beloved, spending an entire lifetime without hope of reunion, or the immense pressure from the inescapable enmity of life and death—all these factors weighed upon Jun Wuyi until he struggled to breathe—yet they were still external pressures. They could never compare to the guilt deep within his heart.

Everyone in the Jun Family, from the Old Master Jun Zhantian to Jun Mo Ye, felt only pity and affection for Third Master. Even the deceased Jun Wuhui and others would never blame their brother or uncle. However, there was one person in the Jun Family who would not forgive, and never would—that person was... Xiangg... Xiang... Xiang!