Fairy, Don't Be Afraid, I Am Blind

Zi Yiyi was all too familiar with this voice. Every time she heard it, she would think about when she could ever possess such a distinctive voice.

It was cold and regal, yet it carried an inexplicable allure, as if it could draw out the deepest desires hidden within one’s heart.

This was precisely the voice of Hua Jing, the seat of power.

Hua Jing walked gracefully past the congregation, as if everything around her had lost its color, leaving her as the sole presence in the world.

The hem of her dark purple dress softly draped her perfectly exquisite form, while her silver hair flowed down her body in smooth lines, her face shrouded in mist. Her entire being exuded an aura of nobility above all mortals.

Zi Yiyi’s knees trembled, almost unable to resist kneeling.

Yet she bowed her head slightly, biting her lips, steadfastly refusing to admit fault to this mentor she considered her role model.

"Madam Seat..."

Zi Yiyi bowed in salute.

Hua Jing’s voice echoed gently, "You usually call me Madam Hua Jing."

Zi Yiyi lowered her head further, maintaining her silence, as if uncertain of how to respond.

"You have always been the most obedient and well-behaved, even confessing your mistakes immediately on the rare occasions when you made them, to the point where I couldn’t bear to punish you. But this time..."

With a slight curl of her jade-like fingers, Hua Jing increased the pressure in the air around them, making it difficult for anyone to breathe, "You refuse to admit your mistake?"

You Su stood bewildered on the side, unsure of what mistake Zi Yiyi had made. He couldn’t distinguish between illusion and reality anymore, so he refrained from bowing and chose to observe quietly.

"Yiyi..."

From behind Hua Jing emerged a delicate young girl, carved from jade. She furrowed her soft brows, her large eyes gleaming with concern as she looked at Zi Yiyi.

Meeting her close friend’s gaze, Zi Yiyi seemed to receive some silent message. Her heart was a tangle of emotions as she finally knelt on one knee and suddenly exclaimed:

"Please punish me, Madam Seat!"

Hua Jing fell silent for a moment before letting out a long sigh:

"You aren’t sincerely seeking punishment."

Upon hearing this, Zi Yiyi’s eyes dimmed, her delicate form shaky, as if all hope had leave her.

You Su, clearly able to see the forms of the trio with his naked eyes, felt even more perplexed. How could Zi Yiyi, who was the hero behind the defeat of Heart Buddha, suddenly become a criminal?

"Madam Hua Jing."

You Su stepped forward, seemingly intending to protect Zi Yiyi, "Junior You Su wishes to ask Madam Hua Jing, Yiyi’s resolve to eliminate evil thwarted the sinister plot. What fault has she committed?"

Zi Yiyi slightly lifted her head, seeing the young man’s back as he spoke up for her, biting her red lips with a tangled heart.

Tiao Yaoyao looked at You Su’s boldness, her face turning pale with worry. She quickly hid behind Hua Jing, gesturing to You Su to keep silent.

She knew their leader’s disposition well; she was strict and decisive, even the Elder of the Exorcism Bureau wouldn’t dare to easily question her decisions...

"Resolve to eliminate evil?"

Hua Jing turned her head towards You Su. The mist cloaking her face remained, yet You Su felt as if he was being thoroughly seen through, just like the first time they met.

"To slay the evil and yet embrace its power, do you think such resolve is good or bad?"

Tiao Yaoyao was a bit surprised. Hua Jing did not outright ignore You Su but tried to persuade him? She treated You Su with great regard indeed...

You Su pressed his lips together, "At least Yiyi didn’t do it intentionally, and she succeeded in slaying the evil spirit. Shouldn’t we be finding ways to dispel the evil from her rather than punishing someone genuinely intent on eliminating evil?"

"Not intentional?"

You Su could hear the sarcasm in Hua Jing’s voice.

"Divine Son You Su, you are truly a contradictory person. I have noticed your record; most of the time, you exhibit far more maturity and calm than your peers. Yet, around those close to you, you’re as blindly trusting as a deep-sea eel.

I greatly admire your talents, so here’s my advice. If the Divine Son You Su aims to become a paramount cultivator soaring above the seas, don’t idealize those around you too much..."

Zi Yiyi’s knees gave way as she fell to the ground with a thud, her voice trembling with sincerity as she pleaded:

"Madam Hua Jing, it’s Yiyi who was bewitched, Yiyi willingly accepts punishment!"

"You’re afraid of what else I might say?"

Hua Jing’s alabaster eyes saw through all deceitful schemes, fully aware of Zi Yiyi’s thoughts.

Like her inner thoughts had been unveiled, Zi Yiyi buried her head lower, unable to prevent Hua Jing from exposing her inner evil desire.

"I warned her long ago, no matter what, she should never take you into the depths of the valley, yet she brought you there anyway."

"I sensed the pattern of the white bird and insisted on entering the valley; Yiyi was inadvertently implicated by me..."

"Then she should have stopped you, not indulged you. If she can’t even follow instructions, how can she be fit to serve as my personal attendant?"

"Because of this ’Heart Buddha’, the valley exudes a strange aura, compelling people to unconsciously yield to their desires... It’s my failure to resist temptation, not Yiyi’s fault." You Su still wished to absolve Zi Yiyi.

"So you think this desire affects only you and not her?"

Recalling Zi Yiyi’s decisive first step, You Su was at a loss for words to continue his argument.

"Your ability to refrain from worshipping before Heart Buddha shows you still possess rationality. Had she pulled you back once more outside the valley, you might have awakened sooner. Rather than you implicating her, it’s more her failing to conquer her desires, implicating you instead."