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In the square before the Secret Realm gate, a black-dressed woman stood hidden amidst the crowd. Her delicate lips bore faint bite marks, sweat beaded her face, but even that couldn’t hide her hesitation and inner turmoil.

Honestly, the task assigned to Yanran by the Celestial Master this time was a bit... too much.

Yanran was indeed a devoted follower of destiny, but just as Yuebai did everything for the survival of her fox clan, Yanran also had her own bottom line.

Now, with Yuyan standing before Yino, was Yanran really supposed to kill Yino right in front of her junior sister? That wasn’t just difficult—it was IMPOSSIBLE!

What’s more...

From the brief observations earlier, Yanran had caught a glimpse of something unusual in the brief interaction between Yino and Yuyan, especially when they reunited.

Something... didn’t feel right.

Before Yino had left the Secret Realm, Yanran had already taken the initiative to secretly inquire about him from one of the elders stationed outside. She’d learned that Yino had achieved an extraordinary feat deep within the Realm. Not only had he outwitted the Holy Maiden of the Full Moon Sect, but he had also quelled the riot of the ancient Tree Spirit, saving the ecosystem of the Azure Forest and the righteous cultivators trapped inside.

Of course, Yanran had only shared a simplified version of this story with Yuyan. She hadn’t disclosed the full details; otherwise, it would seem too suspicious for someone like her, an outsider, to know so much about the secret workings of the Secret Realm.

But... Logically speaking, by now Yuyan should be celebrating Yino’s achievements.

Yet here she was watching as her junior brother was cradled in Yuyan’s arms, the atmosphere so thick with sorrow it seemed like a farewell after a life-or-death ordeal.

What on earth is going on?

No way, I need to check this out for myself...

Yanran darted through the crowd from a different angle.

Meanwhile, Yino was busy following his original plan and performing his script to perfection for Yuyan.

With both Liuli’s forbidden arts and Jinyue’s illusions as a dual safety net, it wasn’t technically difficult for Yino to disguise himself as someone whose cultivation had been utterly crippled.

But, to truly convince Yuyan, Yino relied on his years of experience acting as a playful wastrel back in Luo City.

"Senior Sister... I told you not to get angry, okay?"

In those fleeting seconds, Yino forcefully recalled all the sorrowful memories from his two lifetimes. He immersed himself in a state of pure despair, so much so that his tone carried a blend of helplessness and grievance. His eyes, now glistening with tears, reflected the vulnerability of someone who had nowhere left to turn—someone relying entirely on the comforting embrace of his senior sister.

Across from him, Yuyan was momentarily stunned.

She hadn’t known Yino for long, but in these past few months, this was the weakest and most fragile she had ever seen him.

Her first thought was that Yino had been bullied inside the Secret Realm.

But... She never imagined that someone as quick-witted and sharp-tongued as Yino would also have moments like this—clinging to her like a small, wounded animal in need of reassurance.

"Go ahead, just tell me. Your Senior Sister’s listening, and I promise I won’t get mad," Yuyan said, her gentle tone softening as Yino’s sadness tugged at her heartstrings.

Moments like these—where her junior brother relied on her so wholly—were rare, and Yuyan cherished them.

Resting his head against her shoulder, Yino took a deep breath, inhaling her faint, milky fragrance. Then, with a sigh, he mumbled:

"Senior Sister, the truth is... there was a little accident in the Secret Realm..."

"Did someone bully you?"

"No... I think I might not be able to cultivate for the rest of my life..."

"—!?!"

Yino’s bombshell revelation froze Yuyan in place, her once-gentle expression now clouded with disbelief.

She hadn’t been prepared for this.

Initially, she’d assumed Yino had merely suffered some minor indignities. After all, it was common knowledge that righteous disciples often turned on one another over treasures in the closed, competitive environment of the Secret Realm. Betrayals among peers were nothing shocking to Yuyan—she had seen it all before.

To her, such incidents were small grievances, easily soothed with a few comforting words.

But never in her wildest dreams did she think her junior brother would drop such earth-shattering news.

"Not... able to cultivate? What... what do you mean?"

"Senior Sister, have you ever heard about the secrets within this Secret Realm...? Actually, I’m not sure if I can even tell you."

Just as he was about to elaborate, Yino abruptly stopped, his gaze darting nervously around the square. It seemed he was scanning for the elders of Wuji Sect who had overseen the Realm.

Yuyan instantly felt a sense of tension.

From Yino’s anxious and uneasy expression, she could tell he wasn’t joking.

"What do you mean you can’t tell me?"

"When I was in the Secret Realm, one of the elders from Wuji Sect made me swear to keep it a secret..."

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"What kind of secret could possibly be kept from your Senior Sister?"

The faint crease in Yuyan’s brow deepened, her concern growing with every word.

Her mind flickered back to the scraps of information Yanran had shared earlier. Her heart sank, a sense of impending dread washing over her.

"I... I think that as long as you don’t spread it around, it should be fine to tell you privately."

"It’s alright. The Secret Realm is over now. Once we return to Wuji Sect tonight, no one will dare to interfere."

Urgency laced Yuyan’s voice as she crouched down to examine Yino’s body, her beautiful eyes narrowing in focus.

She began by channeling her spiritual energy into his dantian, only to discover that the golden core Yino had painstakingly formed during his Core Formation breakthrough was gone. In its place was a weak and unstable flow of Qi that barely reached the level of Qi Refinement.

This was a bizarre condition, one Yuyan had never encountered before.

Then, as she rolled up the sleeve of Yino’s left arm, her breath hitched, her pupils dilating in shock.

On his arm was an expanse of blackened, scorched flesh—a horrifying burn that stood out starkly against his pale skin.

"What is this?!"

Yuyan’s voice rose in alarm.