Gu Yuan's bewilderment was one thing, but now Lou Yi had also appeared, eager to join the fray. Looking at Lou Yi, Hun Ling immediately frowned.
Lou Yi, seeing Hun Ling's gaze fixed on him, was genuinely startled. He swallowed, deliberately averting his eyes. "Pretend I said nothing, absolutely nothing," he quickly said, sensing Hun Ling's meaning.
"..." Hun Ling shot a glare at the rather perceptive Lou Yi, then turned his gaze back to Gu Yuan. "Those who do evil must be punished."
"You really intend to kill me," Gu Yuan said, understanding Hun Ling's words.
Hun Ling let out a cold laugh. "You're not entirely foolish." With that, he raised his axe.
Gu Yuan tensed. "There are so many who do evil, why do you single me out? Especially Gu Yan; the karma on her hands," she said, unusually nervous, "is far more than mine. And her." She finally shifted her gaze to Yang Pan'er.
Yang Pan'er's eyes darted away, fearing Gu Yuan's counterattack, and her heart grew uneasy.
Following this, Hun Ling let out a soft hum. "You are human, she is a demon. Do you think..." He paused deliberately, then continued, "What comparison is there between you and her?"
"You..."
"Your name is Gu Yuan. You harmed people in your life. If it weren't for Ouyang Ye's appearance, I fear," Hun Ling's thoughts were clear, a smile curving his lips, "you would have already been gone."
"You..."
"Do you know what your greatest sin is?" Hun Ling deliberately gave Gu Yuan no chance to speak.
Gu Yuan, hearing this, became impatient. "I think, at this moment, you shouldn't be asking me."
"Then who do you think I should ask?" Hun Ling crossed his arms, patiently engaging with Gu Yuan.
Gu Yuan's eyes darkened. "Who else could it be? Ask the parents who abandoned me. If it weren't for them," her eyes were filled with resentment, "I wouldn't have had to come into this world to suffer. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be in this situation today."
"You believe they harmed you," Hun Ling stated calmly.
"Don't they?" Gu Yuan's expression was one of disdain, as if she had seen through everything, yet hadn't.
Jia and Lou Yi exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued by Hun Ling's response.
The next second, Hun Ling replied, "Yes."
However, Jia and Lou Yi both expected Hun Ling to lecture Gu Yuan extensively. Who would have thought... it would be just this.
Faced with this scene, Lou Yi and Jia both wore knowing expressions.
Similarly, Gu Yuan had also expected Hun Ling not to side with her, even expecting a lengthy lecture. Who would have thought... he would actually agree with her. Looking at him, she couldn't help but show surprise. "You also think they harmed me, right?"
"Their selfishness, their... whim, brought you into this world. Not only that, they abandoned you, forcing you to drift through the martial world at such a young age, to experience all sorts of injustice, all sorts of... harm. The name Gu Yuan," Hun Ling said, his expression calm, "was given to you by Gu Tie, wasn't it?"
"How do you know?" Gu Yuan was astonished. She hadn't expected Hun Ling to know everything.
"I am Hun Ling. My normal duty is to understand the past of those who have erred in the human world. Your past," Hun Ling said, "I naturally know."
"Do you... do you think I'm particularly wicked?" Gu Yuan was swayed by Hun Ling's words.
"Whether a person is good or bad is not for anyone to say. Even righteous people can make mistakes, just like you," Hun Ling fixed his gaze directly on Gu Yuan. "You were so kind before."
"I..."
"You were abandoned at three years old. Before that, you were always waiting for your parents. You didn't even resent them, and I believe you don't resent them now. Those words were just spoken in a moment of defiance."
"I hate them," Gu Yuan roared. She didn't want to admit she still had any expectations of her parents, even if she did... she didn't want anyone to know.
"In the past, Gu Tie said the same about you. It's like this, you hate her." Hun Ling had completely grasped Gu Yuan's psyche.
The moment Hun Ling spoke, Gu Yuan lowered her head, refusing to continue the conversation.
"...." Hun Ling had anticipated this outcome. He gave a faint smile and continued, "Dying with understanding is better than dying in ignorance. That's right, isn't it."
Hearing this, Gu Yuan's eyes darkened. She still looked at Hun Ling. "You know some things too clearly."
Hun Ling knew that if he continued to dwell on Gu Yuan's past, he would only anger her completely, and the situation would become unmanageable. Therefore, to prevent such a thing from happening, he deliberately shifted the topic. "You said the karma on your hands wasn't as much as hers, right?" He glanced pointedly at Yang Pan'er.
Yang Pan'er showed no reaction, her gaze fixed intently on Gu Yuan, the 'woman of suffering'.
"What do you want to say now?" Gu Yuan's attitude was indifferent.
"I don't want to say anything. I just want to tell you that your greatest sin is yourself," Hun Ling said vaguely. He intended to use this topic to divert Gu Yuan's attention and avoid continuing the previous discussion.
"What's wrong with myself?" Gu Yuan stepped into the 'chess game' laid out by Hun Ling.
Seeing this, Hun Ling couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief inwardly. "A bad person, when they do bad things, it's usually for their own benefit. But you, you won't even spare yourself. Tell me, aren't you deeply sinful?"
"My own life, I will resolve it myself. What does it have to do with you?"
"It has nothing to do with us, but you taking your own life is wrong."
"You..."
"The only one who has always accompanied you is yourself. In your most painful moments, she was always there with you, yet you... ended her. And now you are still tormenting her. Tell me," Hun Ling said with grave sincerity, "you are not guilty?"
"This is my business, it has nothing to do with you."
"You can be so cruel to yourself, you must be even crueler to others. Based on these alone, you," Hun Ling's eyes were sharp, "cannot live."
"What are you going to do?"
"I admit that what I said earlier was all nonsense. Gu Yuan, do you want to know your true surname?" Hun Ling said, tightening his grip on the axe.
Gu Yuan frowned. "You know my surname."
"I'll tell you in a moment." With that, Hun Ling forcefully swung the axe towards Gu Yuan.
Immediately, a blue light flashed, and Gu Yuan's body collapsed.
Lou Yi watched this scene, frozen.
Then, Jia hurriedly said, "Quick, chase! Her consciousness is going to find her soul!" He quickly ran forward and passed through the wall without hesitation, leaving.
Hun Ling had no time to speak and vanished into the ground in pursuit.
Thus, only Lou Yi and Yang Pan'er remained in the room.
Yang Pan'er had always thought... Hun Ling and Jia were just talking. Who would have thought... she was too naive. Walking forward, she stopped beside Gu Yuan's body, completely terrified. "They really did it," she muttered.