If Lin Xue could listen to Liu Lan Ying's words, it would mean the curse's effect was truly weak. Precisely because she couldn't listen, everything became irreversible.
"No, I can't just abandon him. Absolutely not. I still love him. Even knowing this love will kill me, I can't lie to my own heart."
Though their time together was brief, they had been lovers. This was a happiness Lin Xue had never experienced before. Going to amusement parks, dining together, shopping, lying on the sofa watching movies – none of it felt shameful or illicit due to their extramarital affair. Instead, it was all the more warm and romantic.
"Miss Xue'er, you absolutely cannot do anything foolish. Brother Ye is helping you, and we are all helping you. So, you need to move on quickly. You cannot go further down the wrong path. You are cursed, and you must fight the curse with us."
Liu Lan Ying's eyes welled up with tears, ready to fall at any moment. As a woman, she understood the heart-wrenching pain of being trapped by love.
After all, Liu Lan Ying had also loved Ye Tian Cheng unrequitedly. Back in their hometown, they had even walked hand in hand, and though it was a pretense, those fleeting memories were all real.
However, everything had changed. Nothing was as beautiful as it once was. When Liu Lan Ying had given up on Ye Tian Cheng, her heart had endured immense torment. Even though it was over now, the pain had formed an ugly, large scar that would forever linger in her heart.
Perhaps only women truly understood women. But what Liu Lan Ying hadn't expected was Lin Xue's loss of control, her opening up with spiritual energy.
"I'm sorry! I can't control myself. Only I can save him. I must save him!"
Lin Xue still rushed out, then threw herself in front of Ouyang Zhi Cheng, her hands spread wide, her toes lifting, her hair flying, her eyes filled with a determination she had never possessed before.
"Xue'er, come to your master. Don't get too close to that scumbag, or you will become unhappy."
Ye Tian Cheng hadn't quite decided how to punish this scumbag, but at this moment, he desperately didn't want his most beloved disciple to get too close to this wretch. He couldn't stand looking at it. Thinking of all the pain Lin Xue had endured, Ye Tian Cheng was truly terrified, more so than ever before. He didn't want any of this to happen again.
"Master, please spare Ouyang Zhi Cheng. At least don't do this in front of me. I can't bear to see this scene. It's too difficult for me."
Lin Xue's eyes began to shed red tears. Ye Tian Cheng, who had been furious, instantly felt immense heartache upon seeing his disciple like this. His temper vanished completely, and all his chaotic thoughts disappeared. He had only one feeling: as long as Lin Xue stopped crying.
"Xue'er, Master was wrong. I shouldn't have pressured you like this. I know it's really hard for you to change all at once. I won't force you anymore. Master promises to take it slow. If you don't want me to hurt this man, Master will listen to you and never do such foolish things again."
Ye Tian Cheng was terrified. The most important thing at this moment was to stabilize Lin Xue's emotions. Tears that could shed blood indicated her heart was likely torn apart by pain, making it unbearable. He couldn't hold back any longer. Ye Tian Cheng didn't want any explanations now; he just wanted his disciple to be well.
"Okay, thank you, Master."
Lin Xue finally returned to normal. Since she was the one afflicted by the love curse, and Nan Fang was merely controlled by dark energy, it didn't affect him significantly. He stood completely from an observer's perspective. When faced with a choice, his primary concern was self-preservation; everything else was secondary.
"Xue'er, I think we have fate but no destiny. It should be over. I beg you, I won't look for you anymore, and you shouldn't look for me either. Otherwise, if this continues, neither of us will be well. I don't want to be troubled like this every day, unable to have a moment of peace. I hope you can understand me. Let's break up."
As the man spoke, his eyes darted around, and he occasionally cast fearful glances at Ye Tian Cheng, as if he were about to say it directly. The reason he said these words was his fear of Ye Tian Cheng's continued retaliation.
"Let's not break up, okay? Ouyang Zhi Cheng. Let's start anew. If you think I have any problems, I can change them. I really don't want you to leave me from now on, because I've realized I can't live without you anymore."
Ye Tian Cheng didn't want his beloved disciple to say such things, feeling as if she was fixated on that scumbag. Yet, he dared not intervene. His disciple was suffering too much, and he couldn't bear to hurt her further. He couldn't bear to see his beloved disciple even frown; it would feel like his heart was being ripped apart.
"I beg you, Lin Xue, our matters are in the past. And I feel we haven't known each other for that long, and our feelings aren't that deep. There's no need for you to keep pestering me."
It is only when problems arise that a person's true heart is revealed. When the scumbag was with Lin Xue, he had also spoken of vows of eternal love. At that time, it wasn't that he lacked sincerity, but rather that he was fully immersed in the role. Now, under threat, this grand play of love could no longer continue, so he had to find another way to break up. He didn't want to reveal his scumbag identity, as he had no intention of facing difficulties. His only thought was to escape, fearing he might be implicated. He was filled with a sense of impending persecution, a very cowardly display that no woman would find attractive.
But Lin Xue was different. Lin Xue was now completely enchanted. No matter how outrageous the scumbag behaved, her love for him would not diminish in the slightest.
"We can't separate like this. We promised to be together forever, Ouyang Zhi Cheng. No matter how great the difficulties, as long as you are by my side, I can face them. I've thought it through. If I'm not with you, even breathing hurts. I don't care if you have a wife, or who is in your heart; I won't pursue it anymore. As long as you are by my side."
It seemed she truly couldn't leave him now. Her attachment to this man had become an addiction. It was like drinking poison to quench thirst; as long as Ouyang Zhi Cheng didn't leave her, everything else could be negotiated.
Ye Tian Cheng felt at that moment that his precious disciple was truly beyond saving.
Was this still his proud disciple? Originally, Lin Xue was like a handful of snow on a mountaintop, unreachable. Now, for a man, she had become so humble. It was truly madness.
Ye Tian Cheng dared not speak his mind, for he had to obey Lin Xue. The curse's effect was still present, so even though Ye Tian Cheng was furious, he couldn't object.
Lin Xue continued to beg the scumbag humbly for a long time. Finally, the scumbag seemed to feel a bit of guilt and reluctantly spoke.
"Oh, Lin Xue, with your qualifications, what kind of person can't you find? There's no need to keep pestering me. I was just looking for the thrill of an extramarital affair. Once the novelty wore off, I found it meaningless. I hate women who pester me the most. I hope you can understand what I'm saying and not let your image in my heart collapse."
The man had made his intentions clear. He clearly no longer wanted any involvement with Lin Xue. This love entanglement was a case of falling in love but being unable to continue. The man had lost interest long ago, but Lin Xue kept pestering him. Moreover, the man found Lin Xue's qualities appealing, perhaps enjoying the attention of being pursued by a woman, especially a stunning beauty. But now that Ye Tian Cheng had intervened, everything was different. He didn't want any more trouble and just wanted to get rid of this woman. Continuing this might lead to further complications.
However, Lin Xue, under the curse, had lost her reason. Even though she knew he no longer wanted any involvement with her, she still held onto a foolish hope, believing that persistence could salvage the situation. The situation was already deteriorating.
"Don't separate from me, okay? My master is just worried about me, Ouyang Zhi Cheng. All the beautiful moments we shared are etched in my mind, unforgettable. I believe you haven't forgotten them easily either."
Lin Xue couldn't bear to part, so she walked to Ouyang Zhi Cheng's side and reached out to take his hand. But the next moment, she was harshly flung away.
Ouyang Zhi Cheng, who had always been as gentle as water, suddenly revealed his true nature. At this moment, he was impatient, even a bit fierce.
"I beg you, I've made myself very clear. I detest women who pester me. Isn't it better for us to end it here? And I haven't done anything to you, so you shouldn't cling to me for life after only a few days of being together. Why can't you understand what I'm saying?"
How could Lin Xue not understand? When they used to go monster hunting together, the knowledgeable Lin Xue often took the lead. How could such an intelligent person not understand anything? The man had made his words so clear, yet she was feigning ignorance, unwilling to let go.
"No, you can't do this to me. Don't leave me. I can't lose you! I'll die if I lose you!"
Ouyang Zhi Cheng glanced at Ye Tian Cheng, extremely worried that if he had any further involvement with Lin Xue, he might meet a tragic end at Ye Tian Cheng's hands, having already sensed Ye Tian Cheng's immense power. At this moment, he already wanted to break free from Lin Xue, and this was a perfect opportunity to go with the flow.
"Anyway, your family doesn't agree, and I don't intend to continue. There's no need for us to entangle ourselves further. I feel that separating is the best outcome. Let's leave it at that, shall we? I'll be going now. Don't look for me anymore, and let me have a few days of peace. I'm begging you. I've had enough of the chaos you've caused."
In the past, this scumbag Ouyang Zhi Cheng had told Lin Xue that only by staying by her side could his heart find peace. He felt an inexplicable comfort when interacting with Lin Xue, like soulmates, full of understanding. But now, everything had changed. All the words he had spoken then had silently vanished with the wind, as if they were worthless, leaving a heavy feeling in his heart.
"Don't leave me."
"Please, spare me. Even if you are beautiful and have an extraordinary aura, once a woman starts pestering, she loses all her charm and only creates pressure for me. I hope you can change this habit when you're with other men. I'm leaving now. No need to say goodbye."