Star Martial Soaring Cloud

Before he could think further, he witnessed an even more unbelievable scene—a bloody hand pierced straight through Feng Rujing's chest, its palm still tightly clutching a still-beating heart!

"Thump... thump..." The sound of a heart beating could be clearly heard in the silent valley.

Feng Rujing slowly lowered his head, his gaze falling on the hand that pierced his chest, and on the tightly clenched heart—his heart, still holding onto the last beating of his life.

His gaze slowly shifted backward, settling on the owner of that hand—Lin Shisan.

The junior brother who always followed behind him, with a gentle smile on his face.

At this moment, a smile still lingered on that handsome face, but in Wang Xiao's eyes, that smile was more ferocious and terrifying than any demon in the world.

Feng Rujing never imagined that the person behind him would kill him so ruthlessly.

He never imagined that the junior brother who had followed him around since childhood, always calling him "senior brother," with a gentle smile and seemingly harmless demeanor, would unleash the sharpest blade when he least expected it.

Lin Shisan's movements were so fast that Wang Xiao only caught a glimpse of a faint moon-white afterimage, and Feng Rujing didn't even have time to have a thought of resistance.

The signature, harmless smile on his face had vanished, replaced by a twisted madness, a resentment suppressed for over a decade, and a scarlet light flashing in his eyes, like a ferocious beast that had been thoroughly enraged and bared its fangs.

His hand pierced through Feng Rujing's chest cavity, slowly tightening his grip. A warm sensation came from his fingertips—it was Feng Rujing's heart, still beating slightly, carrying the last warmth of life.

The moon-white brocade robe was stained red with gushing blood, the glaring scarlet appearing particularly tragic at this moment.

"Lin...Junior Brother..." Feng Rujing spoke with difficulty, blood gushing from the corner of his mouth, his voice so weak it was almost inaudible.

Lin Shisan didn't let go, still tightly gripping the heart, his voice as soft as a whisper, as if he were talking about something trivial: "Senior Brother, don't move. If you move too much, the heart will break."

"Heh..." Lin Shisan chuckled lightly, a chilling sound emanating from his voice. "Senior Brother, are you asking why?"

He slowly withdrew his hand from Feng Rujing's chest cavity, raising the bright red, still slightly beating heart high above his head.

A fine network of blood vessels connected to the heart dripped blood continuously. Lin Shisan stared at it with fervent eyes, as if it were a rare treasure or a trophy he had longed for for many years.

The sudden turn of events left Wang Xiao frozen in place, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief, his mind blank.

He had seen betrayal, conspiracies, and cultivators killing each other for treasures, but he had never seen such a cruel and resolute betrayal—his fellow disciple, a brother he had spent every day with, a family member he was as close as brothers, could pierce his senior brother's chest and rip out his heart without hesitation.

Yunfei's previous betrayal could be attributed to his cowardice, but Lin Shisan's actions...

Feng Rujing's body slowly leaned forward, blood continuously gushing from the corner of his mouth, staining his clothes and his handsome face.

He staggered a few times but did not fall down. With difficulty, he turned around and looked directly at Lin Shisan.

Those once clear, watery eyes held no anger, no resentment, only disbelief and confusion.

His aura was visibly fading, and his once clear and deep eyes, which seemed to see through all illusions, were now somewhat unfocused.

But his gaze remained fixed on Lin Shisan, his lips trembling, and he asked, his mouth churning with blood, "Why...why?"

These three words encapsulate all of Feng Rujing's doubts and confusion.

He couldn't understand why he had treated Thirteen like a younger brother, carefully guiding and protecting him, doing his best to meet any of Thirteen's needs, and taking responsibility for any mistakes he made while patiently advising him.

He had always believed that this bond between fellow disciples was unbreakable and could withstand the test of life and death, but in the end, it brought him such a fatal blow.

Why?

Lin Shisan smiled, a bright and sunny smile, just like always, but in Feng Rujing's eyes, it only seemed unfamiliar and cold.

"Senior Brother, do you know how long I've waited for this day?" Lin Shisan said softly, his tone gentle as if recounting a beautiful memory. "From the first day I stepped into the sect, I've been waiting for this day."

"You ask me why? Okay, I'll tell you."

He took a deep breath, the smile on his face gradually fading, but the resentment and madness in his eyes grew even stronger.

He suddenly looked up at Feng Rujing, his voice rising abruptly, filled with a hysterical roar, as if he wanted to unleash all the grievances, jealousy, and resentment he had suppressed for years at once.

"Why?" Lin Shisan scoffed, his tone full of mockery and resentment. "Senior Brother, how dare you ask me why? Have you never considered why I've become like this?"

He gripped the still-beating heart tightly, his fingertips turning white from the force. The blood vessels in the heart were ruptured, and blood gushed out, splashing onto his face and staining his cheeks red. But he didn't care at all, his eyes still fixed on Feng Rujing with fervent passion, as if he were protesting a great injustice.

"The Twin Beauties of the Arctic!" Lin Shisan said, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with a deep-seated hatred. "What a wonderful, dazzling title it sounds like!"

"Every time I heard others call us that, I felt like I was a chosen one, a favorite of the heavens! Throughout the entire Arctic Immortal Palace, and even the entire Northern Plains, mentioning this title would elicit a thumbs-up, praising our deep brotherly bond and extraordinary talent!"

"But do you know? Every time I hear those four words, my heart bleeds! Only I know that this title is not an honor for me, but a disgrace! A disgrace etched into my bones, one that can never be erased!"

"Because no matter how hard I try, no matter how desperately others mention the Twin Beauties of the North Pole, the first person they always think of is you! It's always you, Feng Rujing! It's always you, the perfect senior brother! And I, Lin Shisan, in their eyes, am nothing more than your foil, nothing more than your shadow!"

His voice suddenly rose, his face contorted, his eyes filled with a morbid jealousy and madness: "Senior Brother's talent is unparalleled, Senior Brother's swordsmanship is divine, Senior Brother has a magnanimous heart, Senior Brother is as gentle as jade—everyone says this, everyone thinks this!"

He pointed at himself, his voice hoarse and almost broken: "What about me? What am I? Do you know how much I hate living in your shadow?"