Yang Mi tinued, her voice carrying a hint of nostalgia, "You were once regarded as one of the sect's brightest talents."

  "Three years ago, despite only being at the Qi-Solidification Realm, you could fight Peak-Stage Foundatioablishment cultivators without even using teiques."

  "Your prowess sparked envy in every genius within the sect."

  Reon's thoughts came to a screeg halt.

  '…What?'

  'Xue Taiyang… was that much of a genius three years ago?!'

  'The novel never mentioned any of this!'

  Yang Mi didn't notice his iurmoil and carried on.

  "But then, suddenly, your cultivation stagnated. You were uo break through, and at some point, your cultivation even began tress. That's what I found out from my research."

  She narrowed her eyes slightly. "And after witnessing your strength today… I think those rumors about you were true."

  Reon's mind reeled.

  'No, no, no. You saw my strength today. Not Xue Taiyang's.'

  His grip on the chair tightened slightly.

  "You had a bad reputation," Yang Mi tinued. "But from what I learned, you ried to defend yourself.

  When you tried to save a disciple in danger, it backfired, and the rumainst you only grew worse. Eventually, the entire sect thought of you as a sdrel."

  'Hah… so Xue Taiyang was actually misuood?'

  'I suppose he's just as unlucky as I am.'

  'But, I never knew any of this…'

  Yang Mi studied him carefully before speaking again.

  "I don't know why you joined Niu Ling, but I doubt it was out of loyalty. You must have had a hidden agenda—or perhaps you were forced into it.

  And when you realized things were spiraling out of trol, you deliberately provoked my brother to get yourself demoted to the Outer Sect. Am I right?"

  A knowing smirk curled on her lips. "So, you've recovered—and all this time, you've beely hiding your true strength."

  Her eyes gleamed with sharp intuition. "You went to the Outer Sect to rebuild your power… and now, you're pnning to strike back at Niu Ling. Aren't you?"

  Reo out a soft chuckle, a strange smile flickering across his face.

  "Hah… You figured that out pretty easily," he mused, amusement g his tone.

  "Haha!" Yang Mi chuckled, a hint of pride in her voice. "Obviously. I am a genius, after all."

  'Genius? You muscle-brained idiot… That's precisely what I wanted you to believe from the very beginning,' Reon scoffed inwardly.

  Yet… something still g him.

  Xue Taiyang's past…

  'How could the novel leave out something this important?'

  'I have no idea how many more secrets about him are still hidden from me…'

  Yang Mi leaned forward. "So, what do you think? Do you trust me now?"

  Reon snapped back to the present.

  "Let's say I trust you," he said slowly. "But what about your brother?"

  "He won't do anything to you," Yang Mi replied fidently. "I know my brother."

  Reon's gaze sharpened. "Are you saying that because you asked him? Or because you assumed it yourself?"

  Yang Mi hesitated for a split sed before answering, "I'm saying it myself. But I don't believe you've done anything to deserve being killed. And I don't think my brother is that unreasonable."

  Reon's gaze sharpened. "Are you certain?"

  "If anything happens, I'll take full responsibility," Yang Mi decred firmly.

  Reon remained silent for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle.

  "And how exactly do I believe you?" he asked. "Wheime es, won't you prioritize your brother over me?"

  His thoughts darkened.

  'I 't trust her. I 't trust anyone in this world. Words mean nothing. People ge the moment it bes them.'

  'And she would definitely do anything for her brother. I have to be careful.'

  Yang Mi ched her fists.

  "Fine," she said. "Then I'll take a Dao Heart Oath."

  Reon tilted his head.

  "Hmm… Dao Heart Oath isn't bad," he murmured.

  Reon's mind raced as he thought inwardly.

  If I remember correctly, Yang Lie's system has ahat ullify a Dao Heart Oath...

  His thoughts paused, the possibility lingering in his mind.

  Although it was costly, such a thing did exist.

  But… even within the system, hod existed to ter that.

  A smirk tugged at the er of his lips.

  Yes, I'll make her do that.

  Reon's eyes glinted coldly.

  "No. That's not enough," Reon said, his tone unwavering.

  Yang Mi furrowed her brows in fusion. "What? Why?"

  "I want a Blood Oath," Reon decred.

  Yes, the System 't ter a Blood Oath, he thought inwardly.

  Yang Mi's breath hitched.

  "A… Blood Oath?"

  The Blood Oath.

  A vow feared among cultivators of the righteous path.

  It was a method used only by the Demonic Path of the Northern Province—where trust was ent, and strength ruled all.

  Uhe Dao Heart Oath, which would strip someone of their cultivation and prevent reination uporayal…

  A Blood Oath was far worse.

  The moment the slightest viotion occurred, the oath-taker would die in agony—blood seeping from their seven orifices as they perished in a cruel, torturous, unfiving manner.

  Yang Mi's hands trembled.

  A Blood Oath…

  It was dangerous. But if it meant proteg her brother…

  She had no choice.

  And she trusted her brother.