Chapter 10: The Final

Gu Yuan's teacup trembled slightly in his hands, the steam curling like his shame. His daughter's behavior had crossed every line of decency.

How many mistakes have I made for Xun'er's sake?

The memories haunted him—forcing Gu Fei to stay in this farcical marriage, dismissing his grievances, all while Xun'er openly pined for another man. The Patriarch's scalp prickled with regret.

Yet when he presented the irrefutable evidence—Gu Yao's confession, the alibi proving Gu Fei's innocence—Xun'er merely flushed crimson before storming off.

Her pride wouldn't permit an apology.

At the hall's entrance, fate intervened.

Gu Fei strode forward, his robes whispering against marble floors, while Xun'er froze mid-step.

How long had it been since they stood this close?

The contrast was stark:

Xun'er: Lips bitten raw, eyes burning with unspoken words

Gu Fei: A statue of indifference, gaze fixed ahead as if she were air

He passed without a glance.

[Xun'er's Anticipation: +50 Emotion Points]

Gu Yuan observed from his throne, the tea bitter on his tongue. "Do you truly wish to separate?" he asked, one final time.

Gu Fei's answer came swift as a blade: "I do."

"Will you regret it?"

A pause.

Xun'er's breath hitched—why was she still standing here? Why did her chest ache at the thought of his refusal?

If he takes it back now... maybe I'll forgive him.

The silence shattered with Gu Fei's icy verdict:

"Never."

Xun'er lunged forward, her small frame blocking his path. "You'd really abandon me?"

For the first time that day, Gu Fei looked at her—really looked. The warmth that once lit his eyes had vanished, replaced by glacial detachment.

"What else remains?"

Tears spilled unbidden down Xun'er's cheeks. She wiped them away, startled by their heat.

"I... I won't see Xiao Yan again," she whispered, fingers clutching his sleeve. "Please... Brother Gu Fei, don't go."

The childhood endearment, dusted off after years of neglect, hung between them.

Gu Fei's expression flickered—not with softening, but with finality.

"Meaningless."

He freed his sleeve with a twist, leaving her grasping at emptiness.

[Xun'er's Regret: +200]

[Xun'er's Despair: +200]

As his footsteps faded, Xun'er collapsed into a chair, her voice a broken whisper:

"Father... was I wrong?"

Gu Yuan left without answering.

News of the divorce spread through the Gu Clan like wildfire. The younger generation viewed Xun'er with open disdain - how could she discard such an outstanding husband? Even elders who once doted on her now shook their heads in disappointment.

Meanwhile, Gu Fei found himself unexpectedly popular.

Unwanted Attention

Every time he left his mountain residence:

The Elder's granddaughter "accidentally" bumped into him with armfuls of spirit herbs

Childhood friend Gu Ting invited him to "discuss cultivation techniques"

Even senior sisters decades his senior found excuses to visit

[Gu Yan's Admiration: +1]

[Gu Ting's Affection: +1]

The constant stream of admirers became so overwhelming that several elders brought marriage proposals directly to his doorstep, their granddaughters blushing behind them.

The Decision to Leave

One evening, as Gu Fei finally cleared his last unwanted visitor, he examined his system interface:

Current Emotion Points: 18,743

Available Upgrades:

Heavenly Flame Control (5,000 pts)

Space Movement Art (10,000 pts)

"I've stagnated here," he realized. The Gu Domain offered comfort but no real challenges. Without high-value emotional sources like Xun'er, progress would slow to a crawl.

His fingers traced the worn edge of a Northwest Continent map. That lawless land of constant conflict... where Xiao Yan reportedly disappeared after the assassination attempt...