usatvline Chapter 1012 1012: Stop Pretending
Chapter 1012 1012: Stop Pretending
Han Yu left the mansion only after spending several more hours explaining everything carefully to Meng Jueyan.
The woman still looked somewhat dazed by the truth even after calming down. For years she had served Ju Fan while suspecting countless hidden secrets about him, yet the reality turned out to be far more unbelievable than anything she could have imagined.
Han Yu could hardly blame her for being overwhelmed.
Even now, while sitting across from him, Meng Jueyan would occasionally glance toward Ju Fan's meditating body with an almost surreal expression. The sight of two identical souls inhabiting two completely different identities remained difficult to process.
Still, she adapted quickly.
That was one of the reasons Han Yu trusted her.
Before leaving, Han Yu handed her several modified communication jade slips. Over the past five years Qing Luan's organization had established a network of hidden relay points throughout the northwestern frontier.
The relay formations used specialized transmission methods developed by Han Yu himself, allowing messages to travel enormous distances while remaining difficult to intercept.
"With these, you can contact me whenever necessary," Han Yu explained. "The relay arrays should keep the communication stable unless something major happens."
Meng Jueyan nodded carefully while storing the jade slips away.
Han Yu hesitated slightly afterward before speaking again.
"And one more thing."
Meng Jueyan looked up at him.
"When everything is over, I'll remove your slave seal."
The woman froze briefly.
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Han Yu continued calmly.
"I cannot remove it right now. If my master returns unexpectedly and notices the seal missing, complications will arise immediately. The safest thing is to leave it intact for now."
Meng Jueyan lowered her gaze slightly before smiling faintly.
"I understand."
And truly, she did.
Years ago, perhaps those words would have affected her deeply. Back then she had still lived as a true slave beneath the Blood Sect, terrified and hopeless.
But now…
She no longer felt like one.
Han Yu had never treated her as property.
He trusted her with secrets, plans and responsibilities. She handled important matters, communicated with Qing Luan's organization and managed countless operations over the years.
The seal existed physically.
Yet mentally, she had already stopped being a slave long ago.
"Besides," she said quietly while looking toward him again, "you already gave me more freedom than most cultivators in this continent will ever have."
Han Yu simply smiled slightly.
With that settled, there was finally nothing left holding him there.
Han Yu exited the mansion calmly.
The protective arrays surrounding the safe house did not react to him at all. Since his new body carried the same soul signature, the formations still recognized him as Ju Fan. And yet since his body was inside, the array was confused and didn't stop him.
That part had thankfully worked exactly as expected.
After leaving the protected area, Han Yu moved swiftly through the forests toward the hidden teleportation array.
The concealed cavern beneath the cliff remained exactly as it had been left it long ago by Qing Luan's people. The massive formation circles glowed faintly while spirit stones embedded throughout the array radiated stable spatial aura.
Han Yu stepped into the center.
The teleportation array activated immediately.
Space twisted around him while familiar weightlessness consumed his senses. The pressure felt slightly stronger than before due to the enormous distance involved, yet Han Yu remained calm throughout the process.
Nearly four full minutes passed before the sensation finally faded.
Han Yu slowly opened his eyes.
He found himself standing within a sealed stone hall.
The chamber remained empty except for several activated formations humming softly along the walls.
A few moments later the heavy stone doors opened.
Qing Luan entered quickly.
Yet the moment she saw the person standing there, she stopped abruptly.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Brother Ju?" she asked in disbelief.
Han Yu could not help smiling.
Qing Luan knew only one person should have been able to use this teleportation array. She had also been informed beforehand that Ju Fan intended to adopt a new disguise somehow.
Still…
The person standing before her looked completely different from the cold and sinister Ju Fan she knew.
This man looked younger, more relaxed and far more approachable. His features carried a natural charisma that contrasted sharply against Ju Fan's oppressive presence.
"Do you like it?" Han Yu asked casually.
Qing Luan stared for several seconds before answering honestly.
"It's… different."
She truly did not know what else to say.
Han Yu laughed softly.
"Come on. I know I look much better now."
That shocked her even more.
Not just the appearance.
The way he spoke.
The tone.
The attitude.
Everything felt completely different.
Ju Fan always acted cold, calculating and distant. Even during casual moments, a certain oppressive sharpness lingered around him naturally.
But this man…
This person standing before her smiled openly and spoke casually without restraint. It almost felt like she was meeting an entirely different individual. Han Yu quickly noticed her confusion.
Then he finally sighed lightly.
"I can stop pretending now."
Qing Luan blinked.
"Pretending?"
Han Yu nodded.
"It's a long explanation."
And thus, for the next several hours, Han Yu finally revealed the truth.
Everything.
He told her about the Twin Leaf Peak Sect.
About Han Yu.
About how he infiltrated the Blood Sect under the identity of Ju Fan. About the years spent pretending. About the hatred he carried toward the Slaughtered Moon Divine Blood Sect. And about the countless schemes he had orchestrated from within.
The more Qing Luan listened, the more stunned she became.
At several points she simply stared at him silently while trying to process everything. She finally understood why Ju Fan sometimes behaved strangely compared to other Blood Sect disciples.
Why he occasionally showed mercy where none should exist.
Why he secretly helped orthodox disciples.
Why he seemed to despise certain aspects of the sect despite benefiting from them greatly.
All this time…
Ju Fan had only been an act.
This man before her was the real Han Yu.