Hua Wu Que recognized the voice as Huang Xue Mei's, and hurriedly stood up to call out. Soon, a woman in male attire came out from the end of the woods at a brisk pace. Upon seeing Hua Wu Que, her face lit up with joy and she ran towards him.
Huang Xue Mei, worried sick that Hua Wu Que wouldn't return, had dragged Qu Fei Yan along to search for him. They ran into the equally anxious Lan Feng Huang at the entrance, and upon hearing her description, realized that her younger brother was actually with Dongfang Bubai. Unable to rest easy, she left Qu Fei Yan with Lan Feng Huang and rushed over.
Huang Xue Mei ran up to Hua Wu Que, standing slightly in front of him to shield him. She looked towards the opposite direction, her eyebrows slightly raised, ready to question. However, upon seeing Dongfang Bubai's appearance, she froze in place.
Huang Xue Mei was already a rare sight among women for her masculine spirit. Having worn male attire for a long time, she possessed a natural air of vigor. Dongfang Bubai, on the verge of gender transformation, was just a step away from becoming a woman, his appearance also a mixture of male and female features. Standing face-to-face, except for the slight difference in clothing and appearance, they were like looking into a mirror.
Dongfang Bubai was also astonished. Initially, he had felt annoyed by the intrusion and was about to unleash his anger. But seeing Huang Xue Mei's appearance and temperament, which resembled his own upcoming female form, he couldn't help but stand up and scrutinize her, muttering, "Similar, so similar. You are the very image I yearn to become. You are a woman, aren't you? You are a woman, right?"
Thinking Dongfang Bubai was about to attack, Hua Wu Que stood up and pulled Huang Xue Mei behind him. "Lord Dongfang, this is my sworn sister and wife," he said.
Seeing Hua Wu Que's action, Dongfang Bubai finally came to his senses. Waving his hand, he said, "Don't worry, I won't harm you. I just found her appearance very similar to what I desire to become, so I was a little excited." Turning around, he walked to the lakeside and laughed loudly, "Hahaha, hahaha. I thought it was against fate, that I would never see myself as a woman in this lifetime. But today, on a whim, I came here, and unexpectedly I found this woman."
His thoughts were in turmoil. Realizing that he could no longer suppress the growth of his internal energy, he knew that his gender transformation was imminent. But transformation meant his death. He had thought it was fate, but now seeing this woman, it was as if he had glimpsed his own female form after the transformation. His regrets were gone. Suddenly turning around, he fixed his gaze on Huang Xue Mei. "Tell me, when I saw your actions and expressions, were you thinking of protecting him?"
Uncertain of his intentions, Huang Xue Mei still responded with a clear voice, "Yes, as long as Huang Xue Mei still breathes, no one will dare to bully him!"
Her expression was resolute, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. Although her martial arts skills were not on par with Dongfang Bubai, her aura was formidable, and for a moment she was able to stand her ground against him.
Seeing her spirit, Dongfang Bubai was even more delighted. "Good! But the martial world is full of hidden masters, and with the world in chaos now, heroes are rising everywhere. Your skills are good, but to protect your lover, it's not enough."
Huang Xue Mei thought he was mocking her and was about to retort, but then she heard him continue, "I have a way to grant you the strength to protect him. Would you be willing?"
Thinking Dongfang Bubai was threatening Xue Mei, Hua Wu Que was about to step forward, but saw Dongfang Bubai waving his hand. "I have no conditions, and no ill intentions. Every word I speak comes from my heart. Don't think too much about it," he said.
He slowly sat down, his gaze burning with passion as he looked at Huang Xue Mei. "I, Dongfang Bubai, have been a hero all my life. My final wish is to become a woman and see my own feminine form. But the transformation of yin and yang, heaven and earth do not permit it. I have been pondering this for a long time, but cannot find any way. Now that I have seen you, my wish has been fulfilled, and I can transform peacefully. But I am greedy, unwilling to be less impressive as a woman than I was as a man. If you agree, you will act under my name, Dongfang Bubai, in the future, and I will pass all my skills onto you."
Hearing this, Hua Wu Que was unwilling. "Thank you for your kindness, Lord Dongfang, but I, Hua Wu Que, am a man. How can I let my wife give up her name to protect me? This matter is out of the question!"
Dongfang Bubai was anxious and tried to persuade her further, but Huang Xue Mei stepped forward, gently embracing Hua Wu Que. "Little brother, elder sister knows your heart. But Dongfang Bubai is right. With my current skills, even with the Heavenly Devil Harp, I am no match for you masters. My lifelong wish is to shield you from the wind and rain. How can I become a burden to you?"
She raised her jade hand and gently placed it on Hua Wu Que's lips. "You don't need to say anything. Elder sister can agree to everything, but this time, let elder sister make her own decision. Alright?"
Hearing the firmness in her voice, it was clear that she had made up her mind. Although he knew she would listen to him even if he persuaded her, he was worried that she would be unhappy and harbor resentment. So he sighed and gave up, thinking that when Dongfang Bubai died, he would simply disregard any promises made.