Ye Qingyi opened her eyes, her red-rimmed eyes filled with tears.
Just moments ago, she had once again felt the pain Su Mo was enduring firsthand.
Although she could share Su Mo’s senses, the transmission of pain was minimal. Even so, the heart-wrenching agony still left her breathless.
“You idiot, you big idiot…” Ye Qingyi wiped her tears dry, forcing herself not to cry. “You’re hurt so badly, and you haven’t shed a single tear yet. I can’t cry either.”
She felt a deep sense of helplessness because this was Su Mo’s own choice.
…
Zhitian Xin sat in the small courtyard as Hai Ou reported the situation.
“Let’s wait and see a bit longer. What if it’s their ruse of self-injury?” he said cautiously.
Hai Ou hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.
“Speak your mind.”
“I don’t think it’s a ruse. I saw the wounds; the flesh was torn open.”
“What a ruthless person. And he didn’t make a sound?”
“Yes.”
Zhitian Xin hesitated for a moment, then suddenly made a decision. “Let’s take the gamble. Rescue him first, then we’ll see.”
“Yes, Lord Zhitian.” Hai Ou accepted the order and turned to leave.
Zhitian Xin suddenly called him back. “Wait, have Mei Yi handle this matter.”
Hai Ou was taken aback. “Lord Zhitian, I can do it.”
“You misunderstand. I mean I have other arrangements for you.”
Other arrangements?
Isn’t it just because you think I’m only C-rank, so you’re sending Sakurai Mei Yi, who’s B-rank.
Hai Ou’s expression remained unchanged on the surface. “As you command, Lord Zhitian.”
After Hai Ou left, an extremely beautiful young woman with gentle eyes approached Zhitian Xin. “Senior Brother.”
“Junior Sister, I’ll have to trouble you to take action personally this time. You must rescue Chiyo Maika.”
Sakurai Mei Yi smiled sweetly. “Senior Brother, what are you saying? It’s just Mei Yi’s duty.”
Zhitian Xin smiled fondly. “Be careful.”
Sakurai Mei Yi nodded obediently, not seeming like a B-rank expert at all, but more like the girl next door.
Just then, someone came to report. “Mr. Howard is here to see you.”
Zhitian Xin stood up instantly. “Invite him in quickly!”
Sakurai Mei Yi discreetly withdrew.
As soon as Howard entered, Zhitian Xin greeted him with a smile. The two acted like old friends who had known each other for years, meeting with great warmth.
“Mr. Howard, what brings you here so suddenly today? Is there something urgent?” Zhitian Xin asked first.
Howard smiled. “Mainly to see an old friend, and incidentally, to ask Brother Zhitian for another favor.”
“Oh? What can I help you with?” Zhitian Xin looked puzzled.
Howard took out a case and pushed it toward Zhitian Xin. “The new Heavenly Ranking is about to open. With Brother Zhitian’s strength, you’re bound to participate. But there are always some blind fools blocking our Brother Zhitian’s path to the ranking.”
Zhitian Xin glanced at it. “What’s this?”
Howard smiled mysteriously. “Open it and see.”
Zhitian Xin hesitated slightly before opening the case. Inside were three vials of serum.
“This is our latest genetically engineered serum. It can give you the strength of a B-rank peak instantly,” Howard said, smiling with narrowed eyes.
Zhitian Xin’s heart stirred slightly, but he feigned resistance on the surface. “My Zhitian clan are descendants of the War God. How can we cheat using technology?”
Howard patiently persuaded him. “Your country, along with the Xia Nation and the Western Divine Church, are all renowned for the strength of your superhumans. If not for our advanced superhuman technology, our American nation might have long been left behind. Would you consider that cheating too?”
Zhitian Xin fell silent.
“Besides, the effects of this serum are sustained, not a temporary boost. It won’t be discovered.”
Zhitian Xin took a deep breath. Instead of agreeing immediately, he looked into Howard’s eyes. “What do you need me to do?”
Howard hesitated for a moment before saying, “We need a spot to enter the Divine Temple secret realm.”
Just as Zhitian Xin had thought, Howard’s condition matched exactly what he had in mind.
He put on a troubled expression. “The slots for entering the Divine Temple secret realm are decided by the Divine Temple itself. In the entire Warrior Sect, only the Sect Leader can participate. No one else has the right to touch this matter.”
“Is that so…” Howard looked disappointed. He placed his hand on the case, only to see Zhitian Xin’s hand gripping it tighten slightly.
“Alright, I’ll try.” With a tug, Zhitian Xin pulled the case toward himself.
Howard laughed heartily. “Brother Zhitian is indeed a straightforward man. I admire that.”
The vegetation in the small courtyard swayed in the wind, rustling softly.
…
Nighttime. A bright moon hung in a sky with sparse stars.
Star Island, Xia Nation Zone, Dungeon.
Under the dim light, a middle-aged man with stubble walked towards the depths of the dungeon, a leather whip in hand, humming a tune as he went. “What use do I have for this iron rod?…”
He didn’t notice that there were two shadows beneath his feet, completely different in form. These two shadows slowly merged into one, taking on a single shape.
All of this happened silently, without anyone noticing.
The stubbled man was the newly assigned interrogator for Su Mo. He was now approaching Su Mo’s cell, full of confidence.
Just then, another person came walking towards him. Glancing at the whip in the stubbled man’s hand, he said enviously, “Working quite diligently today, eh? Is it because…”
“Don’t think I don’t know what’s on your mind,” the stubbled man retorted irritably. “No matter how beautiful a woman is, once the flesh is beaten to a pulp, it all looks the same. If you can keep from vomiting, I’ll consider your mental fortitude strong.”
“Is it really that bad?” the newcomer didn’t believe him.
“Don’t believe me? Go take a look?” the stubbled man enthusiastically invited.
“Better not. That place is too gloomy. I’m not physically strong, so I’ll pass.” The other man’s face changed, and he left resentfully.
“Tch.” The stubbled man sneered. “You really think interrogation is some good assignment? Sometimes, beating the wrong person can lead to punishment.“
He continued deeper into the dungeon, his singing faint and world-weary: “Still restless, still despondent…“
The singing drifted farther and farther, reaching the deepest parts of the dungeon, casting an eerie hue over the atmosphere there.
Click!
The dungeon’s heavy lock opened. The stubbled man glanced at the bloodied and bruised Su Mo, smiling faintly. “Oh, not asleep yet?”
Seeing a new person had arrived, the corner of Su Mo’s mouth twitched slightly.
“What are you laughing at?” Sharp-eyed, the stubbled man noticed Su Mo’s smile and immediately questioned.
“I’m laughing at you, facing death yet unaware, smugly walking the path to the yellow spring, delivered there by someone else.” Su Mo began to laugh out loud. His once pleasant voice had become hoarse and aged, clearly a result of excessive torture.
“What do you mean by that?” The stubbled man’s face turned cold, sensing something was off.
He was about to step forward to demand an explanation when the faint light from behind cast his shadow, which began to sway.
His mouth fell open in disbelief as he watched this scene. Before he could react, the swaying shadow suddenly split into two. One of them leaped up, transforming into a living person right before his eyes.
Splat! Blood sprayed from the stubbled man’s neck. His body fell to the ground with a thud.
Snap, snap, snap…
A few more crisp sounds followed. The chains binding Su Mo broke apart. The person transformed from the shadow moved swiftly, also destroying the magical tools restraining Su Mo’s cultivation.
Su Mo’s body went limp, and he collapsed weakly to the ground.
He thought the other person would catch him. To his surprise, she dodged far away, afraid of getting blood on herself.
The key point was, she even remembered to justify herself: “Sorry, I’m a bit of a clean freak. You’ll have to endure the pain for a bit.”
Su Mo: Σ(ŎдŎ|||)ﾉﾉ