“Forget everything?” Zhu Mingyan laughed as if she had heard a joke.
“If I truly did something wrong, I will take full responsibility no matter the consequences.”
“But if I didn’t do it…”
“Anyone who tries to throw false accusations at me will pay a painful price!”
“Si Huizhou, you have repeatedly locked me in confinement, forced me to do labor, and damaged my reputation without caring about right or wrong.”
“How could I possibly just forget all of that?!”
“I know people like to respect the powerful and bully the weak.”
“But Si Huizhou, open your eyes and look carefully.”
A ball of black-red spiritual flame appeared in Zhu Mingyan’s right hand.
The intense heat made the air around it tremble.
She felt as if all the meridians in her body were about to burst apart.
The black flame suddenly expanded several meters outward.
At some point, the black dog had moved to her side.
“Do I look like someone you can bully whenever you want?!”
The first light of dawn fell across Zhu Mingyan’s face.
Black-red flames wrapped around her body.
Her eyes were firm and filled with anger.
The black dog stood beside her in the fire.
Together, they looked like two demons that had crawled out of hell to seek revenge.
Suddenly, Si Huizhou remembered the Immortal Alliance Tournament three years ago.
Back then, he had only been an ordinary outer disciple and was not qualified to compete.
He could only watch from the audience.
At that time, Zhu Mingyan was only twelve years old.
She wore an elegant high-ranking disciple uniform.
A bright red ribbon tied her hair into a high ponytail.
She smiled confidently and radiated youthful energy.
Her bonded spirit beast, Sunwheel, stood proudly beside her surrounded by flames.
Its smooth white fur shone with a faint golden glow under the sunlight.
That day, the young beast tamer and her spirit beast defeated ten opponents in a row.
She became famous overnight and was considered the cultivation world’s most promising young genius.
For the first time, Si Huizhou regretted making an enemy of Zhu Mingyan.
…
Using her spiritual flame twice in a single day had pushed Zhu Mingyan to the edge of losing control.
But she had no choice.
After being reborn, she did not know how many people around her secretly wished her harm.
If she did not establish her authority now and make these people understand that she was not someone to be bullied, they would keep coming to trouble her.
Before long, she would die from her out-of-control spiritual flame.
The Enforcement Hall disciples in the courtyard had never seen her like this.
They had joined the sect later and only knew that Zhu Mingyan was weak, easy to bully, and held the title of the Sect Master’s disciple despite her poor cultivation.
They had never seen her angry.
Now, all of them trembled with fear.
The powerful heat forced them to retreat step by step toward the courtyard entrance.
They exchanged nervous glances and looked at Zhu Mingyan in terror.
…
“Today, I will personally report this matter to the Punishment Elder.”
“You have repeatedly framed me, bullied fellow disciples, ignored the rules of the Broken Blade Sect, acted arrogantly, and shown no remorse.”
“You should be removed from your position as a managing disciple.”
“According to sect law, you should receive fifteen lashes and be expelled from the inner sect!”
“You—!” Si Huizhou panicked completely.
“Even if you are the Sect Master’s personal disciple, you’re still only a disciple!”
“How dare you speak to the elders like that?!”
Zhu Mingyan raised an eyebrow.
“Why wouldn’t I dare?”
She took out a warm jade token from her waist and held it high.
“Before my master left the sect, he entrusted me with managing all affairs of Huai’an Peak.”
“He worried that I would not have enough authority, so he left me this Elder’s Token.”
“Anyone holding this token has the same status as a hall elder.”
“Do you think I have the right to speak to the Punishment Elder now?”
Si Huizhou froze as if struck by lightning.
Zhu Mingyan could no longer endure it.
Every meridian in her body felt as though it were burning.
While Si Huizhou and the others were still shocked and frightened, she quickly put away the token, grabbed the black dog into her arms, and hurried away without looking back.
The moment she left their sight, her entire body nearly collapsed.
Anyone who saw her now would think she was being burned alive.
Black-red flames covered her from head to toe.
Her brows were tightly furrowed.
Even blood flowed from the corners of her eyes.
The black dog wriggled excitedly in her arms.
Its warm tongue stretched out as it greedily devoured the endless black-red flames pouring from her body.
Zhu Mingyan held the dog tightly.
Her fingernails nearly dug into its flesh.
The black dog seemed irritated by her forceful grip.
It placed its front paws on her shoulders and revealed its sharp fangs.
Then it lowered its head toward her neck.
A chilling sensation cut through her pain and immediately woke her up.
Zhu Mingyan’s heart jumped in alarm.
She could clearly feel the sharp teeth resting against her throat.
Beneath the thin layer of skin flowed her boiling blood and raging spiritual flame.
The fangs rubbed dangerously against her neck, as if searching for the perfect place to bite.
This stupid dog was trying to tear out her throat!
Zhu Mingyan curled her fingers into claws.
Ignoring the danger, she forced the chaotic spiritual energy inside her body into her hands.
She grabbed the dog’s neck with all her strength.
In an instant, she flipped their positions and slammed the dog onto the ground.
Then she rapidly chanted a beast-taming spell.
She was furious.
Extremely furious.
Her spiritual energy was completely out of control.
The struggle had already broken her skin.
Within moments, fresh blood soaked through her clothes.
Her master had once told her that her spiritual flame was unique.
Unlike ordinary spiritual flames, it lived within her blood.
Ever since she lost her contract with Sunwheel, the flame had remained restless day and night.
It tormented her constantly until she could barely endure it anymore.
That was why she had begged her master to place a seal on her.
Now that the seal was gone, the flame was burning through her body and clouding her mind.
She had become unusually irritable.
She remembered the miserable death of her previous life.
The heavens had given her a second chance.
Yet she had been reborn after losing all her cultivation.
She thought she had finally found a way to control her spiritual flame.
But she had forgotten one thing.
This dog was still wild.
It had no contract with her.
It was only interested in feeding on her spiritual flame.
Filled with anger and resentment, Zhu Mingyan used all her strength to suppress the dog.
Her eyes glowed strangely.
They were blood-red.
Only one thought remained in her mind:
She would tame this mad dog and make it submit to her forever.
Golden light burst forth.
Like chains, it wrapped tightly around the black dog.
The chains even dug into its flesh.
Dark red blood flowed from the deep marks.
It should have been painful.
Instead, the dog became excited.
It struggled even harder.
The golden chains cut deeper and deeper, almost tearing its skin apart.
Zhu Mingyan nearly broke down.
Where did this masochistic dog come from?!
…
After several rounds of struggling, both she and the dog were almost drowned in blood and flames.
Suddenly, she felt exhausted.
Everything seemed meaningless.
With frustration and anger, she released her grip on the dog’s neck.
The golden chains disappeared.
She stood up, straightened her torn sleeves, endured the intense pain, and walked away.
The dog was stunned.
It stared blankly at Zhu Mingyan’s retreating figure.
Blood mixed with spiritual flame dripped from her body onto the ground.
Wherever it landed, the earth seemed ready to catch fire.
The dog stood there in confusion for a while.
Then it got up.
Following the trail of blood, it slowly and hesitantly trailed after her.