“What… 10,000 spirit stones?” Li Changju’s face darkened.
Cao Qiang glanced at him coldly and said, “Didn’t you come here to take revenge on Ye Yan?”
“No, no, Elder, you misunderstand!” Li Changju waved his hands quickly. “I only wanted to ask how you plan to judge this case.”
“According to the sect rules.” Cao Qiang replied flatly.
“Sect rules?” Li Changju frowned.
“Six Thousand Cuts, then solitary confinement for three months,” Cao Qiang said coldly. “There is no room for negotiation. Even if the Sect Master comes in person, the Punishment Hall will pass the same judgment. If you came to plead for him, you may leave now.” His tone was harsh, righteous, and impartial.
Seeing this, Li Changju instantly sighed in relief. “Good, that’s good…”
“Hm?” Cao Qiang raised his head with suspicion. “You didn’t come to plead for him?”
“Of course not! How could I ever plead for that beast who defiled my Senior Sister?” Li Changju said with righteous indignation.
“Damn it!” Cao Qiang cursed inwardly. Then my earlier act was wasted?
“Then what are you here for?” Cao Qiang asked in a deep voice.
Li Changju chuckled and said, “To tell you the truth, Elder, I came here on behalf of my Senior Sister to visit him.”
“Your Senior Sister is… Princess Xiao?”
“Exactly.”
At the mention of this major benefactor’s name, Cao Qiang’s expression instantly changed to enthusiasm. “If that’s the case, then please wait a moment. I’ll have Ye Yan brought to you immediately.”
“There’s no need. That would be too troublesome. I’ll just go see him myself.” Li Changju quickly stopped him.
“How could that be appropriate? You are Princess Xiao’s junior brother; you cannot be treated carelessly!” Cao Qiang said with a smile. “Don’t worry, little brother. I have prepared a top-grade secret chamber, completely isolated from the outside world. I guarantee that no one will know what happens inside.”
Hearing this, Li Changju was overjoyed. “Alright then, thank you, Elder.” He bowed politely.
“Think nothing of it!” Cao Qiang waved him off.
…
Ye Yan was thrown like a dead dog into a damp and gloomy dungeon. His face was pale, his body bruised and bloodied, his clothes torn to shreds. He looked utterly miserable.
Lying on the filthy ground, deprived of his spiritual power, he shivered in the cold.
His breathing was labored, every gasp difficult, yet he still clenched his teeth and endured. His cultivation was sealed, shackles bound his limbs, and he still hadn’t recovered from today’s humiliation. This chapter is updated first at novelping.com.
This was the second time in his life he had suffered such disgrace. The first had been three years ago, when his fiancée broke off their engagement.
“Li Changju!” Ye Yan’s heart boiled with hatred. “Just wait. Once I regain my strength, I’ll kill you all. I’ll kill everyone who humiliated me and trampled on me!”
“Elder Chen, help me!” Ye Yan suddenly called into the storage ring on his finger.
Elder Chen replied, “Patience. Do not ruin the grand plan for a moment’s anger. Someone is coming.”
The dungeon door creaked open, and a rush of cold wind swept inside, carrying the stench of blood.
“Ye Yan!” Several law enforcement disciples opened the door, wrinkling their noses at the filthy cell. “Get up! You’re coming with us!”
“Am I… being released?” Ye Yan’s face lit up with excitement as he scrambled up and staggered toward the barred door.
“Dream on. Once you enter the Punishment Hall, there’s no leaving until your sentence is complete. Someone wants to see you. Move!” They dragged him out roughly.
“Who wants to see me?” Ye Yan asked.
“You’ll know when the time comes.” The disciples couldn’t be bothered to explain and hauled him along to a different cell behind the Punishment Hall.
Soon, they arrived at a dimly lit dungeon. After shoving him inside, they left.
This cell was clearly cleaner than the previous one. A single lamp illuminated the walls, and a few simple beds could be seen.
Ye Yan looked around and noticed the back of a man sitting in the corner. The flickering light stretched his shadow tall and intimidating, making Ye Yan shudder. He quickly knelt down and said nervously, “My lord, are you here to rescue me?”
“Rescue you? You’re thinking too much.” Li Changju shook his head and slowly turned around. “Surprised? Delighted?”
“Li Changju, it’s you?!” Shock flooded Ye Yan’s face. He realized this bastard had come to laugh at him. Rage consumed him as he clenched his fists and roared, “You’re courting death!”
He struggled to get up but was dragged down by the shackles, crashing hard onto the ground.
“Don’t move. The more you struggle, the more pain you’ll feel,” Li Changju said casually. “These shackles suppress your cultivation. The moment you resist, your pain will only multiply. The more you fight, the more you’ll suffer.”
Ye Yan froze, glaring at him with venomous hatred.
Li Changju smirked as he stepped closer, towering over him. “Ye Yan, these past three years, you must have enjoyed yourself, haven’t you?”
“Pah!” Ye Yan spat at him.
“Murong Daidai is in my hands. How about a deal?” Li Changju squatted, staring into his eyes. “I’ll let her go, and you’ll give me the Yin-Yang Ice Soul. What do you say?”
The moment Murong Daidai’s name was mentioned, Ye Yan’s body trembled violently. Li Changju noticed and sneered. “That old man with you must’ve told you how important Murong Daidai is, right?”
That old man was his greatest secret, his sole reliance, his only hope. How did Li Changju know? Impossible… absolutely impossible!
“Elder Chen, he’s found you! Give me strength—we’ll fight our way out!” Ye Yan cried inwardly.
Elder Chen sighed, “I told you—patience. Don’t ruin the grand plan!”
When Ye Yan remained silent, Li Changju patted his shoulder with a grin. “Yin-Yang Ice Soul or Murong Daidai? Think carefully about which one matters more.”
“Despicable!” Ye Yan glared at him.
“Look who’s talking. Compared to the villain you are in the original novel, I’m not even one-tenth as despicable. No wonder modern readers called you the ‘Fantasy Floor Tile.’”
“You’re not afraid that I’ll tell Master when I get out?” Ye Yan gritted his teeth.
“You think you’re in any position to threaten me now?” Li Changju sneered. With a wave of his hand, a glazed tower appeared, showing Murong Daidai tied up inside, trembling.
“You…” Ye Yan’s pupils contracted.
“Let Daidai go, or I’ll fight you to the death!” Ye Yan roared.
“To the death? Hahaha!” Li Changju’s eyes grew cold as he kicked him viciously.
“Bang!” Ye Yan flew several meters, a few ribs snapping as blood gushed from his mouth. He coughed violently.
“Elder Chen, I can’t take this anymore! Give me strength!” Ye Yan screamed.
Li Changju chuckled inwardly. As expected of the Child of Destiny. No matter how desperate the situation, he always looked like he might turn the tables. He braced himself for a fight—yet…
Elder Chen sighed again. “I told you, patience! Do not ruin the grand plan!”
“Arghhh!” Ye Yan howled like a madman. “Li Changju, I’ll kill you!”
Li Changju laughed. “Strength, is it? I’ll show you mine.”
Then Ye Yan received the harshest beating of his life. Were it not for the system mission, Li Changju truly wanted to finish him off right there.
“Stop, stop! I was wrong! Isn’t it just the Yin-Yang Ice Soul? Take it!” Ye Yan screamed in agony until finally he could endure no more. He gave in, retrieved the Yin-Yang Ice Soul, and handed it over.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, mission completed within the time limit. Mission: ‘Kidnap Fifth Junior Sister Murong Daidai, threaten Ye Yan, and obtain the Yin-Yang Ice Soul from him!’]
[Reward: Undying Heavenly Demon Scripture. Sent to system inventory. Please check.]
“Oww… Li Changju, are you even human? You already got it, yet you’re still beating me!”
Li Changju shrugged. “Just a habit.”
“Where’s my thank you?” he added with a grin.