Chapter 111

Dousing me with foul‑smelling, icy water, my hazy consciousness snapped awake, my body swaying slightly, while the wound sent a searing, devouring pain. I looked up at Yin Tianxue.

"Good! Good!" Yin Tianxue stared at me for a while, then suddenly tossed the whip from her hand, walked up to me, the water on my body emitting a foul stench that made her grimace in disgust, "To still keep such a calm expression at this point truly impresses this princess, but…"

A deep, unfathomable smile curled at the corner of her mouth, reflecting her stunning beauty. Yet because she was so gorgeous and flamboyant, I couldn't help but feel a chill in my heart, my suppressed stomach acid churned and erupted as a cough.

"Men!" Yin Tianxue, satisfied with my horrified expression, stepped back a few paces and ordered, "Fetch several more buckets of fresh water and wash this woman clean for this princess."

Cold water poured bucket after bucket over me, washing away the stench, rinsing the blood until even the wound on my body became barely visible. I trembled, forced my eyes open and, through my dripping long hair, stared silently at her, neither provoked nor fearful.

It's not that I don't want to curse her; I'm boiling with rage, and if I could, I'd stab this disgusting woman a thousand one hundred times with a knife. But I'm even more aware that once I speak—whether to anger her or to beg for mercy—it will only make her torment me even more wildly. I am the meat, she the butcher; isn't that exactly how it is?

Yin Tianxue extended her jade hand, fished a yellow pill from her bosom, handed it to the black‑clad attendant, and smiled oddly, "Feed it to her."

I didn't want to suffer in vain, so when the medicine arrived I obediently opened my mouth, letting the surprised black‑clad figure shove the pill into me. A strange, intense fragrance melted on my tongue, slithering into my body like a venomous snake. I snapped my head up and glared fiercely at Yin Tianxue.

Yin Tianxue smiled sweetly, her voice light and triumphant, "I know you're not afraid of being beaten or disfigured, because that person... doesn't care about any of that."

She paused, and a crazy twist warped her beautiful face, "How does an ugly freak like you deserve his love? You've already been married—what right do you have to match him?!"

As Yin Tianxue spoke, the madness in her hatred turned into a cold smile, "I know you and Wei Lingfeng are only husband and wife in name, not in fact, and I also know he cares most about your relationship with Wei Lingfeng, so... if you become a plaything, a prostitute entertaining others, do you think... he'll still want you? Ha ha..."

I can guarantee that everyone, including Lan Yingyu and the masses of Key Nation, would be shocked. In the water prison, besides her sharp laughter, the silence was terrifying.

A surge of scorching heat erupted from my abdomen, curling and spreading throughout my body. I, who had been whipped in silence until now, let out a low, breathy moan tinged with seductive lust, tearing through my throat.

I gasped sharply for cold air, clamped my lips, and cursed the entire lineage of the Yin family's bastards in my mind. Damn Yin Tianxue, if one day you fall into my hands, I will crush your bones and scatter your ashes. I…

So… so sad! I can feel my entire skin burning like fire, an unfamiliar heat coursing wildly inside me, every cell packed tight, yet my heart feels utterly hollow. My breathing quickens, my body twists uncontrollably, the angle of my mid‑air spin growing larger.

Qi... Qiran! I feel terrible, please save me! Tears fell uncontrollably, my face steamed like boiling water with droplets flowing from my hair, my voice choked in my throat. But soon, soon it will burst out. I saw Yin Tianxue's lips opening and closing, but I couldn't hear what she was saying. I knew those people were shouting wildly, but in my ears there was only a roaring sound.

A pair of hands pressed onto me, the icy chill almost made me involuntarily moan with desire. Then, a chill spread through my body, and the outer garment soaked through with water was ruthlessly torn off my body.

That chill, that bone‑deep cold let me barely regain a bit of clarity, and I heard Yin Tianxue laughing as she said to me: "…After the cloud and rain disperse, even a chaste and heroic woman will become a wanton; just wait, let these Qi kingdom commanders see how you will fawn and submit beneath a man."

The only clothing left on me was a white gauze undershirt, soaked through, torn to shreds, hardly different from being naked—more revealing than a modern three‑point outfit. My body tormented by lust, my brain desperately trying to recall any method to regain sanity.

Hearing Yin Tianxue's words, the anger pent up in my heart finally flared up. Damn, what is tolerable and what is not? What is unbearable and needs no further endurance? I lifted my head, gave a fierce flick, sending droplets flying, they landed on the man beside me who had torn my clothes; he couldn't help but stumble back in embarrassment.

My hands were hoisted, my whole body suspended; the simple bun of long hair had long since come loose, wet, staining my already soaked thin garment and the mottled scars.

"Yin Tianxue." I swayed my body, suppressing the surge of desire throughout me, and spoke coldly: "You'd better just kill me today, or else, if one day you fall into my hands, I'll make you regret coming into this world. And also…"

I suddenly laughed, seeing in Yin Tianxue's eyes not far away my own peach‑blushed face, alluring brows and eyes, that smiling, bewitching, enigmatic beauty stained with blood, which abruptly reminded me of someone—Bai Shengyi.

Heh, they all looked at me with shocked expressions, finding it hard to bear.

I couldn't help but laugh even more happily, as if the drug's potency had weakened a bit. Seeing Yin Tianxue's expression like she had swallowed a dead fly, I continued: "Yin Tianxue, if you want to kill me, do it cleanly and swiftly; otherwise… cough cough… once the news leaks out, you'll have to wait for Qiran and Bu Sha's thousand‑mile deadly strike!"

The dungeon fell silent again, so quiet that only my heavy breathing remained.

Yes! Time can pass, but some people, some things are destined to be etched into hearts, recorded in history, becoming astonishing legends or painful memories. For example, the wandering Wu You troupe that roamed the world invincible; for example, Bu Sha, who alone assassinated the ruler of Yin Guo; for example, the founder of a nation with a single hand, who could effortlessly destroy the entire Tianhe Continent—the young lord of Yi Guo, Xiao Qiran.

"Yinyue, what are you still hesitating about?!" Yin Tianxue snapped back to awareness, her face turning purplish black, the fire of jealousy and hatred blazing in her eyes. She turned her head toward the black‑clothed man beside me and shouted shrilly, "Didn't you hear the princess's order?"

Yinyue? I gritted my teeth, desperately suppressing my moans and writhing, rummaging in my mind for that somewhat familiar name.

The pull on my hands suddenly loosened, my whole body went limp and began to fall, but before hitting the ground a pair of hands caught me.

To be honest, this whatever "cloud and rain dispersant" is actually a powerful aphrodisiac; when alone I could barely hold back, but once I touched a man's body and felt his masculine aura, the drug's lust boiled over uncontrollably. Reason told me to stay away, yet my body couldn't help moving closer, seeking closeness.

I suddenly regretted leaving Dark Alley early; back then I only learned how to endure torture, but being only eleven I never learned how to resist bewitching drugs. I also regretted not studying the Clearing Heart Mantra with Qiran properly—at least… I wouldn't be in such a sorry state now.

A pair of hands glided over my body; wherever the fingers touched, the burning heat seemed to be drawn away, leaving a faint coolness that made me moan comfortably. When the fingers withdrew, the heat flared even more, like opium or heroin—once addicted, all I craved was more. My dazed eyes met those that smiled without mirth, icy and devoid of any lust, a familiar gaze.

I startled, and a name flashed in my mind—Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng. But I clearly knew he wasn't Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng. He was the third death warrior in the retinue of the Third Prince of Yin Guo, the gatekeeper of the first level at the Wangjiang Tower martial duel, the moon‑shadow swordsman who besieged me and Qiran by the hot springs—Yinyue. When he smiles he has a childish air, yet he is extraordinarily cruel, inevitably reminding me of that silver‑gold‑pupiled Thus Character: Thus Character: Luofeng.

I pulled back my still‑bound, numb hands, feeling I had exerted great effort to push him away, yet the people beside him remained utterly unmoved.

"Yin Tianxue! How you treat the Empress today, the Emperor will surely not forgive you if he finds out. You madwoman, son of a bitch, stop this at once!! Stop!!"

Who? Who is scolding her? Or rather… rather scold me, even if it wakes me up a little…… Qiran…… Qiran…… Qiran…… I miss you so much…… I miss you…… I miss you……

I could feel those hands slowly undoing the buttons of my inner garment, I could feel nausea rising in my chest, a disgust so extreme, yet my body was powerless, powerlessly betraying myself. Qiran, I feel terrible…… please save me…… save me……

Yin Tianxue's voice rang with arrogant triumph, echoing in my ears: "Lan Yingyu, you begged the master from Yao Guo to bring you here, isn't it just to watch this lowly woman's fate today? How come you're scared now that it's come to this?"

"Tian… Tianxue…" Lan Yingyu trembled, her teeth chattering, she glanced at me in Yinyue's embrace as my clothes were gradually undone, my face full of pain; a flash of malice crossed her expression, then was replaced by fear: "I… I really do want that lowly person dead, but… if… if the Crown Prince finds out…"

"Hmph! You're afraid of him, I'm not!" Yin Tianxue snorted coldly, the thrill of revenge, the spark of jealousy and hatred, steaming on her hibiscus‑like lovely face: "When he arrives, it'll be perfect to let him see how his beloved woman looks…"

"Bang!!"

The iron door was suddenly flung open from outside with a thunderous roar; the few guards in front retreated in shock. I was recalled to a bit of sanity by that deafening blast and the sky‑filling dust, and I barely lifted my head to look.

In a daze, I saw Fu Junmo in black armor, his face as cold as ice, his eyes blood‑red, charging in.

"Pa‑pa—" two sharp cracks, a purple and a red figure were clumsily overturned onto the ground.

I saw Yin Tianxue's left cheek swollen, her eyes filled with resentful unwillingness mixed with a hint of fear, her body trembling, and I couldn't help wanting to laugh. XD! You weren't just arrogant a moment ago? You said you weren't afraid?

"Crown Prince… no… it's not me!" Lan Yingyu obviously stunned, all color drained from her face, tears and snot streaming as she retreated, "It's all Tianxue, everything she did."

Fu Junmo didn't even look at her, took a few steps to my side and kicked Yinyue beside me. That black silhouette drifted for a while, then fell into the black water. I was certain he did it on purpose—intentionally avoiding a clash with Fu Junmo, falling near him yet fearing Fu Junmo would kill him, so he simply dropped into the water. This person truly cannot be underestimated.

Fu Junmo stared at the floundering figure in the water, killing intent flickered in his eyes but he ultimately did not descend to slay. He took off his armor and tossed it aside, removed his outer garment, draped it over me, and gently lifted me, his movements as tender as holding porcelain.

"Yin Tianxue." Fu Junmo held tightly the trembling me in his arms, his voice icy with menace: "You'd better remember, I am the commander of this battlefield; even if Yin Zihen himself appeared today, he'd have to obey my orders. If you dare again to defy the Crown Prince's command, I will send your corpse to Yin Zihen!"

Yin Tianxue's face flushed white then green, then she suddenly gritted her teeth with a reckless resolve: "Fu Junmo, although you are the commander, I am here under the master's orders—why wouldn't I dare?"

"Xiao Yifei?!" Fu Junmo's eyes flashed with a chilling killing intent, he said coldly: "Good! Good! We'll see how it goes!"

Having said that, he stepped step by step toward the door; as he passed Lan Yingyu, he suddenly kicked her hard into the sewage, snarling, "If it weren't for Ruo'er's sake, I would have already taken your life. From now on… don't let me see you again!!"

As I stepped out of the iron door, I caught a flash of a purple silhouette in the corner on the right, a somewhat familiar figure, but for a moment I couldn't recall who it was.

Lan Yingyu's cries faded as I drew a long breath after a long while; suddenly I felt my body not low but high with scorching heat, and I realized the aphrodisiac on me had not worn off—my complexion drained, my whole body tensed.

The arms tightly holding me grew hotter as they sensed my rising temperature, even the embrace itself seemed about to boil.

I suddenly realized my predicament had not been resolved at all; on the contrary… it might be even more serious.

Fu Junmo carried me to a side room, reached out to push the door. I mustered what little will remained, grabbed his front lapel, and haltingly but firmly said: "I… want to see… Xiao Yifei."

Fu Junmo's motion paused, his face darkened a few degrees, and he said coldly: "You want to seek death?" While speaking, his steps didn't stop, and he casually pulled the door shut behind him.

My heart grew a bit more fearful, the inner heat became unbearable, I felt this kind of life truly wasn't fit for humans. All the swear words I'd wanted to utter over ten‑plus years added up don't even match today's; I sensed that without venting like this, there's no way to shift the bodily agony.

"Take me to see…… Xiao Yifei……" please…… I forced myself, swallowing the last two words back. My body sank, and I was already placed on the bed.

I saw his eyes gradually deepen, sucked in a breath of cold air, and hurriedly rolled to the side. A chill ran over me—his outer coat had been pulled over, and my body was dragged along with it to his front.

He hooked his arms around my shoulders and waist, pulling me into his embrace, and his scorching lips pressed against mine.

I wanted to shove him away hard, but the desire from the drug inside me was completely ignited by this kiss. Even if I clenched my teeth, I couldn't extinguish the blazing heat boiling in my chest. A low moan escaped my throat; nauseated, I wanted to cry.

Tears really slid down the corners of my eyes. Fu Junmo suddenly released me, breathing heavily, looking at me with a gloomy, complex expression. I turned my head and saw in the bronze mirror my own disheveled, trembling body, flushed face, eyes full of feeling yet brimming with tears—I truly wanted to chop him with a blade.

"This aphrodisiac, Yin-Yang Cloud Rain Powder, will kill you if you don't couple." He reached out, turned my face toward him, exhaled onto my lips, his voice icy: "Do you want to die in the torment of desire?"

I arched my body backward to avoid his lips, my voice trembling and hoarse, yet unexpectedly firm even to myself: "I want to see…… Xiao Yifei!"

He grabbed my hand, which trembled stiffly, and words of vexation and hatred burst from his throat one by one: "Even after seeing…… you still can't dispel this drug!"

"You fucking annoying!" I shoved him away with all my strength and shouted, "Whether it can be solved is my business; I said I want to see Xiao Yifei! You just need to give an answer—allow or not?"

"What right do I have to allow it?!" Fu Junmo suddenly turned vicious, grabbed my wrist and flung me onto the bed. The wooden bed, unable to bear the impact, creaked. The intense pain actually lessened the desire inside me a bit, but his scorching body pressed down on me at that moment.

"I finally got you, what right do I have to let you die! Ruo'er——Ruo'er——" His kisses fell one by one on my neck, collarbone, bringing tingling sensations; the hand roving over my body stripped away the little clothing I had left. Though I felt extreme fear and disgust, I couldn't control myself craving more of that shameful sensation.

My struggling hand touched the short knife at his waist; I yanked it out, emitting a sharp, piercing sound.

He stopped moving, a flash of anger in his eyes, and backhanded to block my descending knife. The blade, however, arced in midair and plunged deep into my own arm, blood gushing out.

My consciousness cleared instantly. The pain in my arm and the whip wounds on my body burst forth at once, stimulating my nerves. I gritted my teeth in pain, yet couldn't help but laugh.

"You——" Fu Junmo sprang up, grabbing my arm where blood was spurting; I exerted force with the hand holding the knife, pulling the short blade out, and blood splattered all over his face.

I let him, angry yet helpless, casually pull over the bed curtains and tightly wrap them around my arm; the scarlet liquid slowly seeped out through the light-colored layers of the curtain.

"You woman, do you just love self-harm?!" Fu Junmo flew into a rage, raising his hand several times to strike, but each time he stiffly pulled back. He yanked hard with his right hand, dragging over the outer garment he had just taken off and wrapping it around me.

"I don't like it!" I gasped, face deathly pale, repeating once more, "I want to see—— Xiao Yifei!"

I don't want to die, I don't want to self-harm, I don't want to have relations with you—that's why I need to see him. I simply don't believe a mere aphrodisiac could stymie the Ice-Spirit King.

Fu Junmo looked at me; myriad expressions flickered in his eyes, then he extended both arms and pulled me into his embrace, his merciless grip making my bones creak. I couldn't help but frown from the pain. All I heard was his cold, ruthless voice: "Fine! Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish!"

It was a rather simple room—one bed, one table, one wooden chair. When Fu Junmo carried me into Xiao Yifei's chamber, he was seated at the desk, one hand holding a book, leisurely reading.

Seeing us—actually, seeing me—he flashed a faint smile, his gaze as if looking at a lifeless object. He then turned to Fu Junmo, his voice resonant: "What's up, Prince? Do you need something from me?"

Fu Junmo bent slightly, loosened his grip, and threw me onto the floor. He walked with a grim face to the only bed in the room and sat down, saying nothing.

My bones felt shattered from the fall; I furrowed my brows, lifted my head to Xiao Yifei, and said: "It's…… me…… who wants to see you."

"Oh?" Xiao Yifei's smile was unfathomable; he slowly rose and walked to me, asking, "You want to see me?" A dark, lightless grin loomed before me, and suddenly I felt a surge of force shooting straight to my Guanyuan point.

"Ah……" I let out a low cry; the desire I had been suppressing suddenly surged up, amplified hundreds of times. I couldn't help tearing at my clothes, writhing helplessly on the floor, and shameful moans escaped my mouth.

Fu Junmo jolted, lunging toward me, but Xiao Yifei simply pushed him far away with a single palm.

Xiao Yifei looked at me with a calm face, the corner of his mouth curling into a cruel smile, and said slowly: "I really don't know…… what expression Ran'er and Xuan'er would have if they saw you like this."

My heart jolted; a chill swept through my body, and I clenched my teeth against my lower lip—even a hint of pain would be welcome.

I clutched my tattered clothes, trembling all over, yet fixed Xiao Yifei with a harsh, hoarse voice, each word spilling from my lips: "I…… am…… pregnant……"

Xiao Yifei's expression shifted slightly; he withdrew his smile, gazed at me deeply, his voice dangerous: "Is it Ran'er's?"

I couldn't help writhing my hot body, let out a moan, quickly suppressed it, and nodded firmly.

Xiao Yifei gave me a cold stare for a moment, then lifted his hand; I felt another surge of force enter my body, the devouring, scorching pressure instantly easing. I gasped heavily, bean-sized sweat droplets rolling down my face onto the stone floor.

Suddenly my collar was yanked up violently; my eyes met Fu Junmo's face, twisted with killing intent, as he snarled: "Who?! Whose is it?!"

I closed my eyes, opened them again, and said in a hoarse voice: "What's it to you? Anyway, it's not yours! Ah——"

I was slammed violently to the ground; a threatening killing intent surged toward me, but then halted midway.

I breathed in and out, forcing myself to calm my racing heart, telling myself over and over: I will win, I will win this gamble. I mustered a hundred and twenty thousand parts of courage, lifted my head, and looked at Xiao Yifei's unfathomable face.

Suddenly his hand seized my wrist, pulling it aloft to take my pulse. After a moment, his expression grew even darker, he fixed his gaze on me and said coldly: "Ran'er has been missing for a year. On what grounds should I believe…… that the child you carry is his?"

I pulled my hand back; the desire inside me had waned, though not vanished, my body still trembled violently, my voice still hoarse: "Don't forget, I too disappeared for a year. On what grounds can I not be with him?"

Seeing his expression unchanged, I felt hollow inside, drew a deep breath, and continued: "Qi Ran is immune to all poisons, his spiritual perception extraordinary; if not for me, you could never have made him touch another woman. Cough, cough…… even if, hypothetically, the child I bear isn't Qi Ran's, since I was able to transfer his blood worm back then, my blood…… is the sole full-yin blood identical to his! You…… Ice Lord…… truly don't want this child?"

Xiao Yifei's brows knitted tight, his gaze unwavering as various lights flashed in his eyes; finally, all hostility faded, he gave a cold smile and said in a low voice: "Fine! I'll grant you one more year of life!"

Three fingers pressed down, the oppressive desire finally receded entirely; I felt my body ache as if torn apart, my stomach churning, yet I couldn't help exhaling, giving a faint smile, and collapsed limp onto the ground.

At last…… I had won the gamble, at the very brink of disaster.

(End of chapter)