Chapter 109: Forced to Swear an Oath

Yuan Yao took this object out.

This object was heavy, like an ancient and precious scroll, exuding a solemn and dignified aura, its surface pure and flawless white.

Yuan Yao wanted to open it, but discovered its surface was shrouded by a layer of sealing barrier; with her current strength, she could not open it at all.

After a moment's thought, she placed the scroll into her storage space.

Afterwards, she put the storage ring she was holding back onto Shiziwen's finger.

She raised her hand and checked Shiziwen's breath.

The boy's breathing was faint, he was on his last breath.

He had been gravely wounded by an exploding talisman, then kicked twice, and now he was losing too much blood.

If he didn't stop the bleeding quickly, the boy would likely die.

Thinking of her mission, Yuan Yao gritted her teeth, fed him a Healing Wound Pill, and applied medicine to his wound to staunch the bleeding.

After doing all that, a creaking sound came from behind; she turned and saw the kicked‑in door shaking in the wind, about to fall.

Yuan Yao: "……"

She got up, quickly picked up the broken wood pieces, stuffed them into the door's hole, patched it up, and placed a barrier on the door so it could close like a normal door.

Suddenly, she felt a gaze fixed on her.

She turned her head and met the one‑eyed boy's stare.

"Yuan Yao…" his voice hoarse, faintly carrying deep hatred.

The next moment, he tried to break free of the colorful rope.

Yuan Yao closed the door, then quickly walked up to Shiziwen and slapped him directly on the forehead.

Smack!

"Do you want to die?"

Shiziwen was dazed by the blow, he lifted his eyes and stared fixedly at Yuan Yao.

Yuan Yao had no time to waste with him, she got straight to the point: "Why did you intrude into the forbidden land?"

Shiziwen's eyes flickered, then he turned his head away.

"Not talking, huh? Then I can only hand you over to the sect master!" Seeing his guilty look, Yuan Yao smiled.

Hearing this, Shiziwen still showed no reaction.

Yuan Yao said, "I've long known about your affair with Lu Xiangxiang; if I'm not mistaken, she sent you to sneak into the forbidden land to steal something."

Upon hearing "Lu Xiangxiang," the pallor on his face deepened with gloom, and he said in a low voice, "It has nothing to do with her!"

"It's fine if you don't talk; anyway, once you're before the sect master, even if you refuse to speak, you'll be subjected to a soul search. Do you know what the Soul Search Technique is? It is……"

Before she could finish, blood trickled from the corner of Shiziwen's mouth.

Yuan Yao's pupils contracted; she seized Shiziwen's cheek and squeezed hard, forcing his mouth open.

His tongue almost got bitten off; now blood seeped out, winding down from the corner of his mouth.

"You actually tried to bite your tongue to kill yourself."

Yuan Yao never expected him to go so far to protect Lu Xiangxiang, even sacrificing his own life.

Yuan Yao stared coldly at him, "Shiziwen, you cannot die, and I won't let you die!"

If he died, I would have to endure ten heavenly thunderbolts.

When these words reached Shiziwen's ears, they instead stirred an even stronger desire to resist.

Because in his view, Yuan Yao could never let them off, especially the kind Senior Sister Lu.

Since death is inevitable either way, it would be better to end this painful torment sooner, at least sparing Senior Sister Lu further unnecessary trouble and danger.

The boy seemed to have completely lost his mind, struggling wildly, trying to shake off her hand gripping his cheek.

He widened his eyes, his face twisted ferally, and a low, hoarse growl escaped his throat.

Yuan Yao was furious; she grabbed a handful of Shiziwen's hair and slammed his head against the wall several times.

It just left him dazed.

Yuan Yao picked up a bundle of gauze from the ground and forcibly stuffed it into his mouth.

At this point Shiziwen's consciousness was muddled, but he hadn't passed out yet; he glared hatefully at Yuan Yao.

Yuan Yao said expressionlessly, "Rest assured, I won't take you to the sect master."

Hearing this, Shiziwen clearly didn't believe her.

"What you stole from the forbidden land is now with me."

Shiziwen's face changed instantly; his first reaction was to feel for his storage ring.

Yuan Yao naturally noticed his movement.

Indeed, that scroll was exactly what he had stolen from the forbidden land.

He had not yet handed it over to Lu Xiangxiang.

Yuan Yao couldn't help but ask, "Shiziwen, what exactly do you owe Lu Xiangxiang that you'd work yourself to death for her?"

Shiziwen's chest heaved with anger; the wound on his torso burst open again, staining the white gauze red, and his eyes toward Yuan Yao were filled with disgust and hatred.

"Before tonight, I had no grudge against you, right?" Yuan Yao stood, pulled over a chair, sat down, rested her chin on one hand, and let out a soft sigh.

Shiziwen froze at those words.

He turned his head away, no longer looking at Yuan Yao.

"Why did you enter the Carefree Sect?"

"Was it to help Lu Xiangxiang steal something? Or to help her deal with me?"

"What did Lu Xiangxiang tell you to make you hate me so much? Did I kill your family, or stab you in the kidney?"

"Shi junior brother, I haven't provoked you, have I?"

"Could it be that you like Lu Xiangxiang?"

Hearing those words, Shiziwen's breath hitched; he lifted his gaze to Yuan Yao, hiding in his eyes an emotion others could not see.

"You already like her this early?" Yuan Yao sounded a little surprised, "Could it be love at first sight for her?"

Shiziwen lowered his eyes, avoiding her gaze.

"Indeed."

Truly befitting the fourth deep‑emotion male supporting character.

Yuan Yao sized him up; this petite frame… thin and weak, not tall either, looking like a twelve‑ or thirteen‑year‑old boy, making it hard to imagine at once that he had fallen for Lu Xiangxiang at first sight.

However, he seemed to be about the same age as her.

Yuan Yao rose, crouched before him, and softened her voice: "I won't tell anyone, so don't tell Lu Xiangxiang either—I took the painting scroll, okay?"

Shiziwen's eyelashes twitched slightly.

He really couldn't figure out what she was trying to do!

Yuan Yao removed the gauze stuffed in his mouth, and before he could react, she shoved a pill into his mouth.

Shiziwen wanted to spit it out, but Yuan Yao sharply patted his chest; he coughed violently, and the pill had already slid down his throat.

Yuan Yao smiled: "Do you want to live?"

Shiziwen's breathing was ragged; his tongue had been bitten, making his speech slurred: "What do you want to do?"

Yuan Yao: "If you wish to survive in this world, you must take two oaths."

"First: I, Shiziwen, will in this life surely not fail Yuan Yao, will never betray her, will never harm her in the slightest. Second: I, Shiziwen, swear to defend the Carefree Sect unto death, never to harm its disciples."

"Should I violate this oath, I, Shiziwen, will surely suffer backlash from my inner demon, heavenly punishment, body and spirit destroyed, never to be reborn!"