Time flies, and several days have passed in the blink of an eye.
At this moment, on the street pieced together from black stone blocks, the puddles, stained with sewage and blood, are rippled by the gentle patter of raindrops. Occasionally, a galloping carriage passes by, splashing fragments of filthy water in all directions.
At the end of the street stands a quiet and elegant courtyard, clean and tidy, with fresh, cool air, a stark contrast to the filthy, foul-smelling street outside, reeking of blood and decay—as if they were two different worlds.
Inside the attic of the courtyard, the exquisite room was now in utter disarray. The luxurious, soft bed looked as if it had been ravaged, its fabric crumpled and wrinkled.
Stains clung to the sheets, and a slightly pungent odor mixed with a faint smell of blood emanated from the bed, permeating the entire room.
On the bed, Yun Yun had completely wrapped her naked, graceful body in the blankets, curled up as if only in this way could she find a sliver of security. Her two smooth, white arms were exposed, tightly clutching the blankets to her chest.
Dark red bloodstains covered her fair, lotus-like arms, so dazzling and glaring that they created a unique visual impact, involuntarily stirring up a beastly bloodlust and unleashing a ferocious rage.
Yun Yun stared intently at Hun Changqing, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, now fully dressed in a black robe that exuded an eerie and terrifying aura. Her eyes held a hint of hatred, but more so, confusion, helplessness, and a touch of relief—a complex mix of emotions.
Yun Yun recalled how, a few days ago, Hun Changqing, with that eerie and evil smile, had pressed forward. In that instant, she felt utterly hopeless. However, when Hun Changqing lifted his dark, abyss-like robe, Yun Yun was instantly stunned, her eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
Hun Changqing was completely different from the skinny, grotesque, demonic, and utterly repulsive old man she had imagined—they were practically opposites.
Yun Yun didn't know how to describe Hun Changqing's face; she had never seen such a handsome person, especially not a man!
From childhood, in the capital and within the Yunlan Sect, she was always the most dazzling and radiant star. Countless halos and her celestial beauty made all other women pale in comparison. Yet, Yun Yun found that compared to Hun Changqing, her own beauty paled in comparison, dimming in comparison.
While Yun Yun was still in shock, in disbelief, and her mind reeling, Hun Changqing had already pounced on her.
At that moment, Yun Yun suffered the most excruciating torture imaginable. The intense pain, mixed with fear, constantly assaulted her brain, driving her to the brink of madness and collapse.
However, as the pain subsided, a subtle sensation gradually returned… until finally, she could no longer bear it and fell into a deep sleep.
When she woke up again, it was now. Although Yun Yun's gaze towards Hun Changqing still held resentment, it was inexplicably gentler and more subdued than it had been a few days ago. The despair in her heart had also dissipated considerably. Although the pain and despair Hun Changqing had initially inflicted on her were unparalleled,
what followed seemed different from what she had imagined—a hellish torment. It wasn't just pain; there were also...
certain images that seemed to come to mind. Yun Yun immediately gritted her teeth, shook her head, and dared not think any further. The images in her mind filled her with immense shame and anger. She even felt somewhat unfamiliar with the person she remembered, as if she were a completely different person. This sense of unfamiliarity with herself terrified Yun Yun.
Hun Changqing, having heard the faint movement from the bed, naturally realized that Yun Yun had awakened from her deep sleep.
"You're awake? How do you feel? Still in pain?"
Hun Changqing asked instinctively after seeing Yun Yun awake, his voice gentle and mild, unlike his previous sinister and evil tone.
His earlier attempts to frighten Yun Yun were merely to satisfy his perverse pleasure. Now that he had completely taken advantage of her, Hun Changqing naturally wouldn't speak harshly to her anymore. He generally treated women he had wronged quite well; he still had a soft spot for them, except for Gu Xun'er, that woman obsessed with Xiao Yan.
Yun Yun was slightly taken aback upon hearing Hun Changqing's voice, momentarily forgetting to respond. It was the first time she had heard Hun Changqing's true voice; her impression of it was still that of a hoarse, shrill voice, like that of a vicious old man.
But this time, Hun Changqing's voice felt ethereal and otherworldly, like the gentle murmur of a clear spring—exquisitely beautiful and soothing. It brought Yun Yun a sense of tranquility and peace, calming her previously troubled mind and bringing her a sense of serenity.
Hun Changqing's gentle, slightly caring words warmed Yun Yun's icy heart. She even felt an irresistible urge to throw
herself into his arms, burst into tears, and release all the despair and grievances of the past few days in his embrace. Yun Yun was startled by this sudden, terrifying thought, and looked at Hun Changqing with surprise and incomprehension. She
couldn't understand why this seemingly perfect man, so kind and powerful, like someone from a dream, could be so vile, using such despicable and vile means to threaten her and force himself on her, like a demon who had subjected her to this nightmare.
"Hmm?"
Seeing that Yun Yun didn't respond and instead stared at him blankly, Hun Changqing frowned slightly. Had he messed with Yun Yun? Had she gone mad?
Yun Yun, whose thoughts were wandering, also snapped out of her daze at Hun Changqing's questioning voice. She slowly took a deep breath to calm her turbulent heart and stop her wild thoughts. Then, she parted her lips slightly and said slowly,
"I... I'm fine..."
Hun Changqing didn't pay attention to the complicated expression on Yun Yun's face. He nodded slightly, and then Taiyin True Qi surged within his body, gathering at his fingertips. Hun Changqing used his slender white fingers to sharply
point at Yun Yun's body.
In an instant, the Taiyin True Qi surged forth, flashing with dazzling silver light, shooting towards Yun Yun. Yun Yun's pupils constricted sharply as she watched the approaching silver light; she thought Hun Changqing was going to kill her, and despair surged within her.
Then, she suddenly felt that dying like this might not be so bad; dying at this person's hands… Yun Yun slowly closed her eyes, a relaxed smile appearing on her lips, nonchalantly welcoming death.
Soon, Yun Yun felt the energy enter her body, but she didn't experience the expected pain, which surprised her.
Yun Yun's long, elegant eyelashes trembled slightly. She slowly opened her eyes, her gaze filled with confusion. Sensing her internal body, Yun Yun was surprised to find that the energy Hun Changqing had injected into her was eroding the seal within her at an alarming rate.
"Crack!" Soon, a sound like something shattering emanated from Yun Yun's body. After several days, Yun Yun once again felt her body brimming with energy, and her physical strength had been fully restored. This made Yun Yun, who had been powerless for several days and had suffered indescribable treatment during this time, feel a sense of unreality.
Then, Hun Changqing flipped his right palm, and after a flash of light, a white jade bottle and a pill surrounded by exquisite white cinnabar patterns appeared in his hand. With the appearance of the pill, a rich fragrance instantly filled the entire room, dispelling all the unpleasant odors.
Yun Yun was startled as she looked at the fragrant pill wafting towards her. She had seen many pills before, but the rich aroma and subtle medicinal power emanating from this one far exceeded her expectations. The pill in Hun Changqing's hand was worlds apart from the sixth-grade pills refined by Gu He; they were incomparable. What
surprised Yun Yun even more was that Hun Changqing casually tossed the pill, whose value she couldn't even imagine, along with the white pill bottle, towards her, as if he didn't care about the pill at all.
Yun Yun was slightly taken aback when she saw the pill flying towards her. Then, instinctively, she quickly reached out her delicate hand and steadily caught both the pill and the jade bottle, holding them very carefully. She then looked up at Hun Changqing with a puzzled expression and asked,
"What is this?"
Hun Changqing glanced at Yun Yun and said calmly
, "That pill is a Breakthrough Pill, and the one in the jade bottle is a Royal Pill. A Royal Pill can increase your cultivation level by one to two stars." "As for the Breakthrough Pill, you can give it to your master who is currently breaking through to the Dou Zong realm. Of course, if he has already successfully broken through, you can keep it for yourself when you break through to the Dou Zong realm in the future."
After hearing Hun Changqing's words, Yun Yun's face was full of disbelief. She knew how precious these two pills were, especially the Breakthrough Pill. Even selling the entire Yunlan Sect might not be enough to buy a single one!
And Hun Changqing just casually tossed it to her, along with a Royal Extreme Pill? This made Yun Yun feel as if she were in a dream, a dreamlike illusion. Her rosy lips parted slightly, her voice trembling as she asked incredulously,
"This...this is for me?"
Hun Changqing nodded, shrugged, and said,
"That's right. No matter how you interpret my intention in giving you these pills, they're for you."
Hun Changqing usually left something for people after causing them harm. As for Ya Fei, since she had no talent, giving her pills wouldn't be of much use, so he simply left her the lion dog that could at least grow into a Dou Huang. As for
Yao Ye and Yao Yue, it was naturally the pill to save the guardian beast. Medusa, of course, needed no further explanation; he was currently taking care of her.
Gu Xun'er was an exception, but she didn't care for his ugly appearance either. Hun Changqing even took a bribe from her. For some reason, Gu Xun'er couldn't be lumped together with the others.
At this moment, Yun Yun was filled with confusion, somewhat unable to believe that Hun Changqing, who had previously been so despicable, unscrupulous, and brutal in his treatment of her, would give her such a precious gift and treat her so gently, a stark contrast to his previous cruel attitude.
This stark contrast instantly struck Yun Yun with overwhelming force, stirring a complex mix of emotions within her. It was as if she had suddenly ascended from the abyss to a paradise. She almost forgot that Hun Changqing was the one who had dragged her into that abyss, leading her to utter ruin. A surge of joy and sweetness rose within her.
"Could he not be a bad person? Is it just because he likes me that he treats me this way? Otherwise, why would he give me such an expensive gift?"
Yun Yun involuntarily began to mentally search for excuses for herself and Hun Changqing, trying to explain his previous actions.
"Take these pills, then put on your clothes and you can go back to your Yunlan Sect."
Hun Changqing had just received Su Qian's message, indicating that they were about to take action against Demon Flame Valley. He had promised Su Qian that he would help him destroy Demon Flame Valley, so naturally he was going. Therefore, Hun Changqing instructed Su Qian to call Medusa and go ahead first, while he would arrive shortly.
At this moment, Su Qian and Medusa had already arrived near Demon Flame Valley. Hun Changqing naturally could not stay here with Yun Yun any longer, so he decided to let Yun Yun go back. Although this trip was short, only a few days, Hun Changqing had already tasted the sweetness of it and gave Yun Yun two pills, so he didn't feel like he had lost out.
Upon hearing Hun Changqing's words, Yun Yun's mind, which had been wandering, went completely blank. It was as if she had been struck by a hammer, and the warmth she had just felt was instantly doused with icy water, extinguishing any joy that had arisen within her.
At that moment, Yun Yun felt incredibly cold, even colder than when she had been forced by Hun Changqing and enveloped in despair! She seemed to understand the meaning behind the two pills Hun Changqing had given her. Her heart was now completely enveloped in a chilling darkness of despair, unable to see a glimmer of light or feel a trace of warmth.
Just as Hun Changqing was about to leave, he stopped, frowned, and pondered for a moment. Feeling something was amiss,
he took out a jade slip from his storage ring. "This jade slip contains my Yin energy. Although the energy is not much, it was just something I did casually, but it can ensure your safe escape if you encounter a powerhouse below the Dou Zong level. Take this jade slip and hurry back."
Hun Changqing tossed the jade slip to Yun Yun, gave her some instructions, and then his figure gradually became ethereal and disappeared.
Yun Yun sat on the bed, knees bent, her smooth, lotus-like arms encircling her bent legs, curled up, staring blankly at the spot where Hun Changqing had vanished, motionless.
After an unknown amount of time, hot tears suddenly welled up in Yunyun's empty, lifeless eyes. She buried her head in her knees, her shoulders heaving violently as she sobbed silently.
Although this time Yunyun's weeping was completely silent, the sorrow it contained far surpassed any of her previous tragedies.
After an unknown amount of time, Yun Yun's trembling shoulders slowly stopped. She slowly raised her head, revealing her eyes, now incredibly red and swollen. Her pretty face was streaked with tears, completely devoid of color, deathly pale. Suddenly, Yun Yun's equally pale lips curved into a poignant smile, and she murmured,
"Yes... I should go back to Yunlan Sect... I should go home... I miss home so much... so much..." "I miss you so much... These past few days must have really just been a nightmare..."
With each sorrowful and desperate murmur, Yun Yun slowly put on her clothes. Once dressed, she walked out of the pavilion and left the courtyard. The setting sun cast its glow on Yun Yun's graceful figure, making her shadow appear exceptionally long. From a distance, watching Yun Yun's departing figure evoked only a sense of utter desolation.
(End of Chapter)