Chapter 461: Tempering
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Ant Nest, Below.
Passing through one R&D workshop after another.
Passing through the Blade of Execution's office zone.
Passing through the death row cells where wails echoed ceaselessly, Ye Qinghan arrived at this place for the first time.
This was where Xun Ye sought answers—a room that felt almost unreal, containing nothing but a wooden chair.
White walls, white floor, white ceiling.
Spotless, yet Ye Qinghan noticed faint streaks of blood in the corners. No matter how thoroughly cleaned, some traces inevitably remained.
"Every forty-eight hours, Miss Qinghan may speak once. This is your first opportunity."
"Xiao Ai, you're the one… you slutty bitch…"
Xiao Ai genuinely burst into laughter. Unlike her earlier forced sneer, this was genuine amusement.
Ever since she stepped through the doors of the Execution Blade, no one had dared insult her… except Lord Xun Ye.
"Amber said fox demons love cleanliness, so she asked Xiao Ai to find some boys to entertain Miss Qinghan."
"But Xiao Ai still thinks only women truly understand women."
"Those men are all big and burly, not knowing the slightest thing about cherishing delicate beauty, right?"
One by one, unnamed instruments of torture were wheeled in by a masked figure, carried on a small cart stained with blood…
"Xiao Ai knows Sister Qinghan just needs a little time to open up. Xiao Ai is quite skilled at helping people open their hearts~"
"Miss Qinghan's big tail is truly beautiful~"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Beyond screams, Ye Qinghan could utter no other words for the next forty-eight hours.
Here, death became the sole luxury every "guest" could hope for.
Only one person had ever walked out of this room alive. Her name was Gu Ai.
Not even Xiao Ai could make it past the sixth day.
Precisely because of this, she knew exactly how to coax words from a taciturn person.
She possessed numerous methods—physical, psychological, even spiritual—to "comfort" her guests, rendering them docile and compliant.
Here, every second stretches infinitely long, and Xiao Ai would carve pain and despair into every second of Ye Qinghan's existence.
In just three hours, Ye Qinghan was already on the verge of collapse. Beyond enduring, she could do nothing else.
Just moments ago, Xiao Ai had removed another part from her body…
Ye Qinghan had no time to think. The pain came in such rapid succession that it completely overwhelmed her mind.
Meanwhile, in Lingxian Hall, Li Shiyu and Dongfang Jue had captured Su Muchan and were interrogating her for Ye Qinghan's whereabouts.
"Hey, hey, hey! Shiyu, what are you doing?"
Inside Li Shiyu's room, Su Muchan was pinned down on the bed by Li Shiyu and Dongfang Jue.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch! Senior Sister, it hurts! We can talk this out calmly!"
"Where did the eldest senior sister go?"
"Huh? How would I know where Senior Sister went?"
"Senior Sister told Shiyu everything about you! You'd better spill the beans, junior sister! Otherwise, Shiyu gets really scary when she's angry!"
Honestly, Li Shiyao's expression right now was quite convincing. When she got serious, she actually looked a bit like Xun Ye!
Though her tone was still undeniably childish.
"I really don't know! I've been cultivating these past few days. How would I know where Ye Qinghan went? Maybe she's off collecting more fragments of her mother's soul again!"
Li Shiyu showed no mercy, delivering a sharp slap to Su Muchan's backside!
"Shiyao, let me tell you! Senior Sister is collecting fragments of her mother's soul, not some random shards!"
"Ouch! Sorry, sorry! I was wrong! Can you let me go? I really didn't know!"
Dongfang Jue held Su Muchan's hands firmly, saying nothing. She had figured it out now!
Li Shiyu was wearing the Heart-Confusing Bell now!
Which meant the Holy Maiden wasn't some helpless goose anymore!
Watch as Li Shiyao yanked Su Muchan's succubus tail with one hand while pinning her waist down with the other!
"Shiyao doesn't care! I'm giving you the time it takes to burn a stick of incense! Go find our Master and figure out where Senior Sister went!"
"Wait, Shiyu, you won't go, and neither will I!"
Su Muchan wasn't stupid. Master Su had been wearing a murderous scowl these past days. Going to him now would surely end badly!
"Refuse? Su Muchan, do you know the rules of Lingxian Hall?"
Su Muchan was speechless. What kind of situation was this?
Ye Qinghan was gone—why come after her?
This was clearly a case of being kicked out by Master Su. Wasn't that obvious?
"Ugh… Fine, fine, I'll go!"
But wait—had Ye Qinghan actually shared his thoughts with Li Shiyao?
Pushed out the door by Li Shiyao and Dongfang Jue, Su Muchan felt like every misfortune under the sun had come crashing down on her…
"Master?"
"Hm? It's Mu Chan. What is it?"
Su Cheng's figure seemed… lonely?
Seated before the stone table, Su Cheng's fleeting sense of guilt sent a jolt through Su Muchan's heart!
Interrogation?
"Um… I was looking for Sister Qinghan to borrow something. Where did she go?"
"Did Shiyu and Jue'er force you to come?"
"Hiss…"
Observing Su Muchan's expression, Su Cheng merely extended his divine sense slightly and detected his two direct disciples eavesdropping nearby.
"Su Muchan, you may return. I shall deal with those two myself."
The two crouched in the corner met their master's gaze and quickly ducked their heads in fright…
"Yes, but… Master, did you really send Senior Sister Qinghan away?"
"Go back."
Before long, Yu Lan knocked on Li Shiyu's door, her expression brimming with disappointment.
"Shiyao, didn't I tell you to behave yourselves these past days? What have you two been up to now?"
Indeed, even if the Master remained gentle most of the time as usual, they lived together day in and day out.
One could hide it for a moment, but could one hide it forever?
Whether the Master was truly happy was something that would become apparent soon enough.
"Shiyao was worried about Senior Sister…"
"I've told you—Shiyao, don't be impatient. Trust Master Su. The young miss will be fine."
Li Shiyu sighed helplessly, acting like a little adult…
"…What did the Master say?"
Yu Lan also looked utterly dejected. She had asked Su Cheng about this too, but he hadn't said anything, only telling her not to get involved.
Yu Lan was equally worried about Ye Qinghan. Surely this wasn't serious enough to warrant expulsion from the sect?
But with Su Cheng remaining silent, she was powerless.
"Master Su has summoned the eldest and second young ladies to the Lingxian Hall. Second Young Lady, you must be extremely careful with your words this time. Do not defy Master Su again…"
Li Shiyao exhaled deeply, thinking to herself that this was for the best. Hearing it directly from their master would spare her and Dongfang Jue from endless speculation.
With Ye Qinghan away, Li Shiyao seemed to have matured. After all, when Ye Qinghan was home, she never wore the Heart-Distracting Bell—she just wanted to be a little fool.
Pondering all those trivial matters felt pointless to Li Shiyao. What she truly desired was to remain forever with her master, senior sister, and junior sister.
"Yes, Elder Yulan, rest assured. Shiyu knows what she's doing."
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