CHAPTER 463
The Glaring Dawn
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Who knew how long had passed? A day? A year? Or perhaps a thousand years?
Unable to see, hear, or speak—only agony remained.
Ye Qinghan couldn't recall how many times this had happened. Xiao Ai was a devil, truly.
Xiao Ai treated him like a toy, dismantling his body parts and displaying them before her eyes. Yet Ye Qinghan still lived.
Xiao Ai carved into his heart with each stroke of her blade, yet Ye Qinghan still lived.
Ye Qinghan had long since grown numb to the agony. In earlier times, he might have cried out a few times, but now he lacked even the strength to scream.
"Young Miss, why have you wet yourself again?"
Endless humiliation. Ye Qinghan couldn't even count how many men had entered this room; she'd long since lost track.
This was true despair. Here, Ye Qinghan never expected her master to come save her.
For she knew that if her master could still come to her rescue, Xiao Ai would never have done such a thing.
There was no chance of rescue. This was the ant nest of the Execution Blade. Outside lay the Thirteen Valkyries and countless elite warriors.
Xiao Ai's methods were varied and cruel. At this moment, Ye Qinghan felt certain that even the Hall of the King of Hell couldn't be as terrifying as this place.
As for being boiled in oil? Compared to Xiao Ai's methods, that barely qualified as punishment.
"The Master should see Miss Qinghan like this—how beautiful~"
At that moment, Ye Qinghan opened her eyes once more. She knew this was yet another cycle of torment.
After each cycle of torment, Ye Qinghan was invariably disfigured beyond recognition, her body parts long since beyond repair.
When Xiao Ai grew bored of her games, she would initiate the cycle, returning Ye Qinghan to her initial state.
Apart from her body reverting to its original state, nothing else changed. The pain accumulated relentlessly, and exhaustion remained ever-present.
Typically, one such cycle lasted approximately forty-eight hours.
Ye Qinghan had long since lost count of how many times she had cycled through this. The agony had rendered her unable to speak, her eyes shut tight against the searing pain.
"Miss Qinghan, is there anything you wish to say to Xiao Ai this time?"
"Yes… come closer to me…"
Xiao Ai didn't mind, smiling as she moved closer.
"Inside your whore's cunt…"
Xiao Ai gave a bitter smile, then snapped her fingers, summoning the person who had been waiting outside.
"There's no point in continuing. Find a place for her to calm down first."
From the moment Ye Qinghan was brought into the ant nest until now, a full month of interrogation and torment had passed. Though her body remained unharmed, her current mental state made her unfit for public appearance.
Ye Qinghan had been shoved inside, but now she could only be carried out. Even though her body showed no physical harm, her legs were utterly unable to bear her weight.
After being confined for another three days, Xiao Ai finally went to see Ye Qinghan when subordinates reported her condition had significantly improved.
Still confined within the cage, Ye Qinghan remained in a death-seeking state, violently throwing anything she could lay her hands on. Providing her with a luxurious suite would have been pointless.
But now, she was clearly calmer.
"Miss Qinghan, calm down. Let's talk, shall we?"
Ye Qinghan now resembled a beggar on the street—no one would recognize her as the Demon Emperor of the Northern Realm.
"We've talked enough, haven't we?"
Indeed, she was far calmer than earlier. Xiao Ai felt Ye Qinghan's current state could be considered the end of the ordeal.
"Miss Qinghan, none of this was Xiao Ai's intention."
But at this moment, no matter what Xiao Ai said, Ye Qinghan refused to believe her!
A full month of inhuman torment—a month for Xiao Ai, but for Ye Qinghan, it must have felt like a lifetime.
"Enough talk. Bring whatever else you've got. Qinghan is ready to face it."
Xiao Ai merely smiled before speaking.
"A253-F17 depression, left side, 130-meter radius—correct? Xiao Ai wrote that. It was deliberately placed on the Master's desk for you to see."
Even though Xiao Ai's words were spot on, Ye Qinghan remained utterly unflappable.
Ye Qinghan clearly remembered Xiao Ai saying these words:
[You can find answers to any question anywhere, but you will never get any answers from Xiao Ai.]
"I don't know."
Xiao Ai's gaze toward Ye Qinghan grew increasingly admiring.
"Miss Qinghan, before you, only Xiao Ai has ever emerged alive from that room."
"Many have boasted of their toughness, yet all have fallen at Xiao Ai's hands. However, you have earned Xiao Ai's respect. You may leave now."
"This was the Master's test for you, but it's over now. You may leave."
Ye Qinghan refused to believe such nonsense. Xiao Ai must be plotting something else against her!
"If I walk out of here alive, you'll pay dearly!"
Xiao Ai ignored Ye Qinghan's words. Leaving the cell door wide open and Ye Qinghan, now tortured into a state of mental breakdown, she walked away without looking back.
The iron chains of her shackles dragged along the floor, emitting a sharp metallic clang. The collar locked around her neck, preventing her from taking her own life, remained firmly in place.
Ye Qinghan sat motionless for a long time, but no one came to see her…
Was it truly no one?
Ye Qinghan slowly rose to her feet and walked toward the exit.
"Greetings, Lord Qinghan."
"Greetings, Lady Qinghan."
The black-armored guards, seeing Ye Qinghan about to leave, showed no intention of stopping her.
"Lord Qinghan? Are you calling me?"
The man in black armor knelt on one knee and answered loudly.
"Yes, Lord Qinghan. Lord Amber has instructed that while the collar around your neck cannot be removed to prevent suicide, you may command us with any other request."
Ye Qinghan was stunned…
A test?
Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
She refused to believe it! This must be Xiao Ai's scheme!
Or perhaps this was all an illusion? Could she not discern it because she was currently unable to wield her divine powers?
"Then may I leave?"
"Of course, you may leave at any time."
"Where did Xiao Ai go?"
Ye Qinghan regretted asking the moment the words left her mouth. How could these people possibly know Xiao Ai's whereabouts?
Following the direction indicated by the guards, Ye Qinghan ascended floor by floor.
The place was crowded, and everyone bowed respectfully upon seeing her. Honestly, the atmosphere felt even more prestigious than back at the mansion…
After all, these people only bowed to those of Valkyrie-level status!
Could this be… the test Xiao Ai mentioned?
A test from the Master? But why hadn't the Master told her?
As she ascended floor after floor, Ye Qinghan halted at the door to Xun Ye's chamber.
From this room, the exit of the ant nest was clearly visible.
From here to the exit was only a dozen meters away.
Ye Qinghan moved forward slowly. The guards had already removed her shackles and handcuffs, but her limbs felt stiff and uncoordinated, making swift movement difficult.
The sunlight was blinding—yes, exceptionally blinding, almost unreal.
Ye Qinghan forced herself up the final step, needing a moment for her eyes to adjust to the glare.
She had truly emerged…
The Thirteen Valkyries formed a line behind Xiao Ai, who then slowly bowed.
"Gu Ai, we welcome Lady Qinghan."
Immediately after, the Thirteen Valkyries, led by Amber, knelt on one knee and bowed their heads.
"The Thirteen Valkyries pay their respects to Lady Qinghan."
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