“Spare your life? Even thinking about it, you should know that’s impossible. But if you answer a few questions honestly, I might grant you a swift end.”
Yu Yi spoke indifferently:
“Whether you die quickly or are tortured to death by me, you can choose for yourself.”
Jiang Hanshan’s face turned ashen at her words.
Since death was certain either way, he wanted to decide how he would die himself.
So Jiang Hanshan turned and tried to run, intending to smash his head against the Pillar of Thunder and Lightning behind him for a quick death.
How could Yu Yi possibly give him that chance?
The Pillar of Thunder and Lightning behind Jiang Hanshan vanished instantly, causing him to fall flat on his face.
“Want to die quickly, yet unwilling to answer my questions—do you think there could be such good fortune in this world?”
Yu Yi walked up behind Jiang Hanshan and gave him a final ultimatum:
“I’ll give you only one chance.
Those targeting Su Cheng, is it the Imperial Family of Great Yan, or the Ouyang Clan of Cangzhou?”
Yet Jiang Hanshan still refused to speak.
Yu Yi shook her head.
“I have received your choice.”
At her words, the ground beneath Jiang Hanshan shook, and a giant hand made of earth and stone grabbed him tightly.
“Yu… Yu Yi Jue, what are you doing!?”
Unknown terror filled Jiang Hanshan’s heart, and he screamed.
Yu Yi ignored Jiang Hanshan, silently controlling the stone arm to lift him horizontally atop a tree blazing with fire.
His front was battered by rain, while his back was roasted by flames below.
Though this did little real harm to Jiang Hanshan, his fear only grew.
With the Lady Demon’s unfathomable means, who knew what tortures she would inflict?
Soon, Jiang Hanshan’s nightmare arrived.
The raindrops striking his front slowly froze into ice, while the flames at his back grew fiercer.
Gradually, Jiang Hanshan’s protective qi dispersed, and large patches of skin on his front froze, cold invading his organs, while his back was scorched and torn by fire, as if every vein was burning.
The two starkly different pains from front and back finally broke Jiang Hanshan, making him howl in agony:
“I’ll talk! I’ll talk! Please… just kill me quickly! Aaaahhh—”
Yu Yi’s face was indifferent as she replied:
“I’ve already said—opportunity comes only once.”
“Yu Yi Jue… even in death, I won’t forgive you… aaahhhhh—”
Under the dual torture of ice and fire, Jiang Hanshan’s life withered away, leaving no remains.
Yu Yi turned to Su Cheng and saw she was struggling to her feet, one leg almost immobile, kneeling before Yu Yi in a strange posture.
“Disciple failed to obey Master’s words… and didn’t last until the end…”
Su Cheng bowed her head in apology.
Yu Yi was silent.
She walked over and, without a word, picked Su Cheng up.
“Master?”
Su Cheng looked at Yu Yi, startled and suspicious.
“Be good.”
Yu Yi said coldly.
“Do you want your leg or not?”
Hearing this, Su Cheng immediately quieted down, obediently lying in Yu Yi’s arms.
At that moment, Chi Ming and Blue Ling’er returned.
Blue Ling’er remained as composed as ever, while Chi Ming had taken several cuts, her body marked with blood.
“Little junior sister, you’re still too reckless.
Even though those people were all at the Martial Lord level, you only just broke through to Martial King; your foundation isn’t stable.
Rushing in alone is just asking for trouble.”
“But I was so angry! This beautiful forest Among the Colorful Clouds was ruined by those scum!”
“The flowers and plants here were all cultivated by your Third Disciple with Ling Dan and Treasure Medicine. Once the fire dies down, they’ll regrow. Why be so anxious?”
“But—”
“That’s enough. Reflect on your actions later. Master gave you the Heart-Listening Blade to help suppress your anger, but you must learn self-control.”
Watching Blue Ling’er scold Chi Ming, Yu Yi smiled in relief.
This second disciple, who loved to act coy in secret, had finally become like a true senior sister.
And what Blue Ling’er said eased Yu Yi’s heart as well.
She had only just learned that all the flora Among the Colorful Clouds was cultivated by the third disciple with the Plant Attribute.
Even if it burned, it would revive and flourish again.
As for the wooden buildings destroyed by fire, there was no need to worry.
Like the Shushu Pavilion, they were all constructed by the third disciple and were of the highest quality.
Blue Ling’er and Chi Ming came before Yu Yi, bowed, and reported the outcome of the battle.
Of the hundreds who invaded Among the Colorful Clouds, none escaped—all perished.
They set the mountains ablaze and paid for it; the only escape route was blocked by Blue Ling’er and Chi Ming, leaving corpses piled at the gates.
“Who will handle the cleanup?”
Yu Yi asked quietly.
“Master, Doudou and I will take care of it.”
Blue Ling’er replied respectfully.
“Good, go ahead.”
“Master, where’s Doudou?”
“Lying over there. She probably fell asleep by accident—go wake her.”
“Yes.”
Blue Ling’er walked toward Huang Doudou, who was sprawled among the stones.
She bent to check and found the little one had indeed fallen asleep in the chaos.
“Doudou, time to get up and work.”
Blue Ling’er stretched Huang Doudou’s face.
“Uh—wuwu… I’m awake, I’m awake, Second Senior Sister, you can let go now!”
“Does it hurt? Or does it feel good?”
“Uh… maybe a bit of both.”
Huang Doudou’s unharmed state was no surprise to Yu Yi.
Though the Thunder and Lightning techniques were so lethal, Huang Doudou’s skills seemed oddly focused—she was not only the best at running, but also the toughest.
She might get knocked out, but rarely ever truly injured.
It was absurd.
After Blue Ling’er and Huang Doudou left, only Chi Ming and Su Cheng remained.
Because they had parted ways earlier in Ling’an City, there was a subtle tension between them.
But seeing Su Cheng’s injured leg, Chi Ming couldn’t help but show concern.
“Master, shall we begin?”
Chi Ming asked Yu Yi.
“Come with me.”
Yu Yi nodded slightly, leading the two toward the Training Chamber Among the Colorful Clouds.
Inside, Yu Yi removed Su Cheng’s clothing and saw that the Frozen Sword Intent in her leg was spreading upward toward her abdomen.
If it wasn’t quickly forced out with Fire Qi, even her organs would be affected.
“Chi Ming, do you remember the method I taught you to expel Frozen Sword Intent on the way back?”
Yu Yi turned to Chi Ming.
Just in time to see Chi Ming had stripped completely.
“Of course I remember.”
After answering, Chi Ming noticed Yu Yi staring at her and blushed.
“Um… Master, I was worried the energy flow might burn my clothes, so I… Is this weird? Maybe I should put my clothes back on?”
Yu Yi shook her head.
“No need. This is fine.”
Are you kidding?
If your clothes get burned, I’ll have to buy new ones—no way am I wasting money.