Chapter 234: Devil Sects Approach Lin Yun
“Lin Yun,” the leader called, his voice low and gravelly, “we have a proposal for you.”
Lin Yun’s eyes slowly opened, glowing with a dangerous light. His gaze locked onto the group of devil sect leaders, his expression cold and unwelcoming. He stood to his feet with a smooth, effortless motion, his presence instantly filling the cavern. His voice was calm but carried an edge of danger.
“I’m not interested,” Lin Yun said, cutting through the leader’s words before he could go further.
The devil sect leader chuckled, shaking his head. “You haven’t even heard us out yet, Lin Yun.”
“I don’t need to,” Lin Yun responded curtly. “I’m not going to align myself with the likes of you. I have no interest in whatever schemes you’re concocting.”
The leaders exchanged glances, and another one, a pale-skinned man with a sinister smile, stepped forward. “You might want to reconsider, Lin Yun. This concerns Wang Li.”
At the mention of Wang Li’s name, Lin Yun’s expression tightened imperceptibly, though he maintained his cold composure. His hand flexed at his side, the tension in his body becoming more noticeable. The leader noticed the subtle reaction and pressed on.
“Wang Li has been growing in influence,” the leader continued, his voice smooth and insidious. “He’s seduced women from different sects, consolidating power as he goes. He’s growing stronger, Lin Yun. Soon, he will have complete control over the Wind Spirit Sect and many others.”
The words hung in the air like poison, slowly seeping into Lin Yun’s mind. He remained silent for a moment, weighing the information. His thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions—anger, jealousy, resentment. Memories of Wang Li’s betrayal, of how he had crushed Lin Yun’s dreams and destroyed the Lin Family branch, bubbled to the surface. Wang Li’s actions had left Lin Yun a pariah, abandoned by his own family, forced to fend for himself in a world that had turned its back on him.
But still, Lin Yun did not want to join hands with the devil sects. He despised them just as much as he despised Wang Li. His voice was laced with venom as he responded, “Why should I care about Wang Li’s women? That’s his business, not mine.”
The leader’s smile widened, sensing the turmoil within Lin Yun. “Ah, but it’s not just his business, is it? Every woman he seduces, every sect he sways—he’s growing stronger, more untouchable. You want revenge, don’t you? You want to take everything from him, make him suffer like he made you suffer.”
Lin Yun clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. His mind was at war with itself. He didn’t trust the devil sects. They were manipulative, treacherous, and evil. But the mention of Wang Li’s rising power had struck a nerve. He hadn’t considered just how far Wang Li might go, how much more influence he could amass if left unchecked.
The devil sect leader continued, seeing the crack in Lin Yun’s resolve. “Think about it, Lin Yun. Do you really want to stand by and watch as Wang Li claims everything? Women, wealth, power—it will all be his while you’re left with nothing. We can help you. We can give you the means to destroy him, to steal everything he’s built for himself.”
Lin Yun’s breathing quickened as his thoughts swirled like a tempest. The image of Wang Li, smug and triumphant, conquering women and expanding his power, gnawed at Lin Yun’s mind. The memories of how Wang Li had humiliated him, crushed his ambitions, and left him to rot, festered within him like a wound that refused to heal.
One of the devil sect leaders, sensing Lin Yun’s hesitation, stepped forward and presented a shimmering crystal orb. “Here, Lin Yun. Proof of Wang Li’s recent conquests.”
The orb glowed faintly, swirling with images as it activated. Lin Yun couldn’t resist; his curiosity, and more importantly his hatred, pulled him in. He watched as the orb displayed scenes of Wang Li seducing women from various sects, charming them with ease, their bodies falling into his arms willingly. There was no mistaking the scenes; the evidence was irrefutable. Wang Li was using his power, his influence, and his charisma to control those around him.
Lin Yun’s heart pounded in his chest as he watched the images play out. He didn’t doubt the authenticity of what the devil sects had shown him. They had nothing to gain by deceiving him on this matter. His hatred for Wang Li flared like an inferno, threatening to consume him entirely. He could feel the burning desire for revenge pushing him toward a dark path—one he had tried so hard to avoid.
Still, his conscience fought against it. He had spent years battling the darkness within himself, struggling to remain on the right path. Joining the devil sects meant losing himself completely, succumbing to the very evil he had once vowed to destroy. But as the images of Wang Li’s growing power replayed in his mind, his resolve began to crumble.
The leader of the devil sects could sense Lin Yun’s inner struggle and pressed harder. “You don’t have to give in completely, Lin Yun. We’re not asking you to become one of us. We’re offering you an alliance—nothing more. You can walk away once Wang Li is destroyed. All we want is for you to help us weaken him. After that, you’re free to do as you please.”
Lin Yun’s breath hitched as the words echoed in his mind. Walk away. Destroy Wang Li and then walk away. The idea was tempting—far too tempting. He could feel his hatred, his desire for vengeance, gnawing away at his conscience, twisting his sense of morality until all that was left was a burning need to see Wang Li suffer.
But still, doubt lingered in the back of his mind. Could he really trust the devil sects? Could he trust himself to walk away once it was over? His voice was strained as he spoke, his words torn between his conscience and his hatred.
“I… I don’t want to be like you,” Lin Yun said, his voice trembling with uncertainty. “I don’t want to fall into the darkness.”
The leader of the devil sects stepped forward again, his voice low and coaxing. “Then don’t fall into it. Use it to your advantage, Lin Yun. Use it to destroy the one who wronged you. After that, the choice is yours. But ask yourself this—can you really let Wang Li continue like this? Can you let him keep growing stronger while you do nothing?”
Lin Yun’s mind was a storm of conflicting emotions. On one side, his conscience urged him to walk away, to find another way to take revenge without succumbing to darkness. But on the other side, his hatred for Wang Li consumed him, whispering that this was the only way. That without help, without the power the devil sects could offer, he would never have his revenge. Wang Li would continue to rise, untouchable and invincible, while Lin Yun remained powerless and forgotten.
His hands trembled at his sides as he stared at the leaders of the devil sects. His hatred roared in his ears, drowning out the voice of reason, until finally, he couldn’t resist any longer. With a deep breath, Lin Yun closed his eyes, pushing aside his conscience as he let his hatred consume him.
When he opened his eyes again, they burned with cold, ruthless determination.
“Fine,” Lin Yun said, his voice cold and resolute. “I’ll join you. But know this—I’m only doing this to destroy Wang Li. Once he’s dead, our alliance is over. I will not become one of you.”
The leaders of the devil sects smiled, their eyes gleaming with satisfaction. They had succeeded in swaying Lin Yun to their side, and with him, they gained a powerful asset—one driven by hatred and vengeance.
The pale-skinned leader nodded approvingly. “Of course, Lin Yun. We only want to help you achieve your goal. Wang Li will fall by your hand, and when he does, you’ll be free to walk away.”
Lin Yun’s gaze was hard and unyielding as he stared at the leaders of the devil sects. His heart was heavy with the decision he had made, but the burning desire for revenge had outweighed his conscience. In that moment, Lin Yun knew that he had crossed a line—one he could never uncross.
The devil sect leaders stepped back, bowing slightly as they took their leave. “We’ll be in touch, Lin Yun,” one of them said before disappearing into the shadows of the cave, leaving Lin Yun alone with his thoughts.
As the echoes of their departure faded, Lin Yun stood in the center of the cavern, his mind racing.
He had made his choice, and there was no turning back. His hatred for Wang Li had won, and now, he would stop at nothing to destroy him. The darkness that had once lurked on the edges of his soul now wrapped around him, pulling him deeper into its grasp.
For better or worse, Lin Yun had made his pact with the devil. And soon, Wang Li would pay the price.
