Chapter 4: Solemn Promises
The spar between Ye Fan and Su Yuerong concluded with a victory for Ye Fan. The spectators applauded, acknowledging Ye Fan’s martial prowess.
However, as the cheers echoed through the arena, Ye Fan’s keen senses picked up on something unusual.
A realization struck him with the force of a lightning bolt – he could no longer sense the Slave Restriction on Wang Xiangyi.
His eyes widened in shock, and a cold intensity replaced his previous calm demeanor. The timing was too perfect, too coincidental.
The fact that Wang Xiangyi was freed precisely during the spar with Su Yuerong raised suspicions in Ye Fan’s mind.
A cold, calculating look settled on Ye Fan’s face as he glared at Su Yuerong. “You’re involved in this, aren’t you?” he accused, his voice slicing through the air like a razor.
Su Yuerong, who had been composed during the spar, now spat out a mouthful of blood. She snorted defiantly, seemingly unbothered by Ye Fan’s accusation.
“What if I am? I just saved a poor woman from a pervert like you,” she retorted, her gaze meeting Ye Fan’s with an air of rebellion.
Ye Fan’s anger flared, his patience wearing thin. “You’ve made a grave mistake,” he warned, his voice low and menacing.
Without waiting for Su Yuerong’s response, Ye Fan swiftly made his way towards the peak where Wang Xiangyi resided in her cave abode.
Every step resonated with determination, fueled by the fury of betrayal. His mind raced with thoughts of finding any traces left behind by Wang Xiangyi and anyone who might have aided her escape.
While en route, Ye Fan contacted his master, Elder Hu, the Fifth Elder of the Azure Peak Sect.
“Master, someone has broken the restriction on Wang Xiangyi. She’s attempting to escape the sect!” Ye Fan’s voice conveyed the gravity of the situation.
A calm yet authoritative voice resonated through the talisman. “Do not worry. I will activate the boundary fields of the Azure Peak Sect immediately. No one will be able to leave the sect’s region. We will apprehend Wang Xiangyi, and anyone involved in her escape.”
Ye Fan acknowledged those words, a cruel smile playing on his lips. The Azure Peak Sect’s boundary fields would prevent anyone inside from leaving, turning the entire sect into a confined space for a swift capture.
As Ye Fan reached the abode of Wang Xiangyi, he intensified his search for any clues. The air crackled with tension as he utilized his cultivation to sense spiritual energy, examined footprints, and interrogated disciples in the vicinity.
However, to his dismay, every attempt to track Wang Xiangyi proved futile. It was as if she had vanished without a trace.
In the meantime, Wang Li and Wang Xiangyi were not making their way out of the sect but rather deeper within its boundaries. Their destination was the peak of Elder Su, the Second Elder of the Azure Peak Sect and Su Yuerong’s uncle. It was on this secluded peak that they sought refuge.
Su Yuerong had already informed her uncle about the situation, seeking his assistance. Elder Su, somewhat reluctant but moved by familial ties, agreed to harbor Wang Li and Wang Xiangyi in a concealed cavern known only to him. The cavern was protected by a rare Dual Water and Wood Elemental Illusionary formation, ensuring their secrecy.
As Ye Fan scoured Wang Xiangyi’s peak for any trace, Wang Li and Wang Xiangyi found safety in the hidden refuge of Elder Su’s peak. The illusionary formation veiled their presence, making it impossible for anyone, even the sect’s elite disciples, to uncover their hiding spot.
Elder Su, observing his niece’s distress, frowned with concern. “You’ve stirred quite a storm, Yuerong. I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Su Yuerong nodded, determination in her eyes. “Uncle, I really have a good reason for this. I am sure you will understand when I tell you all about it.”
Elder Su sighed, realizing the gravity of the situation. “We’ll bide our time and wait for things to settle. Your actions will not go unnoticed, and the repercussions may be severe.”
As Ye Fan continued his fruitless search, but he still found nothing.
Frustration etched on Ye Fan’s face, he communicated with Elder Hu, “Master, have you detected anyone trying to leave the sect?”
Elder Hu responded through their spiritual connection, “Not yet, disciple. But we’ll catch them soon. No one can escape our grasp within the sect’s boundaries.”
Back at Elder Su’s peak, Wang Li and Wang Xiangyi remained concealed in the illusionary formation.
In the concealed cavern on Elder Su’s peak, Wang Li held Wang Xiangyi in a comforting embrace as she poured out her anguish. Tears streamed down her face, and her cries echoed in the secret refuge. Wang Xiangyi thanked Wang Li repeatedly for freeing her from the clutches of Ye Fan and sparing her from the fate of being his maid.
“He destroyed our entire Wang Family! Every day, I lived in terror, thinking he might do something to me,” she sobbed, her voice laced with bitterness. “Ye Fan never dared to do anything vile, but that made it worse. He wanted me to serve him willingly, and every day, I felt the weight of his expectations.”
Wang Li, with a solemn expression, let his cousin pour out her heart. He wanted her to release all the pent-up frustration and weakness she’d harbored. Wang Xiangyi’s voice trembled as she continued her narrative.
“Every single day, Ye Fan would saunter over to me,” she began, her voice fraught with emotion, “as if he were some virtuous hero, trying to convince me he wasn’t the bane of the Wang Family. He wove tales of our downfall, blaming it on these absurd rumors of demonic connections. Can you believe it? After tearing our family apart and enslaving our women, he wanted me to believe he was some beacon of righteousness. It was all a charade.”
Wang Li, who held his cousin close, couldn’t help but clench his fists, his patience dwindling with each word that painted a vivid picture of Ye Fan’s deceptive antics.
“It was only when you told me the truth,” Wang Xiangyi continued, “about Ye Fan leaking information regarding our supposed demonic ties then I never could have known the truth. No…In fact, I might have actually believed his nonsense and slowly lose my mind. I would perhaps even begin to question the integrity of her family…The integrity that our family built after generations and generations!”
Wang Xiangyi spoke with a look of pure hatred, “He isn’t just evil; he’s a pretentious hypocrite, his deviousness surpassing that of any demon.”
Wang Li’s gaze reflected his smoldering fury, but he maintained his outward calm, channeling the tempest within for the sake of his distressed cousin.
In the midst of Wang Xiangyi’s emotional narrative, Wang Li made a solemn vow, “I promise you, Xiangyi, every woman of the Wang Family sold as a slave will be rescued. Revenge will be exacted for each and every one of them.”
Still cradled in her cousin’s protective embrace, Wang Xiangyi found solace in his unwavering determination. The assurance of justice for their fallen kin provided a glimmer of hope, a beacon cutting through the darkness that had enveloped their family.
“And I’ll stand with you every step of the way, cousin,” Wang Xiangyi whispered softly. “No matter what needs to be done or how hard I have to work. Consider this my oath, Li.”
Wang Li, touched by his cousin’s resolve, nodded in agreement. “Together, we’ll reclaim our family’s honor and ensure that every injustice is righted.”
