Chapter 423: I Don't Regret
Zhao Dong looked up to see Qing Yu, covered in blood, being thrown into the cell.
He rushed forward to support her. The sight of her made his heart ache sharply. He knew he was the one who had brought this upon her; her terrible condition was entirely his fault. Qing Yu was a good girl, and unless it was absolutely necessary, Zhao Dong would never have wanted to drag her into his suffering.
"Don't speak. I'll heal you," Zhao Dong said urgently. He quickly channeled his newly recovered Spiritual Energy into Qing Yu's body and fed her several Healing Pills.
Once Qing Yu's condition stabilized, Zhao Dong said bitterly, tears welling in his eyes, "You silly girl, why didn't you just tell them I took you hostage? They wouldn't have beaten you then!"
Qing Yu shook her head. "No, Senior. I don't think you did anything wrong."
"But I... I used you..." Zhao Dong said, his voice laced with bitterness.
Qing Yu gave a faint smile, her hand gently touching his cheek. "I don't blame you, Senior. A man who would risk everything for his woman is a true man. It only makes me admire you more..."
Her words pierced Zhao Dong's heart. He wiped the tears from his eyes and declared with conviction, "Don't worry. I will get you out of here!"
With that, Zhao Dong gathered all his Spiritual Energy into his right fist and smashed it against the iron door.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
A series of impacts thundered through the cell, but the iron door didn't move an inch. Soon, his fists were bloody and raw, but he still couldn't shake it.
Qing Yu stepped forward and grabbed his arm, her eyes filled with despair. "Senior, stop! It's useless. Even at your peak, you couldn't break down this door, let alone now."
"This door weighs a ton, and the entire dungeon is reinforced by a Formation. That Formation can also summon all kinds of fatal traps. Once you're in here, there's no getting out!"
Her words made Zhao Dong's heart lurch. "No! I can open it! I must!"
His eyes bloodshot, Zhao Dong pushed Qing Yu aside and slammed his fists against the door again. "AAAHHH!!! OPEN! OPEN FOR ME! OPEN!!!"
Zhao Dong's eyes were practically splitting from their sockets. He had come to save Xu Yafei, but not only had he failed, he had dragged Qing Yu down with him. Now, they were both trapped with no hope of escape. The intense despair threatened to swallow him whole.
Watching him, Qing Yu began to sob uncontrollably. Her own despair was just as profound as his.
Just then, with a loud BANG, the door was yanked open from the outside.
"Damn it! Still causing trouble in the dungeon? Are you fucking asking for a beating?"
A disciple in black strode in and, without a word, kicked Zhao Dong, sending him flying into a wall.
"Brothers, since this brat won't behave, let's teach him some manners!" the disciple in black shouted. At his signal, several more disciples charged in. They rushed Zhao Dong and began beating him with their fists and feet.
Their individual strength wasn't high, but Zhao Dong was already severely injured. On top of that, the dungeon's Formation seemed to suppress his cultivation. Soon, Zhao Dong was covered in wounds.
Qing Yu snapped back to her senses and immediately began crying, begging them to stop. "Please, stop... I'm begging you, stop hitting him... Senior isn't a bad person... Please, just stop..."
"You traitorous scum!" the lead disciple snarled, kicking Qing Yu away. "Is this how you repay the sect for nurturing you? By being a traitor? You must have thought I'd forgotten all about you!"
With that, he began to kick Qing Yu relentlessly.
"AAAHHH!!! DON'T TOUCH HER! IF YOU HAVE ANY GUTS, COME AT ME! COME AT ME!" Zhao Dong roared, seeing them beat Qing Yu.
He struggled to get up and protect her, but it was all in vain. The disciples only laughed cruelly as their fists and feet rained down on them.
Finally, when both Zhao Dong and Qing Yu had been beaten to within an inch of their lives, the disciples stopped.
The lead disciple spat on the ground. "Brat, you've got some real nerve, coming to the Blood Sect to stir up trouble."
"And let me tell you something else. Elder Ouyang has already ordered the activation of the dungeon's Earth Fire Formation! Before long, you'll both be roasted into jerky! Hahahaha..."
"OUYANG HONG! YOU BASTARD! YOU DESERVE TO DIE! YOU DESERVE TO DIE!" Zhao Dong roared in utter despair. "COME OUT HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY GUTS! I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOU! OUYANG HONG, YOU'RE A SPINELESS COWARD! FORCING YOURSELF ON A WOMAN... YOU'RE NOT FIT TO BE CALLED HUMAN! YOU'RE AN ANIMAL!"
Suddenly, a sneer echoed from the dungeon entrance. "Heh, calling me an animal?"
A moment later, Ouyang Hong, clad in a white robe, strode into the cell. He looked down at Zhao Dong with utter disdain, as if observing a dead dog on the street.
"Elder Ouyang!" the disciples immediately greeted him with a respectful bow.
Ouyang Hong waved his hand, dismissing them.
Zhao Dong wiped the blood from his mouth and staggered to his feet. "Ouyang Hong! You despicable villain! You said you could save Yafei, that's why I entrusted her to you! Is this how you save someone? You're a monster in human skin!"
Ouyang Hong said dismissively, "There's no such thing as a free lunch. I'm no friend or relative to you or Xu Yafei. Why should I have helped for free? Besides, without my intervention, she would have certainly died. Therefore, her body has long been mine. What I do with it is none of your damn business."
"You...!" Zhao Dong was rendered speechless. The old bastard was clearly using sophistry, yet his twisted logic was maddeningly sound.
Ouyang Hong formed a hand seal, and flames erupted from the walls, surging toward Zhao Dong. The searing pain ripped a gut-wrenching scream from Zhao Dong's throat.
"Heh. You want to fight me? You're far too inexperienced," Ouyang Hong said sinisterly. "I've turned the Earth Fire to its maximum. It won't be long before you're both annihilated, body and soul. You want to question me? Go and plead your case to King Yan in hell!"
With that, Ouyang Hong turned his cold gaze to Qing Yu. "Qing Yu, while you may be the Third Elder's disciple, you are still a member of the Blood Sect."
"On account of your considerable talent, I'll give you one chance. Bow your head, admit your mistake, and I will let you walk out of here."
"Impossible!" Qing Yu gritted her teeth. "Senior has done nothing wrong! You are the one in the wrong! I will live or die with him!"
WHOOSH!
A murderous glint flared in Ouyang Hong's eyes. "Since you're so eager to die, then I shall grant your wish!"
With a wave of his hand, Ouyang Hong sent the Earth Fire surging toward Qing Yu. A piercing scream tore from her lips.
With a satisfied flick of his wrist, Ouyang Hong made the flames retreat, but the oppressive heat in the cell continued to climb.
"Rest assured, I won't grant you a quick death. You will both perish slowly, tormented by the rising heat. It's the end you deserve."
With that, Ouyang Hong turned and left with a final flick of his sleeve.
"Qing Yu... why are you so foolish?" Zhao Dong murmured, staggering to his feet with a bitter chuckle.
Tears streamed down her face. "I... I am willing to live or die with you, Senior. This is my choice. I don't regret it."