Soul Emperor Awakening

Zi Yi never thought she would be found out. She had let Liu Xin hide in the cellar for over half a year, all to evade the manhunt outside.

If Liu Xin were truly discovered, her fate would be tragic. It didn't take much imagination to know what would happen to her. And yet, she had been found out—and by none other than Zhao Fei, who harbored a deep-seated hatred for Lin Xuan!

Hating Lin Xuan as he did, he would show Liu Xin even less mercy. That was beyond question.

"Zhao Fei, I have no idea what you're talking about," Zi Yi said calmly. She refused to admit anything; for all she knew, Zhao Fei could just be testing her.

"You don't know what I'm talking about?" Zhao Fei sneered. "I heard every word you said in that cellar. How much longer did you think you could hide it from me? Did you think no one would notice you bringing in dry rations every so often? An occasional time or two, fine. But you've been doing it for half a year, sometimes bringing back meals or even Elixir Pills that are of little use to you. Still, for you to hide her for six months... that was a genuine oversight on our part."

Zi Yi's expression turned ugly, her gaze chilling. Elemental Power stirred within her, preparing for a sneak attack! This information absolutely could not get out. But as she looked at Zhao Fei's face, she stopped circulating her Elemental Power.

In the end, she abandoned the idea of a forceful solution. It was for no other reason than the simple fact that she couldn't beat Zhao Fei. His Cultivation was far higher than hers; he was at the Fifth Layer Essence Pill Stage, while she was merely at the Third Layer Cultivation. She could have been stronger, but the trouble surrounding Lin Xuan had caused her status to plummet.

Trying to solve this with force now was impossible. She would be defeated in just a few exchanges.

"Then what is it you want?" Zi Yi asked calmly, her tone giving no indication she had been exposed.

Her ability to have once been the Pavilion Master was proof enough of her competence. If she couldn't even maintain her composure in a crisis like this, she would have never been qualified for the position.

"What I want? You know full well!" Zhao Fei sneered. "You've always sided with that Lin Xuan, even hiding people for him. Looks like you really are in love with him! If Qingcheng Mansion or the Royal Family finds out about this, who do you think can protect you? You're just the Pavilion Master's adopted daughter, your status is far below ours. Do you really think you can survive after angering both Qingcheng Mansion and the Royal Family?"

"In love with him?" Zi Yi smiled faintly. "This isn't love. I only know that he saved me, that he helped me. For that reason, I can't abandon someone important to him!"

She spoke with absolute resolve. To say she had fallen in love with Lin Xuan... she wasn't that foolish. They had only met a few times in total. To call it love would be far too rash; she wasn't the type to fall for someone so easily. She truly felt a deep sense of gratitude toward Lin Xuan. What had happened last time at the Demon Cloud Sea had been utterly heartbreaking for her.

This time, she had to repay him. Even if Lin Xuan truly never came back, she would do the same. She had absolutely no regrets. Even now, having fallen into this predicament, she felt not a single shred of remorse!

She was a woman of principle. Though her actions went against her own interests, her gratitude was overwhelming. If it hadn't been for Lin Xuan, she would have been captured long ago and violated in the Demon Cloud Sea. What would have been the point of living after that?

Being able to live on, even with the lowliest of statuses, was good enough for her. This was her current situation, but who could guarantee the future?

But now, Zhao Fei's arrival was pushing her into a nightmarish abyss.

"Don't worry, I'll allow you to continue hiding her. But you have to agree to one condition!" Zhao Fei's eyes flickered, a conspiratorial glint emerging from their depths.

"What condition?" A sense of unease washed over Zi Yi. 'Could anything good possibly come from Zhao Fei? No, that's impossible.'

"Become my slave girl, always and forever at my beck and call!" Zhao Fei sneered, looking down at her. He had never shown Zi Yi a pleasant expression.

To be more precise, ever since Lin Xuan's appearance, he had never treated Zi Yi well, feeling that she had betrayed him. The marriage was off—at least for the time being. Without the favor of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, it was impossible for her to become Zhao Fei's principal wife.

Since Zi Yi was the Pavilion Master's adopted daughter, no one dared to make a move against her, despite her fallen status. But just because no one touched her didn't mean she couldn't be blackmailed.

"Leave it to a dog to never spit out ivory!" Zi Yi's gaze went cold. "Give up on that fantasy. It's impossible!"

"Impossible? Then this is simple. I'll turn her in. As for whatever punishment the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion doles out to you, I couldn't care less! So, what happened to your 'not abandoning' her? You're speechless now, aren't you!" After speaking, Zhao Fei started toward the woodshed, but Zi Yi immediately blocked his path.

"What's this? Have you decided to become my slave girl?" Zhao Fei sneered at her, an infinite sense of satisfaction welling up inside him. 'Having leverage is wonderful. I can toy with her as I please.'

"I... I am willing! I'll do anything for you. I can clean your rooms or serve you tea, but my body is off-limits!" Zi Yi said, her gaze cold.

"That's not for you to decide!" Zhao Fei retorted. "You will give me everything and serve me with your entire being. Do you understand? That's what a slave is! If you can't do it, I'll take her away this instant!"

Zi Yi's face turned pale. This meant she would have to offer up her body, which to her was the greatest possible humiliation.

"Well?" Zhao Fei reached out, lightly wrapping an arm around Zi Yi and pulling her in. His eyes met hers, containing no love, only hatred.

"All... right," Zi Yi said as tears streamed down her face. She had no choice but to compromise. She would have to live out her life as his concubine.

"Haha! Let's see how long you can act so high and mighty. In my eyes, you're no different from a dog. You'll go wherever I tell you to go!" Zhao Fei laughed maniacally, finally getting his revenge.

"Is that so? In my eyes, you're no different from a dog either." A ghostly voice sounded from behind him, causing Zhao Fei to turn his head in terror. When he saw the face that had become the stuff of his nightmares, he froze.

Zi Yi was just as stunned when she saw the newcomer. It was Lin Xuan!

"I—I'll kill you!" Zhao Fei charged forward in a fury, mobilizing his strongest Elemental Power. He lunged toward Lin Xuan, swinging his palm down with world-shattering force!

Just as he reached Lin Xuan and was about to bring his palm down, an even faster hand slapped him hard across the face.

WHAP!

Zhao Fei was sent flying by the slap, crashing into the wall. He tumbled a few times before scrambling to his feet, a pathetic mess. His mouth was full of blood, and countless teeth had been knocked out.

"No, comparing you to a dog is an insult to dogs. A dog at least knows how to curry favor with its master. But you? You're worse than a beast!" Lin Xuan shook his hand and wiped it on his clothes, as if he had just slapped a fly.