Xuan Phoenix Peak, back mountain.
Inside a dark, damp cave sealed off by multiple layers of arrays, Chu Mo was imprisoned.
Her four limbs were locked in profound iron shackles.
The exquisite black robe on her body was already in tatters, revealing numerous bloodied wounds with curled, mangled edges from the spiritual power lashes Nalan Qingjue had inflicted.
Her usually spirited and proud face, along with her arrogant black pupils, now held nothing but wretched defeat.
Chu Mo had followed Nalan Qingjue since she was very young.
Their relationship was both master and disciple and could even be considered half mother and daughter.
She had never seen Nalan Qingjue this furious before.
In the past, no matter what mistake Chu Mo made, Nalan Qingjue had never punished her so ruthlessly, nor had she ever locked her away in a sunless cave.
How ironic.
Not long ago, Chu Mo had been the god who decided Bai Qingran’s life and death.
She had stood high above, never caring about his feelings, and had wantonly imprisoned and tormented him.
Yet now, she herself had become a prisoner covered in wounds.
Thinking of Bai Qingran, the iron chains on Chu Mo’s body clinked softly.
A complex, indescribable emotion flashed through her lowered black pupils.
Her spiritual power had been completely sealed by Nalan Qingjue.
The residual Spirit Emperor Stage energy in her wounds rampaged through her body day and night.
Every time the wounds nearly healed, they would be brutally torn open again, then continue to torture her through her meridians.
She was in constant, mind-tearing agony.
Yet even amid such immense pain, the one image Chu Mo could not shake from her mind was that stubborn white figure who had stepped in front of her.
Her emotions and reason clashed endlessly, leaving her unable to understand why Bai Qingran would risk his life to protect her.
She also didn’t know whether she should feel ecstatic or heartbroken.
There was no doubt that Chu Mo craved Bai Qingran’s love.
The little fox’s “deep affection” in daring to protect her even when facing death moved her deeply.
But Chu Mo knew exactly how despicable she was.
She felt like a guilty villain! Deep in her heart, she could never fully believe that someone she had hurt and tormented so badly could truly… fall in love with her…
Suddenly, a faint itch came from her wrist.
Chu Mo turned her head with difficulty.
A striking red caught her eye.
The little fox had said it was a custom from his hometown—to tie it on the person he loved.
The little fox had said, this way, she would never run away…
The little fox had said, he seemed… to have fallen a little in love with her…
So… Bai Qingran… you do love me, right…
Like an incurable gambler, Chu Mo refused to listen to the screams of reason.
She bit her lip hard, repeatedly shoving the guilt and self-loathing that could drive her mad into the darkest corners of her heart.
But now… Chu Mo’s heart clenched tightly.
Would her master do something to Bai Qingran?
When she was finally released… would what she see be the little fox’s cold corpse…
Her throat felt blocked.
She couldn’t swallow or breathe properly.
Chu Mo trembled as physiological fear made acid surge up from her stomach.
In her heart, she thought humbly that no matter the cost, she would beg her master to spare Bai Qingran—even if it meant letting the little fox leave her forever…
Just as the suffocating pressure felt like it would crush her to death, noise came from the cave entrance.
She desperately lifted her head, only to see Lin Rou.
The surprise and disappointment that flashed in Chu Mo’s eyes did not escape Lin Rou.
Lin Rou still smiled gently, like a warm and comforting sun.
She spoke softly, “True Disciple Chu, are you surprised to see me? The Sect Master asked me to come treat your wounds.”
As she spoke, Lin Rou walked over to Chu Mo.
Seeing her True Disciple in such a miserable state, Lin Rou sighed and sent a pure stream of spiritual power filled with vitality into Chu Mo’s body.
In an instant, much of the cold, piercing pain in Chu Mo’s wounds was washed away by a warm current.
“True Disciple Chu, don’t blame the Sect Master. She is still thinking of you. Until now, only a few of us know about this matter. Once Bai Qingran’s issue is resolved and the Sect Master’s anger subsides, you will still be True Disciple Chu. Your reputation and standing will not be affected in the slightest.”
The moment these words fell, that warm feeling suddenly turned into bone-chilling cold that crawled up from the soles of Chu Mo’s feet and spread through her entire body.
She had overlooked the most important question—how had Nalan Qingjue learned about Bai Qingran’s existence?
Chu Mo turned her stiff neck.
Looking at Lin Rou’s gentle expression, she felt a wave of horror, as if she were staring at an evil ghost from the depths of the nine hells! Chu Mo spoke with great difficulty, her voice rough and filled with disbelief.
“It was you… who told the Sect Master about Bai Qingran?”
Upon hearing this, the spiritual energy in Lin Rou’s hand stopped abruptly.
She slowly stood up.
Her narrowed eyes gradually opened wider under Chu Mo’s horrified gaze.
The hatred and jealousy within them were so thick they nearly drowned Chu Mo! The corners of Lin Rou’s mouth stretched into a grotesque smile that reached her ears.
She suddenly bent over, clutching her stomach, and burst into wild laughter! The triumphant, mad laughter echoed through the deathly silent cave, carrying an indescribable eerie terror.
“True Disciple Chu, have you only just figured it out? Hahahahaha.”
“You!” Veins bulged on Chu Mo’s forehead as her muscles tensed violently! She struggled desperately, but she was like a trapped beast in its final moments.
Her movements only produced the clattering of chains behind her.
“Lin Rou! You bitch! What right do you have to do this?! I’ll kill you! I will definitely kill you!”
Chu Mo’s eyes turned bloodshot, the fury in them nearly turning into bloody tears.
Hearing Chu Mo’s curses, the smile on Lin Rou’s face withered like flowers under frost, instantly turning into the deepest, blackest gloom.
“I don’t have the right? Heh, Chu Mo, and you do? The person who dug out Bai Qingran’s Demon Core?”
Every word from Lin Rou was like a poison-coated needle, stabbing straight into Chu Mo’s heart.
Watching Chu Mo’s face grow paler and paler, an almost euphoric sense of satisfaction nearly burst through the top of Lin Rou’s head.
“That day, when Bai Qingran removed his veil, his face bore some resemblance to Pei Yunqing. But I didn’t dare think in that direction, because when our divine senses merged, I learned what kind of inhuman abuse Bai Qingran had suffered. Moreover, I trusted your character, True Disciple Chu. But…”
Lin Rou paused.
Her body trembled violently, as if recalling the shock and rage she felt when she realized her spirit butterflies refused to leave Lingxiao Peak.
“You actually captured Bai Qingran for your own selfish desires and treated him like that! Chu Mo, just think about your demonic, brutal actions! In this world, you are the least qualified person to say anything about Bai Qingran!”
After her words fell, Lin Rou’s heaving chest gradually calmed.
The smile returned to her face as she spoke calmly and gently, “Chu Mo, I watched you grow up. As a woman, it’s understandable to make some mistakes when faced with a beauty like Bai Qingran. But from now on, you can’t—”
“Lin Rou! We’re both women, so stop pretending! Your intentions toward Bai Qingran are not clean either!”
Chu Mo roared.
She clearly saw that when talking about Bai Qingran, the terrifying, suffocating possessiveness in Lin Rou’s eyes and expression was exactly the same as her own.
Having her inner thoughts exposed by Chu Mo, Lin Rou was not angry.
Instead, her smile grew even brighter.
“That’s right. I want Bai Qingran. Whether it’s his unparalleled medical skills or his breathtaking beauty that haunts my dreams, I want all of it.”
Then, her tone rose with a few degrees of provocation and malice.
“True Disciple Chu, why don’t you tell me—what does Bai Qingran feel like in bed? What does he like the most? What kind of play can he not endure? I don’t have much experience, so I wouldn’t want to leave a bad impression on such a beauty.”
Before Chu Mo could curse, Lin Rou continued with a soft laugh, “Ah~ Never mind. True Disciple Chu doesn’t need to say anything. There’s a certain charm to inexperience too. I’ll slowly explore and savor it myself~”
“Lin Rou! I’ll XXX!” Chu Mo exploded like a fully detonated powder keg! She frantically yanked at the chains.
The iron nails embedded in the stone wall loosened slightly from her strength, producing grating sounds.
Several small stones slid down.
She stretched her hands forward desperately, wishing she could strangle Lin Rou right then and there!
This violent movement allowed Lin Rou to notice the red string tied around Chu Mo’s wrist.
Lin Rou frowned slightly.
When had Chu Mo started liking such accessories?
And she was actually wearing it?
It couldn’t be from Pei Yunqing, so could it be… from Bai Qingran?
Greed flashed in Lin Rou’s eyes. She flicked a strand of spiritual power into Chu Mo’s body.
Chu Mo let out a muffled groan as her bones seemed to turn to jelly.
Her entire body collapsed limply onto the ground like a pile of mud.
As Lin Rou reached out and grabbed her wrist, her fingertips nearly touching the red string, Chu Mo panicked completely.
“Don’t… don’t touch it… I… I have other things in my storage ring… I can give you anything… please…”
Before she could finish, the red string had already fallen into Lin Rou’s palm.
Chu Mo’s eyes turned red. She lowered her once proud head.
Tears shattered against the ground as she forced broken, choking pleas from the depths of her throat.
“Please… you can curse me, hit me… just return the red string to me… Lin Rou… I’m begging you…”
“This is something Bai Qingran gave you?”
Lin Rou asked knowingly, but Chu Mo only lowered her head and wept without answering.
Holding the red string between her fingers, a playful smile curved Lin Rou’s lips.
“Chu Mo, oh Chu Mo. Now you have nothing left when it comes to Bai Qingran. But don’t worry, I’ll take this red string to see him and tell him you’re still safe. If you have anything you want to say to him, I can pass it on for you. However…”
Looking at Chu Mo, who now resembled a homeless dog, the playfulness on Lin Rou’s lips was replaced by pure cruelty.
She crouched down and whispered into Chu Mo’s ear like a demon.
“Chu Mo, do you love Bai Qingran?”
The calm words struck Chu Mo’s head lightly. She looked up, her eyes filled with confusion and helplessness.
Did she love Bai Qingran?
She seemed to have never seriously considered it.
The relationship between Chu Mo and Bai Qingran had never been fair.
She had always been the one standing high above, the abuser.
She had taken it for granted that she should possess every part of the little fox—his body, his love—but she had never thought about whether this twisted, pathological feeling was actually love for Bai Qingran.
Lin Rou licked her bright red lips, very satisfied with Chu Mo’s current bewilderment.
She was like a precise scalpel, intending to cut open Chu Mo’s chest and dissect her beating heart piece by piece for her to see.
“Chu Mo, you do love Bai Qingran, don’t you? Otherwise you wouldn’t value this red string he gave you so much. But Chu Mo, have you ever truly understood your own love?”
In that instant, Chu Mo’s entire body shook violently.
Her face turned deathly pale. Her lips trembled, but she could only utter a few meaningless syllables.
“You definitely haven’t. That’s why you indulged your desires, why you told yourself you loved Pei Yunqing, and why you did those unforgivable things to him. Chu Mo, your unclear love destroyed Bai Qingran and destroyed your future together. Perhaps one day, Bai Qingran will have his own lover. All his happiness and beauty will come from that woman, while you, Chu Mo…”
Lin Rou’s face turned ice-cold, like a merciless judge.
“Will be the nightmare that wakes him up in the middle of every night, one he can never shake off…”
“Aaaahhhh! Lin Rou! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!!! Bai Qingran loves me! He loves me!!! I… I didn’t…”
In the end, Chu Mo could no longer utter a single coherent word.
Only suppressed, despairing wails remained, like a wild beast that had bitten its beloved to death… and was now going mad with regret beside his corpse!
“Heh, Chu Mo, you’re still too young. You don’t understand love at all. You only have brute force and know nothing but possession and destruction. What a pity, Chu Mo…”
Lin Rou clutched the red string tightly.
Just before leaving the cave, her final words lingered in the air.
“Bai Qingran will never be yours…”