Wilted

Wilted...

Fan Le's eyes mirrored his inner turmoil and the intense battle raging within him. His portly frame trembled under the weight of helplessness, a sensation he despised with every fiber of his being.

Leng Ning's choice epitomized her resolve to defy fate. The idea of becoming the property of that aged abomination held no allure for her. She was ready to embrace death instead.

Though Fan Le's association with Leng Ning had been brief, their interactions had solidified a steadfast friendship. Now, as the possibility of Leng Ning's demise loomed, the dread and fury he felt ignited like wildfire in his heart.

"AARRGGHH!" A guttural roar erupted from Fan Le, an expression of his impotent rage. He turned toward a nearby two-story structure, fixing his gaze through a window on Leng Ning's retreating form. Yet, in the next instant, a procession of Yuanfu cultivators from the Leng Clan descended upon Leng Ning. It seemed her attempt to flee had been uncovered.

"LENG NING!" The voice of Leng Lin's father thundered, as the Clan had entrusted him with this task.

By his side, Leng Lin sneered. "You brought this upon yourself, you harlot. Don't pin it on the Clan. No one will rescue you now."

"Leng Ning, you're getting what you deserve," another voice spat.

A chill she had never known before engulfed Leng Ning's heart. Were these truly her kin?

Finally, her gaze fixed on the emaciated, sinister-looking elder standing at the far left—the visage she recognized as belonging to Yan Tie.

"Leng Ning, the Clan has resolved to offer you to Yan Tie. He will determine your punishment," Leng Lin's father proclaimed.

"Pitiful and revolting." Leng Ning surveyed him with icy composure, her voice cutting through the air. "A prominent Clan like ours has chosen to sacrifice its own for the sake of a fanciful favor, uncertain of its realization. Truly pathetic. I'm ashamed to share blood ties with all of you."

After uttering her words, Leng Ning pivoted to leave. Yet, a frosty glint sparked in Leng Lin's father's eyes. With a swift stride, he twisted his fingers into claws and lunged at Leng Ning in an instant.

But Leng Ning's subsequent actions caught everyone off guard. She materialized a dagger in her hand, poised to drive it into her own heart. With her choice made, she harbored no fear of death—instead, it seemed a prospect of relief.

Leng Lin's father squinted, his palms aglow with a golden radiance, forcibly halting Leng Ning's attempt. He clutched the hand holding the dagger, launching another palm strike at her. How dare she?

Unflinchingly, Leng Ning absorbed the impact of the blow without evasive maneuvers or attempts to defend herself. The collision expelled a torrent of blood from her mouth. Grasping Leng Lin's father's arms, she clung tenaciously.

"Courting death!" Leng Lin's father bellowed, veins bulging with rage. He twisted the hand gripping the dagger, producing the cacophonous snap of breaking bones as he violently wrenched Leng Ning's arm off. Remarkably, she emitted not a single cry, counterattacking with a fierce kick aimed at his groin.

"Get lost!" Leng Lin's father sidestepped the kick, hoisting Leng Ning off the ground before slamming her onto the surface, which cracked from the impact.

"Don't spoil the fun; I still want to indulge with this one," Yan Tie's malevolent aura surged. Only then did Leng Lin's father release his grip.

Leng Ning hauled herself up, her useless arm hanging limp by her side. She gazed intently at the faces encircling her, as if etching them into her memory.

"I, Leng Ning, can only bemoan the misfortune of being born into such a vile clan," Leng Ning declared icily. She continued, "But hear this: Qin Wentian is a third-ranked Divine Inscriptionist, acknowledged and endorsed by the White Deer Institute. Furthermore, there's nothing more than friendship between us. The rumors are baseless falsehoods. On the contrary, Bailu Yi is enamored with him, proposing they study Divine Inscriptions side by side. Should you doubt my words, investigate or simply ask Yan Kong."

Shifting her gaze to Yan Kong, she pressed on, "Yan Kong thought he could win Bailu Yi's favor, yet she reserved her affections for Qin Wentian. Consumed by humiliation, he sought retribution and targeted Qin Wentian. If you seek responsibility for the deaths of Hades and the others, Yan Kong is your answer."

The eyes of the Leng Clan and Yan Tie converged on Yan Kong, prompting his complexion to drain of color.

"Lies! While Bailu Yi acknowledges Qin Wentian's talent, their relationship is that of acquaintances engaged in studying Divine Inscriptions. Don't attempt to shield him with such a scheme," Yan Kong retorted with a pitiful visage.

"Hehe, Qin Wentian hasn't returned to the Leng Clan lodgings for months, frequently in the company of Bailu Yi. Do you think someone as proud as her would act thus if her heart held no semblance of fondness? Yan Kong, cease deceiving yourself. With the Leng Clan bent on sacrificing me, I submit. But if the Leng Clan dares to assail Qin Wentian to please Yan Tie, they must ponder the ramifications. Can you truly endure the White Deer Institute's wrath following the aftermath?" Leng Ning coldly chuckled, prompting the expressions of those from the Leng Clan to waver. Her words carried the ring of truth.

"Should Yan Tie seek to address Qin Wentian, let him proceed if he has the competence. However, if the Leng Clan intends to meddle, understand that Qin Wentian, a third-ranked Inscriptionist, will be joining the exchange alongside Bailu Yi. Mull over his stature within the White Deer Institute. Moreover, should he best Yan Tie in the exchange, I eagerly await your remorse," Leng Ning declared. She remained unaware of the actual dynamics between Qin Wentian and Bailu Yi, as well as Qin Wentian's upcoming participation in the exchange. Her intent was solely to deter them from targeting him.

!

In her heart, even prior to crossing paths with Qin Wentian, Leng Ning had resolved that if her Clan persisted in marrying her off to Yan Tie, she would choose to end her life. She was already prepared for it. Death was far less daunting than the alternative.

"The man who captured Bailu Yi's heart must undoubtedly possess exceptional qualities. Yet, does the Leng Clan truly wish to assail him solely to appease Yan Tie? Regret for this foolishness will weigh a thousandfold. I curse all of you—this entire Leng Clan shall crumble in the grip of your idiocy."

With her words uttered, a short sword materialized in Leng Ning's grasp. Yan Tie's brows knitted, his voice urgently ringing out, "Stop her!"

But before his words could fully fade, Leng Ning's short sword had already cut across her throat, releasing a gush of blood that painted the air like a macabre fountain.

The Leng Clan members stood frozen, aghast at her actions. Recovering from the shock, they hastened forward, though it was too late.

Leng Ning's gaze remained open, her voice a soft whisper amidst the chilly atmosphere. The finality in her tone was palpable as her words lingered, "Leng Clan, brace yourselves for the remorse that accompanies your choices. For a clan so devoid of principles, so callously blind to the losses incurred, your downfall is imminent."

"You…" Leng Lin's father quivered slightly. Leng Ning's body slumped to the ground, her gaze turned to the heavens. The serene white clouds drifting above seemed to offer a semblance of purity and tranquility.

Above those clouds, a handsome silhouette appeared, an air of confident nonchalance accompanying his smile.

"Boaster…" Leng Ning whispered within, her eyes closing gently. The nightmare had concluded at last, no longer would she be coerced into an unwilling marriage with that monstrous figure.

Leng Ning's robes were painted crimson by her fresh blood, her curse lingering in the minds of her Clan members as they gazed upon her lifeless form. Their hearts were heavy with indescribable emotions.

Her demise acted as a jarring wakeup call, shaking them from their stupor. The decision they had made that day would inevitably haunt the Leng Clan, leading them towards their own destruction. This was the parting curse of a young woman, her final words etched into the air as her life slipped away.

"Do you think death grants you an escape?" Yan Tie's gaze bore into Leng Ning's lifeless body, a sinister light gleaming within his eyes. "Even in death, you will be refined into a Puppet. WHO SHALL PAY FOR THE DEATH OF MY SON? It matters not if that man holds Bailu Yi's heart. HE MUST DIE! DIE!"

Yan Tie's words reverberated, the collective consciousness of those present quaking under the weight of his madness. His son? Hades was his son? Wasn't Hades merely his disciple?

Now they understood—Hades was both Yan Tie's disciple and his son. Suddenly, the pieces clicked into place, illuminating the source of Yan Tie's rabid thirst for revenge.

"ENOUGH!" A commanding shout split the air, and Leng Ning's father appeared, cradling his daughter's lifeless body. Glaring at Yan Tie with burning rage, he roared, "She wasn't the killer, and now she's dead. You still wish to turn her into a Puppet? CAN YOU EVEN CLAIM TO BE HUMAN?"

Seeing Leng Ning's father retreating with her body, a glint of murderous intent flickered within Yan Tie's eyes. "INSOLENT FOOL, RETURN HERE."

Leng Ning's father cast a frigid gaze at Yan Tie before resolutely ignoring him, striding away with his daughter's remains. His heart ached for the loss of his child. As a father, how could he not be torn apart by this agony?

As a member of the Leng Clan, he had committed many actions he found shameful when it came to Leng Ning. Now, remorse gnawed at his soul, the weight of it almost unbearable. Yet even in death, Yan Tie wouldn't spare his daughter?

"Hehe." Yan Tie's sinister laughter rang out. Suddenly, a Puppet materialized at his side, moving to intercept Leng Ning's father.

Gently placing his daughter's lifeless form on the ground, Leng Ning's father turned to face the Puppet. Upon their collision, he was sent reeling back, unable to match its force. Yan Tie advanced slowly, positioning himself before Leng Ning's body. "Don't expect peace, even in death. As for Qin Wentian and the brute with the arrows, I shall make their lives a living hell. I want to hear them beg for mercy before they become Puppets under my command."

From a distance, Fan Le's Empyrean Flames Bloodline surged. His face contorted with rage, the flames of his lineage flaring brighter and brighter, threatening to erupt.

ROARRR~ His aura surged towards the heavens. In that very moment, Fan Le experienced a breakthrough. Under the fiery gaze that burned within his eyes, a bow and quiver of arrows manifested, bathed in golden flame.

"Leng Ning, I shall avenge you," Fan Le's declaration thundered. The world trembled as the entire structure ignited. Yan Tie and his cohort felt the impending heat closing in. Lifting their heads, they witnessed nine golden arrows manifest, each gleaming with an aura of fiery vengeance. The arrows launched forth with breathtaking speed.

"Hmph." Yan Tie snorted coldly. He unleashed a black palm imprint, effortlessly deflecting the arrow aimed at him. Yet, the trajectory of the other arrows shifted in response. They sliced through the air, their flight creating an eerie cacophony, a dirge for Leng Ning's tragic end.

Bzzzzz. The arrows descended, piercing the ground around Leng Ning. They formed a shroud of arrows, engulfing her in their fiery embrace. A fierce blaze consumed her body, reducing it to ash.

"WHO DARES?" Yan Tie bellowed in madness. His eyes then caught a fleeting glimpse of a plump figure atop a demonic beast, a glint of gold signaling their presence. In a flash of golden light, both rider and mount vanished, escaping into the horizon.