Chapter 101: Worse Than Death

Xiong Batian felt the arrival of Chi Lian and the others and quickly hurried out. Seeing them from a distance, he clasped his fists in greeting.

"Elders! If you needed something, you could have just sent word—no need to come all this way in person!"

Chi Lian waved a hand impatiently. "Xiong Batian, last night I asked you to find a secluded, safe place to imprison Yao Ye. How goes it?"

Chi Lian's tone was accusatory, and Xiong Batian's expression darkened. He straightened himself and spoke.

"Rest assured, Elders—I've already hidden Yao Ye away securely!"

Manghuang looked at Xiong Batian with great arrogance and couldn't help but let out a cold snort.

"Hmph! Xiong Batian! We want to see Yao Ye now. Lead the way!"

Hearing this, Xiong Batian turned around and flew toward the depths without looking back.

Chi Lian and the others exchanged a glance, their faces grim, and followed. They came to a stop at the rear mountain of the Celestial Demon Wolf.

"Xiong Batian! What trickery is this? Why have you brought us to the old grounds of the Celestial Demon Wolf?"

Xiong Batian had no desire to continue antagonizing the demon clan members. "Everyone, don't be anxious—hear me out!"

Xiong Batian raised his hand and pointed to a pond in the distance. "As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is the safest. No one would ever think that Yao Ye is imprisoned here!"

Chi Lian looked at Xiong Batian with suspicion, then spread out his spiritual sense to probe. When he opened his eyes, his expression was quite unpleasant.

"Xiong Batian! Are you toying with me?! Where is Yao Ye? I didn't detect him at all!"

"Hahaha! Yao Ye is locked up beneath the pond! Please, follow me!"

The group arrived at a rockery, where Xiong Batian moved aside a stone, revealing a stone staircase leading downward. They exchanged glances and followed him inside.

At the very depths below ground, a figure lay quietly in a cage. Chi Lian finally relaxed.

"Xiong Batian, what was that just now? Why couldn't I sense Yao Ye's presence?"

"Hahaha! Elder Chi, you wouldn't know—this was once Yao Moran's cultivation secret chamber. It's shielded by formations. When probed with spiritual power, it merely shows up as rock!"

Chi Lian's expression softened. "Xiong Batian! You've been thoughtful! How is Yao Ye now?"

"Yao Ye's injuries are no longer life-threatening! He should wake within a couple of days."

"Mm. Let's go. Mangyuan, this place is your responsibility now. Manghuang and I will return to report to the leader."

Not long after they left, Yao Ye let out a pained groan, his eyelids trembling faintly as if about to open.

"Yao Ye! Listen to me now—do not open your eyes. Your situation is dire; the demon clan is watching you at all times. To hide the Creation Cauldron, I've shrunk it and fused it into your essence blood! For the time being, don't contact me, and I won't come out to see you either."

After Yao Ye recovered his spiritual power, Cauldron Elder's words came through. Yao Ye lowered his head gloomily, silent.

"Yao Ye! Don't lose heart. Fortunately, your ancestor's help has temporarily fooled the demon clan. Your demon core is not shattered—you still have a chance to recover! This period, you must endure alone. Wait quietly for the right moment; do not be rash."

Yao Ye nodded slightly, and Cauldron Elder's voice vanished, as if it had never been there at all.

Yao Ye forced his eyes open. Had anyone been there, they would have seen that his eyes were bloodshot, hollow, utterly devoid of life. Thinking back to what had happened before he lost consciousness, he lay on the ground for a long time without moving.

"Why? Why?"

Yao Ye dragged himself up and sat in the corner of the cage, murmuring to himself incessantly, his head buried deep in his chest. Tears fell uncontrollably. His clothes were filthy and disheveled, his hair hung in tangled strands, and his back was exposed, revealing scars from all manner of weapons.

At this moment, Yao Ye was like a lone old wolf separated from its pack—lonely, lost, licking his wounds in solitude, quietly waiting for death. The lofty ambitions of yesterday had vanished without a trace.

"Why? Why did you deceive me?"

Yao Ye thought of the sweet times he had shared with Liu Xin, then of the cruel moment when she had stabbed his demon core with a dagger.

His heart twisted in agony. He had to press his hand against his chest. His face went pale, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood. Leaning against the cage, he sank into unconsciousness once more.

At that moment, Liu Xin sat in her room, unable to eat or drink, her appearance equally haggard. At times she smiled involuntarily, at times she sobbed softly.

"Junior brother... I'm sorry... I didn't want to hurt you! I did it to save you! Yao Ye, you must hate me terribly, right? And rightly so—deceiving you the way I did, you can never forgive me."

At this thought, Liu Xin clutched her head and burst into bitter tears. Her throat was already hoarse beyond recognition.

"Heavens! Why have you done this to me?! Why have you done this to Yao Ye?! Ah!!"

Liu Xin wailed with a heartrending cry, slowly fading into a dazed sleep. But alas, things would not stop because of Liu Xin's misery—even more cruel trials awaited them both.