"I was wondering how I would capture you, and you actually appeared before me. This is truly unexpected."
Yu Wanyan stared at the person before her in shock. It was then she realized that Xuanyuan Heng already knew she was alive. However, she had been useless then, so he had let her be, allowing her to do as she pleased. But now, Feng Ran was in danger, and when she was needed, she was expected to obey.
At this moment, Yu Wanyan understood that she had been manipulated all along.
It was laughable that she had thought Xuanyuan Heng didn't know she was alive and had even fabricated excuses to make him believe it. Now it seemed she had been deluding herself.
When Yu Wanyan thought about Xuanyuan Heng using her life to save Feng Ran, her only thought was to escape.
She wondered, why? Why should her life be used to save Feng Ran?
If Feng Ran were saved, she would lose her life.
Why? Why did she have to sacrifice so much?
Yu Wanyan turned to flee, thinking she just needed to escape.
But as she turned and began to escape, rejoicing in her freedom, she was suddenly blocked by Bei Chenye.
She fell to her knees with a 'thump,' begging, "Bei Chenye, please let me go. I..."
However, no matter what Yu Wanyan said, Bei Chenye did not move.
Yu Wanyan was filled with regret and sorrow.
Xuanyuan Heng approached, looking at Yu Wanyan with disdain. "You should be grateful that your life can save Feng Ran. If not, you would have ceased to exist in this world long ago."
"Also, do you really think you can escape now?"
Yu Wanyan trembled all over. Xuanyuan Heng had not treated her this way before. Why had he changed so much?
"I..." Yu Wanyan wanted to plead for mercy, thinking that if Xuanyuan Heng let her go, everything else would be manageable.
"Heh..." Xuanyuan Heng snorted coldly, his smile becoming more pronounced. He said icily, "Do you know? You truly cannot escape from under my nose."
"You escaped by trickery back then; that was my mistake. But I won't make that mistake again."
Suddenly, Xuanyuan Heng kicked her, saying coldly, "As long as your worthless life remains, the injuries are of no consequence."
Xuanyuan Heng didn't want to say anything more to Yu Wanyan. He, along with Bei Chenye, dragged Yu Wanyan to Feng Ran's side, as Feng Ran needed Yu Wanyan at that moment.
...
Three days later, Feng Ran woke up.
Her gaze fell upon Yu Wanyan.
She closed her eyes and opened them again, finding herself in the familiar surroundings.
Feng Ran seemed disbelieving that she was still here.
When she had fainted, Li Yuncheng had visited her and promised to find a way to take her away. Li Yuncheng had said her life was short and that Xuanyuan Heng would surely let her go. She had believed Li Yuncheng.
But now? Why was she still here?
Of course, she still believed what Li Yuncheng had said.
She pondered where the problem lay and resolved to find its source.
Feng Ran closed her eyes again, thinking perhaps her posture upon waking was incorrect.
With this thought, she closed her eyes once more.
However, the moment she closed her eyes and opened them again, she was still in the same place. More importantly, she saw that familiar, cold face.
Her heart plummeted to the depths.
Xuanyuan Heng's approach terrified Feng Ran, and she trembled all over. "Xuanyuan Heng, why... why are you here?"
"Heh..." The response she received was a cold snort.
Xuanyuan Heng's eyes were filled with pain. He had rushed back to save Feng Ran, only to hear these words.
Perhaps he had harmed Feng Ran too much over the years, which was why she was so wary of him. Who was to blame for this? No one. If anyone were to be blamed, it could only be himself.
Everything was his own doing.
Xuanyuan Heng was filled with extreme regret, but it was useless now.
There was no magic potion for regret in this world. His saying he regretted it wouldn't change anything.
Some things, once they happened, were irreversible.
When Xuanyuan Heng reached out, Feng Ran immediately pulled her hand back. But Xuanyuan Heng forcefully grabbed her hand.
At first, Feng Ran struggled, but slowly, she gave up. She knew that struggling was futile.
Xuanyuan Heng would not let her go.
He would not let her go.
Xuanyuan Heng looked at the person before him with a darkened face, unable to utter a word.
He didn't know what to say, or what words could possibly appease Feng Ran.
Bei Chenye, standing by, wanted to leave. He had never seen Bei Chenye so enraged.
Bei Chenye stood by, almost unable to breathe.
At this moment, he could only retreat and remain silent.
Bei Chenye dared not look directly at the person before him.
He even began to envy those who weren't present, those who wouldn't risk their lives by accident.
At the very least, he felt his own life was halved.
"Why are you still here? Didn't I tell you to leave?"
"Did... did you? Did my Lord tell me to leave?"
As these words left his mouth, Bei Chenye regretted them. He truly wanted to slap himself.
Why had he uttered such a sentence?
The Lord had told him to leave earlier, and he should have complied. Now, by asking this, was he suicidal?
"Leave." Xuanyuan Heng said coldly.
Bei Chenye stumbled and ran out, at the fastest speed possible. He thought to himself that he had indeed left at his fastest.
He gasped for air, and standing outside the door, Bei Chenye finally felt reborn.
He had to admit, the situation inside had been unbearable.
He was even glad he had run out quickly.