NOVEL NEXT Chapter 130: Yao Li
Wen Ran could feel the malice emanating from two of the three young women who had carried him out. The animosity between them was palpable, their disdain for him as clear as the cold chill that hung in the air. He was all too familiar with the eternal struggle between ice and fire—two opposing forces, constantly at odds, yet bound to exist side by side in this world. It was a balance of contradictions, and he couldn't help but feel the tension in the air as the icy resentment from the women grew stronger.
"I think we've carried you far enough," one of them sneered, her voice sharp like an icicle. "You can walk on your own now, you dog." Her jet-black hair and eyes gleamed with the coldness of winter, and she shoved Wen Ran aside, wiping her hands as if she had touched something filthy.
"Well said, Sister Huan Ling," the second woman agreed, her voice equally frosty. She shared the same dark features, her icy demeanor matching her companion's perfectly. Without a moment's hesitation, she discarded Wen Ran like a piece of trash, her cold indifference showing that their task was one they had already lost interest in.
Wen Ran stumbled as he was unceremoniously cast aside, the sudden loss of support almost causing him to fall flat on the cold stone. But just as he was about to hit the ground, Yao Li stepped in, her gentle hands catching him. She supported him with her body, her presence a stark contrast to the two women who had turned away.
"Be careful," Yao Li whispered, her voice soft and concerned as she helped him regain his balance. Her warmth seeped through, a reminder that not everyone in the group was so cold-hearted.
"Sister Ying Yue, Sister Huan Ling, what are you doing? Senior sister said—!" Yao Li's voice cracked with panic, her eyes wide as she tried to reason with her fellow sisters. But she was quickly cut off.
"Senior sister said this, senior sister said that... shut up, you brat!" Ying Yue snapped, her icy demeanor sharper than ever. In one swift motion, she reached out and grabbed the delicate white hair of the younger girl, tugging it with force. Ying Yue's ice-blue eyes glimmered with an unreadable emotion, her gaze hard and merciless, yet no trace of pain was allowed to show on her face. "If it weren't for senior sister, you'd still be at the bottom of the group, cleaning our shoes. So, if you love your fellow sisters, you'll do this for us. Now, don't you dare run off to senior sister with any nonsense. Understand, you slut?"
Yao Li's body trembled under the force, the pain coursing through her scalp as Ying Yue twisted her grip, pulling her in close before releasing her just as quickly. Yao Li's face flushed, her eyes welling with tears, but she nodded wordlessly, the weight of fear and helplessness pressing down on her heart. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire
"I... I understand..." Yao Li's voice was barely above a whisper, as if the words themselves were suffocating her. She wanted to cry, to scream for help, to run straight to senior sister, but she knew, with a sinking feeling, that the consequences of doing so would be unbearable. Her fear was enough to silence her, and with a heavy heart, she turned her gaze to Wen Ran, still supporting him, her every step weighed down by the unspoken threat. The world around her seemed to close in, and all she could do was carry him away, lost in the shadow of her own silent suffering.
"Please, hold on a little longer, Brother Zhen Yan... I'll get you to a safe, warm place." Yao Li's voice quivered, her concern evident despite the coldness of her surroundings. Each word seemed to weigh heavily on her, her heart torn between the fear of her own fate and her genuine desire to help him.
At that moment, a sharp glint flickered in Wen Ran's eyes. His body might have been exhausted, his mind foggy from the ordeal, but the anger simmering within him could not be ignored. He wasn't a hero, nor did he intend to be, but there were certain things he couldn't let slide. He never forgot the faces of those who mistreated others, and he certainly wouldn't forget the faces of the two women who had shown him nothing but disdain. Their names were etched into his mind, and though his body was weak, his resolve was ironclad. He would make sure that if they crossed paths again, they would regret treating him, or anyone else, the way they had.
For now, however, Wen Ran understood the bigger picture. The leader of the group was far too powerful for him to handle recklessly. He could feel her cultivation base clearly, Spirit Pagoda at such a young age... With her power, she is clearly treasured in her sect. A fight with her would be futile, not to mention the life-saving talismans and the possible backers she has... It's not worth the risk.
His eyes flickered over to Yao Li, the one who had been caring for him. Despite the coldness in her eyes, there was an unmistakable softness in her voice, and Wen Ran could see the inner conflict hidden beneath her steely exterior. Her beauty matched the Ice Empress's, but in a different, softer way. Perhaps that was why the other women had treated her with such disdain. They were threatened by her presence, likely jealous of her natural grace, her kindness, or perhaps her ability to keep her composure in the face of everything.
"Thank you... umm, Yao Li, right?" Wen Ran asked, trying to sound awkward, as if this whole situation had caught him by surprise, even though the inner workings of his mind were far from innocent. He needed to keep up the appearance, but the deeper motives ran through his mind.
"It's okay," Yao Li replied, her tone almost flat, though the shimmer of tears betrayed her true emotions. "I have to attend to my duties." Her eyes were cold, yet within them flickered something more—sadness, regret, and perhaps a hint of compassion for the situation she was forced into.
Wen Ran etched Yao Li's face into his memory, silently vowing to repay her kindness. Despite the cold exterior of the other disciples, he sensed something human in her, a silent struggle he could relate to. If their paths crossed again, he would make it right.
As they stepped into the light, Wen Ran felt the warmth of the outside world wash over him. Yao Li steadied him for a moment, her gaze distant but soft, before she silently released him.