In the mountain villa, wisps of cold smoke drifted on the ground.
The vermilion pillars extended the long corridor far to the other end, with the eaves made of glazed tiles peeping out slightly. A tall man in black walked in the corridor with his hands behind his back.
On his solemn face, a pair of sharp hawk-like eyes surveyed everything in front of him. Under his slightly hooked nose, his thin lips were tightly pursed, exuding an intimidating aura all over his body.
"Protector Chang, long time no see." Suddenly, a suave male voice came from behind. Chang He suddenly stopped in his tracks and stood with his back to the person.
The man was dressed in a light blue long robe, with white long boots embroidered with pale patterns on his feet, and a white cloth wrapped around his wrist. He had handsome features, and a gentle smile was enough to charm people.
Chang He was no ordinary person. He knew at once who the visitor was.
He said indifferently, "North Star Lord, I hope you've been well."
Jiang Li showed a surprised expression on his face and laughed, "I've still been recognized by Protector Chang even before he saw me. Could it be that you've admired me for a long time?"
Chang He ignored his teasing. He had long known that Jiang Li, the North Star Lord of the Tianci Sect, was a romantic disciple. Without even interacting with him, he knew how thick-skinned this person was.
Chang He turned around and looked at him expressionlessly, asking, "What do you want from me, North Star Lord?"
Jiang Li flashed a suave smile. He stopped beside a pillar, propped one leg and crossed the other, then leaned against the pillar with his arms folded across his chest. He said with a smile, "I'd like to ask Protector Chang for someone."
"Oh?" Chang He raised his eyebrows, and a sharp glint flashed in his hawk-like eyes. "I don't remember hiding anyone of yours."
Jiang Li knew he would say so deliberately and had been prepared. He lowered his eyes and said softly, "My young master doesn't know that his wife has actually been taken away by you..."
Chang He's hawk-like eyes turned cold, and his brows frowned imperceptibly.
In the dim dungeon, a nauseating smell of rust filled the air, and the sound of dripping water echoed from time to time in the empty dungeon.
A sound of footsteps came from afar. Suddenly, a slender hand hanging on an iron ring moved.
The long hair that had been scattered hung on the ground. The purple flower long robe on her body was already soaked by the water, and the white inner garment had become transparent after being soaked, clinging to her fair skin. A cold wind blew through the dungeon, and the figure was shivering.
On her beautiful face, a pair of charming eyes were lowered. On her pointed chin, her originally rosy lips were now bloodless. There were countless whip marks like red thorns on her collarbone. Her hands were hung high on the iron rings, and her body was kneeling on the ground.
The footsteps stopped at the door. A soft sound of iron locks touching came. The long eyelashes of the beautiful woman suddenly trembled.
Chang He inserted the key into the iron lock and turned it. With a "click", the iron lock was opened.
Jiang Li looked at the disheveled figure in the cell in shock. His face, which was usually full of amorous smiles, was now filled with pain and hatred.
When he saw Duanmu You kneeling on the ground, on the verge of death, an unprecedented anger spread through his whole body. His knuckles turned white from being clenched tightly. The moment the cell door opened, he strode in, half-kneeled on the ground, and reached out to push the long hair covering Duanmu You's face to one side.
Duanmu You's eyelashes trembled. Her originally charming eyes were now as empty as death. She said weakly, "Jiang Li..."
Jiang Li trembled all over. His rosy lips were bitten pale. She knew it was him even before seeing him. What on earth had she been through here?
His gaze fell on the whip marks on her neck, and his eyes darkened.
Wang Chengyang...
Chang He also noticed those whip marks and frowned.
"Take her away quickly." Chang He said coldly.
Jiang Li didn't care about much. He opened the iron ring. The moment Duanmu You's wrists were freed from the iron ring, her whole body slumped to the ground, and her slender fingers trembled slightly. Jiang Li picked her up in his arms and walked past Chang He out of the iron gate.
Chang He didn't say a word. He stepped back and locked the iron gate again.
Jiang Li carried Duanmu You and walked with his head down all the way.
"The Alliance Leader has seen her appearance. It's best not to let her appear in front of the Alliance Leader again, or her identity will surely be recognized." Chang He glanced at Jiang Li and rarely gave a reminder.
Jiang Li nodded and said in a low voice, "Thank you." His tone had lost the vitality it had when he came.
Chang He found it a bit interesting. He let out a soft laugh but didn't say a word.
Mo Xin was sitting in front of the sandalwood table and put a plate of pastries in front of Jiang Chong who had already woken up.
"Jiang Chong, these are your favorite. You must be hungry. Eat more." She said softly, with tenderness in her beautiful eyes.
Jiang Chong blinked his big eyes. His long eyelashes fluttered. He nodded and said sweetly, "Thank you, Lady Xiao!"
Mo Xin smiled faintly.
If Lord Xiao hadn't died, they should have had a child by now...
Mo Xin lowered her eyes, and the tear mole at the corner of her eye flickered.
The vermilion door was pushed open. Mo Xin looked up and saw Jiang Li walking straight to the bed with a dejected look on his face, carrying Duanmu You in his arms. He put her on the bed and covered her with the quilt.
Mo Xin stood up from the wooden table and frowned slightly, asking, "What's going on?"
Jiang Chong put down the pastries in his hand, climbed down from the flower cage stool, and ran to the bed. When he saw Duanmu You with a pale face, he almost cried. He wailed, "Sister You, Sister You, what's wrong with you..."
"Jiang Chong!" Jiang Li couldn't help but scold him softly when he saw him making a racket.
Jiang Chong was stunned for a moment and immediately stopped making noise. He said in a low voice, "North Star Lord..." He had never seen the North Star Lord talk to him like this.
The look of blame on Jiang Li's face disappeared at once. He realized that he had been too out of control. He softened his voice and said, "Your Sister You is sick. Take good care of her these days. She will surely play with you when she recovers."
Jiang Chong was just a child after all. His mood improved immediately. He nodded firmly and said, "Jiang Chong will surely do it!"
Jiang Li gave a soft laugh. He turned to look at Mo Xin, walked to the sandalwood table, and sat down. Mo Xin picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for him.
"It's good that you can bring her back." Mo Xin comforted him softly.
Jiang Li raised his eyes, nodded to express his gratitude, picked up the teacup, drank it all in one gulp, then put down the teacup and said, "The Heavenly Lord should not know about this yet. It was he who sent Duanmu You to find the Alliance Leader. It's time for the Heavenly Lord to step in now."
Mo Xin originally wanted to mention the matter of the sword she had seen before. Seeing Jiang Li looking absent-minded, she didn't say any more.
She was worried and let out a soft sigh. She said in a low voice, "The martial world is a mix of good and evil. Who can tell the difference..."
On the stage, the strong man swung his sledgehammer again and struck at Zhong Fengyue in white clothes. Zhong Fengyue tapped his foot on the ground and dodged the blow with a flash of his figure.
Su Xiaoliu couldn't help but clench her fists while watching. It was so thrilling that it seemed as if her heart was about to jump out of her chest the next second.
On the stage, Zhong Fengyue fought with the strong man unhurriedly. As time passed, it was the strong man who gradually lost his composure.
Probably because he had exhausted most of his strength, he could only attack his opponent based on his sense of discrimination.
"Li Xiaohua." Chu Weixin's voice came from below again.