Ye Ziyun silently accompanied Nie Li to the gate of the small courtyard.
After a moment of silence, she lowered her head and softly said, “Nie Li, you should stop coming to find me.”
“Why?” Nie Li frowned slightly as he looked at Ye Ziyun.
Ye Ziyun lifted her gaze to meet his, her clear eyes filled with deep sadness as she asked, “Aren’t you afraid of death? Aren't you afraid my father will kill you?”
“Kill me? If your father wanted to, he could have done it long ago!” Nie Li's eyes were deep and unwavering. “Or at least, he could have expelled me from the City Lord’s Mansion. Once he expelled me, I would definitely die; the Dark Guild would not let me off. Yet, he hasn't done that.”
“Then why hasn’t he?” Ye Ziyun’s eyes flashed with confusion.
Nie Li glanced in the direction Ye Zong had left, seeing that towering figure resembling an iron tower, yet under the setting sun, it seemed so lonely and desolate.
In that moment, he suddenly understood much more. “This is a matter between men. Just listen to me from now on!”
At that moment, Nie Li realized that Ye Zong did care for Ye Ziyun deeply; however, he bore far too much on his shoulders.
“Hey, Nie Li, why should I listen to you?” Ye Ziyun pouted in dissatisfaction.
Today had been especially unfair for her.
Even though her relationship with Ye Zong wasn’t very close and they had little to talk about, this was the first time her father had punished her so coldly.
She felt a hidden pain in her heart.
Ye Ziyun’s angry expression made her look particularly charming.
“Ahem!” Nie Li coughed up a few mouthfuls of blood again, forcing a smile. “Are you really going to let me go back like this?”
“What’s wrong with you?” Seeing Nie Li's distress, Ye Ziyun immediately expressed her concern and quickly supported him.
“I can’t leave; my injuries are too severe. I probably need to rest a couple more days here!” Nie Li clutched his chest.
Ye Ziyun looked at him, her gaze turning blank.
Was there anyone more shameless than Nie Li? What was going on in his head? He had just been injured by her father and still wanted to stay for a few more days? Did he think his head was full of mush? Didn’t he fear that her father would really kill him in a fit of rage?
At that moment, in a corner of the City Lord’s Mansion, two figures stood with pride.
One was Ye Zong, who had just come out of Ye Ziyun’s courtyard, and the other was Gu Yan, the President of the Alchemists' Association.
“Your Lordship, you’ve injured him too severely! If the master behind him gets angry, it will not end well for Glory City,” Gu Yan said with a bitter smile.
“Injured too severely?” Ye Zong’s brows furrowed with a fierce aura. “I’ve been more than merciful by not killing him. This brat dared to flirt with my daughter in the City Lord’s Mansion and ruin her reputation!”
Gu Yan could only sigh.
What Nie Li had done was truly outrageous.
Flirting with the City Lord’s daughter in the City Lord’s Mansion was something only he could pull off.
Ye Zong’s decision not to kill Nie Li was indeed a sign of great mercy.
“Then why didn’t you just expel him from the City Lord’s Mansion?”
“Expelling him is useless. This brat has merged with some demon spirit and possesses an ethereal combat skill. In the City Lord’s Mansion, besides a handful of Black Gold demon spirit masters that could notice him, it’s like he’s in a world of his own! Moreover, that girl Ziyun seems enchanted by him! It truly frustrates me. Am I really expected to lock my daughter away in a secret place?”
Ye Zong huffed.
“This brat is so young yet already a Gold-level demon spirit master, and he has contributed several alchemical formulas. Glory City may have to rely on him for its safety in the future. For the sake of Glory City, I have no choice but to endure!”
Gu Yan couldn’t help but chuckle.
The esteemed Lord of the City was utterly helpless in the face of a thirteen-year-old boy.
“Daring to come to the City Lord’s Mansion to chase after girls at such a young age. What kind of brain does this kid have? If Ziyun follows him, who knows how much trouble she’ll face? I heard he’s already caught the attention of more than one girl, including the little girl from the Wind and Thunder Family and the one from the Huyan Family. This kid will definitely have more than one wife in the future!” Ye Zong was indignant.
“What does your Lordship plan to do about it?” Gu Yan asked with a smile.
“What else can I do? I can only endure!” Ye Zong gritted his teeth.
Since becoming the City Lord, he had never been so compromised. “If that kid had shown even a hint of weakness earlier and hid behind Ziyun, I would have killed him regardless of the potential wrath of his powerful background! But at least he has some backbone; even if he has many women in the future, I believe he won’t abandon Ziyun.”
Upon hearing Ye Zong’s words, Gu Yan felt relieved.
As long as the situation hadn’t reached an irreparable point, that was good.
“Gu Yan, do you know what the Great Unification of Souls technique is?” Ye Zong suddenly remembered something and asked Gu Yan.
Gu Yan shook his head. “I’m not clear about it, either.”
“According to that kid, he was able to defeat me using the Great Unification of Souls technique, but it seems the side effects are serious, and he will surely die after using it. It must be an ultimate skill taught to him by his master. If possible, Gu Yan, you should help me extract the details of the Great Unification of Souls technique from him!” Ye Zong said after a moment of silence.
Gu Yan stared in surprise, “Are you planning to use this Great Unification of Souls technique, your Lordship? That is absolutely not advisable! Didn’t you say it has immense side effects?”
Ye Zong fell silent for a moment, then sighed darkly. “Such a secret technique won’t be used unless absolutely necessary, but it’s better to be prepared. The Dark Guild has been growing increasingly restless lately!”
“Has there been news from Lord Ye Mo?” Gu Yan asked, looking at Ye Zong with curiosity.
“Yes. The Dark Guild plans to unleash demon beasts to destroy Glory City!”
“Destroying Glory City with demon beasts? What benefits could that bring them?” Gu Yan felt a chill in his heart, questioning.
Was anyone from the Dark Guild crazy? If the skin is lost, how can the hair cling? If Glory City is destroyed, can they escape unscathed?
“They might have other ways to evade the demon beasts’ attacks!” Ye Zong said thoughtfully.
Gu Yan suggested, “Why not engage Nie Li? Perhaps the one behind him has some methods!”
“Ask him?” Ye Zong’s expression darkened further. “I already showed him enough mercy by not killing him; it’s absolutely out of the question for me to plead with him!”
Hearing this, Gu Yan could only smile bitterly, wondering if there was any other way to mediate.
Meanwhile, in Ye Ziyun’s room, Nie Li confidently sat cross-legged on the bed, cultivating.
Though he had been severely injured by Ye Zong earlier, causing his Soul Realm to crack, he had also made significant progress in his cultivation.
As he practiced, wisps of soul force surrounded him, and upon forming, his cultivation had noticeably advanced, reaching the level of Silver-tier, three stars.
He would soon step onto another plateau.
Ye Ziyun did not dare stay in the same room as Nie Li.
After adjusting her breath in the small courtyard, memories of her father’s stern face filled her mind, and she let out a sigh.
Her mother had passed away long ago, and her relationship with her father had never been particularly close.
From a young age, her father’s strict expectations had forced her to continuously cultivate, which allowed her skills and knowledge to far surpass her peers.
However, she had never encountered her father being so strict before.
“Nie Li, what should I do with you?” As she thought of how Nie Li had stood in front of her knowing he couldn’t win their father, a ripple of emotions crossed Ye Ziyun’s heart.
Although Nie Li could be a rogue and unpredictable, he had shown bravery at crucial moments, leaving her feelings in a turmoil of conflict and distress.
At the same time, her father’s reaction left Ye Ziyun deeply puzzled.
She had thought her father would do something terrible in anger, yet he had merely imposed some requirements on her—to become a Gold-level demon spirit master within a year.
Ye Ziyun desperately wanted to understand her father’s thoughts.
However, no matter what, she resolved to train diligently and never disappoint him.
(End of Chapter)