The old man was startled and turned around instantly, staring at the strange woman who had barged in with a cold and sharp gaze.
She rushed to the throne, her breath still ragged, and simply raised her head to look at the king on the throne, raising her right hand in a gesture of respect.
"Valley Master Xue?" Upon seeing the Sacred Flame Token in her hand, the Pope's gaze softened, and he stood up.
The old man's voice was very strange; it sounded peaceful and serene, but there was a hint of urgency in his breathing. A physician's skill in observation, listening, questioning, and palpation is profound, and Xue Ziye immediately understood how weak this king on the jade throne was—yet even so, he still exuded immense pressure, and just one glance from him made her stop in her tracks!
"Your Holiness..." she began to speak hesitantly.
The mastiff beneath the jade throne suddenly roared, arching its back, the golden rope around its neck taut, watching the uninvited guest warily. It was tied to the Persian carpet beneath the throne with the golden rope, like a gray calf.
"Ah!" She looked over and suddenly exclaimed in surprise—
There, chained together with the mastiff, was another person!
The blood-covered man was also bound by a golden chain around his neck, the iron ring digging deep into his neck, preventing him from raising his head. His hands and feet were locked to the ground by heavy shackles, forcing him to crawl on the cold stone floor, his body covered in marks of torture. Wearing a white jade mask, he remained motionless, as if dead.
However, the moment she stepped into the room, the person turned his face away as if he had been electrocuted, avoiding her gaze.
Even though she couldn't see his face, she recognized him instantly!
"Meiji!" She rushed over without hesitation. "Meiji!"
She saw the dull, lifeless eyes behind the mask, and the bloodstains on his acupoints—at a glance, she knew the extent of the torture he had endured. She could hardly believe her eyes: less than a month ago, Mingjie in Yakushi Valley was as cold and arrogant, his attacks ruthless and decisive. And now, in just over twenty days, he had become like this!
Who...who destroyed him? Who destroyed him!
In that instant, the intense heartache almost suffocated her. Xue Ziye rushed over without hesitation. However, before she even reached a foot in front of the jade throne, the mastiff roared and pounced. The snow-covered demonic beast exhaled a bloodthirsty stench, revealing its gleaming white teeth, and lunged at the defenseless woman.
She didn't flinch at all, recklessly lunging at the person tied to the ground. The mastiff pounced on her shoulder, viciously shoving her backward and biting at her throat with its sharp teeth.
"Ah." Seeing her in danger, the man who had been silent as if dead finally reacted, letting out a low cry of surprise. He struggled to stand up, but the golden ropes around his neck and limbs instantly pulled him back to the ground, rendering him unable to move at all.
Just as the mastiff was about to bite off her throat, Xue Ziye felt a tightness behind her, and a force pulled her sideways.
"Snap!" The mastiff bit into empty air, its sharp white teeth snapping together with a chilling sound.
She was propelled three feet forward by that gentle force and landed safely. She felt a numbness in her back, and suddenly her legs became immobile.
"Valley Master Xue, do not approach the divine beast," the voice said softly, sealing her acupoints before setting her down.
“Feng,” the Pope said, a smile appearing on his face as he looked at the person who had entered silently. He extended his hand. “My child, you’ve returned. Come here quickly.”
Miao Feng walked over, bowed his head, and knelt on one knee before the jade steps: "Greetings, Your Majesty."
"What a capable and good child. As expected, you brought the Valley Master of Medicine back on time." The King smiled approvingly, placing his hand on Miaofeng's crown and gently stroking it. "Feng, I didn't raise you wrongly—you are very sensible and capable. Unlike Tong, that venomous snake, who is always thinking of turning against her benefactor."
“…” Miao Feng paused, but remained silent.
"Release Mingjie!" Xue Ziye, whose pressure points had been acupunctured, shouted sharply, "Release him immediately!"
Mingjie? The King of the Sect was startled, his eyes suddenly flashing with a cold, sharp light. However, his expression remained unchanged as he slowly rose, a gentle smile on his face: "Valley Master Xue, what did you say?"
"Release him immediately!" Unable to move her feet, she angrily raised her head, glaring fearlessly at the Pope, gripping the Sacred Flame Token tightly in her hand. "If you want to live, release him! Otherwise, you won't live either!"
"..." The King of Pop took a breath and did not answer immediately, his probing gaze falling on Miao Feng.
However, Miao Feng lowered her head, avoiding the King's gaze.
If the truth were revealed, given the Pope's personality, he certainly wouldn't let this survivor from the massacre of the village go, would he? In that brief moment, he was torn between his inner turmoil and his own thoughts, and for the first time, he dared not meet the Pope's eyes.
"No! Don't treat him!" Tong, bound by the golden rope, suddenly roared, looking up at Xue Ziye, "This devil! He is—"
"Crack!" A white gust of wind swept through the hall and returned in an instant, the hand blade striking Tong's back hard.
"How dare you disrespect the King!" Miao Feng interrupted Tong at the last second, darting out and swiftly slashing down—she absolutely could not let Tong reveal the truth at this moment! Otherwise, Xue Ziye might seek revenge at any cost, forcing not only her to take action but also leaving the King beyond saving.
"Stop!" Xue Ziye shouted sharply, her eyes filled with rage as she watched Tong fall to the ground covered in blood.
He met her gaze indifferently and lowered his hand.
"Feng, to make a move in front of such an important guest is too presumptuous." As if he had realized something, the Pope's eyes suddenly lit up like a demon, reprimanding his most trusted subordinate—daring to make a move without his orders must be for something extremely important, right?
The King sneered, "Guards, take this traitor back with you!"
"Don't kill him!" Xue Ziye screamed again as she saw the cultists come up, untie the golden ropes, and drag the unconscious man away.
"Valley Master Xue truly possesses the heart of a healer." The King of the Sect turned and smiled, his kindness like that of a saint. "That traitor Tong attempted to assassinate me; it is only right that I purge my own sect—"
Xue Ziye was suddenly startled and realized: Mingjie had gone to great lengths to seize the Dragon Blood Pearl, only to use it against the Cult King?!
He... ended up in his current predicament because his rebellion failed after returning to Kunlun Mountain?
"But since Valley Master Xue has pleaded for him, we might as well spare his life for now," the King of the Sect promised casually.
Unexpectedly, the Demon Palace Cult Leader, feared by all, was so easy to talk to. Xue Ziye was taken aback, then breathed a long sigh of relief and said, "Your kindness will surely be rewarded handsomely."
“Feng,” the King of the Sect frowned, “This is extremely rude. Why aren’t you releasing Master Xue’s pressure points at all times?”
"Yes." Seeing that Tong had disappeared, Miaofeng bent down and released the acupoints on Xue Ziye's legs.
"Valley Master Xue, you come with the Sacred Flame Token to ask me to spare the life of a traitor—then you will have your wish." The Pope smiled, then his eyes turned cold and stern as he spoke, word by word, "From now on, Hou Tong's life belongs to you. However, you may only take him away after you have cured my illness."
Is it blackmail or a bargaining chip?
Xue Ziye's lips curled slightly as she answered proudly, "It's a deal!"
"Valley Master, you have quite the spirit," the Pope smiled, "won't you diagnose my illness first?"