Suffering the Consequences of One's Own Actions

Looking at the cold and ruthless Ye Xuan before her.

Wu Lingxiao's body trembled slightly. Those phoenix eyes that had once looked down upon the world and disdained all living beings were now dim and lifeless.

Her fingers tightly gripped her sleeves, her nails almost piercing the skin of her palms. She could feel that the tiny bit of progress she had painstakingly built, those efforts humbled to the dust, were falling apart.

Zi Yao bit her lower lip, biting so hard that her lips turned a deathly pale color.

Her eye sockets were slightly red, and those bewitching, alluring purple eyes were now veiled in a layer of mist.

She thought of how she had endured humiliation and borne heavy burdens these past few days. She thought of how she had cast aside her dignity as the Demon Venerable to serve Ye Xuan's daily needs like a lowly maid. If she left now, all of her humiliation would become utterly meaningless.

This thought wrapped around their hearts like a poisonous snake, tightening its grip until they could barely breathe.

Wu Lingxiao and Zi Yao exchanged a glance.

This single glance contained far too many emotions.

There was humiliation, reluctance, anger, helplessness, and a sorrow of mutual sympathy.

Two women who stood at the pinnacle of the world were now like two birds trapped in a cage, only able to watch helplessly as they both sank deeper and deeper into the mire.

I... I...

Wu Lingxiao spoke, her voice so hoarse it hardly sounded like her own.

Tears swirled in her eyes. The crystal-clear teardrops reflected the sunlight, yet they failed to reflect even a single ray of hope.

She could feel her dignity as the Empress of Great Xia peeling away bit by bit, being trampled into the dirt.

I am willing...

These three words were spoken with such difficulty, carrying such a heavy weight.

Zi Yao lowered her head, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, hiding the tears in her eyes.

Her shoulders heaved slightly, clearly showing she was trying her utmost to suppress her inner emotions.

Her hands were tightly clenched into fists, her nails digging deeply into her palms. Blood seeped through her fingers and dripped onto the ground, blooming into bewitching bloody flowers.

Hold on.

Just as the two were preparing to endure this immense humiliation, Ye Xuan suddenly spoke again.

Wu Lingxiao and Zi Yao's bodies stiffened simultaneously, their hearts almost stopping. An ominous premonition surged in their minds.

Ye Xuan stroked his chin, his slender fingers gently rubbing against his jawline in an elegant and unhurried manner.

His gaze turned somewhat gloomy. This gloominess was not superficial anger, but a hatred buried deep in his bones, so intense that it could not be dissolved.

Right, I suddenly remembered something.

His voice was very soft, so soft it sounded like he was muttering to himself, yet it made Wu Lingxiao and Zi Yao feel as if they had plunged into an ice cave.

The Empress of Great Xia gave me a hundred slaps a few days ago.

Ye Xuan said this very calmly, terrifyingly so.

Wu Lingxiao trembled all over. Her face instantly turned deathly pale, and her heart nearly stopped. In that moment, she even thought she was going to die.

He really still hates me!

Those a hundred slaps hurt me a lot.

Ye Xuan touched his own cheek. His fingers slowly slid across his face, a movement filled with memories, and equally filled with hatred.

Wu Lingxiao's tears finally could not be held back and rolled down. She wanted to say sorry, she wanted to say she was wrong, she wanted to say she was willing to use everything to make up for it.

But she knew that saying these words would be pale and powerless. Some hurts, once inflicted, can never be undone.

I am in a bad mood today, and suddenly really want to return them.

Ye Xuan stood up and walked toward the two step by step. Every step trampled upon their hearts, so heavy that they almost suffocated.

Stepping in front of them, Ye Xuan looked down at them from above, his eyes full of excitement.

From this angle, Wu Lingxiao and Zi Yao appeared so insignificant, so lowly, like two ants that could be crushed to death by him at any moment.

Unfortunately, I cannot defeat that Empress.

Nor can I find her.

Wu Lingxiao's heart beat violently; she had a very bad feeling about this.

Therefore...

Ye Xuan paused, the corners of his mouth slowly curling up.

His eyes narrowed slightly. The smile at the corners of his eyes did not reach his pupils, instead making those eyes appear even colder.

Since you say you love me and are willing to do anything for me.

Then pay off the debt on behalf of that Empress.

As soon as these words came out, Wu Lingxiao and Zi Yao's faces simultaneously turned deathly pale.

Wu Lingxiao was stunned.

Her mouth opened slightly, wanting to say something, but she found she couldn't utter a single word.

Her thoughts were in utter chaos, countless ideas churning in her mind.

I was the one who slapped him!

But... why must it be paid back now? And in front of Ying'er and Zi Yao?

She was the Empress of Great Xia!

She was the supreme ruler who governed billions of subjects!

How could she do such a thing?

But... but if she didn't do it, she would never see Ye Xuan again.

Zi Yao felt even more aggrieved, to the point of exploding.

Her chest heaved violently, her breathing so rapid it was as if she were suffocating.

On what grounds?

She finally erupted, her voice piercing.

That was Wu Lingxiao's doing! That was that bitch's doing!

What does that have to do with me?! Why should I also take fifty slaps?

I refuse to accept this!

Zi Yao abruptly stood up, her tears spurting out wildly like pearls from a broken string, unable to be stopped.

This is unfair! I never hit you!

Why should I take the blame for that bitch?

Ye Xuan looked at her coldly, not a single ripple of emotion in his eyes.

You refuse?

His voice was very soft, as light as a feather, yet as heavy as a mountain.

If you refuse, then get lost.

These words were spoken with absolute finality, leaving no room for negotiation.

I do not keep disobedient people here.

His gaze swept over Zi Yao, as indifferent as if he were looking at a stranger.

Also, do not mention fairness to me. On this ship, I am the heavens. My word is fairness!

This statement was utterly domineering, yet spoken as a matter of course.

Zi Yao was stunned by these words.

You...

She opened her mouth, wanting to retort, wanting to argue, but looking at Ye Xuan's icy gaze, all her words got stuck in her throat, unable to be spoken.

Zi Yao was choked with anger, her chest heaving violently, yet she didn't dare to actually leave.

Her hands tightly gripped her sleeves, her nails almost tearing the fabric.

Her eyes were red, and the tears blurred her vision. She gritted her teeth so hard that they chattered.

She glanced at Wu Lingxiao beside her, her eyes filled with hatred, wishing she could slice this woman into a thousand pieces.

It is all your fault!

It is all your fault for raising your hand to hit him!

Now look what happened, you dragged me down to suffer with you!

Wu Lingxiao felt Zi Yao's hatred, but right now she had no strength left to respond.

She lowered her head, her long hair falling to cover her face. Her shoulders trembled slightly; it was unknown whether she was crying or suppressing something else.

Begin.

After Ye Xuan said this, he turned and walked back to his chair, his movements elegant and composed.

He sat down, reached out, and pulled Ying'er beside him into his embrace.

He put on the expression of someone watching a good show, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, his eyes carrying a playful and expectant look:

"Ying'er, count for me."

"Yes, Master!" Ying'er cried out excitedly, her voice crisp and melodious like the chirp of a lark.

Her eyes sparkled, shimmering with excitement. Sitting in Ye Xuan's embrace with her small hands resting on his chest, she exuded an aura of sheer happiness and contentment.

She looked at Wu Lingxiao and Zi Yao, a flash of smugness and schadenfreude crossing her eyes.

Finally.

An unknown amount of time passed—perhaps fifteen minutes, perhaps an hour. Time felt exceptionally long during such torment.

The two women stopped their hands.

Their hair was a disheveled mess, plastered to their faces with a mixture of blood and tears, leaving them in a wretched state.

Their eyes were swollen into mere slits. Tears continued to stream down their faces, but they no longer made a sound.

Kneeling on the ground, their bodies swayed slightly as if they might collapse at any moment.

Their clothes were in disarray, stained with blood and tears. Their hands hung by their sides, fingers still trembling slightly, their palms covered in bloody welts.

"Get lost."

Ye Xuan waved his hand, his movements casual and contemptuous, as if shooing away flies.

"I won't need you to serve me in bed tonight."

"Looking at your pig-headed faces, I've lost my appetite."

"Ying'er is much prettier."

The words were spoken so nonchalantly, yet they acted as the final straw, crushing the last of Wu Lingxiao and Zi Yao's psychological defenses.

"Wu..." The two let out stifled sobs. Mortified to the point of wishing for death, they covered their faces and staggered to their feet.

They fled the room, stumbling out without even bothering to close the door.

Their retreating figures looked so pathetic and desolate, like two stray dogs.

Watching them leave, the smile on Ye Xuan's lips deepened.

He looked down at Ying'er in his arms, reaching out to gently stroke her cheek with a gaze so tender it could melt her.

"Ying'er is so good," he said softly, his voice full of doting affection.

Ying'er smiled shyly and buried her face in Ye Xuan's chest, like a contented little kitten.

That night.

The sky was as dark as ink, dotted with countless stars.

Above the astral wind layer.

The astral winds howled like blades and swords. Every gust contained terrifying power, enough to tear apart the body of an ordinary cultivator. Thunderclouds rolled in the sky, with flashes of lightning occasionally tearing through the night, illuminating this chaotic world.

Two terrifying figures were once again brawling with each other.

Boom!

With a loud crash, even the surrounding space trembled.

The figures of Wu Lingxiao and Zi Yao darted through the astral winds, their speed too fast for the naked eye to catch. Every clash erupted with earth-shattering energy waves that scattered the surrounding winds.

This time, it was even more intense and brutal than before.

Because the resentment in their hearts had accumulated to its absolute peak.

"Bastard! Wu Lingxiao! I'll kill you!"

Zi Yao's voice echoed through the astral winds, filled with hysterical madness.

She bore a swollen face—that once bewitchingly beautiful visage was now puffed up like a pig's head, her eyes reduced to slits, and dried blood clinging to the corners of her mouth.

But even in such a wretched state, the killing intent radiating from her had not diminished in the slightest; rather, it had grown even more intense out of sheer humiliation.

She attacked Wu Lingxiao like a madwoman. Every move was a killing blow, every strike meant to end a life.

Purple demonic energy gathered in her hands, churning in the night sky and transforming into ferocious demonic dragons that bared their fangs and brandished their claws as they lunged at Wu Lingxiao.

"You bitch! Why did you slap him a hundred times before?"

Zi Yao's voice carried a crying tone, laced with anger and deep grievance.

She thrust out a palm, the wind from the strike howling as it aimed straight for Wu Lingxiao's face.

"You couldn't keep your hands to yourself! Why should I be dragged down with you?"

"Do you know how much fifty slaps hurt? My face was beaten crooked!"

As she spoke, tears began to fall again. The tears sparkled like crystal under the moonlight, yet they were so sorrowful, so desperate.

"Am I not innocent? Who did I even provoke?"

Zi Yao's voice cracked with tears, as shrill and mournful as the cry of a night owl.

But despite her crying, her attacks remained lethal, all aimed squarely at Wu Lingxiao's face.

Wu Lingxiao was equally full of rage.

She also sported a pig-headed face. Her once kingdom-toppling beauty was now swollen beyond recognition.

Her phoenix robes were in tatters, her long hair dancing wildly in the astral winds, making her look utterly disheveled.

But her gaze remained sharp, still brimming with imperial majesty. Even in such a miserable situation, she maintained her pride as the Empress of Great Xia.

As she blocked Zi Yao's attacks, she roared back:

"Why are you taking your anger out on me?"

Her voice carried anger, unwillingness, and an even deeper sense of sorrow.

"Ye Xuan is my man! When I hit him, it's marital banter! It's punishing deeply out of profound love!"

"For him to make me pay the debt is perfectly justified!"

Wu Lingxiao struck out with a palm, golden imperial energy blooming in the night sky and transforming into a golden dragon that tangled with Zi Yao's demonic dragons.

"So what if I made you share fifty of them? Being able to share the pain for Consort Xuan is your honor!"

"Honor my ass!"

Zi Yao was driven mad with anger. Her eyes were wide and round, the fury in them practically spewing out.

"If this kind of honor was given to you, would you want it? How about I give all one hundred to you?!"

"You psychopathic tyrant! It serves you right that Ye Xuan doesn't want you!"

Hearing this, Wu Lingxiao's body trembled slightly, a flash of pain crossing her eyes. But soon, the pain was replaced by rage.

"Shut up! You slut who sells her body for glory!"

Wu Lingxiao let out a furious roar, her imperial energy skyrocketing. She became like a blazing sun, illuminating the entire night sky.

She no longer defended but took the initiative to attack. Every palm contained terrifying power, and every punch carried world-destroying might.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The two women fought once more, battling until the sky turned dark and the sun and moon lost their light.

They fought from the heavens down to the earth, from the clouds down into the sea.

The shockwaves of their battle churned up monstrous waves on the sea's surface, one after another. Countless sea beasts were startled and fled this dangerous stretch of ocean.

They vented all their resentment toward Ye Xuan, their jealousy of Ying'er, and their hatred for each other into this utterly undignified brawl.

Every punch connected with flesh, every move drew blood.

Their bodies were soon covered in wounds. Blood stained their robes and dripped onto the sea, dyeing the water red.

But they did not care.

At this moment, they only wanted to vent, to release all the pain and humiliation in their hearts.

The moonlight shone upon them, highlighting their wretched figures, twisted and desolate.

Time slipped away, minute by minute, second by second.

From the dead of night to the break of dawn, from darkness to light.

Until daybreak.

The eastern sky turned a pale grey, and the morning sun slowly rose, dyeing the entire ocean golden.

A new day had begun.

But for Wu Lingxiao and Zi Yao, this was not a new beginning, but the continuation of a new torment.

Exhausted and covered in injuries, the two returned to the Emperor's Ark.

Their clothes were tattered, reduced to little more than rags. Their bodies were covered in wounds, some of which were still bleeding. Their faces were still swollen, and with the addition of fresh scars, they looked even more wretched.

They stumbled across the deck, every step seemingly draining the last ounces of their strength.

The sea breeze blew past, carrying a salty tang that stung their wounds with bursts of piercing pain.

Just as they reached the deck.

Ye Xuan's door opened once again.

Wu Lingxiao and Zi Yao stiffened simultaneously, their hearts feeling as though they had been ruthlessly gripped by an invisible hand.

An ominous premonition welled up in their minds.

Ying'er walked out.

She was wearing Ye Xuan's large outer robe. The white garment hung loosely on her petite frame, its collar slightly open to reveal her delicate collarbones and a stretch of fair neck.

Her long hair was slightly disheveled, with a few strands clinging to her cheeks, adding a touch of languid charm.

She revealed a section of her fair calves, which shimmered with a pearlescent luster in the morning light. Slender and long, every inch of her skin radiated a healthy glow.

Her complexion was rosy, as red as a ripe apple, exuding the tender beauty of someone who had been deeply nourished.

Her eyes were like water, liquid and sparkling with the light of happiness. There was not a trace of exhaustion in her gaze; instead, it was filled with satisfaction and sweetness.

The corners of her mouth were slightly turned up in a heartfelt smile. The smile was so radiant and genuine that anyone could tell at a glance she had enjoyed a wonderful night.

Her neck and collarbones were covered in ambiguous red marks. These marks, varying in depth, looked like strawberries or plum blossoms, densely scattered across her fair skin, silently narrating the passion of the previous night.

She stretched her back, her movements languid and elegant.

The sunlight bathed her, coating her in a golden halo that made her entire being seem to glow.

Seeing the battered, bruised, and swollen Wu Lingxiao and Zi Yao, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by gloating amusement.

She smiled sweetly, a smile so pure and innocent, yet it sent a piercing chill through Wu Lingxiao and Zi Yao.

"Sister Ling'er, Sister Zi Yao, good morning!"

Her voice was crisp and melodious, like the chirp of a lark, ringing exceptionally clear in the quiet morning.

"Did you two go sparring again?"

She tilted her head, looking the picture of innocence.

"I'm so jealous that you have such great energy. I just can't..."

As Ying'er spoke, a shy blush appeared on her face.

She lowered her head, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly to conceal the triumph in her eyes.

She gently touched her waist, her movements delicate and affected, and said in a soft, coquettish voice:

"Master tossed and turned with me all night... My waist feels like it's about to break, and my legs are so weak I can barely walk."

The words were spoken so casually, yet they acted like a knife, ruthlessly stabbing into the hearts of Wu Lingxiao and Zi Yao.

They could vividly imagine the scene.

They could picture Ying'er lying in the warm blankets, held in Ye Xuan's embrace, enjoying the pleasures of intimacy.

And what about them?

They had been up in the freezing astral winds, fighting all night in the biting cold, covered in wounds and utterly miserable.

The contrast was so stark, so cruel.

As she spoke, Ying'er deliberately shook her wrist.

On that slender wrist rested an exquisite bracelet.

The bracelet was entirely golden and crystal clear, shimmering with a soft light under the sun. It was carved with intricate patterns, every line containing profound and arcane power.

This was the love token bracelet.

It was the token of love Ye Xuan had given to Ying'er.

It was the very thing Zi Yao dreamed of but could never obtain.

"Sigh, this bracelet is so heavy, it's tiring to wear."

Ying'er complained softly, but her tone was brimming with showing off and smugness.

She deliberately raised her wrist higher, making the bracelet even more conspicuous in the sunlight.

Pfft!

Wu Lingxiao only felt a sweetness in her throat as a coppery liquid surged up.

She forcefully held it back, refusing to spit it out. But her face turned even paler, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.

Zi Yao's condition was no better.

She gritted her teeth so hard they clicked, almost shattering them.

Her eyes were bloodshot, burning with the flames of jealousy.

This was pure psychological torture!

This was utterly destroying their hearts!!

Every word and every movement from Ying'er was like a knife plunging ruthlessly into their hearts.

The two of them were Half-Step True Immortals.

One was a Female Emperor, the other a Demon Venerable.

Entities standing at the pinnacle of the world, mighty experts who looked down upon all living beings.

Yet they had been slapped fifty times, blown by cold winds in the sky all night, fought a bitter battle all night, and were now covered in injuries.

And the result?

This beggar maidservant had spent another night sleeping in a warm bed, holding their man!

And she was completely doted on all night!

Frustration.

An unprecedented sense of defeat drowned them like a tidal wave, leaving them practically unable to breathe.

Wu Lingxiao looked at Ying'er's smug appearance, looked at the red marks on her neck, looked at the bracelet on her wrist, and dug her fingers deeply into her palms.

Zi Yao stared at the bracelet, her eyes filled with envy.

She wished she could rush forward, rip the bracelet off Ying'er's wrist, and wear it herself. But she didn't dare; she knew she couldn't do that.

They exchanged a glance.

Both saw deep despair in each other's eyes.

Here on the Emperor's Ark.

The true victor was neither the Female Emperor nor the Demon Venerable.

It was this maidservant named Ying'er.

A beggar who had once been as lowly as dust, a servant they had once looked down upon.

Now, she had become their greatest enemy, their greatest threat.

And the instigator of all this.

That man in clothes whiter than snow.

Was standing behind the window, coldly watching it all unfold.

The sunlight shone upon him, illuminating his perfect silhouette.

His white robes fluttered slightly in the morning breeze, making him look like a banished immortal.

But those eyes were as cold as millennial ice.

The corners of his mouth curled into a smile of vengeful satisfaction, a smile that was wicked, elegant, and cruel.

"Can't handle this already?"

He sneered in his heart.

"The good show... has only just begun."