Free Web NovelChapter 359: Sunny’s sudden distress
Bran cast one final glance at Setan before turning and leaving the dungeon as well.
Silence settled over the cell. Setan slowly closed his eyes. Memories surfaced one after another.
Nina’s smile. Her gentle voice. The way she protected her children. The countless moments they had shared. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
He replayed them over and over, holding onto them as though they were the only warmth left in the darkness.
Meanwhile, Yian hurried home. The moment he stepped through the door, Yuna rushed toward him.
"Well? Did Setan agree?"
Her eyes were filled with anxiety. Ever since learning what had happened, she had been unable to sit still.
Yian let out a weary sigh.
"Do you really think he would?"
Yuna’s face instantly paled.
"He refused?"
Her voice trembled. It felt as though the sky had collapsed around her.
"What do we do now?"
Tears welled in her eyes.
"You have to save him. I can’t lose another son."
Yian pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.
"Don’t worry."
Though his own heart was heavy, he forced himself to sound reassuring.
"I’ll find a way to save him."
Yuna looked up at him. "What way?"
Yian hesitated before answering. "I’ve already sent word for my father to return."
His expression darkened. "If there’s truly no other option, I’ll ask him to help Setan escape."
Yuna stared at him. "You mean..."
Yian nodded. "We’ll get him out of Blazing Flame City and send him far away."
His voice softened. "He’ll never be able to return."
A painful silence followed.
Finally, Yuna buried her face against his chest.
"That’s fine." Her voice cracked. "Even if we never see him again, at least he’ll still be alive."
Yian wrapped his arms around her more tightly.
"Yes." Pain flickered across his eyes. "At least he’ll be alive."
Though he knew what that future would look like.
A life spent hiding. A life spent running. A life without a home.
But after Setan refused Bran’s offer, it seemed to be the only remaining choice.
Elsewhere, Bran had also returned home. Maya had been waiting anxiously for him, and the moment she saw him, she hurried forward.
"Father?" Hope and nervousness mingled in her voice. "Did Setan agree?"
Bran looked at his daughter for a long moment before slowly shaking his head.
"He refused."
The light in Maya’s eyes vanished. She took an involuntary step backward.
"So..." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "He would rather die than marry me?"
The realization struck harder than she had expected.
Did he truly dislike her that much?
Seeing her heartbreak, Bran felt a pang of sympathy.
"Maya..." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Forget about Setan."
His voice was gentler now. "Father will find someone even better for you."
Maya lowered her head. "But no matter how good they are..." Her eyes reddened. "They won’t be him."
She forced a smile that looked more painful than tears.
"Father, I want to be alone for a while."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked slowly toward her room. Her steps were heavy and lifeless.
Bran watched her leave and let out a long sigh.
***
The next day arrived.
Setan was escorted to the Ice Thunder Cavern.
The cavern sat deep within the mountains, cold and oppressive. Frigid air rolled outward like invisible blades.
Standing outside the entrance, Elder Freen looked at him one last time.
"Have you reconsidered?" His voice echoed through the frozen valley. "Tell us where the sacred relic is."
Setan’s expression remained indifferent.
"I don’t know."
The answer instantly ignited Freen’s temper. Anger flashed across the elder’s face.
"Very well." His voice became ice cold. "We gave you every opportunity. If you insist on protecting the culprit, then don’t blame us for what happens next."
He raised his hand. "Take him inside."
The guards obeyed, and Setan was led into the cavern. Moments later, Freen activated the punishment array.
The formation roared to life. A terrifying mixture of freezing energy and crackling lightning erupted from every direction.
Bolts of icy thunder slammed into Setan’s body one after another.
The pain was unbearable. Every strike felt capable of tearing flesh from bone.
Setan gritted his teeth and endured. Sweat quickly drenched his body. Soon, he could no longer remain standing.
One knee crashed heavily to the ground. His breathing became ragged. Cold sweat streamed down his face.
Even then, he refused to make a sound.
The punishment continued.
Another bolt struck. Then another. And another.
Eventually, even kneeling became impossible. The agony overwhelmed his strength. Slowly, his body collapsed onto the frozen ground.
Outside the cavern, Yian paced anxiously. Every few moments, he glanced toward the entrance.
His hands trembled, yet there was nothing he could do.
***
Far away from Blazing Flame City, Nina was taking an afternoon nap.
At some point, she began to dream. In the dream, Setan was covered in blood. His body was battered and broken. He lay motionless on the ground, barely breathing.
The sight was so vivid it felt real.
Nina jolted awake, her heart pounding violently. An inexplicable sense of dread washed over her.
At the same moment, Sunny woke as well. The little lion’s face was unusually troubled.
Without a word, he crawled into Nina’s arms and pressed himself against her.
Then he pointed at his chest.
Mother...
His expression was gloomy.
My heart feels strange. It hurts here.
He could not explain it. He only knew that an uncomfortable heaviness had settled inside him.
Nina gently stroked his fur.
"It’s okay." She held him close. "Mother’s here."
But her own unease only deepened.
The nightmare. Sunny’s sudden distress. Neither felt like a coincidence.
A terrible thought surfaced in her mind.
Could something have happened to Setan?
She suddenly remembered the look in his eyes when they parted.
That sorrowful expression. That farewell that had felt strangely final.
The memory sent a chill through her. The feeling of foreboding grew stronger with every passing second.
Without hesitation, she called out.
"Odian!"
Odian appeared almost immediately.
"What is it?"
Nina looked up at him in fear; her voice was firm despite the anxiety in her heart.
"I want to go back to Blazing Flame City."
