Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 708: 708

"Ye Qingchen! Ye Qingchen! Come out!"

Not long after Xiao Xiao was taken away, another group of people came looking for Ye Qingchen. He followed them and quickly arrived at Zheng Xiao’s courtyard. "Miss, we have brought the man," they said.

Zheng Xiao looked at Ye Qingchen, a smile immediately spreading across her face. "Alright, alright. You may all leave now."

Once everyone had left, she slowly approached Ye Qingchen, staring intently at his face and scrutinizing every detail. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. I must say, my taste is as impeccable as ever. Look at this fair complexion, these delicate features... so much better than the others in my courtyard!" Unconsciously, Zheng Xiao’s gaze turned lecherous. A trickle of saliva even dripped from the corner of her mouth as she smirked wickedly.

Ye Qingchen frowned at the woman before him. "Miss Zheng, has the matter been thoroughly investigated?" He felt that from the way she looked at him, she might devour him at any moment. In Zheng Xiao’s presence, Ye Qingchen felt extremely uncomfortable, as if sitting on pins and needles.

Zheng Xiao laughed heartily, sitting down so close to Ye Qingchen that she was almost pressing against him. "The matter has, of course, been thoroughly investigated," she said. "But do you admit your guilt?"

Displeased, Ye Qingchen stood up and moved away, putting some distance between them. "Since the matter has been thoroughly investigated, what wrong could I have committed? I’d like to ask you that." He had the distinct feeling this woman was deliberately toying with him. However, Ye Qingchen didn’t want to resort to violence. If this woman truly infuriated him, he would have to fight her, regardless of his injuries.

Clearly dissatisfied with his response, Zheng Xiao waved a dismissive hand. "Alright, let’s not talk about that. First, tell me your name." This was what truly concerned her.

"Ye Qingchen," he answered slowly.

Zheng Xiao stroked her chin, a smile playing on her lips as she murmured, "Ye Qingchen... Ye Qingchen. What a fine name. It suits your temperament perfectly! Truly a man worthy of the name." As she spoke, she slowly walked toward him.

"I won’t tease you any longer. Right now, two paths lie before you: one is to become my male pet, and the other is to never think of leaving this prison for the rest of your life!"

Zheng Xiao stated this so matter-of-factly that Ye Qingchen couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation. "Miss Zheng, since the matter is cleared up, what is the meaning of this? I’m afraid you orchestrated this whole thing from the very beginning!" He narrowed his eyes, staring coldly at her.

Seeing that her ploy had been exposed, Zheng Xiao laughed loudly and dropped all pretense. "I designed this situation from the start, so what? I covet your body—is that so wrong? You still obediently fell into my trap, didn’t you?" She could sense Ye Qingchen possessed some strength, but she guessed it wasn’t significant. Otherwise, he would have resisted long ago, and things never would have reached this point. Zheng Xiao liked her male pets to be the kind who didn’t dare to fight back.

Ye Qingchen was genuinely stunned that this woman could say such things so nonchalantly. However, the thought that Xiao Xiao was still in that prison forced him to ask patiently, "What about the girl who came with me? What have you done to her?" When he’d left the prison, he hadn’t been able to sense Xiao Xiao nearby.

Was it because the prison’s defenses were too strong, blocking my senses, or has Xiao Xiao already escaped?

"Heh, still worried about that maid of yours at a time like this? Still, since you asked, I’ll be merciful and tell you. I’ve already let that woman go. After all, you’re the one I want, not that useless woman at your side!" Zheng Xiao said nonchalantly, picking at her nails. Of course, she wouldn’t tell Ye Qingchen that she had already thrown Xiao Xiao to the wild beasts on the back mountain.

Ye Qingchen felt a pang of unease upon hearing her words. If she had really let Xiao Xiao go, Xiao Xiao would have come looking for him by now. Her absence could only mean one thing: this woman was lying.

"Miss Zheng, even a cornered rabbit will bite," Ye Qingchen said, his voice laced with threat, "and I am no rabbit!"

Zheng Xiao suddenly covered her mouth and burst into loud laughter. "Ye Qingchen, are you threatening me with that tone? What gives you the right to threaten me?" Ye Qingchen was very much to her liking, so she was more than willing to play along for a while. He frowned, feeling that the woman before him was impervious to reason.

"I’ve given you two paths. It’s your choice," Zheng Xiao said, sitting back down and casually crossing her legs. "If your choice pleases me, I’ll tell you what really happened to that woman."

Ye Qingchen had never met a woman like her. "Fine! If you won’t speak, then don’t blame me for being rude!" Before he could finish his sentence, his figure flashed in front of Zheng Xiao. She was laughing heartily and paying no attention, so she was caught completely by surprise when he suddenly appeared before her, sword in hand. Pointing his sword at her, he demanded, "Tell me where Xiao Xiao is, or my sword will show no mercy!"

Zheng Xiao hadn’t expected him to be so fast. She stood up, a look of surprise on her face. "Well, well. I didn’t know you had a move like that! Hahaha! Not bad at all. I like you even more now!" She paid the sword no mind at all. Her excited expression made it seem as if she thought he was just playing a game with her.

Ye Qingchen’s eyes narrowed as elemental power surged from his body into his sword. In an instant, the surrounding wood element energy flared explosively. The woman before him, Zheng Xiao, was merely a third-tier Martial Emperor. Even injured, Ye Qingchen was more than capable of handling her. He had only held back before to avoid conflict with the other masters of the Zheng Family. But now that this woman had laid a hand on Xiao Xiao, there was no longer any need to feign weakness.

BANG!

Without a moment’s hesitation, Ye Qingchen thrust his sword toward Zheng Xiao. However, just as the blade was about to connect, an old man appeared before her and deftly blocked the strike.

"Miss, are you alright? Shall I dispose of this fellow?" the old man asked, glaring at Ye Qingchen with open hostility.

"Oh, Uncle Wang, why are you so agitated?" Zheng Xiao shrugged indifferently. "This one has caught my eye. I was just playing with him. If you kill him, who will I have to play with?" Hearing this, the old man could only retreat a few steps.

"Ye Qingchen," Zheng Xiao said, slowly approaching him, "it seems you’ve chosen neither of the paths I offered you."

Ye Qingchen remained silent.

"In that case, you have no need to know that woman’s whereabouts," she continued. "After all, you’ll be spending the rest of your life here. What difference would it make if you knew?" With that, she gave the old man beside her a meaningful look.

"You, come with me," the old man said, slowly walking up to Ye Qingchen.

Ye Qingchen remained on high alert, unsure of where the old man planned to take him. The man was clearly powerful. Ye Qingchen was confident he could win a fight, but doing so would very likely worsen his existing injuries.

But if I don’t fight... what if he’s taking me somewhere life-threatening?