Ye Qingcheng did not answer, walking away quickly.
Shangguan Hong was right behind her, and she knew all too well how terrifying he was.
What kind of heart did he possess, to do those things and then call her "Miss Qingcheng" with such a pure and harmless demeanor? And for what reason did he act this way?
Ye Qingcheng found that she could no longer fathom this man.
The other exit of the cave opened into a forest on the outskirts of the capital. Bright light streamed in, illuminating the gloomy cave.
Soon, soon!
A few more steps, and she could escape that dreadful man…
Ye Qingcheng quickened her pace. Cai Wei, unable to keep up, frowned and complained, "Slow down! Slow down. Ye Qingcheng, why are you walking so fast?"
"Sorry."
As soon as Ye Qingcheng apologized, she reached the cave entrance. Her gaze froze, and she could no longer move her feet.
She quickly pulled Cai Wei behind her, facing Shangguan Hong, who stood before her with a leisurely expression. She was speechless.
"Young Master Shangguan, how did you end up here?" Ye Qingcheng asked, her face filled with awkwardness.
Shangguan Hong surveyed Ye Qingcheng from head to toe.
He saw her fear of him, her rejection, and also some anger and hatred. Shangguan Hong was not foolish; he knew very well that she was aware of his past deeds.
"I came to pick you up. I was afraid something might happen to you when you were out alone," Shangguan Hong replied, his expression unchanged.
"Thank you for your concern, Young Master Shangguan. I am fine." Ye Qingcheng dared not look at him, her eyes darting around, unsure where to rest.
Shangguan Hong looked at Cai Wei behind Ye Qingcheng and smiled, "Oh, did you come out to see a friend?"
Ye Qingcheng turned to look at Cai Wei. Seeing her wide-eyed and looking at her with innocent sincerity, Ye Qingcheng gritted her teeth.
"Since she is your friend, please introduce me. Your friend is my friend, and I will take good care of her," Shangguan Hong said with a smile.
Ye Qingcheng took a step back, looking at Shangguan Hong warily, "Don't do anything rash! Don't do anything excessive!"
"Excessive?" Shangguan Hong chuckled dismissively. "Miss Qingcheng, you secretly came here, and then you tried to escape upon seeing me. Are you not being excessive yourself?"
"I..." Ye Qingcheng felt a pang of guilt.
"Well, Miss Qingcheng, you also feel that you have done wrong, don't you?" Shangguan Hong stared at her.
Ye Qingcheng turned her face away.
"If you obediently return with me and promise not to wander around anymore, I won't blame you. It's alright, Miss Qingcheng. I still have a lot of patience for you. You can take your time to deplete it." Shangguan Hong spoke with an air of affection, as if he truly cherished the young woman before him.
Cai Wei scoffed, "You, sir outside, are truly shameless."
Shangguan Hong asked with a smile, "I'm sorry, I don't understand. What do you mean by that, young lady?"
Cai Wei said, "Stop pretending to be foolish. Do you think I don't know? I already know about all the wicked things you've done. A man with such a venomous heart as yours, and you still have the nerve to ask our Ye Qingcheng to return with you? If she were to follow you, who knows how much suffering Ye Qingcheng would endure."
"Stop it, Cai Wei, stop it," Ye Qingcheng turned away, shaking her head.
"Ye Qingcheng, don't worry, as I said, I will stand by your side." Cai Wei patted her shoulder, bypassed Shangguan Hong, and faced him directly. "You deceived Ye Qingcheng and killed Ye Qingcheng's friend, yet you are merely an ordinary person. By doing evil deeds, you will eventually receive the punishment you deserve."
"Oh? Deceived Ye Qingcheng and killed Ye Qingcheng's friend?" Shangguan Hong repeated these words.
He paid little attention to Cai Wei and instead turned to Ye Qingcheng.
He asked, "Ye Qingcheng, do you believe this as well?"
Ye Qingcheng frowned. Cai Wei nudged her shoulder encouragingly, and only then did she nod. With great effort, she finally uttered a single word: "Yes."
Shangguan Hong nodded slightly, "Oh, I see."
Cai Wei looked triumphantly at Shangguan Hong, "Well? Are you scared now?"
"One last question: did you help Ye Qingcheng recall these things?" Shangguan Hong asked Cai Wei.
"Of course! I have this," Cai Wei patted her chest.
Hidden there was the mirror she and Ye Qingcheng had discovered together.
Shangguan Hong said no more.
Just as Cai Wei was about to turn back and boast to Ye Qingcheng, Shangguan Hong suddenly appeared before her, in an instant.
"You…"
Before Cai Wei could utter a sound, Shangguan Hong struck her with a palm, sending her flying.
Cai Wei's body spun several times in the air, finally falling heavily to the ground.
"No!" Ye Qingcheng cried out.
She rushed to Cai Wei's side and saw her eyes wide open, looking at Shangguan Hong with disbelief, then at her. Blood began to flow from her eyes, nose, and mouth.
Cai Wei could no longer speak.
Shangguan Hong's previous strike had used full force, essentially shattering her soul and body.
Ye Qingcheng trembled all over as Shangguan Hong approached her, step by step, from behind.
As he walked, he spoke, his voice like that of a Asura from Avici hell, "Ye Qingcheng, my Ye Qingcheng, why are you so foolish? Do you hate me now?"
Ye Qingcheng stood up and ran desperately into the depths of the cave.
Shangguan Hong remained motionless, letting her flee.
Ye Qingcheng ran with all her might, following the path she remembered. To her surprise, she found herself running in circles. Exhausted, she was still within the cave.
Then, she understood. Shangguan Hong had cast a spell on the cave.
She could not escape no matter what.
Unable to run any further, Ye Qingcheng leaned against the rock wall to rest.
Shangguan Hong, who had appeared before her at some unknown moment, smiled, "What's wrong, tired?"
Ye Qingcheng glared at him hatefully, "After doing so many wicked things, how can you maintain such composure?"
"If I say it's because of my devoted affection for you, would you believe me?" Shangguan Hong's smile widened slightly.
"I would never believe you! How could I have even the slightest feeling for someone like you? I wish I could skin you alive and dismember your bones!" Ye Qingcheng lost her composure and began to curse at him.
Shangguan Hong raised an eyebrow, "Is that so?"
"Yes, you think that by gaining inner strength, you have become superior to all beings? Stop dreaming. You are still Shangguan Hong, the Prince's advisor. You are still an ordinary person. The cycle of heaven and earth rewards good and punishes evil. One day, you will taste the bitter fruit of your wickedness."
"Then I look forward to that bitter fruit."