Following Qing Bai's usual methods, he would act first and report later, using the excuse of accusing someone to personally mete out punishment until the person died.
By then, even if the Heavenly Emperor was enraged, Qing Bai would leverage the powerful influence of the Fu Qu family to smooth over the incident.
Ye Ziling returned with the wind, the Heavenly soldiers closely following.
She arrived outside the Eastern Island gate and stopped, her gaze icy as she stared at the towering city walls before her.
The Heavenly soldiers guarding the gate exchanged glances and retreated.
"This criminal is handed over to General Li Yang for judgment by the Emperor. Does the Divine Maiden have any imperial decree from the Heavenly Emperor or the Emperor?"
Ye Ziling disembarked, casting a cold glance at them.
Since when did these people dare to stop her like this?
An imperial decree from the Heavenly Emperor? An imperial decree from Qing Bai?
Ye Ziling let out a contemptuous laugh.
With power no longer in her hands, these Heavenly soldiers were becoming more and more arrogant.
Ye Ziling let out a cold snort, too lazy for further words. The hairpin in her hand transformed into a silver sword.
The soldiers behind her, aware of Ye Ziling's methods, were already prepared, waiting for her command to attack the island.
But Ye Ziling waved them to stop.
"To save him, I am enough."
Her expression was calm, unhurried, as she walked step by step towards the city walls.
If these people followed her in to save him, they would likely be accused of rebellion.
She could escape smoothly, but these men would be walking to their deaths.
"Yes."
The soldiers behind her remained in place, watching Ye Ziling's resolute figure, their eyes filled with determination.
They naturally trusted the words of Divine Maiden Tu Yao.
Ye Ziling forced her way through, blades of light flashing before her eyes, Heavenly soldiers falling one by one.
She stormed all the way to the main hall. On the stairs, a man clad in golden armor descended, smiling as if he had been waiting for her for a long time.
"This humble general did not expect the Divine Maiden's visit."
Li Yang greeted her with a mocking smile, his gaze treating her like a work of art.
The body crafted by Jun Lan was indeed extraordinary.
Alas, now she was merely a mortal without the strength to even lift a chicken, lacking a certain allure.
"Your acting is excellent, but I have no interest today. I have come only to ask you for someone."
Ye Ziling got straight to the point, her tone sharp.
Li Yang raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Who is it that warrants the Divine Maiden going to such lengths to find me?"
Li Yang was not afraid of threats. Emperor Qing Bai was his strong backing, and the former Divine Maiden Tu Yao was now just a mere mortal!
She was not qualified to negotiate with him!
Ye Ziling detested such insincere pleasantries. With a slight movement of her finger, she grasped Li Yang's throat in the next instant, pressing him firmly into his seat, a sinister smile on her face, "Where is the person?"
Li Yang decided to drop the pretense and sneered coldly, "Tu Yao, do you still think you are the high and mighty Divine Maiden you once were?"
"Bah! If not for the Heavenly Emperor showing you some deference, do you think you could still be safely in the Heavenly Realm?"
"It was the Emperor's folly to keep you by his side; he was raising a tiger to become a menace!"
"If he had trusted me back then, those things of yours would have been mine!"
"You want to kill me? Come on! Do you dare?"
Li Yang was convinced she wouldn't dare to touch him now.
Ye Ziling's smile was brazen, the ferocity in her eyes undiminished, as she tightened her grip.
Li Yang clutched her hand, his breath catching, his face turning red.
"I dare to kill even your master, let alone you?"
"Murdering the Emperor? Do you think I'd do it only once?"
"Even if Qing Bai stops me, he will suffer the same fate!"
Ye Ziling spoke each word, her gaze growing darker, mocking him with chilling disdain.
"Look, these people, they all died because of you." She forcibly pinched Li Yang's chin, forcing him to look outside the hall.
The bodies of the Heavenly soldiers were lined up in neat rows, blood staining them into a red carpet that stretched to the edge of the stairs.
"I did not bring any gifts for this meeting, Divine Maiden. Consider this blood carpet my gift to the General."
"Tu Yao, you madwoman..."
With a "crack," the person in her hands went silent.
Ye Ziling released her grip and walked towards the prison.
Wherever she went, the Heavenly soldiers knelt in unison, lowering their eyes and remaining silent.
To save their lives, the soldiers could only pretend not to have seen anything.
Ye Ziling forged her way to the prison, blood staining her sword along the path, her footsteps growing heavier.
She strode across the prison gate and soon saw broken chains hanging from a cross. The guards in the room were all slumped on the ground, unconscious.
The ground was stained with a shocking, crimson hue.
Ye Ziling frowned, following the spread of the blood, and indeed saw Ling Xi leaning against the wall, surrounded by a mess of blood.
Upon seeing Ye Ziling, Ling Xi clutched his chest, gasping for breath against the wall, and looked towards her.
"...You've come." Perhaps feeling that his near-death appearance was too pathetic, he reached out and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a faint smile blooming on his lips.
Ye Ziling ignored his gaze, put down her silver sword, and immediately came to his side, quickly grabbing his wrist to check his pulse.
To her surprise, he dodged.
She raised an eyebrow and asked, "What? Do you no longer wish to live?"
Ling Xi's hand fell on her cheek, his eyes flashing, and he chuckled, "Thank you, Divine Maiden, but there's no need to waste your effort."
"I... I am at the end of my strength."
Ye Ziling paused, looking at his pale, weak face, a look of doubt appearing on her own.
Looking into Ling Xi's sincere eyes, Ye Ziling's defenses gradually weakened.
She regained her senses to find his hand had already grasped her wrist. His tone remained neither servile nor overbearing, "That you would come yourself to save me... I suppose this balances things out."
Ye Ziling remained composed, listening quietly as he finished speaking.
"Do you dare say you didn't come for me this time?"
Ling Xi's eyes held a hint of amusement as he looked at her, remaining silent.
Ye Ziling took a deep breath, crouched down, and stared into his eyes, a hint of an unreadable smile rippling within them. She said indifferently, "Just passing by."
"Passing by? How long will you try to fool yourself?"
Ling Xi raised his gaze, his eyes burning, staring at her without a flicker, as if trying to discern something from her expression.
Ye Ziling felt a slight heat from his gaze and deliberately shifted her eyes.
"Since you are alright, I shall take my leave."
Ye Ziling's gaze fell on the bloodstain beside Ling Xi and then on the bodies of the Heavenly soldiers.
The bloodstain was dry, and there were drag marks on the ground. It was not Ling Xi's blood at all.
It looked more like a performance staged by someone too clever for their own good.
"Farewell, Scholar Ling. Make your own way." Ye Ziling stood up briskly. Just as she turned to leave, Ling Xi spoke.
"Help me... up."
Ye Ziling paused, seeing him look so critically ill, and could only walk forward, supporting his arm and helping him to slowly stand.
As soon as she helped Ling Xi up, she quickly grasped his wrist, tracing the pulse.
Ling Xi snatched his hand back, his eyes slightly flustered, and let out a silent gasp in his mind.
After confirming his pulse was stable, Ye Ziling stiffly took his wrist again. "Are you not at the end of your strength, Scholar Ling? Why is your defense still so strong?"
Exposed, Ling Xi no longer bothered to pretend. "Since you've come this far, why not see it through to the end? Help me a bit further?"
Ye Ziling examined the wounds on Ling Xi's torn clothing. Although the bleeding had stopped, the ghastly wounds were somewhat unsettling and clearly not feigned.
"Go back the way you came."
Ye Ziling finished speaking and walked out first.
Losing his balance, Ling Xi stumbled to the wall, propped himself up, and watched her figure depart.
He clenched his fist tightly, closed his eyes, and sighed.
Was he seen through again? Was his acting that bad?