Feng Ran listened quietly as Gu Yanchen’s accusations and scolding continued.
There were things Gu Yanchen said that she could refute, but she chose not to.
What would be the use of her explanations and rebuttals?
No, of course, it would be useless. If it were useful, she wouldn’t be in such a predicament now.
“Feng Ran, what is it, did I touch upon something you’ve always avoided facing? Is that it?”
“Now you have nothing more to say, do you?”
Gu Yanchen was filled with regret. Why had he spoken up for Feng Ran earlier?
He had even clashed with Xuanyuan Heng. For such a base person, heh, he had truly been laughable just now.
Gu Yanchen drew the soft sword from his waist and pointed it at Feng Ran’s neck. He showed no hesitation. The sword landed on her neck, drawing a red bloodstain.
However, Xuanyuan Heng grabbed Feng Ran’s hand and pulled her away, sparing her from injury.
Gu Yanchen frowned. Was he going to speak up for Feng Ran?
“Xuanyuan Heng, even now, you still want to speak for Feng Ran? That wasn’t how you were just now.”
Xuanyuan Heng let out a cold snort and said icily, “Killing her just like that wouldn’t be letting Feng Ran off too easily, would it?”
“Someone like her should be tormented properly, wouldn’t that be better?”
Before Feng Ran could react, Xuanyuan Heng had already dragged her away.
He threw her directly onto the ground, his foot landing on the back of her hand and stomping down.
He stomped fiercely and heavily.
He crouched down, pinched Feng Ran’s chin, forcing her to look directly at him, exuding a terrifying aura, and said coldly, “Feng Ran, tell me, if it weren’t for this King just now, perhaps your life would have been lost.”
“Shouldn’t you be thanking this King properly?”
Suddenly, Feng Ran looked up and smiled, a smile of profound desolation. “Regent, I didn’t beg you to save me.”
Xuanyuan Heng’s gaze fell upon Feng Ran, and for a moment, he seemed unable to react.
Gu Yanchen followed behind and saw this scene as soon as he entered.
Gu Yanchen let out a cold snort. This person must be mad.
Even now, he dared to add fuel to the fire and offend Xuanyuan Heng.
Xuanyuan Heng simply stared at her, saying nothing.
Xuanyuan Heng let out a cold snort, looking at Feng Ran’s stubbornness. Suddenly, he found it somewhat amusing. “Heh, yes. You’re right. You didn’t beg this King, which makes this King seem like he acted out of his own volition.”
The man glanced at Feng Ran and said coldly, “Then, this King shall hand you over to Gu Yanchen.”
“You can guess what your fate will be with your eyes closed.”
“Heh, you insisted on living no matter what back then, saying you owed a life and must complete something for that person. Feng Ran, to give up now, you truly open this King’s eyes.”
“Gu Yanchen, this person’s life is yours.”
Feng Ran’s face instantly turned pale. Her whole body trembled. She bit her lip tightly, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Then, she reacted and pleaded almost desperately, “No, Regent, you can’t, you can’t do this.”
“You said you would keep me alive and torment me for all eternity. You can’t go back on your word.”
“Can’t go back on my word?” Xuanyuan Heng laughed, a loud, unrestrained laugh. He looked at Feng Ran, his eyes filled with amusement.
“But this King is going back on his word today, so what?”
Feng Ran shivered uncontrollably, terrified. She bit her lip tightly and said with profound misery, “You clearly said you wouldn’t take my life.”
“Regent, you should keep your word.” Feng Ran said in a panic, unable to calm herself at all.
At this moment, all she wanted was to protect her life. She had forgotten something so important just now.
“Are you going back on your word?” Feng Ran was driven to desperation by Xuanyuan Heng, causing her to speak such words in her haste.
She was truly at her wit’s end.
If Xuanyuan Heng truly let go, Gu Yanchen would surely take her life right then and there.
Xuanyuan Heng’s hand fell onto her face, stroking it. His cold hand felt as if it possessed magic. Wherever it passed, it made her whole body tremble.
Xuanyuan Heng’s cold, menacing gaze fell upon Feng Ran, exuding a dangerous aura. “Obey this King obediently, or let Gu Yanchen take you away. Choose.”
Feng Ran stared intently at Xuanyuan Heng, and after a long while, she spoke, “Regent, it was my fault. I was ignorant. It was all my fault.”
She quickly kowtowed. “I… I will definitely obey you obediently.”
“Heh, is that so? Anyone can say that with their mouth.” The man’s icy voice sounded, coldly stating, “Shouldn’t there be some demonstration?”
“Please, Regent,” Feng Ran kowtowed, without the slightest pause.
She continued to kowtow, not even noticing the blood trickling from her forehead.
“Oh, is this blood from your head proof that you’ve been obedient to this King?”
Upon hearing this, Feng Ran immediately looked up, her gaze fixed on Xuanyuan Heng, and said calmly, “Then, Regent, what do you want me to do? Please be clear.”
“I am rather dull-witted and cannot think of any good ideas.”
“Perhaps you could make it clear for me, Regent.”
Heh, to save her life, she was truly exceptionally obedient.
The man’s eyes gleamed with bloodlust as he looked at Feng Ran.
“Feng Ran, you truly cherish your life. You haven’t changed at all over the years.” Heh, when he had abandoned Feng Ran on the island back then, he had people watching her, thinking she would end her own life.
After all, the Feng family had been ruined by her. But the person he sent to observe Feng Ran secretly reported back that Feng Ran was fighting desperately to survive. As long as there was a chance to live, Feng Ran would not miss it.
Feng Ran fought desperately to live, so he severed her thread of life. Would Feng Ran go mad then?
“Feng Ran, what if this King doesn’t admit it?”
“Then I’ll hand your life over to Gu Yanchen, how about that?”
Suddenly, Feng Ran could no longer remain calm. She continued to kowtow, pleading, “Regent, please.”
As she spoke, she lacked any conviction, still kneeling on the ground and saying mournfully, “Regent, you said before that as long as I admitted I killed Yu Wanyan, you would let me go, right?”
“Okay, I admit it.”
“I admit, I killed her.”
“Is that enough?”
Feng Ran continued to beg, kneeling on the ground, tears already streaming down her face.
Xuanyuan Heng looked at Feng Ran coldly, flung away the hand that was holding her chin, and kicked Feng Ran, who was kneeling before him begging for mercy, away. He said coldly, “Do you think admitting it will make me let you go?”
“Feng Ran, aren’t you being too foolish?”
She was foolish?
It was him, it was he who had said that if she admitted it, he would spare her life.
Did that promise no longer count?