Chapter 1091: "The Despicable Got Their Way (1)"
In the Thousand Beast City, two youths clad in dark cloaks infiltrated into the city under the darkness of the night. Their movements were nimble as they avoided detection from the city's guards, silently slipping into the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall.
Standing before the main doors of the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall, a youth pulled out a crude and simple map from his robes and said to his companion beside him: "This should be the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall right? Little Xie told us previously to look for her here after we come into the city, this couldn't be wrong, could it?"
The dim moonlight shone upon the other youth beside him and the mole of beauty at the corner of the youth's eye was especially eye grabbing.
"It won't."
The youth holding the map immediately stuffed the map into his robes and whispered in a soft voice: "We had really done well on this job and if Xiong Ba doesn't treat me to a good jar, I will not tell him where the people of the Thousand Beast City have been imprisoned."
His companions threw him a glance but did not say anything more.
The two slender figures then disappeared in an instant under the pale moonlight.
Inside the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall, Xiong Ba was seated beside the table, as several wine jars lay haphazardly around his feet. His face was all red from drink, but the wine in his cup had not been able to ease his sorrows in the slightest, the deep frown on his face had not relaxed at all.
Qing Yu sat opposite Xiong Ba, his complexion pale, dark rings showing under his eyes.
The stench of wine filled the interior of the room, the oppressive air within making it hard to breathe.
"Sigh..... What is happening here? That the Thousand Beast City..... the Thousand Beast City..... would actually be reduced to such a sorry state. To think that for so many years, we were seen to be so mighty in the eyes of the people throughout the world, but now..... Ha! Betrayal of trust, abandonment of morals, repaying kindness with ingratitude..... Actions of completely despicable minions....." Xiong Ba was drunk enough that his awareness was already slightly fuzzy. He lifted the wine jar in his hand and took a long draw with a bitter laugh, the cold wine spilling over his clothes, but failing to awaken him from his depression.
Qing Yu stared at Xiong Ba with a complicated expression on his face.
[How many days has it been.....]
Ever since Jun Xie left, the entire Fiery Blaze Clan from top to bottom had seemingly fallen into great misfortune. From the disciples all the way up to Xiong Ba, they had all seemingly collapsed and fallen into ruin, unable to pick themselves up. The things that had happened in the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall that day, had been like a pair of blood stained hands, shredding apart the pride and fierce loyalty of the Fiery Blaze Clan, throwing them all into the deep abyss of having betrayed and abandoned an ally.
"Qing Yu..... How many years have I been the Clan Chief of the Fiery Blaze Clan?" Xiong Ba asked, his head lowered, and he asked in a fuzzy voice as his forehead rested upon the edge of the wine jar.
"I can't remember clearly." Qing Yu replied.
"Ha..... I can't remember either. All I remember is that our Old Chief, when he was dragged before the Grand Chieftain's Residence by Qu Xin Rui, just before he was executed, he said..... Rather be broken than bent..... Our Old Chief had such strong backbone, and I am just trash instead. Now that the Thousand Beast City had fallen into such a state and I am still helpless to do anything about it. I can't help the people, can't help the Grand Chieftain, can't save the Young Miss..... I am now so useless that I had not even been able to protect a single Spirit Beast! HAHAHA! WHAT A CLAN CHIEF! WHAT BULLSHIT! I AM JUST A SPINELESS PIECE OF TRASH! HAHAHA!..... AN INGRATE WHO"S JUST A SELF SERVING USELESS TRASH! COMPARED TO LIN QUE, HOW DIFFERENT AM I TO HIM! ?" Xiong ba suddenly sat up straight backed, his laughter so filled with despair and hopelessness.
"We were the ones who invited Jun Xie to come. We were the ones who asked him to lend a hand against the predicament the Thousand Beast City was facing. And now? In order to save our own people, we had actually taken his Spirit Beast and sent it into the hands of that old hag! Qing Yu! In my chest..... I feel so infuriated..... it's choking me..... choking me so bad....." Xiong Ba lifted his head to look up, to stare up at the roof bathed in the candlelight, and two trails of hot tears, flowed down from the corners of his eyes.
Qing Yu clenched his jaw tight, not daring to say a word, but just downed the wine in his cup silently, seeking to use the alcohol to dispel the guilt and shame that wrenched at his heart.
Chapter 1092: "The Despicable Got Their Way (1)"
"If that old hag had not committed a deed so vile and demented..... I will not have let the Grand Chieftain do this..... I really won't....." Xiong Ba suddenly started weeping, the deep struggle within his heart and the guilt he felt towards Jun Xie that ate at him, made this almost eight foot towering giant crumble and falter.
"Qing Yu, I really do not know what I should do..... I've watched the Young Miss grow up to become such a big girl..... the Grand Chieftain..... the Grand Chieftain was forced to witness her being brutally humiliated by those beasts..... I really..... really cannot bear it....."
No one knew what had really happened in Jun Xie's room that day.
Although Qu Wen Hao was the Grand Chieftain that Xiong Ba had sworn undying allegiance to, but in the face of that loyalty, Xiong Ba's unbending character was such that he would not be able to submit himself to anyone.
And when Qu Wen Hao had suddenly told them with his face in a deathly pallor, all that he had experienced, Xiong Ba's heart was not able to remain as steadfastly resolute.
Although Qu Wen Hao's character wasn't considered to be stalwart and unwavering, but he still held his own principles firmly. Even when his wife had been captured, and he had to submit himself under others, he still did everything he could to protect the people in the city. But the extent of Qu Xin Rui's viciousness had exceeded anything all of them had expected.
In this world, where would you find a Father who could bear to tolerate witnessing his own daughter being humiliated like that.....
Xiong Ba did not dare imagine what Qu Wen Hao must have been forced to go through, just how horrifying and traumatic it could be to cause such a steadfast man to bend his back and submit, surrendering up his conscience.
Qing Yu downed the wine one cup after another in quick succession, not saying even one word. The biting wine burned his throat as it went down, bringing about a throbbing pain, not enjoying the wine one bit, but more like a form of punishment.
Self inflicted punishment.
"Oh? Enjoying yourselves on such a great night, it just so happens that I am feeling really thirsty!" The clear voice of a youth rang out candidly within the room suddenly.
Xiong Ba and Qing Yu turned their heads in confusion to look, and saw Qiao Chu leaping into the room through the window, with Hua Yao's face appearing right behind him.
"Hurry up, I am dying of thirst here." Qiao Chu said with a guffaw as he walked over, while utter shock showed upon the faces of Xiong Ba and Qing Yu. They watched as Qiao Chu nonchalantly picked up a jar of wine from the side, to tear the seal open and tilting it back with his head to pour its contents into his mouth.
Hua Yao walked over in an unhurried manner as his gaze swept over the faces of Xiong Ba and Qing Yu, but did not find anything suspicious.
"That really hit the spot!" Qiao Chu exclaimed with a laugh as he wiped his mouth, looking at Xiong Ba and Qing Yu.
"You don't need to be so alarmed. We were afraid that the people of the city would discover us and that was why we sneaked ourselves in here. We have really tired ourselves out really badly throughout this period. In order to tail those people, we have not been able to get any shuteye at all for the past few days, so you wouldn't mind it if we grab a couple of sips of your wine, would you?" Qiao Chu teased, winking his eyes meaningfully at the completely stunned Xiong Ba.
Xiong Ba's mouth gaped open, and did not know what to say at that moment.
Jun Xie had stationed Qiao Chu and her other companions outside the city previously in order to find out the location where Qu Xin Rui had imprisoned the people of the Thousand Beast City, and with Qiao Chu appearing here now, that would mean that they have already determined the exact location!
"Your Fiery Blaze Clan Hall isn't really that large a place, but why is it that after looking an entire round through the place, I still do not see Little Xie? Where have you guys hidden him? Have someone bring him here quickly as we have traveled both day and night just to bring the news here." Qiao Chu said as he moistened his parched throat with another swig of the jar, a faint red flush creeping up onto his face, his eyes shining with anxiety and joyous delight.
The words Little Xie struck at Xiong Ba's mind like a mighty bolt and the tipsiness that filled him immediately dissipated without a trace at that instant, all colour quickly draining out from his face completely!
Chapter 1093: "The Despicable Got Their Way (3)"
Xiong Ba's strange reaction was noticed by Hua Yao and Qiao Chu and Qiao Chu slowly retracted the wide smile on his face, as he asked cautiously.
"What's wrong..... Don't tell me something has happened?"
Xiong Ba clenched his fists up tight unable to look at Qiao Chu straight in his eye.
Qing Yu's lips trembled slightly and opened his mouth slightly. From Qiao Chu's words earlier, it had held within them a message in no uncertain terms.
They had already found the place their people had been imprisoned.
Although Qiao Chu and Hua Yao were still highly energetic, but judging from their dust filled clothes and the mess their hair was in, it was not hard to see that they had not gotten any rest through the period. As they had just said, in order to track down the whereabouts of the imprisoned people of the Thousand Beast City, they really had not even been able to shut their eyes at all for the past few days and nights but they had still rushed all the way here to the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall in the first instance just to deliver the news into their hands.....
Xiong Ba and Qing Yu could not even meet the eyes of Qiao Chu and Hua Yao as the clear eyes of the two youths would just reflect the deep shame the two men were feeling at that moment.
"Can't you just say something? What exactly happened?" Qiao Chu asked in confusion as he looked at Xiong Ba and Qing Yu who were avoiding his gaze and a sense of unease rose within his heart, the hand holding the wine jar slowly lowered.
"Young Master Qiao..... We..... We have let all of you down....." Qing Yu squeezed out those few words in a trembling voice, sounding like every single word took all his courage to say.
The confusion in Qiao Chu's eyes deepened and he was about to ask more about it when Hua Yao at his side suddenly raised a hand and stopped him from asking.
"Little Xie is not at the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall?" Hua Yao asked, his eyes narrowing up. Xiong Ba and Qing Yu were reacting strangely and that had given rise to an uneasy guess to creep into his mind.
Qing Yu nodded his head solemnly.
"Where is Little Xie now?" Hua Yao asked in a chilling tone.
"We..... We..... don't know....."
"Why did he leave?" Hua Yao's voice was turning icy.
Qing Yu fell silent and hung his head, his hand holding the wine cup tightening its grip, and a clear crack sounded, a line suddenly appearing upon the wine cup in his hand.....
"Brother Hua....." Qiao Chu was feeling rather nervous as he stared at the side of Hua Yao's face. The two of them have been close for many years and he could see the rage currently brewing deep within Hua Yao's eyes.
Qing Yue clenched his jaw tight and did not know what to say. While Xiong Ba, after a momentary struggle within his heart, finally spoke: "We've let down Young Master Jun. The Thousand Beast City owes him just too much..... Qu XIn Rui abducted our Young Miss and forced the Grand Chieftain to use the Spirit Taming Bone Flute to snatch Young Master Jun's Spirit Beast away from him....."
*(A form of swearing) "Your uncle!" With a loud crash, Qiao Chu smashed the wine jar in his hand by Xiong Ba's feet and his attractive countenance immediately twisted up with a surge of unbridled rage!
The clear and crystalline wine exploded with the smashing of the wine jar, splashing all over Xiong Ba, but he did not react in the slightest.
"It was you guys who had so persistently begged Little Xie to help you! In the end, without batting an eyelid, you have sold us out! What does this thing that happened in the Thousand Beast City have anything to do with all of us! ? Just because all of you are unable to save the person, what right do you have to make Little Xie sacrifice his own Spirit Beast! ! !" Qiao Chu shot forward to come before Xiong Ba and picked up the towering Xiong Ba in his hand, his face contorted with rage!
"This is what you mean by cooperation? Selling out your ally without the slightest hesitation? If we had known that the Thousand Beast City was like this, we shouldn't have agreed to come help you right from the beginning!"
Chapter 1094: "The Despicable Got Their Way (4)"
Qiao Chu was exploding with rage. He never would have dreamed, that when they came here into the Thousand Beast City, what greeted them would be a result like this!
"All this time we have been risking our lives out there for your people and you have proven yourselves to be so vicious! Because of your very own Young Miss and all of you forced Little Xie to give up his Spirit Beast? When we were spending sleepless night out there trying to resolve the Thousand Beast City's crisis, what were all of you doing? This is the goddamned reward you are giving back to us! ?" Qiao Chu slammed his fist onto Xiong Ba's face, a mighty big one, that made Xiong Ba immediately see stars!
Although it was true they needed the human skin map, but if Xiong Ba and his group had not invited them here, they would still seek other avenues to get what they wanted in their hands and Xiong Ba wasn't the only route they could take. They had chosen to trust Xiong Ba, but what had they gotten in return?
When they had been outside toiling for the sake of the Thousand Beast City, these people from the Thousand Beast City had instead pushed Jun Wu Xie right into the fire!
What kind of an ally was that! ?
Qiao Chu's heart was filled with regret. They shouldn't have agreed to collaborate with the Thousand Beast City right from the start. With just Jun Wu Xie's ploys, to get the human skin map, they wouldn't have needed any outside help. They had done all this just because Xiong Ba and Qu Ling Yue had pleaded with them.
Qiao Chu's fist rained down upon Xiong Ba's face but it did not reduce any of the rage he had pent up inside.
That feeling of being betrayed was completely unacceptable.
Xiong Ba did not resist in the slightest, but allowed Qiao Chu to give vent, and even when he was coughing out blood, he did not utter a single sound of complaint.
Hua Yao suddenly pulled back on Qiao Chu next punch he was about to deliver and Qiao Chu's fist froze in mid air, his entire body fully tensed up from the rage within.
"Enough." Hua Yao said.
"Brother Hua, let go of me! I want to kill this treacherous betraying scoundrel!" Qiao Chu said through tightly clenched teeth.
"I said it's enough." Hua Yao said coldly. "Finding Little Xie should be the key."
All the strength seeped out of Qiao Chu at that moment, as he tossed Xiong Ba to the side.
Hua Yao chilling gaze fell upon the wretched looking Xiong Ba, and there wasn't the slightest trace of sympathy in those eyes.
"From now onwards, whether the Thousand Beast City lives or dies, it does not concern us. Our cooperation is henceforth terminated." Hua Yao said icily, immediately turning to walk out the doors.
Qiao Chu glared at Xiong Ba and Qing Yu and quickly followed.
Xiong Ba remained lying weakly upon the ground, the pain all over his body seemingly reminding him of his incompetence and shame.
Hua Yao and Qiao Chu came out of the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall, and they stood on the main street under the night sky. The street was cold and cheerless, the pale moonlight shone upon it, showing its emptiness.
"Brother Hua, where..... could Little Xie have gone?" Qiao Chu was seemingly a little perplexed.
"She would still be within city." Hua Yao said with absolute certainty.
The night air was cool, but Qiao Chu and Hua Yao could not calm their hearts. They had rushed all the way here but had been met with such a result, which wouldn't be acceptable in anyone's mind.
Suddenly, a black shadow appeared right before the two youths. When the two torn and perplexed youths saw the face of the person, their eyes immediately lit up in joy.
"Ye Sha!" Qiao Chu stared in surprise at Ye Sha who had appeared so suddenly in front of him.
Ye Sha nodded slightly.
"Did Little Xie ask you to come look for us? Where is she now?" Qiao Chu asked excitedly, as under the heavens, the only person besides Jun Wu Yao who was able to give orders to Ye Sha, would only be Jun Wu Xie!
Ye Sha answered: "The Young Miss had ordered for me to wait for the two of you here. I will now bring you to go see her."
Chapter 1095: "The Despicable Got Their Way (5)"
Under Ye Sha guidance, Qiao Chu and Hua Yao came to the inn that Jun Wu Xie was staying at.
When Qiao Chu pushed the door open to enter, his face was still slightly tinged with resentment against the Thousand Beast City's betrayal. And as the door opened and he saw the person inside the room, he was completely stunned.
Jun Wu Yao sat gracefully upon a chair by the window, the moonlight spilling over his body that streamed in through the window. He was supporting his chin in one hand as he watched Jun Wu Xie at the side, a faint smile playing across his lips, a sight so beautiful it looked as if it was from a painting.
The moment Qiao Chu saw Jun Wu Yao, his mind went completely blank.
"Big..... Big Brother Wu Yao....."
Jun Wu Yao lifted his head slightly to look at Qiao Chu and Hua Yao at the door and smiled at them.
"You're back already." Qiao Chu said, scratching at his head. He had not thought that he would see Jun Wu Yao here. He had been worried that Jun Wu Xie would be suffering after the matter with the Thousand Beast City, but at the moment he saw Jun Wu Yao, he immediately felt relieved.
With Jun Wu Yao here, he will not allow Jun Wu Xie to suffer any injustice.
"That's right." Jun Wu Yao said with a smile.
Hua Yao glanced at Qiao Chu who was standing at the door gaping stupidly and he raised a foot to kick Qiao Chu inside.
Almost having fallen onto the ground, Qiao Chu turned his head towards Hua Yao with an aggrieved look but Hua Yao was too stingy to even spare him a glance out of the corner of his eyes and had turned to Jun Wu Xie instead.
"What actually happened?" Hua Yao asked, his brows creasing up together.
Jun Wu Xie looked up and asked nonchalantly: "You guys went to the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall?"
"Yes." Hua Yao nodded.
"The you should already know what has happened." Jun Wu Xie had not gone to the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall again since that day but she still remembered what she said to Qiao Chu and the others previously. Once Qiao Chu and the others found out the exact location that those people have been imprisoned, they were to immediately make their way to the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall to tell her the news. Hence Jun Wu Xie had asked Ye Sha to keep a lookout at the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall and once he saw Qiao Chu and Hua Yao coming out from the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall, he had led them straight here.
The expression on Qiao Chu's face when he had pushed to door in to enter had already given Jun Wu Xie enough hints to the information.
To have been able to make Qiao Chu so resentful, Xiong Ba and his people must have already revealed to him all that had happened previously.
"The Thousand Beast City are an absolute disgrace! If we had known earlier, we shouldn't have agreed to their request in the first place and leave them to meet their own demise." When Qiao Chu recalled what he had heard earlier, the ball of fiery rage within immediately reignited to burn strongly.
Jun Wu Xie had never been one who liked to meddle into the affairs of others. Although her personality was rather cold, but she would never initiate any provocation against others. As long as people do not poke at her inverted scale, she seldom struck viciously. This matter regarding the Thousand Beast City, had been initiated by Xiong Ba and the others themselves, and now that they were bitten by their betrayal, not even a saint could be expected to tolerate such two faced treachery!
Jun Wu Xie looked calmly at the seething Qiao Chu, whose eyes had turned calm.
Hua Yao gaze swept across the room and he was silent a moment before he asked: "Where is Lord Meh Meh?"
Hua Yao's words caused Qiao Chu to be taken aback in surprise. When they were at the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall, Xiong Ba had said that Qu Xin Rui had her eye on Jun Wu Xie's Spirit Beast but they had thought that with Jun Wu Xie's resourcefulness, she would never let that happen. But now that they did not see any signs of Lord Meh Meh within the room, Qiao Chu's heart dropped with a thud.
Jun Wu Xie raised her head to look at the bright moon outside the window, her voice calm as she said: "In Qu Xin Rui's hands."
Qiao Chu's eyes widened in shock, his face filled with incredulity, unable to believe his own ears.
Chapter 1096: "The Show is About to Start (1)"
Jun Wu Xie was calm as she looked at Qiao Chu's shocked expression.
"Damn it..... We will now just go and torment that old witch to death!" Qiao Chu said, rubbing his fists, all ready to stir up a big storm. If they had known that Jun Wu Xie would be put through all these in the Thousand Beast City, they wouldn't have let Jun Wu Xie come here alone even if you beat them to death.
"No rush." Jun Wu Xie said, shaking her head. She turned to Hua Yao at the side and said: "Have you guys managed to find out where those people have been imprisoned?"
Hua Yao nodded. "The place they have been imprisoned is not too far away. It is an underground dungeon and the people guarding the place are not exceptionally powerful. But as most of the prisoners are weak and helpless ladies, so they were not able to resist against the guards much."
The guards that Qu Xin Rui sent there were not too wary and alert, and it was thought that it might have been because this had gone on for many a number of years and they have never encountered anyone who dared to resist them, which made them complacent and relaxed their guard.
Jun Wu Xie nodded.
Qiao Chu's eyes widened. "That scoundrel of a Grand Chieftain had already done something so treacherous and you are still thinking of helping him to save his people? Have you gone mad?"
Qiao Chu was of the thinking that after Qu Wen Hao had committed such a blunder, the fact that Jun Wu Xie had not killed him was already being very merciful, and continuing to help him save those abducted ladies who were from the Thousand Beast City was something completely unthinkable.
"I'm doing this not for the sake of the Thousand Beast City." Jun Wu Xie said expressionlessly. "I would naturally have my own reasons for doing this."
The cooperation with the Thousand Beast City had already been terminated and all that she was doing now was only for the sake of getting the map as soon as possible.
"The plan has already come to this stage. Regardless of what Qu Wen Hao and his people wants to do, I will not discontinue with my plan. Since we are unable to continue with the cooperation, then I will just let them move according to my plan." Jun Wu Xie said, her eyes narrowing up.
Qiao Chu was rather astounded and he asked: "What do you intend to do?"
Jun Wu Xie answered: "Get the map, take back Lord Meh Meh, and send Qu Xin Rui..... on her way to Hell."
"Where are Fei Yan and the others now?" Jun Wu Xie then asked.
"Keeping watch at the place, in case anything unexpected happens." Hua Yao said.
"Tell them to act as soon as possible. I want to push Qu Xin Rui over into the abyss little by little." Jun Wu Xie said with a chilling smile. She had initially only seeked to get the map. But as Qu Xin Rui had chosen to take Lord Meh Meh, she wasn't about to be nice about it.
"Alright!"
After some discussion, Jun Wu Xie asked Hua Yao and Qiao Chu to first go get some rest but because of what happened within the Thousand Beast City, the two of them refused to rest and took advantage of the cover of night to slip out of the city, to bring the news to their other companions.
Watching the night sky, Jun Wu Xie stared at the darkness that enveloped the Thousand Beast City, her eyes chilled with an icy glint.
.....
At the beginning of the month, a new batch of hostages from the Thousand Beast City was sent back into the city to be reunited with their family. Bright and early, the people were already gathered at the gates of the Thousand Beast City, watching in anticipation to see whether their family members were among those who returned this time.
In the Heavenly Cloud Chambers, Qu Xin Rui was highly agitated as she sat in front of her dressing table. The transformation had spread to her entire right arm and the originally smooth and fair skin had now been replaced with one that was old, aged and wrinkled. The affliction had only been about the size of a palm previously and it had now spread throughout her entire arm, slowly going towards her shoulder.
"What is really happening? Shen Chi! Haven't you already completed the sacrifice? Why do I not feel anything at all?" Qu Xin Rui asked in exasperation as she threw the bronze mirror onto the floor.
Chapter 1097: "The Show is About to Start (2)"
Seeing the traces left from the passage of time showing up and becoming more and more obvious upon her skin, Qu Xin Rui was getting more and more agitated. The predicament one was cornered into by the changes that came with time's passing, was one thing she did not want to experience again.
Shen Chi's brows creased together slightly and said: "I have completed the offering and its power has been fully restored. Why are you still afflicted with this condition?"
According to reason, Qu Xin Rui should now be able to retain her youthful looks that would not fade. But for some unknown reason, ever since the birthday banquet, the speed of her body's aging had suddenly been highly accelerated, making it seem as if that the young and youthful skin on her body was slowly being peeled off bit by bit.
"You are sure that having that slut Qu Ling Yue locked up within the dungeon will not affect me in any way?" Qu Xin Rui asked.
Shen Chi shook his head.
"The underground dungeon and the Heavenly Cloud Chambers are not linked directly, so that should not affect you at all."
Qu Xin Rui gritted her teeth and said: "Once the matter with the Fire Country is confirmed, I will be making a trip back, to ask the Elder to help me see what is happening. I have not gone back for many years and could it be that the effects from that thing is losing its efficacy on me....."
Shen Chi said: "Maybe, but it has already been quite a few days and Jun Xie still has not appeared. Are you really confident that he will accept your terms for the sake of one Spirit Beast?" Upon saying that, Shen Chi's gaze fell upon the figure of Lord Meh Meh at the side.
Ever since that day when Lord Meh Meh had come to the Heavenly Cloud Chambers, it had just quietly laid at that spot. Not eating nor drinking, and not making a single sound. If not for the aura still emanating from the beast, one would really think that it had fallen into a deep sleep.
Qu Xin Rui had firmly believed that with Lord Meh Meh in their hands, they would be able to force Jun Xie to submit. But they have waited a few days and they had still not seen any sign of Jun Xie, which inadvertently caused her to develop a sense of unease.
"Wait a while more..... If he still doesn't appear, I will come up with another plan."
Shen Chi shrugged and did not say anything more.
Very soon, a guard of the Heavenly Cloud Chambers came running over.
Qu Xin Rui was already in a foul mood and when she saw the flustered guard, she asked with a frown on her face: "Why are you being so flustered? Don't tell me you saw a ghost."
The guard started to stammer: "Reporting to Great Aunt. Today..... The batch of people have been sent back....."
Qu Xin Rui's lips stiffened and she said impatiently: "So what if they have been sent back. Let those fools be happy for a few days and when the end of the month comes, just send them out again. What is there to be so flustered about?"
The monthly exchange of hostages had never been a thing she cared about.
But the guard continued to stammer: "But..... but....."
.....
Inside the Fiery Blaze Clan Hall, Xiong Ba was suffering from a splitting headache as he sat in his room. He had consecutively drunk himself into unconsciousness the past few days and he was finding himself unable to differentiate between reality and his dreams. Everything before his eyes seemed to be moving which brought about bouts of nausea.
The disciple who came in with hangover tea just set it down and did not dare say anything but just threw Xiong Ba a worried glance before retreating out from the room.
These days, the atmosphere within the entire Fiery Blaze Clan Hall had become extremely strange and although no one dared to bring up the incident that happened on that day, that incident had been burned and branded into their hearts, an indelible memory. Although the disciples did not know everything about the matter, but from the conversation between Jun Xie and Qu Wen Hao that day, they were able to roughly feel something from it.
They, the Thousand Beast City, must have done something that let Young Master Jun down greatly.....
"Clan Chief!" Qing Yu was panicky and highly flustered as he came rushing into Xiong Ba's room.
Chapter 1098: "The Show is About to Start (3)"
Xiong Ba held his head in agony as he looked at Qing Yu. "What's wrong?"
"Go quickly to the city's gates and see!" Qing Yu said as he stepped forward to pull Xiong Ba up. Xiong Ba was still feeling rather woozy and when Qing Yu dragged him to his feet, his steps were rather unsteady.
At the Thousand Beast City's gates, the mass of people congregated there had fully filled several of the main streets. Qing Yu dragged Xiong Ba along as they squeezed past the crowd and when they reached the front of crowd of people, what he saw before him made his eyes widen up in shock!
Outside the city's gates, thousands of womenfolk were gathered there. Their eyes brimming with tears, their figures thinned and frail looking, as they held their hands together nervously before their chests.
The Thousand Beast City had more than a thousand of their people in total abducted by Qu Xin Rui, and they were standing right before their eyes!
Xiong Ba's mind exploded with that realisation!
All those people who had been captured by Qu Xin Rui had actually returned!
That was just something outright impossible!
Those women who have been separated for so long with their families were all crying at the same time, shrouding the Thousand Beast City in a sorrow that made people's hearts wince to hear.
Many people have upon hearing the news rushed to the scene and saw their wives and mothers. They could not be bothered with anything else and just rushed forward to wrap their loved ones into their arms.
The Thousand Beast City's gate broke out in a clamour of wails and sobs, the people weeping in tight embrace not even able to ponder upon what was really happening.
Qu Xin Rui would bring a batch of people back every month but the numbers were always few. But this time, all the people she had abducted have been released and that had been highly shocking to everyone!
Xiong Ba stared with his eyes widened, and looking at the womenfolk who have returned, his mind was a complete blank.
Qu Xin Rui would never be so kind, to release everybody all at once.
And behind all the highly emotional women, at the foot of the city wall, Xiong Ba suddenly spotted a familiar figure. He recognized it to be Qiao Chu who had just come rushing back to the Thousand Beast City several days ago!
"It's Jun Xie..... Jun Xie rescued all of them....." Like a bolt of lightning had struck him, Xiong Ba fell back in a stagger as Qing Yu rushed to hold him up, his eyes filled with the same shame and guilt.
The return of all their womenfolk, was definitely not due to Qu Xin Rui being merciful. When Qiao Chu and Hua Yao had come to them a few days ago, telling them that they had found the location where their people have been imprisoned, Xiong Ba and Qing Yu had wanted so much to ask them for the exact location, but were too ashamed to open their mouths then. They had then thought that Jun Xie had totally abandoned them after that and would not help them any further.
But today, they were looking at all these people returned to them.
Xiong Ba and Qing Yu immediately felt their faces begin to burn with a stinging pain!
Jun Xie had still saved all these people held hostage. Even after they had betrayed the youth, he had not let the rage in his heart implicate these innocent hostages.
The return of the hostages had inadvertently delivered one tight slap onto Xiong Ba and his people. The deep shame and the prick to their conscience made them suddenly find it hard to breathe.
Compared to Jun Xie, they were all just a bunch of ungrateful beasts!
Standing within the joyous and highly emotional atmosphere surrounding them, Xiong Ba and Qing Yu hung their heads in shame. They had noticed, among the crowd, a flustered Qu Wen Hao was staring blankly at everything before him.....
Qu Wen Hao's gaze was lifeless, his originally dashing looks had seemingly aged more than ten years over the past few days. His shoulders were trembling slightly, like he was trying to hold back the emotions he held suppressed within.
Other people in the Thousand Beast City were not aware of the reason why their family members were able to return safely.
Chapter 1099: "Face Slap - Eleventh Form (1)"
But for Xiong Ba, Qing Yu and Qu Wen Hao, it couldn't have been more clear. The return of their people, was all due to the credit of the youth they had all betrayed.
Endless guilt and shame coupled with self admonishment wrecked at their hearts, like an enormous rock that crushed upon them, making it hard for them to breathe.
Qu Wen Hao was in a daze, the past few days a fuzzy memory to him like he had been living in a dream. He walked staggeringly, searching anxiously among the women who had returned, yearning to see that one familiar figure that he had missed and had always been on his mind for so many years.
But as his gaze swept over the crowd of people again and again, he still did not see his wife.....
"Did anyone..... anyone see my wife....." Terror and unease swam within Qu Wen Hao's heart, as he stood helplessly among the crowd swimming around him, his voice all choked up.
The women who just returned wiped the tears from their faces and they turned to look sorrowfully at Qu Wen Hao.
Their gazes made the sense of unease within Qu Wen Hao grew stronger and his highly nervous hands began to shake.
[No, it can't.....]
[His wife will be fine. Those people who have returned every month had all said she was still fine..... Nothing could have happened.....]
"Madam she....." The rescued women bit on their lip and lowered their heads. They had all been captured by Qu Xin Rui at the same time and imprisoned together at the same place. What really happened then, they all knew clearly.
"Where is she? Why did she not come back?" Qu Wen Hao was acting like he had lost his mind as he clutched at a woman's shoulders, asking anxiously for information whether his wife was still safe and sound.
The woman could not bear to look at him and turned her head away, avoiding Qu Wen Hao's eyes.
None of them wanted to tell Qu Wen Hao what really happened to Madam and they were all avoiding his eyes.
"What are all of you doing here! Who allowed you to come back!" Suddenly, a shrill voice rang out from behind the crowd!
That ear piercing voice tore through all the sounds of weeping and everyone turned their heads at the same time.
Qu Xin Rui had brought Shen Chi and his men and they were now standing at the back of the crowd!
Where she stood, everyone stepped back in fear and parted to open up a path before her.
Qu Xin Rui clenched her jaw as she stared at the chaos before her. She could not believe what her own eyes were seeing. All the sluts she had imprisoned in the dungeon had all been released to return here!
When she had received the news from the guard, Qu Xin Rui had not believed that it was true. But when she saw all of this before her eyes, she finally realised..... something had gone wrong!
These people had been imprisoned in a place out of the Thousand Beast City, why had they all suddenly appeared here? Qu Xin Rui did not see the guards she had stationed to take charge of watching these people among the crowd and a shadow of unease began to grow within her heart.
Qu Xin Rui's appearance had forced all the people who had been immersed in the joy of their sudden reunion to immediately wake up. All the women who had finally been able to reunite with their family after so long hid in terror behind their family members, their pale hands gripping tightly the hands of their family, not daring to let go for a single moment. Their faces were filled with fear towards Qu Xin Rui, staring at Qu Xin Rui as if they were looking at the devil. The family members standing at their sides were their very last hope to save them and they did not dare to let go of it a single instant.
"Damn it! Bring all these people back now! Just who was it that dared to do something like this? Who allowed all of you to come back here? All the rest of you leave immediately! Get the hell out of here obediently or I am sure all of you know what the consequences will be!" Qu Xin Rui screamed in rage.
Chapter 1100: "Face Slap - Eleventh Form (2)"
With Qu Xin Rui roaring scream, the women were overtaken with fear and terror. They were shaking uncontrollably as they subconsciously pressed themselves against their family members.
The citizens at the city's gate moved to shield the womenfolk behind them, an obvious sign that they were not going to hand their women over again.
Qu Xin Rui stared at the stance the citizens were taking and her face grew dark and ominous. She swung her eyes over to the haggard looking Qu Wen Hao and shouted at him coldly: "Qu Wen Hao! Aren't you going to gather up the prisoners! ? Don't you want to see your daughter and wife anymore! ?"
Qu Wen Hao's mind was suddenly shaken as he looked up in realization. He walked to go in front of Qu Xin Rui looking highly panicked and flustered and asked: "Where is my wife..... Where is she..... Why do I not see her..... Everyone else came back, why isn't she here....."
Qu Xin Rui sneered coldly and said: "I would naturally take extra good care of the Thousand Beast City's Madam and if you still want to see your wife, then get the guards to capture all the women!" With the bargaining she held in her hand, Qu Xin Rui wasn't about to give it up. Before she gains control of the Fire Country through Jun Xie, the people of the Thousand Beast City must remain within her control.
Qu Wen Hao turned his head around looking dazed as he looked at the citizens of the Thousand Beast City. On those faces, he saw the grief and struggle within the people themselves. He saw the backbone that the people of the Thousand Beast City had lost slowly being recovered. Those people who had been deeply fearful of Qu Xin Rui no longer acted as cowardly as they did before. Their eyes filled with steely determination as they pushed their womenfolk behind them, their chests puffed up, showing their defiance.
Qu Wen Hao's gaze swung from the faces of the people onto the terrified women behind them. Those women were also the citizens of the Thousand Beast City but they had been captured by Qu Xin Rui many years ago, to be imprisoned within a dungeon where they did not see the light of day. Having not been exposed to the sun for long periods, their skin had taken on an extraordinary pale sheen. Their eyes were wide with horror as they stared unblinkingly at Qu Wen Hao, their Grand Chieftain, as their eyes pleaded soundlessly.
Qu Wen Hao felt as if something had stuck in his throat as he looked at the countless pairs of eyes filled with despair, and he found that he could not make himself give the order.
"Qu Wen Hao! Do you really want your family broken apart! ?" Qu Xin Rui saw that Qu Wen Hao was still not moving after so long and she screamed out impatiently.
Qu Wen Hao's entire body was shaken awake once more as unbearable images flashed through his mind, surging with a ferocity that was like a needle, that was stabbed into his consciousness.
"Grand Chieftain..... She is lying..... She is lying! The Madam is long gone....." One of the women suddenly screamed out from among the crowd. The voice tore through the air and reached Qu Wen Hao's ears, which hit him so hard he staggered back several steps, as the blood completely drained out from his face!
"What nonsense are you spouting! Guards! Have that slut executed right now!" Qu Xin Rui's eyes suddenly flashed with nervousness, and she screamed out in exasperation. Shen Chi who was standing right behind her immediately stepped forward, wanting to silence the woman who had spoken up.
But Qu Wen Hao suddenly stood before Shen Chi, blocking his way forward. He lifted his head and looked at Qu Xin Rui, his eyes wide with rage.
"WHERE IS MY WIFE!"
Qu Xin Rui was startled, and she fought to suppress the frantic panic that threatened to rise in her heart as she said in mock displeasure: "Qu Wen Hao! Who do you think you are talking to! ?"
"WHERE IS MY WIFE!" Qu Wen Hao roared, his eyes red and bloodshot.
Qu Xin Rui cursed under her breath and said: "Your wife is still alive and I have her imprisoned separately. Do not listen to the nonsense that that slut is spouting!"