Chapter 85 Deep Affection Between Master and Disciple

Night fell, and Yuan City was shrouded in an oppressive silence. Inside the small courtyard, Xiao Ming stood by the window with his hands behind his back, looking out at the unremarkable night view of the city, his expression unreadable.

After an unknown amount of time, the corners of his mouth curled into a meaningful arc. He turned and instructed Elder Li, who was standing by like a shadow, "Restrain your aura and follow this Saint out for a while."

A flicker of doubt crossed Elder Li's cloudy eyes, but he said nothing and simply replied in a deep voice, "Yes."

The two figures quietly merged into the night, their auras completely concealed and their tracks invisible. Under the cover of Elder Li's powerful cultivation, they followed Ying Gong all the way to an inconspicuous courtyard in the west of the city.

Ying Gong pushed the door and entered, while Xiao Ming and Elder Li drifted like ghosts into the shadows beside the main house, taking in every movement inside.

The dim lamplight inside stretched the figures of several people, casting flickering shadows against the wall.

With a perfectly measured look of grief on his face, Ying Gong personally poured a cup of warmed spiritual wine for Zhang Che and sighed, "Revered Master, Mistress, and Worthy Nephew, you have suffered this time. The Zhao Family... Sigh, who would have thought the villains of the Soul Suppressing Abyss could be so cruel and act so recklessly! Hearing this tragic news, this Disciple's heart... is also filled with uncontrollable sorrow."

Zhang Che's face was haggard, and bloodshot streaks were visible in his eyes. Hearing this, grief and hatred intertwined within him. His fists clenched tightly, and his voice was hoarse. "Thank you for your concern, City Lord Ying... Over a hundred members of the Zhao Family, except for the three of us who were lucky... have all been murdered! This enmity is irreconcilable!" As he reached the point of agitation, his eyes reddened. The beautiful woman beside him sobbed softly, and the boy shrunk into his mother's arms in fear.

"Revered Master, please restrain your grief!" Ying Gong's tone was heavy as he pushed the wine cup in front of Zhang Che, then changed the subject. "Who could have imagined that the Soul Suppressing Abyss would suddenly strike us so cruelly? It’s simply insane! But does Revered Master know why they specifically targeted the Zhao and Sun families?" He asked seemingly at random, but his gaze was locked onto Zhang Che's expression.

Zhang Che's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. He then lowered his head to hide it, took a sip of wine to calm his mind, and then said raspily, "Who can know the thoughts of those villains from the Soul Suppressing Abyss? Perhaps... they coveted the resources our families have accumulated over the years?" He was clearly avoiding the key point on purpose.

Ying Gong sneered inwardly, but on the surface, he nodded in agreement. "Revered Master is right. A tall tree attracts the wind, especially in this chaotic place. But please rest assured, Revered Master, now that you have come to me, you are safe!" He patted his chest, looking like a man of great righteousness.

Hearing this, a look of gratitude appeared on Zhang Che's face, mixed with a hint of shame. "Ying... Disciple, it's rare that you still remember our old bond. Although I pointed out some basic martial arts to you back then, I... forget it, let's not mention the past. That you could lend a helping hand in this time of crisis and protect my Family's safety, this kindness... I will keep it in my heart." He used a closer form of address this time. Clearly, Ying Gong's "righteous words" and the protection he provided had made him lower his guard significantly, even sparking some nostalgia for the past.

"Revered Master, you overstate it! If not for Revered Master's guidance back then, how could this Disciple be where he is today?" Ying Gong spoke with deep sincerity, refilled Zhang Che's cup, and also gestured toward Zhang Che's Dao Companion. "Mistress, you should drink some too. This wine is mild; it can calm the nerves and nourish your appearance."

The beautiful woman looked at Zhang Che, and seeing him nod slightly, she thanked him in a low voice and took a small sip.

After a few cups of wine, combined with the warm atmosphere Ying Gong had deliberately created, Zhang Che's tense nerves seemed to relax quite a bit. He became more talkative, choking up several times when discussing the tragic state of his Family. Ying Gong consoled him with gentle words and denounced the Soul Suppressing Abyss, appearing to share the same hatred.

"Revered Master," Ying Gong saw that the timing was about right and led the conversation deeper again. He lowered his voice and acted mysteriously. "To be honest with you, this attack by the Soul Suppressing Abyss is truly strange. They seemed to... have a very clear target, coming specifically for your families. I have also been asking around these past few days and heard some rumors..." He observed Zhang Che's face and slowly continued, "It seems to be related to an... well, an Opportunity held among the higher-ups of several great families? I wonder if Revered Master... might know anything about it?"

Zhang Che's face changed instantly, and the hand holding the wine cup trembled slightly. He forced himself to stay calm and shook his head. "What Opportunity? Disciple, you must have believed some rumors. What secret could my Zhao Family possibly have that's worth the Soul Suppressing Abyss making such a fuss? It's just a case of an innocent man getting into trouble because of his wealth; the villains just found an excuse."

"Oh? Is that so?" The smile on Ying Gong's face faded slightly. He leaned back a bit and tapped his finger lightly on the table, making a steady rhythmic sound that was particularly clear in the quiet room. "But... how did I hear that the Zhao, Sun, and Yu families jointly hold something... or rather, a certain place? A 'Blood Pool' that is said to allow one's cultivation to soar and even break through a Bottleneck?"

When the words "Blood Pool" were uttered, it was like a clap of thunder exploding in Zhang Che's ears! He snapped his head up, his eyes filled with shock, fear, and a flash of panic he couldn't hide. "You... where did you hear that from?"

"It seems it's true." The gentleness on Ying Gong's face vanished completely, replaced by a cold, eerie smile. He looked at Zhang Che's suddenly changed expression with leisure. "Revered Master, look, I am a City Lord after all; I still know a few things about your families. Before, your families were united and powerful, so I naturally didn't dare to act recklessly. But now..."

Zhang Che's heart instantly sank to the bottom, and a chill rushed from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. He finally understood. Ying Gong wasn't protecting them out of old sentiment at all; his goal from beginning to end was the secret they had sworn to protect with their lives!

"Ying Gong! You... what exactly do you want?!" Zhang Che's voice trembled with anger and fear.

"What does this Disciple want?" Ying Gong stood up, paced over to Zhang Che, looked down at him, and said slowly, "It's very simple! Revered Master only needs to tell me the exact location of the Blood Pool, as well as the specific method to open or use it! For the sake of our past bond, I can guarantee that your Family of three can leave Yuan City safely, find a place where no one knows you, change your names, and live out the rest of your lives in peace. How about it?"

"In your dreams!" Despite the fear in his heart, the responsibility of reviving his Family made Zhang Che blurt out his refusal. He understood that the secret he held now was the only hope for the Zhang Family's future rise! Even if he died, he could never hand it over!

Upon hearing this, the smile on Ying Gong's face vanished completely, and the last trace of feigned gentleness in his eyes was replaced by greed and cruelty. He wasted no more words. With a flash of his body, he was instantly by the beautiful woman's side.

"Revered Master, it seems that you won't listen to your Disciple's well-intentioned advice." Ying Gong's voice lowered, carrying a cat-and-mouse sort of playfulness. His hand unceremoniously covered the beautiful woman's trembling backside.

The beautiful woman felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She shuddered violently and tried to dodge, but she felt weak all over. She could only let out terrified whimpers and look toward her husband, who was equally unable to move, for help.

"Let her go! Ying Gong! If you have something against me, come at me!!" Zhang Che's eyes felt like they were splitting. He struggled to stand up but went limp again, only able to roar hoarsely. It was clear that his "good Disciple" had definitely tampered with the wine.

"Come at you? Revered Master, in your current state, what is there left for me to 'come at'?" Ying Gong sneered, his fingers directly stroking the woman's curves, feeling the faint tremors coming from her.

"Revered Master," Ying Gong turned his head and looked at Zhang Che, who looked ready to spit fire. A weird smile, a mix of playfulness and excitement, suddenly appeared on his face. He licked his lips and said word by word:

"Don't blame this Disciple for being a beast; it's only because Mistress is so enchanting!"

These words were like the final straw, completely crushing Zhang Che's reason and igniting the twisted fire in Ying Gong's heart. He waited no longer. Amidst the beautiful woman's terrified and desperate cries and Zhang Che's beast-like roars, he suddenly pulled her tightly into his arms, making her back face Zhang Che while her front was pressed against him. His large hand began to ruthlessly fondle her chest, while his other hand moved down along her alluring waistline.

"Revered Master, watch closely!" While moving roughly, Ying Gong didn't forget to stare at Zhang Che, his eyes flashing with an inexplicable pleasure. "Every moment you hesitate is another moment Mistress suffers! I want to see if your mouth is tougher, or if Mistress's... body is tougher!"

"You animal! You beast! Ying Gong! I'm going to kill you! I'll definitely tear you into ten thousand pieces!!" Zhang Che's roar was hoarse and broken, filled with endless pain, humiliation, and sky-high hatred. His eyes were bloodshot, and he stared fixedly at Ying Gong's hands ravaging his Dao Companion, wishing he could eat his flesh alive! But he couldn't even stand up; he could only flop uselessly on the chair like a fish out of water.

"Daddy! Mommy!... Let go of my mommy! Bad man! Waaa..." The little boy nearby finally cried out. His small body seemed filled with infinite strength as he began to struggle hard, but under the pressure of Ying Gong's aura, he couldn't move.

Ying Gong turned a deaf ear to all of this. He was immersed in his own world. His fingers slowly untied her sash, and then, right in front of Zhang Che, he prepared to lean his lips in...

"Stop! I'll talk! I'll tell you!"

At this critical moment, Zhang Che finally broke. It was as if all his bones and Soul had been sucked out. He slumped in the chair, tears streaming down his face, his voice hoarse.

Incoherently, he spoke the secret that the great families had hidden until now...

All of this was naturally recorded by Xiao Ming and his companion standing in the shadows outside the courtyard. Looking at the eager and intoxicated Ying Gong inside, and then at the beautiful woman who, aside from her shapely rear, had an otherwise ordinary face and figure, the corner of Xiao Ming's mouth twitched, and veins faintly throbbed on his forehead.

He ranted wildly in his heart, 'Holy crap! Does this Ying Gong have such unique tastes?'