25: Chapter 25 Ruyan's Incident

"Ruyan!"

Ye Yun's voice trembled slightly as his gaze swept rapidly across every corner of the room. His heart felt as if it were being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand, thrown into a state of utter panic.

The thing he feared most had happened after all.

Ye Yun's face turned pale instantly, and the aura around him grew suddenly cold. His eyes, which had held a trace of gentleness just moments ago, were now filled with nothing but shock, anger, and dread.

He strode to the window and saw signs of a struggle on the sill, with half a blurred footprint remaining in the soil.

Clearly, someone had broken in by force.

"Ye Yun, what's wrong?"

Su Wanqing took a half-step back, startled by the cold aura radiating from him, but she still mustered the courage to step forward and comfort him softly.

"Could it be... could your relative have gone out to buy something? Maybe she just stepped away for a moment?"

Ye Yun shook his head violently, his voice hoarse yet firm.

"Impossible! I told her that the search outside is intense and that she shouldn't go out alone no matter what! She would never disobey me!"

Liu Ruyan had always been steady and sensible. Since she had promised him, she would never venture out rashly.

Moreover, with her cautious nature, if she were to leave on her own, she would certainly have left a note.

Ye Yun's gaze scanned the room like radar, suddenly landing on an inconspicuous spot at the corner of the table.

A folded note was tucked there. He stepped forward quickly, grabbed the note, and unfolded it.

There were only a few words on it, the ink still wet, clearly left not long ago.

"Twenty miles east of Shiyun City."

No signature, no threat—only this cold address, yet it felt like a sharp blade stabbing deep into Ye Yun's heart.

"Who... who did this?!"

The cold aura around Ye Yun almost solidified as his Martial Master Realm Seventh Level Peak aura erupted without restraint.

The tables and chairs in the room vibrated slightly, and the window paper rattled loudly in the airflow.

His gaze was terrifyingly sinister, like a Vicious Beast about to devour its prey, carrying a world-destroying fury.

Su Wanqing's face turned pale from the terrifying aura. She subconsciously backed away a few steps, her eyes full of fear and worry.

She had never seen Ye Yun so angry. That overwhelming killing intent made her whole body go cold.

Ye Yun took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the rage and panic in his heart.

Now was not the time for anger. With Liu Ruyan in the enemy's hands, every moment of delay increased the danger.

He could guess that this was certainly Zhao Tianheng's doing. Unable to find him, the man had kidnapped Liu Ruyan to blackmail him!

"Wanqing, you must return to the Su Family immediately. Stay in the manor and don't come out. No matter what happens, do not act rashly."

Ye Yun turned to look at Su Wanqing, his tone urgent and firm.

"What about you?"

Su Wanqing asked quickly, her eyes filled with worry.

"I'll go with you! There's strength in numbers!"

"No!" Ye Yun refused flatly.

"Since they dare to use Ruyan to blackmail me, they must have set an ambush. This trip is dangerous; you cannot go! I can only be at ease if you stay at the Su Family."

He knew Su Wanqing's intentions, but he couldn't let her fall into danger.

Something had already happened to Liu Ruyan; he could never let Su Wanqing be harmed as well.

Before Su Wanqing could say another word, Ye Yun's figure flashed, and he charged out the window like an arrow from a bow, leaving behind only a hurried instruction.

"Take care of yourself! Wait for me to return!"

Su Wanqing rushed to the window and watched Ye Yun's silhouette quickly disappear at the end of the alley, her eyes full of worry and anxiety.

She clenched her fists tightly, praying silently in her heart.

"Ye Yun, you must return safely. You must rescue your relative..."

...Twenty miles east of Shiyun City, a dilapidated Earth God Temple stood lonely amidst the desolate wilderness.

The temple walls were mottled, cobwebs were everywhere, and several old wooden doors were left ajar, making a piercing sound when blown by the wind.

It exuded a gloomy and eerie atmosphere.

Inside the temple, dozens of men in tight-fitting black clothes stood solemnly on both sides, weapons in hand, their auras heavy.

Their gazes were fixed warily on the entrance; clearly, an ambush had long been prepared.

In the center of the Earth God Temple, behind a makeshift wooden table, Zhao Tianheng sat in a domineering posture.

He was dressed in a magnificent brocade robe with a jade pendant hanging from his waist, a sinister, triumphant smile on his face.

Yet his eyes were glued to a figure in front of the table, unable to look away.

It was an exquisitely graceful figure, tied tightly to a wooden post with thick hemp rope. Her arms were pinned behind her back, and her slender waist was cinched so tightly it could be held in one hand, outlining heart-stopping curves.

Her eyes were blindfolded with black cloth, and her mouth was wrapped with a strip of fabric, allowing only faint whimpers to escape.

This only added to her pitiable sense of fragility.

"Tsk tsk, this figure, this charm... she's truly a stunning beauty."

Zhao Tianheng licked his lips, his eyes flashing with undisguised greed, unable to restrain the restlessness in his heart.

He had played with many women, but he had never seen one with such exceptional temperament and alluring figure. Just looking at her silhouette made his mind race.

Wu Kui stood beside Zhao Tianheng, bowing his head.

"Young Master, that brat Ye Yun will definitely come. We left a note in the courtyard. He cares for this woman immensely and will never stand by and do nothing. Based on the distance, he should be arriving soon."

Zhao Tianheng waved his hand dismissively, his gaze still fixed on Liu Ruyan, his tone somewhat impatient.

"I know. Tell the men to stay sharp. Don't let that kid escape."

"Yes!"

Wu Kui didn't dare say more and quickly retreated to the side, his eyes scanning the outside of the temple warily.

In a dark corner of the temple, a blurry figure stood.

The person was completely shrouded in a black robe, their face hidden, and not even a trace of their aura could be felt, as if they had merged with the darkness.

Only the occasional flash in their eyes revealed a heart-palpitating pressure.

It was the Enshrinement of the City Lord's Manor invited by Zhao Tianheng, Li Mo, a Martial Master Realm Peak expert.

Zhao Tianheng's gaze lingered on Liu Ruyan for a long time. Finally, unable to suppress the heat in his heart, he slowly stood up and walked toward her step by step.

He walked a circle around the wooden post, his fingers brushing against Liu Ruyan's smooth arm. Feeling the delicate touch, the greed in his heart grew even stronger.

"Such a beauty being enjoyed by that brat Ye Yun is truly a waste of God's gifts."

Zhao Tianheng murmured softly, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

"After today, you will be this young master's female slave."

He raised his hand and roughly tore off the black cloth from Liu Ruyan's eyes, then untied the strip of fabric from her mouth.

In an instant, an exquisitely beautiful face was exposed under the light.

Her willow-leaf brows were slightly furrowed, and her eyes were filled with tears, yet they still couldn't hide the stubbornness and coldness deep within.

Her delicate nose was upturned, and her cherry lips were slightly pursed in grievance. Her skin was as fair as jade, glowing with a soft luster in the dim light.

It was a charm and allure unique to mature women, mixed with her current fragility and unyielding spirit, creating a fatal attraction.

Zhao Tianheng was instantly dazed, his mouth slightly agape. Saliva even trickled from the corner of his mouth, yet he was completely unaware.

"Beautiful! So beautiful!"

Zhao Tianheng screamed inwardly. This woman was simply the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, bar none!