193: Chapter 193 This isn't the first time!

However—

As soon as she took her first step, her legs went weak, and she nearly collapsed to her knees.

Ling Xiaotang quickly supported her with force: "Revered Master!"

Nangong Zili gritted her teeth, forcing herself to take another step.

But as she stepped out, a burning pain shot through her private parts.

The pain was sharp and clear, instantly traveling from her tailbone to the top of her head, causing her entire body to freeze.

On her stunningly beautiful face, the flush that had risen from weakness faded mostly away, replaced by a layer of pallor.

Those peach blossom eyes, usually brimming with charm, suddenly widened as her pupils constricted—

Then, a killing intent so intense it almost seemed physical erupted from the depths of those beautiful eyes!

It wasn't the first time!

She finally realized.

The pain in her private parts, the soreness throughout her body as if she had been taken apart, the faint sense of abnormality within her Dantian...

Though she had been unconscious these past few days, her body had not been entirely without sensation!

During these days, this man must have subjected her to this kind of "treatment" every day, toyed with her daily, and desecrated her every night!

Not only that—

Nangong Zili abruptly lowered her head to inspect her Dantian.

At that sight, she felt as if she had been struck by lightning!

Inside her Dantian, that drop of Moonlit Essence Spirit Fluid, which she had painstakingly cultivated for decades and nurtured within her body, was... gone!

But now...

It was completely empty.

Everything was gone.

"You—!"

Nangong Zili whipped her head around, her peach blossom eyes now practically spitting fire.

"This bastard! How dare he seize my Moonlit Essence Spirit Fluid!"

She glared at Ye Changge, her heart filled with rage.

"I, Nangong Zili, swear—once I recover my strength, I will cut you into a thousand pieces and scatter your ashes!"

Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was like a blade, carrying the unique pressure and killing intent of a Core Formation Cultivator.

However—

Just as she finished speaking, her heart suddenly gave a violent throb for no reason.

The throb came abruptly and without warning, as if an invisible hand had lightly plucked at her heartstrings.

Nangong Zili's brows suddenly furrowed.

That throb... didn't seem to be caused by anger, but rather some kind of... resonance?

A strange sense of doubt welled up in her heart, and she instinctively pressed her hand to her chest, trying to sense the source of that abnormality.

But the throb lasted only an instant before vanishing without a trace, as if it had never occurred.

All that remained was a heart full of confusion and bewilderment.

What... is happening to me?

Nangong Zili's brows knit tightly together, her heart faintly sensing something was wrong, yet she couldn't put it into words.

She bit her lip, forcibly suppressing the strange sensation, and leaned on Ling Xiaotang's shoulder to continue walking toward the other side of the Grand Array.

However—

What she didn't notice was that the gaze from behind had been watching her the whole time.

Ye Changge stood with his hands behind his back, watching Nangong Zili's staggering figure as she walked away, his brow slightly raised.

In that moment just now—

He had clearly felt it.

The Thousand Silk Love-Binding Gu.

That mysterious love thread had suddenly throbbed the moment Nangong Zili swore her deadly oath.

And... the intensity of the throb was much greater than it had been in the previous days.

Sensing the subtle feedback from the Gu insect within him, Ye Changge thought to himself: Why are there so many more love threads today?

Is it because she woke up? Or is it because... the treatment just now made the connection between the Gu and her stronger?

His gaze fell upon Nangong Zili.

She was currently being supported by Ling Xiaotang, staggering toward a corner of the Grand Array. Her slender figure was slightly hunched from weakness, every step was a struggle, yet she stubbornly refused to look back.

As if sensing the gaze behind her, Nangong Zili suddenly stopped and whipped her head around.

She met Ye Changge's pensive eyes directly.

Their eyes met.

A surge of anger immediately rose in Nangong Zili's heart, and her pale, flushed face instantly turned cold again.

She glared at Ye Changge, her voice raspy but filled with unconcealed rage:

"What are you looking at!"

Her tone was fierce and full of blame.

But combined with her current appearance—

Her face like a peach blossom, the corners of her eyes flushed, her hair disheveled, and her clothes slightly damp, leaning limply against Ling Xiaotang and unable even to stand steadily—

Those words carried absolutely no deterrent force when spoken.

Instead... they sounded very much like she was acting spoiled.

Nangong Zili realized this as well, and her expression immediately worsened.

She bit her lip hatefully, wanting to say something harsher, but found that she truly lacked the strength.

Ling Xiaotang was frantic on the side, fearing they would start fighting again. She quickly shielded Nangong Zili and looked at Ye Changge with an apologetic, hurried voice:

"Senior! Husband... I, I'll take Revered Master over there to rest for a bit!"

Hearing this and seeing Ling Xiaotang's nervous little expression, Ye Changge's heart softened slightly.

He nodded, not stepping forward to make things worse for Nangong Zili.

After all, she was a Core Formation Immortal Revered Master.

Though she was currently so weak she couldn't even stand, a starved camel is still larger than a horse.

If he truly pushed her too far, she might risk everything to take him down with her, and he might not come out on top.

Besides... the "treatment" over these past few days had indeed pushed her very hard.

Ye Changge was not someone who lacked a sense of propriety. Since the Gu had been planted and the love threads had taken root, all that was left was to wait patiently.

It couldn't be rushed.

"Go ahead," he waved his hand toward Ling Xiaotang, his tone gentle.

Ling Xiaotang felt as if she had been granted a grand reprieve and quickly supported Nangong Zili toward a corner of the Grand Array.

"Revered Master, let's go sit over there," she whispered, her pace hurried as if fearing Ye Changge would change his mind.

Supported by her, Nangong Zili could only allow herself to be led away, despite her heart being full of resentment.

Her body was currently limp and sore, and her lower body throbbed with pain; she truly had no strength left to argue with that bastard.

The two arrived at a flat bluestone in a corner of the Grand Array.

Ling Xiaotang took a soft beast skin from her Storage Pouch to lay it out, then carefully helped Nangong Zili sit down.

"Revered Master, be careful..." she said softly, getting Nangong Zili settled and then taking out a clean outer robe to gently drape over her shoulders.

Nangong Zili leaned against the bluestone with her eyes closed, panting for a good while before she finally began to calm down.

Ling Xiaotang crouched beside her, carefully holding her hand, her eyes rimmed with red:

"Revered Master... how are you feeling?"

Nangong Zili opened her eyes and looked at her dear disciple's heartbroken expression.

The towering rage in her heart actually dissipated by more than half.

She sighed softly, and for once her face wasn't cold; her tone was much softer as well:

"Xiao Tang, I'm much better. These days... it's been hard on you."

Hearing this, Ling Xiaotang's nose wrinkled and tears welled up again. She shook her head frantically:

"It's not hard, it's my fault..."