The prison cell fell into dead silence.
Only Tang Wutong's increasingly heavy breathing remained, along with the faint, whimpering clink of chains stirred by the subtle tremors in her body.
She lowered her head, her pink-blue hair spilling down to conceal most of her face.
Time crawled by in silence, every second seeming to stretch endlessly.
The struggle deep within her had nearly become tangible, surging violently in the depths of her eyes like a raging tide.
Protect Douluo Star... was she willing?
When she searched her heart, the answer was yes.
This land had nurtured her and her family. It bore the memories of her laughter and dreams. Though her father's choices had placed her in opposition to it, the attachment and responsibility rooted deep in her blood had never truly vanished.
But...
She was unwilling to accept this.
The man before her, Lu Jun, had defeated and imprisoned her with absolute power. He had pierced her body with an icy longsword and drained her strength day and night.
He had so easily shattered her father's plans, as well as the pride and faith she had clung to for so long.
Was she supposed to... simply agree to him?
Lower her head before him?
As though admitting she had been utterly defeated, admitting that everything in the past had been wrong?
No.
She did not want to let him win so easily.
Even if it was only empty defiance, even if it only disgusted him in some insignificant way, she wanted to preserve the last pitiful trace of resistance that belonged to a loser.
As Lu Jun watched her remain silent for so long, the last trace of warmth on his face slowly faded, turning into frozen indifference.
"It seems..." His voice cooled, like icicles congealing beneath the eaves