A Dangerous Person

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Yuan outwardly appeared confident and composed, but inwardly he wanted to laugh at what he had just said.

For Aurenli, feigning weakness and exploiting the information gap in this desperate situation to unexpectedly kidnap him was indeed a perfect plan.

But the problem is,

The plan was to shoot the arrows first, then draw the target.

To accomplish this, everyone in the vast Prime Minister's Mansion had to act according to her plan.

The Prime Minister's Mansion should not place too much importance on him.

Corpses controlled by the Annihilation Demon Ring cannot be detected.

The person interrogating her must be Xu Yuan, and he cannot be accompanied by any of the real powerhouses from the Prime Minister's Mansion's residence.

If any one of these links goes wrong, it will lead to utter ruin.

Thinking to himself, Xu Yuan glanced at the profile of the blonde woman beside him, which was stained with specks of blood.

The firelight flickered dimly, and Aurenli's eyes were lowered, her golden eyelashes trembling slightly on one side of her delicate, high-bridged nose.

Xu Yuan has always believed in one principle.

Regardless of whether the ultimate goal is achieved, every successful plan in this world is a vast net, not a monotonous line.

When the plan to reach the destination is just a single, straight line, cutting off any segment will bring everything to a standstill. However, if the plan is woven into a vast and intricate network, even if any line is severed by the enemy, one can still continue to advance calmly along the network.

The plan that Xu Yuan just mentioned was at most an insignificant line in Aurenli's network of plans.

Aurenli must have other contingency plans, but Xu Yuan couldn't deduce them.

The information is too limited.

For that empire that came from the sea, there was so much that was unknown.

But this had no impact on the execution of his plan.

Faced with absolute power, even the most brilliant strategies will crumble like bubbles.

As long as Aurenli still harbors the thought of escaping, she remains within a controllable range and can be exploited.

But unexpectedly,

Aurenli glanced sideways with her deep blue eyes, turned around, and shook Xu Yuan's hand off her shoulder. Her voice was neither cold nor indifferent, but still clear and crisp:

What do you want to know?

"Is it the infighting within the empire, the threats from external forces, the situation on several overseas battlefields, or the complex cultivation system within the empire?"

With his hand hovering in mid-air, Xu Yuan looked at the woman with slight surprise. He withdrew his hand, stroked his chin, and seemed lost in thought.

"You're going to be that decisive?"

Aurenli took two steps to create some distance, turning her gaze back to him with those clear, lake-blue eyes:

"The empire is vast, but its internal power structure is quite complex. The court is divided into the Imperial Faction and the religious party. My royal family and the Holy Church have been fighting for decades. In the provinces, there are many noble territories, ranging from earldoms to viscountdoms."

Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

Although a few blond-haired, blue-eyed supporting characters appeared in some CG scenes in Cangyuan, the Xien Empire was not mentioned at all, which is unexpected as it is set in a medieval-like environment.

Aurenli ignored Xu Yuan and continued speaking to herself:

"As for external threats, it's even simpler. The western part of the empire is traversed by the Phantom Demon Mountains, beyond which lies the territory of the Otherworldly Demons. The northwest is occupied by the Osvegians, and on the perpetually frozen Northern Border plateau, there lives a group of..."

"Bang."

The conversation was interrupted by a dull thud of flesh hitting the stone wall.

Xu Yuan teleported to Aurenli's side, grabbed her by the neck, and slammed her slender body against the inner wall of the cell.

"."

Their eyes met for a fleeting moment.

He stared into her eyes, his gaze somewhat cold.

"Aurenli, what do you mean by this?"

Suspended in mid-air, the suffocating feeling of lack of oxygen caused Aurenli Lidai's brows to furrow slightly, but a smile played on her lips, her clear voice sounding dry due to the pressure on her throat:

"What... happened to me?"

"Oh"

Xu Yuan chuckled lightly, saying nothing, but simply increased the force in his hand.

The woman wasn't describing the situation in the Xien Empire at all; she was describing a different, rebranded Great Yan Dynasty.

They looked at each other in silence.

As she increased the pressure on her hand, a soft "crackling" sound rang out in the silent prison. With this sound, her long, golden hair tilted slightly, as if her neck might break at any moment. However, Aurenli's eyes only held a hint of mockery as she calmly gazed into the eyes of the man before her.

You won't kill me.

Silence speaks louder than words.

The silence lasted for several breaths before Xu Yuan suddenly released his grip.

"Cough cough cough cough."

A weak, uncomfortable cough escaped her lips, and Aurenli slid down the cell wall to the floor. A sickly flush rose to her pale face as she raised her delicate eyelids to look at the elegantly dressed figure who had already turned away.

"See, even if I told you, you wouldn't believe me."

Xu Yuan took a deep breath and looked up at the cramped, dark stone surface above the prison:

"Aurenli, it seems you have indeed obtained a great deal of information about my Great Yan from someone."

So, do you want to know who that person is?

"You won't tell the truth, and the Great Yan doesn't care about this traitorous mole, but we don't know what he gave you in the information he provided."

Sitting back down in his chair, Xu Yuan crossed his legs, clasped his arms across his chest, tilted his head, stared at the princess in the corner, and chuckled, "Do you have any information about the Great Yan's methods of punishment?"

Aurenli raised her slender hand to tuck a stray strand of blonde hair behind her ear, and slowly uttered two words:

"What ever."

Xu Yuan gently tapped his arm with the fingertips of his arms crossed over his chest.

"It seems you no longer care about maintaining appearances."

Aurenli reached out and supported herself on the ground, slowly standing up, speaking casually:

"No matter how diverse the methods of criminal law may be, in the final analysis there are only two kinds: physical pain and mental humiliation."

"I can tolerate the former, but as for the latter, I don't think you can find anything that would humiliate me."

Xu Yuan for a moment, then suddenly called out softly:

"Sikou."

As soon as he finished speaking, the firelight in the corridor flickered for a moment, and the gaunt figure shrouded in black robes appeared at the doorway.

The figure was backlit, and the darkness beneath the robe was like an eternal night that could not be dispelled.

Xu Yuan got up and walked outside, saying as he went:

"You should have heard what this woman said. She's temporarily in your hands. As long as she doesn't die, everything else is up to you."

At this point, Xu Yuan paused at the doorway, glanced back at the blonde princess inside, and said softly with a smile:

"Your words are harsh, but I hope your body is as tough as your mouth, Aurenli."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Yuan's figure disappeared.

The entire prison was now occupied only by the woman, as clear and beautiful as an elf, and the shadowy figure that gradually enveloped the entire prison as the hot pot swayed.

"Tick-tock."

"Tick-tock."

"Tick-tock."

When Xu Yuan arrived at the cell door where Aurenli was imprisoned again, he found that the originally dark and cramped cell inside had become completely dark.

The firelight could not enter the passageway; only the soft sound of dripping water could be heard.

Is this the Dao Domain?

No, this should be Qing's magic.

After a moment's thought, Xu Yuan withdrew his Spirit Sight and stepped inside.

"Thud."

A soft thud came from beneath his feet. Looking down, Xu Yuan's brows furrowed slightly.

The once relatively dry ground was now covered with a layer of thick, bright red blood.

It's not thick, about an inch.

Is this Aurenli's blood? But even if a person's blood were to drain completely, it couldn't accumulate this much.

Smelling the nauseating, thick stench of blood in the air, Xu Yuan gently shook his head.

He's gotten stuck in his habitual way of thinking.

In terms of a cultivator's vitality, the ten most brutal tortures of his previous life were probably just appetizers, not to mention that Aurenli seemed to have a special healing magic ring.

The prison did not become wider because of the darkness. Xu Yuan took four or five steps forward, and a holy white light appeared in his field of vision.

The holy light took on a human form, suspended in mid-air by seven or eight chains, with crimson blood flowing from it and dripping onto the ground along the chains.

"."

Just as Xu Yuan was wondering if this holy light was Aurenli, a charming and soft voice came from beside him:

"It's only been a day, why are you here already?"

It is Qing.

Xu Yuan glanced over there and replied:

"Come and take a look."

"Oh."

With a soft laugh, the darkness in the cell quickly receded, and after the darkness was gone, the holy light suspended in mid-air by chains illuminated the room as if it were daytime.

Qing's body was still shrouded in a black robe. His gaze swept over the ball of light in front of him, and his thin, bony hands were slowly wiping away the blood with a handkerchief.

It was obvious that a round of punishment had just ended.

Qing slowly turned around, her soft, charming voice carrying a hint of regret and excitement:

"Only nine types of torture were used, and the potions that Lou Ji prepared earlier haven't been used yet. You should have come later."

Xu Yuan ignored the other party's complaints, slowly stepped forward, and examined the humanoid "object" enveloped in holy light:

"How?"

Qing seemed to lick his lips beneath his black robe:

"She's unconscious, but this woman is quite good; she's very easy to use. This white light can rapidly heal all her wounds."

Xu Yuan shook his head:

I meant her reaction.

Qingyou sighed softly:

"It was very boring. He gritted his teeth the whole time during the torture, without uttering a single groan."

"Is that so?"

Xu Yuan murmured, then said softly, "I understand. You can go now."

Qing stood still.

"How?"

"I still have over a hundred different punishments I want to use that I haven't tried yet."

"This is my father's wish."

"."

In silence, Qing turned away quietly.

With her departure, it seemed as if some kind of drainage system had been activated within the prison.

A few breaths later, the thick layer of blood on the ground had been drained and evaporated.

After a dozen or so breaths, the holy light in front of her gradually weakened, finally revealing the alluring curves of her body within.

The dress is gone.

Her clear, bright eyes and brows resembled those of Sleeping Beauty from a fairy tale.

A slender waist, full hips, and long, straight legs—everything about her seemed like a masterpiece of nature.

Silently circulating his Cultivation Method, Xu Yuan quietly waited for the other person to wake up.

A few more breaths passed, and the woman's long, thick, golden eyelashes trembled. She slowly opened her beautiful eyes, her calm gaze falling on the man in front of her.

Silence for several breaths

"Crack."

The eight binding chains shattered out of thin air, her slender feet touched the ground, and Aurenli's azure eyes swept around, completely unconcerned about being naked, her red lips parted slightly:

"It's over?"

"For now," Xu Yuan replied.

Aurenli glanced back, giving Xu Yuan a sharp look from head to toe.

"The physical pain has temporarily ended, which means you're now going to start making me feel humiliated?"

"I have that idea."

"Then let's go."

Aurenli spread her arms wide, her full, white breasts trembling slightly, her clear voice carrying a teasing laugh:

"Do you want me to cooperate, or do you want me to resist more fiercely?"

Xu Yuan stood still, his blood-red eyes flashing with golden light:

"If you do that, I think you'll actually feel good about it."

Aurenli blinked, a genuine and clear smile curving her elfin face.

"That's true. I've never been averse to having sex with the strong. Although my best choice is your brother, since you managed to ambush me, you're barely qualified."

"But since you've said that, it probably won't be as I wish."

"So, what kind of people are you planning to send? A prison warden, a thug, or a stinking beggar, or something else?"

At this point, Aurenli tilted her head, her calm gaze meeting Xu Yuan's eyes with a smile:

"Devil Beast?"

"." Xu Yuan.

"." Lou Ji.

"."clear.

Silence reigned; you could hear a pin drop.

Xu Yuan stared at the woman before him, who was as pure and holy as a saint, took a deep breath, and chuckled softly:

"Heh, it seems my perspective is still too narrow. But don't you Xien nobles have any sense of propriety or shame?"

"Xien's bureaucratic formalities are in no way less elaborate than those of your dynasty."

Aurenli leaned casually against the stone wall behind her and smiled slightly, "It's just that I don't care."

As she spoke, she raised a slender index finger and traced it across her flat stomach, a hint of regret in her expression:

"It's just a pity. If I do that and manage to escape, I won't be able to use my virginity to make deals with those nobles or win people's hearts anymore."

Xu Yuan stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and then suddenly smiled at Aurenli:

"I think I know how to make you submit."

"What?"

Aurenli blinked, wrapped her arms around the bear, and deformed under the force. "I'm looking forward to it."

Xu Yuan didn't say anything upon hearing this, and immediately turned around and walked towards the prison exit.

Aurenli watched his actions and chuckled.

What are you doing?

The voice came from behind, and Xu Yuan paused slightly in his tracks.

"Since interrogation is useless to you, then I'll just give up."

As he spoke, Xu Yuan turned his head slightly, his eyes hidden in the shadows in the dim light of the outdoor fire:

"Aurenli, you've made me realize just how dangerous you really are."

So I changed my mind.

"Rather than any intelligence about the Xien Empire, I'd rather keep you locked up here for the rest of my life."

"."

Aurenli raised her eyebrows slightly.

Xu Yuan smiled slightly and pointed to the four black rods on the ground:

"Oh, by the way, the Institute of Investigation has already started working around the clock to develop a magic-suppressing method to restrict you, based on the information I provided and Huron's corpse. Before long, you probably won't be able to break free of your shackles as easily as you are now."

"Furthermore, as a sign of respect, I will transfer you from this Earth-level prison to a Heaven-level one."

Having said that, Xu Yuan slowly bowed, mimicking Huron's gesture of a standard knightly salute towards the woman in the prison:

"May we never meet again in this life, Your Highness."