With just you lot, you think you can leave alive?

The man winced in pain and staggered back two steps. Luo Yun seized the chance to stand, but the moment he did, a sharp, searing agony tore through his back.

"Hiss!"

The fourth prisoner's blade had already sliced across his shoulder blade.

Blood surged out once more.

Pain.

Bone-piercing pain.

Cold sweat drenched Luo Yun's forehead, and the back of his shirt was soaked through with blood, clinging stickily to his skin.

His left arm was bleeding, his back was bleeding, and the spot on his calf where he had been kicked was already swollen.

His entire body throbbed with pain.

When pain reaches a certain threshold, reason is eclipsed by raw emotion.

Luo Yun's breathing grew heavier and more frantic.

In his eyes, the last shred of restraint was vanishing bit by bit, replaced by something far more primal.

"I wounded him!"

"I got him too!"

"Freedom! I'm finally free!"

The two prisoners were delirious with excitement; they tossed their weapons aside and turned to bolt toward the door.

Their minds held nothing else—only two words: freedom!

Luo Yun stood where he was, covered in blood.

His left hand hung at his side, blood dripping from his fingertips onto the stone floor, pooling into a small, dark red puddle.

Pain.

So much pain.

These people truly deserved to die!

In Luo Yun's eyes, that fury had burned through the final layer of his sanity.

It had transformed into destruction.

Squelch!

A dull sound echoed, like a blade piercing a watermelon.

Of the two prisoners about to escape, the one on the left suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He looked down to see a purple-black blade protruding from his abdomen, stained with his own blood and gleaming with a dark, crimson luster under the torchlight.

His mouth opened, wanting to say something, but only a vague gurgle escaped his throat.

Blood spilled from the corner of his lips, dripping onto the ground.

His consciousness began to blur, and he finally collapsed, falling silent forever.

The scene fell instantly quiet.

The other prisoner turned around, his pupils shrinking as he watched his companion fall.

"You..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

Luo Yun pulled out the Moon Eclipse Sword and turned, the purple-black blade carving an arc through the air, trailing wet blood as it slashed toward the other prisoner's neck.

The prisoner had already discarded his weapon and had no power to resist.

The blade swept past, and blood surged out instantly.

He fell straight down, crashing against the floor.

The remaining prisoners were stunned.

They stepped back in unison, their hands trembling as they gripped their weapons.

"This... this..."

"How did this kid suddenly turn into a different person?"

"He—didn't he say we could leave if we wounded him? He's breaking his word!"

Luo Yun gripped the Moon Eclipse Sword and walked toward them, step by step.

Every step landed in a pool of blood, making a sticky, squelching sound.

His voice was soft and cold.

"Do you really think you deserve to leave here alive?"

The remaining prisoners exchanged glances.

To run was to die.

Fight, and there might be a chance to live.

"Attack together!" one of them roared, raising his blade as he charged forward.

The others followed closely behind.

Luo Yun met them head-on.

Sword light flashed, and the scene turned gruesome.

One minute later.

Only one prisoner remained on the entire field.

"Don't... don't kill me..."

"I beg you... don't kill me..."

Luo Yun looked at him, the tip of his sword pointing at the man's throat.

There was not a trace of emotion in his eyes.

With a flick of his wrist, the sword tip grazed the side of the man's neck, and a thin line of blood appeared.

The man clutched his throat, eyes wide, before finally collapsing to the ground.

The prison fell silent once more.

Everyone stared at the nine corpses lying on the floor in various positions, their blood staining the ground red.

Luo Yun stood amidst the bodies, covered in blood.

His face remained expressionless.

"My Lord, the young master... he..." The adjutant's voice trembled slightly. "How is it that he seems like a completely different person?"

Luo Shang did not speak.

His eyes were locked onto Luo Yun.

He had seen this look before.

In the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest, Luo Yun had been possessed by that deity in exactly this manner.

Was the Luo Yun on the field now still his son?

In the center of the arena, Luo Yun stirred.

He slowly turned around, looked at Luo Shang, and spoke softly.

"Father."

"I did not let you down."

The corners of Luo Shang's mouth curled up, and he let out a sigh of relief.

It was Xiao Yun.

It was his son.

It was not that deity.

"Mm." Luo Shang nodded, his voice returning to its usual indifference. "Let's go."

Luo Yun walked to his father's side.

"Does it hurt?" Luo Shang asked.

"...It hurts."

"Then we'll have your mother apply medicine when we get back."

"It's fine, I can recover on my own." As he spoke, a green halo radiated from Luo Yun's left hand.

The Source of Life began to circulate.

It enveloped Luo Yun's entire body at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Within a few breaths, most of the wounds on Luo Yun's body had already healed.

Seeing this, Luo Shang could not help but marvel.

His own son's opportunities were truly heaven-defying!

Soon, just as the two were about to leave, Luo Shang paused. Without turning back, he said indifferently:

"Clean this up."

The adjutant bowed immediately. "Yes, My Lord."

After watching the figures of Luo Shang and Luo Yun disappear at the top of the stairs, the adjutant straightened up, his expression shifting from respectful to cold.

"Come here."

He beckoned to the soldiers behind him. "Go after the one who was just released. Make sure it's done cleanly."

"Understood!"

The four soldiers acknowledged the order and hurried out of the prison.

Outside Frost Ridge City, on the main road.

The bespectacled man walked quickly, almost at a jog.

He glanced back every so often to ensure no one was following him, only then letting his guard down.

"Free at last." He muttered to himself as he walked, his voice laced with a near-manic excitement.

"I'm finally free."

He had been locked up for six years.

Six years!

Every day, he ate rancid food, slept on cold stone slabs, and breathed in the stench of excrement.

He had thought he would rot in that prison for the rest of his life, but who would have imagined!

Who would have imagined that King Frost Extreme would actually keep his word and let him out.

"Hahaha!"

He touched the dagger he had picked up at his waist, a lecherous grin spreading across his face.

His mind was already beginning to scheme.

First, he would find a household—wealthy would be best, but poor would do—to fill his stomach, and then find a woman to toy with.

He had been locked up for six years; he hadn't touched a woman in six years.

He was absolutely bursting with pent-up desire!!!

"I need to find a young one." The bespectacled man licked his cracked lips. "The younger, the better. Preferably..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

A sudden chill touched his neck.

The bespectacled man reached up to touch it, his hand coming away covered in something warm.

He looked down to see his hand drenched in blood.

He tried to speak, but found he couldn't make a sound.

He then collapsed heavily to the ground.

Several dark shadows stood beside the corpse, confirmed he was dead, and turned to vanish into the night.

As for the body, it would be left for the cleanup crew tomorrow.

Inside the Prince's Mansion.

Luo Yun walked along the long corridor, his footsteps growing slower and heavier.

When he reached the back garden, Luo Yun suddenly stopped.

He walked to the side and crouched down.

And then... he simply vomited.