Tang Yuehua

Spirit Hall, Papal Palace.

After a busy day, Qian Xunji planned to relax.

He checked with his Soul Power. Bibi Dong was asleep with Xiao Xue. He nodded thoughtfully and headed for a secret chamber.

Inside, the captive Tang Yuehua was crying. She had volunteered to become a hostage for the Clear Sky Sect, but actually being here, in an unfamiliar place where her every move was watched, left her feeling utterly helpless.

She missed the Clear Sky Sect and worried about the safety of Hao-ge and Tang Xiao. She kept praying for her brothers and for the entire sect.

"Hao-ge, please don't get caught..."

Just then, the door opened.

"E-Eighth Worshipper." Qian Xunji had once again disguised himself as the Eighth Worshipper.

Tang Yuehua hurriedly bowed to him.

"Eighth Worshipper, it's late, and I was about to sleep. Is something urgent?" she asked timidly, clutching her blanket. She wore only a nightgown.

"Don't be nervous, Miss Yuehua. I mean you no harm. There are simply a few things I'd like to discuss with you."

Tang Yuehua straightened up and frowned. She was displeased, but did not quite dare show it.

"Could it wait until tomorrow, Eighth Worshipper? I really am tired tonight."

"That... wouldn't be convenient." Qian Xunji looked up and pretended to ponder it.

Tang Yuehua sensed something was wrong, though she could not say what. She could only ask again, earnestly and respectfully:

"What is it, Eighth Worshipper? I'll do everything I can to do what's required."

"Ahem. It's only a small matter. Relax, Miss Yuehua."

That confused her even more. What did the Eighth Worshipper mean? He came to her in the middle of the night claiming he had business, then called it a small matter when she asked what it was.

She frowned at his face. Suddenly, she noticed something.

A faint, mocking smile played on Qian Xunji's lips. He looked at her as though she were prey—or even a plaything.

"Eighth Worshipper! If you have something to say, please say it. Otherwise, I need to rest. You should go back and rest too!" Her voice grew firmer, edged with displeasure and defiance.

"Heh, heh, heh. You tell me to leave, and I'm supposed to leave? What would that do to my dignity? Besides... I have no intention of going back to rest tonight."

"Please conduct yourself properly, Eighth Worshipper! Whatever you're thinking, I will never agree to it! I may be a captive, but that doesn't mean anyone can do as they please with me!" Tang Yuehua glared at him.

Qian Xunji ignored her and walked toward her.

"Stay back! Come any closer and I'll scream! You don't want all of Spirit Hall to know you forced yourself on a woman, do you?" As he drew nearer, Tang Yuehua began to lose her nerve.

"Go ahead and scream. Scream yourself hoarse—no one will come to save you! I've sealed off the area with my Soul Power. Not a sound will get out! Heh, heh, heh!"

Qian Xunji reached the bedside. Tang Yuehua retreated to the opposite corner, gripping the blanket tightly around herself, her eyes full of panic.

"Come any closer and I'll kill myself! Stay back! I'd rather die than suffer this humiliation!" She steeled herself, tears of grim resolve gathering in her eyes.

"Oh, but you're a hostage. If a hostage kills herself, wouldn't that give me an excuse to make trouble for the Clear Sky Sect? At the very least, I could take a few more hostages. What if I took Tang Xiao..."

Tang Yuehua slowly closed her eyes and lowered her head. Despair settled over her.

She was only a captive. She had no rights. Even her life and death were in someone else's hands.

"You can have my body, but you'll never have my heart!"

"What would I want your heart for? Besides, you think I don't know? Your heart belongs entirely to Tang Hao."

"What did you say?" Tang Yuehua, who had already sunk into despair, panicked anew. He had touched on her deepest secret.

"I... I don't love Hao-ge! He's my brother! How could you think that?"

"What did I think? I only said you cared about Tang Hao. I never said you loved him. But... it sounds like you just admitted it yourself."

Only then did Tang Yuehua realize he really had not said she loved Tang Hao, merely that her heart belonged to him. She wanted to bury her head in the blanket. Somehow, she had blurted out the secret she had kept for so many years.

"No! That's not true! You misunderstood me!"

"Really? Did I?"

Tang Yuehua nodded solemnly and kept her eyes fixed on him.

But all she saw was amusement on Qian Xunji's face. He did not believe her; he was only toying with her. That made her angrier still.

"What do you think would happen if I spread word that Tang Hao was sleeping with his own sister?"

"I... I haven't! I only have a secret crush on Hao-ge! Don't slander him! We've never slept together! Hao-ge loves Ah Yin!"

"My, what deep devotion. Even now, you're defending Tang Hao. I'm truly moved." Qian Xunji wiped at his eyes, though there seemed to be no tears.

"Oh, and one more thing. Spirit Hall has found Tang Hao's hiding place. Would you like to know where it is?"

"What? You've found Hao-ge? Impossible! If you had, you'd already have gone to capture him. Don't try to fool me!"

"Ah, and here I was going to give you—and Tang Hao—a chance. I could have let him go for now. But it seems there's no need. Well, I'm off to gather people and capture him."

Qian Xunji made as if to leave. Just as he was about to close the door—

"Wait! Don't go! I... I'll serve you! Please spare Hao-ge and the Clear Sky Sect."

"Haha! Miss Yuehua knows when to yield. Since you insist on inviting me, I won't refuse..."

With that, Qian Xunji walked toward Tang Yuehua's bed again.

The Qian Xunji of old would never have done something like this simply because he wanted someone. He had never been a lecherous man.

Perhaps no one who awakened an Angel Spirit could be lecherous. Then again, wasn't Xiao Xue a little that way?

Never mind. He would set Xiao Xue aside for now.

Since awakening his memories, however, his outlook had changed. Memories of another world had profoundly influenced him, and he now saw that his former self had been somewhat foolish and rigid.

He felt he needed to change—both himself and this continent obsessed with romance. Perhaps he could start by claiming Tang San's aunt. He might even be able to steal some of Tang San's fortune.

Besides, he did not want to remain alone forever. He did not love Tang Yuehua, but she was beautiful, and she was Tang San's aunt and Haozi's sister.

As for Bibi Dong, he wanted her, but did not dare pursue her. It had taken so much for her hatred of him to ease. One wrong move could ruin everything again.

And so he had decided: he would claim Tang Yuehua, change this continent obsessed with romance, and steal Tang San's fortune!

Tang Yuehua watched in despair as Qian Xunji climbed onto the bed and inched closer. She did nothing to resist.

She sobbed. How she wished Hao-ge would appear like a mighty hero, smash through the door, and save her...

No, no! Hao-ge couldn't come. If he did, they would capture him!

"Hao-ge..."

Bang!