"You're saying Young Master Ouyang is imprisoned here? This is the Tiangang Sect's forbidden area! Are you playing some kind of joke on us?" Xue Yao asked, his voice laced with suspicion as he glared at Su Ran.
Su Ran snorted disdainfully. "A bunch of fools! That Ouyang boy was brought here by that old fox Xu Zhen, and you still think he's a good man? What a joke!" He shot Xue Yao and Ji Chun a mocking glance, his lips curling into a sarcastic smile.
"Xu Gongzi?!" Xue Yao's eyes widened in disbelief. "Xu Gongzi personally brought Young Master Ouyang back and arranged for his treatment. Why would he do something like this?"
"I don't have time to waste explaining things to idiots," Su Ran snapped impatiently. He turned to Ji Chun, who had remained silent, and raised his chin defiantly. "Well? Are you coming in or not? If not, I'm leaving!"
Ji Chun hesitated. This was the Tiangang Sect's forbidden area, and as guests, they had no right to enter without permission. But would Su Ran really risk his life to deceive them? What if Young Master Ouyang was truly in danger inside? If they turned back now and something happened to him, Ji Chun would never forgive himself for his hesitation.
As he wrestled with his thoughts, Xue Yao tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Let's go in and see for ourselves. I doubt he'd dare to trick us again."
"Alright," Ji Chun finally agreed, steeling himself as they stepped into the forbidden area.
The deeper they ventured, the heavier the atmosphere became. The air was thick with tension, and they moved cautiously, alert for any signs of danger. Eventually, they reached an iron gate guarded by two Tiangang Sect disciples. Su Ran slowed his pace, positioning himself behind Xue Yao. Injured and weakened by the Muscle Softening Powder, he had no intention of putting himself in harm's way. If a fight broke out, he planned to seize the first opportunity to escape.
The guards quickly noticed their approach. The older of the two recognized Ji Chun, Xue Yao, and Su Ran. "Ji Chun Dashi, Xue Shenyi, Shangguan Gogzi," he said, addressing them with a polite but wary tone. "What brings you to the Tiangang Sect's forbidden area?"
Ji Chun opened his mouth to explain but hesitated, feeling the weight of their intrusion. Xue Yao, equally uneasy, remained silent. Seeing their reluctance to speak, Su Ran sneered and stepped forward. "Enough with the act!" he barked. "Ouyang Yixun is being held here by your people. Open the gate now, or you'll regret it!"
The younger guard, enraged by Su Ran's accusation, raised his sword and charged forward, but the older guard stopped him with a raised hand. He forced a smile and said, "Shangguan Gongzi, you must be mistaken. Young Master Ouyang is safe at home. Why would he be here? You're joking, surely."
"Enough of your lies!" Su Ran snapped, his patience wearing thin. He instinctively reached for a hidden weapon and hurled it at the older guard, who cried out in pain as it struck his shoulder. However, the effort cost Su Ran dearly. The Muscle Softening Powder, combined with his injuries, caused him to cough up blood, and he staggered, barely managing to steady himself by grabbing Ji Chun's arm.
Seeing his comrade injured, the younger guard lunged at them with his sword, but his skills were no match for Ji Chun. In a few swift moves, Ji Chun disarmed him and rendered him unconscious. Without a word, Ji Chun stepped through the iron gate, followed closely by Xue Yao, who kept a wary eye on Su Ran to prevent him from escaping. Reluctantly, Su Ran trailed behind.
Inside, they found themselves in a dark, damp prison. The air was thick with the scent of blood, and the only light came from flickering torches mounted on the walls. As they crept forward, they overheard voices echoing from deeper within.
"Do you really think the Ouyang family knew the secret of Di Mang? The entire martial world was wiped out overnight…"
"Whether they knew or not, it doesn't matter now. They're all dead anyway. But that young master of theirs… he probably knows nothing. It's a shame the sect leader brought him here to be tortured."
"True. He's been here for three days and is barely clinging to life. In the end, they'll get nothing out of him."
"If he really knew anything, he wouldn't have held out this long without talking," one of the men muttered.
"What are you all standing around for? Lao Hei, take someone and check if the young master has finally given in. That little bastard is so stubborn! I'd love to beat some sense into him, but I'm afraid I'll kill him and get blamed by the Sect Leader!"
"On it—" another voice replied.
Ji Chun's expression, already stern, turned icy as he listened. He had met Sect Leader Xu a few times and had held him in high regard. When his friend's family was wiped out, Xu Zhen had taken in his nephew, Ouyang Yixun, and cared for him with apparent kindness. He had even publicly vowed to seek justice and find a cure for the young man. But the scene before him revealed a cold, brutal truth. The Tiangang Sect, widely respected as a paragon of righteousness in the martial world, was capable of such cruelty. It was chilling.
"Ji Chun Dashi, what should we do now?" Xue Yao whispered, tugging at Ji Chun's sleeve.
Before Ji Chun could respond, a loud shout interrupted them. "Who are you?! Intruders! Someone, come quickly—"
The shout immediately drew the attention of the guards. Dozens of men surrounded the trio, their weapons drawn. The atmosphere grew tense, thick with the promise of violence. Though neither side made the first move, the murderous intent in their eyes was unmistakable.
The standoff lasted only a moment before the guards charged. Ji Chun handled them with ease, his movements fluid and precise. However, Xue Yao and Su Ran were not faring as well. Xue Yao, already injured and not a strong fighter, struggled to dodge attacks, relying on his medicinal powders to fend off enemies when they least expected it. Su Ran, more severely wounded, could only rely on his remaining strength to deflect blows, gradually edging closer to Ji Chun for protection. Exhausted and battered, he wasn't about to pass up the chance to use Ji Chun as a shield.
Ji Chun noticed Su Ran's subtle movements but chose not to call him out. Given Su Ran's injuries and the fact that they were temporarily on the same side, he stepped forward, shielding Su Ran as he fought off the attackers. Within moments, the guards were subdued. Ji Chun glanced at Xue Yao, who had managed to incapacitate a group of enemies with his powders.
Without wasting time, Ji Chun and Xue Yao pressed forward. After a few steps, Xue Yao's sharp eyes caught Su Ran trying to slip away. "Hey! Don't even think about running off. You're coming with us!" he called out.
Ji Chun turned and saw Su Ran attempting to retreat the way they had come. Su Ran froze, then slowly turned back, his face dark and his eyes flashing with anger. "You're walking into a death trap, and you expect me to follow?!" he snarled.
"Who's to say this isn't your trap?" Xue Yao shot back, tilting his head with a sly grin. His big, round eyes gleamed like a cunning fox. "Just come with us. Once we rescue Ouyang Yixun, we'll let you go."
"Amitabha," Ji Chun added, his voice calm but firm. "Saving lives is our priority. Please accompany us."
Su Ran clenched his fists, glaring at them. He knew better than to challenge Ji Chun directly. Reluctantly, he fell in line, though his eyes burned with murderous intent, especially when they landed on Xue Yao. Sensing the danger, Xue Yao quickly moved to the other side of Ji Chun, putting the monk between himself and Su Ran.
As they ventured deeper, they encountered only a few guards, whom Ji Chun swiftly dispatched. The cells lining the walls were dark and silent, their occupants staring out with cold, hollow eyes. The oppressive atmosphere weighed heavily on the trio.
Near the end of the corridor, they heard agonized screams and curses. The sounds were so raw and painful that even Ji Chun, accustomed to hardship, winced. They quickened their pace, rounding a corner to find a man pulling a red-hot iron hook from a brazier. He approached a large, muscular figure hanging from a rack. The prisoner's face was obscured by unkempt hair and a thick beard, his body scarred and covered in tattered rags. It was clear he had endured years of torture.
Ji Chun had never witnessed such brutality. For a moment, he felt as though he had descended into the depths of hell. But his rational mind reminded him that this was reality—a living, breathing person suffering unimaginable pain.
Without hesitation, Ji Chun channeled his inner strength and struck the torturer with his Zen staff. The red-hot iron hook flew from the man's hand, landing on his own flesh and eliciting a piercing scream. The remaining guards rushed forward, but Ji Chun, fueled by righteous anger, overpowered them with ease.
He moved to free the prisoner, while Xue Yao hurried to assess his injuries. Su Ran lingered nearby, scanning the area for any sign of Ouyang Yixun. The large man, now freed, bowed weakly to Ji Chun. "Thank you for saving my life," he said, his voice hoarse but filled with gratitude.
Author Notes: La La La…how about some recommendations or comments? (｡>﹏<)
Translator's Notes: I hope the author knows they are a precious little bean. Please show them some love by going to the official site on Hanwujinian. Title: 本座不会生孩子 <3