Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao
Chapter 465 - 114: Slap in the Face

Chapter 465: Chapter 114: Slap in the Face

The sky was somewhat overcast and chilly.

In fact, Frost Tears was never a place that felt warm to anyone, not environmentally nor spiritually.

The feeling of pain had never disappeared; it had been endured through so many years.

There was no hope, and the advantage of having no hope was All Hope Lost. But just a few days ago, someone came to this hellish place, someone incredibly important to Tianji Mountain.

Zhuge Guyan could disregard his own well-being, but he couldn’t help caring about this genius girl, for she represented a significant portion of Tianji Mountain’s hope.

When a person gives up hope, they no longer fear despair. But the true terror comes when all hope is lost, yet despair is impossible, and there still lingers a faint glimmer of hope.

To strive for that hope, knowing it is so far out of reach.

"This torture, I fear I can barely endure it any longer, Young Master, let us Harmonize and commit suicide, so we don’t have to suffer this torment any further."

Faced with this dreadful torture, Zhuge Jiayue was both physically and mentally exhausted, barely clinging to life.

Death was not to be feared, but to die and still become a sinner of Tianji Mountain, to become a source for the evolution of the Netherworld Body, that was fearsome.

"No, if there is a shred of hope, we cannot give up. If there truly is no other way, I will have no choice but to compromise and negotiate for your release. Once I am certain of your safety, I will take on all responsibilities myself," Zhuge Guyan said after a moment of contemplation.

Though he too was worn out, body and spirit, to the point of being unrecognizable as human, he wouldn’t show it, lest he add to Zhuge Jiayue’s burden and worries.

He managed a smile, calm and composed, as if none of this truly mattered to him.

Perhaps, after Awakening the memories of Tianji Mountain’s Young Master, Guyan becoming Zhuge Guyan, it seemed there was very little left for him to care about.

His difference from others lay in his indifference to everything.

"Young Master, even if such actions are to be taken, it should be me to do them—" Zhuge Jiayue understood what Zhuge Guyan meant and immediately insisted on taking the burden herself, hastily speaking out.

Before she could finish, Zhuge Guyan interrupted her, "No need to say more, my mind is made up. I am the Young Master, you have reason to listen to me. My life is already wasted and not beneficial for the future. As for your identity, you might not know, but my father Zhuge Wuwei, the leader of the Heavenly Mechanism Skill, does. You cannot die, understand? No matter how wretched, you must survive."

"Also, I have one wish. In this life, I failed my daughter Gu Xi, whose fate has been fraught with hardships. Previously, due to my main body being tormented by Soul Killing Torture, the Void Body I left behind developed its own will and did many things that betrayed friends and family. All these debts I need to repay.

But I no longer have the chance. If you get out, remember to take good care of my daughter, to see her find a man she loves, to become his Daoist couple..." As Zhuge Guyan spoke, the calm and composed man’s eyes welled up with tears.

But the tears didn’t fall; they soon dried up in his eyes.

"I am old, my talents blurred by Reincarnation, not activated in thirty or forty years, missing the prime time, losing momentum, unable to run anymore. Jiayue, you are a true genius, you possess the true Heavenly Mechanism Life Chart, and even now it has yet to be activated, so you must not underestimate yourself, do you understand?" Zhuge Guyan’s voice gradually dimmed.

When a person is about to die, their words carry sadness.

Zhuge Guyan’s mindset was desolate. The tortures had almost crushed his will. He was barely alive, hanging on by a thread.

"Young Master..." Tears streamed down Zhuge Jiayue’s face, her heart heavy with grief. At the same time, she harbored immense hatred for the Netherworld, for the creatures of the Life and Death Illusion Realm. If not for these monsters, the Young Master would never have ended up this way.

"Earlier, when I was being punished, I caught a glimpse of Yan’er, who seemed to take on some of the torture for me. You sensed this too, only I don’t know if it was real or an illusion," Zhuge Guyan sighed, his voice wistful.

"Young Master, that must have been an illusion, after all, Emperor Qi Sword Body Zhou Yan..." Zhuge Jiayue hesitated, certain words left unsaid.

Because she knew that the Young Master had lived nearly forty years as Gu Yan and had come to see Zhou Yan as his own son. But now Zhou Yan had long perished, his path ended.

Not even the Heavenly Mechanism could derive a trace of him, and when trying to derive Zhou Yan’s Emperor Qi Sword Body Bloodline, the Gua Image revealed was an omen of impending doom, only a trace of will left.

This meant that Emperor Qi Sword Body Zhou Yan was dead, with just a drop of Ancient Blood and a breath of life remaining.

But what miracles could be wrought from just a drop of Ancient Blood?

At this moment, Zhuge Jiayue fell silent, unable to speak many of the words in her heart. Because by not speaking, the Young Master still held a thread of hope, but speaking them would sever all hope.

If even this thread of hope disappeared, wouldn’t it strike a deep blow to the Young Master? Already in this state, could he endure such an immense shock?

"Hope is just an illusion, even if it’s real, I hope it’s an illusion. Yan’er’s fate is harsh, never free from the influence of the Lei Yan King’s Soul Killing Chains. I don’t want... Hmm? The Netherworld is coming again, follow my instructions."

Zhuge Guyan had only gotten halfway through his sentence when abruptly, his ears twitched as if he heard something, and he immediately instructed Zhuge Jiayue through a mental message before concealing all information.

He knew that if the Netherworld came once more, he would have no hope left.

This time, he must try his best to negotiate, to ensure Zhuge Jiayue’s safety, even if that meant becoming the sinner of all Cultivators.

...

A man in a black robe, hands clasped behind his back, walked arrogantly into the Netherworld Prison.

Behind him, the strongest of Frost Tears, the Netherworld Nine Soul Envoys, humbled themselves like mere servants.

Upon first glance, Zhuge Guyan couldn’t make out the face of the man in the black robe, but the attire and the aura alone were uncomfortably familiar.

When his gaze finally fell upon the other’s cold and slightly sinister features, he was stunned.

With a "boom," his mind was struck by lightning, as if he had witnessed an impossible figure materializing before him; his reaction was akin to seeing a ghost come to life.

"Young Master, what’s wrong with you?"

Zhuge Jiayue’s face turned a few shades paler. She subconsciously glanced at the man in the black robe, then her delicate body also shuddered, disbelief evident in her eyes. However, her disbelief was clearly much less than the shock in Zhuge Guyan’s eyes.

"It’s... It’s... No, nothing."

Zhuge Guyan, who usually didn’t care about anything, was now extremely nervous, even fearful and apprehensive, causing his body to shiver and shake.

If someone who was always calm was now trembling with nervousness and fear, then this person must be extremely frightening.

But this person was Lei Yan, wasn’t it? What was so frightening about him?

As Zhuge Jiayue thought this, she seemed to sense an incredibly pure Netherworld aura emanating from Zhou Yan’s body. She shuddered, filled with a sense of incredulity.

"How... How is this possible? How can the Thunderflame Sword Body possess such a pure and unadulterated Netherworld Power? That’s impossible; this person must be... definitely an impostor! An impostor masquerading as the Thunderflame Sword Body Zhou Yan!"

Zhuge Jiayue exclaimed in shock.

However, she noticed that the Netherworld Nine Souls Envoy behind the man in the black robe seemed not at all surprised by this revelation, as if he had expected it. And the man in the black robe, whose identity she had called out, didn’t seem to care in the slightest.

He walked over step by step, and although he showed no emotion, Zhuge Jiayue still felt as if she were bearing the weight of a mountain, extremely oppressive.

She even began to feel an uncomfortable, restless sensation rising in her heart, as if her body was gradually becoming hot and on the verge of going berserk.

This feeling was truly horrifying.

...

"Gu Yan, I didn’t expect that in this life, you’d still be so wretched."

Zhou Yan gazed at his Uncle Gu Yan, feeling somewhat moved in his heart.

But he did not show it, nor could he afford to show it. Not only that, but he also had to treat Zhuge Guyan as if he were an ant, from the standpoint of a higher authority, so that Zhuge Guyan would have a chance to live.

"I never thought... truly never thought that you would leave the Soul Killing Shackles Array of the Reincarnation Tower so soon. I’m sorry, Lei Yan King, it’s my incompetence."

Gu Yan gave a wry smile, his face filled with sadness. The prideful head he always held high was now lowered, and then, he even attempted to kneel.

However, the torture shackles on his body prevented him from moving freely.

"I’m not Lei Yan King; I am merely Lee Sha, a simpleton in everyone’s eyes."

Zhou Yan’s heart stirred, and he subconsciously added this sarcastic remark.

"In this life and age, things have changed, and people are no longer the same. Much of the time, we’re really compelled by circumstances, truly... I know, no matter how I explain, you won’t listen, Lord. But I can’t help but try to explain."

Zhuge Guyan’s tone was filled with helplessness.

As he spoke, he began to cough violently.

With each cough, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

The blood was a snowy white, like a viscous paste, somewhat glaring to look at.

But this process seemed to be an even greater torment for Zhuge Guyan.

Zhou Yan remained silent, then he turned around, his gaze sternly fixed on the Netherworld Nine Souls Envoy.

"My king..."

As the Netherworld Nine Souls Envoy met Zhou Yan’s glacier-like eyes, his heart leaped with fear and his spirit trembled immensely.

"Waste!"

Zhou Yan scolded coldly, then a slap fiercely flew towards the ghostly face of the Netherworld Nine Souls Envoy.

The Netherworld Nine Souls Envoy saw the displeasing yet extremely violent slap coming. He could dodge, but he dared not.

"Smack—"

A loud slap landed harshly on the face of the Netherworld Nine Souls Envoy, the tremendous force nearly sending his head flying.

Even with a strength comparable to a Saint, under Zhou Yan’s terrifying physical strength, the Netherworld Nine Souls Envoy was still almost knocked to the ground. For a long while, his cheek stung fiercely.

He felt uncomfortable inside, but he realized that if the matter wasn’t handled well and he didn’t receive punishment, he’d be in danger.

And being slapped meant he would not suffer additional punishment and would not be punished by the Hall Master; thus, in fact, he was rather fortunate.

As such, the Netherworld Nine Souls Envoy stretched out the other half of his face, with utmost respect, allowing Zhou Yan to slap him again to appease the king’s wrath: "My king, your servant is incompetent; please continue to discipline me to alleviate the anger in your heart."

...

This scene left Zhuge Jiayue utterly dumbfounded; her gaze uncertain as she watched Zhou Yan’s violent slap, and a bright sparkle flashed through her beautiful eyes.

Zhuge Guyan, on the other hand, was somewhat confused, his mind filled with doubts.

"Whatever method you use, first heal him, then have him come to find me! Remember to heal this woman as well and bring her along. If you delay the plan, even ten lives won’t be enough to save you from the Hall Master’s execution!"

Zhou Yan snorted coldly, no longer slapping the Netherworld Nine Souls Envoy, and strode away from the Netherworld Prison.

The Netherworld Nine Souls Envoy bowed deeply and said with utmost respect, "Yes, yes, your servant will take care of this matter immediately and will not disappoint you again, my king!"

(Just to explain, my computer had some issues before, with a blue screen crash and loss of internet connection, causing delays in updates. I had to redo the system three times to fix it. Updates will be steadier from now on~~)