Chapter 15: Utter Defeat

Seeing the figure clearly, Ling’er’s eyes instantly reddened. She had never expected Lin Yi to treat her this way, and even less expected that when she was in deep peril, it was Ye Fan who came to her rescue.

Now it was clear—Ye Fan’s heart still held a place for her. Though he refused to admit it aloud, his actions at this moment fully revealed his true feelings.

Ah, Ye Fan, your heart ultimately belongs to me!

With this thought firm in her mind, Ling’er gathered her courage and said, “Brother Ye Fan, thank you!”

“I knew it… I knew you wouldn’t just abandon me.”

“Rest assured, I have seen Lin Yi’s true colors now.”

“From this day forth, I will follow only you; I will harbor no other thoughts.”

Ye Fan’s lips twitched slightly; Ling’er was truly hopelessly foolish. Even now, she still fancied herself a coveted prize.

Just as Ling’er was smugly pledging loyalty, Ye Fan impatiently cut her off.

“Hmph, the only reason I helped you was to thank you for getting the Thousand-Year Frost Lotus for me.”

Turning around, Ye Fan shook the object in his hand—the very Frost Lotus Lin Yi had just snatched.

However, before Lin Yi could get far, Ye Fan had intercepted him.

With Ye Fan’s current strength, taking the Lotus from him was effortless. Lin Yi hadn’t even reacted before his prize vanished.

Knowing he was no match for Ye Fan, Lin Yi could only hold his nose and flee in panic.

“How wonderful! The Frost Lotus has been secured by Brother Ye Fan!”

“To be honest, the moment I got the Lotus, I wanted to give it to you, hoping for your forgiveness.”

“I never imagined that bastard Lin Yi would betray me. Luckily, Brother Ye Fan arrived just in time, so the Lotus didn’t fall into the hands of a villain!”

“Brother Ye Fan, let’s go quickly. That spirit beast is very powerful; it’s not safe to stay here!”

Ling’er kept calling him “Brother Ye Fan” with a tone full of intimacy, reaching out to link her arm with his.

But just as her hand was about to brush his sleeve, Ye Fan swiftly dodged, a teasing glint in his eyes.

“You wretch, you can’t seriously think that with a few sweet words you can move me, can you?”

“I’ll keep the Lotus, but you’re right—this place isn’t safe. I’m leaving.”

“Oh, and that beast is the guardian spirit of the Lotus. Taking it has enraged it completely.”

“Stay here and endure its wrath!”

With that, Ye Fan was about to turn and leave. Now that he had the Frost Lotus, there was no reason to risk himself fighting the guardian beast.

At that moment, Ling’er panicked. If Ye Fan left, she feared she would truly be swallowed whole by the giant serpent.

The terrifying roar echoed again, making her hairs stand on end, and the dread of death swept over her once more.

She knew that to survive, she could only rely on Ye Fan.

Her last shred of dignity shattered; with a thud, she knelt before him.

“Brother Ye Fan…”

“No, Young Master Ye, please… please save me.”

“I’ve never begged you before. For the sake of what we once had, save me this once, just once!”

“I… I promise from now on I will obey you completely. If you tell me to go east, I won’t dare go west.”

“Also, when I return, I will have my father bring the Hanling Sect under the Lingxiao Sect.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks, her pitiful posture evoking sympathy.

But Ye Fan knew her nature too well; such tears were utterly unworthy of pity.

As for the promise to submit the Hanling Sect to Lingxiao Sect—it was laughable.

The Hanling Sect was now just an empty shell. Apart from a few elderly Nascent Soul elders, what was left?

Keeping them served no purpose but to waste resources.

Seeing Ye Fan unmoved, Ling’er cried even harder.

“Young Master Ye, tell me what you want.”

“Whatever you ask, I will do.”

She even unconsciously adjusted her clothes, revealing a small section of tender, fragrant shoulder, trying to sacrifice her beauty.

“Young Master Ye, I can give you everything I have!”

Once, Ling’er was a lofty celestial fairy, a goddess in countless hearts.

Who would have thought that one day, she would beg like a dog at Ye Fan’s feet, desperate just to survive?

“You wretch, look at how lowly you’ve become.”

“If you want to give, I’d rather not get my hands dirty!”

Ye Fan had no patience to listen to her plead any longer. After dropping these words, he turned and left without a trace of mercy.

“Ye Fan! Ye Fan…”

“Come back… come back to me!”

Frustrated and desperate, Ling’er fell into despair again. Ye Fan’s coldness and ruthlessness crushed her spirit.

But there was no time for hatred—behind her, a Nascent Soul spirit beast was watching her hungrily.

The ice serpent had grown even more furious after losing the Lotus!

Now that Ye Fan was gone, she was its only target.

The massive body surged forward, eyes glowing red as it opened its bloodthirsty maw once more.

Fear surged wildly in Ling’er’s heart. With such a gap in strength, she had no means of resistance.

Suddenly, she remembered something. Hastily, she reached toward her waist, fumbling until she grasped a jade pendant.

Her heart leapt with joy as she crushed the pendant with all her might.

At the instant the jade shattered, the space around her rippled.

The serpent lunged but found nothing but air.

Ling’er, once standing there, had vanished without a trace.

Only the enraged serpent remained, roaring furiously in frustration.

The pendant she destroyed was a teleportation jade given to her earlier by Ye Fan—her lifeline in emergencies.

It was meant for escape.

She had never imagined she would need to use it here.

After leaving the danger zone, Ling’er stared blankly at the broken jade in her palm, just like her shattered relationship with Ye Fan—impossible to restore.

Recalling their past, the time they spent together was still vivid in her mind.

She could not accept Ye Fan’s cancellation of their engagement, Lin Yi’s betrayal, nor Ye Fan’s current cold indifference.

Everything had changed.

She had thought this journey to the Qishan Secret Realm would be her chance to turn her fortunes around, but she was utterly defeated.

Ling’er wept—this time, truly wept.