Chapter 4: An Unexpected Obstruction

No sooner had Li Ge finished speaking than he lunged towards Ye Cha, intent on forcibly removing him.

Such a brazen, barbaric act, so utterly dismissive of onlookers, ignited a furious blaze within Zhou Xiaoyue. With a sharp ‘smack,’ she struck Li Ge’s hand, halting his grasp before it could reach Ye Cha.

‘She wasn’t dead yet!’

‘For Li Ge to be so utterly lawless, so brazenly arrogant—it was truly outrageous!’

“Zhou Xiaoyue, what in the world are you doing?! Let me tell you this: if Ye Cha doesn’t come with me right now, no one can predict the severity of the Elder Council’s punishment!”

Zhou Xiaoyue’s blow had been anything but gentle. As Li Ge swiftly recoiled his arm, wincing in pain, he stared at his once-fair, plump hand, now a livid red. Instantly, a surge of fury ignited within him.

Were it not for Zhou Xiaoyue’s slightly superior cultivation, Li Ge would never have so easily swallowed such an affront!

However, with no other female cultivators present, and knowing he couldn’t defeat Zhou Xiaoyue alone, Li Ge could only grit his teeth and plan his revenge for a later date.

‘For now, the priority remained to deceive Ye Cha into compliance and bring him along swiftly.’

‘As for any future repercussions…’

‘Hmph, a man who consorted with a demonic enchantress, indulging in carnal pleasures—a righteous sect like the Lingtian Sect would undoubtedly expel him, erasing every trace of his existence.’

‘If that were the case, how could there possibly be any investigation?’

‘Even if Zhou Xiaoyue were to testify, she wouldn’t be able to provide any concrete evidence. In short, this time, Ye Cha’s reputation would be utterly destroyed.’

“I cannot simply stand by and watch Ye Cha depart with you. Since you claim to have already reported this to the Elder Council, then I, too, bear a responsibility. I shall accompany Ye Cha!”

In that very moment, Zhou Xiaoyue found herself utterly disinclined to gaze upon Li Ge’s unsightly face any longer. As she spoke, her eyes subtly flickered towards Ye Cha, seizing the chance to convey her deep affection for him.

‘Heaven and Earth themselves could bear witness: her feelings for Ye Cha were undeniably, utterly genuine.’

‘Even if the Elder Council were truly to hold her accountable, not a shred of fear would touch Zhou Xiaoyue’s heart.’

However, upon hearing Zhou Xiaoyue’s declaration, Li Ge’s brows instinctively knitted together in a frown.

‘His carefully laid plan was on the verge of success, yet suddenly a formidable obstacle had sprung up in his path.’

‘Zhou Xiaoyue was proving to be an utterly inconvenient nuisance!’

“If Zhou Xiaoyue were to escort Ye Cha to the Elder Council, their carefully orchestrated plan would become utterly useless. It would prematurely alert their target, making it significantly harder to trick Ye Cha in the future.”

‘No!’

‘He absolutely could not allow Zhou Xiaoyue to spoil his scheme!’

“Senior Sister Xiaoyue, I am profoundly grateful for your defense. However, this matter originated with me, and I cannot bear the thought of you being implicated on my behalf.”

While both Zhou Xiaoyue and Li Ge were consumed by their own intricate thoughts, Ye Cha, who had remained silent until now, suddenly broke his quietude.

He then turned to Zhou Xiaoyue, his expression etched with apology, feeling immensely regretful for having unwittingly dragged her into this mire.

The sorrowful expression, born of guilt, did nothing to mar Ye Cha’s handsome and refined features. Instead, it subtly softened his usual air of detachment, making him appear far more approachable.

This, in turn, fueled Zhou Xiaoyue’s confidence, making her believe that a future with Ye Cha was indeed possible!

‘Oh, to find a man as considerate and gentle as Ye Cha—it was truly a rare treasure!’

The male disciples within the sect were, almost without exception, spoiled and utterly unreasonable. They treated female cultivators as mere playthings, summoning them at a whim and dismissing them just as swiftly, holding absolutely no regard for women. The thought alone was infuriating.

But Junior Brother Ye Cha was different. He was like a hidden treasure, revealing continuous surprises the deeper one delved.

Yet, the more Ye Cha displayed such qualities, the more determined Zhou Xiaoyue became to shield him from any injustice!

It was one thing when she lacked the power to intervene, but now that she had achieved the status of an Inner Disciple, possessing a degree of influence, she was resolute: she would protect Junior Brother Ye Cha with all her might!

“Junior Brother Ye Cha, our consciences are clear, and our hands are clean. Even before the Elder Council, we can stand tall and speak with righteous indignation! Do not fear, for I will be by your side!”

As Zhou Xiaoyue spoke, she nearly thumped her modest chest in fervent assurance. Simultaneously, an urge to reach out and grasp Ye Cha’s hand surged within her, hoping to deepen their bond through physical contact.

Yet, she remained utterly timid, hesitating for a prolonged moment, ultimately unable to bring herself to act.

“Zhou Xiaoyue, why must you meddle in everything?! Rest assured, the Elder Council will soon dispatch someone to summon you. Ye Cha, come with me now; do not keep the Elder Council waiting!”

Li Ge had been fretting over how to shake off the bothersome leech that was Zhou Xiaoyue. But now, hearing Ye Cha’s self-incriminating words, he seized the opportunity, instantly ordering Ye Cha to follow him, leaving no room for retraction.

Simultaneously, Li Ge’s right hand, concealed behind his back, subtly twitched. From his storage pouch, he swiftly produced the Immortal Binding Rope.

‘If Ye Cha refused to cooperate, then he would have no qualms about casting aside all pretense.’

“Li Ge, let my words stand firm here and now: unless you strike me down, you can forget about taking Ye Cha away!”

Initially, Zhou Xiaoyue had harbored no suspicions regarding Li Ge’s claims. However, witnessing his current state of frantic urgency, her mind couldn’t help but begin to race.

As she meticulously replayed Li Ge’s past words and actions, Zhou Xiaoyue instantly detected a glaring anomaly.

If the Elder Council genuinely intended to interrogate Ye Cha, they would never have entrusted Li Ge with bringing him. Instead, they would have dispatched the Law Enforcement team directly to escort Ye Cha to the council chambers.

This single detail alone was enough to alert Zhou Xiaoyue to the hidden machinations. Recalling Li Ge’s habitual exclusion of Ye Cha, a fresh wave of indignation surged through her.

‘On previous occasions, whenever she witnessed Li Ge tormenting Ye Cha, Zhou Xiaoyue had yearned to intervene on his behalf. She wouldn’t have even minded facing the combined assault of Li Ge’s female acquaintances.’

‘As long as she could deliver some justice for Ye Cha, that was all that mattered!’

However, Ye Cha had always restrained her, unwilling to drag her into his troubles.

Time and again.

To stand by helplessly, unable to aid the man she cared for, left Zhou Xiaoyue feeling utterly defeated.

‘Now, she refused to endure it any longer!’

Regardless of the veracity of Li Ge’s claims, she would not permit that repulsive man to take Ye Cha away!

“Li Ge, I will personally escort Ye Cha to the Elder Council, and we shall go immediately!”

Then, as Zhou Xiaoyue’s voice rang out once more, firm and resolute, Li Ge merely curled his lips into a cold sneer. His right hand swiftly tossed an object into the air, and as he chanted an incantation, the Immortal Binding Rope instantly coiled around Zhou Xiaoyue, binding her tightly.

The dagger was finally revealed.

Since Zhou Xiaoyue had already discerned the truth, he saw no further need to maintain his act.

The Immortal Binding Rope was rumored to be capable of binding all things in the mortal realm.

While that might have been a slight exaggeration, subduing a Qi Condensation cultivator like Zhou Xiaoyue presented absolutely no challenge.

“Hmph, you refused the toast, so you shall drink the penalty. Did you truly believe you could obstruct me?!”

“It’s the Immortal Binding Rope!”

Zhou Xiaoyue gazed down at the Immortal Binding Rope that held her captive. Even as words left her lips, a swift surge of disgust flashed in her eyes. She had never imagined her earlier suspicions would prove so accurate.

‘Li Ge truly intended to harm Ye Cha!’

Had she not followed the subtle clues and pursued them, Junior Brother Ye Cha’s fate, ensnared in Li Ge’s machinations, would have been utterly dire and unpredictable.

“Hmph, good that you understand. A mere Qi Condensation female cultivator like yourself, no matter how fiercely you struggle, it will be utterly futile. Unless you can instantly ascend to Foundation…”

Li Ge’s words were cut short. In the very next instant, Zhou Xiaoyue, her face utterly devoid of emotion, gave a single, powerful tug with both hands. The Immortal Binding Rope shattered into several fragments, scattering across the ground.