Chapter 40: A Night of Revelations and Despair

A deafening bang echoed through the silence, like a sudden clap of thunder. Ouyang Xiyue’s eyes blazed with anger as he forcefully pushed open the door, charging into the room like a caged beast finally freed. His gaze was sharp and piercing as he swiftly scanned the surroundings. The room was pitch black, the lights unlit, indicating that Shangguan Yun had not yet returned. His brow furrowed slightly as he looked down at the girl in his arms.

Her breathing gradually steadied, like the gentle ripples on a lake’s surface, gradually subsiding. Ouyang Xiyue’s tightly wound nerves finally began to unwind, the tension slowly draining away like air from a deflated balloon.

His steps were soft and gentle, as if afraid to disturb the night’s tranquility. He carefully laid the girl on his own bed. Normally fastidious, Ouyang Xiyue disregarded all rules in this moment of crisis.

Driven by an urgent anxiety, he had forgotten to remove the sack covering the girl. He took off his outer coat, tossing it aside as if shedding a burden, then carefully and meticulously began to remove the sack from the girl’s body. His movements were delicate and precise, as if handling a rare treasure, fearful of any slightest mishap.

The sack slipped away, revealing her skin, smooth and white as jade. Her tiny body was stained with crimson blood, most of it congealed into dark patches, like the faded scars of time. The air was thick with the pungent, overpowering stench of blood, but Ouyang Xiyue showed no sign of repulsion. He was accustomed to such sights; the horrors of the past had numbed his senses.

As the sack fell away completely, Ouyang Xiyue felt a pang of unease. Although Yiluochen’s medicine had healed the girl’s injuries, why hadn’t she awakened? It must be her severe weakness. Ouyang Xiyue sighed softly, whispering to himself, ‘Sleep well.’

The girl lay naked, and if not for the blood clots that served as a makeshift barrier, the scene would have been more embarrassing. Ouyang Xiyue cleared his throat awkwardly, then slowly covered the girl with a blanket. He then went to the bathroom and filled the tub with warm water.

He lifted the girl again, his steps resolute as he carried her into the bathroom and gently placed her in the tub. With a wave of his hands, he summoned his magic, causing the water to swirl like playful sprites, washing away the congealed blood. Soon, the once-clear water turned a deep, bloody red, resembling the vibrant hues of a lotus flower in full bloom.

Ouyang Xiyue sighed, using his magic again to lift the girl gently, suspending her in mid-air like a fairy. He quickly grabbed a towel from the side and wrapped it around her. He then drained the tub and refilled it, repeating the process until the girl’s body was clean. By the end, all the spare towels were used. He bit his lip, wrapping his own towel around the girl before carrying her back to bed and drying her hair.

As he dried her, Ouyang Xiyue murmured, ‘A true healer serves all, regardless of gender.’

After finishing, Ouyang Xiyue let out a long breath and drank the water by his side in one gulp. Looking at the sleeping girl, a satisfied smile played on his lips. Despite his exhaustion, a sense of accomplishment surged through him like a rising tide.

Ouyang Xiyue returned to the bathroom to clean up, drying his hair as he left. Suddenly, he heard a commotion from the bedroom and rushed back. Opening the door, he saw Shangguan Yun, her face flushed with anger, storming towards him. ‘You scumbag, I’m calling the police!’ she shouted.

Ouyang Xiyue was momentarily stunned, then realized Shangguan Yun had misunderstood. He quickly followed her, explaining the situation from start to finish.

After listening, Shangguan Yun realized her mistake. ‘Who was the bastard who did this?’ she fumed. ‘She was so beautiful, and they did this to her. Damn them, they deserve to die…’

Ouyang Xiyue’s anger flared, burning like an unquenchable fire in his heart. He sat on the living room sofa, lost in thought for a long time, finally coming up with a plan—to use a forbidden spell.

His master had warned him that this forbidden spell, once cast successfully, would shorten his lifespan, with the duration of the reduction being random. It could be a year, a day, or even a few months, years, or decades. The unluckiest might die instantly.

Ouyang Xiyue knew this was a gamble with his life, but he had no choice. ‘If not me, then who?’ he thought, looking at Shangguan Yun. He wanted to stop her from staying, but the words died on his lips.

‘Cloud, I’m going to use magic to extract her memories. You just watch from the side, okay?’ Ouyang Xiyue said, then began casting the forbidden spell. He gathered all his magical energy to his head, like rivers converging into a sea, flowing slowly into his hands, which he gently placed on the girl’s head.

Ouyang Xiyue’s soul entered the girl’s memories. He saw her tragic past: a father without a mother, her father drowning in debt, and her being taken by loan sharks, falling into an endless abyss. They forced her to do things against her will, torturing her mercilessly…

Ouyang Xiyue swiftly browsed through the girl’s memories, his anger boiling like a volcano, but he held it back, suppressing the rage within.

Soon, Ouyang Xiyue slowly withdrew his magic and sat cross-legged, meditating to regain his composure. As he opened his eyes, he spat out a mouthful of dark blood.

As expected, with his current strength, using such a high-level forbidden spell was beyond him. But that no longer mattered.

He had learned everything about the wealthy man’s address, name, identity, and status. Shangguan Yun, seeing Ouyang Xiyue spit blood, was terrified and rushed over, her face filled with concern. ‘Ouyang, what happened? Are you okay? Are you alright?’

Ouyang Xiyue, seeing Shangguan Yun’s worried expression, smiled weakly, shaking his head to indicate he was fine, just exhausted from the magic. He would rest and recover.

Ouyang Xiyue sat on the edge of the bed, closing his eyes and deep in thought. His anger surged like a tidal wave, and thoughts of revenge swirled in his mind. Those heartless bastards, like the Ouyang family, were despicable and infuriating.

The girl’s name was Mo Xuan, the same age as Ouyang Xiyue. He cursed silently, ‘Those bastards!’

Ouyang Xiyue’s usually fair complexion was now flushed with anger, his facial muscles taut, his neck bulging with veins, and sweat pouring down his face. Suddenly, he opened his eyes, the anger within like an unquenchable flame, uncontrollable, like a lion enraged.

Ouyang Xiyue clenched his fists, the joints cracking audibly. Shangguan Yun, seeing this, stood frozen, the air thick with a chilling anger.

Was Ouyang really this angry? She had never seen him like this before, feeling like she was facing a ticking time bomb, sending shivers down her spine.

‘Have you eaten, Cloud?’ Ouyang Xiyue asked softly, trying to calm his anger.

‘I… I have, Ouyang. Have you?’ Shangguan Yun’s voice trembled, answering cautiously.

‘Relax, am I that scary? Go to sleep. I’ll just sit here for a while,’ Ouyang Xiyue forced a smile.

‘Y… yes, very scary… Just now, your expression… Anyway, I’m going to sleep. Take care of yourself, Ouyang, and get some rest…’ Shangguan Yun said, then returned to her bed and soon fell asleep.

Ouyang Xiyue also felt a wave of fatigue. Today had been incredibly exhausting, far more so than the previous day. His magic was severely depleted, and he desperately needed rest. Soon, he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep. This sleep was unusually profound, and he dreamed of his father and a mother he had never met.

In the dream, his father accused him, ‘Ouyang, why didn’t you save me? Why? I died so wrongfully…’ His mother also scolded him for not saving his father. Ouyang Xiyue tried to explain, but his parents ignored him, pointing fingers at him.

In that hazy, confused state, a low ‘ah’ echoed, like a sharp lightning bolt, shattering his dreams.

He abruptly raised his head, his alert gaze like a sharp sword, slicing through the air. Shangguan Yun’s eyes were filled with terror, like a surging tide, staring in his direction.

Ouyang Xiyue slowly shifted his gaze to the girl on the bed…

For the overpowering stench of blood had once again invaded his senses, like a menacing beast, reentering his world.

As Ouyang Xiyue lifted his head, everything seemed frozen in time—a heart-pounding visual feast: The girl’s neck bore a knife, like an evil nail, deeply embedded. Her eyes were wide open, two portals to endless grievance and reluctance, silently narrating the cruelty of fate.

Ouyang Xiyue’s gaze froze, like a cold statue. He instantly recognized the knife—wasn’t it the ordinary kitchen knife used for chopping vegetables?

How did it end up on the girl? The girl was lifeless, like a fallen petal, detached from the vibrant world. No… No… No! His heart screamed in despair, each cry like a heavy hammer, pounding his soul.

‘I just woke up and saw her do it… I tried to help, but it was too late… She was like a puppet controlled by strings, her body uncontrollable,’ Shangguan Yun’s voice trembled, choked with tears, a deep, bone-chilling helplessness and despair, like a lone swan crying in the cold night.

Ouyang Xiyue stood up abruptly, his eyes narrowing into a sharp glint, like the brightest star in the night sky.

At this moment, his mind was filled with one thought—to use his mysterious and powerful ice magic to freeze the girl, perhaps giving her a chance to be saved.

Time was like a rushing river, flowing relentlessly, and he had to seize every second.

Ouyang Xiyue swiftly reached out, decisively pulling the knife from the girl’s neck, as if engaged in a life-or-death struggle with fate.

Then, he channeled his magic, and instantly, a glowing blue magical array, like an enchanting flower, bloomed at his feet.

The air swirled with ice elements, like playful sprites, filling the room with a cold, mysterious aura.

‘Freeze!’ Ouyang Xiyue shouted, his voice thunderous, his magic exploding like a burst dam, engulfing the girl and the entire bed in an instant, turning them into a translucent ice sculpture. His actions were fluid and determined, with no hesitation or doubt.

Ouyang Xiyue let out a slight sigh, but his eyes still burned with resolve and urgency. Now, he had to act swiftly, like a brave warrior, seeking solutions.

‘Cloud, I’ll ask the teacher for leave today. I have an extremely urgent matter to attend to. Make sure you lock the door when you leave, and don’t let anyone in,’ Ouyang Xiyue said, his voice deep and authoritative, leaving no room for argument. He then slammed the door shut, his figure disappearing down the hallway like a swift gust of wind, leaving Shangguan Yun standing alone, her eyes filled with worry and confusion, like a boat lost at sea.