Inside Sky Number One.
Nancy lay on the comfortable bed, gazing at the ceiling, despair flickering in her eyes.
She harbored a deep hatred for Ye Cangtian. Having repeatedly attacked him, falling into his hands now meant only dire consequences.
There were only two possible outcomes.
First, like a precious treasure kept in a gilded cage, she would become Ye Cangtian's plaything.
Second, death.
Neither outcome was acceptable to her, as her pride simply wouldn't allow it.
She was the most favored daughter of the Bright Hall, with a future as bright as the sun. It was highly probable she would eventually succeed the outer hall of the Bright Hall, becoming its first female Pope.
But where was she now? A prisoner, with no glimmer of hope in sight.
*Creak!*
After an unknown period, the cell door slowly opened, revealing two familiar figures.
It was Ye Cangtian and Gui Wu.
Nancy swept her gaze over them expressionlessly, her eyes finally settling on Gui Wu, a spark of anger igniting within them.
"Gui Wu, you were also a favored daughter of the Ninja Clan. Now that the Ninja Clan is all but gone, you should bear the responsibility of its revival!"
"But now you've become Ye Cangtian's dog. What kind of disgrace is that! I truly look down on you!"
"How can someone like you be considered my equal!"
Her anger towards Gui Wu stemmed from their shared reputation as favored daughters. Seeing Gui Wu's current choices filled her with profound disappointment!
"Hmph, what do you know!"
"The entire Ninja Clan treated me like a discarded piece. Only Ye Cangtian treated me with sincerity. Why shouldn't I be with him?"
"Nancy, I warn you, without experiencing someone else's pain, you have no right to criticize their choices!"
Gui Wu let out a cold snort. Although she hadn't made her final decision yet, seeing Nancy's arrogant demeanor greatly displeased her.
Moreover, the reason Nancy presented was the Ninja Clan.
Gui Wu harbored no affection for the Ninja Clan.
Even setting aside being abandoned like a cast-off, had anyone from the Ninja Clan come to rescue her when she was held captive for so long? Had anyone been sent to inquire about her situation?
None of it happened. Why should she help revive the Ninja Clan?
"Hopeless!"
Nancy glared at Gui Wu, a furious reprimand escaping her lips, before turning away.
On the other side, seeing Nancy quiet down, Ye Cangtian slowly approached and said, "Nancy, in truth, your past situation was much like Gui Wu's. Now, you are no different from a discarded piece."
"You!"
At his words, Nancy desperately wanted to retort, but found herself unable to offer any justification.
The Bright Hall had assigned her to Qiao's command, allowing Qiao to exact personal revenge and intentionally harm her. From this perspective, wasn't she indeed a discarded piece?
If she still had any value, the Bright Hall wouldn't have treated her this way!
"So what if I'm a discarded piece!"
"If you expect me to beg and grovel like Gui Wu, that's impossible!"
"I advise you to give up this thought and just kill me with a single stroke!"
After holding back for a long time, Nancy's face turned red with anger as she spat out her words.
She could face death, but she absolutely refused to be branded a traitor and have her reputation sullied!
"Sigh, it seems she's even more difficult than you."
"Gui Wu, what do you think we should do?"
"Why don't you see this through to the end and stay here with her for a few days? Help me persuade her properly! After all, you've been through something similar."
Looking at Nancy's irate, pretty face, Ye Cangtian patted his forehead and then turned to Gui Wu, speaking with a hint of amusement.
"Bastard! If you dare to leave me here again, I'll fight you to the death!"
Gui Wu immediately bristled upon hearing this, brandishing her fists and roaring ferociously at Ye Cangtian.
No one knew how she had endured her two months of confinement, a torment she never wished to experience a second time!
"Nancy, do you see?"
"Is this what you call begging and groveling?"
Ye Cangtian ignored Gui Wu, instead offering a wry smile as he glanced at Nancy, asking helplessly.
His words left Nancy speechless. The fact that Gui Wu dared to shout at Ye Cangtian was beyond her imagination.
Moreover, looking at the relationship between these two, they didn't seem like master and servant, nor superior and subordinate. Instead, they resembled siblings or family.
That kind of dynamic seemed pleasant, but it was also quite foreign to her.
For in the Bright Hall, she had never witnessed such a relationship...
For some inexplicable reason, a trace of yearning appeared in Nancy's heart, but she quickly dismissed the thought.
She glared fiercely at Ye Cangtian and sneered, "Don't waste your efforts! Either get out now, or kill me outright!"
Nancy's attitude was exceptionally resolute. One couldn't blame her; Ye Cangtian was responsible for her current predicament.
If Ye Cangtian hadn't schemed against her, how could the Bright Hall have abandoned her? Now, if he intended to take advantage of her, it was out of the question.
"Such a fiery temper, it seems she's been cooped up here for too long."
Ye Cangtian muttered, then looked at Gui Wu, shrugging his shoulders:
"Gui Wu, I'm leaving her to you. Within the Kyoto area, you can go wherever you wish. You can also spend the night outside or return to my villa."
After a pause, Ye Cangtian extended a finger and said, "I have only one request: do not act recklessly, or I will not forgive you."
Gui Wu's brow furrowed upon hearing this. She hadn't even pledged her allegiance to Ye Cangtian yet, and he was already issuing commands!
Thinking this, she said with annoyance, "Aren't you afraid of losing the wife and failing to capture the soldiers? What if both of us leave?"
"Hmph, then I will have misjudged you."
Ye Cangtian let out a soft snort, then took out a small porcelain bottle and tossed it to Gui Wu.
Gui Wu's heart warmed upon hearing this. She instinctively opened the cap and poured out the pills inside, her eyes widening instantly.
She recognized this particular pill; it was the antidote to the Seal Spirit Pill.
The next moment, Gui Wu glanced at Ye Cangtian, incredulous, "You want to restore her strength? Are you trying to exhaust me to death!"
In Gui Wu's view, once Nancy's strength was restored, and without any further restrictions, not only would she seek revenge on Ye Cangtian, but she would also find every possible way to escape.
And him entrusting Nancy to her care? Wasn't that just creating trouble for her?
"The pill is in your hands. If you want to give it to her, you may. The decision rests with you."
"I believe that even if she regains her strength, she won't be able to escape your grasp."
Ye Cangtian smiled faintly. While he said this, his actual intention was to hone Gui Wu through Nancy, allowing Gui Wu to fully familiarize herself with her body and completely control her Earth-level power.
"Hmph! I hope you don't regret this! If she really escapes, don't come looking for me!"
Gui Wu snorted softly and then tossed the pill to Nancy.
Although she didn't understand Ye Cangtian's intentions, since he had given the pill to her, he surely wanted her to give it to Nancy.
Since that was the case, she might as well see how Ye Cangtian intended to deal with Nancy in the future.
...
Inside Sky Number One, in another dimly lit cell.
The cell contained only a wooden bucket, a straw mat about one to two square meters in size, and a man in chains and shackles, covered in dirt.
This person was none other than Feng Ze.
He sat motionlessly on the straw mat like a corpse, his mind lost in thought.
*Creak!*
The cell door opened. Feng Ze instinctively scrambled up and reached out towards the sliver of light at the bottom of the door.
"Give me something to eat, or at the very least, some water..."
Compared to Nancy's cell, the environment where Feng Ze was held was extremely harsh.
Furthermore, to prevent escape, the daily rations were meager, just enough to sustain life.
For prisoners who had been there long-term, their stomachs would have shrunk from hunger and adapted to such meager sustenance.
However, Feng Ze had only been there for three to four days and could not endure such treatment. To alleviate his hunger, he had even gnawed on the straw mat.
"Feng Ze, come out for a moment. Someone wants to see you!"
The guard at the door completely ignored Feng Ze's plea, spoke in a low voice, and then turned to leave.
"Someone wants to see me? Good, good..."
Upon hearing this, Feng Ze became instantly excited and hurried to follow.
No matter who wanted to see him, it meant he still had some value. This way, obtaining a little food wouldn't be a problem.