An unknown amount of time passed.

Han Lie finally regained consciousness.

What greeted his eyes was a rather luxuriously decorated room. It was sealed tight, with no light entering; only a few candle flames flickered in the darkness, providing scant illumination.

Han Lie initially wanted to call for help, but judging by the surroundings, shouting would likely be a futile effort.

His hands and feet were bound, and he lay on a large bed. The ropes restraining him seemed to be some kind of restrictive magical artifact.

Han Lie had tried to mobilize his spiritual energy to break free.

What a joke—he couldn’t mobilize it at all!

“What a disaster!”

Han Lie let out a long sigh after his failed attempt to break free.

He hadn’t gotten a clear look at his assailant that night, but he could roughly guess. The person who attacked him was most likely Zhuo Hongyi, the captain of the Vermilion Bird Squad from the Law Enforcement Hall.

Aside from Zhuo Hongyi, Han Lie couldn’t think of anyone else.

“What does that Zhuo Hongyi actually want? Does she also want to use This Senior as a cultivation cauldron? Or is it…”

Could it really just be that she was bewitched by the super succubus-like allure of the Pure Yang Sacred Body?

Whether it was the former or the latter, Han Lie clearly couldn’t rely on his own strength to escape Zhuo Hongyi’s clutches.

What was most critical was that he still didn’t understand what Ye Qingxuan’s attitude towards him truly was. So this time, hoping for Ye Qingxuan to come save him was probably wishful thinking.

Creak~!

Suddenly, the door was pushed open without warning.

Han Lie, who had been tense and pondering how to escape, was startled.

Immediately after, a snap of fingers sounded. The candlelight in the room flared brightly, illuminating the entire space as if it were daytime.

As Han Lie expected, the visitor was indeed Zhuo Hongyi.

“Awake?”

After closing the door, Zhuo Hongyi sat down on the edge of the bed with a smile playing at the corners of her eyes.

“Captain Hongyi, This Senior is already a man on death’s door, with no value left to exploit. What’s the point in tying me up?” In front of Zhuo Hongyi, Han Lie did not show any panic.

“I ask you, do you have any connections within the sect?” Zhuo Hongyi did not answer Han Lie’s question but instead asked one of her own.

She had seen Han Lie’s personal file, but it only contained the most basic information. Things like personal connections were not recorded.

“Connections?” Han Lie was taken aback.

How would he know if he had any connections within the Heavenly Void Sect?

“Think more carefully.” Seeing that Han Lie’s reaction didn’t seem feigned, Zhuo Hongyi continued.

If Han Lie didn’t have any exceptional connections within the Heavenly Void Sect, why would her master be so concerned about his whereabouts? Moreover, she had given her a strict order regarding him.

“Ah, I didn’t expect you to find out after all, Captain Hongyi.”

A flash of inspiration struck Han Lie’s mind, and he said with a serious tone, “Actually, This Senior’s connection is with the Sect Leader herself.”

He didn’t know why Zhuo Hongyi suddenly asked about his connections, but it likely wasn’t without reason. So Han Lie thought about whether he could use Ye Qingxuan’s name to bluff his way through.

What if?

What if Zhuo Hongyi was actually fooled and let him go? Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

However, far from being fooled, Zhuo Hongyi burst into laughter as if she had heard some international joke.

“Tell me, you don’t really think that just because you served as a Servant Disciple in Violet Heaven Palace for a hundred years, the Sect Leader would value you, do you?”

“Not just a hundred years; even if it were a thousand or ten thousand years, in the Sect Leader’s eyes, a Servant Disciple is just a Servant Disciple. That will never change.”

Exposed by Zhuo Hongyi, Han Lie felt somewhat awkward for a moment.

Truth be told, Han Lie thought so too. If it weren’t for the issue of the Yin Yang Demonic Art binding Yang energy, he would have long been slapped into paste by Ye Qingxuan. The only reason she hadn’t killed him yet was because he still had some slight use left.

From this, Zhuo Hongyi also drew her conclusion.

Han Lie truly was just an old Servant Disciple without any connections. As for why her master had given her such a strict order regarding him, Zhuo Hongyi didn’t know for now. But as long as Han Lie returned alive, there shouldn’t be any problem.

“I don’t want to make things too difficult for you either. I tied you up… well, I just feel you have a unique charm belonging to an elderly man.”

“I’ve also heard that you were quite handsome in your youth. It’s just because you lacked cultivation aptitude that you were assigned to work as a Servant Disciple in the Servant Department. Right?”

As she spoke, Zhuo Hongyi sat at the head of the bed, leaned forward slightly, and stared intently at Han Lie’s weathered old face. With a bewitching smile, she said, “As long as… you cooperate nicely with me and join me in an exciting bout of intimate pleasure… maybe I’ll be happy enough to let you go.”

Everyone appreciates beauty; Zhuo Hongyi is no exception.

But for some reason, Han Lie—white-haired and appearing at death’s door—could stir feelings in her heart.

The Heavenly Void Sect wasn’t home only to Han Lie as an ‘elderly’ person. She felt nothing towards other elderly individuals. Only towards Han Lie did she feel this way.

Although she didn’t understand exactly why this was happening, she chose to trust her intuition.

Staring at Zhuo Hongyi’s beautiful face so close to his own, Han Lie said half-believingly, “Captain Hongyi, This Senior is old. You mustn’t deceive me.”

If what Zhuo Hongyi said was true… well… Han Lie might reluctantly go along with it…

“Haha.” Zhuo Hongyi grabbed Han Lie’s collar and said in a charming yet dangerous tone, “Do you think you have any choice in the matter?”

“…”

“Then release This Senior first. This Senior is willing to cooperate with you.” Han Lie could only choose to compromise.

“Trying to play tricks with me?” Zhuo Hongyi became alert.

Han Lie gave a helpless, bitter smile. “Captain Hongyi, This Senior is only at Qi Refining Stage Level Three. Do you think This Senior can play any tricks in front of you?”

That was indeed true.

In front of Zhuo Hongyi, Han Lie’s Qi Refining Stage Level Three cultivation was like an ant on the ground. Zhuo Hongyi could crush him with a casual flick of her hand.

“That is true.”

Zhuo Hongyi thought about it and found no flaw in his reasoning. Thus, she untied Han Lie.

Having regained his freedom, Han Lie stretched his limbs, and the spiritual energy within his body began to flow once more.

Compared to being tied up and at Zhuo Hongyi’s mercy, Han Lie still preferred to take more initiative.

Immediately after, Zhuo Hongyi began undressing, shedding her garments. An alluring figure capable of making one’s nose bleed was thus presented before Han Lie without any reserve.