Chapter 009: Yan Ji, and the Art of Playing Hard to Get

In the bone-chilling depths of the dungeon.

Ye Chen sat in the gloom, conversing with his mysterious Master, frantically brainstorming a way to escape.

“This matter requires careful planning. Gu Changge’s background is terrifying—beyond imagination. Furthermore, he has powerful guardians hidden in the shadows. In your current state, you cannot confront him head-on…”

“Speaking of which… you should not have been so reckless in the Great Hall.”

Ye Chen’s Master spoke softly.

Her name was Yan Ji. Her spiritual form was faint and translucent, yet her eyes remained a striking, bewitching shade of crimson. Her expression was grave. Though she was merely a wisp of a remnant soul, traces of her former peerless elegance and world-shaking power were still visible.

“I understand, Master. I’m sorry.”

Now that the adrenaline had faded, Ye Chen felt a pang of regret.

He shouldn’t have lost his temper with his beautiful Master, nor should he have directed his anger at her. Fortunately, she didn’t seem offended; instead, she offered gentle counsel, which moved him deeply.

However, as for being “reckless”…

Ye Chen refused to admit fault in his heart. He believed he had a perfect counter-strategy ready at the time. It was simply that at the critical moment, his Master had dropped the ball.

“I understand, Master. From today onward, I will lie low. I will bide my time, and once I am strong enough, I will slaughter Gu Changge with my own hands.”

Ye Chen gritted his teeth, swearing a blood oath.

He had thought about giving up, but in the end, his pride wouldn’t allow it. He convinced himself that Su Qingge wasn’t acting voluntarily—she must have difficulties he didn’t understand.

Or perhaps… Gu Changge was forcing her.

Watching him, Yan Ji frowned slightly, sighing inwardly.

In her eyes, Ye Chen’s mentality was far too immature. For the sake of a woman, he had offended an existence he had no business provoking.

And to be fair, Gu Changge hadn’t actually done anything wrong. The Taixuan Holy Land chose to fawn over the powerful to ensure their survival—could they really be blamed for that? It was the way of the world.

However, Ye Chen was the disciple she had personally chosen, and her awakening was due to the Spiritual Qi he had painstakingly gathered for years. Thus, Yan Ji swallowed her criticism and remained silent.

“This dungeon holds many powerful prisoners,” Ye Chen muttered, his mind racing. “Perhaps… I can use them to create chaos and escape…”

He refused to sit idly and await death. Since the Taixuan Holy Land was unrighteous, they couldn’t blame him for being ruthless!

Hatred burned in his eyes.

The conversation between master and disciple was conducted in secrecy, but they were completely unaware that a pair of indifferent eyes was watching them from the void.

Elder Ming had concealed his presence perfectly.

Although Ye Chen’s Master had been a powerhouse in her prime, in her current state as a fragmented soul, detecting Elder Ming was nearly impossible.

“Is the ‘Fated Chance’ the Young Lord mentioned related to this woman?”

“A remnant soul of an ancient expert?”

Elder Ming frowned in the shadows.

No matter how hard he looked, he found nothing special about Ye Chen himself. The boy was mediocre.

However, the ring on his finger was peculiar. There were faint, rhythmic fluctuations of soul energy emanating from it. The telepathic communication he had just witnessed confirmed that Ye Chen had a “guardian angel.”

But Gu Changge’s orders were strict: Observe Ye Chen’s every move, but do not interfere.

So, Elder Ming remained a silent spectator.

…

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

Ye Chen’s imprisonment seemed to have been erased from the collective memory of the Taixuan Holy Land.

If Gu Changge didn’t mention him, who dared to ask?

A mere inner disciple offending such a supreme existence—even if he rotted in that cell until old age, no one would dare claim it was excessive.

Gu Changge, meanwhile, was in a pleasant mood.

For the past three days, Elder Ming had reported every detail from the dungeon. Gu Changge had essentially figured out the dynamic between Ye Chen and his so-called Master.

The trope remained the same; only the actors had changed.

For Ye Chen to rise from mediocrity, aside from his heaven-defying luck, he relied almost entirely on this mysterious Master. Without the “Grandpa in the Ring,” he was nothing.

Gu Changge had considered simply snatching the ring.

However, he calculated the risks. It was highly likely that the mysterious Master would “go supernova”—burning the last of her soul essence to protect Ye Chen and help him escape. Combined with Ye Chen’s elusive Providence protecting him, a direct confrontation could get messy.

If things went wrong, the “Child of Providence” might escape to grow stronger, or worse, Gu Changge and Elder Ming might suffer a backlash.

It was a high-risk, low-reward strategy.

“Sowing discord and driving a wedge between them… that sounds much more elegant.”

“Though, for a Villain like me, isn’t that a bit too wicked?”

“No, no, no. I’m doing this for Destiny Points. For the sake of my cultivation.”

Gu Changge justified his schemes with righteous solemnity.

Sitting in the grand hall, he felt the time was right to advance his plan.

Just then, a guard entered and bowed.

“My Lord, the Holy Maiden requests an audience.”

Hearing this, Gu Changge snapped out of his thoughts. The playful smile on his lips vanished instantly, replaced by a mask of aloof indifference.

“Let her in.”

Regardless of his inner thoughts, a Great Villain had to maintain his persona.

He had left Su Qingge hanging for three days. It was time to reel her in.

In his previous life, Gu Changge had consumed thousands of web novels. Dealing with a clever, calculating heroine like Su Qingge was simple once you understood her weakness.

The strategy was classic: Play hard to get.

First, grind down her composure. He wasn’t some love-struck simp who lost his mind at the sight of a pretty face. He needed to show her that.

Then, just as she teetered on the edge of despair, he would offer a glimmer of hope.

For the past three days, the Taixuan Holy Lord had been a wreck, sighing constantly and wearing a face full of gloom. The reason? He feared his daughter had offended Young Lord Gu, causing the sudden cold treatment. Yet, he was too terrified to ask Gu Changge directly.

Su Qingge was a filial daughter. Seeing her father in such distress tortured her.

This filial piety was the lever Gu Changge would use to control her.

“Qingge pays her respects to Young Lord Gu.”

Accompanied by a voice as pleasant as wind chimes, Su Qingge walked slowly into the hall.

Her face held a trace of undisguised anxiety. She could no longer maintain the calm, transcendent demeanor she had worn three days ago.