Chapter 18: She Can’t Go Back Anymore
The next day, in the Demon Cult prison.
Since Jiao Jiao and Hei Xia both jumped into Young Master Sang’s arms, enjoying his affection like spoiled little furballs…
Yan Rouwan seemed to have completely lost her soul, sitting lifelessly in the prison with vacant eyes, lacking any spirit.
Day turned to night. Not a single movement.
It felt like her last line of defense crumbled entirely.
She had never felt like such a failure in her life.
Accomplishing nothing, believing herself to be a gifted woman, while in reality, even the cats she had raised for years abandoned her.
Because she was not a worthy owner at all.
In these past few days in prison, Yan Rouwan had gradually forgotten her identity as the renowned fairy of the Water Moon Sect.
Foundation at twelve, Golden Dan at fifteen, and Yuan Ying at seventeen.
She even had hopes of stepping into the Tribulation stage within a century, becoming the world’s admired celestial beauty.
But no matter how much gold she layered on, it couldn’t cover up the rotting, filthy truth within.
She couldn’t even be loyal to her beloved cats, being indecisive, and instead of helping her cat when it faced injustice, she just escaped reality.
In the past, those sect siblings who praised her for being upright, genuine, and selfless…
Were just blind to their own true selves.
What was even scarier was that she, too, was lost in this falsehood, truly believing her character was so noble.
Everything had collapsed.
Even that Young Master Sang, whom she initially despised, seemed better than her.
At least, in the time she was locked up, he remained perfectly fine; not a glimpse of the tortures she had expected.
It was as if he was just an ordinary guy, helping her realize that she was actually quite normal.
Just then, the dark prison door suddenly swung open.
The candlelight was almost dazzling, making Yan Rouwan instinctively shield her eyes.
“Fairy Yan.”
Young Master Sang’s voice floated towards her.
“You can leave now.”
Yan Rouwan thought she must have heard wrong.
Squinting, she looked at the man before her, bewildered, she muttered for a long time:
“…Huh?”
“I said, you can leave.”
Sang stepped beside her, slowly unfastening the chains and shackles binding her. He explained as he did:
“The Punishment Department has sent over a few too many prisoners, and the prison is running out of space.”
“The leadership said to free some harmless captives to improve our company’s reputation.”
“I thought Fairy Yan was far too virtuous to be one to succumb to us.”
“So I reported to the leadership, and here you are.”
“You’re free.” Sang gestured politely to the door, “Go home. Be careful on the way.”
Yan Rouwan thought her mental state was clearly off for the past couple of days; this must be a hallucination.
Or perhaps Young Master Sang had devised some new torment.
Maybe as soon as she stepped outside, she’d get recaptured.
Or humiliated in some other way.
But until she staggered and stumbled out of the Demon Cult prison’s door.
Gazing at the unfamiliar yet glaring sun, and the busy demon cultivators around her, who seemed to disregard her entirely.
Yan Rouwan realized that Sang was telling the truth.
It appeared she was truly free.
Yet, standing at the entrance of the Punishment Department, under the long-lost sunlight, Yan Rouwan felt no joy or relief within her heart.
Instead, she fell into deep confusion and helplessness.
She didn’t even know if she should return to the sect.
Her mind was completely blank.
It felt as though during the imprisonment, she had become entirely disconnected from the world.
When Yan Rouwan dejectedly started walking down the mountain, behind the Punishment Department’s door, Tang Yubbing and Young Master Sang slowly revealed themselves.
“Little Sang, you’ve really pulled a big one this time.”
Tang Yubbing frowned with her beautiful eyes, “Fairy Yan is someone so important; big sister expended tremendous effort to bring her back. You just say to let her go?”
“If she truly does just walk back, that’s a tiger released back into the mountains. If the leader gets mad, big sister will be dragged down by you.”
“Don’t worry, Yubbing.”
Watching Yan Rouwan’s back as she descended the mountain, Young Master Sang looked very calm.
“From the moment you brought her back…”
“She can’t return anymore.”
——
——
Almost relying on memory and instinct, it took over half a day, tirelessly flying and running.
Once again, Yan Rouwan stood at the entrance of the Water Moon Sect.
The familiar doors, the known scenery, everything seemed unchanged from when she was captured.
But when she approached the gate, the disciple guarding it looked at her, but instead of the usual respectful and flattering expressions, he shouted in terror.
“Yan… Yan Rouwan!”
“Senior Sister Yan, how did you come back?!”
“Quick, someone go get the Sect Leader…”
Seeing the disciple escape like he saw a ghost, Yan Rouwan’s bewilderment intensified.
She felt that something was off.
Everything looked familiar.
Yet, she suddenly felt completely out of place in this place she had been living alongside.
…
It wasn’t long before.
Several Elders hurried in with a large group of disciples.
Upon seeing her, one Elder kindly approached to ask:
“Rouwan, you escaped from the Demon Cult?”
“I… was released.”
“Released?” The Elder’s face showed skepticism.
Yan Rouwan wanted to explain.
But she suddenly noticed the numerous sect disciples gathered around, whispering amongst themselves.
Countless eyes were all fixed on her.
Like a multitude of daggers pressed against her throat.
She had never felt as anxious as she did at that moment.
Not even when she was first captured.
“…Yes.” Yan Rouwan pale-lipped explained.
The Elders exchanged glances, and one stepped forward to ease the mood: “No matter what, you were scared. Come back with us to rest first.”
“Once you’re more stable, we’ll talk more about it.”
Yan Rouwan didn’t even hear clearly what he was saying, only instinctively nodded.
Following behind the Elders, Yan Rouwan walked toward her familiar residence.
All along the way, countless disciples continued to whisper about her.
Yan Rouwan tried hard not to think, not to listen.
But those voices seemed to have legs, relentlessly burrowing into her ears.
…Yan Rouwan? Didn’t she get captured by the Demon Cult? How did she come back?
…Didn’t I hear that the Demon Cult’s prison is worse than hell on earth? Yan Rouwan must have been tortured to unrecognizable levels!
…Huh? So you’re saying she was played out by those ruthless demon cultivators and was tossed back?
…So, isn’t she, tsk tsk.
…Shh, quiet down, she’s still our Senior Sister in name. She’s the pride of the Water Moon Sect, you know.
…Tainted Senior Sister, tainted pride, hehehe.
The painful whispers stabbed like daggers.
Blood flowed profusely from somewhere in her heart.
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