5 I Owe Her Too Much (2/2)
A bucket of cold water landed on Ming Ren's face, waking him up. Both his hands were suspended in the air with metal shackles and chains that connected to the ceiling.
A middle-aged looking man stood in front of him, both hands behind his back. His gaze pierced the boy fiercely and an air of superiority filled the room. Spirit Energy formed a thin layer around his body, a method commonly used by cultivators to protect themselves from sudden harm or poisons that entered through the skin.
Only those that were a half-step into the Spirit Gate Realm would be able to maintain such precise control and not run out of Qi.
Ming Ren recognized the man in front of him as the Cloud Clan's current Patriarch, Yun Shufeng's and Shuqing's father, Yun Jie. He didn't belong to the same generation as the Bright Clan's patriarch, but the same as his father's. A talented man worthy of leading the clan.
”Good strong body,” the man praised. Ming Ren stood a powerful attack after all, ”What a pity your talent is so poor.”
He never expected this boy to wake up. Although he knew his body seemed to have been frozen in time, they had information that it was related to a treasure of the Bright Clan and that it was impossible for him to wake up again. Eventually, he would die.
”Heh. At least I've kept my dignity, could you say the same, Uncle?” A calm person like Ming Ren also had limits. It only took him a second to understand his current predicament. The Cloud Clan had no intention to treat him well. Hanged by the wrists and in some kind of interrogation room, their attitude was as clear as the sky, so there was no reason for him to be amicable.
But Yun Jie didn't show any unhappiness at the commentary. He knew perfectly well what he was doing.
However, from the side, a man in his twenties approached Ming Ren and hit him strongly in the face.
”Be careful of what you say, trash!” Looking closely, this man resembled both Shufen and Shuqing.
”Lin Xue, restrain yourself,” Yun Jie reprehended him without much vigor.
Ming Ren spat some blood and laughed sarcastically at both of them, ”Solemn Cloud Clan, your ancestor's face was lost by you.”
Yun Lin Xue wanted to hit him again but his father raised the hand to stop him, ”As long as you promise to disappear and take an oath not to talk to Shufen again, I will let you leave.”
Ming Ren already knew the only reason the Cloud Clan had to treat him like that was his relation with Yun Shufen. He had no backing, no talent, and no future, but she still showed a lot of care for him. In this world, it was enough for people to gossip and slander her name or for the Clan to worry about her state of mind.
The crazy mistress of the Cloud Clan took liberties with some trash, people said.
No matter how pure their relationship was in the past, people would find a way to tarnish it.
Yun Jie knew this well and it bothered him enough to do anything in his power to stop it. His daughter was a dragon, fated to soar through the skies. She cared so much about this boy, enough to throw everything away. How could he bear the thought?
Ming Ren shook his head, ”I owe her too much to do so. No matter what, as long as she wants to see me, I, Ming Ren, will always be her friend.”
He also knew they would not let him leave. Even if he managed to be free, someone would find a reason to kill him and get rid of the problem at its root.
Yun Shufen and Bai Xun were his best friends. When almost everyone else gave up on him, they were there. When the Bright Clan was attacked, Shufen was there. Although he didn't know the entirety of what she did, and that Bai Xun was also there, he already owed them too much.
Yun Lin Xue lost his temper and spat at his face, displeasing even his father, but this time the Patriarch didn't say anything, ”You bastard from the Bright Clan! Do you even match to be her friend? Trash like you? Do you have any idea what we can do to you?”
”Do whatever you want with me, but spare me your ugly mutt. That's true torture.”
”...You!” Yun Lin Xue roared in anger but stopped since his father didn't make a move.
Yun Jie sighed deeply before getting up to leave, ”At least your mouth is truly talented. I take no pleasure in this. I consider myself your father's friend, but my daughter comes first. Lin Xue, do it cleanly. Do not underestimate him. I'll deal with Shuqing.”
As if still hesitating, Yun Jie stood by the door for a bit, but he never turned back.
Yun Lin Xue grinned before circulating Spirit Energy outside his body. The fourth layer of the Spirit Realm. At the same time, an almost invisible purple energy could be felt within his body and leaking outside. Mental Energy, a form of rare energy linked to perception and intelligence.
The Cloud Clan didn't carry the same name as the province by mere coincidence. Although only a fourth-ranked power now, its history began with the country itself. One of their ancestors was highly esteemed by the Royal Family and thus they named the province after them. Once upon a time, they were the Overlords of the Cloud Province.
In Bluecloud City, the White Clan specialized in hunting beasts and warfare, the Silver Clan in pills and weaponsmithing, and the Bright Clan didn't have any special characteristics aside from its spirit garden. The Cloud Clan, however, specialized in illusions, Mind Attacks, and Formations.
Yun Lin Xue started several hand seals, taking advantage of a formation set up around the room. It amplified his Mental Power. His eyes turned pure white, and soon Ming Ren found himself immersed in an illusion.
Yun Lin Xue's goal was to destroy Ming Ren's mind and turn him into a vegetable. The reason the Patriarch didn't do it personally was that, in this regard, Lin Xue's means were especially suited to the task. He was also vicious and unforgiving.
Ming Ren found himself still bound to floating shackles, this time full of blades and twisted nails. No matter how hard he pulled it didn't budge.
”Welcome to my dimension,” Yun Lin Xue was quite pleased with himself, ”You offended me before, so I will make sure to treat you very nicely, you trash.”
Soon the nails and blades started to travel through Ming Ren's body, hacking his flesh and digging deep into his skin.
Yun Lin Xue waited for the satisfaction of his screaming victim…
...But it didn't come.
He frowned and made a thousand needles appear in the air, piercing through Ming Ren's eyes!
...But it still didn't come.
'Is his mind already broken…?' Just as he pondered about whether his victim was gone or not, an extreme and piercing laughter echoed through this fake world.
”HahAHHhaAHAhahAHAhAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA,” Ming Ren couldn't contain himself anymore.
The fool challenged him to a Mind Battle!