The sight of Zhuohua’s painful struggles, her wails echoing like a curse in Luo Wanchun’s mind.

Her voice was so sorrowful, so mournful, but Luo Wanchun was utterly powerless to save her.

“Zhuohua! Zhuohua!”

She wanted to reach out, but her body was half-submerged in a mire.

“Zhuohua!!!”

She could only watch as Zhuohua was taken away, dragged away violently, left to be abused.

…

Awakened from a nightmare, Luo Wanchun’s screams echoed in the Torture Chamber, her tears soaking the wooden boards, drenched in sweat, her skin clinging to her bloodied clothes.

She collected herself and realized her hands and feet were shackled, lying on a wooden frame.

She struggled mightily, desperate to find Zhuohua.

The commotion attracted an old man.

“Don’t waste your energy. The shackles binding you are made of xuantie1. Even if you were highly skilled, you wouldn’t escape.”

Luo Wanchun glared at the old man with intense hatred, wishing she could skin him alive.

It was him!

It was this old man who had defiled Zhuohua!

“Ah! Let me go! I will kill you!”

Luo Wanchun screamed like a crazed beast, trapped and able to do nothing but roar.

The old man walked over to the brazier, picking up a red-hot iron, chuckling lightly, “Do you know who I am?”

Luo Wanchun gritted her teeth, her eyes blazing with anger, “You’re just a beast. I will kill you!”

The old man sneered a few more times, bringing the iron to Luo Wanchun, gesturing it over her body.

“I am Yan Zixu, the Leader of the Nether Sect. You are the best assassin I have trained, but I never thought that one day my creation would turn her blade on me!”

“Spit! You disgusting old man. Just let me out, and I will wash the Nether Sect with blood and kill you with my own hands!”

Luo Wanchun’s eyes were filled with rage, without a hint of fear. Yan Zixu pressed the hot iron against Luo Wanchun, causing her to scream in agony.

“A tough mouth. Let’s see if your will is stronger than my tools.”

Ah!!!

For two days and nights, the screams from the Torture Chamber were unending.

Luo Wanchun was covered in blood, her body left with no intact skin, but in her heart, there was no fear, only a growing seed of hatred and guilt.

Late at night, Luo Wanchun heard noises outside the Torture Chamber and thought she saw Zhuohua through her blurry vision.

It wasn’t until Zhuohua truly appeared before her that Luo Wanchun snapped out of her daze.

Zhuohua had knocked out the guard and was ready to rescue Luo Wanchun.

“Zhuohua!”

Seeing Zhuohua, Luo Wanchun broke down in tears.

The overwhelming sense of guilt, remorse, and grievance poured out uncontrollably.

“Zhuohua, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…”

Listening to Luo Wanchun’s apologies, Zhuohua also felt hatred and pain. It was that remaining sense of sisterhood that brought her here, risking her life to save Luo Wanchun.

Gently patting Luo Wanchun’s back, Zhuohua softly comforted, “It’s okay, it’s all over. Wanchun, let’s leave this place!”

Luo Wanchun wiped away her tears, grabbed Zhuohua’s hand with excitement, “Zhuohua, let’s leave together!”

Zhuohua was silent for a moment before nodding and smiling in agreement.

Hearing Zhuohua’s response, Luo Wanchun regained her strength and prepared to lead them to safety.

Luo Wanchun held Zhuohua’s hand tightly, fearing she might disappear again or face another mishap.

The two hid and avoided the guards’ patrols all the way to the backyard. Just as they were within reach of the exit, they were discovered.

A large group of assassins emerged, surrounding them.

Yan Zixu appeared, grinning maliciously.

“Where are you going? Shouldn’t you say goodbye before you leave?”

Luo Wanchun shielded Zhuohua behind her, glaring angrily at Yan Zixu.

“We’re leaving through this door today, no matter what. Anyone who stands in our way will die!”

“Attack!” Yan Zixu ordered.

Luo Wanchun killed one instantly with a single palm strike, seized his sword, and swiftly slashed another, then slit his throat, leaving him lifeless on the ground.

While protecting Zhuohua, Luo Wanchun fought off enemies, but her injuries made their situation increasingly desperate.

The sheer number of assassins soon exhausted Luo Wanchun.

“Wanchun!”

Zhuohua realized that with herself in tow, Luo Wanchun would never escape. If she wanted to get out, she would have to leave her behind.

Clenching her fists, Zhuohua gritted her teeth and made a decision—she would ensure Luo Wanchun’s escape.

Footnote:
1. xuantie(玄铁): A fictional, extremely strong and heavy metal often featured in Chinese wuxia literature and mythology.