Hearing Li Susu’s praise, Li Zongrui felt so light he could float away at any moment. With eyes full of tender warmth, he gazed at Li Susu and said in a voice he believed to be charming, "Su Su, you don’t need to be so formal with me. Your problems are my problems. Besides, it is everyone’s duty to eliminate scum like Ye Qingchen. In doing this, am I not avenging you while also ridding the world of a menace?"
Li Susu nodded shyly. Although she was cursing him inwardly, her words were still full of affection. "Brother Zong Rui, you’re so good to me, I don’t even know how to repay you. It’s a pity that I’m now a wilted flower, unworthy of you. Otherwise..."
Li Susu’s hesitant words sent a pang of heartache through Li Zongrui. He tenderly took her hand and comforted her, "Don’t belittle yourself, Su Su. You are exceptionally talented; you’ve simply been unfortunate with men. The fact that you reached the eighth floor of the Heart Demon Tower is proof enough of your talent. After all, I only managed to reach the eighth floor myself."
Li Susu felt a wave of nausea. This Li Zongrui is an absolute idiot! How can he not understand such an obvious hint? However, she also felt a sliver of relief. With a dense fool like him, won’t he be easy to manipulate given time? When he takes over as Sect Master of the Qingyun Sect, I won’t just be the Sect Master’s wife. I might even be able to use him as a puppet and become the true power behind the Northern Desolate Country’s most prominent sect!
At this thought, an expectant smile touched Li Susu’s lips.
Hopefully, that day won’t be too far off...
Meanwhile, Ye Qingchen followed the crowd and entered the Heart Demon Tower.
He saw the Inner Sect Disciples around him, each sinking into agony. Some of their expressions had even begun to twist, a clear sign they were caught in the grip of their Heart Demons. The first level of the Heart Demon Tower was the simplest, with the easiest Heart Demons to deal with.
For disciples to show such strain on the very first level could only mean they were like flowers raised in a greenhouse. They had likely never faced true setbacks, having been coddled by their families all the way until they joined the Qingyun Sect. Although their cultivation realms and strength were decent, their willpower was weak. They were doomed to never get far on their path.
Ye Qingchen shook his head, no longer focusing on the others, and walked deeper into the Heart Demon Tower.
After about a dozen steps, the scene before him changed dramatically. He was back on the day Li Susu had tried to seize his Martial Soul. In this version of events, however, he hadn’t awakened his Dual Pupil Martial Soul and was unable to see through her scheme.
Li Susu was charming and alluring. She spoke in a tender voice as she slowly pushed Ye Qingchen down onto the bed.
Ye Qingchen, too, was becoming lost in his emotions. After all, Li Susu possessed a maturity and allure that other girls her age lacked, and he was just a teenage boy at the peak of his virility. His eyes started to grow hazy, and an almost imperceptible, cunning smile touched Li Susu’s lips.
"Brother Qingchen, we are to be wed soon. Today, I will give myself to you as repayment for your decade of help," she said.