Chapter 112: Holding Death Over Them

Zhuo Yuqing said coldly, “What if I told you I intend to protect Luo Chen?”

The old man’s tone remained emotionless. “Miss, I’m afraid your abilities are still somewhat limited.”

“Is that so?” Zhuo Yuqing said nothing. Suddenly, she twisted her wrist; a gleam of cold light flashed as a sharp dagger appeared at her throat. “How about now? Can I protect Luo Chen this way?”

Shaun’s face changed drastically. “Miss, what are you trying to do?”

Zhuo Yuqing spoke slowly, “You know exactly what I’m going to do, Shaun. Let me tell you—if anything happens to Luo Chen, those old bastards will soon be seeing my corpse!”

The old man’s pupils shrank instantly. “Miss, are you threatening the master?”

Zhuo Yuqing seemed not to hear him. The dagger slowly sliced across her throat, and crimson blood trickled down. Though the wound was superficial, it was shocking. Yet she still smiled. “Shaun, it’s alright. You can consider this a joke.”

“Wait, Miss, please don’t do this!” the old man hurriedly implored.

He knew Zhuo Yuqing’s nature very well. This proud, strong-willed, and rebellious girl was exactly the type who would say what she means and mean what she says.

It wasn’t that Luo Chen was so important to Zhuo Yuqing that she would stake her life for him. Growing up under the pressure of those ancient immortals, Zhuo Yuqing’s personality had become somewhat twisted and extreme. Even when she once led fierce beasts in the Forest of Fear to attack both Ellie and Luo Chen, she felt little guilt afterward.

However, this time was different. Zhuo Yuqing had stepped forward to defend someone, because she was grateful to Luo Chen for showing her the way and giving her courage. Moreover, Luo Chen was a battlefield in her struggle against those old immortals—a balance scale to measure the conflict.

Zhuo Yuqing’s relationship with the ancient immortals was subtle and complicated—not exactly familial, nor outright hatred. Both sides were crucial to each other, yet there were deep, irreconcilable contradictions. Throughout their lifelong struggles, the immortals dared not fully coerce Zhuo Yuqing, and she dared not completely defy them, for such extremes would only bring harm to all. Thus, both sought a balance point. This invisible battle never ceased, though it never escalated into an open confrontation, only manifesting through indirect means and third-party hints.

For example, when Zhuo Yuqing was a child and wanted a doll, the immortals forbade it, claiming toys would ruin her ambition. In truth, the doll was merely a symbol of their conflict.

To both Zhuo Yuqing and the immortals, Luo Chen was no different from that doll. Zhuo Yuqing understood that if she yielded regarding Luo Chen, it would be a sign of surrender, and the old immortals would immediately shift the balance further in their favor. This time, Zhuo Yuqing refused to retreat even half a step!

“Miss, do you realize how important your existence is to all humanity? What you’re doing hurts everyone! Even if you don’t think for yourself, consider those suffering under the beasts!” Seeing her stubbornness, the old man tried to reason with her, hoping to sway her.

But Zhuo Yuqing was unmoved. “I’m sorry, Shaun, but I don’t have such noble sentiments. Those ancient immortals locked me inside the sanctuary from childhood, forbidding me from going out freely. Even my clothes, shoes, makeup, and jewelry were all bought by their orders. But do they know those clothes were never my style? The shoes were terribly old-fashioned, the makeup looked like a monkey’s bottom, and the jewelry resembled mourning attire. Don’t they understand that no matter how expensive or fine these things are, if I didn’t choose them myself, they’re useless?”

Her voice grew more impassioned. “Why must everything about me be decided by those old immortals? Since I was a child, I couldn’t live like an ordinary girl. I wasn’t allowed to learn embroidery because it was a ‘waste of time’; I couldn’t pick my own clothes or jewelry for the same reason; I couldn’t play with friends, also ‘waste of time’; I wasn’t even allowed to attend school, because that too was ‘waste of time’…”

Then her emotions exploded like a volcano. “Those old bastards never let me do anything; all they ever shouted was, ‘Yuqing, you must focus on cultivation, don’t waste time on meaningless things!’ Cultivate, cultivate, cultivate—what cultivation? I’m a girl, not some martial arts machine! I just want to live freely like an ordinary girl, doing what I love, not be manipulated like a tool! Listen well: from today on, I, Zhuo Yuqing, will claim the freedom that rightfully belongs to me, or else…”

Her hysteria suddenly subsided. A cold gleam flashed in her eyes as she said slowly, “I’d rather die! If those old immortals think they’ve given me so much, then they can take it all back—strip me of my martial arts, or even—take my life!”

The old man was stunned. He had seen much rebellion from Zhuo Yuqing—cursing, tantrums, deception, escape—but never such resolute defiance, never a threat of death with such unwavering determination. From her steadfast gaze, it was clear she was serious this time.

Faced with such a situation, Shaun was at a loss. Of course, he could never allow her to come to harm—that would be the worst outcome. After a long moment, he said, “Miss, please put down your weapon and calm down. There’s always a way to resolve this. I will report to the master. Perhaps, in the end, we can all be satisfied.”

Only then did Zhuo Yuqing reveal a trace of a triumphant smile, sheathed the dagger, and said, “Good. That’s more like it.”

“I’ll take my leave for now, Miss. I will contact you again in a few days with the masters’ reply.” With that, the old man melted back into the shadows and quickly disappeared.

Zhuo Yuqing exhaled deeply. In this confrontation, she had gained the upper hand.

Those ancient immortals treated her well, teaching her the most advanced mental techniques and martial arts, caring for her meticulously—not out of love, but because she held immeasurable experimental value. They cared only about making her stronger, disregarding everything else: dolls, fashion, makeup, her emotions, and they stripped away her freedom and many rights common to ordinary girls.

From childhood, she had lived mechanically. Zhuo Yuqing had always resisted, but deep down, she feared those immortals, never daring to rebel too fiercely, and thus never escaping her fate.

But this time was different. Luo Chen was right: when you long for something but fail to obtain it, it’s not because it’s too difficult, but because you haven’t tried hard enough.

Now, this lady has given her utmost effort—risking even her life—to fight for what she’s always pursued: freedom. Because freedom is worth more than even her life.