CHAPTER 921: A DEBT OF LOYALTY

The Rakasha masked men were stunned when they saw Yellow 10000th, 9999th, 9998th, and 9997th imprisoned inside the Soul Gourd. These four had been sent to assassinate the woman from the Shenlian clan, yet they had been captured alive. No wonder the ’Queen’ had failed to summon their souls back; they were still very much alive, trapped in this place.

"Yue’er, thanks to the Soul Contract we made, when you advanced, I advanced as well. And I’ve already seized my opportunity in this place." Shenlian Yinzhu gently patted his sister’s head, pride swelling in his chest.

"Brother, drink some water first." Shenlian Yingyue handed him a flask of spiritual water, her voice laced with concern.

Though he had an entire lake of spiritual water in his spatial space, Shenlian Yinzhu didn’t refuse her offer. He nodded and took a deep gulp, feeling the pure energy soothe his meridians.

Meanwhile, Li Bing cautiously approached, his heart still racing from the earlier battle. The sheer power of these masked men had nearly overwhelmed him; had Shenlian Yingyue and her partners not intervened, he and his clansmen would have been annihilated.

"Miss, who, who are they?" he asked hesitantly, his voice trembling slightly.

"Heal your wounds first." Shenlian Yingyue waved her hand, and several small bottles of magical water from the Lake of Miracle floated toward Li Bing and his injured companions.

They obeyed without question, uncorking the bottles and drinking the shimmering liquid. Almost instantly, their injuries began to mend at an astonishing speed, their pale complexions regaining color.

Shenlian Yingyue wasn’t worried about betrayal. She trusted her instincts; if they dared to turn against her, she had ways to deal with them.

"Today’s matter, you know what to do." Shenlian Yinzhu cast a cold glance at Li Bing and the others.

"Some things are better left unasked." Zhiyi, standing beside him, smiled gently, but his words carried an underlying threat.

"We understand." A chill ran down the spines of the Glass Lizard clansmen. They nodded hurriedly.

This was far more serious than they had imagined.

"Next time, don’t rush to save us. If we need help, we’ll call for you." Shenlian Yingyue’s expression remained indifferent as she spoke.

She didn’t want them involved any further. If the Rakasha discovered that the Glass Lizard clan was allied with her, they would erase them from existence without hesitation.

"Yes, we acted recklessly." Li Bing sighed, regret flashing in his eyes.

Still, he didn’t regret his decision. Even if it had nearly cost him his life, he would never stand by while her partner was in danger.

"Leave now. These are the pills I’ve refined. Grow stronger; in the future, I’ll need your help." With a flick of her wrist, a storage pouch floated toward Li Bing.

When he peered inside, his hands trembled violently.

Three hundred Radiant Meridian Pills, capable of unlocking latent immortal meridians and stabilizing core energy for smooth ascension.

Three hundred Golden Ascension Pills, boosting yin-yang energy and immortal essence to break through to the Golden Immortal realm.

Twenty Mystic Vein Elixirs, unlocking deeper Dao comprehension needed for the Mystic Immortal stage.

And one thousand Healing Pills, specially refined for beast races using top-grade Heaven herbs and the magical water from the Lake of Miracle.

This was a fortune beyond their wildest dreams.

"I hope the next time I see you, you won’t be in such a miserable state again." Her words were sharp, but her intention was clear. She wanted to push them to become stronger.

To her, these rewards were nothing. But to those who proved their loyalty, she would give them the best.

Li Bing and his clansmen had risked their lives to aid her brother, knowing full well how dangerous the Rakasha-masked men were. That sincerity had earned them her trust.

She wanted them to understand, if they remained loyal, she would never abandon them. Wealth and fame meant nothing compared to genuine bonds.

In the future, if they stood by her side even after learning the truth of her enemies, she would bring them to the peak of power alongside her.

With that, she and her partners vanished into the distance, leaving behind a stunned group of Glass Lizards.

Li Bing stood frozen, clutching the storage pouch as if it weighed as much as a mountain. The faint floral scent lingering on it reminded him of her presence.

His clansmen gathered around, curiosity burning in their eyes. When they saw the contents of the pouch, their jaws dropped.

"What the—?!"

"Now you see what kind of person she is," Li Bing’s eldest brother said solemnly.

"Be smart. Train hard. Don’t disappoint her expectations." His second brother’s voice was firm as he scanned the group. "And remember, some things must never be spoken of."

Everyone nodded, their expressions hardening with determination. These treasures were things they could never obtain on their own, even in a thousand lifetimes.

Li Bing and his clansmen had different thoughts, but one thing united them, they would never betray her.

She had rewarded them generously for their sincerity. But they also understood the unspoken warning; those who betrayed her would meet a fate worse than the Rakasha masked men.

Follow her, and they would rise.

Betray her, and they would fall.

Their path was clear.

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Shenlian Yingyue had no idea that a simple act, eliminating those men in Rakshasa masks and bestowing treasures upon Li Bing, would lead to such deep contemplation on their part.

Yet, this beautiful misunderstanding would pave a smooth path for her in the future.

If Shenlian Yingyue had known what they were thinking, she might have laughed, or perhaps simply shaken her head in disbelief. They were overthinking it.

Yes, she appreciated loyalty, and yes, their sincerity moved her. But even if they chose to turn against her one day, she wouldn’t hunt them down like those who had threatened the lives of her loved ones.

It wasn’t their fault for betraying her, just as it wasn’t her fault for giving them what she had chosen to give. She never truly trusted them, but she repaid what they were due. Rather than wasting time mourning betrayals or seeking revenge, she would rather invest her energy into rising higher, building a life so radiant that those who turned away from her would be left in the shadows of their own regret.

Of course, whether they regretted it or not meant nothing to her. Once she severed ties, she never looked back.

At most, she would sever the connection, quietly and cleanly. She wasn’t the kind of person who punished others for her own choices. Trusting them had been her decision, and if that trust was broken, she wouldn’t waste time placing blame, on them or herself.

Life, after all, was a cycle of choices and consequences. Misfortune could be a gift in disguise, and even pain could lead to growth, if one faced the world with an open heart. No path was perfect. No bond was guaranteed. No matter how carefully she walked, someone would always be left behind or hurt.

People changed. Feelings faded. Nothing was eternal, not even loyalty. All she could do was accept it, learn from it, and keep moving forward with clarity and strength.

All she could do was be more cautious moving forward. If they merely turned their backs on her, she might let them go. But if they dared harm her or those she cherished, she would end them without hesitation.

Just like those men in Rakshasa masks. They had sought her brother’s life; how could she afford to show them mercy?