An Empty Cell

While the men inside the house were still confronting each other, another person outside leaned against the trunk of a tree not far from it and took out something that looked like a black mirror. He imbued some spiritual energy and a handsome face appeared on the black surface.

"What is it?"

"Something happened and I thought you'd like to know about it."

"Oh? I thought that Zhong Jing Yi and his lover had left?"

"Mn, I thought so too but the two of them returned just now. Other than that, two other people came to the sect. They were looking quite strange. One of them had light-colored hair while the other's was red. They were standing in front of the door to senior martial brother Yu's house."

"Senior martial brother Yu?" Jin Ling narrowed his eyes. "The person that Zhong Jing Yi was trapped in the secret realm with?"

"Yes, that one. I don't know what they talked about but Zhong Jing Yi and Grandmaster Zhangsun's disciple returned shortly after and went directly to the house too. I wondered if this might have something to do with each other?"

Jin Ling gave a charming smile. "Most likely." The two men that had visited that Yu Jin sounded like that pair of lovebirds he had imprisoned in his dungeon. Really strange, ah! He should find out what this was about. Jin Ling sat up straight and crossed his legs. "Are you able to find out what is happening inside?"

Qiguan Cheng Da looked at the closed door and the windows at the side. "I don't think so. Both that Yu Jin and Grandmaster Zhangsun's disciple have a high cultivation base. If I get closer just like that, at least one of them will notice." He gnashed his teeth. Ah, he had been in the inner sect for so long. That Yu Jin hadn't even been here for the last five years and still he hadn't managed to catch up to him. Just how had that Yu Jin done that? Why was he still so much better than him?!

Jin Ling didn't care for Qiguan Cheng Da's changing expression. He didn't even look. Instead, his gaze traveled to the door at the side of the throne room. If those two lovebirds had turned up at the Yun Zou Sect, they obviously couldn't be in his dungeon anymore. That left the question of how they had gotten out of it. The answer to that … probably wore some stupid mask.

"Say, you wouldn't have seen that man with the silver hair and the mask again at the Yun Zou Sect, would you?"

Qiguan Cheng Da stopped frowning. "That guy? No."

"Mn, I see. Keep your eyes open. I'll go and check on something and then come over to the sect to take a look at it myself."

"Alright. Then …"

"Yes, yes, don't worry. I'll give you something for your valuable information." Jin Ling smiled and cut the connection.

Running over to the Yun Zou Sect repeatedly, freeing the two lovebirds and letting them deliver a message to a place where soon after Qiu Ling and the Son of Heaven would turn up?

Jin Ling's lips curved up even further. "You can deny it as much as you want but … this obviously isn't for the dragon race or Qiu Ling. No, obviously, something else is compelling you. Something … much more important to you. Or should I say the only person you care about?"

He got up from his throne, kept the black crystal glass and walked down to the dungeon with hurried steps. If Xin Lan had really freed those two, then this was indeed the only explanation. And in that case … Jinde was in the Yun Zou Sect. He could go there and finally see him again. Maybe he would even see him when he went over in a bit. Ah, finally …

Jin Ling reached the cell where he had imprisoned Fu Heng and Fu Min only to be greeted by the sight of … an empty cell. No, actually, it wasn't a cell anymore. There weren't any bars and even the last traces of the magic arrays on the ground had been erased.

Jin Ling frowned and crouched down, picking up some of the ash on the ground and rubbing it between his fingers. There wasn't even a shred of spiritual energy left in it. This kind of ash … Even Xin Lan wasn't able to produce it.

Jin Ling let go of the ash and stared at the line on the ground. So he had been wrong? Jinde … really wasn't there? He really was dead? But that couldn't be! He wouldn't allow it to be that way.

He got up and turned around only for his chest to be met with a hand. He was thrown back and crashed into the rear wall of the cell. "Ugh." Jin Ling slid down with a groan and pressed his eyes together. Damn it! Just who …

He forced his eyes open and barely held back the curse at the tip of his tongue. In front of him, the hem of a black robe swung silently and the rest of the figure was shrouded in a gloomy aura. Jin Ling forced himself to smile again and sat up with difficulty.

"Yu Xiang. How nice to see you again."

The person in question stared down at him before turning away without a word. Only when he disappeared behind a corner did Jin Ling sink back against the wall. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, wincing in the process.

Ah, he hadn't thought of that. There was still one other person in the demon realm that might want to set the lovebirds free. And obviously, that had been the case.

Jin Ling slammed his fist down on the ground before getting up. Whatever. Even if he couldn't get Jinde back, he might as well go to the Yun Zou Sect and finally implement his plan. There was no reason to let that brother of his find happiness if he couldn't have his own. If he had to suffer, then Qiu Ling would suffer as well.