Chapter 67: Have You Ever Hated Me?

Chapter 67: Have You Ever Hated Me?

A thunderous snoring filled the room, rising and falling without end.

Zhao Han was sprawled across the table, passed out drunk, while Chen Yin cast him a casual glance before quietly pushing the door open and leaving.

Navigating the maze-like passages, he finally reached a hidden room and knocked three times softly on the door. The door creaked open.

"Young master."

"How's it going?" Chen Yin entered and asked in a low voice, "Have you mapped out the area?"

"Yes, I have."

Qing Ying pulled out a roll of cloth. Though simple, the map marked the layout of the headquarters with clarity and precision.

"This demonic faction headquarters is enormous," she explained. "Its passageways are an intricate web, and it took me a long time to map this out."

"Among them, there are several areas with the heaviest defenses," she continued, pointing to specific locations on the map.

Chen Yin's gaze followed her finger as he took in the layout. A few areas stood out in particular: the residence of the Sect Leader and the grand hall of the demonic faction’s headquarters.

"These two locations are extremely well-guarded, so we couldn’t get close," Qing Ying said. "Beyond that, there are a few less-guarded areas, but we didn’t dare approach recklessly either, to avoid raising suspicion. We only observed them from afar."

Chen Yin nodded thoughtfully and memorized the map. Then, almost absentmindedly, he remarked,

"Impressive. As expected of someone from the secret division—you're a natural at this sort of thing."

"Should I take that as an insult?" Qing Ying retorted coldly.

"Think of it as a compliment," Chen Yin replied with a shrug. He continued studying the map in silence before casually adding,

"Good news. Your friends are alive, and they seem to be safe."

Luo Luo's eyes widened with excitement, her delicate fox ears and tail perking up instantly.

"Really?" she asked, brimming with joy.

"Have I ever lied to you?" Chen Yin said gently, his tone lighthearted.

"Tomorrow, stick close to me. I'll find a way to see them and confirm their safety."

"That's wonderful! Thank you, young master!" Luo Luo exclaimed, throwing her arms around his arm and rubbing her soft, childlike face against him.

Chen Yin smiled indulgently as he patted her head.

Meanwhile, Qing Ying stood silently to the side, her arms crossed, saying nothing.

"All right, that's enough for today. Get some rest," Chen Yin said softly. "I’ve checked around; this place is vast but sparsely populated. Most rooms are unoccupied. As long as it's empty, we can use it as we please."

"This room will do for now," he added.

Luo Luo seemed content, but Qing Ying glared at him and said,

"And where will I sleep?"

"If you don’t want to stay here with us, find another empty room for yourself," Chen Yin replied nonchalantly. "There are plenty. Just be cautious and avoid being spotted by patrolling faction members."

"But I suppose you’re used to sleeping light, aren’t you?"

"Don’t worry about me." Qing Ying's tone was icy. "People in my line of work have long gotten used to sleeping this way."

"I’ll be next door. Call me if you need anything."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked out, not looking back.

Chen Yin watched her leave, shaking his head with a smirk.

What a prickly woman.

To be honest, if not for wanting to avoid complications, he would’ve liked to pin this cold and haughty woman down and teach her a lesson. The thought of seeing her gaze filled with defiance and humiliation sparked an odd sense of conquest within him.

But the idea felt too perverse, so he quickly dismissed it.

After preparing his bed, Chen Yin lay down and stared at the ceiling.

Beside him, Luo Luo snuggled up obediently, her fluffy tail swaying gently.

"Luo Luo," Chen Yin suddenly said.

"Hmm?" Luo Luo perked up her ears curiously.

"Have you ever hated me?"

"Hate? Why would I hate you, young master?" Luo Luo tilted her head in confusion.

"Because, when you think about it, what I did wasn’t much different from those demonic cultivators. I forced a contract on you and made you serve me."

"Do you not hate me for that?"

Luo Luo bit her finger thoughtfully, then shook her head.

"No, I don’t hate you. Young Master treats me well, never forces me to do anything, and buys me lots of delicious food."

Chen Yin couldn’t help but laugh at her response.

This girl really is so simple that a few snacks can win her heart.

Even so, after a moment of silence, Chen Yin spoke softly,

"Luo Luo, when all of this is over, we’ll cancel the master-servant contract."

"I’ll return your freedom. After that, you can go wherever you want."

Hearing this, a trace of disappointment and sadness flashed across Luo Luo’s face. Her ears drooped, and her tail stopped wagging.

"Young master… doesn’t want me anymore?" she asked hesitantly, her voice timid.

"Don’t overthink it. I’m just giving you your freedom," Chen Yin said gently, stroking her hair. "You’ve been away from home for so long; you should go back and see your family. They must be worried about you."

Luo Luo stared at the ground for a long time before murmuring softly,

"Then… Young Master could come with me…"

"What?"

"I-I mean," Luo Luo stammered, glancing away shyly, "Wouldn’t Young Master want to visit my home? You could think of it as a trip… to relax."

Chen Yin considered her words for a moment before nodding.

"Not a bad idea. Once this is all over, if I have no other plans, I could drop by for a few days."

Luo Luo’s expression brightened. "In that case, I’ll take out the best wine we have at home to treat Young Master!"

"And we have lots of delicious food you can’t find anywhere else! I’ll make sure you eat your fill!"

"All you think about is food." Chen Yin chuckled softly. "Be careful—if you eat me out of house and home, I really might abandon you and leave you on the streets."

“Of course not! Young Master is so kind to me; there’s no way he’d be that heartless,” Luo Luo said with a grin, flashing her adorable little canine teeth as she beamed up at Chen Yin.

Gently stroking her fox fur, Chen Yin felt a wave of warmth spread through his heart.

In truth, if Luo Luo had shown even the slightest hint of resistance or hesitation, Chen Yin wouldn’t have minded breaking the contract and setting her free. He’d always carried a bit of guilt for binding such an innocent and naive little fox to his service.

But for now, seeing her so happy and free of resentment, Chen Yin decided to let things be.

Even so, the thought of letting her go brought a faint pang of reluctance.

“Young Master,” Luo Luo said suddenly, tugging at his sleeve, “I can’t fall asleep. Will you tell me another story?”

“Another bedtime story?”

Chen Yin cleared his throat and began softly, “Once upon a time, there was an innkeeper’s assistant—”

The flickering candlelight slowly dimmed, and soon, the gentle rhythm of Luo Luo’s breathing rose and fell on his chest.

<+>

The next day, Zhao Han woke up late, his head pounding from the previous night’s drinking. Groggily rubbing his temples, he stumbled to the door and opened it, only to be greeted by Chen Yin, carrying a cup of tea.

“Well, good morning, Brother Zhao. Perfect timing—your hangover tea is ready.”

Zhao Han sat down at the table, bleary-eyed, as Chen Yin poured him a cup. Taking a sip, Zhao Han gave a satisfied nod.

“Not bad. You’re a pretty thoughtful kid, huh?”

Chen Yin chuckled sheepishly, then cautiously brought up, “About what you promised me last night…”

“Oh, you mean seeing those little fox girls?” Zhao Han slapped his forehead. “Almost forgot after drinking so much.”

“Anyway, it’s about time to feed them. Go grab some leftovers from the kitchen, and come with me.”

Chen Yin kept a polite smile as he followed Zhao Han out the door. But the moment Zhao Han’s back was turned, Chen Yin’s expression grew cold and calculating.

In the kitchen, the leftovers from breakfast had yet to be cleared. Under Zhao Han’s supervision, Chen Yin picked out a few dishes that looked relatively decent and packed them up. Then, without a word, he trailed behind Zhao Han, deeper and deeper into the demonic faction headquarters.

After winding through the labyrinthine passages for over ten minutes, they finally arrived at a hidden, decrepit dungeon.

“Here we are,” Zhao Han said indifferently, unlocking the chains on the cell door. “If you’re interested, go ahead and bring them their food yourself.”

Chen Yin maintained his amiable facade as he carried the food down a long staircase.

The air grew damp and rank with the stench of decay, and the oppressive darkness seemed to suffocate any hope of escape.

At the bottom of the stairs, Chen Yin finally saw them—the ones he had been searching for.

Behind a battered iron door, a group of frail fox girls huddled together in the shadows.

Their clothing was ragged and tattered, their emaciated bodies little more than skin and bones. Their once-vibrant fur was dull and matted with filth, a testament to how long it had been since they’d had the chance to bathe.

Their lips were cracked, their eyes devoid of life, and their wrists and ankles, shackled by iron chains, revealed pale glimpses of bone.

The sight made Chen Yin’s breath hitch involuntarily.

“Ya Ya!”

A heart-wrenching cry broke the silence.

Luo Luo, tears streaming down her face, rushed to the side of the frailest fox girl.

“Luo… Luo?”

The fox girls, who had shown no reaction to Chen Yin’s presence, slowly lifted their heads at the sound of her voice. Gradually, a flicker of light returned to their dull eyes.

“Is it… really you?”

“You… You weren’t captured too, were you?”

“No… I’m here to save you…”

Luo Luo held the frail fox girl’s hand tightly, her tear-streaked face full of guilt.

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”

“When they took you, I didn’t have the courage to save you. I could only stand there and watch…”

As Luo Luo broke down in tears, the fox girls slowly gathered around her, embracing each other as their own tears fell freely.

“Luo Luo… Seeing you again feels like a dream…”

“We really thought we’d die in this dungeon…”

Chen Yin stood silently in the background, observing the tearful reunion without uttering a word.

After a long while, Luo Luo’s sobbing began to subside. She wiped her swollen eyes and turned to Chen Yin with an expression of unwavering resolve.

“Young master.” Her voice was steady and serious, more so than ever before.

“I know,” Chen Yin replied with a calm nod.

“Don’t worry.”

“That man’s life is yours to take.”

“Do with it as you please.”

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