Chapter 126 Betrayal
Long Tian stood there, his eyes fixed on the ring in his hand. The Seven-Form Pagoda, a unique artifact, was now in his possession.
Its true purpose remained a mystery, yet one thing was certain – with this item, he could extract someone's martial spirit.
Carefully, he opened the ring, and a palm-sized pagoda with seven levels floated in the air, emitting a soft blue glow.
Long Tian raised his hand, causing the pagoda to hover delicately above his palm.
For now, its function was limited to healing minor ailments related to cultivation. But in his hand, this will become an incredibly rare item.
"Oh, it's exquisite, Long Tian. Clearly, it's no ordinary item, is it?" Li Yue'er inquired, her eyes filled with curiosity.
"Indeed, this is an invaluable treasure once owned by the Ning family. But now, it belongs to me," Long Tian replied, his lips curling into a confident smirk.
Li Yue'er nodded in acknowledgment, refraining from further questions.
Long Tian carefully stored the pagoda back into his spatial ring, ensuring its safety.
"What are your plans for today, aside from training?" he asked, his gaze fixed on Li Yue'er.
"I intend to cultivate throughout the day. I'm on the verge of a breakthrough," Li Yue'er replied.
"That's commendable. Your strength will undoubtedly soar if you succeed. Well, best of luck," Long Tian said.
Li Yue'er nodded, and with that, they headed to their respective rooms.
Having spent a considerable amount of time in the villa, Li Yue'er was familiar with every room's layout.
This is a place she can truly call home.
---
As the hours slipped away unnoticed, night fell upon them, cloaking the world in a blanket of darkness.
In the villa area, a powerful aura surged upward, indicating that someone had broken through to a new realm.
In the backyard, Li Yue'er sat cross-legged, her smile widening with each surge of power.
She stood up, feeling the newfound strength coursing through her veins.
"Finally, I've reached the Qi Foundation realm," she said, her satisfaction evident.
She had been struggling for several days to break through. But now, she has successfully reached the second realm of cultivation.
Applause echoed from a distance, and she turned to see Long Tian walking towards her.
"Congratulations, you've finally achieved the breakthrough," he said, a genuine smile gracing his features.
"Thanks. Now, I'm just one realm away from catching up to you," Li Yue'er said, her grin matching his.
"Even if you reach the Flowing Qi realm, you still won't be able to defeat me, little girl," Long Tian teased, his grin widening.
"I'm not a little girl anymore; I'm a cultivator and a grown woman," Li Yue'er retorted, crossing her arms confidently.
Long Tian smirked, gently lifting Li Yue'er's chin with his hand. "Then prove it. Show me your grown thing," he teased.
Li Yue'er blushed, stammering, "Y-you pervert!" she exclaimed, her cheeks turning a shade of crimson.
"That's the term women usually use before they fall into my arms," Long Tian countered, his grin growing wider.
Li Yue'er's embarrassment deepened, leaving her speechless.
"But, Li Yue'er, you..." Long Tian's words were abruptly cut off as he sensed a presence at the gate.
Li Yue'er, noticing his distraction, quickly said, "What were you going to say, playboy?" she retorted.
"It seems we have a guest. Well, I'll meet them first, and we can continue discussing your 'grown thing' later," Long Tian responded, smirking playfully.
Without waiting for anything else, he left, leaving the blushing Li Yue'er behind.
---
Long Tian walked to the front yard, heading toward the gate.
One of the guards approached him and said, "There's a young man named Qin Chen who wishes to meet you, young master."
"Let him in," Long Tian replied.
"Of course," the guard nodded.
With that, he opened the gate, revealing Qin Chen in casual attire.
"Welcome to my villa," Long Tian greeted, stretching his arms wide and grinning.
Qin Chen was taken aback by the grandeur of the villa; everything exuded luxury and opulence. Nonetheless, he replied, "As per our agreement, I've brought what you requested."
"Why don't we take a stroll first? The front yard is filled with magical trees emitting Reiki; it's excellent for your cultivation," Long Tian suggested.
Qin Chen hesitated briefly but then made up his mind and nodded, "Very well, that's not a bad idea," he said.
With that, he stepped inside the villa area, and he and Long Tian walked along the path near the gate, surrounded by numerous plants and trees rich in Reiki.
"So, how did you acquire the Heartblade?" Long Tian inquired.
"That's none of your concern, Long Tian. The fact is, I have it, and I want Li Yue'er. Don't forget your promise; you don't know who supports me," Qin Chen replied, his voice brimming with confidence.
Long Tian simply nodded; he was unaware of Qin Chen's supoorts, but it didn't matter.
"Well, sometimes excessive confidence can lead to a downfall, Qin Chen. It's not a wise move to steal the Heartblade. However, since I desire it, I don't care how you obtained it," Long Tian remarked, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
Qin Chen narrowed his eyes, feeling there was no need for further pretense.
"I believe we've had enough of a walk, Long Tian. Let's return to the main topic; what you seek is here," he said, producing the Heartblade of Guo Jian from his spatial ring.
Long Tian observed the Heartblade and reached out to touch it, but Qin Chen pulled it away, saying, "You'll receive this once you fulfill your promise," his tone resolute.
Long Tian smirked; he was about to speak, but a voice interrupted them from behind, "Qin Chen, why are you here?"
Turning around, he saw Li Yue'er standing not far from them.
Meanwhile, Qin Chen felt both joy and astonishment when he laid eyes on Li Yue'er.
"Li Yue'er, it's really you. It's been so long!" he exclaimed, his face lighting up with happiness, intending to approach her.
However, Long Tian blocked his path with his hand.
"You can't go near her," he said.
Qin Chen furrowed his brows but refrained from speaking.
Meanwhile, Li Yue'er walked towards them, curiosity etched on her face.
"What's happening here?" she inquired.
Qin Chen stood there, taken aback by Li Yue'er's presence up close. Her beauty, her now silver hair, her voice – he had deeply missed her.
But he quickly snapped out of it and responded, "Hehe, Li Yue'er. I came here to save you. You see, you've been kidnapped by Long Tian all this time, and he wants an item as ransom. Luckily, I got that item, and with it, we can be together again!"
"What?" Li Yue'er exclaimed in surprise upon hearing this. Her gaze shifted to Long Tian, seeking an explanation.
On the other hand, Long Tian didn't deny it. "He's right, Li Yue'er. A week ago, I made a deal with Qin Chen. If he gave me the Heartblade of Guo Jian, I promised to release you to him," he stated.
Hearing this, Li Yue'er's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You... You used me as a bargaining chip?" she asked, her voice quivering.
"I won't deny it," Long Tian replied, his expression unwavering.
Li Yue'er became even more incredulous. After everything they had been through together, the promises of helping her family and strengthening her, she felt reduced to a mere transaction.
Qin Chen tossed the Heartblade to Long Tian. "Deal's done, Long Tian. The Heartblade is yours," he declared.
Long Tian accepted the Heartblade.
"Now, come on, Li Yue'er, you're free now," Qin Chen said, extending his hand towards her.
Li Yue'er still couldn't believe it, yet, she followed and walked with Qin Chen.
The atmosphere fell silent in the midst of the cold night. It felt like a heavy farewell.
However, Long Tian suddenly spoke, "But..."
His words made Qin Chen and Li Yue'er stop, turning to look at him.
"Since I've kept my promise, the Heartblade is now in my possession, and Li Yue'er is free, there are no more restraints. I'll ask you, Li Yue'er. Who do you choose, me or Qin Chen?" Long Tian said, his tone calm yet firm.
Upon hearing this, Qin Chen couldn't help but laugh. "You're truly amusing, Long Tian. After kidnapping Li Yue'er, you're asking her to choose? Wasn't the answer already clear? Now, let's go home, Li Yue'er," he said, turning around and walking away.
However, he realized that Li Yue'er didn't follow him.
He turned back, his eyes widening as he saw Li Yue'er standing beside Long Tian.
"What are you doing, Li Yue'er?" he asked, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"I'm sorry, Qin Chen," Li Yue'er replied.
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