Chapter 238: Huo Yuhao Kneels and Kowtows
High above in the God Realm.
Tang San's furious roar reverberated through the grand palace, shaking the very pillars of the divine hall. His expression was thunderous, his fingers digging into the ornate armrest with enough force to drain the color from his knuckles.
His piercing gaze was locked onto the rippling surface of the Water Mirror.
Within the projection, Huo Yuhao hung suspended in mid-air, bound tightly by thick, dark purple chains that rendered him completely immobile. Liu Yuan stood calmly by the edge of the pool, the radiant purple-gold light swirling within his Three Pupils slowly receding into the depths of his eyes. The chains extended from the space behind Liu Yuan like the grasping fingers of a giant palm, firmly anchoring Huo Yuhao above the bubbling hot spring.
Tang San slowly raised his hand from the armrest. He splayed his fingers, and a blinding sphere of golden light began to condense in the center of his palm.
The divine radiance was so intense that Tai Tan and Niu Tian, standing nearby, instinctively took a step back, shielding their eyes. Tang San's gaze pierced through the Water Mirror, cutting through the dense, swirling clouds of the God Realm, locking directly onto the Lower Realm.
He was preparing to strike.
Tai Tan's expression shifted drastically. Disregarding all formalities and divine etiquette, the burly man lunged forward, throwing his massive frame into Tang San's line of sight. Despite his towering physique, he bowed deeply, cupping his hands in a desperate salute. His voice was urgent and pitched low.
"Lord Tang San, you mustn't!"
Tang San did not blink. His eyes remained fixed on the Water Mirror, and the golden sphere in his palm flared even brighter, humming with destructive power.
"He ruined my plans," Tang San muttered, his voice dropping to a dangerous, self-directed whisper. "Once, twice, three times. Who does he think he is?"
Niu Tian stepped forward as well, taking his place beside Tai Tan. His demeanor was more composed than his companion's, but the tight line of his jaw betrayed his anxiety. His tone carried a heavy urgency that demanded attention.
"Lord Tang San, if you take action now, the spatial fabric of the Lower Realm will not be able to withstand the descent of your power. The planar laws will be violently disrupted, and spatial cracks will tear the world apart. Those old fellows in the committee won't just sit by and watch."
Tang San's hand paused. The humming of the golden light steadied.
Pressing his advantage, Niu Tian continued, "Especially the God of Destruction. He has been watching your every move, just waiting for you to make a single mistake. If you act at this critical juncture, even if you only leak a sliver of your divine force into the mortal plane, he will seize upon it. When that happens, how will you explain yourself when he impeaches you before the God Realm Committee?"
The blinding golden light in Tang San's palm flickered, then slowly dimmed. His fingers curled inward, closing into a fist, and the divine radiance retracted into his skin, vanishing beneath the surface.
His arm dropped heavily back onto the armrest. His fingers still trembled slightly from the suppressed power.
Tai Tan and Niu Tian exhaled a simultaneous, quiet breath of relief.
Tang San sat in the high seat without uttering another word. He turned his face back toward the Water Mirror, his gaze drilling into Liu Yuan's figure. The youth standing by the pool was not heavily built—he was even somewhat lean—yet simply standing there, he exuded an oppressive presence that commanded absolute attention.
Tang San stared at him in heavy silence for a long time.
Behind him, Tai Tan and Niu Tian stood rigidly, not daring to breathe too loudly. The grand palace was so deathly quiet that only the faint, echoing sound of bubbling water from the Water Mirror could be heard.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
The dark purple chains remained coiled tightly around Huo Yuhao, leaving him hanging over the treacherous waters. His body swayed slightly in the stagnant air, the metallic clanking of the chains echoing sharply throughout the cavernous underground space.
His hands were bound securely, completely neutralizing any attempt to struggle. Blood continued to seep from the horrific wound on his chest, soaking the front of his academy uniform in a spreading, piercing crimson patch.
His face was deathly pale, his lips tinted a sickly blue—a grim combination of severe blood loss and agonizing burns. Yet, he didn't look down at his ruined flesh, nor did he thrash against his bindings.
He simply stared down at the hot spring, his eyes locked onto the ice-sealed Yearning Heartbroken Grass.
The immortal herb was partially submerged in the boiling water, pushed gently by the bubbling currents, drifting slowly beneath the surface. The thick layer of deep ice encasing its leaves remained perfectly intact, showing absolutely no signs of melting despite the extreme heat.
Huo Yuhao's eyes were bloodshot, the veins mapping the whites of his eyes, but no tears fell. He ground his teeth together so hard his jaw muscles bulged visibly beneath his skin. A low, guttural sound rattled in his throat, the sound of a man suppressing an overwhelming wave of despair.
The chains vibrated faintly. It wasn't the metal moving on its own, but the violent, uncontrollable trembling of Huo Yuhao's body transferring into the links.
Liu Yuan stood at the edge of the pool, his expression unreadable as he watched the suspended youth. He did not retract the Forbidden Domain; the chains maintained their iron grip, refusing to yield a single inch.
Within Liu Yuan's Sea of Consciousness, Electrolux's voice suddenly echoed. It was incredibly soft, laden with an ancient, indescribable weariness.
'Liu Yuan, thank you.'Liu Yuan did not turn his head or shift his posture. He merely responded mentally, his inner voice calm and steady.'Elder Yi, there is no need to thank me.'Electrolux paused for a long moment before continuing.'This old man and that child Yuhao do, after all, share a bond of fate. Seeing him in such a state... this old man feels uneasy. That moment just now, when I sent a transmission to you, was a rare moment of impulse on my part. But you did not hesitate. You took action directly.'Liu Yuan remained silent for a brief second.'Since it was Elder Yi's request, I will naturally do my best to fulfill it.'
Electrolux did not offer another word of thanks. His ethereal phantom image gave a slow, respectful nod within the Sea of Consciousness before gradually fading away into the depths of Liu Yuan's mind.
By the pool, Huo Yuhao finally broke the silence. His voice was raw and hoarse, thick with a desperate, clawing urgency.
"Liu Yuan... let me down."
Liu Yuan looked at him, his posture relaxed, his feet planted firmly. He didn't move a muscle.
"Let me down!" Huo Yuhao's voice cracked, rising several octaves as he violently thrashed against the metal. The chains clattered loudly against his bruised body. He twisted and writhed, desperately trying to slip through the dark purple restraints, but the bindings were absolute.
"I need to go down! The ice hasn't melted yet, I need the water from the extreme hot spring! Let me down!"
Liu Yuan did not move. He did not speak. He simply observed Huo Yuhao, the purple-gold light in his Three Pupils flickering with a cold, analytical gleam.
Huo Yuhao's eyes grew even redder, taking on a manic glint. His voice began to shake violently, every single word sounding as though it were being ripped forcefully from his bleeding throat.
"You don't know! Dong'er's illness requires this herb! Without it, Dong'er will die! I finally managed to find this place, I fought so hard to get here... I can't let it sink into the water! Let me down, I'll go fish it out myself!"
He threw his weight against the chains again, but the purple metal didn't give a fraction of an inch.
Huo Yuhao's voice tore through the cavern, escalating into a complete, screaming loss of control. "Don't you understand?! I want to go down! What right do you have to stop me?! That's my business, what does it have to do with you?!"
Standing at the very back of the group, Long Aotian watched the brutal scene unfold, his brow furrowed deeply. He opened his mouth, wanting to intervene, but as his eyes landed on Liu Yuan's unyielding back, he swallowed his words and remained silent.
On the opposite side of the pool, Du Busi stood with his arms crossed over his broad chest. His expression was entirely flat, his sharp gaze sweeping methodically between the screaming Huo Yuhao and the silent Liu Yuan. He, too, offered no commentary.
Finally, Liu Yuan moved.
He took a slow, deliberate step toward the edge. He closed the distance until he was less than a step away from the suspended youth. Tilting his head back slightly, he looked up into Huo Yuhao's manic, bloodshot eyes.
Then, Liu Yuan raised his right hand, swung it back in a wide, vicious arc, and slapped Huo Yuhao directly across the face.
The strike was heavy and merciless.
A sharp, crisp crack echoed like a gunshot throughout the silent underground cavern. Huo Yuhao's head snapped violently to the side, a vivid red handprint blooming instantly across his pale cheek. The chains clattered wildly as the kinetic force sent Huo Yuhao's body swinging, but the bindings held him aloft, preventing him from collapsing into the boiling water below.
Huo Yuhao froze, completely stunned.
Slowly, agonizingly, he turned his head back to face Liu Yuan. His eyes were wide, completely bloodshot, and filled with a chaotic storm of shock and despair.
Liu Yuan calmly lowered his hand, his tone as flat and undisturbed as a placid lake.
"Are you calm now?"
Huo Yuhao did not answer. His blue lips trembled violently, but the hysterical screams that had been tearing from his throat moments ago were suddenly choked off, dying before they could reach the air.
Liu Yuan held his gaze, waiting for a long, heavy moment before speaking again. He enunciated every word slowly and clearly, ensuring the harsh truth pierced through Huo Yuhao's panic.
"There are many ways to unfreeze the Yearning Heartbroken Grass. Jumping headfirst into the extreme hot spring isn't the only way. And what exactly do you think you can accomplish by jumping in? Scald yourself to death, fish the herb out with your dying breath, pour your heart's blood on it again, and watch it freeze over a second time? And then what? Can you resurrect yourself to jump in one more time?"
Huo Yuhao opened his mouth, his jaw working uselessly, but no sound came out.
Liu Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly. "Look at yourself right now. Your chest is torn open and bleeding. Your body is covered in severe burns. You can't even stand steadily on your own two feet. What exactly are you going to use to save someone? If you die here in this pit, what will Wang Dong'er do? Who will save her then?"
Huo Yuhao's lips moved faintly, his voice dropping to a broken whisper. "You..."
"You what?" Liu Yuan cut him off, his voice sharp and pragmatic. "You think you're so great? You think it's heroic to throw away your life for Wang Dong'er? But have you ever stopped to think—if you die, what meaning is there for her to keep living? Are you trying to save her, or are you just trying to force her to live with crushing guilt for the rest of her life?"
Huo Yuhao fell completely silent.
A thick, watery sheen swirled in his bloodshot eyes, but he bit down hard on his lower lip, refusing to let the tears fall.
Seeing the manic energy finally drain from the youth, Liu Yuan's tone softened just a fraction.
"Calmed down?"
Huo Yuhao slowly lowered his head. He stared blankly at the gaping wound on his chest, at the fresh blood still weeping from the torn flesh, and at his blistered, scalded skin. His ragged, hyperventilating breaths gradually began to level out, losing the frantic, out-of-control rhythm from before.
He hung there in silence for a long time. When he finally spoke, his voice was nothing more than a hoarse rasp.
"I'm sorry."
Liu Yuan didn't offer a comforting 'it's okay,' nor did he offer any further reprimand.
With a mere thought, the dark purple chains binding Huo Yuhao began to recede. The first thick link slid smoothly off Huo Yuhao's wrist, dissolving smoothly into the Void Realm. The second chain uncoiled from his waist. Then the third, the fourth, and the fifth.
As the final restraint vanished, Huo Yuhao's body plummeted from mid-air. His feet hit the solid rock, but his ruined legs buckled instantly. He swayed violently, failed to find his balance, and collapsed heavily onto one knee.
He remained kneeling on the hard stone, his head bowed. Blood continued to drip steadily from his chest, pooling on the ground, his academy uniform completely stained beyond recognition.
Liu Yuan stood tall before him, looking down at the broken youth, but he made no move to reach out and help him up.
Huo Yuhao didn't try to stand. He braced his trembling hands against the ground, his fingers digging desperately into the rough cracks of the rock until his knuckles turned bone-white. His shoulders shook faintly—not from the agonizing physical pain, but from the crushing weight of his own helplessness.
Slowly, he raised his head and looked up at Liu Yuan.
His eyes were entirely red, yet completely dry. His face was set in an indescribable expression. It wasn't gratitude. It wasn't guilt. It certainly wasn't anger. It was a deep, hollow blankness—the look of a man who had been pushed past his absolute breaking point, where too many extreme emotions had violently collided and canceled each other out.
"I know you possess unimaginable means," Huo Yuhao said, his voice so low it sounded as though he were speaking to himself.
"You can see through Wang Qiu'er's true form. You can casually block the lethal poison mist. You can easily locate these Immortal Herbs. You can even save Elder Yi's dissipating soul." Huo Yuhao took a ragged breath. "You must have a way."
He locked his gaze onto Liu Yuan's eyes, speaking every word with absolute, desperate clarity.
"I beg of you... please help me."
He lowered his head, his forehead striking the hard rock with a heavy, resounding thud as he kowtowed.
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