After the Fairy Maidens Fell to Darkness, They Captured Me to Ruthlessly 'Repay' Their Gratitude-Chapter 89 - "Even If the World Betrays Her"

Li Zijing didn’t sleep well that night.

The embarrassment of his blunder at the banquet haunted him. His lack of knowledge about the situation in Yong’an City had made him a laughingstock. Worse, An Luo Yi’s cold gaze had been filled with disdain—three parts contempt and seven parts disgust.

She hadn’t changed at all.

An Luo Yi only seemed gentle when she was with He Ange. To Li Zijing, she remained as cold and unapproachable as ever.

Determined to regain his dignity, Li Zijing summoned his subordinates immediately after the banquet, ordering them to gather firsthand information about the chaos in Yong’an City.

If he wanted to impress An Luo Yi, he needed to understand her experiences first.

As a high-ranking immortal attendant of the Dragon Dynasty, his subordinates worked efficiently. By the early hours of the morning, Li Zijing had a detailed report in his hands.

“Xu Daoyun, you useless fool. I can’t believe you actually betrayed us!”

“Dammit, being your senior brother is a disgrace!”

Li Zijing slammed his wine cup onto the table, shattering it in his frustration.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he continued reading the report.

If An Luo Yi had shown him no respect, then he would show her none in return during tomorrow’s sparring match.

Finally, his finger paused on a particular line. He hesitated for a moment before narrowing his eyes coldly.

“Well, well. Who would’ve thought? The so-called ‘Destined Heroine,’ the savior of Yong’an City, abandoned her post on the night of the incident, leaving Liu Moqing to guard the second level of the Abyss Spirit Hall alone... She dares to self-righteously condemn Xu Daoyun as a beast but conveniently omits her own negligence!”

As he read through the official Dragon Dynasty documents, Li Zijing uncovered many secrets.

The chaos in Yong’an City was a major incident. The Shengxu Sect and the Six Doors Bureau had carefully curated the information released to the public, emphasizing An Luo Yi’s heroic deeds to reassure the populace. Naturally, they avoided mentioning any of her shortcomings.

This was to be expected.

Li Zijing himself had experienced similar treatment. As a “Destined Prodigy,” he wasn’t perfect, and he understood how such narratives were constructed.

“Hmph, just wait.”

Closing the report, Li Zijing smirked coldly.

He had his plan for tomorrow.

First, he would thoroughly humiliate An Luo Yi, tearing down her pedestal as the “Destined Heroine.” Then, he would crush her confidence with his superior strength, leaving her full of regret.

Finally, he would offer her a mix of punishment and kindness, showing her his softer side after her humiliation. She would realize that her cold arrogance had earned her a slap, but his warmth could offer her redemption.

An aloof young lady like her needed to learn the hard way that there was always someone better.

…

An Residence, Pavilion Under the Moonlight.

After the banquet, An Luo Yi returned to her room to bathe and rest. He Ange had initially hoped to share her bed and enjoy some closeness, but his plans were thwarted when An Yangsheng, the head of the An family, summoned him away.

Now, He Ange found himself in the courtyard, grilling skewers and drinking with An Yangsheng.

Of course...

He Ange was the one doing all the grilling.

“So, you called me all the way back just to make skewers for you?” He Ange grumbled, standing by the grill while the middle-aged man in luxurious robes sipped his wine at a small table nearby.

He hadn’t even had a bite yet, but An Yangsheng was already on his third round of drinks.

“What? After all these years, you can’t grill some meat for your old man?”

“You have so many servants. Why me?”

“Because your cooking is the best... Tch, Luo Yi’s gained some weight this year. Must be all the grilled fish you’ve been making for her.”

“So what? Should Senior Sister starve herself until she’s skin and bones, with legs like twigs?”

“Bah, I’m not arguing with you.”

An Yangsheng waved him off, his cheeks flushed from the alcohol. Though his tone was dismissive, his gaze held a hint of admiration.

Despite his gruff demeanor, An Yangsheng genuinely appreciated He Ange. The boy had grown up to be capable in every way, excelling both in the kitchen and in the wider world.

Having He Ange back to cook a feast was a rare treat for An Yangsheng.

Unlike An Luo Yi...

Apart from cultivating and practicing swordsmanship, she had no interest in the arts. Even when she came home, she spent her time training in the backyard, never sparing a thought for her father.

“He Ange, how’s your cultivation progressing?” An Yangsheng asked, setting down his skewer with a more serious expression.

He Ange, having finished grilling the lamb, sat across from him and poured himself a drink.

“Peak Foundation Establishment.”

“You brat... Don’t tell me you’ve been spending all your cultivation efforts on Luo Yi.”

Hearing the words “Foundation Establishment,” An Yangsheng couldn’t help but frown, clicking his tongue in disapproval.

He Ange raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong? I’ve made a lot of progress, okay?”

“Sure, sure, I know you’re trying... But Luo Yi’s almost at the Nascent Soul stage. The gap between you two is too wide.”

An Yangsheng sighed heavily.

He was well aware of the relationship between He Ange and An Luo Yi. However, just recently, the City Lord had approached him, proposing a marriage between his son, Li Zijing, and An Luo Yi.

The implications were clear.

Last night’s banquet had only worsened matters. The City Lord had been expecting An Luo Yi to perform a solo sword dance, only for He Ange to step in, hold her hand, and even make her blush.

It had ruined the Li family’s plans.

But in truth, this had all been part of An Yangsheng’s arrangement.

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Without He Ange’s involvement, An Luo Yi would never have agreed to perform. She was a cultivator, not an entertainer.

Only because He Ange had agreed to join her did An Luo Yi reluctantly consent. After all, no woman could resist the allure of showing off her relationship in public.

Still, An Yangsheng couldn’t shake his unease.

The Li family, as the rulers of Dragon Capital, were powerful. Li Zijing, as a “Destined Prodigy” and a high-ranking immortal attendant, held significant influence.

The An family wasn’t afraid of offending them...

But could He Ange protect An Luo Yi?

Offending too many powerful figures in the immortal world wouldn’t end well for He Ange.

“Old man, are you doubting me?” He Ange asked curiously.

“I doubt everything about you.”

An Yangsheng sighed, downing another cup of white wine. “Your cultivation... and your character.”

“Are you serious about the second part? I came all this way to grill meat for you, and you’re questioning my character?” He Ange nearly slammed the table.

“Just kidding, just kidding!” An Yangsheng quickly placated him. “I know you’re devoted to Luo Yi and filial to me, but I’m serious about the first part.”

“Within six months, I’ll become a direct disciple.”

He Ange raised his cup, his tone firm as he made his vow.

An Yangsheng was momentarily stunned before breaking into a wide grin.

As a father figure, he had called He Ange out for drinks late at night to hear exactly this.

If He Ange showed no ambition, how could An Yangsheng entrust his daughter to him?

“However, Father-in-law, there’s something I need to discuss with you.”

After his bold declaration, He Ange sat back down, his expression turning serious.

An Yangsheng raised an eyebrow at the term “Father-in-law,” but he was too tipsy to dwell on it. He gestured for He Ange to continue.

“Becoming a direct disciple isn’t just about cultivation. During the certification process... I might need the An family’s support.”

“Of course! That’s no problem at all!”

An Yangsheng, slightly drunk, slung an arm around He Ange’s shoulder, patting his back like an old friend.

But then he sobered up, narrowing his eyes.

“Wait, what do you mean by An family support? Are you aiming for public certification as a direct disciple?”

“Yes. A private direct disciple isn’t worthy of my senior sister, is it?”

He Ange’s forehead glistened with sweat, his smile stiff.

They locked eyes for a moment before An Yangsheng nodded, taking him seriously.

“You’re right. Private direct disciples are a joke. I could get the Shengxu Sect to make you one with a single word, but that kind of third-rate status wouldn’t suit my Luo Yi... And public certification is better. If you and Luo Yi both become immortal attendants of the Dragon Dynasty, your status will far surpass that of ordinary sect disciples!”

In this world, immortal sects were akin to schools for cultivating talent.

Becoming an immortal attendant of the Dragon Dynasty was like landing a prestigious government job.

Joining the Dragon Dynasty meant entering the largest righteous faction in the immortal world, with access to abundant resources. Compared to the small sects and mountains under the immortal sects, the Dragon Dynasty was like a bustling metropolis to a rural village.

Every family dreamed of their children and in-laws securing positions in the Dragon Dynasty, ensuring a stable and prosperous future.

At one point, He Ange had also considered aligning himself with the Dragon Empress, clinging to the strongest righteous faction in the world.

But now...

While he had secured the strongest “backer,” it wasn’t the Dragon Dynasty. Instead, it was the abyssal depths, a place that sent shivers down the spines of even the bravest.

“Sigh, life is tough.”

Thinking about his future, He Ange felt like crying.

An Yangsheng, a seasoned man, understood the pressures of youth. He patted He Ange’s shoulder in sympathy.

“That’s life, kid.”

“Don’t lose heart! If you become a publicly certified direct disciple, I’ll let you marry my Luo Yi. Once you have the strength and status in this vast immortal world, no one will dare oppose this union!”

An Yangsheng’s voice was filled with conviction, his face flushed with determination.

He was the type to speak his mind after a few drinks. Ever since He Ange was a child, An Yangsheng had often shared his thoughts about his daughter with him.

“To be honest, kid, I let you stay here because I thought you had potential. I figured you’d make a good little husband for Luo Yi to play with...”

“Honestly, I was just thinking out loud back then. I didn’t expect you to actually turn out this well! At least you’re filial, coming back to drink with me.”

By the end, An Yangsheng was patting He Ange’s shoulder again, his eyes full of approval as he laughed heartily.

He Ange laughed along with him.

But for a brief moment, his smile felt hollow. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.

To achieve his goals, he was even exploiting An Yangsheng’s goodwill.

He Ange, you’re truly despicable.

After a while, An Yangsheng, thoroughly drunk, slumped against He Ange, mumbling incoherently.

“Sigh, that Luo Yi... Her personality is terrible. She doesn’t understand social niceties and has probably offended countless bigwigs in just a few years of cultivation!”

“He Ange, you have to treat Luo Yi well. Even if the whole world betrays her, you must stand by her side. She has no one else to rely on... only you.”

“I will. I promise.”

Under the moonlight, the young man’s smile was sincere, though the faint glint of his fangs hinted at something darker.