As they rendezvoused in camp, Wang Jian revealed to Chen Yiyan that he had enlisted the services of a pair of women for his journey.
Upon witnessing Xiao Ling, Meng Xiangyi, and Bixi Shuyan in his employ, Chen Yiyan was taken aback.
Recognizing the trio as Zhang Fei's paramours, she was curious as to their presence.
Each of the women responded differently to her query.
Xiao Ling and Bixi Shuyan were left gawking at Wang Jian, whereas Meng Xiangyi simply cast her gaze downwards.
Swiftly, Wang Jian constructed a plausible explanation for their participation, claiming that they yearned to witness the wonders of the Everlasting Mystic Empire, and that he had presented them with an unparalleled opportunity.
Xiao Ling's teacher, Mei Yan, was elated at the prospect of her apprentice joining the expedition and implored Wang Jian to bring her along.
Despite his reluctance, he ultimately relented to her request.
Meanwhile, Bixi Shuyan and her mother were being oppressed by a local beast king in Beastclaw Grove, so they desired to depart and migrate to a region where the Spiritual Energy was more abundant.
As a result, they decided to join Wang Jian's entourage.
In contrast, Meng Xiangyi's father desired his daughter to venture out and partake in the world's myriad wonders.
Upon learning of this, Wang Jian offered them the opportunity to bring her along and utilize her expertise to mentor a few disciples.
As Wang Jian spun his web of deceit, the women's gaze bore into him, transfixed by his words.
Each uttered falsehood was an arrow to their hearts, for the truth was that Wang Jian had strong-armed them into joining his entourage.
He had threatened their loved ones, leaving them no choice but to acquiesce to his demands.
Their simmering anger was not directed at Chen Yiyan, who smiled naively at Wang Jian's words and sang his praises.
No, their fury was reserved for Wang Jian himself, a manipulative and conniving villain who, even at this moment, was deceiving the muddle-headed Chen Yiyan.!
After four days of travel, Wang Jian's entourage had left Solterra City far behind and crossed into the territory of the Everlasting Mystic Empire.
The Windhaven Kingdom's domain was now just a distant memory, and the landscape had transformed into one of the rolling hills and dense forests.
For the past four days, Wang Jian had been making an effort to spend as much time as possible with Chen Yiyan on their journey towards Aria City in the Everlasting Mystic Empire.
They walked side by side, conversing heartily, and laughing aloud at each other's jokes.
As they travelled, Wang Jian would occasionally point out things of interest, such as a particularly beautiful flower or a picturesque view, and Chen Yiyan would listen intently, her eyes sparkling with wonder.
Meng Xiangyi, Xiao Ling, Bixi Shuyan, and Lady Zhuoran watched in disbelief as they witnessed this side of Wang Jian's personality.
They had always thought of him as a wicked man, ruthless in his dealings and merciless in his actions.
But seeing him now, so loving and kind towards Chen Yiyan, completely shattered their preconceptions.
Despite this, Wang Jian's behavior did little to change their opinion of him.
They still saw him as the same evil bastard they had always known, and they were wary of his intentions towards Chen Yiyan.
It was only Meng Xiangyi who believed that Wang Jian's feelings towards Chen Yiyan were genuine. She somewhat understood why he would be furious enough to completely destroy Zhang Fei and his clan for blaspheming such a pure-hearted woman.
During these four days, Wang Jian spent his days with Chen Yiyan, but when night fell, he would retreat to the tent of one of the four women in his entourage.
On this particular evening, he visited Meng Xiangyi's tent.
Upon entering, he saw Meng Xiangyi sitting with her back against a pillow, looking through a small book.
"Hello, Meng Xiangyi," Wang Jian greeted her calmly.
Meng Xiangyi looked up and forced a small smile, "Hello, Wang Jian."
Wang Jian sat beside her and began, "I wanted to talk to you about your job in Aria City. You will be assisting Su Xian in training her disciples. You will have to train hard and dedicate yourself to the task."
Meng Xiangyi's eyes widened as she processed the information. 'I see. I didn't expect that Wang Jian had actually spoken half-truth regarding my job in front of Chen Yiyan,' she thought to herself.
"Is there anything else you want to know?" Wang Jian asked.
Meng Xiangyi hesitated for a moment before speaking up, "Well, I am slightly interested in venturing into Aria City. Can you give me further details about my task?"
Wang Jian nodded and proceeded to give her a detailed account of what she could expect during her time in Aria City.
As he continued to speak, she found herself genuinely fascinated by the prospect of Aria City and the details of her task. She nodded along and asked a few questions.
After finishing, Wang Jian stood up and said, "I hope this conversation has helped you. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask."
Meng Xiangyi nodded and forced another smile, "Thank you, Wang Jian. I will make sure to work hard and do my best in my new job."
Wang Jian nodded and left the tent, leaving Meng Xiangyi to her thoughts. She couldn't help but feel wary of Wang Jian and all his smooth talking.
She knew that he had coerced them into coming with him and that there was something off about him.
Despite her suspicions and hatred towards him, she knew she had to be careful and maintain a facade of friendliness, lest she reveal her true feelings and suffer the consequences.
The next night, Wang Jian spent with Xiao Ling in her tent.
Wang Jian sat on a silk cushion, lounging in the corner of the tent while Xiao Ling knelt before him, her eyes cast down in subservience. He flicked his wrist, signaling for her to start fanning him with a beautiful, intricately designed hand fan.
"I understand that you hate me," he said, a cruel smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, "and you should. But don't forget that I am the man who gave you what you wanted, the man who helped you get revenge on the one who caused you so much pain and was the source of your despair."
Xiao Ling gritted her teeth, trying to hide the hatred that boiled inside her. "Why are you here?" she asked, her voice barely masking her disgust.
Wang Jian chuckled, his eyes glinting with sadistic pleasure. "I simply wanted to see you, my dear. You amuse me, and your hatred is like sweet nectar to me. I enjoy playing with you like a cat with a mouse."
Xiao Ling's heart sank as she realized that she was nothing more than a toy to this man, a plaything for his sick amusement. She continued fanning him, her hands trembling with anger and fear.
Wang Jian's countenance shifted to a more solemn one as he addressed Xiao Ling, "Perhaps you are not aware, but you possess a unique constitution, the coveted Sacred Yin Physique. This is the underlying cause of your prodigious abilities. Without such an innate gift, despite any potential, it would have been impossible for you to achieve the Lord Realm at such a youthful age in the Windhaven Kingdom, without some fortuitous intervention."
Xiao Ling was taken aback upon hearing those words.
The revelation was indeed true.
She had never encountered any cultivation impediments since beginning her training.
Despite starting her cultivation journey later than Zhang Fei, she swiftly matched his level within a matter of months.
Such a meteoric rise was unparalleled within the entire Windhaven Kingdom.
It was her exceptional cultivation speed that had earned her the distinction of being a core disciple, and the privilege of receiving personal guidance from the Sect Mistress of the Celestial Dragon Sect, Mei Yan.
Wang Jian leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with a cruel determination.
"Listen closely, Xiao Ling," he said, his voice low and dangerous.
"You may hate me, but you need me. And if you keep obeying my orders, I will give you everything you need to become even stronger. In this world, only with strength can you accomplish what you desire."
Xiao Ling's heart pounded in her chest. She knew that Wang Jian was not to be trusted, but she also knew that he spoke the truth. Without strength, she would never be able to protect herself or those she cared about.
After a moment of consideration, she nodded her head resolutely. "I'll do it," she said, her voice steady. "But don't think that I trust you, Wang Jian. I'm only doing this for myself."
Wang Jian smirked. "Of course," he said. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you. But mark my words, Xiao Ling. Until you become stronger than me, you will continue to act as my maid."
"I understand," Xiao Ling spoke decisively.
Wang Jian's face twisted into a wretched grin as he spoke in a tone dripping with malice, "Excellent. Then you can start by massaging my back. But remember, you can only use your breasts for this task."
Xiao Ling's face contorted in disbelief and anger at his vile request. She felt like she was being degraded and humiliated.
"Are you kidding me?" she spat out, her voice trembling with rage.
Wang Jian chuckled darkly. "No, I'm not kidding. Do it now. We don't have all day."
Xiao Ling felt sick to her stomach as she watched him strip down to his underwear and lay on the ground. She knew she had no choice but to obey his orders if she wanted to survive in this cruel world.
With trembling hands, she began to carry out his depraved request, using her breasts to massage his back while trying her best to block out the disgust and shame she felt.
