Soon, Nie Yi, lying on the ground, had his cultivation crippled by Ye Ling, completely losing his ability to resist.
Following this, Wang Liren, with the despairing Nie Yi in tow, rushed back to the Dragon Department's branch base to handle subsequent matters and stabilize the base.
After all, the Dragon Department's branch had lost two high-ranking officials in a short period, causing widespread panic within the base. Wang Liren needed to calm the populace and take charge of the situation.
As for Ye Ling, he remained in the villa, awaiting Qi Zhuyue.
After Qi Zhuyue regained consciousness, she silently knelt beside Yu E, sobbing softly.
Although Qi Zhuyue had been controlled by the mark within her body, she had maintained a clear awareness and remembered everything that had just happened.
The scene of Yu E being struck to death by Nie Yi's palm while saving her was still vivid in her mind.
Ye Ling stood by, watching the softly weeping Qi Zhuyue, and sighed slightly, saying nothing.
While outsiders might have considered Yu E deserving of her fate and not worthy of sympathy, to Qi Zhuyue, no matter how much of a scoundrel Yu E was, she was still her mother, her only relative.
It was likely that Qi Zhuyue was the only person in this world who would grieve for Yu E.
Ye Ling did not disturb Qi Zhuyue, instead walking outside to gaze at the moonlight, waiting for her to compose herself.
After a long while, Qi Zhuyue emerged from the villa and looked at Ye Ling in the courtyard, asking, "Why did you stop me from killing Nie Yi earlier?"
Ye Ling turned around and replied to Qi Zhuyue, "I just felt that a person like him wasn't worth dirtying your hands over."
Qi Zhuyue was taken aback.
Ye Ling continued, "Of course, it's satisfying to personally slay an enemy, but you have a special mark within you. If you had truly gone all out just now and cut Nie Yi in half, you would have been consumed by the mark and turned into someone else."
Qi Zhuyue retorted, "But that scoundrel Nie Yi had to die!"
"Don't worry, he will receive his due punishment," Ye Ling said with a slight smile. "Or perhaps, what I did to Nie Yi just now wasn't convincing enough?"
Upon hearing Ye Ling's words, Qi Zhuyue's pupils contracted slightly, and she fell silent again.
Indeed, judging by Nie Yi's screams, Ye Ling did not seem like someone who would hold back.
Nie Yi's fate would likely be far more miserable than being killed by her on the spot!
Realizing this, Qi Zhuyue suddenly felt a sense of relief, as if her great revenge had been achieved.
She couldn't help but say to Ye Ling, "Thank you..."
Ye Ling waved his hand, "No need to thank me. I did this partly out of my own preference, and partly because I'm curious about the mark within you."
"The mark?"
Qi Zhuyue looked surprised. "I don't quite understand..."
Ye Ling explained, "In simpler terms, it's the source of the power within you. You should know yourself that with your own strength, you wouldn't even be able to touch Nie Yi, let alone kill him."
Qi Zhuyue hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I can indeed sense a powerful force within me. Not only that, but I often hear a stranger's voice in my mind."
Ye Ling then asked, "When did you discover the extra power within you?"
"It seems to be innate..." Qi Zhuyue answered truthfully.
To be honest, she herself didn't know where the power within her came from.
From childhood, that voice had been threatening her, warning her not to tell outsiders about her secret. To this day, even her parents didn't know about it!
Qi Zhuyue had always wanted to get rid of that voice and had secretly tried many methods, but to no avail.
Before this, she could still suppress the voice in her mind, preventing it from affecting her. It wasn't until Qi Tan's death, and after she discovered the secrets of her mother and Nie Yi, that the power became uncontrollable.
Now that her secret was exposed, she felt there was no need to hide it any longer.
Moreover, Ye Ling was the first person she had encountered who could suppress the power within her and even silence the voice in her mind!
Just on this point alone, Qi Zhuyue was willing to share her secret with Ye Ling.
"Innate, you say?"
Ye Ling murmured the words, then scanned Qi Zhuyue with his divine sense again. After confirming that the mark had merged with Qi Zhuyue's soul, making them inseparable, Ye Ling asked Qi Zhuyue, "What are your plans for the future?"
"Plans?"
Hearing Ye Ling's question, Qi Zhuyue became lost again. "I don't know... Perhaps I'll return to Hu Guo, or maybe find a job in Yang Guo..."
She was only twenty years old and still in school, having not yet experienced the harsh realities of society. Now, with both parents gone, no financial means, and a ticking time bomb within her, she felt utterly lost about her future.
Seeing Qi Zhuyue's dejected state, Ye Ling said, "If I asked you to follow me from now on, would you be willing?"
"Follow... you?" Qi Zhuyue stared blankly at Ye Ling, somewhat dazed.
She had witnessed Ye Ling's strength firsthand, and even the special envoy from the Dragon Department headquarters had treated Ye Ling with utmost respect. She knew without a doubt that Ye Ling was a significant figure.
If she followed Ye Ling, at least her livelihood would be secured, and her future would be bright.
However, Qi Zhuyue didn't even know Ye Ling's name. She didn't believe Ye Ling would take her in for no reason.
Ye Ling smiled, "Of course, there are conditions. In exchange for following me, I need you to cooperate with me in doing a few things."
"What things?" Qi Zhuyue asked instinctively.
Ye Ling replied, "It shouldn't be a bad thing for you. I'm very interested in the mark within you and want to study it. If possible, I will help you remove it."
"Remove the mark within me?"
Upon hearing Ye Ling's words, Qi Zhuyue's lips parted slightly, a look of surprise and joy on her face.
She had wanted to get rid of the voice in her mind for many years. If Ye Ling could help her remove it, it wouldn't even be a condition; she would even beg Ye Ling for his help!
The voice in her mind was sinister and a nightmare for her.
Even more terrifying was that she couldn't communicate with the voice at all, only passively receive the information it transmitted.
She had guarded her secret precisely because the voice had constantly warned her that if any outsider knew her secret, she and her parents would all die!
If she could get rid of the mark, she would be willing to do anything!
Ye Ling added, "Of course, I won't force you. If you're unwilling, you can leave now. As Qi Tan's daughter, the Dragon Department should arrange for your future living situation, so you don't need to worry about your future."
"I'm willing!"
Qi Zhuyue said immediately, her eyes filled with excitement. "If you can remove the mark within me, I am willing to follow you!"
Ye Ling smiled, "Then the contract is established?"
"Yes!"
"Alright, after all that has happened, I imagine you're quite overwhelmed and need time to process it."
"After you've handled your mother's funeral arrangements, come find me. I'll be waiting for you at the Dragon Department base."
"Thank you..."
Qi Zhuyue bowed to Ye Ling. "After I've dealt with my mother's affairs, I..."
"Will be yours."