Chapter 90: Coercion

Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Coercion

To make Zhao Nuanyue submit, they had to shatter her psychological defenses. Only by breaking her completely could they make her obedient.

Hearing Mrs. Li’s words, the fear in Zhao Nuanyue’s heart intensified, and her resolve began to waver.

Zhao Nuanyue stood there blankly all day, her face expressionless, her heart desolate.

"Right now, you’re nothing but a blade of grass that I’ve stomped into the mud. You can’t possibly run away. I can trample you however I please. If you’re obedient, you’ll suffer less. I’ll be so kind as to repeat this one more time: I hope you’ll listen, so you can spare yourself some pain." Mrs. Li stressed again that Zhao Nuanyue should obey and know what was good for her.

Zhao Nuanyue remained silent. She didn’t know if she could endure the torment that was to come.

If it weren’t for her brother, she would have chosen to die.

She didn’t dare to die now—not because she feared death, but because she couldn’t bear to leave her brother behind. If she died, he would surely not survive.

She thought of her brother, Zhao Nuan Yang. His mental state had just started to improve, but this ordeal would surely cause him to become withdrawn again, making his condition even worse.

Zhao Nuanyue also dreamed that her talented brother would one day become a famous painter.

’All my hopes were so beautiful, but reality is so cruel. I’ve fallen into a cage again, about to become a plaything, a puppet!’

Seeing Zhao Nuanyue standing there woodenly, silent and expressionless, Mrs. Li felt both smug and disappointed.

On one hand, she was pleased that her psychological warfare had triumphed, leaving Zhao Nuanyue disheartened and compliant. On the other hand, Zhao Nuanyue’s silence proved her deep reluctance, which displeased Mrs. Li.

She wanted to see Zhao Nuanyue groveling and begging for mercy, submitting to her will, pleading with every word, kneeling and kowtowing. That would bring her far more pleasure.

"...Heh. After all that, you should understand my position and my resolve. All right, I’ll say no more. You should know what to do," Mrs. Li said with a smile. "Prepare yourself. I’ll be back with him in a little while."

At these words, Zhao Nuanyue’s eyes finally filled with despair and fury.

"Don’t even think about harming my son, or even entertaining the thought of killing him. If he’s hurt in the slightest, I will make you pay the price ten, even a hundred times over. And it won’t just be you who suffers—it will be your brother, and even your mother..." As if she could read Zhao Nuanyue’s mind, Mrs. Li enunciated every word, reminding her who was in charge and warning her against any pointless resistance.

And just as she intended, upon hearing Mrs. Li’s threat, the defiant fury in Zhao Nuanyue’s eyes dimmed, and her anger subsided once more.

Once Mrs. Li had strutted away like a victorious rooster, Zhao Nuanyue’s strength finally gave out. She slumped against the wall, slowly sliding down until she was sitting limply on the floor.

’The nightmare is about to begin. What am I going to do?’

Zhao Nuanyue looked at the Dragon Scale on her wrist, then touched the Dragon Bright Grass on her neck. Her eyes suddenly lit up. She tried to use the Dragon Scale’s power to perceive what was happening outside.

Zhao Nuanyue could extend her consciousness through any body of water. Sure enough, she was able to see into the next room, where Mrs. Li was with her son.

Her foolish son, a portly man with a thick neck and large ears, was holding a chicken leg in one hand and half a chicken in the other, eating with relish.

The thought that she would soon be violated by this disgusting man made Zhao Nuanyue want to vomit.

Mrs. Li’s viciousness was gone, replaced by a soft, gentle tone as she spoke to her son. But her foolish son didn’t respond or agree with her. Sometimes, when she talked too much, he even seemed annoyed that she was interrupting his feast.

Zhao Nuanyue’s consciousness continued to creep outward, following every drop of water. Just as Mrs. Li had said, the place was guarded three layers deep. Escaping would be incredibly difficult, nigh on impossible.

Seeing this, Zhao Nuanyue sank deeper into despair. She was completely powerless.

’It’s not that I’m weak or cowardly,’ she thought. ’It’s that my enemy is too strong—so strong I can’t possibly fight back.’

Just as her consciousness was roaming outside in search of an opportunity, the door was suddenly thrown open. Startled, Zhao Nuanyue scrambled up from the floor and huddled in a corner.

Mrs. Li entered with her foolish son. The fool had finished his chicken leg and was now clutching the remains of half a chicken.

"Mom, why’d you make me come here? I’m not full yet!" Li the Fool grumbled, sounding displeased.

Mrs. Li chuckled and coaxed her son. "My dear son, didn’t you say you had no one to play with? Mom found you a wife. She can play with you, keep your bed warm, and cook delicious food for you..."

"A wife?" Li the Fool froze for a second. "Great! Great! I’m getting a wife! I have a wife now!"

"That’s your wife. She’s pretty, isn’t she?" Mrs. Li said, pointing at Zhao Nuanyue. "Go on, talk to your wife. In a bit, Mommy will have someone teach you what to do, and you just do exactly as they say, understand?"

"I know, I know! It’s getting all naked and making babies with my wife!" Li the Fool cackled, clapping his hands gleefully. The chicken he was holding smeared grease all over them.

Seeing the mother and son, and hearing their sickening conversation, a wave of nausea washed over Zhao Nuanyue. She finally couldn’t hold it back and retched.

When Mrs. Li saw this, she knew Zhao Nuanyue was repulsed. The thought that this woman was disgusted by her son filled Mrs. Li’s heart with both pain and fury. ’This woman still doesn’t grasp her situation. She really won’t cry until she’s staring at her own coffin. Fine. Soon, I’ll let her taste a living hell, a fate where she can neither live in peace nor find release in death.’

Just then, her foolish son’s face began to flush. His breathing grew heavy, and a dazed look came over his eyes. He mumbled, "Mom, I’m hot... I’m so hot..."

Zhao Nuanyue was horrified. ’Mrs. Li actually drugged her own son!’

"Your wife is cool to the touch. Go on, touch her and you’ll feel better," Mrs. Li cooed, guiding her son. "Tear off her clothes. Your wife will cool you down."

At these words, Zhao Nuanyue’s face went even paler. Sweat beaded on Li the Fool’s forehead. Heeding his mother’s words, he started walking toward Zhao Nuanyue, tearing off his own clothes as he went. "Wife... wife... I’m so hot..."

Zhao Nuanyue kept scrambling backward, trying to get away. But even though Mrs. Li’s son was a fool, he was still a man in his twenties. His movements were far from slow, especially now that his mind was clouded by the drug.

After several attempts to evade him, Li the Fool caught up to Zhao Nuanyue. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, puckering his greasy lips to kiss her.