"Ah—" Jiang Xinli gasped, immediately turning to hide in Sheng Tianze's arms.
In the dim, damp dungeon before them, the walls—hung with an array of terrifying metal torture devices—were covered in mottled bloodstains.
The dim lighting cast a sinister and terrifying glow.
The powerfully built Ye Kuo sat limply on a bloodstained electric torture chair.
His head hung low, and his thick, muscular arms were covered in horrifying, fresh gashes.
Deep red blood seeped out, winding down his arms and dripping onto the cold ground.
Jiang Xinli's gaze fell on the whip clutched tightly in Ye Kuo's hand.
It, too, was stained with blood.
"Ye Kuo…" Jiang Xinli whispered, dismayed and shocked as tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes.
Yue Hua Yin and Hua Xi, who were following behind her, were also stunned when they saw the scene.
They knew Ye Kuo had requested punishment, but they had never expected him to be so ruthless to himself, resorting to such cruel torture.
Sheng Tianze reached out and stroked Jiang Xinli's back, whispering, "Don't be afraid."
Xuan Ying, standing at the very back, shot Jiang Xinli a sidelong glance, his face holding the detached expression of a spectator.
Jiang Xinli collected herself and, forcing down her fear, slowly walked over to Ye Kuo.
Her hand trembling, she reached out and gently probed Ye Kuo's Spiritual Sea.
A moment later, she turned to Sheng Tianze. "Your Healing Ability should have recovered. Help me save him."
Sheng Tianze didn't move. Instead, he gave her a thoughtful look. "Female Master, are you sure you want to do this?"
"But he tried to murder you," Yue Hua Yin couldn't help but speak up, his face filled with suspicion. "He's punishing himself now. He's doing this willingly."
They all knew that Ye Kuo choosing this method of self-punishment was better than being handed over to the interstellar court by the ruthless and vicious Jiang Xinli. At least this way, he could keep his limbs and avoid the agony of dismemberment.
Although, the Jiang Xinli of today was like a completely different person in word and deed compared to just a few days ago.
But no one could guarantee she wouldn't have another bipolar episode.
"I'm sure." Jiang Xinli nodded firmly. Her gaze paused on the torture instruments on the wall, and her body couldn't help but tremble slightly.
"Those… I'm so scared. Can you destroy all of them for me?" As she spoke, she shrank into Sheng Tianze's arms again like a frightened fawn.
Sheng Tianze gave a soft "Mm" and turned to Xuan Ying. "Help me. Destroy them all."
Xuan Ying gave an almost imperceptible lift of his eyelids, casting a cold glance at the pair. A flicker of disdain crossed his eyes.
Then, he lifted a finger slightly, and a powerful, cold energy instantly filled the air.
With a loud SHATTER, the metal torture instruments on the wall instantly froze into countless fragments and crashed to the floor.
Sheng Tianze steadied Jiang Xinli. "The air in here is foul. Let's go back inside."
Seeing this, Yue Hua Yin and Hua Xi hurried forward and carefully helped Ye Kuo down from the torture chair.
Everyone returned to the living room. With a grave expression, Sheng Tianze quickly focused his energy and began to treat the semi-conscious Ye Kuo.
As his hands wove slowly through the air, a soft light flowed from his palms, enveloping Ye Kuo.
The wounds on Ye Kuo's body began to heal slowly, the process visible to the naked eye.
Jiang Xinli was slightly taken aback. 'Sheng Tianze's Healing Ability could completely heal wounds…'
She couldn't help but remember the scars she'd seen on him before, and a question formed in her mind. "Has your Healing Ability leveled up?"
Sheng Tianze shook his head. "Before, the Female Master liked to punish us. She couldn't stand seeing us unharmed. So, I deliberately left those scars."
He paused, a gentle smile gracing his lips. "But you're not who you used to be. There's no reason to keep them now."
After speaking, he gave Jiang Xinli a comforting look.
Yue Hua Yin shot Jiang Xinli a suspicious look, unable to contain his confusion. He finally asked, "She's not who she used to be? What's that supposed to mean?"
Hua Xi said, "Ancient Earth philosophy?"
Sheng Tianze replied, "Haven't you guys noticed? The Female Master has been completely different these past two days."
Yue Hua Yin fell silent, a thoughtful expression on his face.
'Normally, if Jiang Xinli saw Ye Kuo grievously injured from self-mutilation, she would only get excited. She might even make it worse by lashing him with a whip herself. She wouldn't be like this…'
Hua Xi pursed his lips. "If I remember correctly, I've only seen the Female Master this emotionally stable three times since she came of age. Once when we registered our marriage, once when we first arrived on the Deserted Star, and the third time is now. Sigh, I just hope she doesn't suddenly have another bipolar episode…"
He looked at Jiang Xinli, who was watching Ye Kuo with eyes full of worry, and couldn't help but lower his head and sigh deeply.
In all five thousand years of interstellar history, they were probably the five luckiest and most unlucky Male Beastmen in existence.
For Jiang Xinli, it had only taken a few short days to fall from heaven into Hell.
And for them, it was the same.
A year ago, there were at least a thousand Male Beastmen across the entire interstellar civilization with a 100% genetic match to Jiang Xinli.
After rounds of strict screening, only the five of them had been lucky enough to win the right to marry into her family.
But who could have imagined that the day after they completed their marriage registration with Jiang Xinli, Furao Star 3 would suffer a catastrophe of the century.
They were carrying rich dowries and the hopes and expectations of their powerful backers. But before they could even set foot on Furao Star 3, the Interstellar Military Court handed down its verdict. All their assets were frozen, and they were exiled to Dark Star for 100 years, right alongside Jiang Xinli…
Compared to Sheng Tianze and the others, Hua Xi—who had been sent to Furao Star 3 at a young age by his father to be Jiang Xinli's "child bridegroom"—felt especially aggrieved.
This sense of grievance was like a heavy stone that had been weighing on his heart.
"Female Master…" Ye Kuo's voice pulled Hua Xi back from his thoughts.
"Ye Kuo, you're awake?" Jiang Xinli's eyes lit up with pleasant surprise.
Sheng Tianze shifted to stand in front of Jiang Xinli, his eyes filled with wariness.
Ye Kuo looked at Jiang Xinli, the previous anger in his eyes long since replaced by deep remorse.
"Female Master, I did want to divorce you, and I even wanted to kill you, but… that night, I really wasn't in control…"
When Yue Hua Yin and Hua Xi heard this, they were stunned, scarcely believing their own ears.
'Ye Kuo's attitude had changed way too fast!'
Xuan Ying, who understood the real reason, merely gave a cold smirk.
"Not in control? What do you mean?" Sheng Tianze raised an eyebrow, his piercing gaze fixed on Ye Kuo.
Ye Kuo was silent for a second. "I smelled a female's green tea-scented pheromones."
A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes. "I only have a 1st Rank Superpower. Logically, it should be impossible for me to smell it, unless the female releasing the pheromones intentionally let me smell them… because that would be more effective for triggering a rampage in my Spiritual Sea."
Yue Hua Yin was dumbfounded. "Green tea-scented pheromones?"
"You're saying you smelled a female's pheromones?!" Hua Xi's mouth dropped open into an "O," his charming peach-blossom eyes going wide in an instant…