Chapter 25: The Cage of Desire

  The morning light was faint, and the mist in the forest of Chongming Isnd had not yet dissipated. The air, damp with the scent of the sea breeze, hung heavy around them. Sanbao and Tang Mingli had just set foot on the isnd when they spotted a few familiar figures.

  In front of a wooden sign that read *“Dangerous beasts ahead”*, a group of cultivators was speaking in hushed tones. Sanbao recognized two Taoist priests from the lobby of the Rest Inn, along with two young men in white robes. Not far away, a woman in white, glowing with a soft light, stood by the side of the road, seemingly impatient with their conversation.

  Seeing Sanbao and Tang Mingli, the two Taoists greeted them with a respectful bow, while the two young men in white robes looked at Sanbao with interest and nodded slightly.

  “These people seem pretty strong,” Sanbao murmured softly.

  Tang Mingli nodded, his gaze carrying an unspoken meaning. “Those two Taoists are disciples of the Wudang Sect, third generation. Quite formidable. As for the three in white, the two who look alike are Bai Feiyu and Bai Feifei, the eldest son and daughter of the Bai family in Wangdu. The other one is Chen Gang, the Bai family's son-in-w, from Bingzhou. He was once a loose cultivator.”

  “Bai Feiyu is notorious in the aristocratic circles of Wangdu for being a pyboy. He takes every beautiful woman he sees for himself. His list of girlfriends is endless, and there are frequent rumors about him coercing common girls into inappropriate retionships.”

  Sanbao frowned. “What does this have to do with me?”

  Tang Mingli shrugged with a smile. “Just a reminder. You wouldn’t want to catch his eye without realizing it.”

  They continued deeper into the isnd, encountering many espers and martial artists along the way—some in groups, others alone—each one alert and cautious.

  However, after a full day of searching, they found no sign of the wildman, nor even the so-called dangerous beasts of the isnd. Only a few rabbits hopped pyfully through the grass, and the whole of Chongming Isnd seemed eerily calm.

  As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the forest, the air grew chilly with the dampness.

  Sanbao and Tang Mingli chose a spot to set up camp. They lit a small fire and prepared to rest for a while before heading out ter in search of any clues about the wildman.

  By midnight, the night had grown even darker. The stillness around them felt unnaturally quiet.

  Sanbao tossed and turned in her sleeping bag, when suddenly her ears perked up. A faint rustling sound drifted from the nearby bushes—something was moving in the dark.

  She gnced over at Tang Mingli, who was sound asleep in the other tent, and quietly rose to her feet. Following the sound, she slipped into the woods.

  It wasn’t long before vines suddenly shot out from the trees, coiling around her arms and legs with the speed of snakes, lifting her off the ground!

  “Hahaha!” A lewd ugh rang out from the darkness. Two familiar figures emerged from the shadows. Sanbao recognized them instantly—Bai Feiyu from the Bai family in Wangdu and his brother-in-w, Chen Gang.

  “Brother-in-w, your wood-type esper ability is amazing. You tied her up so easily. Saved me a lot of trouble.” Bai Feiyu’s gaze slid over Sanbao’s body, lingering greedily on her chest.

  “What do you want? Let me down now!” Sanbao demanded, furious.

  “Little beauty, what’s so special about that Tang kid? Is it his family’s cultivation resources you’re after? My Bai family can offer you more. Just agree to be my woman.” Bai Feiyu’s eyes never left her chest, his expression full of lecherous intent.

  Sanbao gred at him, her spiritual energy surging as she attempted to break free from the vines. However, she quickly realized the vines were absorbing her energy, making it harder to move.

  “Stop dreaming and let me go!” she shouted.

  “Little beauty, don’t be so shy.” Bai Feiyu licked his lips, his gaze growing more lustful. “You’ve got me all worked up. I didn’t want to force myself on you, but you’re just too beautiful. I can’t help it.”

  Sanbao suddenly ughed, causing Bai Feiyu to think she had gone insane. “What’s so funny, little beauty? Are you scared? Don’t worry, big brother will treat you well. I’ll make sure you enjoy yourself.”

  His earlier charm was gone, repced by the lewd, uncouth persona of a pyboy. He no longer looked like a noble son of a prestigious family.

  “Brother-in-w, how about we both have some fun with her?” Bai Feiyu gnced at Chen Gang.

  “Bai Shao, this isn’t right…” Chen Gang hesitated, his voice uneasy.

  Bai Feiyu chuckled. “Stop pretending, brother-in-w. You can’t fool me. I see the same look in your eyes. You’re just as eager as I am.”

  “Stop joking. If your sister finds out, we’ll be in trouble.” Chen Gang said nervously.

  “What’s the big deal? Men fool around all the time. As long as your sister doesn’t find out, it’s fine.” Bai Feiyu smirked.

  Chen Gang hesitated for a moment, then licked his lips. “Well, in that case, I’ll join in.”

  Bai Feiyu’s eyes lit up with excitement. “We’re good brothers, let’s share this. You go first, or should I?”

  “You go first, after all, you’re the one who spotted her first.” Chen Gang stepped back, waving his hand, causing the vines holding Sanbao’s legs to loosen. She fell to the ground with a thud.

  “Don’t break my little beauty.” Bai Feiyu stepped forward, ready to tear open her clothes.

  But the next moment, the vines around Sanbao’s wrists suddenly snapped!

  With a quick flick of her wrist, Sanbao grabbed Bai Feiyu’s arm, her eyes cold as ice.

  Bai Feiyu gasped in shock, trying to pull back, but his arm was locked in her grip.

  “Brother-in-w, help!” Bai Feiyu shouted in panic.

  Chen Gang quickly activated his powers, sending a barrage of vines flying toward Sanbao.

  Sanbao raised her left hand, and from her Seven-Treasure Bracelet, she pulled out several steel balls, tossing them in every direction.

  *Boom!*

  The steel balls collided with the vines, igniting a bze that consumed them in seconds.

  “Divine Fire Orbs? You’re a fourth-rank fire esper?” Bai Feiyu gaped in shock. “I didn’t sense your spiritual energy was that high. How are you able to wield Divine Fire Orbs?”

  “None of your business.” Sanbao scoffed, then punched Bai Feiyu in the chest, sending him flying several meters. He crashed to the ground, coughing up blood, lying in a pitiful heap.

  Seeing things turning sour, Chen Gang hastily summoned more vines to create a defensive wall between them and Sanbao.

  Sanbao drew a water pouch from her belt, pouring the water into her hands and beginning to chant a spell.

  The water swirled in her hands, forming a giant water ball that she hurled at the wall of vines. *Bang!* The impact shook the barrier.

  Bai Feiyu’s face turned pale as he staggered to his feet, summoning a sword from his pouch. His bde glowed with red-hot energy, and two fire dragons leapt from the bde, hurling themselves toward Sanbao.

  Another fire dragon? Sanbao sneered inwardly.

  She reached for two more water pouches, pouring them into the air. The water condensed into two more water dragons, which cshed with the fire dragons in midair, creating a storm of steam.

  Meanwhile, Sanbao flung more steel balls at the vine wall. As they hit, they exploded with fiery force, completely incinerating the barrier.

  Bai Feiyu and Chen Gang were pushed back, clearly unable to hold their ground.

  *Bang!*

  A bullet suddenly struck the tree beside Sanbao, leaving a smoking hole.

  *Gunshot?* Sanbao froze. Since arriving in this world, she had never encountered weapons other than cold steel. She was momentarily thrown off.

  Through the smoke, Bai Feiyu’s sister, Bai Feifei, stepped forward, a revolver in her hand.