Sure enough, Young Master Song was truly frightened. He glanced nervously around, but just like before, he couldn't see any sign of Evan Yang. His throat was dry, and he was terrified that the next moment might be his last. The teasing attitude he had toward Tina Cloud was gone, replaced only by fear. "Fine, I'll tell you—but you have to keep your word and make sure that brat doesn't come after me."
"No problem. Hurry up and talk," Tina pressed.
"In my family's secret underground prison," Young Master Song said.
"What?" Tina was shocked to hear that her father really had been captured.
"Junior sister, your dad is fine—I haven't done anything to him, so you can relax," Young Master Song quickly explained.
"If my dad has any injuries, I'll kill you. But for now, you're taking me there. Don't play any tricks, or you'll be dead," Tina threatened.
"Huh? How am I supposed to take you?" Young Master Song frowned.
"I beat up one of your men, disguise myself as your bodyguard, and then you bring me in. Isn't that easy?" Tina said.
Young Master Song was frustrated—he hadn't expected Tina to use such a method. Now he was really asking for trouble, but could only agree. He stood there helplessly while Tina went to change her clothes. When she reappeared, she looked like a young man. "Let's go," she said.
"Mm." Young Master Song nodded, glancing around again to see if he could spot Evan Yang, but as before, there was no trace. Resigned, he could only continue back toward the Song estate with Tina.
Following behind Young Master Song, Tina felt grateful to have Evan Yang as her protective talisman—it made manipulating the death-fearing Young Master Song almost effortless.
Tina and Young Master Song slipped easily into the Song estate and reached the so-called secret prison. Once downstairs, Tina grew tense—worried something might happen to her father, and afraid that if Young Master Song suddenly betrayed her, she'd be walking straight into a tiger's den with no hope of escape.
"What? Damn it! Where's the antidote?" Tina cursed at Young Master Song.
"The antidote—I'll get it!" Young Master Song rushed out the way they came. Tina was shocked, and Lynton Cloud saw her expression and realized something was wrong. Soon Young Master Song returned, this time with a crowd—including the Song patriarch. Everyone surrounded him, as if afraid he'd be ambushed from the shadows.
Once Young Master Song saw the guard had gone to make arrangements, he felt a bit more at ease. Now it was just a matter of capturing Tina—and making sure Evan Yang didn't ambush him.
Once Young Master Song saw the guard had gone to make arrangements, he felt a bit more at ease. Now it was just a matter of capturing Tina—and making sure Evan Yang didn't ambush him.
The instant he saw Tina, Lynton Cloud was shocked. "Why are you here?"
At that moment, Tina was so excited she turned to Young Master Song and said, "If you want to live, open the door, quick."
Young Master Song unlocked the door, letting Tina in. Tina rushed inside, went straight to Lynton Cloud, and said, "Dad, let's go."
"Go? You came alone?" Lynton Cloud sensed something was off and was shocked.
"Let's talk outside," Tina said.
Lynton Cloud tried to get up, but found his limbs numb. "No, I've been poisoned by them—I can't walk," he said.
"What? Damn it! Where's the antidote?" Tina cursed at the Song youth.
"The antidote—I'll get it right now!" Young Master Song rushed out the way they came. Tina was shocked, and Lynton Cloud noticed her expression and realized something was wrong. Soon Young Master Song returned, but this time with a crowd—including the Song patriarch. Everyone surrounded Young Master Song, as if afraid he'd be attacked from the shadows.
"Truly walked right into the trap—ha!" The Song patriarch was delighted to see Tina here.
"You—" Tina was shocked, realizing the situation was exposed and there was no way to escape.
At that moment, Tina felt her limbs go numb and couldn't move. She was terrified. Seeing her condition, Lynton Cloud knew it was over—Tina had fallen for their trap too.
"Well? Doesn't the poison work nicely?" The Song patriarch smiled at Tina's state.
"Damn it, you really are vicious!" Tina hadn't expected they'd already planned for her to get poisoned. They'd coated the area with drugs she couldn't smell, which unknowingly entered her body.
"There's no point talking now—just enjoy some family time with your dad. In a few hours, we'll come for you." The Song patriarch sneered, then turned and left with the others.
Young Master Song was confused—why did the patriarch want them left in the cell for a few hours? After they left the prison, the Song patriarch sent him a sound transmission: "Have people keep a close eye on the prison. If anything happens, report immediately."
"Dad, they're both poisoned—what could possibly happen?" Young Master Song asked, puzzled. "Didn't you say that brat has some powerful treasure and can turn invisible? I'm giving them a few hours to see if he really sneaks in. If he does, we'll catch him too. If not, it means you were just bluffed," the Song patriarch replied.
Young Master Song nodded, finally understanding his father's plan. He immediately gathered many people to wait outside the cell, keeping a close watch on where the father and daughter were held.
Inside the cell, Lynton Cloud asked, "Where is he?"
"He's at Cloud's End Palace," Tina replied.
"He didn't come with you? Why'd you come alone?" Lynton asked curiously.
"I was worried he'd take too long, so I came on my own," Tina said gloomily.
Lynton sighed when he heard this. "Heaven really wants to destroy us..."
"Dad, what are you saying? Could Evan Yang really change our situation? And what exactly is going on? Why is the Song Family doing this to us?" Tina had never understood why the Song Family went to such lengths to capture them—was it really just because she refused to marry Young Master Song?
"If he could come out of Cloud's End Palace, maybe he could help us. As for why the Song Family is targeting us, it's because of you." Lynton knew there were things he couldn't hide anymore—especially now, when the Song Family would soon separate them, making things even worse.
"Me? Is it really just because I didn't marry Young Master Song?" Tina said angrily. "Marriage? That's nothing—your identity is the real issue," Lynton sighed.
"My identity? Dad, I don't know what you're talking about," Tina frowned.
Lynton Cloud gave a bitter smile. "There's something inside your body—it's been there since birth, probably contracted when your mother was pregnant. I don't know exactly how, but the Song Family wants to capture you for that thing inside you."
"There's something inside me? Dad, what are you saying? I've never felt anything," Tina protested, not believing him.
"Didn't you often complain of headaches as a child? And when you overcultivated, you showed signs of qi deviation, so you never dared to train too hard. It's all because of that thing inside you," Lynton explained.
Tina was shocked. She hadn't realized her headaches and cultivation difficulties were due to something inside her—it was hard to accept. She quickly asked, "What exactly is it? And if there's really something, why didn't you remove it for me, Dad?"
"Remove it? If I could, I would have long ago. But all this time, I never found a way—so I could only warn you to cultivate less," Lynton sighed.
"Damn it—so there's really no way?" Tina was agitated, now knowing her cultivation block was caused by this thing.
"No, especially now that the Song Family plans to use you for experiments. If they succeed, you won't be yourself anymore—you'll just be a killing tool." Lynton suddenly said something that Tina found hard to believe.
"A killing tool? Dad, I'm not that strong..." Tina felt a chill run down her spine.
"That thing inside you—once it's activated, your strength will surge, but you'll be controlled. You'll instantly reach Emperor-level, lose your own consciousness, and be at their mercy. Isn't that a killing tool?" Lynton explained.
Tina was stunned by the idea of such power. "That strong?"
"Yes. But only if it's activated—it will replace you, and then be controlled by the Song Family, becoming a mere tool," Lynton sighed.
"Dad, is there any way?" Tina frowned, not wanting to become anyone's weapon.
"No. If there was, I would've fixed it long ago. Now all I can hope is that the activation fails and you aren't controlled. Beyond that, I can't imagine what might happen." Lynton was terrified at the thought of Tina going mad and becoming a killing tool. "Don't worry, Dad. If they really try to control me, I'll kill myself before I lose my mind," Tina gritted her teeth.
Lynton hadn't expected Tina to say such things. He was shocked, and finally a tear slipped down his cheek. "I'm so sorry," he said.
"Dad, don't be like this. It's already happened, so let's not talk about it anymore. I just want to know how I got infected with this thing," Tina asked.
"The thing inside you is called the Cloud Parasite—it survives by latching onto hosts. Once activated, it controls its host. As for how you got it, I don't know. When I found you, you already had it," Lynton finally revealed Tina's true origin.
"I was found?" Tina could hardly believe it. She'd lived in the Cloud family for years, cherished and loved, only to learn now she was a foundling. It was hard to accept.
"Yes, and you came from Cloud's End Palace. Not long ago, I had Evan Yang look into it, hoping he'd take you there. If he succeeded in passing the Cloud-Lock Tower, he'd come back to help me. If not, you'd stay there—it'd be safer than being caught by them," Lynton said.
Tina frowned after hearing Lynton had secretly worked with Evan Yang, without telling her. "Dad, why didn't you tell me, but told an outsider?"
"He's not an ordinary person," Lynton replied.