After the Fairy Maidens Fell to Darkness, They Captured Me to Ruthlessly "Repay" Their Gratitude - Chapter 282

Chapter 282: Wicked Disciple, How Dare You Call Her “Master”?

That night, He Ange explained everything about the Fox Clan secret realm to Qin Shiyan in detail—its past, present, and future—as if submitting a work report.

Qin Shiyan listened attentively, deeply moved.

Her own deductions were already close to the truth. The signs she had seen in the Fox Clan during the day, along with Xia Zhiyue’s indirect hints, had already suggested that He Ange had played an irreplaceable role in saving the Fox Clan.

And then, An Luo Yi arrived.

Originally, she had come looking for He Ange for… ahem dual cultivation, but upon hearing that Qin Shiyan was here, she grew concerned and decided to check in.

Coincidentally, Qin Shiyan had just finished learning about the Fox Clan’s situation and was now inquiring about An Luo Yi’s fall into demonic corruption…

Since the person in question was present, He Ange no longer had to plead his case alone.

After all, when it came to An Luo Yi’s defection from the Dragon Dynasty, He Ange had a guilty conscience.

He was the mastermind behind the whole thing.

No matter how he tried to explain it, his words lacked persuasiveness—and more importantly, they pierced his own conscience.

But An Luo Yi was different.

She had no regrets.

And she trusted He Ange wholeheartedly.

She was far more willing to speak than He Ange ever could be.

Within half an hour, An Luo Yi had successfully convinced Qin Shiyan—by listing the countless atrocities committed by the Dragon Dynasty.

By the end, even Qin Shiyan was furious.

Had she not heard it from An Luo Yi herself, she would never have known that Li Nanshan and Li Zijing had committed such disgusting deeds in the northern border—either deliberately withholding support during An Luo Yi’s battles against the demoness, or openly leading her into enemy ambushes.

Disgraceful!

And then, there was Ye Qingchuan in the Fox Clan…

Good grief.

Three of the most despicable bastards had all gathered under the Dragon Dynasty’s banner.

No wonder An Luo Yi had chosen to abandon the righteous path and follow He Ange into darkness.

If Qin Shiyan had been in her place, she would have done the same.

“Luo Yi…”

Standing on the balcony under the moonlight, Qin Shiyan sighed softly and placed a comforting hand on An Luo Yi’s shoulder.

“You’ve suffered so much all these years…”

An Luo Yi was slightly taken aback but nodded politely, never once blaming Qin Shiyan for what had happened.

Night fell.

He Ange sent An Luo Yi and Xia Ran Yue back to rest.

Only when the courtyard had emptied did he finally prepare to discuss future plans with Qin Shiyan alone.

As a long-standing minister of the court, Qin Shiyan understood political subtleties.

The moment He Ange dismissed the others, she guessed his intentions.

She assumed he wanted to discuss something private—something he couldn’t say in front of others.

“Don’t worry. When I return, I won’t report your activities to the Empress.”

Before He Ange could even speak, Qin Shiyan closed her eyes and answered softly.

She figured that if He Ange had anything secret to discuss, it could only be about the Empress.

But to her surprise, He Ange looked slightly taken aback by her “preemptive defense.”

“Master, you underestimate this disciple’s respect for you…”

“To begin with, this disciple has never doubted that you would betray me.”

“Even if you did report everything to the Empress, so what?”

“This disciple has done no wrong in the Fox Clan.”

“I believe the wise and mighty Empress would never let personal grudges affect her judgment.”

“Besides…”

He smiled gently.

“If you choose to hide it for my sake, that is your kindness.”

“If you report it truthfully, that is your duty.”

“Would this disciple really trouble you over something so trivial?”

With that, He Ange respectfully poured tea for Qin Shiyan, warming the cup with a flick of his fingers before gesturing for her to take a seat.

His confidence left Qin Shiyan stunned.

Somehow, she had unintentionally belittled him again…

In truth, He Ange had only done good in the Fox Clan.

He had nothing to fear.

Why would he lower himself to beg Qin Shiyan for secrecy?

“My apologies… Master thought too much.”

Qin Shiyan sighed, pressing her fingers against her temples, regretful once more.

She had been in a position of power for too long—unable to shake off her subconscious arrogance and prejudice.

She had assumed she was protecting He Ange.

But in reality, he didn’t need her pity or mercy at all.

“There’s no need for you to blame yourself, Master.”

He Ange smiled, his eyes softening with sincerity.

“In truth, this disciple does have matters he wishes to discuss with you tonight.”

“Matters pertaining to… the future.”

The moment he said this, Qin Shiyan’s heart leaped into her throat.

She couldn’t think of anything else she could help He Ange with—aside from hiding the truth from the Empress.

And if it wasn’t that…

What else could he possibly want from her?!

She couldn’t think of anything!

And that was what frightened her the most!

Was there really nothing else?

Of course there was.

But she didn’t dare think about it.

Other than minor favors, the only thing Qin Shiyan could offer He Ange was her position as a trusted minister of the Empress.

If He Ange used that as a starting point…

She didn’t even want to imagine what he might propose next.

“Ange, Master believes you wouldn’t entertain… improper ambitions.”

Just in case, Qin Shiyan warned him lightly.

She was afraid—terrified—that he might say something unthinkable.

Because if he crossed that line, their master-disciple relationship would never be the same again.

“Master, actually…”

The moment He Ange opened his mouth, Qin Shiyan’s heart sank like a stone.

“This disciple believes there is… still room for reconciliation between me and the Dragon Dynasty.”

“!?”

Qin Shiyan’s face paled slightly.

She knew it.

He was steering the conversation toward politics!

But as the Empress’ subject, she could not afford to compromise on this!

Catching the warning in her gaze, He Ange simply smiled.

“After hearing Senior Sister Luo Yi’s story, doesn’t Master agree… that we share a common enemy?”

“Ange… what exactly are you trying to say?”

“What I mean is…”

He interlaced his fingers, his smile deepening into something darkly amused.

“Is there a chance… the Dragon Dynasty could use this wicked disciple’s hands… to cleanse itself of the traitors leeching off its power?”

The sheer audacity of his proposal sent a shiver down Qin Shiyan’s spine.

Just meeting his abyssal gaze made her tremble instinctively.

“Master should consider it.”

“At the very least, in the matter of eliminating traitors… this disciple and the Empress share a common interest.”

“If the Empress could truly control her ministers, she wouldn’t have lost a Chosen One like An Luo Yi.”

“But can’t the Empress execute these traitors herself? Of course she can.”

“But as the leader of the righteous path, she must set an example.”

“She lacks… a suitable excuse. A method.”

“And so, Master, tell me…”

His smile widened.

“Who in all the Nine Heavens… could be more suited for such dirty work… than a demonic disciple like me?”

Qin Shiyan’s back was drenched in cold sweat.

Perhaps all these years, she had grossly underestimated He Ange.

While she still saw him as a child, his ambitions had long since outgrown such labels.

To put it bluntly—

He Ange was openly inviting her to conspire with a demonic sect.

If she so much as hinted at agreement, it would be a crime punishable by death under Dragon Dynasty law.

But then again…

If He Ange’s words were truly treacherous, would Qin Shiyan be this conflicted?

She wasn’t stupid.

She wouldn’t rebel just because He Ange asked.

The problem was…

She found his proposal… disturbingly reasonable.

That was the terrifying part.

One was a demonic cultist.

The other was a righteous fairy.

In this politically tense period, right after the Empress’ brutal conflict with Feng Yuan—

Could Qin Shiyan dare agree?

Absolutely not.

That night, Qin Shiyan tossed and turned, sleepless.

Her mind replayed He Ange’s proposal over and over.

She tried to find ulterior motives in his words—

But no matter how she looked at it, she couldn’t bring herself to see him as a villain.

Which meant…

She couldn’t reject the idea outright.

Because some part of her was tempted…

For one, she wanted to reconcile He Ange with the Dragon Dynasty.

For another, she truly loathed the traitors plaguing the court.

He Ange’s suggestion was, frankly, a win-win solution.

“Perhaps…”

“When I return, I could propose this to Her Majesty?”

Tucked under her blankets, Qin Shiyan hesitated, her thoughts a tangled mess.

But after some deliberation, she immediately dismissed the idea.

The Empress hated Feng Yuan’s guts after being humiliated in the northern border.

Bringing this up now would be pouring oil on the fire!

“No. I absolutely cannot tell Her Majesty!”

“Then…”

“Maybe I could… test He Ange’s methods in secret first?”

“If he truly has the means to eliminate those traitors…”

After countless deliberations, this was the answer she settled on.

Meanwhile…

After his conversation with Qin Shiyan, He Ange returned to his chambers, ready to cuddle with his senior sister and sleep.

But the moment he pushed open the door—

He stepped straight into an abyssal portal.

With a thud, he found himself kneeling before a certain green-robed, phoenix-winged girl.

Feng Yuan leaned down, her slender hands gripping his face, her abyssal eyes burning with possessiveness and dominance.

Her lips parted slightly, teeth biting her lower lip in frustration.

Then—

She yanked his cheeks outward with all her might, stretching his face like putty.

“Wicked disciple.”

Her voice was icy, as if she were gnashing her teeth to hold back rage.

Though he had no idea why she was angry, He Ange immediately started apologizing.

“Master, I was wrong, I was wrong—”

His obedience only infuriated her further.

It felt like he was patronizing her—like she was a child throwing a tantrum.

“You—!”

“After all this time, you’re still hung up on that cheap master of yours from the righteous sects?”

“Qin Shiyan is the Empress’ dog.”

“He Ange, I’m warning you—”

“If you dare call her ‘Master’ one more time…”

“If you dare treat her so gently again…”

Her voice trailed off, her grip tightening until He Ange yelped in pain.

Yet no matter how much he whimpered, she refused to let go.

Finally, after a long silence, she exhaled sharply, her lips trembling as she uttered:

“Then you’ll lose me.”