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Chapter 294: Releasing the Captives
Sylphia administered medicinal pills to the captives, helping them regain enough strength to at least stand. However, some were in such critical condition that it was unsurprising if a few suddenly died before Aldrian and Sylphia could do anything.
Among the captives, there were also those who seemed to have lost their sanity, mumbling incoherently. Aldrian used his golden energy to soothe them, helping them relax and regain awareness. His golden energy had a naturally calming effect, aiding in their recovery.
There were also some women who tried to commit suicide after regaining their energy, but Aldrian stopped them. He blocked their movements, immobilizing them. Understanding that they had likely endured severe psychological and physical trauma, he avoided being too harsh. He simply didn’t want to save them only for them to end their lives through suicide.
After spending more than an hour treating the captives and giving them time to process the situation, some of them suddenly kowtowed to Aldrian and Sylphia.
"Thank you for saving us, saviors. We will never forget this favor," one of the men said. His actions were quickly followed by many others, who also kowtowed in gratitude.
"Get up. It’s fate that you still have your lives until today, and I just happened to cross paths with you," Aldrian said.
"Still, you are the one who saved us when we thought we would die in this place, so it’s appropriate for us to show this gratitude," the man said, still in a kowtow position.
"Alright, alright, I accept it. Just get up, or I’ll lock you back in your cell."
Hearing that, they instantly stood up and looked at Aldrian. Although he said those words, it seemed none of them took it to heart. They knew it was simply Aldrian’s way of joking to get them to stop what they were doing.
"Alright, all of you, move to the surface. The devil threat is no more—I’ve already cleared them all from this place," Aldrian said.
After hearing his words, the captives began moving in an orderly manner toward the surface, with Sylphia leading the way. Aldrian wasn’t concerned about their safety or the possibility of encountering surprises, as the entire area had already become his domain.
However, not all of them followed Sylphia. One woman remained in her cell, showing no intention of leaving. She sat silently, her body now covered with a piece of cloth that Sylphia had given her.
Aldrian approached her. She was one of the women who had tried to commit suicide earlier, but he had stopped her. She stayed silent, her head lowered, even as he stood in front of her, observing her quietly.
The other women who had suicidal intent had already been taken care of, as Aldrian was able to persuade them to rethink their choices. However, this woman still seemed determined to end her life, lacking any will to live.
She had a beautiful face with shoulder-length black hair. The first time Aldrian had seen her, she was in terrible condition, nearly devoid of any clothing. Her body was covered in bruises, clear signs of violence. While her dantian and meridians weren’t in particularly bad shape, the lack of energy flow for an extended period had caused her meridians to become rigid and dry. It was possible that she had been imprisoned in this place for several years.
"Carol Duclane."
Her cultivation was impressive, at the Marquess stage, and compared to her age, she seemed quite talented in her cultivation. Aldrian thought she might be from a noble house, but he wasn’t sure, as he didn’t have detailed information about the families in the Vindas Empire.
After a while, noticing she still didn’t seem intent on speaking, he finally broke the silence.
"Do you really want to die?" he asked.
But there was no answer—only silence.
"Carol Duclane, although I don’t fully understand the pain and agony you’ve endured in this place, if you want to die so badly, you’d better do it outside my sight. However, you won’t have a chance to take revenge."
The woman was stunned. Finally, there was a reaction—she instantly lifted her head and looked at Aldrian’s expressionless face.
"How did you...?" she began, her voice trailing off in surprise.
"You don’t have to know. All I care about is that I’ve already done my part here to save the people. If you truly want to die, even after I’ve saved you and prevented you from doing so, then I have nothing more to say. That is your choice. But, like I said, you won’t get your revenge," Aldrian said.
Aldrian was genuinely curious about this woman’s circumstances. He could sense that she indeed wanted to end her life, but he also felt the burning desire for revenge deep within her heart. He didn’t know who or what this revenge was directed at, and he wasn’t at the point where he had to ask her about her circumstances or revenge.
"And why would you care if I have revenge, die, or whatever? It’s not like you’re my guardian or anything," she said, her tone filled with hatred as she glared at him with an angry stare.
But Aldrian remained calm, his face expressionless as he continued to look at her.
"Like I said, this is just so I don’t have a burden on my conscience. I save what I can, and my effort to persuade you is no more than following my moral values and principles. Again, if you want to die, then you can do so after I leave this dungeon. Watching the people I’ve tried to save commit suicide in the end would be nothing but an insult to my efforts. How would you feel if you gave something to someone, only for them to throw it back in your face?" Aldrian said, his tone calm but carrying a subtle edge.
Carol fell silent, lowering her head as she couldn’t rebut what Aldrian had just said. She knew his words were true. She had her own grudge and story, but the situation had left her in despair.
She watched as Aldrian turned and walked away without looking back at her. He kept moving further, and as he seemed about to disappear from her sight, she bit her lip, standing up. She walked, following his steps, and before long, she finally exited the dungeon.
What greeted her outside was something she never expected, causing her eyes to widen in shock.
"What happened to this place?!"
The fortress was completely destroyed, with not a single structure remaining. It looked as though it had just experienced a major catastrophic disaster. The air was thick with the smell of burnt remnants, and parts of the ground were blackened and cratered, as if struck by something immensely powerful. Carol also couldn’t see or sense any devils in the area.
"Did the two of them do all of this?" she wondered, her gaze shifting between Aldrian and Sylphia. To think that just the two of them could destroy one of the devils’ fortresses, which had been guarded by so many powerful devils...
As she pondered, a thought crossed her mind. After seeing what Aldrian was capable of, she saw a chance. Maybe, just maybe, she could ask for his help.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen, you are free people now, and after this, I’ll need your help," Aldrian said to the group.
One of the men who had kowtowed to Aldrian earlier stepped forward.
"Just say it, savior. We will try our best to help," he said. The others nodded in agreement, ready to assist.
"Alright, after this, I will send you back to Flamecrest City. Once you arrive, I want you to spread the news that the Flamecrest family is the one that saved you from the Boraz fortress and that the Boraz fortress has already been destroyed. I want you to make sure that every single person who asks about it knows that the Flamecrest family is responsible. Is that clear?"
The people were stunned. Just that? If it was only that, it seemed like an easy task. The man, still stunned, asked Aldrian,
"Savior, are you from the Flamecrest family?"
"Well, not quite, but I do have a relationship with them," Aldrian replied.
The man wasn’t sure how to interpret Aldrian’s answer but decided not to press further. If their savior asked them to spread the word that the Flamecrest family was responsible, they would do so without question.
"Okay, I will—"
"Wait, can I meet you after we come back to the city?" Carol suddenly cut off Aldrian.
Aldrian looked at Carol, noticing the change in her demeanor. She no longer appeared as suicidal; her eyes now held a hopeful expression, a new spark of life ignited within her.
"If fate lets us meet again in the future," Aldrian replied.
Hearing his words, Carol looked disappointed for a moment, but then her face hardened with determination.
"I need your help," she said.
Aldrian fell silent, his gaze fixed on the determined look in her eyes. He could tell that she had found hope, and that hope was now directed at him. Sylphia also observed the woman, choosing to remain silent for the moment. As a woman, she felt a sense of sorrow for the suffering Carol had endured in that place. Seeing her change her mind about suicide was a positive development. If Aldrian could help her with whatever she needed, it would be an even better outcome.
Aldrian remained silent for a moment before gesturing for Carol to follow him, leading her further from the group of people. Once he felt they were far enough, he turned to her.
"What kind of help do you need from me?" he asked.
Carol gritted her teeth before answering.
"It’s about my revenge."
"Your revenge? Why would I have to involve myself in your revenge?"
"Because it has to do with the devils involvement in the noble family of the Vindas Empire."
Hearing that, Aldrian was stunned. Did he just hit another jackpot?
