“How could Junior Sister make the decision? It’s just a matter of analyzing the situation.
Anyone who thinks a little would come to the same conclusion.
Senior Sister, don’t slander Junior Sister,” Tang Muxi blinked her eyes, full of sincerity.
The phrase “anyone who thinks” had already put an end to the conversation, cleverly deflecting Senior Sister’s challenge.
However, she didn’t expect Jiang Yin to go to great lengths to tease her.
“‘Anyone who thinks’? But Senior Sister is so foolish, I can’t even come up with that,” Jiang Yin released Junior Sister’s hand with a hurt expression, her eyes dim.
“I only feel that this person did wrong first and can’t be trusted.
I was sincere, but in Junior Sister’s eyes, I’m just foolish and unteachable.
Junior Sister, you really hurt me, taking matters into your own hands and then biting back.”
Foolish and unteachable? Tang Muxi felt a chill on her scalp, realizing she couldn’t outsmart Jiang Yin.
Just based on her shamelessness, she had to admit defeat.
But after spending so much time with Senior Sister, she had somewhat figured out her tactics.
Every time she acted like this, it was either to tease her or to extort someone.
And now, it seemed like both.
She glanced sympathetically at Zhou Qin, then looked back and asked, “In that case, Junior Sister won’t make the decision.
I’ll leave it all to Senior Sister, okay?” Jiang Yin finally stopped acting, smiled, and pulled her close.
“That’s right.
You promised to listen to Senior Sister in everything, so you can’t go back on your word.”
Everything? Tang Muxi keenly noticed the sleight of hand in Jiang Yin’s words, pursed her lips, and pretended not to hear.
But she didn’t know that climbing up the pole wasn’t her specialty; Senior Sister understood the essence of it better.
Silence now meant being prepared for the other person to ride on her later.
In every sense.
After finishing the sisterly act with Junior Sister, Jiang Yin put away her smile and slowly approached Zhou Qin.
The previous roundabout conversation had shattered Zhou Qin’s feelings.
She had always been good at reading people, and she chose Tang Muxi because she seemed easier to deal with.
But this silent and enigmatic Senior Sister was quite tricky.
All previous discussions were nullified, and her right hand still throbbed with pain.
Looking at Jiang Yin’s cold eyes, Zhou Qin knew this matter wouldn’t be easily resolved.
“I should have taken your life directly.” As expected, the other party’s words were chilling.
“But because of your princess status, I had to let you go this time.”
Had to, meaning there was still a desire to kill.
Zhou Qin found the other party very similar to herself, so she could understand every implied meaning.
“My Junior Sister is kind-hearted and willing to let bygones be bygones, but I’m different.
Anyone who humiliates me, I will tear a piece of flesh from them.
If they humiliate Junior Sister, they must pay with their life.”
As Jiang Yin spoke, her demonic aura suddenly surged, as if about to explode.
Zhou Qin felt her heart being tightly squeezed, the pressure like a boulder, almost suffocating her.
Clearly, they were both Nascent Soul cultivators, but the difference in strength was like heaven and earth.
Although this feeling lasted only a moment before quickly dissipating, Zhou Qin felt unprecedented dread.
Jiang Yin naturally wouldn’t be foolish enough to recklessly release her aura and expose her identity.
The slight intimidation was just for the subsequent negotiation.
“I heard that within the Nine Fiends Hall, the nobility likes to cultivate in secret realms, which are not only rich in spiritual energy but also full of rare treasures.
The Zhou family, ruling vast lands for generations, should be wealthy.
My Junior Sister has always been a treasure in the palm, and today she was humiliated.
It’s not too much to ask for some compensation.”
Tang Muxi was taken aback, not expecting Senior Sister to bring her up at this moment, and looked over with some resentment.
Jiang Yin noticed her gaze and gently squeezed her hand in secret, as a form of comfort.
In her previous life, she had entered the royal secret realm and obtained a Water Spirit Pearl.
At the time, she considered it a pleasant surprise and kept it in her small world as a collection.
But now, thinking about it, a Water Spirit Pearl that can control the five elements of water is too precious to be left unused.
Her Junior Sister was very compatible with the mutated ice spiritual energy, and if she could obtain the Water Spirit Pearl, her strength should advance another level.
The topic shifted too quickly, and Zhou Qin was momentarily stunned before quickly understanding her meaning.
Although it pained her, wealth was external, and if it could buy the other party’s forgiveness, it was worth it.
“Okay.” She nodded.
“But the secret realm is still in the capital and needs to be retrieved later.”
Jiang Yin shook her head, smiling.
“Don’t be in a hurry to agree.
The royal secret realm can only redeem half your life.
There are two more conditions.
If you agree to all, I’ll let you go for now.”
“Half a life?!” Zhou Qin’s face turned completely dark.
“The royal secret realm has existed for thousands of years, forming its own world.
The one who holds the seal can be king! All beings within obey, yet it only redeems half a life?” She didn’t know her life was so valuable!
Jiang Yin sneered.
“If you don’t want to, you can leave half your body.” As soon as she finished speaking, she summoned the Imprisoning Demon Sword.
Since they were in the city, she didn’t flaunt it too much, only releasing part of the divine weapon’s aura.
But even so, the powerful and surging demonic energy was something Zhou Qin couldn’t withstand.
Zhou Qin gritted her teeth, knowing the other party was deliberately asking for an exorbitant price, but she had no choice.
After struggling for a long time, she finally nodded, feeling as if her heart was bleeding.
At this moment, she was still a princess and hadn’t had much contact with the royal secret realm, only knowing it contained heavenly spiritual plants.
It wasn’t until much later, when she truly came to power, that she realized what she had lost today.
“What are the other two conditions?” This sentence was almost squeezed out through gritted teeth, extremely resistant.
If not for her eagerness to save her father, she might have preferred to be confined in the imperial palace.
“Dragon Soul.” Jiang Yin spoke calmly, as if she were merely asking for a few spirit stones, but those who had just heard the legend of the Ming Snake understood what she meant.
Wen Fei was speechless, thinking this person really knew how to do business.
Each request was more heart-wrenching than killing.
Even Tang Muxi felt the price was too high, but she had already agreed to listen to Senior Sister, so she couldn’t go against her now.
“Dragon Soul?” Zhou Qin frowned.
“There is no Dragon Soul in the Nine Fiends Hall, but if you mean the legend of Panlong City, I advise you to give up.
Panlong City has existed for millions of years, and since its establishment, no divine dragon has ever appeared.
Don’t believe those baseless rumors.”
Jiang Yin smiled faintly.
“If there isn’t one, this request is void.
But if there is, hand over the Dragon Soul to me.”
She originally thought the divine dragon was a myth, but considering Junior Sister’s nightmare, she was willing to gamble on it.
If the black zombie could obtain the remnant soul of the Ming Snake, it might advance at least one level, entering the flying corpse realm.
And she could also use the remnant soul to improve her cultivation, with no disadvantages.
Zhou Qin had seen many people come seeking the dragon over the years, but without exception, they all ended in failure.
Seeing Jiang Yin also obsessed, she said no more, secretly feeling she had gotten a bargain.
“Alright, deal!” Jiang Yin smiled, not feeling she had lost anything, and slowly spoke, stating the third condition: “The last matter doesn’t involve money and should be very simple for you.
I have a group of subordinates working in the Nether City, but they are short-handed and struggling.
Once this matter is resolved, I want you to connect them with people and take care of them in the future.”
Zhou Qin didn’t expect the third condition to be so simple and was a bit incredulous.
“Really?”
Jiang Yin nodded.
“A gentleman’s word is his bond.”
“Okay!”
After negotiating the compensation, Jiang Yin no longer targeted Zhou Qin, but because of the previous kidnapping of Junior Sister, she didn’t completely let her guard down.
On the way back, she deliberately held Junior Sister’s hand, afraid of losing her again.
They were going to the Exquisite Delicacies House to celebrate and enjoy, and Zhou Qin, feeling unnecessary, wanted to quietly leave midway.
But before she could retreat, Wen Fei, as if she had eyes on the back of her head, accurately grabbed her wrist, her eyes focused intently on her, making Zhou Qin feel as if all her disguises were seen through.
“Where are you going?”
Zhou Qin was flustered for a moment under her gaze, then quickly regained her cold expression, indifferently saying, “To rest.”
If it were someone else seeing her so cold, they probably wouldn’t disturb her further, but Wen Fei was different.
She was very accepting of new members, and having seen this little princess before, she felt a sense of familiarity.
In just a few moments, she had already put aside the matter of her disciple being taken away.
Ignoring Zhou Qin’s indifference, Wen Fei said, “No, we need to work together in the future.
If we don’t get to know each other today, it might cause trouble.” As she spoke, she grabbed the other person’s hand with her other hand, as if to prevent her from escaping.
Zhou Qin struggled twice with a cold face but couldn’t break free, her expression becoming even more stern.
However, her cultivation was only at the Nascent Soul stage, which was insignificant in front of Wen Fei, who was originally at the Tribulation stage.
Even with a heavenly-grade artifact in hand, it was too easy to handle her.
Wen Fei realized that this person’s temperament was exceptionally bad, incomparable to her considerate little disciple.
Fortunately, she was magnanimous; otherwise, if it were someone with a more peculiar temper, they might have started a fight directly.
The two of them stood in a stalemate for a while, neither willing to back down.
In the end, it was Tang Muxi who came out to mediate, persuading the two to resolve their dispute and go together.
When Jiang Yin and Wen Fei left, it wasn’t too late, but by the time they returned, the moon was already high in the sky, and the banquet at Exquisite Delicacies House was nearing its end.
Wen Mingyu, seeing them finally return, slowly let out a sigh of relief, gently patting Bai Ling beside her, and said, “You’re finally back.
If you were any later, I wouldn’t have been able to drag this banquet out any longer.”
Originally, the event was supposed to end an hour ago, but thanks to Wen Mingyu’s wealth, she added many delicacies and called musicians to play, barely dragging it out until now.
As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed a cold-faced woman who had come along with them and was momentarily stunned.
Bai Ling, not knowing this person, saw Wen Mingyu’s bewildered expression and curiously asked, “Who is she? I’ve never seen her before.” Tang Muxi intended to answer, but her master spoke faster: “Zhou Qin, she will be joining us in the capital for the next few days.”
As for the princess’s identity, she did not reveal it directly.
Bai Ling, not being naturally suspicious, assumed she was just an ordinary cultivator with no background and extended a friendly hand, “Hello, I’m Bai Ling.”
Zhou Qin was surprised by Wen Fei’s concealment, but since the other party didn’t mention it, she wasn’t foolish enough to expose her identity herself and also greeted Bai Ling.
With someone taking the lead, Lin Anjing, Xu Qingwan, and the others joined in the fun, exchanging names and quickly becoming friendly.
However, Zhou Qin, being aloof, rarely participated.
If Wen Fei hadn’t sat beside her to prevent her from leaving, she might have left long ago.
Only Wen Mingyu, who knew her identity, was bewildered, not understanding why someone who was being searched for a few days ago was now here.
