As Xu Ji'an finally recovered his breath, Nian Jiaojiao said to him, “Let’s go, husband, we’ll leave this place.”
Fearing the Tentacle Demon would return and endanger Nian Jiaojiao, Xu Ji'an quickly said, “Oh, oh, yes, let’s go!”
At this moment, Jun Ye’s gloomy voice came from beside them, “Elder Xu, have you forgotten something?”
Xu Ji’an’s body froze. He had been so shocked by seeing his daughter-in-law here that he had completely forgotten about the Holy Son.
Nian Jiaojiao was startled by Jun Ye’s address to Xu Ji’an. “Elder… Elder Xu?”
As far as she knew, the destruction of the Xu family was the work of the Black Lotus Sect, but Xu’s father was an elder of the Black Lotus Sect. What was going on?
After Xu Ji’an stood up, he wanted to cut the tentacles off Jun Ye, but he had nothing on him. Everything had been taken by the Tentacle Demon. In fact, even if he had a sharp weapon, as someone in the Manifestation Realm, he wouldn't be able to cut through the Tentacle Demon’s tentacles.
Just as Xu Ji’an was at a loss, Nian Jiaojiao couldn’t help but ask, “Husband, was it the Black Lotus Sect that destroyed the Xu Mansion?”
Hearing Nian Jiaojiao’s question, Xu Ji’an’s body stiffened. He sighed. Hadn't he been avoiding this question all along?
“Husband?” Nian Jiaojiao called out again.
Xu Ji’an gave her a definitive answer, “That’s right, it was the Black Lotus Sect, and… I was also involved.”
Nian Jiaojiao frowned. She wasn't worried about anything else, but rather that Yu Chuan wouldn't be able to accept the truth when he learned of it.
“Why is that?” Nian Jiaojiao pressed.
Xu Ji’an opened his mouth, about to explain, but Jun Ye interrupted him forcefully. “Elder Xu, this concerns our sect’s secrets. If they are leaked…” The last two words carried a threat.
Nian Jiaojiao was annoyed. This Jun Ye was so troublesome. Why was he everywhere? So, she retorted sarcastically, “Our sect? What sect? As far as I know, wasn’t the Black Lotus Sect destroyed by this tentacle monster? Heh, still putting on airs as the Holy Son, what Holy Son? A Holy Son of only two people?”
Having lived with Nan Qing for a long time, Nian Jiaojiao’s sharp tongue had improved immensely through osmosis. Seeing Jun Ye’s chest heave up and down, she knew he was extremely angry.
After a long moment, Jun Ye looked at Xu Ji’an and said, “Elder Xu, what? Are you not going to manage this Holy Son anymore? If this Holy Son dies here, our Black Lotus Sect will truly be annihilated.”
Hearing the last sentence, Xu Ji’an trembled all over. He immediately squatted down and began to desperately tear at the tentacles with his bare hands. However, no matter how hard he tried, it was in vain.
Nian Jiaojiao beside him couldn’t understand. “Husband, why are you bothering with him? If he dies, the Black Lotus Sect will truly be annihilated, isn't that a good thing? You can then find Chuan’er without any reservations, and no one will be able to control you.”
Xu Ji’an seemed not to hear Nian Jiaojiao’s words, still struggling to tear the tentacles. Seeing this, Jun Ye looked at Nian Jiaojiao with a triumphant expression in his eyes. He seemed to be saying, See, in Elder Xu’s heart, I am much more important than you.
Facing Jun Ye’s provocation, Nian Jiaojiao’s face darkened, and she said coldly, “Even if my husband wants to save you, he can’t.”
Jun Ye’s expression stiffened. He looked down at Xu Ji’an, who was working hard. The latter was only at the Manifestation Realm and was seriously injured, unable to exert much strength. Judging by the force, even an ordinary person who hadn’t started cultivating would have more strength than him!
After a moment of silence, Jun Ye looked up, seemingly conceding, “This stalemate isn’t going to work. Your husband is not in good condition. If anything happens to him, you won’t be able to explain it to the one in your family, will you?”
Nian Jiaojiao hesitated, still saying, “I don’t do things that have no benefit.”
Jun Ye looked at her and said, “After we get out, I’ll have Elder Xu tell you the truth.”
Nian Jiaojiao shook her head. “That’s not enough.”
Jun Ye’s mouth twitched, and he said, “Although our Black Lotus Sect has been destroyed, the treasury still remains…”
Nian Jiaojiao’s eyes lit up, and she became very interested. She squatted down, eagerly saying, “You’re going to give me the treasury?”
Jun Ye’s face darkened. She had such a big appetite!
“I mean, you can take two artifacts of the Manifestation Realm from it. Since you were able to reach here safely, you must already be in the Manifestation Realm.” Jun Ye’s expression was complicated as he said this. When they met before, the other party was desperately fleeing, but now their cultivation was higher than his. He didn’t believe the other party could have reached here without fighting the tentacle demon. Although he was also in the Manifestation Realm, there could be significant differences between cultivators of the same realm.
Nian Jiaojiao was delighted to hear about artifacts of the Manifestation Realm, but she didn’t show it. Instead, she continued to bargain. “Heh, so the life of a Black Lotus Sect Holy Son is only worth two artifacts of the Manifestation Realm~” She drew out her words, sizing up Jun Ye.
Jun Ye felt as if he had suffered a great insult. His voice now carried a hint of gritted teeth. “Don’t push it too far!” The treasury was his capital for rebuilding the Black Lotus Sect in the future. No matter how much she provoked him, he wouldn’t hand it all over.
“Half?” Nian Jiaojiao tested.
Jun Ye remained silent.
“Half of a half, it’s settled. If you haggle further, I’d rather not have it and leave you here. The Tentacle Demon will be back soon, and looking at it, it seems to like you very much, Holy Son~”
Jun Ye lowered his head and thought. A quarter of the treasury. Although it was a significant loss, it was not entirely unacceptable. So, he reluctantly agreed with a dark expression.
When he waited for Nian Jiaojiao to untie him, she cheerfully took out paper and a pen from her embrace. Nian Jiaojiao glanced at him. “Don’t misunderstand, I think it’s better to have things clear in black and white.” With the contract signed using her abilities, Nian Jiaojiao no longer had to worry about him breaking his promise at any time.
Jun Ye: …
…
San State.
Kanshan City.
Nian Jiaojiao took off an inner garment and handed it to Jun Ye for covering. She was quite friendly to her partner. If Xu Ji’an’s body had restraint marks, Jun Ye’s body had marks that looked particularly like “kiss marks.” The suckers on the tentacles had been gripping Jun Ye’s body erratically, making him look very disheveled. If he didn’t cover himself, it might incite many women to “commit crimes.” However, under the cover of night, the group quickly found an inn to rest.
“You all rest well. We’ll talk about anything tomorrow,” Nian Jiaojiao said, then took out the wound medicine she had bought from the apothecary earlier. Elder Xu took the medicine and thanked her. Jun Ye also didn’t stand on ceremony. He snorted and took the medicine from Nian Jiaojiao’s hand. Thinking that all his current treatment was exchanged for the treasury, Jun Ye felt pain in his heart and flesh.