The inn returned to peace within a few short minutes.
Mandala and Feiyan clapped their hands and retreated behind Ye Cangtian once more.
As Earth-level cultivators, dealing with these Xue family guards was incredibly easy for the two women.
On the other side, Xue Changjiang, watching the guards groaning and writhing on the ground, gritted his teeth, unsure of what to do.
He had once believed Mandala and Feiyan to be mere playthings on Dawn's long journey, at most useful for gathering information for Dawn.
However, he never expected that this inconspicuous Profound Mechanism Executive would also possess Earth-level cultivation.
When did the Dark Association become so extravagant, only arranging for individuals with Earth-level cultivation to hold the rank of a Profound rank executive?
Wasn't this a waste of talent?
"Heh heh, kid, I'm quite impressed by you!"
"Even at this point, you can still get distracted. Aren't you afraid I'll accidentally crush you to death?"
As Xue Changjiang's thoughts wandered, Dawn's voice echoed again.
When Xue Changjiang snapped back to reality, he gasped in shock. Dawn had appeared before him at some unknown time.
He swallowed hard and said with difficulty, "Dawn, you've won. I admit defeat as per our bet. Tell me your conditions!"
There was no other way. He had been the one to provoke the opponent. Now that he had been defeated, the best course of action was to accept the bet and admit defeat, thus avoiding further enraging the other party.
"Heh heh, it's a little late to remember admitting defeat now."
"However, I've always been magnanimous and won't quibble with you over this."
Ye Cangtian smiled faintly, then glanced at Xue Changjiang and continued, "How about this: from here all the way back to the Xue family, you will crawl on your knees. With every step, you must shout that you are a pig! And you must kowtow with each step too!"
"You!"
At these words, Xue Changjiang's face instantly turned red. Returning in such a manner was no different from a public parade!
If that happened, he would become a laughingstock for the entire city, and how could he ever show his face again!
After a long pause, Xue Changjiang quickly spoke, "Dawn, you've already won, why must you be so relentless? You know, one should be forgiving when one can afford to be!"
"Heh heh, my good brother, your memory seems to be a bit poor!"
"What did you say earlier? If I lost, I would have to kowtow to you three times and retreat three paces whenever I saw you. Why didn't you consider being forgiving then?"
"Since you didn't consider it, why should I let you off?"
Ye Cangtian said disdainfully.
Hearing this, Xue Changjiang was instantly rendered speechless. He was filled with regret.
He was truly foolish! Not only did he ignore advice, but he also boasted and acted aggressively in front of Dawn, leaving no room for negotiation.
With that thought, he braced himself and said, "Dawn, everything is negotiable. I was a bit excessive earlier, and I apologize. Regarding our wager, can I compensate you in other ways?"
Hmm?
Upon hearing this, Ye Cangtian's face lit up with a smile. "Wouldn't it have been better if you had said this earlier? Why create such an awkward situation? Tell me, what can you offer as compensation?"
Spirit stones? Pills? Ancient secret manuals?
Feeling Ye Cangtian's gaze, Xue Changjiang's eyes darted about.
If it were spirit stones, the other party came from the Dark Association and held a high position, so they surely wouldn't lack spirit stones.
What about pills?
The other party might be short on pills, but the Xue family was also in a similar situation! After all, he couldn't fool the other party with ordinary return pills, could he? The other party wasn't a fool!
As for ancient secret manuals, Xue Changjiang hesitated for a moment before finally dismissing the thought. Ancient secret manuals were even scarcer than pills.
If he were to take them out, the Xue family patriarch would likely beat him to death!
After thinking for a long time, Xue Changjiang finally gritted his teeth and, with a flash of his hands, presented the heavy hammer he had just used.
"Dawn, this is my weapon. Do you think it can compensate for our wager?"
Seeing Xue Changjiang's distressed expression and glancing at the massive hammer, Ye Cangtian snorted dismissively and said, "Sorry, I don't have a good impression of blacksmith's hammers!
If this is all you have, then you'd better fulfill the wager!"
A blacksmith's hammer?
With just five words, Xue Changjiang felt like killing someone.
This was the Mountain Shaker Hammer, which he had found after experiencing countless dangers in the unexplored eastern region. Its power was immense, capable of shattering rocks and cleaving mountains.
Yet, in the other party's eyes, it was merely a blacksmith's hammer, a true insult to him and the hammer itself.
With that thought, he couldn't help but say, "Dawn, this is the Mountain Shaker Hammer, and it's the most precious treasure I possess..."
"Hmph!"
Ye Cangtian let out a cold snort, directly interrupting him, and said irritably, "I don't care what it is! In my eyes, it's worthless!"
He continued, if he were to exchange it for any other equipment of the same level, Ye Cangtian might have agreed.
But this Mountain Shaker Hammer looked too cumbersome, and few people used such weapons.
Therefore, even if Ye Cangtian accepted it, it would just be stored away, and it would be difficult to give away! In that case, it was better to have Xue Changjiang fulfill the wager!
"You..."
With those words, Xue Changjiang was instantly rendered speechless.
In his eyes, if Ye Cangtian didn't even deem the Mountain Shaker Hammer worthy of his attention, then he must be planning to make an exorbitant demand, but he truly had nothing else on him.
Meanwhile, seeing that Xue Changjiang had fallen silent, Ye Cangtian snorted and said, "Since you don't have any rare treasures to offer, stop dawdling and begin!"
Hearing this, Xue Changjiang was about to say something when his vision suddenly blurred. Something inexplicably appeared in his mouth.
The object melted upon contact, and within moments, all his spiritual energy was sealed. Only then did he realize that the other party had given him a Spirit Sealing Pill.
With that, Ye Cangtian ignored him and looked at the groaning black-clad men, "Quiet down, all of you! If I hear another sound, don't blame me for being impolite!"
Silence!
Absolute silence!
With just that sentence, the entire hall became eerily quiet, so much so that one could hear a pin drop.
Witnessing the instantaneous change, Ye Cangtian showed a satisfied smile and said, "Listen to me. If Xue Changjiang misses even one kowtow on the way, all of you will die!"
As he spoke, Ye Cangtian's killing intent suddenly surged, and he continued, "Remember, I'm not joking!"
Ugh...
Feeling the sharp killing intent emanating from Dawn, all the black-clad men immediately broke out in a cold sweat, drenching their clothes. They quickly agreed.
After all, their strength was already low, and they dared not offend such a powerful individual.
...
After a small interlude, a certain street in Dongjiang City was suddenly crowded with people.
They were gathered on both sides of the street, watching a man in white kneeling on the ground, performing a kowtow with every step, all the while loudly proclaiming, "I am a pig!"
The man was none other than the young master of the Xue family, Xue Changjiang.
However, his face was currently pitch black, as he had long since covered his relatively handsome face with dirt, attempting to conceal his true identity.
But this method was utterly ridiculous, akin to covering one's ears while stealing a bell.
After all, he was accompanied by numerous Xue family guards, so who wouldn't be able to guess his identity?
"Young Master, you took an extra step. Please step back and start over!"
"Young Master, you haven't shouted 'I am a pig' yet. You have to start over!"
"Young Master, you can't blame us for this. We have no choice either. We hope you can understand..."
Xue Changjiang listened to his guards' reminders, his eyes filled with fiery rage. However, with his spiritual energy sealed, he was powerless against these guards!
Bastards! Utter bastards!!
Damn Dawn, I will make you pay blood with blood...
In his room, Ye Cangtian stood by the window, watching Xue Changjiang slowly fade from view. A faint smile appeared on his face, and he then closed the window.
For him now, the situation in Dongjiang City was like a tangled skein of yarn, without a clear starting thread, making it difficult to unravel.
Since that was the case, he might as well cut the Gordian knot, creating a thread himself to break through. Clearly, Xue Changjiang was such a thread...
At the same time, in another room of the same inn.
Two men wearing dark gold masks stood by an open window.
Their gazes were fixed on Xue Changjiang, who was kneeling and moving forward, their eyes filled with disdainful smiles.
"What a piece of trash. As a man, he should rather die than endure such humiliation!" Xue He said with contempt.