Lin Huan hurriedly caught the box containing Tangtang's finger, holding it stiffly in his hands, "Enough talk, release Lin Xintang, and I'll let you go."
Lin Gang, who had been resolute just a second ago, was now easily spared over a single finger.
The atmosphere was tense and chilly among those present.
"No, no, no, considering Lin Xintang's background, she is worth much more." Lin Gang's bloodshot eye glared menacingly at Zhang Shuying, "You Zhang dog, remove the gu from my body."
I narrowed my eyes, carefully digesting Lin Gang's words.
Lin Gang's statement was loaded with hidden meanings; without spelling it out, he alluded to Lin Xintang's identity.
Lin Huan had said that Qing Li was the lifeblood of the Lin Family, hence as Qing Li's daughter, although of uncertain paternity, Xintang's safety was paramount to the Lin Family.
"Go ahead, Xiao Yuanyuan, and remove the gu for this little dog." Zhang Shuying, not wanting to damage his own interests, didn't bother with further idle talk and immediately let Xiao Yuanyuan do the Gu Removal.
Xiao Yuanyuan flew out from under my sleeve and burrowed into Lin Gang's nostril.
Lin Gang's eye widened in distrust, "Why did your Golden Silkworm Gu fly out from Su Wan's body? Zhang Shuying, what trick are you playing?"
"Don't be so paranoid, okay? My Tangtang is in your hands, what tricks could I possibly play? My family's Golden Silkworm Gu is more familiar with Su Wan -- is it any of your business?" Zhang Shuying said irritably.
Lin Gang sneered, "You know best but... isn't the Golden Silkworm Gu only supposed to respond to your commands? How could it be close to someone else?"
"Lin Gang, I speak the Insect Language, so the Golden Silkworm Gu is naturally closer to me," I stepped forward to quell Lin Gang's suspicions, "Not everyone is as vile as you."
"Insect Language... Not only do you have the Spiritual Eye, but you also speak Insect Language?" Jealousy was plain in Lin Gang's eyes, "Then wouldn't all the people of my mother's Miao Village treat you as a treasure and vie to make you the heir!! Su Wan, how can someone like you exist in this world… You should have been drowned at birth."
I narrowed my eyes slightly, my gaze briefly sweeping over Yan Hua at the base of the altar.
Yan Hua... turned out to be from the Miao Village...
Indeed, marriages within a large sect like the Lin Family would typically involve powerful alliances.
Otherwise, Lin Huan would not have set up a blind date for me with Zhang Shuying.
In the eyes of the Mystic Sect, my family background was comparable to Zhang Shuying's, making us a suitable match.
"Ah..." A sudden, agonizing scream from Lin Gang jolted my attention back to him.
For Gu Removal to work, the Mother Gu must devour all larvae and eggs in the bloodstream, a process that is incredibly painful.
Lin Gang lay writhing on the ground, his body's veins throbbing visibly beneath his skin, a terrifying sight.
Zhang Shuying bent down and whispered in my ear, "Is your husband Yu Longting still coming or not? Didn't you tell me the other day that he would be back today? We've been bullied to the point where Lin Gang is shitting and pissing on our heads."
"He should be here soon; even if Yu Longting arrives, we'd still face Lin Gang's blackmail. We need to cope on our own first." I had calculated every possibility, but never anticipated that Lin Gang would produce Lin Xintang's finger.
However, Lin Huan's behavior perplexed me; he'd always held deep prejudice against Xintang.
Even if he'd agreed to spare Xintang's life for my sake, it was only as a means to an end.
Why did he look more nervous about Xintang than Zhang Shuying or me earlier, agreeing so readily to let Lin Gang go in exchange for Xintang's life?
Finally.
Xiao Yuanyuan, twisting her chubby body, crawled out of Lin Gang's nostril and returned to me like a bird to its nest, "Sister, I've gotten fatter."
Xiao Honghong poked her head out from my collar, "Cut the crap, redundant."
Lin Gang's gu was removed.
He climbed to his feet with a sinister smile, "Lin Huan, there's one more thing I want -- the fox fetus birthed by Su Qiang."