"Xiao Qin, you truly wound my heart," Wen Ting said, killing the man who had just refuted him. He turned his gaze to Xiao Man. "I came here all for you, yet you treat me so. It truly saddens me."
Xiao Man let out a cold laugh. "Young Master Wen's affections are too great for me to bear."
"Your cold-blooded and ruthless demeanor only makes me like you more," Wen Ting said, pulling out a handkerchief to meticulously wipe his hands. He then looked at Xiao Man. "Tell me what you desire, and I will procure it for you."
Xiao Man narrowed his eyes. After a moment, a smile played on his lips. "I dare not accept anything from Young Master Wen. Moreover, what I desire, I fear you cannot give."
"Oh? Is there anything in this world I cannot give? Tell me, what is it you want?" Wen Ting asked with curiosity.
"I desire Young Master Wen's life. Will you give it to me?" Xiao Man asked playfully, his words holding a mixture of truth and jest. Even Jin Yao could not discern the sincerity behind Xiao Man's question. He also worried that Xiao Man might offend Wen Ting and be killed on the spot, thus disrupting his subsequent plans.
Hearing this, Wen Ting did not seem angered. He leaped to the ground and walked towards Xiao Man step by step. "Taking my life is not difficult. Come and take it."
"Young Master Wen jests. Xiao Qin is no match for you. Even if he were, he would not dare to take your life," Jin Yao interjected with a smile. He could not afford for Wen Ting to kill this person. Only two people could enter the forbidden grounds of the Hundred Herbs Hall this time, and the other was reclusive. If Xiao Man were killed, he wouldn't know when he would get the Divine Farmer's Cauldron. "It would be more practical to discuss how to enter and retrieve the treasure first."
"Second Young Master Jin speaks wisely. Since we are all here for treasures, it would be best to first agree on how to divide them. That way, when we enter, we will not only face unknown dangers but also have to guard against those beside us."
"Indeed. The central region of the trial grounds is brimming with spiritual herbs and treasures, each guarded by demonic beasts. It is not easy for one person alone to acquire them."
"How about this: let's form teams. The treasures obtained by each team will belong to that team," Jin Yao suggested. "The space inside is vast, and there are many treasures. If someone finds something first, others cannot snatch it later, to avoid conflict. If one desires a treasure that another has found, they can exchange it with treasures they have acquired. What do you say?"
"Excellent."
"In that case, let's enter in groups."
"Second Young Master Jin, who goes in first and who goes in last?"
"Let's draw lots," Jin Yao said unhurriedly. "This way, it's based on luck, which is quite fair. What do you think?"
"Agreed."
Jin Yao had props for drawing lots prepared. He instructed everyone to draw first, and he would draw last, with everyone entering the treasure land in the order of their draws.
"Second Young Master Jin has great skill," Wen Ting said before entering, looking at Jin Yao. "No wonder you could replace the Eldest Young Master Jin. His downfall was not without reason."
Jin Yao's expression flickered slightly, but he maintained his smile. As direct sons, his talents were not inferior. Moreover, his mother and Jin Ling's mother were sisters. Regardless, they were from the same clan, and it made no difference who became the young master. It was just that Jin Ling was too incompetent.
"I cannot compare to Young Master Wen," Jin Yao replied softly. "Sect Master Wen has countless beautiful wives and concubines, and has fathered numerous children. However, apart from you, all are daughters with ordinary talent. Ultimately, only you are qualified to inherit the position of young sect master. That is truly a great skill."
Wen Ting's smile deepened. "I am different from you. I always believe in eradicating the roots. Even if the opponent becomes useless, it does not mean they cannot make a comeback. Therefore, I will kill anyone who could potentially threaten me."
Jin Yao smiled and nodded. "Thank you for the reminder, Young Master Wen."
"A reminder?" Wen Ting sneered. "Second Young Master, guard your position well. If it were me, no matter what, I would find a way to reclaim what belongs to me, at any cost."
The smile on Jin Yao's face vanished. His gaze swept to Xiao Man from the corner of his eye. Xiao Man had emerged from the Land of Nothingness, and had brought Jin Ling out with him. He had thought that Jin Ling, whom he had thrown into the Land of Nothingness, would never escape. Who knew there would be an unexpected turn of events.
Wen Ting was right. When the roots should be eradicated, they should be eradicated, otherwise, one would end up like him, unable to eat or sleep, constantly fearing that Jin Ling might make a strong return one day and reclaim everything he had painstakingly built.
"Xiao Qin, let's go. It's our turn."
"Yes, Second Young Master," Xiao Man replied submissively and followed him.
Seeing her so obedient, Jin Yao's expression improved slightly. "How are the others who came out of the Land of Nothingness with you back then doing now?"
"They have dispersed to other sects. We only joined forces to escape the Land of Nothingness. After leaving, we went our separate ways. As for how they are doing now, I'm not entirely sure. I imagine they are doing alright."
"Is that so?" Jin Yao asked casually. "Among you, there was one named Xiang Jian, who was said to be very close to you. Do you know where he is now?"
"Second Young Master, please don't mention him. He claimed to be a friend, but when I was being pursued by a powerful enemy, he abandoned me and fled. I haven't seen him since then. Perhaps he is already dead."
Jin Yao did not know whether Xiao Man's words were true or false. According to his investigation, Jin Ling had indeed disappeared in Wuji City, and the people monitoring him had not found any trace of him. There were only two possibilities for him to evade his search and disappear without a trace.
One was that someone had hidden him, and this person must be extraordinarily capable. Even noble families and sects would struggle to achieve this. The other possibility was, as Xiao Man said, that he was dead. Only the dead would be impossible to find.
"I thought you were very good friends."
"I also thought we were very good friends," Xiao Man replied. "However, it was just an assumption."
"What do you mean by that?"
"If they were truly good friends, would they abandon their friend and flee alone?"
Jin Yao did not answer, merely smiling. If faced with mortal danger, he would abandon so-called friends to save his own life. To him, friends were merely tools to be exploited.
"Would Second Young Master stand idly by and watch his good friend die?"
"Naturally not," Jin Yao said calmly. His "not" carried many meanings, depending on how one interpreted it.
"That's right." Xiao Man smiled and gave an ambiguous answer. She did not explain what kind of person Xiang Jian was, nor did she say that Xiang Jian had betrayed her. She simply used an example to illustrate that true friends would act differently. If the Second Young Master misunderstood, that was not her concern.