Chapter 500 Siblings Reunited
Silence fell instantly inside the hall.
The nobles of Haozhou stared at Han Xiuyuan in shock, thinking, Why has he suddenly exploded? We only stated the truth.
The Prefect lowered his voice. "Young Master Han, what everyone meant was that the demon demands boys and girls under sixteen every year to consume for its cultivation."
Han Xiuyuan grabbed the Prefect by the collar and roared, "What I'm asking is—are you using the excuse of bandit kidnappings to send people to that demon?"
"Yes… though not always. Sometimes we also buy people from the broker houses."
The Prefect was frightened by the killing intent pouring from Han Xiuyuan and completely forgot his own status.
"Xiuyuan."
Han Ping's voice suddenly cut in.
Han Xiuyuan released the Prefect and spoke through gritted teeth. "Great-Uncle, they sent little sister into the demon's mouth. What difference is there between them and the demon?"
"No rush."
Han Ping said calmly, "Last night, I used a Blood Kin Talisman to search for your sister's whereabouts. I found her several dozen li west of the city. I originally planned to take you to find her today, but I did not expect that place to be the demon's lair."
Hearing this, the Prefect and the nobles quickly bowed. "Immortal Han's divine insight is admirable."
"Enough. Do not flatter me. As for the accounts from earlier, they will be settled later. For now, I am going to bring my granddaughter back."
Han Ping rose as he spoke. Seeing this, Han Xiuyuan hurriedly said, "Great-Uncle, please take me with you!"
"Very well."
The moment he replied, Han Ping turned, and together with Manduo and Han Xiuyuan, disappeared from sight.
In the hall, the nobles of Haozhou exchanged looks. After a long pause, an official asked, "Prefect, what should we do next?"
The Prefect did not answer. Instead, he looked toward the old man.
"Uncle, what do you think we should do?"
The old man replied calmly, "Return to the prefecture, light incense at the Shrine Hall, and report this to the capital. As for the rest—that is not for small figures like us to decide."
"And you?"
The Prefect asked with curiosity.
The old man continued, "Naturally, I will join the elders of the great families to witness this battle. No matter who wins, it will not be good for us."
He walked to the doorway, took a jade flute from his sleeve, and blew into it. Soon, a black hawk the size of an adult man descended into the Han residence.
The old man mounted the hawk and flew toward Emerald Jade Mountain to the west, thinking, I truly do not know whether this incident will prove good or bad for us.
At that moment, a thunderous shout erupted from the mountain.
"Demon! Come out and accept death!"
At once, Emerald Jade Mountain trembled violently. A deafening tiger's roar erupted from within.
Roar!!!
With the roar, a massive hanging-eyed tiger—over ten zhang tall—soared out from the mountain, treading on demon clouds and wreathed in a bloody glow.
The moment the tiger demon appeared, a terrifying wave of demon qi engulfed the entire Emerald Jade Mountain.
All living creatures within the mountain, upon hearing that shout, trembled in fear and hid in their dens.
Inside the tiger demon's den, over a dozen youths who had been meditating broke out in cold sweat and opened their eyes one after another.
Only one young girl—with delicate features and a composed expression—remained calm and unmoved.
The girl beside her whispered, "Xiulin, how are you not afraid at all?"
Han Xiulin replied with a steady expression, "Fear cannot solve anything. It is better to stay calm and think about how to escape this situation."
"Hmph!"
A girl not far away snorted coldly. "Han Xiulin, you make it sound easy. Tiger Lord's powers are vast—we could never escape his grasp. As for that outsider cultivator, he's probably no real expert. Otherwise he would never have provoked Tiger Lord like this."
Han Xiulin ignored her. She sifted through her memory, recalling everything she had learned during these three years in the cave residence, hoping to find a way to escape while someone was challenging Tiger Lord outside.
But after thinking for a long time, she could not find a single method. The residence was filled with countless wailing ghosts—guards every few steps, watchers every ten. The only hope now lay with that cultivator outside defeating Tiger Lord.
Yet the chances were grim. During these three years, it was not as if no cultivators had come to fight Tiger Lord. Every one of them had been defeated. The lucky ones escaped with their lives; the unlucky ones were refined into Human Pills.
All the people here were destined to become Human Pills as well. The talented ones could live a few more years; the untalented ones would not even qualify to be refined.
Meanwhile, above Emerald Jade Mountain—
The once arrogant and awe-inspiring Tiger Lord stared at the three figures before him. The killing intent on his face had turned into confusion, then into terror.
A mortal, a demon cultivator, and a cultivator whose level he could not discern—why had these three suddenly come to provoke him? Worse, the oppressive aura coming from the demon cultivator was something he had never experienced in his entire life. This… this was absolutely an existence far above him.
He bowed slightly toward Manduo. "I did not know the Great King had arrived. This little tiger failed to welcome you properly. I beg the Great King's forgiveness."
This scene was witnessed clearly by the cultivators who had rushed from Haozhou City. Every one of them was stunned, unable to comprehend what they were seeing.
Manduo smiled. "Calling me Great King is useless. The one who will kill you today is my lord."
Tiger Lord trembled and immediately knelt on the demon cloud. "Immortal, please spare me! This lowly tiger does not know how I offended you. Please enlighten me!"
"You have committed two crimes," Han Ping said calmly. "First, as the guardian beast of Haozhou, you failed to protect the land and instead fed on humans.
Second, you captured my brother's daughter. If you do not die, how can I face my deceased brother and sister-in-law?"
"M-Misunderstanding! It is all a misunderstanding!" Tiger Lord cried. "This lowly tiger has never taken immortal descendants—only ordinary mortals! How could I possibly capture your kin?"
"Hmph."
Han Ping let out a cold laugh. "Still lying. In that case, I will make you die without complaint."
He took out a Blood Kin Talisman from his storage ring. After forming a seal, the talisman was wrapped in his spell power and flew into the cave residence.
Moments later, a glowing blood thread linked the cave to Han Ping's wrist. He reached out toward the cave, and a young girl was pulled out through the air, a matching red thread tied to her wrist.
Seeing the girl, Han Xiuyuan immediately grabbed her and shouted with emotion, "Xiulin! Brother finally found you!"
Han Xiulin had yet to understand what was happening, but the familiar aura made her burst into tears. "Brother… is it really you?"
Tiger Lord was stunned speechless, frozen in place. In his ears echoed the calm but deadly voice of Han Ping.
"Now—do you have anything left to say?"
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