"You came to kill me too?"
"Or are you after my Six-Ren Divine Dice and Flower Shifting Transplanting Wood as well?"
Jiang Yuyan looked warily at the old man in plain robes and a hunched posture standing nearby, her voice filled with resentment.
"Hehe, to others, those are indeed priceless treasures."
"But to me, they are worth less than a good jug of wine."
The hunchbacked old man pulled out a wine gourd from his robe and took a hearty swig.
"Hmph!"
"Say your purpose. If you want to kill me, I won't go down without a fight."
Jiang Yuyan snorted coldly. She didn't believe a single word from the old man in front of her.
"I've searched the Nine Provinces for many years, yet I never found a suitable candidate."
"Persistence pays off. Who would've thought this old man would finally find you today?"
"Yes, ruthless, exceptionally intelligent, ambitious. You are the perfect piece for my board."
The old man moved in a flash, turning into a blur and appearing right before Jiang Yuyan.
He gave her no chance to react.
With a light touch, he immobilized her completely.
She couldn't move at all.
He circled her several times.
Looking her up and down carefully.
After nodding in approval, he took out a pitch-black pill.
Ignoring Jiang Yuyan's resistance, he shoved it into her mouth.
Then he released her pressure points.
Cough, cough, cough!
"You… what did you make me swallow?"
Jiang Yuyan stared at the old man with hatred.
"Nothing much. Just a poison. There's no antidote. You'll die the moment I will it."
"From now on, you are the most obedient pawn in my hand."
"Come. We're leaving Ming and heading to Han."
The old man showed no concern for her reaction.
In fact, he seemed to enjoy her glare and resentment.
"You're from the Han Dynasty. What are you plotting?"
"You'll know soon enough. For you, it's actually a blessing."
"Compared to being hunted and scorned in Ming, your fate will be much better."
"In Han, you will be second only to one, above all others."
"No one will ever dare insult or look down on you again."
"You'll become one of the most honored beings in the world."
The old man smiled mysteriously, a cold light flashing in his eyes.
Even someone as ruthless as Jiang Yuyan felt a chill run down her spine.
"There! The demon woman is hiding in this village!"
"Capture her! We'll share the Six-Ren Divine Dice and Flower Shifting Transplanting Wood!"
"Let's go! We can't let her escape again this time!"
At that moment, a noisy commotion rose in the distance.
The old man grabbed Jiang Yuyan, and with a flick of his body, they vanished without a trace.
Just who was this mysterious old man, and what was he planning? Only Jiang Yuyan in the days to come might learn the truth.
Given the old man's demeanor, he was definitely not someone kind.
Adding Jiang Yuyan to the mix, who knows what chaos they might stir up in the Nine Provinces in the future?
==========
The Qin Dynasty.
On the road to Baiyue City.
At this moment, two graceful figures traveled side by side.
"Big Sister Feiyan, have you truly become a Land Immortal?"
"Then do you know where he is now?"
Xue Nu looked curiously at Eastern Monarch Yan Fei beside her, eyes filled with expectation.
"Xue'er, I only just escaped from the Yin Yang School's grand formation. I have no idea where he is."
"That damned scumbag. Is he really going to ignore us?"
"With his strength, he should clearly know our every move. Why hasn't he appeared?"
"Not even caring about our lives. What else would you call him but a scumbag?"
"Xue'er, why are you still looking for someone like him?"
On the way to Baiyue City, Eastern Monarch Yan Fei had unexpectedly encountered Xue Nu, who was headed in the same direction. They had decided to travel together.
She knew very well that Xue Nu was one of that scumbag's many confidantes.
Although she was displeased deep down, she didn't make things difficult.
Still, if the chance came to sever their connection for good, she wouldn't mind seeing it happen.
Xue Nu, being clever, quickly sensed Yan Fei's hidden thoughts.
"Big Sister Feiyan, you must be joking. He's not the kind of man you think. He's likely just tied up by something important and can't come."
"Otherwise, even if he didn't come to see me, he wouldn't have ignored you or left you trapped for so long."
"Let alone never once visiting his daughter after all these years."
Xue Nu smiled slightly, and her words left Yan Fei at a loss for how to respond.
"That scumbag must have saved all of the Nine Provinces in his previous life."
"Otherwise, how could he have us rare and amazing women constantly worrying about him?"
Yan Fei sighed helplessly.
To be honest, after so many years, with her temper, she should have forgotten him long ago.
But somehow...
The longer time passed.
The clearer his image became in her mind.
And the stronger her longing grew.
At times, she couldn't help but feel self-pity. Why did she love so humbly?
Why couldn't she be a bit more carefree?
But after years of thinking, she had to admit that this kind of longing was a form of happiness in itself.
Still, it made her resentful.
As if every good thing in the world had been taken by that scumbag.
Xue Nu chuckled behind her hand.
She could feel Yan Fei's emotions.
After being imprisoned for years, the man she missed didn't show up to save her.
Anyone would feel wronged.
But she could still sense that Yan Fei's feelings for him were genuine.
Not a shred of pretense.
A sharp tongue, but a soft heart.
At first, Xue Nu had been very hostile toward this new "love rival."
But after spending time together.
She began to see Yan Fei's good side.
No wonder he and Yan Fei had a lovely daughter together.
If only she too could have a child born from love... how wonderful that would be.
==========
"Wait. Xue'er, be careful!"
Just then, Yan Fei frowned and quickly pulled Xue Nu behind her.
Her sharp gaze turned toward the sky in a specific direction.
"Lord Eastern Sovereign, you've been following us for quite some time. Why don't you come out?"
At the same moment, both Yan Fei and Xue Nu went on alert.
Their auras began to fluctuate subtly.
"I never expected that after all these years, your strength would grow so much."
A chilling, almost demonic voice echoed in their ears.
The next moment, a figure draped entirely in a large black robe appeared in front of the two women.
"If I hadn't improved, I would still be trapped in that formation, wouldn't I?"
"My achievements today are all thanks to your 'grace,' Lord Eastern Sovereign."
A mocking expression crossed Yan Fei's face.
If she had the choice...
She would much rather have stayed by her daughter's side than be imprisoned in that formation.