Chapter 22: Why Won't You Listen When I Talk Nicely

When something goes against common sense, there must be something fishy. Xiao Tian was doing this for his own reasons.

Zhong Ling didn't say much, just silently grabbed the furious Liu Yan who was about to rush forward.

"Young General, why are you stopping me?" Liu Yan didn't understand. She turned to stare at Zhong Ling, unable to figure it out.

Xiao Tian's actions clearly showed he was about to betray Her Majesty.

"Sister Liu, don't act rashly. The Prince is doing this for his own reasons," Zhong Ling said in a low voice, signaling Liu Yan to stay calm.

"There are some things I can't tell you."

Liu Yan looked at Zhong Ling, her eyes showing some despair. When did the Young General become so irrational?

"Interesting, the Empress's secret." A smile appeared on Xiang Yuanbai's face, seeming quite pleased. "This old man can agree to your terms. If this secret is useful, I can spare your lives."

"Speak!"

Xiang Yuanbai extended his hand, indicating that Xiao Tian could begin.

But Xiao Tian gently shook his head. "Poison Swamp Elder, although I'm an ordinary person, I'm not that stupid. If I tell you directly, what if you go back on your word?"

Xiang Yuanbai chuckled lightly, looking at Xiao Tian. "Zi Ruoyan's pretty boy, this old man came here with another purpose."

"The secret you speak of is merely an extra gain for this old man. You don't have many choices—you can only gamble."

At this point, Xiang Yuanbai paused, his gaze fixed on Xiao Tian full of mockery. "Gamble that this old man will keep his promise."

"..." Xiao Tian pondered in silence, as if weighing something. After a long while, he pointed at Zhong Ling and Liu Yan. "How about this—you let the two of them leave first."

"After they've gone far away, I'll tell you this secret. Even if you go back on your word and kill me, at least two people will survive."

Xiao Tian's words stunned the somewhat agitated Liu Yan behind him.

She had thought Xiao Tian was afraid of death and was using the Empress's secret to bargain for survival.

But what was this now?

Taking a deep breath, Liu Yan's gaze became resolute. "Prince, my duty is to protect your safety."

"Why don't you tell me the secret, and I'll stay in your place..."

But before Liu Yan could finish, Xiao Tian rudely interrupted her.

"Nonsense! Do you think this Elder Xiang is stupid?" Xiao Tian glared at Liu Yan. "I'm afraid of death, so if I stay, I'll tell the secret. You're not afraid of death—what use is keeping you here?"

Of course, this was just Xiao Tian acting.

He really wanted to kick this stupid woman away. Just follow his script obediently, escape with Zhong Ling, and be done with it.

Why replace him?

What a joke.

If you stayed, you couldn't kill these two small fries anyway.

"Sister Liu, the Prince has good intentions. Let's not disappoint him." At this moment, Zhong Ling also understood Xiao Tian's intention and spoke to persuade her.

Obviously, Xiao Tian didn't want to expose his strength to Sister Liu, so he was having them leave first before he could make his move.

Xiao Tian spoke again, glaring at Zhong Ling. "Hurry up and leave!"

Understanding the Prince's hint, Zhong Ling pulled Liu Yan to leave.

"Did this old man agree?" But at this moment, Xiang Yuanbai's voice suddenly rang out, causing Zhong Ling's steps as she pulled Liu Yan to freeze.

Xiao Tian's eyebrow also twitched.

After a long pause, Xiao Tian showed a smile and continued looking at Xiang Yuanbai. "Elder Xiang, is there something wrong with my suggestion?"

"Nothing wrong, but as this old man said earlier, you don't have a say here." Xiang Yuanbai shook his head gently, his tone somewhat mocking. "You have no choice."

Xiao Tian was silent for a moment, then continued, "Elder Xiang doesn't know—this big secret I know is related to what the Blood Cloud Tower is investigating!"

"Hmm?" The three words "Blood Cloud Tower" made Xiang Yuanbai's eyebrows twitch slightly.

His heart grew much more eager. Could this secret really be related to the intelligence their Black Soul Hall knew about?

Seeing the Poison Swamp Elder's subtle reaction, Xiao Tian knew his words had moved him.

Striking while the iron was hot, Xiao Tian immediately continued, "So Elder Xiang, let these two leave, and I will definitely tell you everything I know, holding nothing back."

"Moreover, after you let these two go, I'll be more certain that you're willing to spare my life."

"I also have some special little secrets that I can tell you together as a show of sincerity."

At this moment, Liu Yan's expression behind them was extremely sorrowful and indignant.

Xiao Tian was now somewhat humble, even obsequious—all for her and Zhong Ling's lives.

She knew deeply the Black Soul Hall's way of doing things. If Xiao Tian really told them the secret, he definitely wouldn't survive.

She believed Xiao Tian also understood this principle.

Yet he was willing to sacrifice himself to save her and the Young General.

She had actually suspected him and blamed him just now.

What a terrible person she was.

"Xiao Tian, your words are indeed beautiful, but unfortunately, what gives you the right to bargain with this old man?" Xiang Yuanbai still shook his head, refusing Xiao Tian's proposal.

Xiao Tian was very surprised. He raised his head, extremely astonished.

"This old man is one of the Six Evils of the Black Soul Hall. I've always acted as I pleased." Xiang Yuanbai sneered at the dazed Xiao Tian, stroking his beard.

"The choice before you is only one—tell me everything you know."

"If what you say pleases this old man, keeping you alive as a dog to serve at my side is not impossible."

After Xiang Yuanbai finished speaking, the surroundings instantly fell silent.

Zhong Ling slapped her forehead. She felt that this one of the Six Evils of the Black Soul Hall had reached the end of his road in this lifetime.

As for Liu Yan, who didn't know the truth, she roared in anger, "Xiang Yuanbai, you're going too far! You..."

Before the roaring Liu Yan could finish, she felt something was wrong with the surroundings.

So quiet...

Quiet to an excessive degree!

Liu Yan lowered her head and discovered that the wine rippling in the broken wine jars seemed to be frozen at this moment.

Extremely eerie.

"Hahahaha..."

Laughter suddenly rang out, echoing at the entrance of Qingyan Town.

Liu Yan looked up ahead and saw that the person laughing was Xiao Tian.

Xiao Tian laughed while shaking his head and pointing at Xiang Yuanbai opposite him. "You old bastard, you really leave me speechless."

"You..." Hearing Xiao Tian dare to curse him, Xiang Yuanbai became angry and was about to strike to teach him a lesson.

But suddenly, he felt a bone-chilling cold throughout his body, and cold sweat began seeping out.

As if targeted by great terror, his entire body was no longer under his control.

A terrifying pressure, with Xiao Tian at its center, crushed forward.

Xiang Yuanbai trembled all over, staggering backward, looking at Xiao Tian before him in disbelief.

"You... you..." Xiang Yuanbai stammered, his eyes staring at Xiao Tian ahead.

In his eyes, the originally harmless Great Yan Prince now seemed like a demon lord whose killing intent covered the sky and would bring endless destruction.

The opponent's aura emanating from within even distorted space.

"I really don't understand—do you people have something wrong with your brains? When I talk nicely..."

"Won't you listen??" In his fury, Xiao Tian fiercely stomped on the ground.

Crack!

The earth shattered, and from the broken fissures, dust sprayed out like a fountain.

Terrifyingly powerful force extended along the cracks, and the two mountain peaks beside Qingyan Town split directly down the middle.

Countless flying beasts were startled into flight.

One stomp, splitting two peaks.

Xiang Yuanbai watched with his scalp tingling, his legs could no longer support him, and he sat down on the ground with a thud.