484. Price To Pay

Staying alive was what mattered most!

Tang Hao endured the humiliation, watching Ah Yin's sycophantic demeanor before him. His heart ached so much that it felt suffocating.

Once again, he had traded Ah Yin for a chance to survive!

But the weight on his shoulders was unbearable, and guilt and self-reproach consumed him.

In truth, Qian Renjue was merely feeding blood to Ah Yin.

Pop!

As Qian Renjue withdrew his finger, the suction sound was slightly disturbing, making Tang Hao close his eyes in shame and fury.

“Is that place far from here?”

Qian Renjue coldly asked while stroking Ah Yin’s silky hair.

“Not far~ We’ll be there soon,” Ah Yin replied, swallowing the metallic taste in her mouth.

“Hm? Someone’s coming.”

Qian Renjue’s eyes glinted with white light as Zhu Zhuqing and the others appeared in his vision. Without further delay, his raspy voice gave an order:

“Take him along. Throw him into the wolves’ den quickly, so he’s no longer an eyesore.”

“Yes, Master.”

Ah Yin bowed slightly.

Blue Silver Grass emerged, wrapping around Tang Hao’s neck and hoisting him into the air.

“Urgh!”

Tang Hao kicked his legs desperately, the choking sensation causing his eyes to roll back.

The Ice Emperor, clearly annoyed, carried the despicable duo on her back, moving forward steadily.

Tang Hao glanced at the bloodied and unconscious Tang San in the distance, his eyes filled with worry.

“Little San—”

The Blue Silver Grass tightened, cutting off Tang Hao mid-sentence and rendering him breathless.

Tang Hao justified Ah Yin’s actions to himself.

His body went cold. Of course! It was better for Tang San to remain unnoticed. If that wretched Qian Renjue remembered Tang San, he might kill him. That would make Tang Hao an accomplice!

As the lack of oxygen affected his brain, Tang Hao could no longer think, and his consciousness began to fade.

He was completely oblivious to Ah Yin’s complaints.

“So annoying and disgusting!”

Ah Yin pouted, standing on the Ice Emperor’s back while leaning against Qian Renjue.

Tang Hao, now treated like a kite on a leash, dangled in the air.

Qian Renjue sneered inwardly.

He had tried before; killing Tang Hao outright wasn’t an option, so he had merely crippled him.

This current spectacle? It was merely part of his long-term plan.

Whether dealing with Tang Hao, Tang San, or the Clear Sky Sect, Qian Renjue saw Ah Yin as a key player. After all, the current sect master of the Clear Sky Sect was also someone with unrequited love for Ah Yin.

As for how the news of Ah Yin’s “suffering” would reach Tang Xiao, Qian Renjue already had a plan—Tang San!

Although Tang San couldn’t speak or move now, he had overheard everything they said.

When Tang San eventually questioned Tang Hao, this smokescreen would undoubtedly reach the Clear Sky Sect someday.

“Master~ We’ve arrived,” Ah Yin said softly.

The Ice Emperor stopped in her tracks, looking down at the pack of Gale Demon Wolves below in the hollow.

“Hmm, then throw him down,” Qian Renjue ordered with a nod.

He knew all too well the savagery of Gale Demon Wolves. Even the infamous wolf raiders originated from them.

“Master~ Shouldn’t we feed him some medicine first?”

Ah Yin’s question reminded Qian Renjue that Tang Hao would need a bit of strength to resist. Otherwise, waking the wolves prematurely would be inconvenient.

“I don’t have that kind of medicine, but this will do—it’s similar in effect.”

Without waiting, Qian Renjue retrieved melted ten-thousand-year whale jelly from his system space. It would serve as an energy boost for Tang Hao, giving him just enough strength to resist the wolves without dying immediately.

“Yes!”

Ah Yin responded gently. She used Blue Silver Grass to wrap the whale jelly and whipped Tang Hao, forcing him to cry out and open his mouth.

She quickly tossed the glue into his throat.

“Gulp~ Ah!”

Tang Hao swallowed the massive lump of glue, his face turning red as he was thrown into the wolves' den.

Thud! Awoo!

Tang Hao crashed to the ground, stirring the wolves into a frenzy.

Struggling, he clawed at himself, his limbs pressing against the dirt as he writhed.

Shaking his head and tail, he twisted his body in defiance.

“Ah, it’s so hot!”

“Awoo!”

The howls of the Gale Demon Wolves echoed as they lunged toward him.



"Ah—!"

Tang Hao's clothes tore apart, revealing wounds that bled profusely. His head tilted back as he let out a miserable scream.

Kneeling on the ground, his body trembled uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face.

He could feel the strength surging within him, yet, inexplicably, he had no will to resist.

Instead, he unconsciously leaned back, as if to submit.

"Ah... ah—!"

After tossing the "corpse," Qian Renjue and his companions turned and left. They had no interest in witnessing this particular "battle."

Just hearing the sounds coming from behind made Qian Renjue frown.

"Awoo!"

For some reason, Tang Hao's cries turned into muffled grunts.

The thought crossed Qian Renjue's mind: perhaps a particularly clever Gale Demon Wolf had taken an alternative approach, silencing Tang Hao by sitting directly on his face.


---

"Ah Yin, Ice Emperor, you two should return. I'm heading to the Lake of Life."

Qian Renjue deactivated his martial soul possession.

Ah Yin obediently transformed into a crimson line of blood, melding into his chest.

The Ice Emperor, however, reverted to her form as a twin-tailed green-haired loli. Her emerald eyes filled with grievance as she glared at Qian Renjue, hands on her hips.

"Qian Renjue! I’m very angry right now!"

"..."

Qian Renjue paused, caught off guard by her tsundere demeanor, before chuckling.

"I know."

"Then why are you laughing? Want me to hit you?"

The Ice Emperor stepped forward, grabbing his collar and looking up at him with a mix of indignation and a hint of hurt.

"Thank you~" Qian Renjue replied softly, smiling.

"Hmph! All you ever say are those two words!"

The Ice Emperor huffed. She had been by his side long enough to know how he spoiled others, yet he never pampered or comforted her!

She, too, deserved some dignity!

"Heh."

Qian Renjue couldn't help but smirk.

"Would this suffice?"

Not one to miss a hint, Qian Renjue bent down and kissed her on the forehead.

The cool sensation of her skin met the warmth of his lips.

The Ice Emperor froze. Her emerald eyes quivered, emotions flickering between joy, panic, and satisfaction.

Her entire loli face flushed red, starting from her forehead.

"Ah—!"

The Ice Emperor screamed, covering her forehead as she quickly retreated. In an instant, she transformed into a streak of green light, disappearing into Qian Renjue’s body.

"Qian Renjue~! Don’t you dare tell my sister about this! Absolutely not!"

"Heh~"

Qian Renjue shook his head, smiling. Her tsundere antics were amusingly endearing.


---

A golden glow shimmered from the Ring of Life, and Qian Renxue appeared before him, arms crossed, her head held high as she looked down at him with a displeased expression.

"Jue, are you tormenting Tang Hao and his son, or are you just rewarding yourself in the process?"

Clearly, Qian Renxue had been watching everything from within the Ring of Life. She had seen every little move Qian Renjue made with Ah Yin.

"It’s all for the theatrics, Sister~" Qian Renjue replied with a sheepish grin.

"Oh, really~?"

Qian Renxue stepped forward, exuding an air of pressure.

"And that kiss you gave your little scorpion earlier—was that part of the theatrics too?"

"Th-That was a reward! Yes, a reward!" Qian Renjue stammered.

"Then don’t you think I deserve a reward, too, for staying in there so long?"

Qian Renxue’s golden-purple eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Uh… absolutely! Right away!"

Not daring to provoke her, Qian Renjue laughed awkwardly and opened his arms, stepping forward to embrace her.

Qian Renxue's expression softened, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes.


---

After settling the matter with Qian Renxue, Qian Renjue activated the Beastmaster Collar to locate his next destination, utilizing spatial travel to depart.

Meanwhile, Zhao Wuji and the others, whom Qian Renjue had arranged to arrive, stumbled upon Tang San lying in a pool of blood.

"Look! There’s Xiao San!"

Oscar’s feeble voice cried out in alarm, prompting the group to rush toward Tang San.