Chapter 1387: The Meeting Place

Chapter 1387: Chapter 1387: The Meeting Place

On the other side, responsible for monitoring the family area for any possible ambushes from an incoming team, was a squad led by Hu Jiu, accompanied by Xia Yu as well as Jin He Xuan and Long Jin, who were dispatched from the Dragon Realm to assist. Since there were already seven Tier Nine Superpower Users stationed in the family area, the investigation department did not send additional experts.

Pei Yan, not aware of any anomalies in the family area, arrived at the prearranged transaction location with a nervous heart. This place was chosen after Mei Simiao’s repeated negotiations with the other party. It was located where the space barrier between the Magic and Foundation Planes was relatively thin, surrounded by vast, uncultivated wilderness. Here, the investigation department could advance and retreat with ease, and even if a confrontation occurred during the transaction, the sparse environment meant that no innocents would be harmed.

A light breeze brushed against Pei Yan’s cheek in the wilderness. Breathing in the somewhat fresh air of the Magic Plane for the first time, Pei Yan felt the unique source energy of the place flowing around him. The grass reaching up to his knees swayed beside him in the wind. He closed his eyes, releasing his source energy to merge with his surroundings, sensing the changes around him. Time gradually slipped by, and it was apparent that the agreed-upon transaction time had already passed.

Just as the companions grew restless and Mei Simiao prepared to send a signal to inquire if the other party had any intention to trade, Pei Yan’s half-closed left eye widened in sudden anger. He flexed his finger lightly, sending a wave of source energy rippling from his body, skillfully bypassing his companions’ positions, severing the grass by its roots around him. Where the source energy wave swept, the wild grass fell in waves like wheat being cut by a sickle, only to be lifted by the wild wind again. In no time, a large circular clearing expanded outward from where Pei Yan stood.

"Come out!" Pei Yan roared angrily, and the flying and rolling weeds halted, briefly suspended in mid-air. In the next second, the grass seemed to be enchanted, changing direction instantaneously, standing upright like thousands of silver needles. Under Pei Yan’s control, they aimed at a vacant piece of land in the distance and poured out towards it.

Clanging sounds rang through the air as the source energy-wrapped grass was easily sliced into pieces, turning into grass clippings. Before these fragments could hit the ground, they were engulfed by rising flames, appearing like a firework explosion. Within this fiery display, several figures appeared from the void. Upon seeing the leader, Pei Yan’s Mechanical Eye contracted slightly; the scenario he least wanted to occur had indeed happened.

"Pei Yan, I didn’t expect we’d meet so soon! This time, I wonder if we’ll have a chance to cross swords!" Jue Liunian, who had a longsword slung across his shoulder, stepped into the clearing with a provocative smile directed at Pei Yan. Besides having Blood Demon Commander-level individuals beside him, the rest were familiar faces to Pei Yan: Shitang Longsi, Nero, and Ivan, who had been frightened out of his wits before, along with another person who made Pei Yan uneasy—the witch, a force equivalent to the pinnacle of the Heavenly Dao, who had attacked the Dragon Realm alongside Jue Liunian and others that day.

Pei Yan was not angered by Jue Liunian’s provocation. What truly vexed him was the absence of Delacuri within their ranks. Meanwhile, there was still no information suggesting that Delacuri had fallen into their trap, leaving Pei Yan uncertain about what the other party’s intentions were.

Pei Yan was no longer the naïve and kind-hearted youth he once was. Fueled by anger, he quickly found his first target to vent his wrath. He yanked Radu, watched over by Zheng Jia Ru, to his side and threw him to the ground. The second young master of the Vlad family, tormented for almost half a year, saw salvation at hand and wanted to show some resolve. But no sooner had he stiffly tried to stand up, Pei Yan’s foot kicked him over, making him eat dirt. Each attempt to rise was met with mounting pressure on his back, as if crushed by an elephant. As breathing became arduous, Radu finally relinquished his pointless struggle.

"Young Master of the Vlad family, it seems your father doesn’t care much whether you live or die, huh?" Pei Yan sneered, pulling back his shirt to reveal the Divine Artifact Revolver hidden beneath his arm, aiming at Radu’s head as he looked up at Jue Liunian and questioned, "Where’s Delacuri? What’s the meaning of this? Has he given up on his son? Is he playing games with me?"

"Calm down." Jue Liunian lifted his hand off the longsword, trying to calm Pei Yan’s anger.

Bang!

"Ah~! Ah~! Ah~!"

After the gunshot echoed, the bullet drove into the grassy turf. As warm blood trickled down his cheek, Radu’s head buzzed from the shot, realizing one of his ears had been blown apart by the bullet. His shrill scream echoed across the vast wilderness. Seeing this, Jue Liunian shook his head in helplessness and continued, "Pei Yan, there’s no need to act in front of us! Even if you blow this guy’s head off today, Delacuri won’t show up here."

"Do you think I don’t have the guts to do it?" Pei Yan said, moving the gun slightly to aim at Radu’s head this time.

"I don’t doubt your courage to pull the trigger, but if you kill him, what will you use to bargain for your family?"

Jue Liunian pointedly brought the issue to the surface, causing Pei Yan to furrow his brow slightly. He was certain that there were no issues within the ambush zone, and that the perimeter of his actual parents’ location was guarded by Pei Jin, allowing him to reach either location rapidly if something went wrong. The other party was bluffing! But why reveal their plan from the start?

"Can we have a proper talk now?" Nero stepped up and continued where Jue Liunian left off.

"Hehehe, Nero, what qualifications do you have to negotiate with me? If not for today’s occasion, if not for the two people standing beside you, the moment the three of you appeared before me, you’d already be dead men," Pei Yan’s Mechanical Eye scanned the three Children of Origin with disdain.

Facing the taunts of someone who once stood on equal footing, Shitang Longsi showed defiance, while Ivan felt fear. Compared to the other two, Nero appeared more composed, shrugging with a self-deprecating smile, "You’re right, the gap between us is indeed growing wider, but you also said this is a special occasion! So, don’t act so high and mighty. Don’t you want to save your colleagues? To rescue that child?"

"What use is talking to me? Without Delacuri, the Blood Curse can’t be lifted. Without even the basic conditions present, how can we speak of a deal? That old bastard doesn’t naively think we’ll let you negotiate and then he’ll honor the terms and save them, does he? Does he take us for fools?" Pei Yan snorted, asking disdainfully in return.

"Pei Yan, you’re the one being unreasonable! Isn’t it more in line with your wishes that Delacuri isn’t here? What are you angry for?"