Chapter 371 134: Returning a Favor, What Does He Plan to Do? An Inexplicable Enjoyment

But she acted as if she hadn't noticed. Her gaze only occasionally flickered to the Communication Jade Talisman in her hand, revealing a flash of impatience the moment she looked away.

'He didn't just lose the contest for Qianyuan Prefecture, he even had both his legs broken. Utterly humiliated.'

'Heh... A good-for-nothing like him still expects me to comfort him...'

A faint expression of mockery and disdain appeared on her face.

The past few days, while Xiao Teng was in Qianyuan Prefecture, had been her most peaceful. She didn't have to endure his harassment and torment.

She didn't actually care much about the final outcome of the contest for Qianyuan Prefecture. And yet, after it ended, Xiao Teng took it upon himself to message her, ranting about how detestable and vile Jiang Lan was and how he planned to get his revenge...

Ye Shiyin was sick and tired of hearing it.

Every time, she had to remain calm, use a gentle tone to console Xiao Teng as if he were a simpleton, and then chime in with a few curses against Jiang Lan for good measure.

In truth, she did want to curse Jiang Lan. He had promised to find information about the Demon Race for her, to search for related items, and had said he would bring them to their next meeting.

This had her looking forward to it for days. She thought that since he seemed to have so much free time, he would surely come to see her soon.

But after that day, it was as if Jiang Lan had completely forgotten about her. He didn't come to see her, nor did he even try to contact her once.

Ye Shiyin strongly suspected Jiang Lan had just been placating her that night. Only she had been foolish enough to take him seriously and believe he would actually help her.

People say the Demon Race is cunning and treacherous, but in her eyes, Jiang Lan was more of a demon than she, an actual member of the Demon Race, could ever be.

And today, Jiang Lan had finally contacted her... Unsurprisingly, it was because he had a task for her.

Ye Shiyin ate his food, used his things, and her very life was in his hands. Though filled with resentment and complaints, she didn't dare slack on the tasks Jiang Lan assigned her.

And after Jiang Lan finished giving his instructions, he went silent.

Ye Shiyin had long been aware of her status as a mere tool... but seeing Jiang Lan's attitude—using her and then casting her aside—she couldn't help but feel waves of indignation, anger, and a strange sense of being wronged.

'I work so hard for him without complaint, handling things diligently. I've been a help to him, at the very least. How could he treat me like this? Does he really see me as nothing but a workhorse?'

'As a Great Power of the Demon Race, an existence that once looked down upon the entire world, she still had some dignity...'

'Alright...'

'Actually, she didn't have much dignity left. After all, she was basically his kept woman; she had no right to complain.'

Just as Ye Shiyin was silently fuming, wanting to hurl the Communication Jade Talisman out of the pavilion...

Runes finally flickered on its surface, emitting a faint ripple of energy.

Her expression changed, and she quickly looked down, afraid she might miss a single word.

'Is it about Xiao Teng again?'

But she was quickly disappointed. Her slender, dark eyebrows furrowed, then knitted together tightly.

She glanced at the other Communication Jade Talisman flashing on the nearby jade table. After a moment's hesitation, she walked over, picked it up, and quickly sent a reply.

After complying, Ye Shiyin stared impassively at the Communication Jade Talisman in her hand, intending to ask about what he had promised her.

To her surprise, however, Jiang Lan brought up the matter himself before she could even ask.

He said that in a few days, he would have someone deliver the Demon Crystals he had collected. He then explained that he hadn't been able to visit her because he had been delayed by recuperating from an injury and the affair in Qianyuan Prefecture.

'I didn't ask for an explanation...'

Ye Shiyin's tightly furrowed brow relaxed. For some reason, her mood felt as if it were clearing, like clouds giving way to sunshine.

She walked to the window and propped up her chin, her noble, cool eyes gazing at the nearby Bihu Lake. The shimmering surface seemed more captivating than ever.

After a moment's thought, Ye Shiyin picked up the Communication Jade Talisman again and asked him how he had gotten injured. She then added a final question, asking when he would come see her and reminding him not to forget his promise.

Jiang Lan's reply came quickly. He told her not to worry, as his injuries were almost completely healed.

As for visiting her, he estimated it would have to wait until after the Southern Hunting drills were over. However, he would have someone deliver the promised records and books about the Demon Race to her beforehand, so she needn't be concerned.

Ye Shiyin froze. Then she began to wonder, 'Why do I care about him?'

'If he died, the Slave Seal he placed on me would probably disappear with him.'

'Wouldn't that be a good thing?'

She had paid close attention at the time. The Slave Seal Jiang Lan had planted in her Sea of Consciousness wasn't so vicious that his death would mean her own.

...

An inexplicable irritation welled up inside her. She felt that ever since possessing Xie Jianjia, her mind had been affected. Now that she was weak, having lost her former world-shattering power, a desire for dependence had begun to sprout.

Ye Shiyin didn't like this feeling, yet, strangely, she found herself enjoying it a little. The contradiction left her deeply conflicted.

Inside the Prime Minister's Mansion, Jiang Lan concealed the strange look in his eyes and put away the Communication Jade Talisman.

He didn't have many people he could use at the moment, so he was naturally more accommodating toward Ye Shiyin.

Obtaining Demon Crystals and other Forbidden Items related to the Demon Race wasn't difficult for him.

Besides, if he could truly win Ye Shiyin's loyalty, it would save him a great deal of trouble.

In the future, she could handle more matters for him. After all, at her peak, she was a Great Power.

In ancient times, any existence that could be called a Great Power or a Giant was, without exception, a figure who had broken into the Ninth Realm.

'The next phase of the plan involves Emperor Xia...'

'Fortunately, I laid the groundwork in advance.'

Thanks to the Identity Token he had given Emperor Xia, Jiang Lan could sense her movements at all times. This made it much easier for him to play the part of the Naxian Alliance's Alliance Leader.

However, much like how speaking too much can lead to a slip of the tongue, playing the role too often made it easy for flaws to appear.

That was why Jiang Lan rarely took the initiative to seek out members of the Naxian Alliance.

The next day, before 7:00 PM, Jiang Lan changed into a tight-fitting black outfit. After using a Secret Technique to slightly alter his physique, he left the Prime Minister's Mansion.

Following the 'intelligence' You'Er had gathered the previous day, he planned to 'personally' visit one of the Blood Immortal Sect's strongholds. He wanted to see if he could follow the lead and uncover any useful clues or information.

Of course, he already knew from Song Youwei which experts were at the stronghold, so there was little danger.

In fact, he had long known about the Blood Immortal Sect's various plots and schemes from Song Youwei.

Not long after Jiang Lan had left the Prime Minister's Mansion, Emperor Xia's brows knitted together deep within the Imperial Palace. Her informant on the Naxian Alliance had sent back a startling piece of news.

'What is Jiang Lan planning to do?'