Chapter 384 - 137: The Fate of a Tool, All Is Ready, So Many Coincidences?

Xiao Teng’s expression was impossibly grim.

"Xiao Teng, we have to hurry and think of a way to stop the Blood Immortal Sect’s plan. If His Majesty Emperor Xia finds out about this, even a family as favored as Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion won’t escape the consequences..." Ye Shiyin said, her face fraught with worry.

Xiao Teng’s brows knitted together. He was at a complete loss as to how to handle what had just happened.

If he caused Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion to be branded as colluders with the Blood Immortal Sect, it would be a sin that not even ten thousand deaths could absolve.

The only option now was to return to the mansion, tell his father, Xiao He, the whole truth, and see if there was any way to salvage the situation.

"Don’t worry, Jian Jia. No matter what happens next, I will bear the full responsibility..."

"I must rush back to the mansion, inform my father, and discuss this with my brothers. This can’t be taken lightly."

"I must go now. Take care of yourself."

Anxiety gnawed at Xiao Teng. He was in no mood to stay and reminisce with Xie Jianjia, so he promptly stood, said his goodbyes, and left.

"Go on, Xiao Teng. You don’t have to worry."

Ye Shiyin watched him depart, making no move to stop him. She only heaved a quiet sigh, her eyes growing cold and placid.

She caressed the dark bruises on her neck, her mind replaying the feel of that chilling aura from moments before.

No ordinary person could have directly suppressed her cultivation aura, causing all the Magical Power she had mustered to instantly dissipate.

In this world, only Jiang Lan could do something like that...

That bizarre, terrifying figure from before had to be his handiwork.

’But Jiang Lan never said a word about this. I wasn’t the least bit prepared. I honestly thought I was going to die here tonight.’

’If Xiao Teng hadn’t intervened, that bizarre figure might have really killed me.’

’Did he keep it from me because he was afraid I’d reveal a flaw and make Xiao Teng suspicious?’

’So this is the fate of a disposable tool...’

The corner of Ye Shiyin’s mouth quirked into a smile that was equal parts self-mocking and bitter.

The moment she realized it was one of Jiang Lan’s hidden moves, she had started playing along. Still... for him to do this... it truly chilled her to the bone.

’I’ve done so much for him. True, because of the Slave Seal, we’ve schemed against each other and are still technically enemies.’

’But now, I’m his woman, for all intents and purposes. Yet he concocts a plan like this and doesn’t even tell me, scheming to use me as part of it.’

Ye Shiyin began to worry. ’If I’m no longer useful to him in the future, will he discard me—his disposable tool—without a moment’s hesitation?’

"Are you angry with me for not telling you about this beforehand?"

And just as a myriad of thoughts churned in Ye Shiyin’s mind, a clear, light chuckle sounded from behind her.

She was startled but quickly composed herself. Without turning around, she said, "Young Master Jiang, you’re always so terribly busy. What brings you to see little old me in person?"

Jiang Lan emerged from the building behind her. The indistinct figure that had been wreathed in a bloody light followed him, melting into his own shadow.

"You sound upset. The Blood Puppet doesn’t know when to hold back. I came to see if you were hurt."

He smiled, moved to her side, and gazed at her lovely face from up close. His eyes then settled on the faint bluish-black bruises on her neck.

"My, Young Master Jiang, so considerate..." Ye Shiyin retorted, her tone impossible to read as either praise or sarcasm.

"I wouldn’t care if it were anyone else. But you’re different," Jiang Lan said with a smile.

Ye Shiyin wasn’t so easily fooled. She merely rolled her eyes inwardly at his sweet talk.

"It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I happened to run into someone else and dealt with them. Only then did it occur to me to make a move on Xiao Teng. Even if I had sent a message immediately, you wouldn’t have had a chance to check your Communication Jade Talisman in front of him."

Jiang Lan tucked a few stray strands of hair from her temples behind her ear, then explained with a look of utter sincerity.

Hearing this, the tension in Ye Shiyin’s expression eased slightly.

’How much of what he said was true? She didn’t know, nor did she care. What mattered was the fact that he bothered to explain at all.’

’He came here immediately and offered an explanation. That had to mean he cared about her, at least a little.’

"Was that figure from before a puppet you refined?" she asked.

Jiang Lan nodded. "A Ten Thousand Spirits Blood Puppet I refined. It has no sentience and can only follow my initial commands to carry out simple tasks."

"Ten Thousand Spirits Blood Puppet? Then what is your connection to the Blood Immortal Sect?" Ye Shiyin asked, lifting her gaze to meet his.

Jiang Lan caressed her smooth, porcelain-like cheek and smiled. "A smart woman knows not to ask too many questions."

Ye Shiyin pressed her lips together and, taking the hint, didn’t press the issue. Jiang Lan was shrouded in too many secrets; she could spend a lifetime investigating and never uncover them all. It was better to know less.

"If Xiao Teng hadn’t chosen to back down... would I have died?" she asked quietly, her gaze fixed on the direction in which he had disappeared.

Jiang Lan sighed softly. "Why would you ask such a thing? How could I ever let you die? It was just to scare him, at most. Besides, I knew he would back down."

Ye Shiyin looked up at him and let out an almost imperceptible sigh.

’As his tool, she had no grounds to bargain with Jiang Lan. Her very life was in his hands...’