Chapter 282 152: Hostage 2

"This whole thing... it's all a matter of strange coincidences."

Tang Huayi thought for a moment before saying:

"If you want to get to the bottom of it, it's far too complicated. It even involves the Celestial Palace.

"We'd have to go back a hundred years, to when our Demon Sect was shattered and scattered by that band of 'great heroes' led by Chu Nanfeng and Wenren Tianzong.

"Of course, the Demon Sect wasn't so easily destroyed.

"I've told you before, the Demon Sect has only one lifelong pursuit, which can be summed up in four words... The Celestial Demon's Great Freedom!

"The Celestial Demon is immortal, its freedom indestructible, existing only within the human heart.

"As long as the human heart endures, our Demon Sect will exist for all eternity.

"Of course, those are just pretty words. After that battle a hundred years ago, our Demon Sect fell into disarray for a time.

"Worse, traitors emerged from our ranks, and the Eighteen Celestial Demon Records were scattered to the four winds.

"Some volumes were stolen by the so-called Righteous Path of the Martial World.

"Others were lost to the martial world, their whereabouts unknown.

"The rest were carved up and taken by the remaining sect members of the time...

"Our branch has always been the orthodox lineage of the Demon Sect. You've met our Sect Leader, right? Pretty incredible, isn't he?"

"...The old man in Wenxiang Forest?"

"Yep, that's him!"

Tang Huayi nodded repeatedly, then pouted angrily. "That old coot! He was clearly in Benma Town, but he didn't even dare to come see me..."

"..."

Jiang Ran sighed.

'Back then, I'd told Tang Huayi what I'd seen in Wenxiang Forest. I mainly wanted to ask about the origins of the old man's martial arts.'

'But after she heard my story, she immediately went out looking for him.'

'At the time, I was still naive and clueless, and I was actually worried about her safety.'

'Turns out, she was just going to meet her own Sect Leader...'

'No wonder she was so confident back then.'

Tang Huayi continued:

"Anyway, to get back on track... our branch doesn't really want to provoke anyone. We have no particular quarrel with the martial world.

"Ultimately, we just want to gather up the things that were scattered back then.

"We want to get rid of the traitors who betrayed the true meaning of the Celestial Demon—you know, clean house.

"That's why, even though we've been established in Cangzhou Prefecture for ten years, we've just been minding our own business.

"But we never expected that the Celestial Palace—the very people who got their hands on the Eighteen Celestial Demon Records back in the day—would sink their claws into Cangzhou Prefecture.

"We wanted to keep to ourselves, but with the Blood Cauldron Divine Skill right there, could we really just stand by and watch Fan Yumou and his men use it to harm others?

"So, I volunteered for the mission: to infiltrate the Qinghe Gang.

"The original plan was to kill both Fan Jiwu and Fan Yumou, and to kill everyone who had cultivated the Blood Cauldron Divine Skill...

"After that, I'd retire from the field, mission accomplished.

"But who could have guessed? A great hero descended from the heavens!

"My incomparably heroic brother-in-law suddenly made a grand, dazzling entrance.

"With a single, terrifying slash, you cleaved your way from the Qinghe Gang's outer courtyard straight into their inner courtyard!"

Jiang Ran felt she might be exaggerating just a little.

He shook his head gently.

"So, when you were acting as Li Tianxin, what you said wasn't entirely baseless.

"I really did ruin your plan?"

"You did."

Tang Huayi nodded.

"After that whole incident, and for a few other reasons, we had no choice but to leave Cangzhou Prefecture.

"My sister was worried that since you spared Fan Jiwu's life, he might cause you unnecessary trouble down the line.

"So she paid a visit to the Qinghe Gang.

"For one, she went to retrieve the Blood Cauldron Divine Skill manual. For another... she was eliminating a hidden threat on your behalf.

"And it wasn't just the Qinghe Gang. There was also the Cloud Department of the Celestial Palace.

"We knew about them from the moment they arrived in Cangzhou Prefecture.

"It goes without saying what their objective was.

"My sister was worried that whatever they were planning might end up harming you.

"So, that night, she paid another visit to the Cloud Department's location.

"And she killed everyone there, too."

"So, you're telling me she's truly that devoted to me?"

Jiang Ran let out a cold laugh.

But Tang Huayi didn't laugh. She gave Jiang Ran a complicated look and sighed softly.

"It's not my place to tell you how my sister feels about you.

"One day, you will see her.

"Let her tell you herself...

"But, as her sister, I want to tell you this.

"Up to this point, you're the one who has wronged her. She has never wronged you."

"Nonsense. How have I wronged her?"

Jiang Ran's brows furrowed.

"How dare you ask?"

Tang Huayi was so indignant she nearly stood up in the bathtub. But in the end, she must have realized that even with the Heavenly Mechanism Star Shifting Great Transformation Skill at her disposal, it would still be inappropriate.

So she settled for saying in a muffled, sulky tone:

"Let me tell you, I have been holding this in for a long time!

"Just look at you... You're so handsome, and if being handsome wasn't enough, you're a womanizer too!

"You have Ye Jingshuang completely smitten. She's just using 'repaying a debt' as an excuse to make a move on you.

"And you never turn her down! You're even wearing the love token she gave you right now!"

"..."

Jiang Ran glanced down at the Jade Pendant on his person, hmphed, and couldn't be bothered to reply.

But Tang Huayi only got more worked up as she spoke:

"And another thing! That girl Mingyue, how old is she even... No, wait, she has come of age, so I guess it's natural for her to be experiencing her first crush.

"But you can't be leading on her cousin and then go after her, too! Are you trying to catch them both in one net?"

"What nonsense!"

Jiang Ran's eyes widened.

"What does this have to do with Mingyue?"

"That poor girl's heart is completely set on you! Aren't you worried that a man like you will ruin her for life? How can you be so cruel..."

"Utter nonsense."

Jiang Ran's brows furrowed. "Stop spouting all this useless nonsense."