Leaving Behind a Chess Piece

Chapter 44: Leaving a Chess Piece

"You've come here seeking a way to resolve the Blood Immortal Curse?" Jiang Lan asked, not answering her question.

Blood-red mist swirled, obscuring his face. Though his expression was incredibly calm, his complexion was utterly devoid of color, clearly indicating he was at his limit.

In the original plot, Song Youwei was not only exceptionally talented and powerful but also cunning as a fox. She was like a wise confidante by the male protagonist Lin Fan's side.

Later, when the Protagonist Lin Fan brought order to the realm and destroyed the Blood Immortal Sect, Song Youwei provided him with significant assistance, thoroughly whitewashing her earlier persona as a manipulative temptress.

If his current strength allowed, Jiang Lan certainly wouldn't let her go easily.

Song Youwei froze. The Blood Immortal Curse was known only to the high-ranking members of the Blood Immortal Sect. Disciples and members of ordinary status had no right to access such information.

Yet, this incredibly mysterious young man before her actually knew about it.

Suddenly, her beautiful eyes widened, her eyelashes fluttering slightly as if she had guessed something... No wonder he appeared in this underground palace.

"It seems nothing can be hidden from you, Young Master."

"To escape the Blood Immortal Sect's control, the only way is to find a method to resolve the Blood Immortal Curse, and this place should be a former ruin of the Blood Immortal Sect..." Song Youwei whispered.

"I can help you resolve the Blood Immortal Curse, and I can spare your lives," Jiang Lan interrupted her, his expression indifferent.

Song Youwei looked at him in astonishment. She saw that Jiang Lan now held a small white porcelain bottle in his hand.

"Eat it," Jiang Lan said.

"What is this?" Song Youwei's gaze fell upon the bottle, her voice trembling slightly.

"Heart Devouring Pill. It's a pill with an effect similar to the Blood Immortal Curse, but the difference is, only I have the antidote. If you don't take the antidote within three months, you will die from the torment of Ten Thousand Ants Devouring the Heart," Jiang Lan stated calmly.

Song Youwei fell silent for a moment, then raised her clear yet alluring eyes and asked, "If that's the case, why should I eat it? Even if the Blood Immortal Curse is resolved, I'll still be controlled. Why wouldn't I continue to suffer the erosion and torment of the Blood Immortal Curse..."

"Do you have a choice right now?"

Jiang Lan smiled faintly, but there was little emotion in his eyes. "I don't like wasting time. I'll give you three breaths to consider. With each passing breath, I will kill one person behind you..."

Song Youwei's expression changed, her clear eyes filled with anger.

Blood rushed to her fair, slender neck, as delicate as a swan's, bringing forth streaks of crimson like rosy clouds.

"Miss, please don't agree to him..."

The young girl behind her, with her hair styled in a maid's bun, spoke with a trembling voice.

"Three..."

Jiang Lan's gaze swept over, landing on the young girl.

Song Youwei immediately felt blood-red mist begin to intertwine in the void. Her face changed again. Gritting her teeth, she suppressed the immense unwillingness in her heart and said, "I... I agree."

If it weren't for the Blood Immortal Curse acting up, causing problems with her body and preventing her from being at her full strength, how could she be so passive and threatened like this...

She was supposed to be the ruthless, venomous temptress in the eyes of the world, but who would have thought she would fall to a point where she was being manipulated and threatened like this.

"Those who are sensible always live longer."

Jiang Lan casually tossed the white porcelain bottle to her.

Song Youwei opened the stopper and was immediately met with a fragrant, rich aroma that seemed to slightly ease her injuries.

She was then somewhat stunned, almost doubting if this was the so-called Heart Devouring Pill.

But looking at Jiang Lan's casual and indifferent expression, she couldn't help but feel a chill.

She certainly didn't believe Jiang Lan would be so kind as to let her go easily. After all, she had indeed considered leading the trouble to him when she sensed his presence earlier...

Then, Song Youwei braced herself and swallowed the pill inside. However, she felt no strange sensation. Instead, it brought an indescribable comfort, and her injuries seemed to have improved significantly.

It even felt somewhat like a healing pill she had taken before, a Pure Spirit Pill.

But the more it felt like that, the more uneasy Song Youwei became.

"Don't worry, no one will be able to detect anything unusual. Even the high-ranking members of the Blood Immortal Sect won't know you've taken the Heart Devouring Pill. Until it takes effect, you can even treat it as a Pure Spirit Pill for healing,"

Jiang Lan seemed to know her thoughts, his tone extremely casual. "I won't resolve the Blood Immortal Curse for you right now either..."

He naturally had no Heart Devouring Pill on him, nor could he resolve Song Youwei's Blood Immortal Curse at the moment.

But that didn't stop him from intimidating her. The smarter a person was, the more cautious and suspicious they would naturally be.

"You..."

Anger flickered in Song Youwei's beautiful eyes, and she gritted her teeth, her curvaceous and exquisite figure trembling.

She hadn't expected Jiang Lan to be so shameless, to go back on his word.

Jiang Lan glanced at her, then said with apparent interest, "Don't get angry yet. I will do as I promised. Your master should be Blood Fiend Granny, right? Asking her for more antidote for the Blood Immortal Curse shouldn't be difficult for you."

"How many people can you save with the antidote you save each time?"

Song Youwei's expression changed, a hint of fear in her eyes, her voice trembling slightly, "Who exactly are you?"

Why did Jiang Lan even know her master?

"You can consider me the benefactor who spared your life, or you can see me as your noble patron," Jiang Lan continued to look at her with interest. "Because I can also help you... kill your master."

"Kill my master..."

Song Youwei suddenly froze in place, her mind going blank for a moment. Jiang Lan actually knew that she wanted to kill her master.

"You don't honestly think that if I help you resolve the Blood Immortal Curse now, you'll escape the Blood Immortal Sect's control, do you? You can't even kill a single Blood Fiend Granny, yet you still harbor ambitions of breaking free from the Blood Immortal Sect. How laughable," Jiang Lan said with a faint smile, his tone openly mocking and indifferent.

Honestly, he had no interest in dealing with the Blood Immortal Sect.

However, at the moment, this Song Youwei was still somewhat useful to him, and perhaps in the future, she could even bring him considerable benefits.

Song Youwei took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts and calming herself from the series of emotionally jarring shocks.

"I wonder, how can I get you to help me..."

She wasn't foolish. She was just too shocked moments ago. Now that she had recovered, she knew that Jiang Lan had said so much to her and forced her to swallow the Heart Devouring Pill, he must have had his own purpose.

"When you reach a point where you genuinely want my help, I will naturally assist you," Jiang Lan said casually.

Leaving behind such a pawn was still somewhat necessary. Even if she wasn't useful now, she would be in the future.

A look of astonishment flickered across Song Youwei's beautiful eyes as she secretly pondered the meaning of Jiang Lan's words. Then, she asked, "How will I contact you in the future?"

As soon as she said this, she immediately regretted it. Wasn't this equivalent to directly asking for Jiang Lan's identity? He had concealed his appearance so thoroughly, clearly not wanting anyone to know his origins or identity.