The genius is remembered in a single second—
"You used this child as a shield. How despicable. What right do you have to discuss any of this with me?" the young man said resentfully.
I shook my head and laughed. "Isn't it normal to make use of every resource available? Since I knew you wouldn't attack her, why couldn't I use her? Besides, you threatened me with my senior brother. What right do you have to call me despicable?"
"Exactly! I like being used by Senior Xia. What about it?" Zou Wei added another stab to the young man's wounds. He was so furious that he repeated "you" twice, staring at Zou Wei as if she had no idea who was friend or foe.
"You're the guardian deity of these waters. You've helped and rescued countless fishermen, and everyone reveres you beyond measure. Why, then, did you attack me so unreasonably? Surely it wasn't merely because I trespassed into these waters?" I smiled, genuinely surprised that a guardian deity would act so strangely.
Besides, there was probably something peculiar about the nine stone pillars. Their purpose might not be limited to expanding his domain. Perhaps they had some hidden function as well.
"You outsiders are all destroyers. You'll ruin our waters, so of course I can't let you run wild here. As for this child, she's a child of the Ancient God Sea. What's abnormal about protecting her?" the young man said angrily, frowning.
"All right. You're still stubborn, it seems. Otherwise, you wouldn't have locked up my senior brother and disciple. I don't expect you to simply release them, so name your condition. What will it take for you to let my senior brother and the others go?" I was quite straightforward. He must have had a reason for