The old woman gripped one end of the rope. "Whether that's true or not, I'll judge for myself. Put away those petty schemes of yours."
Ye Tianbing nodded and bowed. "Yes, yes, yes. This junior understands all of that. I would never dare harbor any disloyal thoughts."
Even now, he had not completely given up.
He was merely waiting for an opportunity subtle as rain moistening things in silence, so he could shift the calamity eastward without anyone noticing.
Ye Tianbing's servile groveling did not erase the cold sneer in the old woman's eyes. "You're still calculating, aren't you? You want to accept a task from me to capture Ye Ranxing and bring her before me, then use the chance to turn me against Ye Xiaoyao?"
Seen through by the old woman once more, Ye Tianbing broke out in a cold sweat. "No. I have absolutely no such intention."
The old woman moved as swiftly as lightning and viciously kicked the back of his knee.
With a thud.
Ye Tianbing dropped to his knees.
"Remember, you are my captive now."
"You do not have the right to make decisions for yourself."
Ye Tianbing lowered his head and offered a defense. "Ye Xiaoyao has neither roots nor backing. She is merely a young minor cultivator. Even if Your Excellency were to make an enemy of her by accident, she could not possibly pose any threat to you."
"You wretch—" The old woman abruptly cut herself off.
Never mind. Why should she bother reminding him? Let him go to his death himself.
She had more or less already figured it out.
Ye Tianbing must have old grudges against one or more of Ye Xiaoyao's relatives.
It was just that—
Having failed to find an opportunity for revenge once, he intended to make