At the sight before them, the one with the darkest expression was not Xiao Ling, but Xun'er beside him. She had never imagined that the Soul Hall's people had already grown this brazen.
This was outrageous!
Xiao Ling glanced back at Xun'er and Qing Lian, who sat on her delicate shoulder. Smiling, he gently squeezed Xun'er's hand, signaling that nothing would happen with him here.
Only then did he turn to Vulture Protector and smile. "You're pretty hard to kill. That blast last time actually failed to finish you off! Could it be... you're confident you can escape my Fire Lotus this time?"
Vulture Protector's expression darkened. Eagle Protector and the others had mocked him over that incident for ages, and Xiao Ling's words were rubbing salt into his wounds.
"Xiao Ling, the Soul Hall respects your talent, so we'll give you one last chance. Come back with me, and you'll receive everything we promised you.
"Otherwise..."
He left that last sentence unfinished, but anyone could hear the threat in his words.
Xiao Ling smiled. "Then I'll have to think it over carefully. How about giving me a minute?"
Vulture Protector's expression was ugly. "Xiao Ling, I take you for a clever man. You'd best not try any tricks with me. I'll give you only ten seconds to consider..."
Xiao Ling did not mind. He sank part of his consciousness into his sleeve and woke the sleeping Cai'er. She drowsily opened her narrow, seven-colored eyes, a trace of bewilderment lingering in them. Clearly, she did not understand why Xiao Ling was disturbing her sleep.
Seeing this, Xiao Ling hurriedly said, "Cai'er, things are pretty dangerous right now. I need you to let her out. I need her help... once this is over, I'll let you eat your fill. How about