Wu Sheng's cave.
"You shouldn't have dealt with those people so harshly!" He Na stood there, looking at Wu Sheng sitting cross-legged before her, and let out a faint sigh.
"Did you bring those people here? Why are you in the habit of attacking your own people? If I hadn't come out of seclusion in time, judging by the way they were acting, they would have barged right in." Wu Sheng shot back.
"This involves cooperation between the major factions. In past trials, Blood Sun City has occasionally joined forces with Extreme Flame Realm and the Nine Spirits Society." He Na thought for a moment, then revealed some of what was going on.
"This kind of cooperation can't be that comprehensive or close, can it?"
The Blood Trial, for instance, allowed at most 100 people to survive. That was a strict requirement imposed by the Prison Clan's higher-ups. Even if the major factions of the Blood Sun Tribe cooperated, they couldn't possibly arrange the numbers so comprehensively.
So that so-called cooperation couldn't be all that close.
"Usually, it only includes a family's core disciples or its handpicked elite. That way, any friction between the major factions stays under control. Thunder Star Mountain is the exception, of course. They're Blood Sun City's sworn enemy!" He Na bit her lip as she revealed another bombshell.
"Heh. So, in your eyes, we're nothing but high-level hired muscle and cannon fodder. When things get dangerous, we're not only expected to protect you, but we don't even get the protection we deserve while we're in your squad!"
Wu Sheng had suspected as much, but he still found it somewhat laughable. Then he asked, "Why are you suddenly telling me all this?"
"I don't want you to misunderstand. You managed to condense the terrifying Soul Leech in such a short time, which shows how remarkable your soul talent is. If you help me win the Prize, I'll reward you handsomely. After all, the Prize decides the outcome of the betting outside, and there's a lot of money at stake!"
He Na spoke with utter sincerity, as if she were certain Wu Sheng could claim a place of his own in the Blood Trial and even make a real difference.
"Tell me the truth."
"Uh, we're going to attack a gathering point in Cangming Valley soon. Your Soul Art will be another trump card for us. We might even have to rely on you for this operation."
He Na's expression shifted. She hurriedly added this, her eyes holding a trace of anticipation.
"If you keep this up, we can't have a conversation." Wu Sheng sighed and started to resume his cultivation.
"All right. I want you to take advantage of the chaos during this operation and kill Li Hu!"
At last, He Na stopped hiding her intentions. A blue glint flashed in her eyes, revealing boundless hatred. Even the dazzling, colorful scale between her brows turned black in an instant, like a pitch-black eye that seized the soul and made it impossible to look at directly.
Wu Sheng said nothing. Instead, he rubbed his chin, red light flickering in his eyes.
He had no interest in why He Na hated Li Hu so much. He was weighing the pros and cons.
The Li Ling Clan was a major clan with considerable influence in the Nine Spirits Society, but Li Hu himself was still too insignificant. Aside from having a brother who was a Special Elite, there wasn't much about him that Wu Sheng had any reason to fear.
But he and Li Hu had only had a minor spat. Why should he kill the man for He Na? If someone exposed what had happened afterward, could He Na really protect him?
"This is... difficult. Aside from what happened today, I have no grudge against him. Besides, Li Hu has a brother who's a Special Elite, and he comes from a major clan. What makes you think I can stand against them?"
After weighing it over, Wu Sheng still turned down He Na's request. "Go. Let's pretend I never heard any of this."
Only a fool would get mixed up in a feud between major clans.
"I... I'll pay you more!" He Na was completely out of options, so she brought out her ultimate weapon.
"Well, in that case, we can discuss the details." Wu Sheng smiled.
You should've said so sooner! Why all the beating around the bush? Did you really think being beautiful would make someone risk their life for you?
If you'd laid it all out this clearly from the start, why would I have needed to dance around the subject?
I was an assassin. I tailored my services to the client.
If the price was right, I could even take care of Li Long for you.
Seeing Wu Sheng instantly turn into a grinning businessman, He Na felt like a lamb being led to slaughter. A chill inexplicably ran through her.
"That bastard! How dare that bastard humiliate me in front of so many people? Even when you beat a dog, you have to consider who owns it. He's challenging me! He's challenging me!"
In a lavishly furnished cave, Li Hu, the Three-Eyed Freak, roared furiously in front of a circular bed.
Still, Wu Sheng's masterful Soul Art had truly frightened him. He had stood outside Wu Sheng's cave for a long time, thinking it over, before giving up on confronting him immediately.
"Why are you so angry, Master? That little runt is a nobody, a peasant. He can strut around for a while, but it's not as if he can reach the heavens!"
A seductive voice suddenly sounded behind Li Hu. A pair of snow-white arms wrapped tightly around him from behind.
"Why not think about me instead, Master? I've been longing for you for so long!"
At the sound of that voice, the fury in Li Hu's eyes faded, replaced by a strange tenderness. He tugged with his right hand, pulling a delicate figure in a blue dress into his arms.
Looking down, he saw that the woman in his embrace wore a thin white veil, but her pale blue eyes were filled with desire, and the colorful scale between her brows had taken on a pinkish hue.
"Heh. You shameless woman. You're He Na's aunt, after all. If you really had your master's interests at heart, you'd persuade her. This matter concerns the cooperation between the Nine Spirits Society and Blood Sun City. Tell her to stop putting on airs like some princess of the imperial capital, lest I lose interest in her. I could take her as a concubine first, then give her to someone else."
As he spoke, Li Hu's large hands roamed over her body.
"Mm... You give me too much credit. Ever since my dear... sister caught River Lord's eye and gave birth to Nana... that little girl, she rose to fame and fortune. She never cared about whether the rest of us sisters lived or died. Look at what I've become. Even Na... Nana wants to kill me. Why would she ever listen to me?"
As the delicate woman spoke, a trace of sorrow appeared in her pale blue eyes, as though she had endured something too painful to speak of.
But then she cried out as she grabbed Li Hu's wandering hands against her chest and whispered, "Master, please be gentle with me!"
"Haha, don't worry. Once I pass the Blood Trial, let's see what He Na has to say then. Just because her father is a Realm Lord who's about to grow old, she thinks she's royalty? When the time comes, you'll serve me alongside her, my beauty. Haha!"