Conversation in the Cave, A Request to Kill

Wu Sheng's cave.

"You shouldn't have been so ruthless with those people!" He Na stood there, looking at Wu Sheng sitting cross-legged before her, letting out a quiet sigh.

"Were these people all brought by you? How come you have a habit of turning on your own? If I hadn't come out of seclusion in time, judging by their stance, they were about to barge right in?" Wu Sheng countered instead.

"This involves cooperation between the major powers. In various trials, our Blood Sun City occasionally joins forces with the Extreme Flame Realm and the Nine Spirits Society." He Na thought for a moment, revealing part of the truth.

"That kind of cooperation shouldn't be all that thorough or close, should it?"

The Blood Trial only allows a maximum of one hundred survivors—that's a hard requirement from the Prison Clan's higher-ups. Even if the major powers of the Blood Sun Tribe cooperate, they couldn't possibly arrange the numbers so perfectly.

That so-called cooperation was bound to be far from intimate.

"It's usually limited to core disciples of the families or the core elites they've trained. That way, even if there's some friction between the major powers, it stays within controllable limits. Of course, Thunder Star Mountain is the exception—they're our Blood Sun City's mortal enemy!" He Na bit her lip and dropped another bombshell.

"Heh, so in your eyes, we Elite Trial Takers are nothing more than high-level thugs, cannon fodder! At critical moments, we're supposed to protect you, and even while we're in your squad, we don't get the protection we deserve!"

Wu Sheng had suspected as much, but it still felt ridiculous. He then asked, "So why are you suddenly telling me all this now?"

"I don't want you to misunderstand. The fact that you could condense a terrifying secret art like the 'Soul Leech' in such a short time shows your soul talent is extraordinary. If you can help me seize the 'Prize,' I'll reward you handsomely. After all, that 'Prize' determines the outcome of the outside bet—that's a huge sum of money!"

He Na's tone was very sincere, as if she was certain Wu Sheng could carve out a place for himself in this Blood Trial and even accomplish something significant.

"Give me the real talk!"

"Uh, we're about to launch an attack on a stronghold in Cangming Valley. Your soul secret art is definitely another trump card for us. Maybe this operation will have to rely on you."

He Na's expression shifted, and she quickly added, a hint of expectation in her eyes.

"If you keep this up, there's no point in us talking." Wu Sheng sighed and moved to resume his cultivation.

"Fine. I hope you can take advantage of the chaos during this operation and kill that Li Hu!"

At this point, He Na finally stopped hiding it. A blue light flashed in her eyes, revealing a look of intense hatred. Even the dazzling colored scale on her forehead instantly turned black, like a dark, eerie eye that seized one's soul and made it impossible to look directly at her.

Wu Sheng said nothing, instead rubbing his chin, a red light flickering uncertainly in his eyes.

He had no interest in why He Na hated Li Hu so much; he was only weighing the gains and losses of this matter.

The Li Ling Clan was a major clan with considerable influence in the Nine Spirits Society, but that Li Hu was ultimately too weak. Aside from having a Special Elite older brother, there was nothing about him worth fearing.

Still, his conflict with Li Hu was just a minor scuffle. Why should he kill the man for He Na's sake? If this kind of thing got out later, could He Na even protect herself?

"This... is tough! Aside from what happened today, I have no grudge against him. Besides, Li Hu has a Special Elite older brother and comes from a major clan. What strength do you think I have to fight them?"

After thinking it over, Wu Sheng still refused He Na's request. "Leave. Consider today's conversation something I never heard."

Getting involved in feuds between big families? Only a fool would meddle in that.

"I... I'll pay more!" He Na was out of options and pulled out her ultimate weapon.

"Oh, in that case, we can discuss it a bit more." Wu Sheng smiled.

Why didn't you say so earlier! Why drag out all this nonsense! Did you really think being pretty was enough to make someone risk their life for you?

Remember, we're at 101 Bookstore.

If you'd laid it out so clearly from the start, why would I have needed to beat around the bush!

I'm a killer—I size up the job based on the price!

As long as the money's right, I could even take care of that Li Long for you.

Watching Wu Sheng instantly switch to a grinning merchant's face, He Na felt like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, a chill inexplicably running through her heart.

"Bastard! That bastard dared to humiliate me in front of so many people! If you beat a dog, you look at its owner—he was provoking me! Provoking me!"

In a lavishly decorated cave, the three-eyed freak Li Hu was roaring madly beside a round bed.

But he had indeed been frightened by Wu Sheng's masterful soul secret art. After thinking it over for a long time at Wu Sheng's cave entrance, he had finally abandoned the idea of immediately retaliating.

"Why is my master so angry? That little runt is nothing but a mud-footed nobody. At most, he'll be arrogant for a while—can he really leap to the heavens?"

Suddenly, a seductive voice came from behind Li Hu, followed by a pair of snow-white jade arms wrapping tightly around him from behind.

"Master should think more of this servant. This servant has missed you for so long!"

Hearing this voice, the madness in Li Hu's eyes faded, replaced by a strange emotion. He reached back with his right hand and pulled a delicate body in a blue dress into his embrace.

Looking down, he saw that although the woman in his arms wore a thin white veil, her light blue eyes were full of spring, and the colored scale on her forehead had turned a shade of pink.

"Heh, you slut. Speaking of which, you're still He Na's aunt. If you really want to serve your master well, you should persuade her more. This matter concerns the cooperation between our Nine Spirits Society and Blood Sun City. Don't let her put on airs like some imperial princess all day. Otherwise, when this young master loses interest in her, I'll take her as a concubine first, then give her away to someone else."

As Li Hu spoke, his large hands kept kneading the soft body in his arms.

"Mmm... you overestimate me. Ever since my good... sister was favored by the River Lord and gave birth to Na... that little girl, she's soared to great heights and doesn't care about the rest of us sisters at all. I've ended up like this, and even Na... Na wishes she could kill me—how could she ever listen to my advice!"

As the delicate woman spoke, a hint of sorrow appeared in her light blue eyes, as if she had some unspeakable past.

But then she let out a pained cry, pressing down on Li Hu's roving hands on her chest, and said softly, "Master, please have mercy on this servant!"

"Haha, don't worry. Once I pass this Blood Trial, we'll see what He Na has to say. Does she really think that having a decrepit old Realm Lord for a father makes her royalty? When the time comes, you and her can serve me together, haha!"