Only then did Qin Yunong's heart, which had been lodged in her throat, settle back down. Seeing how formidable Yan Chihuo had been just now, she could not help worrying that he might turn hostile. Anyone who had been schemed against, trapped for fifty years for nothing, and even faced the danger of perishing would be burning with rage. Even fighting to the death would have been perfectly normal. Yet from Yan Chihuo's words, there seemed to be room for reconciliation—exactly what she had hoped for. As for expecting Yan Chihuo to simply let the matter go and end things lightly, that was something she had never even dared imagine.
Lady Tianxiang said, "Fellow Daoist Yan wasted fifty years here for nothing and even braved extraordinary dangers. That was indeed this humble woman's fault. You also helped this humble woman kill that old thief Dong Gang just now; I cannot thank you enough. In my several hundred years in the cultivation world, this is the first time I have met someone as magnanimous as you, Fellow Daoist." No garment could withstand a thousand stitches, but flattery could pierce through anything. Lady Tianxiang had lived for centuries—how could she not understand that? Thus, she promptly presented him with this lofty hat.
Though Yan Chihuo knew what she was trying to do, her words were pleasant to hear, and he said nothing further. Lady Tianxiang was skilled at reading faces and saw that her words had worked, so she continued, "Therefore, this humble woman has long prepared compensation. I hope Fellow Daoist will kindly accept it."
As she spoke, she took out a storage ring and said, "The Jade Crystals and ordinary treasures within are nothing remarkable. But since Fellow Daoist's core formation was delayed because of this, I offer you a