"Just join the Tang Sect, and the sect master is yours. I'm yours, too..."
Tang Ya took a deep breath and looked at Jiang Yi with unwavering resolve.
She had spent this time turning the matter over and over in her mind, and had finally figured it out. All she had to do was make a small sacrifice.
Not that it even counted as a sacrifice.
She lifted her eyes and gazed earnestly at Jiang Yi.
On the way to Shrek, she had secretly watched Jiang Yi for a long time. She had even witnessed his sparring match with Bei Bei.
Jiang Yi's talent and strength were no worse than Bei Bei's. If anything, he was even better. The only difference between them was their status.
Jiang Yi came from a poor background and couldn't compare with Bei Bei in that regard, but Tang Ya saw it as a tremendous advantage.
She couldn't give up on the Tang Sect, but she didn't have the ability to revive it, either.
Finding a partner who could struggle alongside her was her best choice—and the only choice left to her.
Clearly, Bei Bei wasn't suitable.
Putting Shrek aside, Bei Bei was also born into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. He could never become the Tang Sect's live-in son-in-law.
That was why, ever since Xu Sanshi had let Bei Bei's true identity slip in front of her, she had never dared to take things further with Bei Bei.
Did she love Bei Bei?
Even Tang Ya couldn't say for sure. But after years of companionship, to claim she felt nothing would have been a lie.
But she didn't dare to love him, and she couldn't.
What she needed was a towering tree that could hold up the Tang Sect, not a lover who belonged only to her, Tang Ya.
Bei Bei wouldn't do!
At least until the Tang Sect had been revived, she couldn't abandon everything to pursue a romance with Bei Bei.
"So, what do you think? Just say the word, and everything I have will be yours... including the Tang Sect behind me..."
Tang Ya lightly bit her red lip, then stepped forward and opened her arms to embrace Jiang Yi.
This was the only bargaining chip she had.
To her disappointment, Jiang Yi silently stepped back, avoiding her embrace.
"Senior, there's no need."
Jiang Yi shook his head.
He'd only been talking. It wasn't as if he'd really let himself be tied to the Tang Sect's ship for a woman.
There were so many beauties on the Douluo Continent. Once he'd cultivated to a high enough level, couldn't he just use a Master Ball to catch a couple?
"..."
Tang Ya froze for a moment. She pressed her lips together and silently lowered her arms, which had still been hanging open.
Just as she'd thought...
Tang Ya murmured to herself.
She had actually expected as much before coming. A true genius wouldn't be so easily bought.
But the next moment, she smiled with relief, though tears still seemed to glimmer in her eyes.
"I knew it, Junior Jiang. You're not the kind of person who takes advantage of someone in need. Looks like I didn't misjudge you, after all."
The young woman smiled sweetly and tilted her head toward Jiang Yi. Every smile and frown of hers brimmed with youthful sunshine.
Yet the tears quietly shimmering in her eyes lent that smile an indescribable ache.
She had her pride, too. She didn't want to grovel like a lowly servant, wagging her tail for scraps. But for the Tang Sect, she was willing.
"..."
Jiang Yi sighed inwardly.
He could understand Tang Ya's helplessness. Even in the original story, when Mu En had intended to support the Tang Sect, she was still a dispensable afterthought.
The Tang Sect's rise or fall rested on a single thought from someone else. She was merely a pawn on the board, her influence negligible.
Ten thousand years later, the one who revived the Tang Sect would be Huo Yuhao, and the Hall of Heroes would belong to the Shrek Seven Devils.
That was the lot of ordinary people. No matter how hard they struggled, they couldn't escape the shackles of fate. What a pity, and what a tragedy.
Jiang Yi felt this keenly. After all, in his previous life, he'd just been a young wage slave.
But as he was lost in thought, Tang Ya—who had been forcing a smile—suddenly sprang into his arms while his guard was down.
A trick! A sneak attack!
Whoosh—
Tang Ya lunged at him, wrapped both arms tightly around his waist, and buried her face in his chest.
"Huh?"
Jiang Yi came back to his senses, but it was too late. The girl was in his arms, and a sweet fragrance wafted over him.
"Senior..."
Jiang Yi could only sigh helplessly. He tried to pry Tang Ya off him, but her little hands clamped around him like iron, not budging an inch.
Even worse, Tang Ya summoned her Blue Silver Grass and bound the two of them tightly together.
The Tang Sect's secret technique, Blue Silver Entanglement!
"I know what you mean. Maybe I'm being shameless, but that's all right. I won't force you."
Tang Ya buried her face in Jiang Yi's chest and spoke in a muffled voice.
Her soft, delicate body squirmed restlessly in his arms, shamelessly teasing his nerves.
"..."
Jiang Yi was at a loss for words.
Before you say that, could you at least loosen the Blue Silver Grass tied around our waists?
I give up!
How could anyone force a sale like this?
"Then go ahead and hug me."
Unable to break free, Jiang Yi gave up and let Tang Ya hold him. Besides, it was Bei Bei who'd be the one growing horns.
After they had embraced for a while, Tang Ya saw that Jiang Yi had stopped struggling and slowly lifted her head from his chest.
"Heehee~"
Tang Ya blinked and leaned close to Jiang Yi's ear. She gently blew into it, then spoke with a hint of confidence.
"Don't rush to reject me."
She looked up into Jiang Yi's eyes without the slightest hesitation.
"Trust me. Give me some time, and I'll fall in love with you. I'll make you fall in love with me, too!"
"I promise..."
As soon as she finished speaking, the Blue Silver Grass wrapped around their waists withdrew completely.
Tang Ya rose onto her tiptoes and kissed him.
"Mmph~"
Jiang Yi froze for a moment. He had meant to push her away, but his little brother wouldn't listen. His arms went around her of their own accord.
Soft as jade, sweet as fragrance—its taste lingered endlessly.
After a long while, Tang Ya pulled away on her own. Her little face was flushed, but her eyes held a little more joy.
Maybe... she still had a chance?
Jiang Yi, meanwhile, licked his lips, as if savoring the taste.
"Well... I'll get going."
She stuck out her tongue.
"I still need to check on Xiao Yutong. If you need anything later, you can come find me in the dorm. I'm in room 404..."
Before Jiang Yi could answer, she hurried toward the door.
Halfway there, she seemed to remember something and flicked out a streak of light. It landed on the desk beside them.
"Think of this as your senior's dowry! Remember, don't show it to anyone else!"
Before her words had even faded, the young woman's figure had vanished from Jiang Yi's sight, her ponytail bouncing as she went.
She was gone, but her presence lingered, her fragrance winding through his dreams.
"What was all that about?"
Jiang Yi scratched his head and walked over to the desk.
Tang Ya had left a string of keys and an ancient-looking tome. Four large characters were written on its cover:
Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record!
Meanwhile, after leaving Jiang Yi's dorm, Tang Ya glanced around and slipped out of the dormitory building like a thief.
"Tang Ya, you shameless thing."
She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood and cursed herself inwardly, but her steps were unusually light, as if she'd just cast off a thousand-pound burden.
Before, her only lifeline had been Bei Bei. Now she had another option—no, she'd switched to a different one.
Winning Bei Bei over would be easy, but getting the power behind him to accept her would be anything but.
But now that she'd chosen Jiang Yi, all she had to do was win him over. In a way, it was a burden lifted.
"I'll definitely succeed!"
Tang Ya quietly clenched her fists and gave herself a pep talk.
This time, she was going all in!!!
The Tang Sect was being given away for free, and so was she... She refused to believe Jiang Yi wouldn't be tempted.
You don't want to join the Tang Sect? Then how about the Jiang Sect? And if all else failed, she could secretly have a child with him. Surely then he'd care.
Before you continue