Tang San's Compensation

Ten flashes of cold light burst from Tang San's lightly flicking fingers, shooting toward Meng Yiran's eyes, shoulders, throat, and other vital points.

The piercing whistle through the air startled Meng Yiran and sent cold sweat streaming down Zhao Wuji's back.

"Tang San, stop!"

He had experienced those hidden weapons firsthand. Using them now meant Tang San intended to kill.

If anything really happened to Meng Yiran, none of them would get away.

Fortunately, Meng Yiran had practiced hidden weapons for years. With a flick of her Serpent Cane, her body instantly became as soft as if her bones had been pulled out, while her skin turned unusually tough.

"Clang, clang..."

The distance between them was great enough for Meng Yiran to dodge half the Bone-Piercing Needles, while her Serpent Cane blocked two more. Even so, one still struck her.

The finger-length silver needle pierced the scales over her chest, slanting from beneath her collarbone through her armpit.

Another inch over, and it would have hit her heart.

Meng Yiran screamed and fell from the air. Her Serpent Cane slipped from her hand, and the blade in its tongue swiftly retracted. After a brief numbness, intense pain repeatedly assaulted her mind.

"Grandma... Grandma, save me!"

She lay sprawled on the ground, screaming.

"You bastard!!"

Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang's eyes nearly split with rage as she roared. Her pupils narrowed into vertical slits, and six Soul Rings abruptly appeared around her. With Martial Soul Possession, the pressure of a Soul Emperor spread outward, forcing every Soul Beast within ten miles to lower its head.

It also left everyone from Shrek unable to breathe.

She swung her Serpent Cane and rushed to Meng Yiran's side, while a wave of force struck toward Tang San.

You little beast, pay with your life!!

Zhao Wuji revealed all his Soul Rings as well, crossing his arms to shield Tang San from the attack. "Senior Snake Granny, she is only injured!"

She isn't dead yet!

Damn it, they had nearly reached a dead end.

He cursed Tang San inwardly for suddenly using hidden weapons. With a Soul Saint's perception, he could tell that Tang San had genuinely wanted to kill Meng Yiran!

If anything really happened to Meng Yiran, no one here would escape!

As a Soul Emperor, Snake Granny had sensed it too. That was why she believed her granddaughter was already in critical danger. But after checking her over and finding that no vital points had been injured, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Still, fear lingered in her heart. The wound had been only an inch from Meng Yiran's heart.

It had been far too close, far too dangerous...

Meng Yiran was the old couple's precious lifeblood. If anything happened to her, the Unparalleled Dragon and Snake would surely go mad.

"So vicious at such a young age..."

She took out medicine and fed it to Meng Yiran, then fixed Zhao Wuji with a sinister gaze. "Zhao Wuji, you must give me an explanation today!"

Otherwise, none of you will leave!

Zhao Wuji mourned his terrible luck. Why did he always run into every possible disaster?

He could only try his best to calm her down. Bowing with cupped hands, he said, "Senior Snake Granny, this was purely an accident. I never expected this to happen."

Then he turned and barked, "Tang San, get over here and apologize!"

He grabbed Tang San by the collar and forced his head down in apology.

For now, this was the only thing he could do.

It was not that Zhao Wuji had not considered killing the two of them.

But killing the younger one would be easy; killing Snake Granny would be difficult.

Although he had one more Soul Ring than her, Zhao Wuji was a strength-type Soul Master and did not excel in speed. If Snake Granny fled at any cost, he would have no way to stop her.

And once Snake Granny escaped, what awaited him would be the endless pursuit of the Unparalleled Dragon and Snake.

Besides, the Unparalleled Dragon and Snake never separated. Even if Dragon Duke was not nearby, he could not be too far away. If a battle broke out here, he would definitely rush over.

As for Tang Hao, Zhao Wuji could not be sure whether he was nearby. Even if he was, there was no way Zhao Wuji could expect him to come to their rescue.

And if Tang Hao got angry and punished him afterward, Zhao Wuji could only pray that Tang Hao would leave him with one breath.

"This Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent belongs to you, Senior. We will leave at once and will not appear again."

With that, he prepared to immediately lead everyone away.

Oscar's gaze was panicked as he kept turning his head between Zhao Wuji and the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, filled with anxiety and reluctance.

That serpent was supposed to be mine!

Teacher Zhao...

Teacher Zhao...

Teacher Zhao, you can't leave!

But...

In the end, he still could not bring himself to speak.

He could see that even Zhao Wuji could not afford to provoke Snake Granny.

He could only stare at Tang San, who showed no remorse at all, and clench his fists. If not for Tang San, he would have already absorbed his Soul Ring!

When Snake Granny heard this, she was so furious that she laughed. Gripping her Serpent Cane, she slammed it hard against the ground, making the earth seem to tremble.

"Leave?"

Returning the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent that already belonged to me is supposed to count as compensation?!

She took a deep breath. "Zhao Wuji, I am not determined to seek revenge, but you injured my granddaughter. One serpent is probably not enough compensation!"

As she spoke, she extended her withered hand and locked Tang San in place with the pressure of a Soul Emperor. "Today, he must sever one arm to atone. Otherwise, even if this old woman must stake her life on it, none of you will leave safely!"

In this world, strength was what truly mattered. Even in her fury, Snake Granny did not dare make outright threats, much less demand Tang San's death.

The reason was simple: she could not defeat Zhao Wuji.

If they truly fought to the death, Meng Yiran would definitely be the first to die.

Zhao Wuji's scalp went numb. If he really made Tang San sever an arm, he did not know whether Meng Po would survive, but Tang Hao would definitely beat him to death.

And it would be an extremely miserable death.

He could only stall. "Senior Snake Granny, please forgive me, but I cannot offer that compensation. If a Soul Master loses an arm, his combat strength will greatly decline. I fear I would be unable to answer to his father then. After all, his father is so powerful that he could defeat even me with ease."

Tang San abruptly raised his head. What did this have to do with his father?

But he understood almost immediately. Powerful Soul Masters were nearly always backed by major forces, and the parents of geniuses had to be geniuses too. His own father was merely a blacksmith, but Snake Granny certainly did not know that. Zhao Wuji was simply trying to frighten her.

Yet Tang San also understood something else. He had originally thought Zhao Wuji was merely giving the other side face, but now he realized Zhao Wuji truly could not afford to provoke them.

Otherwise, why would he lie to Snake Granny?

Panic immediately seized him.

The fury Meng Yiran had provoked completely faded away, leaving behind only unease.

Zhao Wuji keenly caught the shift in Tang San's emotions and cursed inwardly.

Now you know fear? Damn it, you caused this mess, but I have to clean it up!

But at the moment, he truly could not think of how to compensate Snake Granny.

"Senior Snake Granny, please allow us to discuss this."

With that, he moved farther away and gathered the others together, then used Soul Power to seal off the area and ensure their voices would not carry.

"Tell me, what do we do now?"

Zhao Wuji's voice rang out, weary and exhausted.

No one else spoke. They all remained silent, especially Oscar. The muscles along his jaw bulged, showing just how hard he was grinding his teeth.

He might not hate Tang San to death, but he definitely would not be kind to him in the future.

Tang San realized just how serious the situation was. Even his dark face turned pale, like coal covered in ash. "Say something! What do you think we should do?!"

He urged them anxiously.

They couldn't really cut off my arm, could they?

Zhao Wuji sighed. They still had to rely on him. "We definitely can't leave. If Snake Granny is here, Dragon Duke must be nearby too. The Unparalleled Dragon and Snake are not just a name. We can only offer compensation."

"..."

"..."

Compensation?

Everyone muttered to themselves. Who would help Tang San pay compensation?

Most of them had nothing to offer in the first place, and even if they did, they would not take it out.

Seeing that no one spoke, Tang San truly began to panic.

He kept asking what they should do.

In the end, Zhao Wuji came up with an idea. "That needle you threw had considerable power. How about handing it over?"

Snake Granny would probably accept it.