Different women called for different approaches. Tailoring his methods to each one would get Chu Xiu twice the results with half the effort.
Though Ah Yin was only a supporting character in Douluo, her identity as Tang San's mother had drawn plenty of attention.
In Chu Xiu's mind, she was an ordinary, beautiful middle-aged woman who cared about her family.
Her identity as a Spirit Beast was the only thing that made her unusual.
And to deal with a woman who cared so much about her family, he naturally had to start with them.
A teasing look crossed Chu Xiu's face as he approached Ah Yin, step by step. He stopped a few meters away. "Madam, I'm sure you've noticed that you can't use your Martial Soul or Soul Power here, have you?"
Ah Yin grew tense. When Chu Xiu had approached her with that unfriendly look, she had already prepared to use a Soul Skill.
She could clearly sense the Soul Power within her, but something seemed to separate her from it. She couldn't draw on even a trace.
"What do you want?"
Ah Yin wrapped her arms around her chest and sat sideways on the beach with her knees bent.
Having nothing on made her deeply uncomfortable, especially in front of a man who seemed to have bad intentions.
But she had taken human form after cultivating as a Spirit Beast for a hundred thousand years. Unlike Qian Renxue and the others, she hadn't grown up with a human upbringing, and she accepted her present situation more quickly.
What concerned her now was her safety and how she could escape to find her family.
"My husband is a Titled Douluo. If you help me leave this place, he'll certainly reward you."
Ah Yin tried to keep her voice steady.
She offered what she believed was a very tempting deal.
She knew her beauty and figure would tempt any man. Perhaps only the threat of a Titled Douluo could persuade him to leave her alone.
"Reward me?" Chu Xiu sneered. "Humans and Spirit Beasts are mortal enemies. Do you think I'd trust you, a stalk of Blue Silver Grass?"
Ah Yin's face went pale.
"H-how do you know I'm Blue Silver Grass?"
Chu Xiu pointed at his eyes and smiled mockingly. "Because my Martial Soul is a Body Martial Soul—my eyes. No one else here can use their Martial Soul, but my eyes aren't restricted."
"No one else?"
Ah Yin looked toward the grass tent.
So he isn't the only one here?
Chu Xiu crouched until his gaze was level with hers. An evil smile crossed his face. "That's right. They aren't as easy to talk to as I am, especially the important figure from Spirit Hall in there."
"Oh, and you said your husband is a Titled Douluo."
"A hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Grass Spirit Beast once married a Titled Douluo. If I'm not mistaken, the one you're talking about is Tang Hao, isn't he?"
Chu Xiu's words left Ah Yin ashen-faced.
Back when Spirit Hall had hunted Ah Yin, very few people had known about it.
Chu Xiu, however, was one of them.
Ah Yin grew more anxious by the moment. Her chest rose and fell sharply, and her arms could not fully cover her.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
"Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is that after Tang Hao gained your sacrificial offering, he gravely injured Spirit Hall's former Supreme Pontiff while breaking through their encirclement. Spirit Hall has hated him ever since. Even the Clear Sky Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects, closed its gates out of fear of being implicated."
Chu Xiu's tone abruptly turned threatening.
"What do you think will happen if I tell the person in that tent you're a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast who took human form? Will Spirit Hall kill you again to claim your Spirit Ring?"
"And will your Titled Douluo husband survive another encounter with them?"
Ah Yin shook her head desperately. "No, don't. If you let me go, I..."
She took several deep breaths. After a moment of hesitation, she finally made up her mind.
"If you keep my secret and let me leave this place to see my husband, I'll give you my second Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring after I'm reborn. That will be your reward."
Ah Yin's offer would have tempted anyone.
Unfortunately, it meant little to Chu Xiu.
"Silly woman. How could I bear to let you sacrifice yourself for me?"
Ah Yin froze at his reply.
"Then what do you want?"
Chu Xiu reached out. Ah Yin instinctively tried to dodge, but he caught her chin and turned her face toward him. "Such a beautiful woman. I'm a normal man. What do you think I want?"
"No. I can't."
Ah Yin refused at once.
She would rather die or sacrifice herself than betray the man she loved.
Chu Xiu's smile turned vicious. "Oh? Faithful to the end, are you? But I hear Tang Hao has a son named Tang San. He's only eighteen and already a Soul King—a real genius."
"Give him time, and Tang San might become a Limit Douluo, perhaps even a god."
"It would be a shame if, because of you, his path ended while he was still so young."
Bitterness twisted Ah Yin's face. Trembling with anger, she bit her lip and said, "You're a demon."
"Hah. Think whatever you like. I've made my terms clear. Whether they live or die is up to you."
Chu Xiu stood and headed toward the grass tent.
"You have until morning to think it over. If I don't get the answer I want by then, I guarantee Spirit Hall will hunt Tang San and Tang Hao without end."
"And don't think about killing yourself. I'll use your corpse to lure Tang Hao out, and he'll die even sooner."
Spirit Beasts were more driven by emotion than humans. They would sacrifice themselves without hesitation for someone precious to them.
If Chu Xiu wanted to win Ah Yin over, threatening the people she cared about was his only option.
Besides, he already had a grudge against Tang San. He couldn't approach Ah Yin on friendly terms.
If he developed real feelings for her, would he have to spare Tang San for her sake?
And even if Chu Xiu were willing to spare Tang San, would Tang San spare him?
Chu Xiu knew exactly what he wanted: all of Ah Yin's abilities, with the chance to enjoy her body along the way.
As for how he got them, any means would do.
The night passed.
The next morning, Shui Bing'er shook Chu Xiu awake.
"Chu Xiu, wake up. Hurry."
Yawning, Chu Xiu sat up inside the tent.
Beside him, Ning Rongrong had just woken too. As she tried to sit up, she hissed in pain.
"Ow. I twisted my ankle last night. I might not be able to work today."
Ning Rongrong shot Chu Xiu a resentful look. It was all his fault. He hadn't been gentle at all.
Shui Bing'er stared at Ning Rongrong, speechless. A twisted ankle?
Do you think we're deaf? We heard everything last night.
But Shui Bing'er kept that to herself. Even Qian Renxue, who didn't get along with Ning Rongrong, hadn't called her out. Shui Bing'er certainly wasn't going to say it aloud.
"If you're hurt, keep lying down. Chu Xiu, come outside, quickly."
"There's someone new out here," Shui Bing'er said urgently.
Before you continue