Dai Youheng's "Princess, do you truly mean that?" carried just the right measure of excitement and longing. Like the sweetest nectar, it watered the flower of control blooming in Xu Jiujiu's heart with unerring precision.
The smile at her lips instantly blossomed into something even more radiant and captivating, and her eyes shone with the confidence of someone who held everything in her grasp.
"Of course I do." Xu Jiujiu's voice was gentle. "I have never broken a promise. However-"
Her tone shifted as she leaned back slightly, resuming the poise and calculating air of an imperial princess. "Since we have reached an understanding, our first priority is to help you establish yourself and build your prestige as quickly as possible. After all, a powerful partner with a name known far and wide serves both our interests, doesn't he?"
Dai Youheng sneered inwardly, but his face showed a timely willingness to hear her out.
Xu Jiujiu had clearly planned everything already. She spoke with assured ease. "Right now, there is a perfect opportunity for you to return to the public eye in the most dazzling fashion-the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament!"
"You are already a student of Shrek Academy, and your strength is outstanding. During the Core Disciple Selection tournament, you defeated Xu Sanshi of the Netherworld Sect head-on. You should have secured a place on the reserve team, but a villain's underhanded attack forced you to withdraw. Quite a few people at the academy regretted what happened to you."
She cleverly labeled Dai Huabin's sneak attack "a villain's underhanded attack," both catering to the resentment Dai Youheng ought to feel and paving the way for her next proposal.
"Now, the Shrek Team is in trouble. The brothers Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin have suffered severe injuries