"Don't celebrate too soon. My gifts aren't so easy to accept. Simply getting me into the Star Domain won't be enough."
Watching Cao Ying's wild delight, Hun Changqing spoke quietly.
At his words, Cao Ying immediately came to her senses. Her expression turned solemn, and she said with utmost sincerity.
"Senior, I will never forget the grace of the new life you've given me. If you ever need my help again, so long as it doesn't cross my bottom line, I will walk through boiling water and fire without hesitation!"
"Hah!"
Hun Changqing promptly scoffed at her words, then said teasingly.
"Pretty words. You make it sound as though I have no way of lowering that bottom line of yours."
"Uh... I..."
Cao Ying's expression froze. Only then did she remember that Hun Changqing had already coerced her into harming the Pill Tower's interests. He had also seen and touched every inch of her body. She was, in a sense, laid completely bare before him, with no secrets left to speak of.
If Hun Changqing resorted to the same tricks in the future, he would not even need to threaten the Cao Family directly. Merely using this trip to the Pill Gathering against her would probably leave her unable to resist, out of fear that the Pill Tower would retaliate against her family.
The thought that she would be entirely at Hun Changqing's mercy from now on doused her excitement like a bucket of cold water. Her delight cooled into panic and helplessness. She opened her mouth, unsure what to say.
"Enough. I know what you're worried about. Relax. If I wanted to deal with the Pill Tower, I wouldn't need you. You're not quite qualified. Aside from your talent as an alchemist, there's nothing about you that catches my