"You're late, Orochimaru."
The smiling greeting reached Orochimaru's ears, and he instantly tensed.
But he soon relaxed, because he recognized the voice. It was clearly Xia Yan!
He looked up. Xia Yan was dressed differently now. He had removed his mask, and his azure eyes had turned black.
He looked so gentle, like a refreshing spring breeze. That attitude made Orochimaru breathe a deep sigh of relief.
"Yes, a little late indeed."
Orochimaru flicked his tongue, stopping to look at Xia Yan in the treetop before casting a discreet glance at the bushes nearby.
"You weren't exactly quick yourself, Director Xia Yan. Otherwise, I wouldn't have ended up in such a sorry state."
"No, you have to rely on yourself in everything. You needed to find your own way out."
Xia Yan lightly jumped down from the tree and walked slowly toward Orochimaru, his gaze settling on Uchiha Itachi.
"If you escaped, we would be partners, and everything we previously arranged would be handed over.
"But if you failed to escape, Lord Orochimaru, then as the Anbu Director, I would naturally have to fulfill my duties."
Xia Yan's words were both cruel and realistic, but Orochimaru had no intention of arguing. He had guessed things would turn out this way.
Xia Yan had always been this sort of ruthless fellow. Every choice he made heavily favored himself.
He would lend a hand to anything of value. As for anything without value, even if he did not kill you, he certainly would not help you again.
So when working with Xia Yan, as long as you had enough value, you would definitely receive his help.
But once you lost that value, you would have to protect your own future.
Xia Yan might offer you some measure of sympathy, but to a