Chapter 182: Classic Double-Threading
The moment Chen Yin and the others left the main hall, the Grand Witch’s composure crumbled.
“My heavens… so many spirit stones and pills? And they’re all real!”
Her eyes sparkled as she dove into the piles of treasures, grabbing handfuls of spirit stones and pills like a child in a candy store.
The masked figure watched her silently.
“Grand Witch, have you made a decision about our offer?”
“Ah, what offer?”
The Grand Witch, still reveling in her newfound wealth, finally remembered his presence.
“Oh, you mean the Heavenly Dao Fragment?”
“I’ve already fused with it.” She said casually, without even looking up.
The masked figure was speechless, then nodded slowly. “Congratulations, Grand Witch. You can now become one of us—”
“I fused with it, yes,”
The Grand Witch suddenly changed her tone. “But I never said I would join Shen Li.”
The masked figure fell silent.
“I’ve checked the scriptures. They’re correct. The Heavenly Dao Fragment is essential for completing the Sacred Child’s physique.”
“But that’s our Wu Xuan Cave’s business.” The Grand Witch’s eyes turned cold. “You people from Shen Li simply provided a clue. I’m the one who risked my life to retrieve it from the secret realm.”
“So it belongs to me.”
“As for joining Shen Li…”
She looked at him appraisingly.
The masked figure sighed softly after a long silence.
…This Grand Witch was the embodiment of greed.
Even now, she was still trying to haggle.
“You might not fully understand Shen Li, Grand Witch.”
“Let’s just say that if the Divine Son can tell you where to find the Heavenly Dao Fragment…”
“He can also take it back.”
The Grand Witch’s hand froze as she counted the spirit stones. Her expression turned serious.
“Are you threatening me?” Her voice was cold.
“I wouldn’t dare. I’m simply relaying the Divine Son’s message.”
“And a word of advice,”
“Don’t anger him.” He said slowly.
“He can take the Heavenly Dao Fragment from you.”
The Grand Witch stared at the masked figure intently.
He remained motionless, like a statue.
She scoffed. “I’m not easily intimidated. Don’t try to scare me with empty threats.”
“If this ‘Triennial Day’ is so important, I’ll give you my answer after I’ve seen it for myself.”
The masked figure said softly, “By then, it might be too late.”
“Then give me a few more days.”
The Grand Witch waved her hand dismissively. “I need to… process all this wealth first. This guy casually gave me one hundred thousand spirit stones and ten thousand pills. What can Shen Li offer?”
The masked figure didn’t answer, falling silent at the mention of Chen Yin.
Finally, he bowed slightly. “I’ll return in two days for your answer.”
As he left, the Grand Witch snorted and turned back to her treasures, humming a cheerful tune.
Outside the hall, the masked figure stared at the direction Chen Yin had left, a troubled expression on his face.
“What should we do?” The System asked softly. “Should we tell the Divine Son about this?”
“…No. It would put him in danger.”
A flicker of worry crossed the masked figure’s eyes.
“But if we can’t recruit the Grand Witch, we won’t gain the Divine Son’s trust.”
“Let’s wait a little longer.”
The masked figure murmured, “At least until he leaves.”
“The Triennial Day is fast approaching.”
“Just wait.”
“Didn’t you say you had no attachments left?”
“He’s not an attachment.” The masked figure said seriously.
The System sighed helplessly.
Led by Lian’er, Chen Yin and his companions finally arrived at a secluded hut in a remote valley.
“Here we are!”
Lian’er waved her hand, dispelling a faint, shimmering barrier around the hut.
“What are you doing?”
“There are Gu worms around the house,” Lian’er explained, “to prevent that man from escaping.”
Chen Yin’s lips twitched.
This Wu Xuan Cave was a minefield.
Although the hut looked dilapidated, considering the state of most dwellings in the Wu Xuan Cave, it was still decent.
As they approached, they could hear loud snoring coming from inside.
“That’s him.”
Lian’er said, her voice filled with a mixture of annoyance and resentment, “He just barged in and refused to leave. Lian’er has to find food for him every day. It’s more tiring than feeding a wild boar! Lian’er hasn’t had any meat in ages…”
Chen Yin: “…”
He gave her a loaf of bread to appease her and then pushed open the door.
Ye Huang was sprawled on the bed, snoring loudly. He seemed unharmed, just a little…
…Fatter.
“You seem to be enjoying yourself.”
Chen Yin didn’t bother being polite and shook him awake. Ye Huang’s eyes widened in surprise as he recognized him.
“Brother Chen?! How did you get captured?!”
“Do I look like I was captured?” Chen Yin said, exasperated.
“You’ve been sleeping soundly while your daughter is worried sick! It’s been over six months!”
Ye Huang’s eyes dimmed for a moment, then he chuckled sheepishly.
“Well, the Grand Witch is more unreasonable than I expected. She wouldn’t even listen to my pleas and locked me up here. I couldn’t send any messages.”
“Besides… I knew Brother Chen would take care of Ling’er.”
“You can’t seriously be treating us like a daycare, can you?” Chen Yin rolled his eyes.
“Tell me what happened.”
Ye Huang recounted his experiences.
After leaving the Azure Cicada Ancient Domain, he had arrived at the Wu Xuan Cave within a month.
However, when he asked the Grand Witch for help, she had been evasive and demanded an exorbitant price for her services.
Knowing he couldn’t afford it, he had tried to reason with her.
But in the end, she had grown tired of his persistence and locked him up.
Fortunately, she hadn’t killed him. And her servant, Lian’er, was naive and easily fooled.
So, he had been living quite comfortably in the Wu Xuan Cave for the past six months.
Eating, sleeping, and getting fat.
“I was worried about Ling’er,”
Ye Huang sighed deeply, “but I was trapped here, powerless. I’m so grateful you came looking for me, Brother Chen!”
…If I didn’t come looking for you, I’d be stuck raising your daughter! Chen Yin’s lips twitched.
Did this guy seriously intend to abandon his daughter?
“The Grand Witch is quite different from what I imagined. She’s incredibly greedy.”
Chen Yin stroked his chin. “But as long as she’s motivated by money, we can negotiate.”
“As long as… she can cure Ling’er.”
Ye Huang nodded seriously. “I’ll leave it to you, Brother Chen.”
“We’ll discuss that later.”
Chen Yin turned to him, his voice turning serious. “Shen Li is also here.”
Ye Huang’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
“Who is it?”
“I don’t know. Seems like a new recruit.”
Chen Yin said slowly, “He’s trying to convince the Grand Witch to join Shen Li… but I thought they only accepted Chosen Ones.”
“I’ve heard that Shen Li has some clues about the Heavenly Dao Fragment.”
Ye Huang explained, “Many secret realms contain clues about the Fragment, but not everyone is qualified to become a Chosen One. The Heavenly Dao Fragment is selective. Shen Li has plenty of clues, but they rarely find suitable hosts.”
“These people have to be exceptionally talented or possess some unique ability.”
Like Yao Zhuang, the man Ye Huang had been protecting. Although just an ordinary mortal, he was incredibly skilled in calculations, far surpassing ordinary people, and had been chosen by the Heavenly Dao Fragment.
“If they’re trying to recruit the Grand Witch, it probably means she has the potential to become a Chosen One.”
Chen Yin nodded thoughtfully.
“So… the Grand Witch might already have information about the Heavenly Dao Fragment, or even become a Chosen One herself?”
Ye Huang nodded seriously.
…That’s a problem.
If that was the case, the Grand Witch might have already accepted Shen Li’s offer.
But Chen Yin believed that with her greedy and calculating nature, she was probably just trying to extort more benefits from them.
“We still have a chance.” He thought to himself.
Since she was so greedy, and he happened to be incredibly wealthy…
There was still room for negotiation.
He already had a plan forming in his mind.
“But if that masked figure from Shen Li finds out, he’ll definitely try to interfere.”
“But I don’t want to lose this opportunity to follow the trail…” He rubbed his temples, a headache forming.
Ye Huang looked at him blankly, clearly out of his depth.
Luo Luo and Lian’er were sharing bread.
Qingying leaned against the doorframe, watching them silently.
Nan Xiaoxiang stared towards the main hall, lost in thought.
No one could help him… Chen Yin sighed.
He finalized his plan.
It seemed he would have to multitask.
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