Translator: CinderTL
"Ai Kun, put away your treasures. This matter is Jiang Yushan's fault. As his aunt, I also bear some responsibility for failing to discipline him properly. I, Jiang Lanruo, offer you my apologies."
As the cold and elegant female cultivator spoke, she bowed slightly to Song Wen.
Song Wen's expression was flustered, appearing somewhat at a loss. He quickly replied, "Senior, you're being too polite. As a humble cultivator, I wouldn't dare accept your apology."
Jiang Lanruo said, "If that's the case, shall we let this matter rest here?"
Song Wen replied, "As Senior pleases."
Jiang Lanruo nodded slightly, then turned to address the crowd of onlookers, her voice ringing out clearly.
"Everyone, disperse. The Demon Race in Rotting Miasma Ridge still watches us with hungry eyes. We, as cultivators, bear the responsibility of protecting the hundreds of millions of humans in the Qianchang Wilderness. We cannot afford to let our guard down for a moment."
Seeing this, the crowd quickly dispersed.
In an instant, only a handful of people remained outside arrow tower forty-seven.
Jiang Lanruo's expression turned cold as she turned to Jiang Yushan. "Return to Shangchu City immediately. If you ever come to Demon Subduing City again without permission, I'll break your legs."
Jiang Yushan forced a smile. "Aunt, since I've already come all this way, can't you let me stay in Demon Subduing City for a few days to enjoy myself?"
Hearing this, Jiang Lanruo glared at Jiang Yushan, her voice rising sharply.
"Play around! Is Demon Subduing City a place for you to play? Do you think you're a Body Integration Stage cultivator or a Great Ascension Stage powerhouse?"
She raised her hand, pointing west. "Get back there immediately!"
Jiang Yushan looked aggrieved, his face full of reluctance. He mumbled softly, "Fine, I'll go back."
Seeing his expression, Jiang Lanruo seemed to be touched by something. Her expression softened.
"Yushan, don't blame your aunt for being strict with you. Your mother died long ago, and your father is busy managing the family. If I don't discipline you strictly, no one will. Rest for a while at Jiang Xuan's arrow tower forty-seven before you start your journey back."
Jiang Yushan replied, "Understood, Aunt."
Jiang Lanruo nodded, her gaze shifting to Song Wen as if by chance. She remained silent, lost in thought. After a moment, she turned to Song Wen.
"Ai Kun, come with me. I have a mission for you."
"Yes!" Song Wen bowed in response.
Jiang Lanruo led Song Wen toward the main tower on the city wall.
Jiang Yushan watched her receding figure, her white robes fluttering, her black hair dancing in the wind. She was ethereal and graceful, like an Immortal Maiden riding the wind.
A flicker of infatuation and lust flashed in Jiang Yushan's eyes.
Jiang Lanruo led Song Wen into a hidden chamber within the main tower.
Four figures were already waiting inside: three men and one woman.
Each of them had distinct physical features: a white-haired old man, a three-foot-tall dwarf, a refined scholar, and a young woman in green robes. All four were at the Transformation Stage of cultivation.
When Jiang Lanruo and Song Wen entered the chamber, all four pairs of eyes turned to Song Wen.
Clearly, they had anticipated Jiang Lanruo's arrival. Song Wen's appearance, however, was completely unexpected.
"For this mission, Ai Kun will accompany you," Jiang Lanruo said calmly.
The four figures reacted differently to this announcement.
The old man raised his cloudy eyes, glanced at Song Wen, and remained silent.
The scholar smiled warmly and said, "With Fellow Daoist Ai joining us, this journey is sure to be smoother."
"Hehehe..." The young woman in green robes covered her mouth and giggled softly. A lascivious look spread across her face as her gaze drifted down to Song Wen's lower abdomen. "I wonder... if Fellow Daoist Ai is truly as impressive as his name suggests?"
The dwarf, however, paid no attention to Song Wen. His eyes were fixed on the young woman in green robes, who was shaking with laughter, while he occasionally glanced at Jiang Lanruo out of the corner of his eye.
It seemed they were comparing the two women.
Seeing their reaction, Song Wen realized none of them were pushovers.
"Senior Jiang, what's the mission?" Song Wen asked.
Jiang Lanruo remained silent, but the green-robed woman spoke with a hint of schadenfreude.
"We're going to Yin Spider Valley in Rotting Miasma Ridge to gather a millennial Nine Deaths Grass."
Song Wen's heart skipped a beat.
While he didn't know what the millennial Nine Deaths Grass was, he knew this mission was a death trap, fraught with peril.
He had only arrived in Demon Subduing City less than half a day ago, yet he had already encountered Jiang Lanruo, a Void Refinement cultivator, and over a dozen Divine Transformation Stage cultivators, including the four before him, along with nearly a hundred Nascent Soul cultivators.
Such a formidable force still needed the protection of Demon Subduing City's extensive formations to defend against the demon beast hordes of Rotting Miasma Ridge. This alone spoke volumes about the power of the demon beasts and poisonous insects within the ridge.
And now, a mere five Divine Transformation Stage cultivators were venturing deep into Rotting Miasma Ridge alone to search for a Spirit Herb.
What was the difference between this and suicide?
Song Wen recalled the surprise on their faces when he entered the secret chamber and suddenly understood.
Jiang Lanruo had only decided to include him in their group on the spur of the moment.
The reason for this was likely because Jiang Yushan had humiliated him in person.
Jiang Lanruo worried that he might harbor resentment towards Jiang Yushan.
Therefore, she decided to eliminate him herself.
Having Song Wen join the four-person team to retrieve the Nine Deaths Grass was a way to make use of a useless person.
Realizing this, Song Wen's gaze towards the four others shifted slightly.
Since they had been assigned such a dangerous mission, they were likely in a similar situation to him—either they had offended someone they shouldn't have, or they had committed a major crime.
"But doesn't Jiang Lanruo fear we five will escape? Or is there someone among the four who is secretly working for her?" Song Wen wondered inwardly.
Jiang Lanruo said, "Set out after nightfall. As long as you retrieve the Nine Deaths Grass, I, Jiang Lanruo, swear here that I will forever remember this kindness, repay it with gratitude, and never betray you. If I break this oath, may heaven and earth reject me."
Upon hearing this, all five, including Song Wen, couldn't help but glance at her in surprise.
Clearly, they hadn't expected Jiang Lanruo to make such a solemn oath.
Song Wen's eyes flickered, and he immediately understood her intention.
This was her way of giving the five men a reason to risk their lives for her.
Song Wen and the others were already "men condemned to die." Death was inevitable; the only difference was whether they died at the hands of demon beasts in the Rotting Miasma Ridge or at the hands of the Jiang Family. Therefore, it was difficult for them to give their all for Jiang Lanruo.
With Jiang Lanruo's oath, a glimmer of hope would ignite in their hearts.
They could fantasize about returning with the Nine Deaths Grass and earning Jiang Lanruo's gratitude. In that case, not only would they avoid death, but they might even become honored guests of the Jiang Family.
"It seems the Nine Deaths Grass is crucial to Jiang Lanruo, but for some reason or out of fear of danger, she dares not venture deep into the Rotting Miasma Ridge herself. This woman is exceptionally skilled at manipulating people's hearts," Song Wen mused inwardly.
However, a lingering doubt remained in Song Wen's mind.
Didn't Jiang Lanruo fear they might escape?
The refined scholar spoke, "Senior Jiang, rest assured. We will brave fire and flood to retrieve the Nine Deaths Grass for you."
"Yes, yes," the dwarf chimed in, craning his neck to nod vigorously. "We will definitely bring back the Nine Deaths Grass for Immortal Maiden Lanruo."
As he spoke, the dwarf subtly glanced at Jiang Lanruo's chest, where her snow-white brocade robe strained against her ample figure.
(End of the Chapter)
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