Translator: CinderTL
Xu Sanyan followed Xiang Tan into her cultivation cave, his eyes darting around. The interior was warmly decorated in a pale pink color scheme, resembling a young girl's boudoir, except for the large iron cage in the corner, which seemed strangely out of place.
Inside the cage crouched a delicate-looking young man, his pale face contorted with terror. His bare torso was crisscrossed with whip marks, a clear sign of brutal abuse.
Xu Sanyan glanced at him and quickly lost interest. He had a similar cage in his own cave.
Xiang Tan pulled Xu Sanyan onto the bed, nestling close against him. Pressing her ear to his chest, she murmured softly, "Junior Brother Xu, your heart is racing so fast..."
Xu Sanyan secretly scoffed. You think someone like you could make my heart race? You flatter yourself.
Of course, he couldn't voice such thoughts. Instead, he wrapped his arm around Xiang Tan, inhaling the fragrance of her hair, and murmured gravely, "Senior Sister, you went to such lengths to bring me here. Surely there's another reason?"
Xiang Tan giggled, slowly tilting her head up to meet his gaze. "Junior Brother is indeed clever. Why don't you guess what else Senior Sister wants from you?"
"Could it be Senior Brother Zhou has some task for me?" Xu Sanyan suggested.
"That's right. Luo Yu is narrow-minded and lacks real ability, ranking only sixth among the Ten Prodigies of the Holy Sect. Senior Brother Zhou, on the other hand, is far more cunning and skilled, ranking fourth—just behind Qi Liang, Tu Wanshan, and Mengdie. Tell me, who do you think has a better chance of becoming the Holy Son?"
Xiang Tan's small hands wandered restlessly, like those of a female rogue.
Xu Sanyan followed her lead. "Senior Brother Zhou, naturally. But what I don't understand is why you'd reveal such sensitive information to me, a newcomer. Aren't you afraid I might leak it to Senior Brother Luo?"
Xiang Tan shook her head with a smile. "Precisely because you're new. You have no vested interests in Luo Yu's camp. Since you can choose either side, why not back the one with the greater likelihood of success?"
"Besides..." Xiang Tan's tone shifted, a sly grin tugging at her lips, "I'm not the only one working for Luo Yu, you know."
Tsk tsk...
Xu Sanyan sighed inwardly. Zhou Longsheng truly is a cunning old fox. No wonder Chi Yu described him as treacherous, vicious, and a master of intrigue.
"So, what do you want me to do?" Xu Sanyan countered, seizing Xiang Tan's hand and slowly toying with her delicate fingers.
Xiang Tan didn't resist. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Xu Sanyan's neck and leaned in close to his cheek.
"You'll understand soon enough. The Crimson Heart Faction appears to be the weakest on the surface, and we're even divided into two factions. If we don't unite, we'll have no chance. If the Crimson Heart Faction doesn't produce a Holy Son, neither of us will survive..."
Her words trailed off, but Xu Sanyan had already pieced together most of the plan. Zhou Longsheng likely intended to strike against Luo Yu once they entered the mountain range, eliminating him and absorbing his followers to bolster his own strength.
That must be Zhou Longsheng's strategy, Xu Sanyan thought. Now, how can I exploit this situation for my own benefit?
He naturally coveted the position of Holy Son himself.
Xiang Tan slipped off her light gauze robe and tossed it carelessly to the floor. Straddling Xu Sanyan, she kicked off her shoes and pushed him onto his back. "We can discuss the rest later..."
With no pressing matters at hand, Xu Sanyan indulged in her games, losing track of time as two hours slipped away.
Naked and flushed, Xiang Tan lay panting on the bed, a satisfied expression on her face. "Truly impressive for a body-refining cultivator... You're so strong..."
"You haven't experienced the full extent of my prowess yet," Xu Sanyan said with a smirk.
"Oh?" Xiang Tan wiped her sweat and playfully tugged at Xu Sanyan's sleeve. "When will Senior Sister get another demonstration?"
Heh... Xu Sanyan chuckled inwardly. Perhaps if you survive Ten Thousand Demons Mountain, you'll have a chance.
Xu Sanyan lifted Xiang Tan's chin and leered, "So, you didn't win over all of Luo Yu's defectors using these methods, did you?"
Xiang Tan slapped his hand away, feigning indignation. "What are you implying? What kind of person do you take me for?"
Except for one, she added silently.
The two continued their flirtatious banter, completely ignoring the young man in the iron cage in the corner. They didn't even consider him human. In Xu Sanyan and Xiang Tan's eyes, he was merely a plaything, no different from a chicken or a dog—something to be used and discarded at will.
This was the nature of the demonic sect: the weak had no rights.
Xu Sanyan finished dressing and glanced at Xiang Tan, sprawled limply on the bed. After a moment's thought, he decided against implanting a Demonic Seed in her. Her cultivation level was too low—only at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment. She wasn't worthy.
With only two Demonic Seeds remaining, Zhou Longsheng would undoubtedly reserve one, leaving the other for Xiang Tan to seize as she saw fit.
Perhaps she could create another opportunity. Meng Zhuer still possessed a Demonic Seed. Killing her would free up another slot.
Once a Demonic Seed was implanted, even Xu Sanyan couldn't remove it. The only way to eliminate it was to kill the host, allowing the Seed to dissipate on its own.
"I'll take my leave now, Senior Sister. Get some rest," Xu Sanyan said, forcing a smile. His gaze lingered on Xiang Tan, betraying his lingering desire.
Xiang Tan purred, "Why don't you stay the night, Junior Brother? We can leave together tomorrow."
Xu Sanyan shook his head. "Better not." Without another word, he turned and left.
Once he was gone, Xiang Tan slipped out of bed, naked. She unlocked the iron cage, released the young man inside, gently patted his cheek, and sighed, "Ah... if only you could please me as well as he does."
The young man's eyes were vacant. Through his slightly parted lips, one could see that half his tongue had been severed at some point.
Xiang Tan stepped on his head. "Useless below, useless above. What good are you?"
Before the words had fully left her mouth, she pressed her foot down slightly. A strangled cry escaped the young man's throat, but a flicker of relief momentarily shone in his eyes before he slumped lifelessly to the floor.
Xiang Tan had no idea if she would return alive from this journey. Out of kindness, she had sent the young man ahead, ensuring he would continue to keep her company even in the Underworld.
Perhaps death... wasn't an escape at all.
(End of the Chapter)
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