In Yan Lingji's view, since Gongzi Ying An could so intimately name every member of the Baiyue Celestial Group...
This meant that he must have been able to guess the true purpose of this assassination.
Although each member of the Baiyue Celestial Group was an extraordinary individual, seemingly possessing unique skills that could roam the world, even the weakest Han Kingdom could not be provoked by a mere Baiyue Celestial Group.
Even if the various actions of the Baiyue Celestial Group in New Zheng indeed brought considerable trouble to Han Kingdom, these troubles were, in the final analysis, nothing more than minor ailments.
Even Tian Ze, the deposed prince of Hundred Yue, was able to escape from over ten years of imprisonment because Bai Yifei needed him to disrupt the situation in New Zheng.
To some extent, even a marquis of Han Kingdom had full confidence in controlling the Baiyue Celestial Group.
If the Baiyue Celestial Group's plan were truly exposed, there would be no need for Qin Kingdom to act; a serious Han Kingdom would be enough to completely wipe out the Baiyue Celestial Group in a short time.
No matter how loyal she was to Tian Ze, Yan Lingji was very clear that with their strength, they simply could not shake Han Kingdom.
If Han Kingdom was like this, then what about the even more powerful Great Qin, which even threatened the Shandong Six Kingdoms?
"How do you know about us?" Yan Lingji's face, uncharacteristically, lacked its usual alluring charm.
Gongzi Ying An smiled faintly and said, "What? Can we talk properly now?"
"I'm asking you, how do you know about us?" Yan Lingji's voice instantly rose an octave.
"Don't be so agitated!" Gongzi Ying An waved his hand and said, "You need to understand, you are my captive now. As a captive, you must have the awareness of a captive. It's not for you to ask me, but for me to ask you! In fact, the life or death of your master, including all your companions, depends on your performance next. Understand?"
The hatred in her eyes was almost turning into tangible flames. Yan Lingji gritted her silver teeth and said, "So what if you know our identities? My master can throw the entire New Zheng into chaos, and Qin Kingdom is no exception!"
Shaking his head, Gongzi Ying An looked at Yan Lingji with pity and said, "What exactly gave you such confidence? Do you think that with your meager strength, you can truly disrupt the dignified Han Kingdom, one of the Seven Warring States? Stop dreaming, the reason you have such a misconception is simply because Han Kingdom hasn't taken it seriously yet. Otherwise, just the Nightfall organization alone would be enough to bring you all to eternal damnation! Oh, right!"
Gongzi Ying An slapped his forehead, as if he had just thought of something, and said, "I almost forgot, your master seems to have been a dog of Blood Cloak Marquis Bai Yifei within the Han Kingdom's Nightfall organization from the very beginning. Releasing your master was just to make him bite his opponents."
"You're talking nonsense!" At this moment, Yan Lingji completely broke down.
"Why deceive yourself?" Gongzi Ying An said playfully, "You clearly know that everything I said is true, don't you? Unless your master wants to endure immense pain until death, otherwise, whatever Bai Yifei says, he must do, or else those insanity poisons are not that easy to bear!"
"What do you know?" Yan Lingji demanded angrily.
"Tsk tsk!" Gongzi Ying An shook his head, making a clicking sound with his tongue, and said, "I just said it, as a captive, you must have the awareness of a captive! Now I'm asking you!"
Taking a deep breath, Yan Lingji forced herself to calm down, gazing at Gongzi Ying An, and said, "Gongzi Ying An, what do you want to know?"
Gongzi Ying An raised an eyebrow. After thinking for a moment, he suddenly realized that he didn't need any information from Yan Lingji at all.
After all, he already knew everything that had happened, was happening, and even what was about to happen in New Zheng. Why would he need to force any information out of Yan Lingji?
After a few breaths of contemplation, Gongzi Ying An spread his hands and said, "It seems that what you know is of no value to me. In fact, even things you don't know, I know perfectly well."
"So how about this!" Gongzi Ying An changed the subject and said, "From now on, you will submit to me. Perhaps in the future, I will show leniency to Scarlet Browed Dragon Serpent Tian Ze, that useless Crown Prince of Hundred Yue, for your sake!"
Unexpectedly, after Gongzi Ying An made this suggestion in a joking manner, Yan Lingji agreed without hesitation.
Gongzi Ying An narrowed his eyes slightly, and after observing Yan Lingji for a moment, he quickly understood.
Yan Lingji was a smart person. If he hadn't guessed wrong, Yan Lingji's immediate acceptance of the offer to join Gongzi Ying An was a deception from the very beginning.
Or rather, Yan Lingji was being too clever for her own good, trying to appease Gongzi Ying An.
If it were anyone else, regardless of the reason—be it lust or valuing Yan Lingji's abilities—as long as Yan Lingji was kept by their side, she would have countless ways to transmit messages to Tian Ze using Hundred Yue sorcery.
Unfortunately, she was now facing Gongzi Ying An, an existence beyond conventional understanding.
He appeared to be a frail scholar, but in reality, he was practically a Tyrannosaurus Rex in human skin.
What's more, all of Yan Lingji's abilities were completely ineffective in front of Gongzi Ying An.
The Hundred Yue sorcery that manipulated flames couldn't even contend with Gongzi Ying An's clearly counter-effective Ten Thousand Leaves Flying Flower Stream. And the Fire Charm Art, which involved subtle operations in the spiritual domain, was easily crushed by Gongzi Ying An's terrifying divine soul.
In front of Gongzi Ying An, Yan Lingji was completely at his mercy.
Even though he saw through Yan Lingji's thoughts, Gongzi Ying An didn't expose her. Instead, he went with the flow and said, "Since that's the case, then now, offer your loyalty to me. Open your heart and devoutly worship me!"
Yan Lingji was stunned, a clearly puzzled expression on her face.
Gongzi Ying An said, "Hundred Yue sorcery is renowned throughout the land. As a sorceress of Hundred Yue, you must know how those ignorant commoners worship deities! I want you to revere me as you would a god! Worship me as the deity in your heart!"
Yan Lingji looked at Gongzi Ying An in astonishment, never in her wildest dreams expecting him to make such an absurd request.
Yan Lingji was, of course, familiar with how ignorant commoners worshipped gods.
But she couldn't understand why Gongzi Ying An, a dignified Gongzi of Great Qin, would make such a ridiculous request.
He couldn't possibly think that if she truly worshipped him as a god now, she would be completely loyal to him and never betray him, could he?
Regardless of Gongzi Ying An's intentions, the moment he made this request, Yan Lingji eagerly agreed.
Then, according to Gongzi Ying An's request, she began the ritual of a believer worshipping a deity.