Pei Xianqiao tightened her grip on her storage ring.
She did not have many spirit stones left.
Yao Ranran noticed her subtle movement, suspicion rising in her heart, and the thought showed clearly on her face.
Could it be that Pei Xianqiao could not even bring out this much?
In Yao Ranran's mind, she still regarded Pei Xianqiao as the female lead, and the female lead could never possibly lack money!
Pei Xianqiao had been hesitating whether to ask this question, but when she caught the look on Yao Ranran's face, she immediately brought out the rest of her spirit stones.
"Here are five hundred thousand spirit stones. I hope Yao Daoyou can answer my question seriously."
This time, she was not as generous as before.
She had counted the exact number—no more, no less. Clutching the bag of stones tightly, she did not hand it over with the same decisiveness as before.
Yao Ranran glanced at her unintentional gesture and instantly understood, quickly reaching out to snatch the pouch away.
A flash of reluctance flickered in Pei Xianqiao's eyes.
Yao Ranran grew even more curious about what the female lead had experienced. In the book, she was always lavish and carefree, never once lacking spirit stones or cultivation resources.
But now…
She seemed even poorer than Yao Ranran herself.
"Yao Daoyou, please tell me the identity of the black-robed man. Where is he now?"
Yao Ranran glanced uninterestedly at the pouch and answered, "That's two questions. But since you are a returning customer, I'll give you one answer for free."
Elder Shang nearly exploded in anger, but Yao Ranran's next words stifled him again.
This girl truly was calculating to the extreme!
Elder Shang sighed inwardly. He should never have shown mercy the first time he met her. Now she had grown into a hidden threat.
Pei Xianqiao bit her lip, suppressing her frustration. "Many thanks, Yao Daoyou."
Yao Ranran gazed steadily into her eyes and smiled faintly. "Pei Daoyou, no need for courtesy. That black-robed man was a cultivator who descended from the Spirit Realm. He once lived in a stone house within the ancient forest of Qingshui County in the Central Domain. Later…"
"Later, where did he go?" Pei Xianqiao pressed urgently.
Elder Shang's expression shifted. The stone house in the ancient forest of Qingshui County…
Hadn't he also been there?
Realizing what Pei Xianqiao wanted to ask, Elder Shang blew his beard and glared furiously.
"Isn't that black-robed man the very troublemaker who wreaked havoc in Qingshui County? Even I know that!"
Nearly a million spirit stones wasted!
Elder Shang was furious and disheartened, but at the same time, a seed of doubt sprouted in his heart. The so-called Heaven's Chosen girl he had been wholeheartedly assisting seemed to be hiding something from him, even guarding against him.
Pei Xianqiao was equally stunned at the mention of Qingshui County. But what she cared more about now was where the black-robed man went after leaving there!
Yao Ranran tucked away the spirit stones and stepped back. "Later, he died."
Pei Xianqiao: "???"
Yun Dehe paused in shock, then asked incredulously, "Was it Fairy who…?"
Yao Ranran said helplessly, "He tried to kill me. Elder Shang was there as well. He ran faster than I did, so he must have known that if I did not strike back, the one who would have died was me."
Elder Shang: "..." Why drag me into this!
"So that's how it was. Elder Shang, your speed is truly astonishing." Yun Dehe gave Elder Shang a meaningful smile.
Elder Shang's eyes darted uneasily. Feeling the mocking gazes around him, he glared fiercely at Yao Ranran.
"You say he is dead, and we are to take your word for it? Perhaps you simply do not know where he went and are deceiving us!"
Yao Ranran met his glare evenly. "Elder Shang, did you not want to fight me? If you doubt me, then let us wager with your life. If you die, it will prove beyond question that the black-robed man truly was slain by me."
Elder Shang froze, dumbstruck, not daring to accept her challenge.
Win or lose, either way, there would be no glory for him.
Pei Xianqiao seemed to sense his wavering and immediately spoke, "Yao Daoyou, I hope you did not lie to me. I will return to the Central Domain at once. If that black-robed man still walks this world… then you and I are destined to be enemies."
She placed heavy emphasis on the last words.
Yao Ranran's mind flickered with the scene of her original body's death.
Was this a sign?
She did not want to die, and certainly not by Pei Xianqiao's hand.
For a long moment, as Pei Xianqiao's suspicion grew, Yao Ranran finally spoke again.
"Pei Daoyou, all I have said is the truth. But if you wish to become my enemy, I will not hesitate to kill you."
A faint but chilling killing intent spread in the air.
The two women's gazes locked, invisible blades of hostility clashing silently between them.
Elder Shang's heart leapt with strange excitement. Was Pei Xianqiao finally ready to deal with this romantic rival once and for all?
"We are leaving!"
No more needed to be said.
Pei Xianqiao turned and left with Elder Shang. A mass of demon soldiers immediately swarmed forward.
Pei Xianqiao looked with puzzlement toward Lu Ziqian, who stood at their center.
"Demon General, what is the meaning of this?"
Lu Ziqian bowed politely. "Pei Daoyou, you went back on your word and wronged our Demon Sovereign. As his subordinate, I must ask you for some compensation for the injuries caused. That is not excessive, is it?"
Pei Xianqiao's face darkened. "You betrayed him long ago. Why should I pay you for healing?"
"And what about the losses of our Yun Gu Sect? Pei Xiaoyou, leaving in such a rush, do you mean to renege on your debt?" Yun Dehe stepped forward.
The sect disciples all came out, sealing off every escape route.
Elder Shang's fury boiled over. "Since when did Pei Xianqiao owe your sect? Sect master, are you trying to rob us under the guise of justice?"
Yun Dehe chuckled. "Pei Xianqiao lured Li Luoqi to our sect's mountain gate, tempting us into battle and nearly causing our deaths. Then Li Luoqi left a giant crater on our sect's territory. This debt is his to repay, and Pei Xiaoyou must also compensate us!"
"Yes, sect master speaks truly!" Li Qingtíng stood beside Yun Dehe, sword drawn in support.
Zhao Lingyi remained silent but stepped to Pei Xianqiao's side, drawing his sword as well. A perfect encirclement was formed.
Elder Shang's eyes bulged as he scanned their enemies.
Even he could not guarantee that the two of them could escape unscathed from such a siege.
Pei Xianqiao bit her lip until it bled. Surrounded by the hostile disciples of Yun Gu Sect and the demon soldiers, helplessness and humiliation surged in her heart.
"Fine! Today you mock me and trample me. One day, I will repay you all in full!"
She shouted in fury, tearing off her storage ring and hurling it into the air. Taking Elder Shang with her, she turned and left resolutely.
Behind her, Lu Ziqian's mild voice followed.
"Daoyou, please do not go…"
Pei Xianqiao ignored him, her back cold and unyielding.
"The storage ring is yours. Do with it as you will!"
"Do you think this is about the storage ring? With such a meager offering, who are you trying to fool? Do you think it is enough for us to share?"
Pei Xianqiao faltered, her steps wavering. Tears nearly sprang to her eyes. These people… they were bullying her far too much!
Elder Shang shouted, "Not good, we must go now!"
He whipped up a violent gust of yin wind, a thick gray-white fog rising instantly. Within moments, both he and Pei Xianqiao had vanished without a trace.