Silver Winged Family
Chen Linlin, Xiao Ning'er, Ye Ziyun, Nie Li, and their friends all found themselves walking through the corridor toward the Silver Winged Family's audience hall.
As they walked, the sharp crack of a whip echoed through the corridor, followed by the muffled grunt of a person.
"Linlin, look over there," Jing Ya, who was walking behind Chen Linlin, whispered.
Chen Linlin turned toward the corner of the corridor where the noise was coming from.
A scowl appeared on her beautiful face when she saw a half-naked youth with long black hair and a well-built physique covered in bruises and scars. He was tied to a pillar as he endured a savage whipping from an expert of the Silver Winged Family.
One notable thing about this youth was that, unlike Sikong Hongyue and her people, who possessed silver wings, the restrained youth had a pair of black wings.
Chen Linlin couldn't see the youth's face, as it was hidden in the shadows, but she could clearly sense the defiant glare he directed toward her and her friends.
"Quicken your steps. Our Patriarch is waiting for you," the old expert said in a rather rude manner, clearly showing little courtesy toward Chen Linlin and everyone accompanying her.
Hearing him, they looked at one another and exchanged meaningful glances before continuing on their way. The old man let out a faint huff of annoyance as he led them to the audience hall.
It didn't take long before everyone arrived at the audience hall, where they were greeted by the sight of a middle-aged man lounging in his chair. He had a rather rounded physique, a sign of years of neglecting his body.
A few young, attractive women wearing rather revealing clothes knelt beside him, tending to him by massaging him and offering him food.
Another thing that Chen Linlin and Nie Li noticed was the presence of quite a number of Gold-rank and Black Gold-rank experts surrounding the hall. It didn't take a genius to know why they were all there.
The middle-aged man let out a loud grunt before his eyes landed on Chen Linlin and the others, his sharp gaze sweeping over their group and sizing them up.
"My name is Sikong Yi, Patriarch of the Silver Winged Family. My daughter here told me that you children came from the outside world. Is that true?" the now-named Sikong Yi asked, his voice gruff and devoid of any politeness.
Chen Linlin's eyebrows furrowed. She didn't expect a grand welcome, as their visit was quite sudden. But she was at least expecting some degree of respect from the Silver Winged Family, especially from Sikong Yi, whom they had come here intending to discuss possible cooperation between his Silver Winged Family and Glory City. But no. Sikong Yi's attitude was even worse than his daughter's.
"That is true. My name is Chen Linlin, daughter of the Divine Family's patriarch. And these are my friends. We came from the outside world, more specifically from a human city called Glory City. We're here in the Abyss Demon Realm to survey the land and search for other human settlements, such as your Silver Winged Family, to see if any humans wish to leave the Abyss Demon Realm and become part of Glory City," Chen Linlin answered in a measured tone, the air around her not at all inferior to that of Sikong Yi.
Hearing her words, Sikong Yi's eyes narrowed.
"Tell me, what is the overall strength of your Glory City?"
Chen Linlin's eyebrows rose, finding it rather surprising that Sikong Yi's first question upon learning of Glory City's existence was to inquire about its strength.
"Our Glory City has several Legend-rank demon spiritualist experts, a few hundred Black Gold-rank and Gold-rank demon spiritualist experts, and a couple thousand Silver-rank and Bronze-rank demon spiritualists. We also have around five thousand fighters of various ranks. Despite our relatively small numbers, Glory City has survived for many years against all kinds of threats, including demon beast hordes," Chen Linlin answered truthfully.
Surprised gasps could be heard around them as the experts of the Silver Winged Family wore bewildered expressions. Even Sikong Yi himself looked taken aback. Several hundred Black Gold-rank demon spiritualist experts were enough to overwhelm the entire Silver Winged Family, let alone several Legend-rank demon spiritualists.
Like flipping a switch, the hint of hostility in Sikong Yi's demeanor completely melted away as if it had never existed in the first place. He gave everyone a warm smile, suddenly appearing very friendly.
"Ah, so Glory City is truly a magnificent city. I'm quite honored that Young Miss Chen Linlin would risk traversing the dangerous depths of the Abyss Demon Realm, only to stumble into my Silver Winged Family's territory. You," Sikong Yi said as he addressed his men, "what are you waiting for? Prepare a feast for our esteemed guests. They might be tired and hungry from the journey."
As he welcomed their group, the atmosphere in the audience hall underwent a massive shift as everyone began treating the meeting more like a banquet, with food and drinks filling the room.
Chen Linlin, Xiao Ning'er, Ye Ziyun, Nie Li, and the rest all found themselves seated at a long table alongside Sikong Yi and his daughter, Sikong Hongyue. Food was spread across the table as Sikong Yi continued to inquire about Glory City.
Asking about matters concerning Glory City safety and the outside world, Sikong Yi also inquired about how their group had entered the Abyss Demon Realm. Overall, the banquet proceeded rather normally.
"I wonder, Young Miss Chen Linlin, does Glory City have any excellent physicians or perhaps some powerful medicine that could help us cure the curse affecting our physique?" Sikong Yi asked hopefully, his question immediately drawing the interest of every member of the Silver Winged Family.
His question also made Chen Linlin pause mid-drink. She gave Sikong Yi a curious look before shifting her gaze toward Sikong Hongyue and the other members of the Silver Winged Family.
"What curse? Does it have something to do with your wings?" she asked with genuine interest.
"The founding patriarch of the Silver Winged Family implanted the silver wings of Thunder Birds into every member of his family, allowing their succeeding generations to be born with silver wings. However, once a member of the Silver Winged Family reaches a certain age, their body begins rejecting the wings, which often results in an early death."
Instead of Sikong Yi, it was Nie Li who answered Chen Linlin's question, catching everyone off guard, especially Sikong Yi and Sikong Hongyue.
One must know that the secret behind the Silver Winged Family's physique was closely guarded, with only the core members of the family knowing its true history.
"You! How did you know about this matter?" one youth demanded, his voice laced with suspicion.
It wasn't only him; quite a number of the Silver Winged Family members began eyeing Nie Li warily, prompting Sikong Yi to raise his hand and remind everyone to mind their manners toward their guests.
Nie Li snorted, looking very disdainful as he continued to eat.
"Since I know, I know. What are you going to do about it?" he answered dismissively.
To him, the Silver Winged Family wasn't worth befriending, as they had proven themselves to be a ruthless and villainous bunch.
Sikong Yi and Sikong Hongyue both furrowed their brows, a hint of displeasure flashing through their eyes as they stared at Nie Li.
Chen Linlin, on the other hand, ignored the subtle shift in the atmosphere as she continued asking questions.
"Nie Li, since you know the secret behind their physique, you must know how to cure them, right?"
A glint flashed through Nie Li's eyes. He could tell what Chen Linlin was trying to accomplish by asking him about the cure.
"Of course I know. Making it is quite easy. But if you're trying to ask me to concoct it, fat chance! I only came here to sightsee, not to be your workhorse. If you want a cure, go ask your boyfriend. I'm pretty sure he knows how to make one as well," Nie Li replied rudely, making the people of the Silver Winged Family even more infuriated with him.
Nie Li had the cure that could save their lives, yet he had no intention of simply giving it away.
Chen Linlin sighed, appearing very helpless.
"I guess we'll have to wait for my fiancé to return from his trip before we can get the cure. For now, me and friends can only continue our search and reach out to the other families here in the Abyss Demon Realm."
Her answer did not sit well with the people of the Silver Winged Family. Nie Li had clearly said that he possessed the cure, yet Chen Linlin did not force him to hand it over.
"Young Miss Chen Linlin, isn't your attitude a little too lenient? If you treat your people like this, I'm afraid there will come a time when they'll walk all over you," Sikong Yi remarked, clearly trying to provoke Chen Linlin into forcing Nie Li to hand over the cure.
"Oh! Is that what you think?" Chen Linlin said to Sikong Yi. "Then tell me, Sikong Yi, what would you do if you were in my position?" she asked with an intrigued expression.
End of Chapter 138
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