Chapter 369 - 313: Xue’Er

'So how am I supposed to prove myself now?'

"I have some of Brother Xiong's blood on me. Does this count?"

Jiang Xu took out the small vial of Xiong Liangsheng's blood.

Xiong Anling looked at the vial. He used some unknown Magic to confirm its contents and sensed a familiar familial aura from within.

This proved that Jiang Xu did indeed have some connection to Xiong Anling's father—at the very least, they had met before.

However, this wasn't the information Xiong Anling wanted, and he refused to let it go.

"I asked you how you found me. Why are you bringing up these irrelevant things? Are you trying to hide something?"

Jiang Xu knew the man was dead set on getting proof.

In truth, Jiang Xu could have just told Xiong Anling about the Seeking Technique.

But if he did, the man would know exactly how his location had been exposed.

Jiang Xu would never do something like reveal his trump card.

So, Jiang Xu's expression immediately turned cold. His voice, though not loud, carried clear disappointment and indignation, every word landing with heavy, resolute impact.

"It was Brother Xiong who saved my life, not you! You're going too far!"

"Making one unreasonable demand after another… Nephew Xiong, don't you think you're being excessive?"

Jiang Xu angrily flicked his sleeve and turned around. Just before leaving, he added bitterly,

"I just saw a relative of Brother Xiong trapped in a very dangerous place. I was going to discuss a rescue plan with you, but I never imagined you would treat me with such an attitude."

"Fine. I was hoping to repay Brother Xiong for saving my life this way."

"It seems I'll just have to find another way to repay him."

With that, Jiang Xu flicked his sleeve and stormed away.

"What?! What did you just say?!"

Xiong Anling's voice was sharp with shock, his eyes wide as he repeated Jiang Xu's words in disbelief.

"A relative of Brother Xiong? Trapped in a dangerous place? But I'm perfectly safe. How could I be trapped…?"

Suddenly, a chill shot up his spine. Xiong Anling's expression changed drastically as a thought flashed through his mind, and he inwardly cursed. 'Could it be… he doesn't mean me?!'

Only then did Xiong Anling realize that the relative Jiang Xu had mentioned earlier was likely someone other than himself.

His daughter.

The daughter who had been abducted by that group.

"Are you talking about Xue'Er?"

Xiong Anling could no longer maintain his composure. He pressed on anxiously, his tone filled with desperation and unease.

But Jiang Xu seemed resolved to say no more. He simply quickened his pace, walking away without a backward glance, leaving Xiong Anling with only the sight of his resolute back.

"Wait!"

Xiong Anling grew frantic. It was unclear how he did it, but his lips moved as he softly incanted a Spell. With a light tap of his finger, a subtle ripple appeared in the air.

In the blink of an eye, he crossed the distance between them and appeared before Jiang Xu like a shadow, his speed astonishing.

Once he stopped, without even taking a moment to catch his breath, Xiong Anling hastily cupped his hands in a salute. His expression was a mix of pleading and a resolve that would not take no for an answer.

"Fellow Daoist Zong, please wait!"

"I was insolent just now. If I offended you in any way, please forgive me!"

"But what you just mentioned, I implore you, please tell me the details!"

"If you're dissatisfied with my earlier attitude, I can apologize, or I can offer compensation. Whatever you want, we can discuss it!"

Faced with Xiong Anling's sudden appearance, Jiang Xu felt his heart clench, and a cold sweat trickled down his back.

The man's movement, which was nearly an Instant Teleportation Technique, made him feel a tangible threat.

If he hadn't been on alert, a move like that could have easily put him in a perilous situation.

However, now that he understood the man's methods, the sense of crisis diminished greatly.

Jiang Xu's eyes flickered as he noted Xiong Anling's anxiety and desperation. Clearly, the man had no time for his earlier suspicions and was now desperate for information about his relative.

This was the exact turning point Jiang Xu had been hoping for.

He spoke calmly, his voice carrying a hint of subtle detachment as he probed, "May I ask, what is your relationship to the trapped person?"

"She is my young daughter, Xiong Wenxue." Xiong Anling's reply was filled with an unconcealable mix of paternal love and anxiety.

"And why is she trapped there?"

This time, Xiong Anling didn't answer directly. He hesitated, his eyes darting about as he clearly weighed whether to reveal more.

Jiang Xu noticed Xiong Anling's hesitation and understood that the man still hadn't completely let down his guard.

He didn't press the issue. Instead, he made his intentions clear with his actions, once again making a move to walk past Xiong Anling.

"I'll tell you! I'll tell you!"

Xiong Anling's voice was a mixture of helplessness and urgency. His once-upright posture seemed to hunch slightly under an invisible weight, the worry etched deeply between his brows.

"It's a powerful group from the Lower Eight Generals on Xiao Jin Island. We snatched several targets they had their eyes on."

"It was all a coincidence, really."

"There are only so many valuable marks on Xiao Jin Island. Their strength is similar to ours, so our targets are bound to be similar as well."

"But they assumed we were intentionally causing trouble for them and decided to get revenge."

"However, our strength is comparable to theirs, and Xiaojiu is very powerful. If they were to fight us head-on, even if they won, they'd be left with only one or two survivors. That's why they won't face us directly."

"But since they won't fight us head-on, they resort to sinister plots behind our backs."

"I don't know how they found out about my daughter, but they used some method to abduct her, and now they're using her to threaten me."

"I've been running myself ragged trying to save my daughter, but I still haven't been able to find her."

"So, I'm begging you to tell me Xue'Er's location. I am willing to pay any price. Whatever you ask, I will do my utmost to fulfill it."

After speaking, Xiong Anling gave another deep bow.

"This…"

Jiang Xu had only been using a feigned retreat to get the other party to stop demanding proof.

He hadn't expected such a simple tactic to be so effective, causing Xiong Anling's attitude to do a complete one-eighty.

This had exceeded Jiang Xu's expectations.

Since the man was showing this attitude, Jiang Xu didn't want to appear too aggressive either.

After all, Jiang Xu's current persona was supposed to be Xiong Anling's uncle.

'If I keep harping on this little thing, wouldn't I be ruining my own cover?'

'If I can successfully join their group, won't it be much more convenient to observe Xiong Anling later?'

But now, beyond just observing Xiong Anling's character, Jiang Xu had his eyes on the man's suspected Instant Teleportation Technique.

That move had truly stunned Jiang Xu.

'If I save Xiong Anling's daughter, maybe he'll be so happy he'll teach me the technique.'

'And even if he doesn't, I still have a trump card: the Golden Core Technique.'

Jiang Xu said slowly, "Sigh, we're family. There's no need for such formalities. Now that everything is out in the open, we should work together to solve this problem. I am, of course, very concerned for Xue'Er's safety."

"Nephew Xiong, since we both want Xue'Er to return safely, we should put aside our misgivings and come up with a strategy together."

"I do have some information about Xue'Er, but before I share it, I think we need to establish mutual trust. After all, on the path to rescuing her, we'll be fighting side-by-side, won't we?"

"What Fellow Daoist Zong says is true." Xiong Anling nodded.

Calling him Fellow Daoist Zong instead of Uncle Zong was Xiong Anling's last shred of defiance.

The young woman beside them looked completely bewildered.

'Huh? Are we still going to fight?'

'A moment ago, they were screaming and ready to kill each other.'

'Now they sound like one big happy family?'

'Things are moving a little too fast. It's hard to keep up.'

Just as Xiong Anling was about to speak, the other Cultivator pulled him aside and deployed a Sound Insulation Shield.

"Ah Ling, do you really trust him?"

"Don't forget, among the Lower Eight Generals, there is a 'Seed General'!"