Chapter 977: Making a Deal

Chapter 977: Chapter 977: Making a Deal

Jiang Qi followed the Xue Family Elder all the way to the prison; the deeper they went, the colder and more eerie the atmosphere grew around him.

The prison corridor was narrow and dim, with walls covered in moss, and the damp air carried a scent of decay.

On both sides of the corridor hung a few dim oil lamps, emitting a weak light that made the entire area appear particularly dark and bizarre.

The floor of the prison was paved with rough stone slabs, filled with deep cracks and stains, seemingly recording the pain and despair of countless prisoners.

Occasionally, the sound of chains clashing and low moans could be heard from the cells, causing a chill to run down one’s spine.

The iron doors and bars were rusted and engraved with ancient Runes, flickering with a faint spiritual light, clearly designed to seal off the prisoners’ powers, preventing them from escaping.

Jiang Qi walked all the way, casting an indifferent glance over these dark corners until he stopped in front of a cell.

Through the iron bars, he saw Xue Wei trapped inside the cell.

Xue Wei lay in a corner of the cell in a sorry state, wearing worn-out prison clothes, far from his former splendor.

His cheeks were thin, and his eye sockets deep, indicating he was very haggard.

His hair was disheveled, covered in dust and grime; his originally handsome face now appeared much older.

His hands were bound by heavy chains, with deep red marks worn into his wrists, suggesting immense pain.

He slightly opened his eyes and saw Jiang Qi enter; a complex emotion flashed in his eyes, a mixture of anger and helplessness.

But amidst his disarray, there still remained some stubbornness and unwillingness.

Jiang Qi looked at the wretched Xue Wei before him, a mocking smile curving at the corner of his mouth, and he sneered, "Xue Wei, in your current state, still dare to threaten me? It’s utterly laughable."

His voice was icy and bone-chilling, filled with undisguised contempt.

Jiang Qi walked closer to the cell, hands behind his back, looking down at Xue Wei, "Back then, when you took the Clan’s Guardian Stone from my Jiang Ancient Clan, weren’t you arrogant? Now look at you, ending up like this, do you have any right to threaten me?"

Xue Wei trembled slightly, a flicker of indistinct emotion passed through his eyes.

He had Xiao Xiao deliver the message, already anticipating that Xiao Xiao would tamper with the envelope.

But what of it.

The purpose of sending the message was to draw Jiang Qi here.

Now, his objective had been achieved.

He lifted his head, struggling to meet Jiang Qi’s gaze, lips slightly moving as if wanting to say something, but ultimately he drooped his head powerlessly.

Yet, the smile hanging at the corner of his mouth remained unnoticed by anyone.

Jiang Qi looked at Xue Wei’s silence, snorted coldly, eyes full of sarcasm and disdain.

He shook his head contemptuously, as if looking at a thoroughly defeated loser: "Don’t you understand by now? Everything about you has long been under my control. No matter how you struggle, it’s all in vain."

After Jiang Qi spoke, his gaze was filled with coldness and determination.

He knew that Xue Wei had completely lost his strength to resist, no longer able to pose a threat to him or the Jiang Ancient Clan.

At this moment, Xue Wei was nothing but a loser, a pathetic man defeated by reality.

Xue Wei struggled to prop up his body, slowly standing from the corner of the cell.

The chains emitted a harsh scraping sound, silently speaking of his pain.

Despite his weakened state, he still tried to straighten his spine, his steps heavy but resolute, walking toward Jiang Qi step by step.

His face bore no trace of shame or inferiority due to his wretchedness; instead, it revealed a hint of elusive calm.

Xue Wei walked to the iron bars of the cell, directly meeting Jiang Qi’s gaze, eyes filled with a complex expression, as if weighing something or having already seen through something.

"Jiang Qi," Xue Wei spoke, his voice low and hoarse but carrying a rare serenity, "I asked you here not to argue. I have something to propose a deal with you."

Jiang Qi, hearing this, was taken aback for a moment, then almost as if hearing the greatest joke, he suddenly burst into laughter.

His laughter echoed within the dark prison, exuding limitless irony and disdain.

The laughter stopped abruptly, Jiang Qi coldly stared at Xue Wei, eyes full of mockery and anger. ℴ

"A deal?" Jiang Qi repeated with a cold smile, "Xue Wei, are you mad? You ruined the Clan’s Guardian Stone of my Jiang Ancient Clan in such a way, and now you still dare to propose a deal? What do you think gives you any qualification to negotiate with me?"

His words cut into Xue Wei’s pride like a blade, full of undisguised contempt and sarcasm.

Rage flickered in Jiang Qi’s eyes, recalling the destruction of the Guardian Stone, an uncontrollable fury surged in his chest.

"You’re nothing more than a prisoner now, a thoroughly defeated pathetic wretch," Jiang Qi said coldly, his tone brimming with disdain, "What do you possibly have worth trading? Utterly ridiculous!"

Jiang Qi’s scorn struck Xue Wei’s heart like an Ice Blade, yet Xue Wei’s expression showed no hint of wavering.

He continued to stand calmly in place, his eyes revealed a hint of steadfastness, as if Jiang Qi’s anger and ridicule had not affected him at all.

Xue Wei’s gaze became even deeper; he lowered his voice to say, "Jiang Qi, I understand your anger, but if you’re willing to calm down and listen to me finish, perhaps you’ll find that this deal might not be entirely meaningless to you."

Jiang Qi’s face twisted in anger, unable to suppress his inner fury any longer, he swung his hand violently.

Shouting angrily, "Xue Wei! Even now, you’re still pretending! Pretending to be what? You think you’re still some high and mighty Saint Heir of the Xue Family? Now, you’re worse than a dog and still delusionally think you can negotiate with me? Truly laughable!"

His voice reverberated within the dark prison, laden with heavy irony and contempt. Jiang Qi’s fury erupted like a Volcano, almost consuming the entire cell.

Each sentence heightened his emotions, as if venting all the hatred within.

Thinking about the Guardian Stone’s damage, his anger became even more uncontrollable, his fists clenched with veins bulging.

Jiang Qi glared intensely at Xue Wei, his eyes nearly burning the other to ashes.

If the Guardian Stone were absorbed by him, who knows how much his power would increase.

But such an important thing was ruined by Xue Wei!

Yet, facing this monstrous fury, Xue Wei remained surprisingly calm.

Xue Wei stood within the cell, still holding his posture straight, his gaze deep and tranquil.

His face showed no trace of panic or fear due to Jiang Qi’s anger; instead, it held an elusive calmness and steadfastness.

Despite his physical weakness and wretched circumstances, the determination and steadiness in his eyes were like an unmovable rock, unshaken by any storm.