Chapter 257 - 110: Your Detestable Perverse Taste, The Barbarian Race’s Plot, The Exotic Stone Brought Back from Overseas

The courtyard was filled with the fragrance of flowers.

Xiao Teng smiled, sipping his tea as he listened to Ye Shiyin describe her life there for the past few days.

Besides her, a Ms. Song, also from the Naxian Alliance, lived in the courtyard.

This woman had been taking care of her. Since it was inconvenient for Ye Shiyin to go out, she had been buying many things for her.

In her telling, Song Youwei was gentle, considerate, and doting—just like a kind older sister.

Xiao Teng nodded to himself, quite pleased. He resolved to thank the woman properly if he ever had the chance to meet her.

He also promised to help Ye Shiyin in secret, assuring her that if she needed anything, he would do everything in his power to assist her.

However, he was tactful enough not to ask too many questions about the Naxian Alliance.

He had already learned from his father, Prince Zhenbei Xiao River, that the Naxian Alliance was likely connected to the Royal Family. Since Prince Zhenbei was loyal to the Royal Family, Xiao Teng helping the Naxian Alliance in secret was essentially the same as helping the Royal Family. There was no conflict of interest.

Besides, he figured only the Royal Family would dare make such a direct promise to Xie Jianjia, vowing to clear the Xie Family’s name and restore their official positions.

Their time together was wonderful, but all too brief.

Xiao Teng glanced at the bright moon, which was nearing its zenith. He sighed to himself, reluctant to leave.

He had already learned from Xie Jianjia that she would be leaving this courtyard soon, and he had no idea when they would meet again.

"Well, Jian Jia, I won’t disturb you any longer. I’ll take my leave."

Xiao Teng hid his reluctance and rose to leave.

Ye Shiyin also stood, intending to see him off. "Take care, Xiao Teng," she said softly. "This brief farewell today is surely for the sake of a longer reunion in our future."

Xiao Teng nodded and smiled, telling her to stay in the courtyard; he could find his own way out.

At his words, Ye Shiyin relented. She stopped at the archway of the corridor, her gaze seemingly full of affection and reluctance as she watched him leave.

Only after Xiao Teng’s figure had vanished completely from sight did she let her expression fall, returning to the pavilion, her face now blank.

The tea was no longer hot, but she still tilted back her slender, swan-like neck, took a few gulps, swished the liquid around her mouth several times, and then spat it out.

’Is this some kind of sick pleasure for you men...?’

The frail, aloof look she had worn for Xiao Teng was gone, replaced by an expression of disgust and faint anger.

"Not all men. Just me."

Jiang Lan’s voice drifted over as he emerged from the nearby shadows, a smile on his face.

Moonlight spilled over his immaculate white robes, which were purer than snow. A thin mist rose around him, hazy and indistinct, making him look like a Banished Immortal gracing the mortal realm.

To Ye Shiyin, his current image was a complete contradiction to his despicable actions just moments ago.

"I can tolerate this, but don’t go too far."

"You may hold my life in your hands, but that doesn’t mean I can’t retaliate. If it comes down to it, I’ll make sure all your efforts are for nothing," she said, her face impassive.

Jiang Lan seemed to know he had gone too far. He sighed softly. "Are you angry?"

Ye Shiyin’s expression remained blank. "Young Master Jiang, your sick tastes are truly detestable."

In truth, Jiang Lan had just wanted to see if he could fleece some of Xiao Teng’s providence that way.

But the results had been negligible, most likely because Xiao Teng himself was completely unaware of what was happening.

As one of the Drumming People, he likely hadn’t sensed anything unusual about Ye Shiyin just now.

Of course, that was also a credit to Ye Shiyin’s flawless acting.

"I’m sorry. It won’t happen again," Jiang Lan said, looking at her seriously after a moment of thought.

Ye Shiyin was taken aback. She hadn’t expected him to apologize, much less so earnestly. A strange feeling stirred within her.

"Don’t let it happen again."

She turned her head away, took another sip of tea, and then, right in front of Jiang Lan, rinsed her mouth several more times.

"The people I’ve sent to pick you up will be here soon."

"You won’t have much to do for a while. Just focus on your recovery," Jiang Lan said with a smile. "I’ll keep an eye out for Demon Crystals for you. And while Demon Artifacts are hard to find, there are always ways..."

Although Ye Shiyin had possessed Xie Jianjia, she was still a member of the Demon Race in essence. During the possession process, Demons use a Secret Technique to assimilate the host’s physical body, making it more compatible with their own.

In other words, while the Ye Shiyin before him looked no different from a member of the Human Race, she was a Demon in essence—both in her physical body and her Divine Soul.

This was why she needed items like Demon Crystals to cultivate, and it was also why Jiang Lan had prepared so many for her in advance.

Although Ye Shiyin ignored him while rinsing her mouth, she was listening to every word he said.

She simply nodded at his words, saying nothing more.

Jiang Lan rose, preparing to leave. Song Youwei had been gone for several days, and the Blood Immortal Sect was surely making its own preparations for the upcoming Southern Hunting.

Emperor Xia had been preparing for this grand Southern Hunting, scheduled months from now, for a very long time.

This endeavor was not only meant to be a display of national power to deter troublemakers, but also a way for her to flex her military might for the various Vassal Princes, Commandery Princes, and the rest of Great Xia’s Nobility to see.

Simply put, it was akin to a military parade from his previous life.

The difference was that this parade would be a demonstration achieved by culling the Barbarian Race in Nanman Province.

Nanman Province was located to the south of the Nine Provinces Land. As its name suggested, it was a wild, untamed region filled with primeval wilderness.