Chapter 1814: Chapter 1036: Erosion (Part 2)
Seeing Tong Han sitting by Yang Xiao’s bedside, Jiushan Cangxuan couldn’t help but smile, "It seems I’ve come at a bad time, disturbing you two."
"Senior Jiu Shan." Tong Han immediately stood up, and Yang Xiao, lying in bed, also attempted to rise, but was stopped by Jiushan Cangxuan who had walked over.
"Yang Xiao, don’t move around unnecessarily. What you need is rest."
Jiushan Cangxuan smiled kindly, like a family elder, and Yang Xiao could clearly feel that Jiushan Cangxuan’s smile this time was much more sincere, and the scrutinizing look in his eyes had faded.
It seems that the Jiushan Family was satisfied with the outcome of the mission this time, as it was very successful, and Jiushan Sha Yue was the last one to break through, thus she also received the greatest benefits.
The other three also fulfilled their initial promise, sacrificing themselves to save Jiushan Sha Yue.
In this respect, Yang Xiao considered himself not to have disappointed the Jiushan Family, as he had done his utmost.
After some small talk, Jiushan Cangxuan got to the main point, "Yang Xiao, I’ve already spoken with your Chief Yue. During this period, you can stay here with me, rest and recover, and also learn some techniques on using spiritual magical artifacts from me. In this area, I do have some insights."
"You need not worry about Miss Mu either, as she won’t wait for you and is returning in the next two days."
Yang Xiao thought that his current physical state didn’t allow him any other options, and besides, the issue with Sato Shouta hadn’t been resolved yet. He hadn’t met Sato Shouta’s family, and leaving now would weigh on his conscience.
"Then I will trouble you, Senior Jiu Shan." Yang Xiao propped himself up with his hand and slightly bowed to Jiushan Cangxuan.
Jiushan Cangxuan accepted Yang Xiao’s gesture without hesitation and then shifted the topic to Tong Han, "Yang Xiao, there’s another matter I need your opinion on. My sister, Jiushan Jinglan, is very fond of Miss Tong and plans to take her as her inner chamber disciple. What do you think about this?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiao’s eyes lit up, and in his excitement, he began to cough violently, "Good, of course... of course that’s good, we couldn’t ask for more!"
Who is Jiushan Jinglan? She is one of the five top experts of the Jiushan Family, an absolute authority in Japan both in terms of strength and family status. Being able to apprentice under her is something many dream of, and it would greatly help Tong Han’s personal development.
More importantly, Tong Han also had that troublesome ring, which involved the Chamber of Commerce’s upper echelons. Keeping her temporarily with Japan’s Kusunoki Family was the most prudent choice.
Within that ring slept the top-tier expert of the Western Church Court, Ice Rose Borgia, the Empire Countess of the Valutis Empire.
This person was extremely powerful, even the Second Demon Uncle admitted he wasn’t a match. If one day Tong Han could fully control the ring with the help of the Jiushan Family, her power level would become incredibly fearsome, provided she could handle it.
Yang Xiao couldn’t help her with this, but it was precisely the Jiushan Family’s forte. So, he felt assured leaving Tong Han there.
As for the Xiang Ma Town forces back home, they were not within Yang Xiao’s consideration, especially since Brother Sui was left to guard there, along with the Second Demon Uncle and the watchful eyes of the Rongcheng Patrol Division and the Apostles Union. Nobody dared to mess with this jinx.
Of course, Yang Xiao knew that such benefits from others weren’t without cost. The Jiushan Family offered favorable terms because they also had calculations of their own, betting on his future value and his seriousness regarding Tong Han.
Keeping Tong Han there was itself a form of control, and the Jiushan Family also held the secret of the ring that Tong Han possessed.
Moreover, if that secret were leaked one day, Tong Han would find herself in a passive situation, becoming a target for various forces.
The distant Church Court Female Pope and the Valutis Empire, the nearby Chamber of Commerce, all would fixate on her. At that point, even the Patrol Defense Office might not be able to protect her.
Yang Xiao was also not naive enough to hope that the Patrol Defense Office would protect an outsider like her; he didn’t have that kind of influence.
Seeing Yang Xiao agree, Jiushan Cangxuan then turned to Tong Han and said, "There’s one more thing, Miss Tong. I heard from Sha Yue that during the recent secret realm mission, your performance was outstanding. You were the first to report the intel on the two ghosts, and Sha Yue really likes you; she hopes to have the honor of inviting you to be her sword and sword servant."
"The reason I’m asking on her behalf is because she is a bit shy and fears being rejected outright, so I am assuming the task." Jiushan Cangxuan had no intention of forcing anyone, his tone was very calm.
"Senior Jiu Shan, I’m willing to follow Miss Jiushan Sha Yue, thank you all for what you’ve done for me." Tong Han agreed.
"No, it’s not following, it’s accompanying." Jiushan Cangxuan corrected, "You are Yang Xiao’s friend, and Yang Xiao is a friend of the Jiushan Family, so naturally, Miss Tong, you are our friend as well."
"Senior Jiu Shan, it seems we will bother you more in the future. If there’s anything I do wrong, please correct me." The Jiushan Family had shown the utmost sincerity, so naturally, he needed to show attitude as well, "I, Yang Xiao, will never forget your kindness."
"You’re being too serious." Jiushan Cangxuan’s words said otherwise, but he looked quite satisfied.
Ever since both parties "laid their cards on the table," Yang Xiao and Jiushan Cangxuan had both shed unnecessary pretenses, making the conversation more relaxed.
Unknowingly, their interests had become deeply intertwined; the Jiushan Family had their eyes on Yang Xiao’s potential, while Yang Xiao needed the assistance of the Jiushan Family. Crucially, both sides believed they were the ones gaining.
Yang Xiao secretly sighed, knowing he had been drawn into the Jiushan Family’s game. In the future, if the Jiushan Family and Japan Ghost Sect power clashed, he would find it difficult to stay uninvolved.
But there is no business without risk, the bigger the waves, the more valuable the fish. In the future, if the Ghost Sect and Jiushan Family clashed, Yang Xiao wouldn’t be without allies.
Even if the Patrol Defense Office didn’t intervene, Yang Xiao could contact the Yi Sect and Ru Lin Academy. Domestic factions had many differences and schemes against each other in other matters, but when it came to dealing with the Japan Ghost Sect, it was different. They would spare no resources, and if it wasn’t for the Patrol Defense Office suppressing them over the years, a war would have broken out long ago.
"Senior Jiu Shan, where is Miss Sha Yue?" Yang Xiao inquired.
"She’s gone out and will be back in a few days." Jiushan Cangxuan answered naturally.
"I have a question, not necessarily needing an answer. If it involves something inconvenient, there’s no need for you to answer, Senior." Yang Xiao gave himself and Jiushan Cangxuan a way out before curiously asking, "What exactly is this Resentful Eye in the secret realm worth such great efforts on your part?"
Based on some mission details, Yang Xiao had largely confirmed it was a rare curse-type Grudge Eye, yet in his view, it wasn’t worth such a significant effort.
Even though no one died, the upfront preparations and the cost of drawing the three of them into this mission were substantial.
Beiyu Ye from the Taoist Dragon Tiger Sect was a leading figure among the younger generation, and bringing him in wouldn’t have been cheap. It was a huge expenditure.
Upon hearing this, Jiushan Cangxuan’s smile faded, and he shook his head, "Yang Xiao, you’re mistaken. We weren’t after any Resentful Eye. This so-called task world is full of randomness; before setting out, we didn’t know what sort of situation you guys would face."
"I can tell you clearly, nobody got the Resentful Eye this time. You guys didn’t, and Sha Yue didn’t either, because this wasn’t an ordinary nightmare mission. It was a very special secret realm."
"To be precise, it’s a point of contact between the Nightmare World and the real world, a conduit through which the Nightmare World encroaches upon reality."
