Chapter 50: Sisters Meet (1)

“Haha, my little granddaughter does not know proper manners. Please do not blame her, Senior Hua.”

Seeing He Bai Ying’s somewhat rude behavior, He Bai Su quickly smoothed things over while secretly transmitting a lecture to her youngest granddaughter.

“It is no matter. Since the young lady likes it, We still have some stock left here. In the future, we can conduct a trade with your side. The price is negotiable.”

Hua Yanyun had noticed He Cen’s small movements. 

Therefore, her earlier words had been spoken to He Bai Su on the surface, but were actually meant for He Cen to hear.

The banquet continued. 

Both sides took the opportunity to reach numerous cooperation agreements. 

However, no matter how He Bai Su probed indirectly, Hua Yanyun remained completely silent on the matter of He Shu.

Perhaps feeling somewhat impatient, He Bai Su directly transmitted her voice to Hua Yanyun.

“Senior Hua, if you have something to say, it would be better to speak plainly. You should know the ultimate purpose of our trip.”

He Bai Su’s voice rang in her mind. 

A faint smile appeared on Hua Yanyun’s face as she transmitted her reply.

“We naturally know Fellow Daoist He’s purpose. It must be for He Wanyi, correct?”

“Senior guessed correctly. Our side is willing to pay a certain price to redeem He Wanyi.”

“Fellow Daoist, there is no need to be so anxious. We can discuss this matter privately later. It will not be too late.”

Hua Yanyun’s words left He Bai Su with no choice but to accept. 

In her heart, she coldly snorted.

Hmph. Discuss privately. It sounds nice, but you simply want to fight for more benefits.

If they discussed He Shu’s matter at the banquet, everyone would give some face and make concessions. 

But if they spoke privately with no outsiders present, the atmosphere would inevitably become thick with gunpowder.

Instantly deducing Hua Yanyun’s intentions, He Bai Su furrowed her brows almost imperceptibly.

After the banquet ended, it was already deep into the night. 

He Bai Su brought He Cen to privately seek out Hua Yanyun.

Inside the study, Hua Yanyun sat facing the two members of the He clan across a table.

“Oh? What brings the two of you to see Us?”

Hua Yanyun rested her elbow on the table and supported her chin with one hand. 

Her pair of rose-red eyes were extremely beautiful. Her gaze swept up and down He Cen’s body.

Facing Hua Yanyun’s appraising stare, He Cen felt somewhat uncomfortable. 

She took the initiative to speak before He Bai Su could.

“Senior Hua, there is no need for pleasantries. You know our purpose very well. Let us speak frankly. Our side is willing to redeem He Wanyi and Li Min through an exchange of hostages.”

“Mm. Elaborate. How do you intend to exchange? He Wanyi is a proper Nascent Soul. We hope your offer can move Us.”

“Our side is willing to return three Jade Water spies to Jade Water Immortal Kingdom, including two direct descendants of the Hua family.”

Negotiations were not something that could reach a deal from the very beginning. 

He Cen understood this point deeply. 

Therefore, she only offered three Jade Water spies in exchange for He Shu and Li Min at the start.

After hearing the names of the spies He Cen reported, Hua Yanyun smiled faintly and shook her head.

“Hua Cai Ting and Hua Liang Wei are indeed direct descendants of our Hua family. However, to exchange for He Wanyi with only two Golden Core and one Nascent Soul… this price is still too low.”

Hua Yanyun’s words did not surprise He Cen. She continued to raise the stakes, but Hua Yanyun still shook her head.

Both sides continued haggling. 

After the time it took to burn half an incense stick, He Cen sensed that something was wrong.

“In total, two Nascent Soul and three Golden Core. If Senior Hua is still not satisfied, then please name your price.”

The corner of Hua Yanyun’s mouth curved into a successful arc. 

She stated the price she wanted in exchange for He Shu.

“This has already exceeded our bottom line. This is impossible.”

After hearing Hua Yanyun’s quoted price, He Cen flatly refused. Even He Bai Su’s expression turned ugly.

“He Wanyi’s cultivation has already been completely dispersed. She can be considered a cripple now. Senior, are you toying with us?”

“Aiya, it seems there is no deal to be made.”

Hua Yanyun crossed her arms. The expression on her face did not change. 

She still wore a smile that was not quite a smile.

“He Cen, He Shu is your biological younger sister, is she not? You really do not want to save her and bring her back?”

The moment her words fell, she clearly observed a flash of shock on He Cen’s face. 

However, it only lasted an instant before He Cen returned to normal.

“What does Senior Hua mean by this? He Shu is indeed of the He clan, but at most she can be considered a clan sister to me.”

Hua Yanyun paid no mind to He Cen’s words. Instead, she threw out a large amount of evidence proving the relationship between He Shu and He Xiu.

He Cen had no choice. In the face of absolute evidence, no amount of concealment would work. She simply admitted it directly.

“So now, we can talk properly, correct?”

Looking at the two people across from her whose expressions had clearly turned ugly, Hua Yanyun felt very pleased.

“Although He Shu’s cultivation has been crippled, her spiritual veins are still intact. Her future achievements will be no lower than Deity Transformation.”

A period of silence fell over the room. After more than ten breaths, He Cen finally spoke coldly. “What exactly do you want in order to release He Shu?”

“No rush. No rush. We can discuss the matter of negotiations another day. Does He Cen not wish to see your good younger sister?”

***

He Shu was woken by the cold. She was only wearing a thin white dress. 

The wind blew against her, making her shiver.

The dress was also stained with quite a bit of blood. 

Hua Yanyun’s wicked sense of humor had not given her a change of clothes.

Consciousness gradually returned to her body. In a daze, she saw golden cage bars.

“I am back again…”

Her voice was extremely weak. Her entire body hurt terribly, especially her arms.

She tried to move a little. 

A clattering sound immediately rang out above her head.

“?”

She looked up. He Shu saw a pair of arms covered in many bruises and red marks.

Her wrists were locked in thick metal shackles. 

The cuffs were oval-shaped and fit tightly against her skin. 

They were suspended from a ring at the top of the cage by a pair of fine silver chains.

“What… is going on…?”

She did not understand the current situation. Her mind was so chaotic that He Shu could not think.

She tilted her head in confusion. 

Her long hair spread across the soft cushion like a waterfall.

At that moment, the door to the room was pushed open. 

Hua Yanyun strode inside. 

Following closely behind her was a white-haired woman who also entered the room.

He Shu squinted. 

After clearly seeing the white-haired woman’s appearance, her entire body trembled. 

She subconsciously opened her mouth but could not utter a single word.

“See? She is still alive and well. We have not played her to death yet.”

Hua Yanyun spoke in a teasing tone. 

Her gaze turned toward He Cen standing beside her.