Qiu Wenguang wasn’t afraid of causing trouble or provoking people. What he feared was provoking someone whose identity was a complete unknown.
If Liuu Tian truly had a powerful backer, Qiu Wenguang would naturally give up and let her and her people leave. After all, losing his life over a woman simply wasn’t worth it.
But if there was no one backing Liuu Tian… A woman this beautiful… Qiu Wenguang had coveted her for a long time. He would take her away, even if by force!
Meanwhile, the members of the Nine Cities Mercenary Corps saw Liuu Tian fumbling for something. It looked as if she truly had a way to contact Tang Yi. Their eyes widened in anticipation.
With Tang Yi’s power, if he could return, the Nine Cities Mercenary Corps would surely be safe.
Even with the Qianxi Mercenary Corps’s numbers, and even with Qiu Wenguang being a Battle King, they would be no match for Tang Yi.
Tang Yi was a disciple of the West Mansion, after all. He was a supreme expert who could annihilate countless Black Blood Wolves in a single blow and obliterate the Black Blood Wolf King with a mere wave of his hand. How could the likes of the Qianxi Mercenary Corps possibly compare to someone like that?
However, just as the faces of the Nine Cities Mercenary Corps filled with anticipation, Liuu Tian pulled out a small tube.
This was…
The members of the Nine Cities Mercenary Corps had seen this thing before. In fact, they were all too familiar with it!
Wasn’t this the damn little toy Liuu Tian had bought on the street? A firework tube?!
Liuu Tian had bought it just for fun!
‘This thing is supposed to contact Tang Yi?’
The members of the Nine Cities Mercenary Corps had been filled with hope, truly believing Liuu Tian could contact Tang Yi. They never imagined it was all a lie. It was all fake, just a ploy by Liuu Tian to stall the Qianxi Mercenary Corps!
The moment they saw the firework tube, the faces of the Nine Cities Mercenary Corps members fell. Their hearts filled with immense disappointment. If they weren’t afraid of Liuu Tian being exposed on the spot, the looks on their faces would have been even more priceless.
‘Damn it, using a firework tube to bluff them… Our leader is really one of a kind…’
The members of the Nine Cities Mercenary Corps couldn’t help but complain to themselves.
But Liuu Tian forced herself to remain calm. Her expression betrayed nothing, as if the firework tube truly was a way to contact Tang Yi.
After taking out the firework tube, Liuu Tian produced a fire starter, lit the fuse, and then raised the tube to the sky.
WHOOSH!
CRACKLE-POP!
A streak of light shot toward the heavens, bursting in the air to become a brilliant, multicolored firework. It was a beautiful sight.
In an instant, the sky became a painted scroll, beautiful beyond words.
WHOOSH!
CRACKLE-POP!
Another streak of light rocketed into the sky, blossoming into a firework of unparalleled beauty.
The firework tube Liuu Tian had bought was a thirty-shot repeater, meaning there were thirty fireworks in total.
Immediately, streak after streak of light shot into the sky, each one blossoming into a beautiful firework. The incessant CRACKLE-POP sounds made the scene feel as festive as a celebration.
Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought someone was holding a celebration at the entrance to the Valley of Desolation.
“Is this ever going to end? Why does your signaling method take so long?” Qiu Wenguang grew impatient, watching the ceaseless flashes and listening to the constant noise.
“What’s the rush? It’s so pretty. This is just how my man and I communicate,” Liuu Tian said, committing to her strategy of stalling for as long as possible. She knew the fireworks wouldn’t last much longer and her lie would soon be exposed. ‘Still,’ she thought, ‘if Tang Yi sees these fireworks, he might find it strange and rush back, right?’
No one could predict the future. But at this moment, watching the beautiful fireworks, Liuu Tian felt a sense of enjoyment, a moment of happiness.
‘So beautiful…’
‘So romantic.’
‘If only there was a man here to light them with me, to sit on the grass and watch them together.’
When she thought of a man, Tang Yi’s image immediately appeared in her mind.
She had to admit, Tang Yi was perfect. He was powerful, yet Stable. He was truly her ideal partner.
‘If only Tang Yi were really my man,’ Liuu Tian couldn’t help but fantasize.
What Liuu Tian didn’t know was that the very man she was daydreaming about was standing high above the canyon at that exact moment, looking up at the sky just as she was, leisurely enjoying the beautiful fireworks.
WHOOSH!
CRACKLE-POP!
As the final streak of light ascended and burst into one last beautiful display, everyone finally snapped back to reality.
But no one spoke. An unspoken agreement hung in the air as they all waited in silence, watching to see if there would be any response, or if anyone was rushing toward them.
They waited for more than ten minutes. The area was deathly quiet, save for the howls of Demon Beasts echoing from within the Valley of Desolation. There was no response. No one came rushing back. Not even a fly stirred.
Seeing this, Qiu Wenguang sneered. “Well, since there’s no response and no one has returned, that proves it. The man you spoke of is a complete lie. He doesn’t exist. You were bluffing!”
“What’s your hurry? Just wait a little longer. Just wait,” Liuu Tian said, still trying to stall for time.
But Qiu Wenguang was done playing games. Now that he knew her “man” was just a fabrication, he had nothing to fear. He spoke forcefully, “Liuu Tian, I’m giving you two choices. One: you come back with me willingly and become my wife. Two: I take you back by force, and then I slaughter every last member of your Nine Cities Mercenary Corps. Well? Make your choice!”
“You! You can forget it! I wouldn’t go with you even if I died! I won’t make such a ridiculous choice!” Liuu Tian immediately shot back, her voice cold.
“So, you’re choosing to have me drag you back by force, and then slaughter everyone in your Nine Cities Mercenary Corps?” Qiu Wenguang’s eyes narrowed as he delivered the cold threat.
The sinister look on Qiu Wenguang’s face made it clear he wasn’t joking. He would actually do it.
“I…” Hearing his words, Liuu Tian hesitated. She wasn’t afraid of being taken by force, but she was terrified that the members of the Nine Cities Mercenary Corps would be dragged into this because of her. After all, she was the target. The members of the Nine Cities Mercenary Corps were innocent.
Besides, as the leader of the Nine Cities Mercenary Corps, she was responsible for her members’ lives.
If she were alone, it would be a different story. She would have refused instantly; death would have been the worst outcome. But she couldn’t die now. If she died, the members of the Nine Cities Mercenary Corps would die with her!
Liuu Tian wasn’t a selfish person. How could she bear to see her corps members suffer because of her?
So, for a moment, she fell silent.
The members of the Nine Cities Mercenary Corps were also deathly silent.
On one hand was their survival; on the other, Liuu Tian’s happiness. To ask her to sacrifice her happiness to save their lives… as long as they had a shred of decency, they could never utter such words.
Conversely, suggesting they sacrifice their own lives to preserve Liuu Tian’s happiness… they were even less capable of proposing such a noble sacrifice.
And it wasn’t even guaranteed to work. A dozen lives in exchange for one person’s happiness—the price was far too steep.
Life is precious. There are no second chances after death. Who wouldn’t cherish it? Who didn’t want to live a long life?
So the members of the Nine Cities Mercenary Corps could only remain silent, leaving the choice to Liuu Tian. Even if she chose to let them die, it was better than them choosing death for themselves.
“I… I’ll go with you. Just let them go,” Liuu Tian said through gritted teeth after a moment’s thought.
“That’s more like it! My dear wife!”
Hearing Liuu Tian’s consent, Qiu Wenguang gave a triumphant, overjoyed smile.
Liuu Tian had agreed!
This beautiful woman was his!
“Let’s go. Come back with me!”
Qiu Wenguang strode to Liuu Tian’s side, eagerly reaching for her hand, desperate to take her back with him immediately.
However, at that very moment…
A thunderous clap echoed from the sky, and a voice boomed from the heavens…
“Hmph! Who the hell dares to bully my woman?”