Chapter 402: The Grieving Daughter
Sang Zhe’s agreed meeting spot was in a remote, desolate canyon in the eastern territory of the Demon Clan.
As soon as Sang Zhe informed Long Xiao of the meeting place, Long Xiao dispatched Shadow Demons to monitor the area.
However, even three hours before the agreed time, when Long Xiao arrived at the canyon, his Shadow Demons still reported, “No one here.”
“…No one bothered to come early and set things up?” Long Xiao pondered.
Just as Sang Zhe didn’t trust Long Xiao to not play any tricks, Long Xiao similarly didn’t believe Sang Zhe would obediently return his daughter.
That’s why he sent people to control the scene first, to see if he could figure out what little scheme Sang Zhe was plotting.
Yet, the canyon remained empty.
Even after thoroughly searching inside and out with the leaders of the three clans, nothing was found.
“Master, what now?”
“What else can we do?” Long Xiao, losing his temper, said with a stern face, “We wait. Let’s see how Sang Zhe plans to play this out.”
Long Xiao actually wasn’t too worried about any tricks Sang Zhe might have up his sleeve.
In the Demon Clan, where strength is paramount, all the cunning tricks in the world are useless against absolute power.
Long Xiao didn’t believe that Sang Zhe, a newcomer to the Great Ascendant Realm, could come out unscathed in front of four Great Ascendant Demons.
The only variable that truly worried Long Xiao was undoubtedly the Original Immortal Treasures.
Long Xiao knew Sang Zhe had some Original Immortal Treasures, likely more than one.
One was the Original Immortal Medicine stolen from the Water Moon Sect.
The other was the Original Immortal Crystal picked up from the depths of the East Sea.
As for whether there were others, Long Xiao lacked intelligence.
Long Xiao was well aware of the mystical powers of the Original Immortal Treasures. If Sang Zhe had a way to break the situation, it would likely rely on these treasures.
And as long as the other party used the Original Immortal Treasures, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for him, but rather a tremendous opportunity.
If he could secure all of Sang Zhe’s Original Immortal Treasures for the Demon Clan… a glimmer of greed sparked in Long Xiao’s eyes.
“Master,” at that moment, a nearby Shadow Demon interrupted his fantasies.
“The time is almost up.”
Long Xiao focused his thoughts and slowly nodded.
The three clan leaders, with the assistance of the Shadow Demons, had prudently hidden outside the canyon. As long as Long Xiao gave the order, they could appear in an instant.
Everything was ready; they just needed Sang Zhe to walk right into their trap.
——
——
At the exact time of the appointment.
Sang Zhe’s figure appeared at the edge of the canyon right on time.
He did not disguise himself, but rather leisurely strolled towards the canyon, unbothered.
By his side was a small girl whose hands were bound by iron chains, her eyes vacant and lifeless.
The moment Long Huan saw her, Long Xiao nearly lost his breath.
His once lively, adorable daughter looked severely emaciated. Her clothes were disheveled and dirty, her hair hung messily, as if she had endured inhumane suffering.
Especially those once bright, clear big eyes now drooped dimly without spirit.
In that moment, Long Xiao felt a surge of blood boiling in his chest and wished he could spit it out.
“Precious daughter…”
Yet Long Huan seemed to have spotted Long Xiao.
Surprisingly, there was not much joy or hope in her eyes; instead, she trembled and instinctively shrank back behind Sang Zhe.
“Oh, Lord Dragon. Long time no see.”
Reaching the center of the canyon, Sang Zhe cheerfully greeted, “This is our first offline meeting, right?”
“…Sang Zhe.”
Long Xiao struggled to suppress his fury and spoke coldly, “What have you done to my daughter?”
“Hey, you can’t just accuse me of sullying someone’s reputation without evidence.”
Sang Zhe leisurely shook his head, “As you can see, your daughter is perfectly fine. No missing limbs, right?”
“I even have to make time to play games with the Little Princess every day,” he added, “It’s pretty considerate of me not to ask you for compensation.”
“Playing games?” Long Xiao’s heart sank, “What games?”
“Ah~ It’s nothing much. Just your typical family role-play~” Sang Zhe smiled and waved his hand, “You know, I play the dad, she plays the mom, and we live like a couple—”
Before he could finish.
A terrifying pressure erupted without reserve, shaking the entire canyon as if in a dragon’s roar.
“Sang! Zhe!”
“How dare you tarnish my daughter’s reputation? I, Long Xiao, swear with the full might of the Demon Clan, I will tear you apart!” Long Xiao’s eyes turned blood red as he roared.
Sang Zhe’s gaze also gradually grew cold.
“Feeling anxious?”
“When you sent people to attack my wife, did you not think I’d raise the Demon Cultivators to fight you to the bitter end?”
“Save it.” He sneered, “At this point, what’s the use of tough words?”
“If you dare make a move, your daughter’s head will be taking a separate trip from her body.”
Sang Zhe’s fingertip lightly traced over Long Huan’s delicate, pale face.
Long Huan shivered slightly, clutching tightly at Sang Zhe’s clothing.
The anger in Long Xiao’s eyes gradually cooled and settled into a terrifying seriousness.
“…You said it. One hand delivers the goods, the other delivers the person.”
“Where’s the goods?” Sang Zhe lifted his chin.
Long Xiao tossed a box from his sleeve, which landed between them and opened.
Inside was a talisman.
Sang Zhe squinted a bit, “…Nian Nian?”
“Real deal.” Nian Nian’s voice echoed beside them, “I didn’t expect that old fart would actually be willing to give this up for his daughter’s safety.”
Not entirely accurate.
More precisely, Long Xiao probably didn’t believe he could retreat safely with the Original Immortal Talisman.
Bringing out the genuine Original Immortal Talisman might also be a way to guard against the Original Immortal Treasures he feared Sang Zhe might use.
“Looks like Lord Dragon is quite sincere.”
Sang Zhe smiled and said, “Since that’s the case, I should return the favor.”
“Okay, Little Princess, you can go home now.”
Sang Zhe gently patted Long Huan’s back.
Long Huan stumbled back a couple of steps, turned to look at Sang Zhe, her eyes hiding a heavy thought.
Then, she slowly moved towards the center.
In the gazes of everyone, Long Huan moved further away from Sang Zhe, inching closer to Long Xiao.
Long Xiao held his breath, eyes locked on Long Huan.
…As soon as his daughter crossed the position of the Original Immortal Talisman, he would give the order for the Shadow Demons and the three clan leaders to strike.
Sang Zhe stood still, eyeing the Original Immortal Talisman.
…The moment Long Xiao reached out for Long Huan, when he was most relaxed, Shi Qingyan would zip in to snatch the Original Immortal Talisman, and Sang Zhe would only need to delay her a bit to ensure her escape.
Both sides were tense, waiting for Long Huan to draw nearer to the Original Immortal Talisman.
One step.
Two steps.
Finally, the instant Long Huan reached for the Original Immortal Talisman on the ground.
“Attack!” Long Xiao barked.
“Attack!” A spark flickered in Sang Zhe’s eyes.
In an instant, the figures of the three clan leaders appeared. From the shadows on the other side of the canyon, Shi Qingyan transformed into a bolt of red lightning.
But.
The next moment, everyone halted.
Because at the focal point of everyone’s attention, Long Huan suddenly grabbed the Original Immortal Talisman from the ground and turned to run.
…Towards Sang Zhe.
“I got the stuff, let’s go!”
Sang Zhe: “…Huh?”
Long Xiao: “…Huh?”
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