"No, I can't seem to access my True Qi!"
"Huh? Something's wrong. My Spirit Sea... it feels like something got inside!"
"Ugh, I can't draw on my True Qi either!"
Suddenly, the people around Ye Dai began crying out one after another.
Ye Dai's face changed drastically as well, because he realized that it wasn't just his subordinates who couldn't access their True Qi. Even his own dantian felt completely empty, as if his True Qi had been locked away by something. He couldn't draw on even a wisp of it.
Chen Li's entire face changed color. Like a duck with its throat grabbed, he rasped out, "Jiang Chen! You used poison?"
"Congratulations, you guessed right. Chen Li, is it? Now, how much reward do you think you can still get?" Jiang Chen's expression was a mocking smile.
Chen Li's face went ashen, his arrogance vanishing like it had been doused with a bucket of ice water. Terror filled his features. "Jiang Chen, you... if you dare kill me, the Treasure Tree Sect will never let you go!"
Jiang Chen's expression darkened. "Give me one reason not to kill you."
"I..." Chen Li's first instinct was to declare that he was a genius of the Treasure Tree Sect, a disciple of the Treasure Tree Sect, and that killing him meant making an enemy of the entire sect.
But he wasn't completely stupid. Such powerless threats were utterly useless at this moment.
You were the one trying to kill him first, and now that you've fallen into his trap, you think a few threats will stop him? How is that possible?
"Jiang Chen, just say what you want! As long as I have it, I'll give it. We didn't have any grudge to begin with. It was all about money. I was hired to kill you. I was just seeking profit. Killing me gains you nothing. Why bother? If you don't kill me, you can get a huge haul. I can also swear to Heaven that I will never seek revenge or cause you trouble again."
It had to be said, Chen Li was an extremely practical person. Seeing how things had turned, he immediately begged for mercy and softened his stance, without any hesitation.
"I can spare you. I don't need your ransom, nor do I need you to swear to Heaven. I have just one condition."
"Name it." Chen Li was overjoyed and urged, "Whatever it is, I agree."
"Among you, only one person can leave. If you kill them, I'll let you leave." Jiang Chen smiled faintly.
"Is that the truth?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Jiang Chen asked calmly.
Just then, Consort Dan stepped forward. "Jiang Chen, do me a favor. This time, let them go."
Jiang Chen was taken aback. "Why?"
Consort Dan said evenly, "Just tell me—do you agree or not?"
Jiang Chen was momentarily speechless.
"If you kill them now, it will be easy to trace it back to you once you're outside. Then, you'll be the public enemy of the entire Tiangui Kingdom. Even with your Tiangui Knight Order, it might not help. Besides, this Chen Li is a disciple of the Treasure Tree Sect. Killing a disciple will only bring you trouble in the future."
She glanced at Ye Dai. "As for this Ye Dai, who harmed his own brothers, I will report everything to the Grand Tutor as soon as we leave. His time as the First Prince will be over. When that happens, his own enemies will deal with him. Why should you dirty your hands?"
Jiang Chen was inclined to refuse, but seeing Consort Dan's firmness, he could only look helplessly toward Ye Rong. "Fourth Prince, I'll leave this matter to you. Handle it as you see fit."
Ye Rong smiled wryly at Consort Dan and decided to go with the flow. "Sister Dan, I'll listen to you. I'm just afraid that Ye Dai won't change his ways and will oppose us again once we leave this valley."
Consort Dan's decision to spare Ye Dai was partly due to old feelings. Whether it was Ye Dai or Ye Zheng, after all, they had grown up step by step under the Grand Tutor.
Although Consort Dan didn't like them—was even somewhat disgusted—she was ultimately unwilling to see them die here like this.
Ye Rong, like Jiang Chen, was utterly unwilling. But his biggest difference from Ye Dai was that he could suppress his anger for a while.
Since Consort Dan had promised to report to the Grand Tutor upon their exit, Ye Dai would be finished. As long as Ye Dai was out of the picture, Ye Rong's biggest rival for the throne would be gone.
Since Ye Dai could no longer pose a threat to his bid for the throne, there would be plenty of opportunities to deal with him in the future if he didn't kill him today.
Ye Dai had thought death was certain and had almost given up all hope. Suddenly hearing that Consort Dan was pleading for him, he was overjoyed.
"Fourth Brother, don't kill me! As long as you don't kill me, everything is yours! I promise, once we're outside, I won't compete for the Crown Prince position. I promise to become a idle prince who doesn't meddle in politics. I can swear to Heaven about today's events too—once we're out, I absolutely won't seek revenge or cause any more trouble."
Ye Rong frowned. "It's not that I don't want to kill you. It's that Sister Dan is sparing your wretched life."
Consort Dan looked at Ye Dai with disgust at his ugly display. "Ye Dai, look after yourself. This time, I spared you on behalf of the Grand Tutor. Next time, you won't be so lucky."
"Yes, yes. Sister Dan, it was my fault. My mind was clouded. I was blinded by power. After we leave this time, I will completely reform!"
Jiang Chen shook his head helplessly. A dog can't stop eating shit, and Ye Dai was exactly that kind of dog.