Chapter 75 Meeting

"I agree." Gong Kui did not hesitate at all. "Within two days, my people will head to the Vasa Capital of the Winged Tribe and bring Xia Yan back."

"Understood. Thank you for your understanding. I will convey your exact words to Lord Asa." Mei Si smiled. "Then, I wish you well. Farewell."

With that, she disconnected the call.

"Xiayi, go to the Winged Tribe yourself and bring Xia Yan back," Gong Kui instructed Xiayi.

"But Lord Gong Kui," Xiayi was puzzled, "why are we doing this? It doesn't make any sense."

"Hmm," Gong Kui nodded. "Xia Yan's death is already a certainty. He only has two months left. No one can save him, not even the gods. Even if he hadn't used the three vials of potential potions and the extreme potion, the odds would still be illusory."

"Then why are we still bringing him back?" Xiayi was even more confused.

"Don't you understand?" Gong Kui shook her head. "The possibility of Xia Yan surviving after two months is less than one in ten thousand. But in any case, we can no longer control Xia Yan. The reason we are bringing him back is simply to better control him. Since we cannot do it, we cannot let anyone else do it, even though fundamentally no one can."

"If Xia Yan manages to live, if he is saved by someone, perhaps by then he will be completely beyond control. Even though he is a human, he could become an enemy of the human side." Gong Kui sighed softly. "That being said, isn't it the best method to keep him by our side while we still can control him, allowing him to spend his final two months here?"

Gong Kui's words were cruel, yet immensely rational. She had never been an emotional person, relying only on the most correct methods in her thinking.

She believed that this action was the most correct course for the future of the human side.

Xia Yan could die, but he had to die under her control. If there was hope for Xia Yan to live, but the price was breaking completely free from her control, then she could not let him find that hope!

Yet Gong Kui was also certain that her actions were merely a precaution, as no one could possibly help Xia Yan achieve that.

"I understand." Xiayi still found it difficult to accept such reasoning, but she could not disobey Gong Kui's command. She immediately prepared to set off for the Winged Tribe and bring Xia Yan back.

In the bedroom of Asa's mansion where Xia Yan was resting:

Xia Yan had followed his agreement with Asa to wait here for three days, but he still had not anticipated that the reason Asa made him wait three days was to have the human side come and fetch him.

In fact, the three days did not even pass. After just a little over a day, Xiayi had already rushed to the location.

Xia Yan could neither say he was repulsed nor that he accepted it, but if given the freedom of movement, he didn't really want to return to the human side; instead, he wanted to go find Emilia.

The Chain of Purity he wore still held considerable value. Even if he were to die, at least this accessory, which cost one hundred and fifty diamond coins, had to be returned to them.

Or perhaps, was this merely an excuse?

"Based on all of the above, Xia Yan, I hope you will come back with me," Xiayi looked at Xia Yan and said. "Lord Gong Kui is also waiting for you. She has some things she wants to tell you in person."

"I never expected Miss Gong Kui's identity to be so extraordinary," Xia Yan smiled faintly. "No problem, I'll go with you."

"Xia Yan, I'm going too," Tao Lu immediately chimed in.

Xiayi looked at Tao Lu. She was not very familiar with this girl, but there was a fragile vulnerability shining in her eyes. She probably harbored extraordinary feelings for Xia Yan, even though Xia Yan's days were numbered.

The only place Xiayi had encountered Tao Lu was when she insolently extended her middle finger to provoke the human side and recruit Xia Yan, which left Xiayi with a rather unfavorable impression of her.

Xia Yan shook his head and did not agree to Tao Lu's proposal. If these truly were his final two months, he did not want to carry any heavy burdens.

"Alright," Tao Lu forced a smile. "Then take good care of yourself. Although the promise from back then remains valid, Xia Yan is drifting further and further away from me. Even if he manages to survive, he wouldn't stay by my side anyway."

A trace of regret lingered in Tao Lu's eyes.

"I'm sorry, Tao Lu." Xia Yan could only offer a bitter smile. What else could he say?

"Xia Yan, if that guy Asa really kills you, once I rise to power in the future, I will definitely kill him," Tao Lu said with bitter resentment, though it was hard to tell whether she was joking or serious.

This remark almost made Xiayi gasp out loud. She had never seen such an audacious girl who casually spoke of killing a pure-blood. She truly had no regard for her own life.

Even if it were a joke, could such jokes be made?

Afterward, Tao Lu gently kissed Xia Yan on the cheek and waved goodbye to him.

"I'm leaving." With a somewhat hazy gaze in his eyes, Xia Yan waved back at Tao Lu.

Tao Lu waved farewell as well.

On the return journey, the two of them exchanged very few words. Xiayi could not find a topic to initiate a conversation, and she always felt that although Xia Yan was human, he was distant from her.

Still, there were some things that needed to be discussed, such as Gong Kui's true identity.

Xiayi did not answer Xia Yan, glossing over it vaguely. She only indicated that Lord Gong Kui was now considered a member of the Council. Currently, the Council had a total of eight councilors with the seat of the speaker vacant, and Gong Kui was one of them. However, unlike the other seven councilors, she had no family behind her and no independent faction.

Her seat was established solely for her alone. Considering this point, wasn't her status even higher than the other seven?

Outside the study in Gong Kui's mansion, a knock sounded.

"Please come in." Gong Kui's tone was as calm as ever.

Xiayi pushed the door open and entered, followed by Xia Yan. Instantly, the atmosphere within the study became somewhat subtle, and no one spoke. After a long moment, Gong Kui nodded. "Xiayi, you may step outside first."

"Yes, Lord Gong Kui." Xiayi immediately turned and left, pulling the door closed behind her.

Although they hadn't seen each other for four months, Gong Kui looked no different. She wore her usual faint smile, remaining rational to an extreme degree toward people and matters, yet her identity had transformed from a top-ranked transcendent in Fuxiang City into one of the eight councilors of the human side.

Gong Kui gazed intently at Xia Yan, and Xia Yan turned his gaze to meet hers as well. Still, neither of them spoke. The atmosphere appeared awkward, but from Gong Kui's perspective, it was relatively harmonious.

"Xia Yan, come sit over here. What would you like to drink?" Gong Kui took the initiative to speak.

Xia Yan nodded, walked over to a nearby chair, and sat down. He did not know how to start the conversation, nor did he even understand what Gong Kui's current stance was.

Since Gong Kui had summoned him back, Xia Yan could only return. He waited here for the topic Gong Kui wished to raise.

"Have your injuries not fully healed yet? Your body must still be quite strained. Thank you for your hard work on the long journey," Gong Kui smiled. "We have quite a few healing-type transcendents here. They should be able to make your body recover in a short time."

Xia Yan frowned. Gong Kui showed no intention of getting to the point, leaving him no choice but to speak up. "Miss Gong Kui, it has been four months since we last met."

"Indeed, four months," Gong Kui smiled.

"Do you know about my situation?" Xia Yan asked directly.

Gong Kui's expression turned somewhat subtle. She had intended to steer clear of that topic, but she hadn't expected Xia Yan to bring it up himself. She didn't take him for the kind of person who would proactively seek help from her.

Or perhaps there was more to it than met the eye?

"To be honest, Xia Yan, it's nothing short of a miracle that you survived. Even I find it hard to believe," Gong Kui sighed softly. "But Asa's conditions are too harsh."

Xia Yan smiled bitterly. That was only natural; no one could accomplish it.

"But I will try my best," Gong Kui promised. "I don't want to deceive you, Xia Yan, so I cannot guarantee that I will be of help, but I will not do nothing. If utilizing the resources in my hands can assist you, I will do everything in my power."

"Thank you, Miss Gong Kui." Xia Yan nodded, making no effort to conceal the gratitude on his face.

When someone offers help without asking for a reward, if one feels no gratitude, how different is one from an ingrate?

"Xia Yan, your body has not yet recovered. How about resting here for a few days first?" Gong Kui revealed a faint smile. "I have already notified the relevant healing transcendents; they will be here shortly."

Xia Yan frowned. He did not want to play verbal games with Gong Kui. "Miss Gong Kui, I wonder what the actual reason is for calling me here?"

Gong Kui's expression froze slightly, finding it hard to believe that Xia Yan would respond this way. Just as she had anticipated, Xia Yan was becoming increasingly difficult to control.

"It was Asa who contacted us, hoping we would bring you back," Gong Kui smiled bitterly. "Of course, even if I hadn't learned of this, and even without Asa speaking up, I would have had Xiayi bring you back anyway. After all, Xia Yan, you are human, and your home rightfully belongs in the human sector."

"Is that so..." Xia Yan's smile turned bitter. "Asa's conditions are too harsh. I don't believe I can reach the strength of a 7-star transcendent within two months. Even if I truly could defeat that Lilin, he would still kill me all the same."

"I heard there is another condition as well—as long as you stay with Miss Tao Lu, you can survive. Why didn't you agree to Asa, Xia Yan?" Gong Kui asked with intense curiosity.

Xia Yan shook his head. He could not possibly agree to such a condition; to live bound like that, how was it any different from being dead?

"Xia Yan—"

"Miss Gong Kui—"

Both spoke at the exact same time, their expressions pausing simultaneously before they smiled bitterly.

Gong Kui was the first to speak. "Xia Yan, is there anything else on your mind?"

Xia Yan shook his head.

"Then I am a bit tired and would like to rest properly. I will take you down to your quarters," Gong Kui smiled gently.

"No," Xia Yan shook his head. "What I wanted to say just now was that I would like to take my leave of Miss Gong Kui. There is still something I need to do."

Gong Kui said nothing, but her gaze turned icy cold. The atmosphere in the study chilled instantly, and the previous harmony vanished entirely.