"Don't you want to know who was behind your family's massacre?" Song Yan asked lightly, her words still carrying enough weight to pierce Jiang An's heart.
"Don't you want to take revenge on them?" she pressed.
Jiang An didn't answer. Instead, she quickened her pace, heading for the door.
"Let me tell you," Song Yan continued, her eyes glinting, "even if you join the Crimson Abyss Sect and gain strength, you still won't be able to save your brother from them."
Those words struck Jiang An like a blade. Her steps faltered. The figure that had been about to walk out of the inn froze in place. Slowly, she turned her head back toward Ye Kaishan and Song Yan. Her gaze carried tension, concern, and something deeper she dared not name.
After a moment of hesitation, Jiang An returned and sat down on her chair."Now tell me… what is your purpose?" she demanded, eyes fixed firmly on Song Yan.
Looking at her determined face, Ye Kaishan and Song Yan exchanged a faint smile.
Shoo— for a time I really thought she would leave, Ye Kaishan mused inwardly.
Though Song Yan disliked my idea of dragging Jiang An through the ashes of her emotions, she knew there was no better way. Now was the most vulnerable moment—before Jiang An gained strength or status.
Later, it would be far more difficult to sway her, especially once she rose within a demonic sect. Forming an alliance then would be near impossible. Ye Kaishan narrowed his eyes, sipping his wine.
Song Yan continued
"In the trial, you should have awakened your bloodline," Song Yan said evenly. "That much was expected, considering you are from the Jiang family."
"But what does that have to do with my family's massacre?" Jiang An's voice was impatient, edged with frustration.
"It does relate," Song Yan replied calmly. "The bloodline you awakened—it did not come from the heavens. It is not your family's natural inheritance. It is an acquired bloodline."
"Acquired bloodline?" Jiang An's brows knitted together in confusion.
She knew the Jiang family possessed a bloodline, but not one particularly powerful. Without it, they never would have risen so high, but its strength was limited. That was why they had established themselves only in the Southern Continent.
"Yes, acquired," Song Yan explained. "By some great fortune, one of your ancestors absorbed something they should not have—an essence drop of blood belonging to an ancient deity. It fused with her, altering her bloodline completely."
Jiang An's lips parted slightly, disbelief flickering in her eyes.
Song Yan continued, "If someone were to drink a drop of blood essence from an awakened heir, their talent would soar, their very bloodline transformed. But the one who was drained… would be left nothing more than a dried corpse."
Her tone grew heavier. "Through generations, the Jiang family's bloodline gradually weakened. Talent remained, but none among you were able to awaken the true blood."
Her eyes narrowed on Jiang An. "Tell me—do you know the condition required to awaken this bloodline? Or rather… how did you awaken it?"
Jiang An lowered her gaze. Memories surfaced, bitter and vivid."I was… at death's door," she admitted slowly. "Almost all my blood had drained from my body."
Suddenly, realization struck her. Her pupils shrank, sweat beading on her forehead."Don't tell me…" she whispered.
"You are correct," Song Yan said coldly. "Your family was massacred for the sake of extracting that blood essence."
Ye Kaishan raised his brows, genuine surprise flashing across his face."Well… that's brutal," he muttered. I hope she isn't weaving lies from thin air, he thought, studying Jiang An carefully.
Song Yan pressed on. "When they discovered no one in your family could awaken it naturally, they forced the process—draining blood until near-death, again and again, until it finally awakened. And when it didn't, they killed them." She shook her head faintly.
"The sects that carried out the massacre were nothing but pawns, lured with treasures and soul stones. The real hands remained hidden."
Her gaze sharpened on Jiang An. "And when you awakened your bloodline, they would have sensed it. Just as your brother would have, wherever he is."
Jiang An's body trembled. Her veins bulged at her hands and neck. Blood seemed to rush toward her eyes, staining them red.
Song Yan studied her carefully, then stopped mid-sentence."…Huh?"
Jiang An slowly lifted her gaze, her voice heavy, thick with killing intent. "Why did you stop?" The air around her reeked faintly of blood.
"That is all we can tell you. Beyond this point, we cannot share more until we can trust you."
Ye Kaishan set his wine cup down, his expression calm.
"Trust? You speak of trust now?!" Jiang An's anger erupted. The images of her family's tortured deaths overwhelmed her reason.
Bang!
Her hand slammed the table, splitting its surface with a crack.
"Jiang An!" Ye Kaishan's voice sharpened, his brows furrowing. "Control your anger."
"It's not that we don't want to tell you," he added smoothly, "but you must understand—everything in this world comes at a cost." "Trust is not given freely. You've learned much already, but you should understand—nothing in this world is free. Everything has a price, even information and kindness."
for a moment she paused
Jiang An breathed heavily, her bloodshot eyes gradually fading back to normal. The oppressive aura receded. She lowered her head, voice subdued.
"Then what do you want from me? I don't have a single thing to offer." Jiang An spoke calmly
"Song Yan looked at Jiang An, her eyes serene yet unwavering."
"Make an alliance with us."
"Alliance?!"
Song Yan looked at Jiang An, her eyes calm but firm.
"I thought… they would ask for something valuable," Jiang An thought to herself, "but I didn't expect… an alliance. And me—still not a cultivator?" Her brow furrowed in puzzlement.
"An alliance? For what?" she asked aloud, still puzzled.
"It's nothing serious," Song Yan replied lightly. "In the future, if I need your help, you will aid me—and we will also help you."
"Like… what? I don't understand," Jiang An asked, seeking clarity.
"The enemy of us will also be your enemy," Song Yan said calmly. "When we need your help, or when we call on you, you must respond."
Song Yan said answered.
Jiang An considered this for a moment. "If that's all, then I'll form an alliance with both of you," she said firmly.
"Good." Song Yan raised her hand, and a golden paper appeared, floating in the air. "Sign it here," she said with a gentle smile.
"Oh… ahmm… okay," Jiang An murmured. Her veins bulged slightly as she pressed her hand onto the golden paper, leaving a vivid red handprint. As her hand lifted, a small golden seal appeared in her sea of consciousness, marked with the word Heaven.
"Is this alright?" she asked, glancing at Song Yan.
"Hmm… this should suffice," Song Yan nodded. After a moment, she tossed the paper into the void, where it disappeared without a trace.
Jiang An leaned forward, her eyes sharp. "Now… tell me who was behind the massacre of my family," she demanded, addressing both Song Yan and Ye Kaishan.
Ye Kaishan glanced at Song Yan, who continued, her tone calm but serious.
"As you are now, knowing won't change much—but I will tell you," Song Yan said, recalling the name. "She is from the Northern Continent, one of the ghost sects there—the core elder of the Yin Nether Sect, Lin Yao."
"Lin Yao…" Jiang An murmured, her voice low and chilling. Her eyes burned with killing intent as she clenched the table, leaving deep marks on its surface.
After a moment of tense silence, Jiang An looked at both Song Yan and Ye Kaishan. "I will remember your kindness… and our alliance,"
she said firmly. She stood, brushing back her resolve. "If nothing else, I must leave—I still need to find my brother."
Ye Kaishan sipped his wine calmly. Well, the alliance is formed. There's nothing left for us to stop her, he thought.
Song Yan, however, offered a wry smile. "As for your brother… I have some idea where he might be."
"You know!?" Jiang An's eyes widened, locking on Song Yan's with intense curiosity.
Ye Kaishan took a slow sip of his wine, his gaze drifting toward Song Yan, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
"Ahh… wait—who are you? Why are you tying me—"
Suddenly, a voice called down from above, cutting through the tense moment.
Jiang An recognized the voice instantly, her eyes widening in shock. Without hesitation, she dashed up the stairs, with Ye Kaishan and Song Yan following close behind.
As she reached the first floor, she carefully pushed open the door of the room where the voice had come from.
It was a square-shaped room, its walls decorated with colorful glass, a round table placed neatly in the center.
"Hey, will you keep quiet for a second? The knot is tightening the more you struggle," a girl, no older than twelve or thirteen, scolded sharply. She stood in front of Jiang Mu, holding the rope that bound him.
"Who are you, and why did you tie me up?" Jiang Mu demanded with a frown, struggling against the restraints.
"What is happening here?" Jiang An muttered, utterly confused as her gaze shifted between her brother and the young girl, who looked only slightly older than him. Was she the one who kidnapped Jiang Mu? the thought flashed through her mind.
Meanwhile, Ye Kaishan glanced inside. His brows furrowed as his eyes landed on the girl. So it's her… this girl… he thought. Why am I not surprised? Given her personality, I always expected she'd do something like this one day.
"Enough," Song Yan intervened as she stepped inside.
"Haa… Sister Song, why did you come in? I said I can handle it," the young girl complained.
Song Yan sighed, shaking her head. "It's not the time for this, Song Wu. We'll continue this in the Song Clan. For now, let's untie him."
She stepped forward and quickly loosened the ropes binding Jiang Mu.