After hearing the report, the Yao Patriarch glanced at the Ancestor. With the Ancestor's tacit approval, he turned to the guard and ordered, "Settle Kong Xingkun in the side courtyard. Once the Ancestor and I finish our discussion, I will see him."
"Yes, Patriarch."
The guard was eager to flee this hall that made his hair stand on end. He had just turned to go when a cool, airy voice stopped him.
"Wait."
Jian Dan halted the young guard, then turned to the Yao Ancestor and the Yao Patriarch. "Kong Xiaoyou is likely here to see me and Senior Sister. Let him come here directly."
Her words left the Yao clan members puzzled. How would Kong Xingkun know the Heavenly Sword Sect cultivators were in the Yao residence, and how did they know each other? Yao Yingying, the most perceptive among them, sensed there was more beneath Jian Lu Zūnshàng's tone. She suspected Jian Dan was not as familiar or cordial with Kong Xingkun as she sounded.
The guard stood frozen, then looked to the Yao Ancestor. The Ancestor nodded.
Once the guard departed, silence settled over the hall again.
Jian Po's last remark earlier had been prompted by Jian Dan's voice transmission.
Jian Dan knew so much because of Liu Chuan. When they had rushed into the Ice Cavern, Liu Chuan sensed the aura of the Furong Zhizi. A willow leaf drifted along that aura to its source.
Everyone had been battling the blood insect, spiritual force raging. With Jian Dan's spatial region masking him, Liu Chuan located the Furong Zhizi's hiding place.
One look at its miserable state had sent him into helpless laughter. The Furong Zhizi had been stripped clean of leaves, leaving only a single large, crimson blossom on its branch.
Its cultivation had plummeted. He did not need to use any special means. It was completely bald.
After warning Yao Bin that day, the Furong Zhizi had lingered outside his closed-door cultivation residence. When Yao Bin sought the Ancestor's help, the Furong Zhizi confirmed he could not handle the so-called poison.
Once Yao Bin was sealed in the Ice Cavern, the Furong Zhizi had no chance to enter and verify the situation. This time, taking advantage of Jian Dan's group entering the cavern, it slipped in behind them to check Yao Bin's condition.
After Jian Dan and the Yao Ancestor left, the Furong Zhizi, driven by a plant's instinct, could not bear the cold of the Ice Cavern and inched closer to Yao Bin's body. As a ten-thousand-year spirit plant, it naturally drew the blood insect's attention. The instant it approached, the creature extended vein-like tendrils, trying to devour it.
The Furong Zhizi had not cultivated for ten millennia in vain. Attacked, it struck back at once, slicing the swarming tendrils with its gardenia leaves. Yet those very leaves were a tonic to the blood insect, and it swallowed them without hesitation.
Thus the blood insect revealed its true form, though it did not sever its connection to Yao Bin. It seemed intent on devouring the Furong Zhizi, then returning to Yao Bin's body. At the critical moment, the Yao Ancestor arrived, rescued the Furong Zhizi, and engaged the blood insect. He sent a transmission to Yao Lin to summon Jian Dan's group for aid.
That was how Liu Chuan learned the full sequence of events. After teasing the Furong Zhizi enough, Liu Chuan pressed himself to the spatial region. When Jian Dan withdrew the magnolia blossoms, he naturally slipped back to the inside of her wrist and passed her the message.
Everything that followed had been witnessed by the Yao Ancestor and Jian Dan's group.
The Yao Ancestor sat with eyes lowered, deep in thought. His greatest question now concerned the Furong Zhizi. How did it know the situation so clearly? Yet the plant, its leaves plucked and its cultivation diminished, had already rooted itself again in its original plot to recover. It had no time to entertain him.
Before long, the guard brought Kong Xingkun to the largest reception hall in the rear courtyard.
After realizing he was trapped in Tianquan City, Kong Xingkun had immediately sent a distress signal to his clan. He weighed his options and chose to stay at the Yao residence for a few days. The Kong family had long supported the Yao family. His arrival would count as a visit from an honored guest.
There were high-level cultivators in the Yao clan. Those three female cultivators would not dare act rashly. Besides, they had told him to wait in the city until their business was done before leaving. They had not said he must remain at the Xianlai Inn. Coming here did not violate the seniors' instruction.
With the Jin and Yao families about to form a union, he did not even need an excuse. He would lodge with the Yao family, let their Ancestor stand in front, and wait for his clan's rescue. What was there to fear?
Plans are beautiful. Reality is cruel.
The arrogance still lingering at the corners of Kong Xingkun's mouth vanished the instant he saw Jian Dan and her companions seated in the hall. His face turned green on the spot. He no longer knew whether to put his lifted foot down, or to pivot and flee. Would he make it in time?
The Yao clan members also noticed Kong Xingkun's unnatural stiffness.
Jian Dan smiled, eyes crescenting. "Kong Xiaoyou, you knew my Senior Sister and I had finished our task, so you came to meet up with us and leave together?"
"Um, no…" Kong Xingkun faltered.
"Not here to pick us up, then. You came to the Yao residence to hide from us?"
"Um, no…"
"Oh? Then what are you here for?" Her tone was light, but Kong Xingkun swallowed hard before forcing out,
"The Kong and Yao families have been close for generations. I am here as my clan's representative to attend the Jin and Yao betrothal ceremony." He tried to make his eyes earnest as he looked between the Yao Patriarch and Jian Dan's group.
"So that was it. Unfortunately, the Jin–Yao celebration will likely not take place."
Kong Xingkun's eyelids twitched. Just how deep was the background of these women, that the Jin and Yao families' union could be reduced to foam at their words?
One look at his eyes told Jian Dan exactly what this fool was thinking. She said bluntly, "What are you imagining? We are so kind. How could we do something so low as to sabotage a match?"
Kong Xingkun's sincere mask nearly cracked. Kind? If they were kind, why was he trapped in Tianquan City?
As if reading his mind, Jian Dan continued in that same mild voice, "If we were not kind, the instant you said you wanted to take the three of us as your concubines, you would no longer exist."
"Hiss."
That intake of breath came from the Yao Patriarch and Yao Yingying. They turned their eyes on Kong Xingkun, wanting to see which fool of the Kong family would dare say such a thing. The only reason he still drew breath proved the Zūnshàng's mercy.
Even the Yao Ancestor lifted his eyelids to glance at Kong Xingkun. Disappointment flashed in his eyes. A true idiot. He had not even given the Ancestor a chance to plead on his behalf.
A low-rank cultivator demanding a great power become his concubine was an insult by itself. If he were killed for it, no one would dare protest. By stating the reason openly in front of the Yao clan, Jian Dan left them no room to intercede.
"Since you are here, wait until we finish our discussion with Yao Daoyou. Then we will leave together."
Jian Jing spoke mildly and raked him with a look. At her side, Jian Po's smile remained sweet, but her eyes were cold, as if she were looking at a dead man.
Jian Dan turned back to the matter Kong Xingkun had interrupted. "Yao Daoyou, the Jin Ancestor sincerely wishes to resolve this. If you have thoughts, speak with him directly. We were invited to assist and will not involve ourselves in what remains. As for why Yao Bin turned to ash, you know the answer. There is no need for us to say more."