"Since you chose to expose my identity yourself, that means you don't intend to reveal it to anyone else. So, tell me—what's your goal?" Xiao Yan glanced at Hun Dai'er and spoke calmly. Though he dearly wanted to capture her on the spot and brainwash her clean, her earlier threat held some merit. Making a move against her before dealing with Hun Tiandi would indeed be unwise.
"Do you remember our previous collaboration?" Hun Dai'er smiled lightly. "The reason I approached you this time is simple—I want to work with you again."
"And let me guess... the goal is still the same? You want me to help you kill your father, Hun Tiandi?" Xiao Yan scoffed. "You really are a devoted daughter. Once wasn't enough—you're looking for a second round."
"You're not wrong," Hun Dai'er smiled as if unfazed. "But tell me—why wouldn't you work with me? Isn't it in your best interest to watch the two of us tear each other apart?"
"Because I have the energy from the Peak of Falling Star in my possession," she added sweetly. "If you refuse to cooperate, I'll have no choice but to give it to my father. If he breaks through to Dou Di, no matter how talented you are, you'll never be able to defeat him."
"You're threatening me?" Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes.
"You can take it that way," Hun Dai'er shrugged. "But I don't want to do that either. If he really becomes a Dou Di, I'll lose all chances of gaining control over the Hun Clan. So... let's cooperate. It benefits both of us. You get one less troublesome enemy, and I gain a shot at power."
"I can help you deal with Hun Tiandi," Xiao Yan said after some thought, "but I have a condition. First, you have to help me obtain the essence of the Void Devouring Flame. Otherwise, there's no deal—and forget fighting your father. The two of us together still wouldn't be enough."
"So that's why you risked infiltrating the Hun Clan—your goal is the Void Devouring Flame?" Hun Dai'er frowned slightly. "What about the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame? You're not planning to tame it anymore?"
She didn't know that in this life, Xiao Yan possessed Flame Mantra, a unique cultivation method that allowed him to refine multiple Heavenly Flames. Thinking from the perspective of their past life, Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow but answered calmly, "The Demon Flame Realm won't open for another twenty or thirty years. I don't have that kind of patience."
"You're as bold as ever. Still, it's not impossible," Hun Dai'er said after a brief moment of thought. "The Void Devouring Flame is one of my father's strongest allies. If you can devour it, it'll definitely help us in the final fight. The odds of defeating that old monster will increase."
"You're pretty pragmatic," Xiao Yan said with a sneer. "Just a second ago, it was all 'father this, father that,' and now he's just 'that old bastard.'"
He sighed inwardly. Now that he thought about it, Cai Lin really was extraordinary. If she ever schemed to betray him like this woman did to her own father, he would've turned her into snake stew long ago.
Not that it was a fair comparison—his bond with Cai Lin was just playful teasing.
Hun Dai'er wasn't bothered by his sarcasm. In fact, this tone between them had become their normal dynamic. But that only applied to Xiao Yan. If anyone else had dared speak to her like this, they'd have been chopped into pieces and thrown out.
A long time ago, Xiao Yan had once treated her with genuine tenderness. But after that incident, an irreparable rift had formed between them. The pain from that wound had burned away the last bit of gentleness in Xiao Yan's heart—along with any lingering compassion.
"Helping you subdue the Void Devouring Flame isn't impossible," Hun Dai'er said as she leaned casually against her desk. "But it plays a key role in our clan's plans. After you deal with it, you'll have to temporarily take over its responsibilities. Don't worry—they won't harm your interests. In fact, you might even benefit from them. What do you say?"
Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes. "That Void Devouring Flame... it's not your pet lover or something, is it?"
"Pah! Don't talk nonsense. I'm not into that," Hun Dai'er snorted in annoyance. Then, as if struck by a playful thought, her eyes sparkled. "But if you're interested, I might be willing to make an exception and take you in as my male concubine."
"I could return the favor and let you be my female slave," Xiao Yan said coldly with a sneer. He didn't believe a single word that came out of her mouth. Still, if given the chance, he really wouldn't mind breaking this woman down piece by piece—until she begged for mercy, fully conscious of the humiliation.
"It seems you don't object to the terms," Hun Dai'er said with a smile, ignoring his comment. She extended a fair, jade-like hand and said, "Then let's have a pleasant cooperation."
Xiao Yan looked at her outstretched hand but made no move to shake it. He crossed his arms and said indifferently, "There's no need for these fake gestures between us. It's disgusting."
"What, you won't even touch my hand now?" Hun Dai'er's body stiffened slightly as she spoke.
"You already know the answer, so I don't need to explain it again." Xiao Yan's voice was cool. "Our cooperation is simple. You help me obtain the Void Devouring Flame. I help you deal with Hun Tiandi. Anything else will depend on my mood. I'm not interested in playing the fool for you again."
"That was all in the past. Can't you just let it go?" Hun Dai'er bit her lip softly, her voice tinged with bitterness as she looked at Xiao Yan's cold, professional expression.
"If you won't answer, I'll take that as a yes." Xiao Yan didn't bother responding further. He turned and walked out. Just as he reached the doorway, Hun Dai'er called out his name again, her voice full of unwillingness.
He stopped and glanced back, eyes like icy still water.
"It wasn't you who got hurt… of course it's easy for you to move on," he said quietly. Then he turned away and left without a second glance, leaving Hun Dai'er standing alone in silence, lost in her thoughts.
(End of Chapter)
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