CHAPTER 313
The Iron Pot Plan
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"Lord Ku Mu really knows how to spend his money wisely, doesn't he? He's got cash to keep women around, but when it comes to serious business, he comes begging Xiao Ai for funds, right?"
"Or is it that, in Lord Ku Mu's mind, sleeping with women is the real business?"
Xiao Ai and Big Fox at least put on a show of respect.
But with Ku Mu? It was practically outright robbery!
He practically reached out to grab it!
"I'm giving you a chance. You'd better seize it, or Xiao Ai will confiscate all your beauties~"
Ku Mu was speechless. What did she mean by confiscate?
Those were her personal guards. Confiscate?
"Wait, Xiao Ai, are you seriously going to just take them by force now?"
"So what? I'm taking them. Got a problem with that?"
"Gu Ai, I don't have any money either!"
"Money doesn't matter. Aren't those beauties around you skilled in song and dance? I'll find them jobs, and we'll split the wages 70-30!"
"Only 70%?" Ku Mu was speechless. Kidnap her people and sell them as entertainers!
And she wants a cut? A measly 70%?
"Seventy percent is Xiao Ai's! The remaining thirty percent depends on your performance!"
Ku Mudou was stunned. That Xiao Ai…
"Xiao Ai, don't push me. People die for money, birds die for food. I…"
In an instant, Xiao Ai's aura shifted. Those three authority symbols weren't messing around!
Before Ku Mu could finish his sentence, Xiao Ai cut him off!
"You? Want to mess with Xiao Ai?"
Better to back down when you should!
Ku Mu was speechless. Damn it, Su Cheng—this guy’s got no one decent around him!
Xun Ye was already disgusting enough, nearly hacking him to death!
And this kid he raised himself? Doesn't give a damn about him either!
"Master Gu Ai, just name your price… I'll do my best to scrape it together…"
But when that astronomical figure spilled from Xiao Ai's mouth, Ku Mu was still stunned…
He thought to himself, Could that number even be referring to money?
He couldn't even fathom how much physical currency that would amount to…
After all, he wasn't some penniless pauper who'd never seen wealth…
"Or perhaps, Lord Gu Ai, you could tell me what performance I'm suited for? I could earn money for you through my skills…"
Xiao Ai pursed her lips, as if finding Ku Mu a bit stingy…
"It's not like you have to cover everything. Xiao Ai still has a bit left—just borrowed some from your wife. It should be close enough. After Xiao Ai robs you… I'll just hit up a few more places, and that should do it."
"Does Su Cheng know about this plan?"
"Of course the Master knows, but he hasn't said he agrees."
"Then why is Lord Gu Ai proceeding with this…"
"The Master hasn't said he disapproves either."
Xiao Ai sat upon the throne that should have belonged to Ku Mu, her eyes narrowed at a forty-five-degree angle as she looked down…
Ku Mu curled his lip. Even if Su Cheng disapproved, what could he do about Xiao Ai?
After all, it was their business. Ku Mu couldn't be bothered to meddle.
Sighing deeply, Ku Mu conceded helplessly, "Xiao Ai, if you need help, just give me a shout."
Xiao Ai smiled calmly, "I will."
The matter concerning the Holy Mountain and the Eastern Realm clearly demanded an explanation.
"So, you want to take Shiyu's sister away and use her as a tool to boost your cultivation, sleeping with her every day?"
Li Shiyu stared blankly, as if she'd been pondering this for ages before finally grasping it!
"Shiyao, I don't see Suyao as a tool. This is what I agreed upon with Holy Mountain. I promise you, I won't harm her. I'll treat her well!"
Li Shiyu nodded thoughtfully…
As if to say, "Ah, I see." She glanced at the elders, flicked her sleeves, and spoke.
"Shiyao is the Sacred Maiden. How come I've never heard of this? Which elder came up with this idea? So eager to help?"
The elders stood in a row like schoolchildren who had done something wrong, not a single one daring to utter a word.
Ignoring the elders beside her, Li Shiyu simply asked.
"Li Shiyu, are you willing to serve as his furnace vessel?"
Even in the cultivation world, such a question was rather blunt.
While it wasn't an illicit transaction, phrasing it so bluntly was still…
Li Suyao was furious. She was a human being. Even if her fate was unkind, did she deserve such humiliation?
"Li Shiyu, are you pleased with yourself now?"
"Shiyu is asking you—do you willingly serve as Xiaoqi’s furnace vessel? This has nothing to do with me. Does my happiness matter?"
To Li Suyao, this was a blatant humiliation.
From the very beginning, no one cared who she was or what she thought.
She only learned the truth years later—that long ago, her body had been promised to a man she'd never even met.
"I'm willing."
Li Suyao, her eyes reddened, watched Li Shiyu from afar as she stood there, utterly bewildered. She continued.
"Your Holiness, are you satisfied now?"
"I am willing to be his vessel. But if there is a next life, I beg Your Holiness to spare Suyao."
Li Shiyu had shed her innocence. The innocent, wide-eyed expression of a young bride had vanished, replaced by a blank, vacant stare.
Li Shiyu couldn't understand what she had done wrong. Clearly, all she needed to do was say she refused, and Shiyu would have helped her.
But why did she deliberately say that?
Was she sulking at Shiyu?
Why?
Even if she was angry with Shiyu, shouldn't she have used her future as a bargaining chip?
To save her, Li Shiyu had even prepared two contingency plans—using both soft and hard tactics. On one hand, she was slowly boiling Qi Huan like a frog in water; on the other, she’d even summoned the senior sister to stand guard, just in case!
She was certain that no matter what happened today, no one could take her sister away!
With the senior sister in place and Qi Huan's attitude shifting, Shiyu felt perhaps she could substitute something else for the promised holy blood.
Everything was clearly moving in the right direction!
But at that very moment, her foolish younger sister had an episode!
"Li Suyao, once you step beyond the gates of the Sacred Mountain, there will be no turning back. Do you understand?"
Even though Li Shiyu had spoken so plainly, almost openly obstructing her, Li Suyao refused to believe it.
After all, this was a deal long agreed upon between the Holy Mountain and the greatest lord of the Eastern Realm. As the commodity, did her opinion even matter?
It was merely a formality to appease the Holy Mountain's people.
She had no intention of causing a scene or ruining everyone's plans.
She couldn't blame anyone else—only her own misfortune.
She'd rather be born a stray dog or cat, even a mere beast of burden, than endure such humiliation again.
"Heh, Li Shiyao, you needn't feign such sentimentality. We only met yesterday—what's with this act of sisterly affection?"
She had been brought to the Sacred Mountain as a saintess, amid flowers and worship.
Yet now, under the pitying gazes of the crowd, she was to be given to a stranger.
"And you, Elder Du, please spare me that pitying gaze."
"You act as if you're so reluctant to part with me, yet behind my back, you've done everything possible."
"Truthfully, before seeing your expressions, I still harbored resentment toward you. I felt fate shouldn't be this cruel."
"Even knowing I'll be treated as a toy for venting desires, a tool for advancing cultivation, I feel no shame now."
"Now I'm just curious—was my price tag really that high? Hahahaha!"
Li Suyao laughed loudly, as if her laughter could pierce through every elder's memories and hearts.
"I am not the one who is base—it is you who are base!"
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