Solicitation and Threats

Aware that Hu Jiao'er was angry and embarrassed, Yang Kai hurriedly tried to console her: "You needn't take it to heart, my lady. In truth, without a discerning eye, one could hardly notice such a detail."

Hu Jiao'er's expression turned cold as she glared at Yang Kai with a murderous gaze: "So you admit you were staring quite intently?"

Yang Kai couldn't help but cough awkwardly: "I did happen to glance a few times."

Don't blame me! You were bending over right in front of me. Was I supposed to pretend I hadn't seen anything? Yang Kai thought to himself, feeling quite wronged.

"Given these observations, if I couldn't tell that you and Hu Mei'er are two different people, I might as well have been blind," Yang Kai said with a faint smile.

After her initial rage subsided, Hu Jiao'er pondered his words and was somewhat taken aback.

She realized that this man named Yang Kai possessed an extraordinary level of perception. From the moment he entered the room until he exposed her identity, it had taken him less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea to notice so many inconsistencies. Such an ability was not common, and even when she attempted to seduce him, he had remained unmoved. His self-control and moral character were indeed commendable; he was a man of strong will.

A rare talent! Though young and weak in power, one could not deny his potential.

With this in mind, Hu Jiao'er batted her eyes coquettishly at Yang Kai and said, "So, you're Yang Kai, right? Given your earlier offense against me, I'll give you two choices."

"What choices?" Yang Kai inquired.

"The first choice is that you sever the hand that dared to touch me and gouge out the eye that dared to gaze upon me. If you do so, I will forgive your earlier transgression." As Hu Jiao'er spoke, her face remained pleasant, and her voice gentle, like a wife whispering sweet nothings to her husband. Yet, her words carried a chilling cruelty and bloodlust.

Yang Kai shook his head: "Let me hear the second option."

"Smart choice," Hu Jiao'er laughed. "The second option is to leave High Heaven Pavilion and join my Blood Battle Gang. I'll inform my father, and he'll make you a squad leader. You should know that you're merely a bottom-tier trial disciple at High Heaven Pavilion, bullied and without adequate cultivation resources. But if you join Blood Battle Gang, the treatment you'll receive will be a hundred times better. How does my offer sound? Quite generous, isn't it?"

"Is there a third option?" Yang Kai asked calmly.

"No, there isn't!"

"Then I choose neither." Yang Kai began to channel his True Yang Secret Art, eyeing Hu Jiao'er warily.

"You want to force me to act?" Hu Jiao'er sneered.

"I believe you won't truly act, my lady. This isn't Blood Battle Gang territory. Any hint of conflict here would draw the attention of High Heaven Pavilion's patrolling disciples, bringing trouble upon you as well."

"A mere trial disciple! Killing you would mean nothing. What could High Heaven Pavilion do to me? At most, I'd offer some compensation. They surely wouldn't care about your life or death!"

"If you truly intended to kill me, you wouldn't waste words," Yang Kai appeared calm and composed, though in reality, he was equally tense. After all, a woman's mind is as unpredictable as the sea; who knows what she might decide?

Regret was setting in for having spoken so bluntly earlier. It turns out women's promises, especially those of beautiful women, are not to be trusted—my inexperience betrays me once again.

"Moreover, as I mentioned, I used my precious Blood Coagulation and Bruise Relief Balm to tend to your injury, so let's not dwell on my earlier indiscretions," Yang Kai appealed, attempting to reason with emotion.

"A single bottle of Blood Coagulation Balm is enough to compensate for my loss? You dared to..." Hu Jiao'er was fuming. She had intended to say, "You dared to embrace and touch me," but the words caught in her throat. Her losses were significant and could not be offset by a mere bottle of topical ointment.

"If you must blame someone, blame yourself. You were the one who initiated it."

This was akin to adding fuel to the fire. Hu Jiao'er, both mortified and enraged, was on the verge of acting when she glanced at Hu Mei'er, who was still bound and unconscious. Her heart softened slightly, and her anger dissipated, replaced by a resigned sigh. She took a deep breath and said, "Fine, I won't argue with you this time."

Yang Kai exhaled a long sigh of relief, "I appreciate your magnanimity, my lady."

Hu Jiao'er chuckled softly, "You were mostly right in your deductions earlier, except for one mistake."

"And what mistake was that?" Yang Kai asked, curious.

Hu Jiao'er didn't immediately answer. Instead, she waved her hand, and the concealed Hu Mei'er gradually appeared. Yang Kai was startled, realizing the woman's strength was beyond his estimation. To bring someone into view with a mere gesture—this was clearly the power of a master above the True Element Boundary.

Now free, Hu Mei'er cast a glance at Yang Kai, her eyes filled with relief. She had been genuinely anxious, fearing that in a fit of anger, her sister might truly harm Yang Kai.

Then, looking at her sister, Hu Mei'er couldn't help but giggle as she recalled Yang Kai's earlier words.

My goodness, a man who dares speak such words to my sister and yet remains unharmed is indeed a rarity.

"Sister!" As soon as she regained freedom, Hu Mei'er rushed to Hu Jiao'er's side, pleading coquettishly, "Please don't be angry. This incident isn't entirely his fault."

"I'm not blaming him!" Hu Jiao'er replied, her anger not completely dissipated. She turned to Yang Kai and said, "Your mistake lies in believing we're twins."

"Not twins?" Yang Kai was taken aback.

On closer inspection, the two women before him were indeed identical, without any discernible differences. If he were to encounter them separately in the future, he certainly wouldn't be able to tell them apart.

"No, I'm a few years older than Mei'er," Hu Jiao'er smiled gently, finding solace in Yang Kai's astonishment.

"The world is truly full of wonders," Yang Kai marveled. Despite being separated by several years, the sisters were strikingly similar, a phenomenon likely unmatched anywhere else.

"Don't you know who I am?" Hu Jiao'er was slightly puzzled. As a prominent figure among the younger generation of Blood Battle Gang, she found it surprising that Yang Kai was unaware of her identity.

"I have no idea," Yang Kai replied, his demeanor indicating genuine ignorance.

Seeing that he wasn't lying, Hu Jiao'er accepted his words. She couldn't have known about Yang Kai's past years of isolation, where he had little contact with others.

"So, do you have business with me today?" Hu Mei'er turned to Yang Kai, inquiring about his intentions.

Yang Kai explained his purpose, and Hu Mei'er glanced at her sister for approval. Receiving a nod, she was given permission. "Go ahead, but don't cause any trouble in the mining area," Hu Jiao'er advised.

"Thank you," Yang Kai breathed a sigh of relief.

"Come on, I'll take you there. The mining area isn't too far from here." Hu Mei'er seemed to be in good spirits, her face aglow as she led the way.

After Yang Kai and Hu Mei'er departed, Hu Jiao'er slowly stood up, her delicate hands caressing her shapely hips, feeling and comparing them as she muttered to herself, "Where on earth did he see one side larger than the other? They're clearly symmetrical! That little scoundrel, speaking such nonsense, he's infuriating!"