Chapter 110: Yang Mi's Oath.

Yang Mi took a deep breath, steadying herself.

Then—

"Alright… I will do it."

Her voice was firm, yet beneath that resolve was a flicker of vulnerability.

"If it's to uncover the truth about my brother's enemy and to protect him—because I trust my brother—then I take a Blood Oath."

Reon's gaze sharpened.

"That's very like you, Yang Mi," he mused inwardly.

Reon had a strong feeling that Yang Lie no longer saw him as a threat—perhaps, in his eyes, Xue Taiyang wasn't even worth a passing glance anymore.

But caution was a habit Reon wouldn't abandon.

Yang Mi, if she revealed the true extent of her cultivation, was stronger than Yang Lie at this moment.

If things ever took a wrong turn, at least he would only need to deal with Yang Lie—not both of them.

And at this early stage of the story, the protagonist had yet to befriend any powerful allies.

If by some chance Yang Lie wanted to eliminate him, Reon was confident he could protect himself.

Pushing those thoughts aside, he focused on the present.

"Alright then, it's settled," he said aloud.

"Now, complete the oath, and I will answer your questions. Quickly. I have more pressing matters to attend to."

Yang Mi nodded.

Without hesitation, she bit down on her thumb. A droplet of crimson welled up and trickled down.

With graceful precision, she began drawing an intricate magic circle upon the ground, her blood forming delicate yet ominous patterns.

Her voice was steady as she chanted:

"I, Yang Mi, take a Blood Oath, staking my very life upon these words—"

"I shall not take Xue Taiyang's life after acquiring the information I seek, so long as he does not stand in my way.

"Furthermore, I swear to protect him from my brother, Yang Lie, should my brother attempt to take his life without just cause.

"Should I betray this oath… may I perish in the most excruciating way imaginable."

The moment she finished, she pressed her bloodied fingers against the center of the circle.

A pulse of power erupted.

A crimson glow radiated outward, illuminating the dim room with an eerie light.

The energy surged upward, a thin stream of blood-red essence shooting toward Yang Mi's forehead.

It lingered there—hovering, burning—before vanishing into nothingness.

Reon watched in quiet fascination.

"She did it without hesitation."

That, more than anything, proved how deeply she trusted her brother.

"A noble woman true to her word… though, perhaps a little crazy."

Still, a thought flickered across his mind.

"If she ever wanted, I wouldn't mind making her my second friend in this world."

Yang Mi turned to him, her eyes sharp and expectant.

"Alright, Xue Taiyang, you got what you wanted. Now, answer my questions."

Reon's smirk deepened.

"What I wanted, you say?"

His tone was playful, teasing, but his eyes glinted with something else—something sharper.

"And what exactly do I gain from answering your questions?"

Yang Mi's expression twisted in confusion.

Then—

BAM!

Her palm slammed against the table, shaking the entire room.

"What?! Are you backing out now, after making me swear a Blood Oath?!" she demanded, her voice laced with disbelief and fury.

Reon chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender.

"No, no, you're misunderstanding me," he said smoothly.

"I never said I wouldn't answer."

His gaze turned calculating.

"But let's be clear—you swore your oath for what happens after you get your answers, not before.

"So tell me, Yang Mi…

"What are you willing to offer in exchange for my information?"

Silence stretched between them for a heartbeat.

Then—

"Y-You…!"

Yang Mi sputtered, eyes narrowing.

Her voice dropped.

"Say what you want."

Reon's smirk widened.

"Knew it," he thought.

"If she went so far as to make a Blood Oath, she won't back down now."

His next words were clear, sharp, and completely merciless.

"Two thousand gold coins per question."

A deep pause.

Then—

"W-What?!"

Yang Mi's fists clenched.

"You bastard! That's robbery!"

Reon only shrugged, utterly unfazed.

"Well, what can I say? I'm expensive."

Yang Mi's brows furrowed.

"A hundred gold coins could keep a family of three living comfortably for three months in the mortal world!" she snapped.

"And yet neither of us are mortals, are we?" Reon countered.

"A single Mid-tier Grade-2 herb costs more than their entire three-month income. And let's not forget—your Yang Family, a Superior Clan just beneath the Royal Family, is filthy rich."

His smirk returned, sharp as a blade.

"So for you, this is nothing more than pocket change."

Yang Mi's lips curled in frustration.

"Ugh! You bastard! I was completely wrong about you—you're an absolute scumbag!"

Reon shrugged once more, unfazed.

"Say whatever you like. If you were a commoner like me, you'd understand… Just securing a proper meal each day, without the constant fear of what tomorrow holds, is a battle in itself."

Reon's voice carried the weight of his own experiences, tinged with a distant nostalgia that seemed to echo in every word.

I still don't know whether Xue Taiyang was born a noble or a commoner in this world.

For now, I'll stick to the strategy from my past life:

'Seize every opportunity—make money whenever you can.'

Yang Mi flinched.

A simple phrase—"commoner like me"—unlocked a door in her mind.

A door she had long since locked away.

A door she had sworn never to open again.