The Dragon Girl was still swimming within the Flowing Sand River, pleading outside the Formation. Sha Chen had already learned of her identity and her plea for help, but he did not imdiately see her. He still needed to ensure safety and ascertain whether there was a trick. Secondly, even if he wanted to help the Dragon Girl, he had to make her despair to the utmost. Otherwise, if just anyone could co in easily, this place would beco a tourist attraction.
It was only when the Dragon Girl had cried enough outside, reached the peak of despair, grown cold-hearted after three days, and was preparing to leave, that Sha Chen finally spoke up, "Who weeps outside my cave, disturbing my peaceful dreams?"
The Dragon Girl had already lost hope and was about to leave. But then, hearing Sha Chen’s voice, she was surprised and delighted. She hastily said, "Is that General for Folding the Curtain? I am Ao ngng, the little princess of the East Sea Dragon Palace, introduced by my brother Ao Lie."
Sha Chen said, "You are talking nonsense. He has already gone to the abyss. How could he possibly have introduced you to ?"
The Dragon Girl replied, "We t in the abyss. Brother Ao Lie was so weak. I saved him, then confided in him my troubles, and he told to seek you."
Sha Chen was speechless inwardly. Ao Lie is too weak, indeed. However, according to the Dragon Girl, it seed to be true. Ao Lie really had betrayed him. But considering the girl must have gained Ao Lie’s deep trust for him to reveal Sha Chen’s existence, he couldn’t refuse to help now. It wasn’t for the sake of Ao Lie, but purely because the Dragon Girl already knew about his affairs; who knew how much Ao Lie had told her. He had to find out and ensure that the Dragon Girl kept silent about it.
After checking the Dragon Girl’s situation over and over again and ensuring there were no ambushes around, Sha Chen, after several tests, finally opened the Formation’s gate and let her in.
Upon entering the cave, the Dragon Girl transford into human form, knelt before Sha Chen, and wept with bowed head. Sha Chen, upon closer inspection, found the Dragon Girl to truly be dignified and beautiful, with a graceful and noble air about her. This girl had a different flair compared to the likes of the spider demon, Jade Rabbit, White Bone Demon, and Lady Di Yong. She exuded the temperant of a rebellious noble princess. Furthermore, because of her intelligence since childhood, being a rare talent among the Dragon Clan, she also carried a hint of arrogance.
But now, in front of Sha Chen, she knelt firmly and wept like a pear blossom bathed in rain. Not a trace of arrogance could be seen; that Dragon spirit was in her bones, reflected in her deanor.
Sha Chen bade her to rise, his interest lacking. Primarily, he still harbored resentnt because Ao Lie had betrayed him. The next ti that wretch cos, I’ll surely let him know what’s what. Secondly, he had indeed decided to help the Dragon Girl, but how to help, when to help, the attitude of helping, and contingency plans if the help failed—he guaranteed none of these things. The Dragon Girl was Ao Lie’s sister, not his own. Furthermore, his own sister was laboring in the mines, nowhere near as comfortable as this girl. Therefore, he did not prepare a decent al for her, only offering a cup of plain water as hospitality.
Sha Chen said, "Rise, have so water, and speak slowly."
The Dragon Girl, looking pitiful, said, "General, don’t you have any tea? Even alcohol would suffice; plain water is really bland."
Sha Chen thought to himself, "Having water is already good enough, and she wants tea or wine? Wishful thinking!"
The Dragon Girl, upon entering, had also been paying close attention to Sha Chen. It was clear she wasn’t as desperate and urgent as she had seed from the outside because she needed to ascertain whether Sha Chen was truly as miraculous and formidable as Ao Lie had described. After all, she had inquired before coming that the Great General for Folding the Curtain was rely a demoted general of the Heavenly Court, previously just a True Immortal. What a weakling! Even my guards, the shrimp soldiers and crab generals, wouldn’t be much worse than this.
But she was adept at disguising her true feelings. Once inside, she displayed a very low attitude, a convincing performance, intending to show her dire straits, invoking compassion, and encouraging proactive assistance. In the past, it never failed her. Even Ao Lie was easily tricked into revealing the existence and the situation of Sha Chen. But now, she had not anticipated receiving such a cold reception upon her arrival here. They thought to dismiss her with just a cup of plain water. Feeling sowhat dissatisfied, she took in her surroundings, looking down at everything outside the palace as if it were the countryside.
Sha Chen was also sizing up the Dragon Girl, probing with a few questions about how Ao Lie introduced him and why he sent her here. The Dragon Girl responded with ease, but Sha Chen had already made up his mind. This Dragon Girl isn’t as simple as she seems. Even if she lacks scheming and cunning, she’s probably adept at acting the innocent.
Having assessed the situation, he made his decision. He would help, but only if the Dragon Girl paid a price. Even though he wanted to lead the Dragon Girl astray and disrupt Guanyin’s plans, it didn’t an he couldn’t take advantage of the situation and ask for more benefits. I happen to be short on Cultivation resources. As a Dragon Girl, she must have been pampered and spoiled. Her resources are likely greater than Ao Lie’s.
The Dragon Girl said, "How do you plan to help , General?"
Sha Chen replied, "When did I say I would help you?"
The Dragon Girl was taken aback and asked in astonishnt, "If you are not going to help , why did you let in?"
Sha Chen answered, "Seeing you crying so pitifully and knowing you are Ao Lie’s sister, I let you in."
In her heart, the Dragon Girl thought, "I don’t actually know much about this person from what Brother Ao Lie told , but it seems he places great importance on Ao Lie. Perfect, I can use this as a breakthrough to test his abilities."
The Dragon Girl declared, "Since you and my brother seem to share a deep relationship, he asked to find you and also entrusted to plead with you to lend your full support. Please do not refuse, General."
Sha Chen chuckled inwardly. This girl is asking for my help, and she sounds so entitled! And Ao Lie? He barely has any standing with ; he was probably terrified to even introduce her. How could he possibly ask to give my full support?
Chuckling, Sha Chen said, "Do you not know that the Third Crown Prince owes a lot? I am his creditor. I let you in because you are his sister, to ask you to settle his debt. As for helping, let’s not ntion it again. You getting married is a good thing, and I won’t spoil the happiness of others." Then, he stretched out his hand, smiling. "The Third Crown Prince enjoyed plenty of osmanthus and peach blossom wines here, eating and drinking a great amount. If we translate that into Immortal Pills, it would be roughly a hundred gourds’ worth of Supre Immortal Elixir." He raised an eyebrow and said, "Ninth Princess, since he is your brother, you should pay off this debt for him."
The Dragon Girl’s face paled with shock. She stood up in alarm, exclaiming, "How could that be possible? Even if I turned the East Sea Dragon Palace upside down, I couldn’t co up with a hundred gourds of Supre Immortal Elixir!"
Sha Chen asked, "Are you suggesting, Dragon Girl, that you intend to default on the debt?"
The Dragon Girl snorted coldly. "You’re trying to trick ! With this shabby place of yours, and you being such a wretched person, you’re just a fraud who deceived my brother Ao Lie. Don’t even think of deceiving !" Then she stood up, pointing at the palace. "With this run-down place, how could you possibly have lent my brother items worth a hundred gourds of Supre Immortal Elixir?"
Sha Chen pushed open a door, revealing a room filled to the brim with osmanthus and peach blossom wines. Just by opening a lid, the fragrances were captivating.
"HISS! So fragrant!" she exclaid. "These are osmanthus brews from Guanghan Palace. My father only gets a bottle every decade or so. How can you have so many? Is that peach blossom wine? My father once attended a Peach Blossom Feast and only drank a cup. How could you have so much of it?"
Sha Chen led her with a cold laugh toward the fields and pointed at thousands of acres of celestial land. The Dragon Girl was completely dumbfounded.
She stood there stunned. "So many Elixirs and Immortal Herbs, and all these First-class Immortal Elixirs! HISS! An osmanthus tree? A peach tree? Is that the Mysterious Heavenly Water Pool?"
She was bewildered. How can such a shabby-looking place hold so many treasures? From what she had seen so far, it seed that Sha Chen genuinely had resources worth a hundred gourds of Supre Immortal Elixir. Her expression was one of shock as she beca increasingly overawed by Sha Chen’s wealth.
Sha Chen pushed open another door, which was filled with Magical Tools he had selected: The Undefined Flying Rings, the Nine-dragon Divine Fire Cover, the Fog Dew Universe Net...
Sha Chen approached and stated, "You are Ao Lie’s sister. You should settle his debt."
The Dragon Girl was on the verge of tears. She had co to seek help, not to repay debts. She cried out, "We are only cousins!"
Sha Chen replied, "Cousins are still siblings."
The Dragon Girl cried, "I heard from my father that Uncle Ao Run picked up a child on a stormy night, and I think..."
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