"You… what did you say? Our freedom?" A'yin didn't understand Xiao Yexuan's words—or perhaps she didn't dare to believe what she was thinking.
"What do you think? Who do you think put you here? Who gave you the ability to take human form?"
As he spoke, Xiao Yexuan snapped his fingers, and vines instantly sprouted beneath A'yin, wrapping around her and binding her in an indecent pose right before his eyes.
A'yin panicked. As a Blue Silver Grass spirit, she should have had great control over such vines. Yet now, she couldn't free herself from them at all.
There was only one explanation—Xiao Yexuan's strength was beyond anything she could comprehend.
"What a beauty. The more I see you, the more I want you—not just your body, but your heart as well."
Xiao Yexuan reached out, lifting A'yin's chin to admire her breathtakingly beautiful face.
A'yin sensed danger and struggled fiercely. She never expected that Xiao Yexuan, who looked so handsome and harmless, could have such a side to him.
He knew she was a mother, yet he still wanted her… How despicable!
"You… let me go! I'd rather die than let you have my heart!" A'yin shouted.
Xiao Yexuan didn't push further. Instead, he lazily crossed his arms and said,
"Now you understand our relationship, don't you?"
"I hold complete control over your life. As for your daughter, Tang San—she may have escaped for now, but do you really think she can run forever? I could capture her in an instant."
"You… you didn't catch Xiao San because you wanted to make a bet with me? You wanted… to win my heart!" A'yin wasn't stupid.
"Correct. So let's make a bet. We'll wager on Tang San's character. If she doesn't lay a hand on Xiao Wu, I'll release both of you. But if she harms Xiao Wu, you'll submit to me—body and heart, forever mine."
Xiao Yexuan spoke with absolute seriousness.
"I…" A'yin's mind raced.
She knew this was Xiao Yexuan's trap. If she refused, she and her daughter would remain imprisoned here, suffering his torment forever.
This bet was her only chance.
Thinking of her beloved daughter, A'yin felt a surge of confidence and declared firmly:
"I believe in Xiao San! She's not a bad child—she's the kindest soul in this world!"
"So you agree to the bet. Good!" Xiao Yexuan laughed in satisfaction.
He then withdrew the vines and led A'yin to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
At this point in time, Tang San hadn't yet escaped with Xiao Wu.
Just then, they saw Tang San handing Xiao Wu five Soul Explosion Pills, instructing her:
"Take no more than three a day. If you take even one extra, something bad will happen."
A'yin frowned. She immediately spotted the loophole.
If taking even one extra pill was dangerous, why not just give Xiao Wu three to begin with?
This was clearly intentional.
"A'yin, if you surrender now, I'll treat you well," Xiao Yexuan coaxed.
"Maybe Xiao San just didn't think it through. I still believe in her—don't think you can make me give up so easily!"
A'yin refused to yield. And as clever as she was, she knew that in a contest, the side urging surrender was often the one running out of options—trying to intimidate her into submission.
Xiao Yexuan didn't mind her defiance. After all, he was certain of his victory.
He then took A'yin along as they followed Tang San and Xiao Wu.
The two fled through the forest, with Tang San leading the way. The path was smooth, and Xiao Wu grew excited—they were going to escape!
"Up ahead, the road splits. One path is safe, the other is guarded by a ten-thousand-year Blackclaw Tiger."
"I deliberately let Tang San out before so she could meet you. Since she planned to escape, she must have scouted the area and knows what lies on each path."
"A'yin, watching like this is boring. How about another small bet? Let's wager which path Tang San will take."
Xiao Yexuan wanted some entertainment.
"No bet," A'yin refused outright.
"Heh. A'yin, do you know what Tang San did when she was with me? She never refused any of my requests."
If Xiao Yexuan couldn't have fun, he'd make sure A'yin didn't either.
Sure enough, A'yin was intrigued. It would take over an hour for Tang San to reach the fork—they couldn't just sit idle.
"Tell me about Xiao San's time with you, and I'll bet with you," she said.
"Smart. First, let's set the stakes. I'll tell you Tang San's story—that's my side of the deal."
"As for your side… how about a kiss?"
Xiao Yexuan said it casually.
A'yin flared up in anger. "Don't even think about taking advantage of me! I won't bet!"
"Don't be like that. If you don't like that, I'll change it. How about… you do everything your daughter did for me these past days? As a mother, stepping into your daughter's shoes could be… interesting."
Xiao Yexuan guided her with a smirk.
"What did my Xiao San do with you all this time?" A'yin asked.
"That's part of the bet—I can't say yet."
Xiao Yexuan kept his lips sealed, which only made A'yin more curious.
Whenever Tang San visited her, she never mentioned Xiao Yexuan, let alone what happened between them.
As a mother, she had a right to know.
After some thought, A'yin nodded.
"Fine, I'll bet with you. But you have to promise—no hiding anything from me."
"Deal! I like decisive people like you!"
Indecisiveness led to misfortune—Xiao Yexuan knew that well.
But inwardly, he laughed.
What was A'yin thinking, refusing the first offer?
A kiss was nothing compared to what he had in mind.
Now, he'd get to do everything he'd done with Tang San—to A'yin instead.
The thought alone was exhilarating.
A'yin was a stunning woman—the epitome of a perfect wife.
Clearing his throat, Xiao Yexuan wondered how to break the explosive truth to her.
Her reaction would surely be as shocked as a first-time reader stumbling upon this story—a mental chorus of What the hell?!
And so, under A'yin's disbelieving gaze, Xiao Yexuan began recounting everything that had happened since he captured Tang San…
(End of Chapter)