The words did not sound false.

Provided one did not set them against the tangled look that had come just before.

Cui Hao gave a cold laugh and stared indifferently at the woman in front of him.

"……"

Ye Wenxuan avoided his gaze.

She did want to live.

Nor did she feel there was any bond left between herself and that crowd from the Nanyang Sect.

Her reason for not speaking—

was simply that her instinct told her: offend Shen Yi and her end would very likely be worse still — a steward's standing might not even keep her safe.

It was an intuition with no reasoning behind it at all.

But she had always followed her intuition; it had brought her no great advancement, though at least she had not fallen yet.

"As you like."

Cui Hao withdrew his gaze and walked toward the back again, fishing out a jade slip as he went to contact the elder.

After a moment, as though he had his answer, he strode back out and tossed the storage pouch onto the table.

He gave Zheng Qian an apologetic smile. "I'm afraid Crimson-Eyed Mysterious Phoenix blood essence is out of stock, and our own sect's disciples must be supplied first. We really are in no position to help an allied sect."

"That's horseshit!"

Zheng Qian's expression turned serious. "You tell me — which disciple… never mind disciples, which of your outer-gate elders would part with heaven-and-earth treasures to trade for this? Surely some personally transmitted disciple hasn't bought up the whole stock?"

"As it happens, yes." Cui Hao put the smile away. "And next you'll be wanting to ask which personally transmitted disciple. Steward Zheng, what a grand air you give yourself."

Elder Liu of the Heaven-Sword Sect had been perfectly clear: whether or not the Nanyang Sect wanted it, so long as nothing at all was given, there would be no trouble.

If they truly wanted it, let that young cultivator surnamed Shen come and take it himself — he need not even trade anything for it. A word would do.

"I…