Chapter 2560

Yeah, He Lu Shen first put a divine descent mark on A Lian—what's the big deal? It'll also keep her from running away or hurting anyone.

As for the divine descent, that's for later. He Lu Shen can always find another vessel.

Xiao Ping chimed in: "Of course that's fine. Master Duan, do you have anything else to say?"

Duan He Yun fell silent.

He Lu Shen's fixation on A Lian is ninety percent due to Xiao Ping stirring trouble behind the scenes—who knows what that woman actually said to the god?

But He Lu Shen's insistence on marking her is also because he doesn't want A Lian's vessel to fall into another god's hands.

There's more than one god eyeing A Lian.

He wants to get there first, to claim her before anyone else.

If only Xiao Ping were here, Duan He Yun could still negotiate, but He Lu Shen is also present—he's not someone Duan He Yun can easily dismiss.

Duan He Yun had no choice but to turn and look at A Lian.

As soon as A Lian saw his expression, she stepped back several paces and shook her head violently: "No!"

She might not understand everything they're arguing about, but she can sense the situation is turning against her.

"It won't hurt at all—just say 'I agree' and it's done." Duan He Yun crouched down, locking eyes with her: "Much more comfortable than when your father pricks you for blood draws."

A Lian pointed at He Lu Shen: "What does he want to do to me?"

Duan He Yun gently pressed down her arm: "You can't point at a god—it's impolite… The god only borrows your body occasionally, and returns it when not in use."

The blood demon hidden in He Lingchuan's body cackled: "Borrowed just once, but for a very long time—probably a lifetime, huh?"

A Lian sobbed: "Even my father doesn't love me—he wants to give me away to someone else."

"Your sole purpose in being created is to serve as a vessel for a god's descent." Xiao Ping said in a flat tone, each word like a blade: "Even if your father loved you, he wouldn't forget this."

"Shut up." Duan He Yun glared at her, then turned back to A Lian: "Once you agree, you can leave this place and roam freely—no more being locked in the garden. Isn't that what you've always wanted?"

"Can I really leave here?" A Lian's eyes flickered: "Just go back to where I went last time."

Was it the outskirts of Bai Song City?

Duan He Yun nodded: "Yes."

By then, she'll already have He Lu Shen's mark in her mind—Ling Yun Island won't have to worry about her running off or getting lost.

A Lian's eyes darted around: "Then I still want something else."

"Go on."

A Lian instantly pointed at Xiao Ping: "She's been mean to me, she hates me—I want to eat her!"

Xiao Ping, who had been arms crossed watching the spectacle, froze for a moment, then raised an eyebrow.

"See? Her true nature's coming out." Xiao Ping snorted: "She can hold a grudge against me, and against you too. Don't forget—you were the cruelest one in her experiments. You think she's like a dog—beat her into submission and she'll swear loyalty? Hah. I told you from the start: this thing hates us to the bone. You treat her like a daughter, she sees you as an enemy. Given the chance, she'll tear us apart without mercy."

Duan He Yun's gaze on A Lian darkened as well: "A Lian, this isn't something to bargain over—just like you living in the garden isn't up for negotiation."

Before, A Lian had cried to him, relying on his favor, saying she didn't want to live here anymore. He hadn't agreed.

A Lian pressed her lips together: "But I heard those who serve as vessels for gods die horribly—either their skin bursts open or their bodies rot."

She said this while staring straight at He Lu Tian.

Isn't the vessel He Lu Tian is currently using just… "moldy"?

Duan He Yun frowned: "Who told you that?"

Who would gossip in front of A Lian?

A Lian immediately pointed again at Xiao Ping: "Her! She's always saying I'll die badly."

Xiao Ping's fist, hidden in her sleeve, clenched tight: "Little brat, when did you learn to spit poison?"

She doesn't like A Lian, but she's never said such things to her face before. Acting like this at such a young age—what's she going to be like later?

But seeing Duan He Yun's expression, it's clear he's believed her again.

Hah, men.

She gave a cold laugh—good thing this little thing doesn't have much of a "later" left.

Besides the god, Xiao Ping is the top figure in Ling Yun Palace—by status, she's even half a rank above Duan He Yun. How could he possibly hold life-and-death power over her?

A Lian said that just to disgust her.

Duan He Yun glanced at the mechanism on the wall:

"Did you just release the calming incense?"

"I let out half a tube—dose is already significant. But she's only pretending to be dazed; she's actually quite clear-headed." To get a sentient yao puppet to say "I agree," there are many ways—simplest is a mix of lure and deceit.

"I understand." Duan He Yun turned to He Lu Tian Shen: "I'll handle this matter—just need a little time, Your Excellency, please rest assured. Also, the palace has two other vessels quite suitable for you—want to switch now?"

A Lian does have research value, and since Duan He Yun, as the main lead of the Divine Body Project, has guaranteed it, He Lu Tian Shen won't push him too far: "Fine, then you take charge of this."

Duan He Yun silently exhaled in relief: "I'll have the palace prepare immediately—we can hold the deity invocation ceremony in half an hour!"

He Lu Tian nodded and strode away.

Xiao Ping still stood where she was; Duan He Yun didn't even glance at her, voice cold: "Anything else?"

He was issuing her a dismissal order.

Xiao Ping didn't take it to heart, only stared at A Lian, now slumped on the ground: "No matter how good you are to her, she's just a yao puppet! She can pretend all she wants—she's not your real daughter A Lian. Heart of stone, Master Duan—when will you finally wake up?"

Duan He Yun smirked: "You finally get it—I'm special to her only because she resembles my former daughter?"

"That's for you to ask yourself." Xiao Ping chuckled, turned, and walked away.

Duan He Yun frowned, then asked the little girl in the garden:

"She used to be kind to you, but you've disliked her since early on—why?"

"She wasn't truly kind to me—A Lian knows." She puffed out her little mouth: "Not like Father!"

Duan He Yun's expression shifted: "Can you tell when others are being good or bad to you?"

"Of course." A Lian pointed at the guard who had previously given her red bean soup and rice cake: "He likes me."

Then she pointed to another guard: "He deeply despises me."

The guard turned pale with fright: "I, I didn't."

Duan He Yun ignored him and casually pointed to He Lingchuan beside him:

"Then what about this one?"

He Lingchuan, playing Hu Xin, appropriately showed surprise and unease on his face.

"He isn't afraid of me at all, nor does he dislike me, but he's curious about me." A Lian even added, "It's completely different from before, as if he's become a different person."

(End of Chapter)