Chapter 575: Worthless

"Exactly, we can't rescue you for free!" Gong Sun Ji hoisted his great axe and walked over.

The members of the Tian Jiao Squad heard this, and their already pale, weak faces grew even more miserable.

"How much do you want?" Ying Wuhuan slowly lifted his eyes, his expression calm as he stared at Yuan Yao and the others.

"Then it depends on how many spirit stones you think your lives are worth," Yuan Yao raised an eyebrow and smiled. "To prevent you from giving us nothing, each Tian Jiao must pay at least ten thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones. If you have no spirit stones, then you must give spiritual treasures of equal value."

As soon as those words were spoken, a Tian Jiao member immediately scowled and accused, "Yuan Yao, how can you be so petty? You rescued us, we are grateful, but now you brazenly demand money from us—do you treat us like merchandise?!"

Qian Yunzhou held his jade flute against his chin, then casually smiled, "Your gratitude is worth not a single coin."

Xue Jin said coldly, "If you don't want to give, we don't mind taking it by force."

"You... you..." The Tian Jiao who had just spoken turned ashen, unable to utter a complete sentence for a long while.

Another Tian Jiao member sneered, "It's only ten thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones, give them to you! Look at that face of yours."

At that moment, Yuan Yao spoke, "Jiang Shuai, go collect their payment. If anyone gives less, tell me."

Jiang Shuai, suddenly named, looked at Yuan Yao with a hint of surprise.

"Understood."

Jiang Shuai stepped before them, fierce, and said, "Be quick, don't waste my time."

Ying Wuhuan's expression grew solemn as he lifted his eyes toward Jiang Shuai, "Jiang Shuai, are you really going to betray Tian Jiaocheng?"

Having said that, Ying Wuhuan's sharp gaze swept over Feng Xuanji and the others.

Some members of the Chu Yuan Squad felt a pang of guilt under his stare.

Jiang Shuai paused while collecting the spirit stones, then laughed, "I, Jiang Shuai, have betrayed Tian Jiaocheng, but not the cultivation world. Rest assured, when needed, I still stand on the side of humanity and will never side with the demon races. Ying Wuhuan, you can be at ease."

Ying Wuhuan heard that, his eyes deepening slightly.

From not far away, Yuan Yao's voice came, "Ying Wuhuan, what? You still want to compete with me for people?"

Ying Wuhuan coldly swept his gaze toward Yuan Yao.

Yuan Yao smiled, "Those who voluntarily join the Chu Yuan Squad and then betray, I will execute without hesitation."

The few slightly guilty and hesitant Tian Jiao, upon hearing this, froze completely.

They vaguely sensed that Yuan Yao was speaking directly to them.

Yuan Yao suddenly changed tack, "Ying Wuhuan, what about Lu Xiangxiang? Why isn't she with you?"

Ying Wuhuan's peach-blossom eyes were now like a layer of frost, chillingly cold, and his tone carried authority as he said, "Yuan Yao, Lu Xiang has already passed away. If you wish to humiliate us while we're in distress, be my guest."

Lu Xiangxiang has passed away?

How could she possibly be dead?

She left the Boundary Abyss long ago.

And yet she didn't take Ying Wuhuan with her...

In the original book, Ying Wuhuan is actually the second most devoted supporting character.

Lu Xiangxiang left him in the Boundary Abyss for a reason.

Could he have been sending her information?

Yuan Yao snorted lightly, "Humiliate? Which of my words was too harsh? Ying Wuhuan, you're a man—are you really that sensitive?"

Qian Yunzhou deliberately elongated his tone, teasingly tense, "Little Sixth sister, you should lower your voice. He's already ashamed of himself; this poke might shatter his pitiful pride. Then he'll be furious, bear a grudge against you, and later trouble you—maybe even develop murderous intent."

"Qian Yunzhou!" Ying Wuhuan's temples pulsed with blue veins, his voice hoarse with anger.

Qian Yunzhou clicked his tongue twice, shook his head, "Look, you can't keep your temper? With a temperament like yours, how did you even secure the Tian Jiao Squad leader position?"

"You overstep!" The Tian Jiao members, already badly wounded, now were incensed and shouted in unison.

Qian Yunzhou's smile deepened, as if he heard something amusing, "What, you also feel inferior now?"

The words were like a sharp knife, piercing the hearts of the Tian Jiao members.

Already gravely injured, the repeated provocation caused their blood to surge, and several of them could no longer hold back, "Pfft," they vomited a mouthful of fresh blood on the spot.

Yuan Yao couldn't help but turn her head, glancing at Qian Yunzhou, thinking silently, "His tongue is truly poisonous."

Xie Yan took in Yuan Yao's glance, his eyes darkening slightly, a barely perceptible shadow passing over them.

Yuan Yao's gaze swept over the blood-soaked, disheveled young Tian Jiao before her, a mix of emotions stirring within—some pity, but mostly amusement at their current appearance and attitude.

She said, "We have no time to waste with you. Once Jiang Shuai finishes collecting the payment, you may stay or leave as you wish. However, if you want us to continue assisting you, hand over all your possessions as the reward."

A moment later, Jiang Shuai gathered all the payment.

Cang Li also tended to Wei Yanqing's arm injury and warned, "You'd better not use that arm for a month, otherwise it will become completely useless later."

Wei Yanqing looked at him gratefully, "Thank you, Brother Cang."

"Cang Li brother, thank you," Wei Yan Hong hesitated for two seconds before speaking.

Cang Li stood up, "Just call me Cang Li; I'm not your brother."

As Cang Li turned to leave, a voice from behind said, "I'm sorry."

Cang Li's steps faltered slightly, but he did not look back.

Cang Li told Yuan Yao and the others, "I'll go into the camp first to check Yu Jing's injuries."

"This blood-odor-blocking barrier will last half an hour here," Yuan Yao said, then led the Tian Jiao of the Chu Yuan Squad back to the camp.

Wei Yan Hong watched their departing backs, thoughtful; she was about to call out to Yuan Yao, but Wei Yanqing stopped her.

Wei Yanqing sent a voice, "We've already troubled them enough; don't cause more trouble. Moreover, you were the one who firmly said you wouldn't join the Chu Yuan Squad and criticized them. Do you think they'd let you join?"

His tone carried a hint of helplessness.

He had thought his own sister would cause a scene upon hearing this.

To his surprise, she not only stayed calm but also lowered her head.

He didn't know what she was thinking.

Wei Yanqing lifted his uninjured hand and patted the back of her head.

It will get better.

Even if the brother risks his life, he will protect you.

Gui Yanhong heard this, and her tears kept falling.

She sobbed softly.

From childhood, she had never suffered; her parents doted on her, her brother indulged her, and outsiders constantly fawned over her...

But the days in the Boundary Abyss were truly bitter.

The talismans she had previously refined were almost all used up; in this godforsaken place, she had to guard against danger everywhere, and while traveling with the group she could barely squeeze out time to refine talismans, but as soon as danger struck, they were gone in an instant.

Several times she felt she was going to die.

Just recalling the recent experience made her spine turn cold.

In her mind appeared the figures of Yuan Yao and Yu Jing.

She had been so terrible to them, yet they still protected her.

Moreover, Yuan Yao didn't even ask for compensation from her and her brother—does that mean Yuan Yao doesn't dislike her that much?

Gui Yanhong raised her head, tears nearly blurring her whole face, looking pitiful; she sniffled and weakly asked, "Brother, if I tell Yuan Yao I want to be her friend, will she laugh at me? Will she hit me?"