Chapter 987: You're not in unrequited love, are you?

Liu Junyan also understood why Xiao Jiu had just pulled him out immediately.

It wasn't that he lacked the ability to compete with the other side; rather, the other side held the lives of the Seven Halls Yama and Tang Xun in their hands.

Dong Dan said that when Tang Xun entered the interior of Hu Shan, he had instructed him to withdraw all the Yin soldiers and Yin generals, as well as every other member inside Hu Shan, back to the Seven Halls Yama Hall within half a month.

Now, the time is already less than half a month.

The lives of the Seven Halls Yama and Tang Xun have entered a countdown; at this point, even the slightest disturbance could end their lives prematurely.

The best way to resolve this matter is not through force, but through negotiation.

But the problem is, they don't know what kind of ruthless figure the other side is, or what kind of deal they made with the Seven Halls Yama back then, etc.

They discovered this too late, too late.

If it had been earlier, perhaps they still had a chance to pressure the other side, but now…

Both fell silent for a while, then Liu Junyan said, "Actually, it's not completely without a breakthrough."

Xiao Jiu's eyes lit up, and she asked, "How so?"

"Since it's a transaction, there must be something to discuss," Liu Junyan said. "The other side doesn't show up, yet they tightly grip the fate of the Seven Halls Yama and my aunt; it's merely because their goal hasn't been achieved. Even if we now put out the word that we want to sit down and talk properly with them, they might not even listen to us."

"So before we get the other side to agree to meet and talk, we need to sever the connection between Hu Shan and Lingdie Valley. This move can shake the mountain to startle the tiger, making them lose their leverage and forcing them to agree to talk with us."

Xiao Jiu weighed the pros and cons in her mind and still felt Liu Junyan's method was unfeasible: "Hu Shan and Yao Tian are of the same lineage; breaking the bone still leaves the sinew attached—how easy is it to shake the mountain and startle the tiger?"

"Others may not be able to do it, but I might," Liu Junyan said. "Don't forget, I am the Dìmài Lóngshén appointed by the higher authorities."

Xiao Jiu watched Liu Junyan raise an eyebrow at her, looking as if he had everything under control.

But the more he acted that way, the more uneasy Xiao Jiu felt.

Just a moment ago he had no idea what to do, so how did he suddenly find a breakthrough?

It's just that normal methods won't work; we have to take a risky shortcut.

Xiao Jiu opened her mouth to advise him, but Liu Junyan had already understood her meaning and interjected, "Don't worry, I won't rush for quick results; I'll just use a few small tactics to pressure them. Trust your husband—I can handle this easily."

Xiao Jiu couldn't think of any better alternative for the moment, so she could only let Liu Junyan try.

Liu Junyan then gave Xiao Jiu a task: "Go find Dong Dan first and have him clear out Hu Shan as quickly as possible; the sooner the better. I'll make preparations on my end to ensure everything is foolproof."

Dong Dan completely cleared out Hu Shan the following afternoon.

After Hu Shan was emptied, Xiao Jiu went to the Feng Clan to look for Liu Junyan; they had agreed to meet there before the operation.

But when Xiao Jiu arrived at the Feng Clan, Liu Junyan wasn't there.

Feng Mingxiu said Liu Junyan had already left the Feng Clan that afternoon.

Xiao Jiu instantly felt a surge of anger; she knew this guy's methods were surely shady—he didn't want to implicate her, so he'd sent her away early.

Of course, she was angry, but her worry for him far outweighed her anger.

However, Xiao Jiu didn't go running around looking for Liu Junyan anymore; since she'd agreed to let him try, she decided to step back and let him do it.

If something really went wrong, she would bear it together with him.

Liu Junyan's actions were much faster than Xiao Jiu had imagined; half an hour later, news came from Hu Shan to her ears.

That afternoon in Hu Shan, there occurred a moderate earthquake; the focus was deep, but the affected area was small, with no casualties.

The only damage from this earthquake was a crack as thick as an arm that was shaken open at the foot of the low peak on Hu Shan's westernmost side.

After the crack formed, a stream of water surged up from underground, turning the crack into a mountain stream!

Later, geological experts came to study it in depth, concluding that normal crustal movement caused it, and an online notice greatly soothed the emotions of those in the know.

But in fact, cultivators like Xiao Jiu certainly wouldn't believe the matter was just over.

Privately triggering crustal movement without reporting it—even if it caused no casualties—Liu Junyan would still be punished.

Sure enough, not long after the stream formed, that area flashed with lightning and thunder, the scene resembling someone undergoing a Heavenly Tribulation there.

When Liu Junyan came to find Xiao Jiu, his complexion was poor, his lips pallid, devoid of color.

He had been punished by the Heavenly Tribulation!

Upon seeing Xiao Jiu, Liu Junyan smiled at her, boasting as if seeking credit: "Xiao Jiu, I said I could definitely pull this off; now the ones who are anxious aren't us—we just need to wait patiently."

Xiao Jiu gave him a fierce stare and muttered, "Showing off!"

Then she dragged Liu Junyan back to their room in the Feng Clan, took off his clothes, and gave him a thorough examination.

Liu Junyan indeed had a few wounds on his body, but none were serious; Xiao Jiu helped apply medicine before letting him go.

That mountain stream directly separated Hu Shan from the visible and invisible region to its west.

Liu Junyan personally carried out the act, ensuring everything was foolproof.

Unfortunately, over the next two days, Xiao Jiu didn't see the other side come looking for her.

Liu Junyan told her to guard against arrogance and impatience, to stay calm, and wait a bit longer.

But while he said that to comfort Xiao Jiu, he himself kept running back to Hu Shan several times, secretly checking the situation there.

On the fourth night, Liu Junyan hadn't returned by midnight.

Strangely, Xiao Jiu felt so sleepy by ten o'clock that she could barely keep her eyes open—a feeling she wasn't unfamiliar with; it meant someone was summoning her.

Xiao Jiu didn't force herself to stay awake; she yielded and fell asleep.

She wanted to see just what divine being was seeking her!

Sure enough, shortly after falling into deep sleep, Xiao Jiu's body felt light, and her Soul Essence took its stand in the midst of the dream.

Immediately afterward, she smelled a faint medicinal fragrance in the air.

Xiao Jiu's heart tightened—here it comes!

But when she followed the scent to look, Xiao Jiu saw only a blurry figure.

Vaguely, she could tell it was a woman.

The woman had her back to Xiao Jiu, standing there, but her fierce voice came over: "What's between me and him is no outsider's business! This is what he owes me!"

Xiao Jiu cleared her throat and asked, "You and him? Did you two have an emotional entanglement before?"

The other party obviously hadn't expected Xiao Jiu to ask that, and was stunned for a moment.

Xiao Jiu pressed on: "You keep saying he owes you—could you tell me exactly what he owes? Money? Feelings? Or something else?"

Just as the other party was about to speak, Xiao Jiu went on by herself: "Logically speaking, it's impossible in the feelings department! Seven Halls Yama has been secretly and openly in love with my aunt for many, many years—how could you have a chance to butt in?"

Saying this, Xiao Jiu, as if she had discovered a new continent, exclaimed exaggeratedly: "You……you wouldn't be just one‑sided love, would you?"