Chapter 71: Qiji Bargaining with Straight Men
Qiji bargains with straight men for money
At the edge of the Blackwater Swamp, the atmosphere was deadlocked.
The ferryman's requirement of "united energy" was like a precise needle that pierced the nerve that Jiang Xuelan and Li Jiuyou were most uncomfortable with and most reluctant to face.
"I think you are looking for death!" Li Jiuyou became furious, and instantly picked up the Jinsheng Knife. The red-gold demonic fire rose up, and was about to chop towards the strange little boat!
"Wait a minute." Jiang Xuelan raised a hand to stop him. Her icy blue eyes calmly examined the boat and its ferryman. The other party's aura was as deep as the ocean, and he could move freely through this treacherous swamp. His strength should not be underestimated. A head-on confrontation would have little chance of success and would completely offend the person who might be his only chance of survival.
"Oh? This frosty guest seems to be more sensible?" The ferryman turned his bamboo hat slightly towards Jiang Xuelan, and his hoarse voice showed no emotion.
Jiang Xuelan ignored his teasing, her voice as cold as ice: "Qi is ethereal, how can I give it to you? And how can I guarantee that after taking it, you won't cause trouble and safely escort us across the swamp?"
The ferryman seemed to smile, and the string of jet-black bells jingled even more clearly, even without wind. "Rest assured, my squire. Honesty is the most important principle in business. Though the Qi is tenuous, it can be traced. Especially since your two have such a deep bond... the Qi generated is a great tonic for my 'Soul-Guiding Lamp.'" He gestured to the dim lantern at the bow. "When the boat reaches the center of the swamp, when the yin and yang energy converge at their peak, simply place your palms together and channel your energy. The lamp will absorb the stray Qi. As for safety... once we're across the swamp, you can go your way, and I'll row my ferry. We'll have nothing to do with each other."
Palms facing each other? Circulating power?
When will Yin and Yang meet?
Why does this sound so much like... the opening move of dual cultivation?!
Li Jiuyou's face turned completely black: "You fucking——"
Jiang Xuelan's fingertips also curled up, but his tone remained steady: "How can we trust you?"
The ferryman slowly rowed, and the boat moved closer. The dim light illuminated a small patch of dark water. "You don't have to believe it. That's fine. But..." He paused, lowering his voice with a hint of strange allure. "I think you two are in big trouble. You're being chased by vicious dogs from the Immortal Sect's Punishment Hall, and there's something...something powerful stirring within you. The best thing to do is to leave this place as soon as possible. It's a fair deal, both sides get what they need."
He actually saw at a glance that they were being chased by the Punishment Hall, and he might even have vaguely sensed the existence of the Heart-Killing Contract, the God-Killing Gu, or the residual soul of the evil god!
Even Li Jiuyou calmed down a bit now. This ferryman was even more mysterious and powerful than they had imagined.
Through the Heart-Killing Contract, both of them can feel the other's inner balance and frustration.
Agreeing means another forced and extremely shameful "cooperation" and disguised recognition.
If we don't agree, our entire army might be wiped out in this swamp, or we might be caught up by the torture chamber.
"Damn it..." Li Jiuyou cursed under his breath, and finally glared at the ferryman fiercely, "Old man! If I find out you're playing tricks, I'll burn you and this broken boat to ashes!"
This is almost a disguised agreement.
Jiang Xuelan closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with icy determination: "Okay. But if you make any unusual moves along the way..." The coldness of the Frost Silence Sword spread silently, "You will bear the consequences at your own risk."
The ferryman chuckled. "Deal. Then... please get on board. A reminder: the boat is small, so please sit tight and don't disturb our 'neighbors' underwater."
The wooden boat was indeed small, barely enough to accommodate them, making it seem quite crowded. Li Jiuyou and Jiang Xuelan were forced to sit shoulder to shoulder in the middle, their arms occasionally brushing against each other. The Heart-Slaying Contract amplified the sensation, causing both to tense up and stare straight ahead, not daring to look at each other.
Xingtong sat down in a corner, excitedly watching the show. Mangu and Ache nervously leaned against the edge, while Xuanjia tucked his head back into his shell, leaving only a crack to observe.
The boat glided silently into the thick black water, heading deeper into the swamp. The soul-guiding lantern on the bow emitted a dim glow, barely dispelling the surrounding gray-purple miasma. Wherever the light reached, the restless shadows beneath the water seemed to quiet down slightly, but one could still sense countless malicious eyes peering in the darkness.
The boat was moving slowly and the atmosphere was depressing and awkward.
After an unknown amount of time, the ferryman's hoarse voice sounded again: "We are almost at the center. Two guests, get ready."
Li Jiuyou and Jiang Xuelan's bodies stiffened at the same time.
Under the gaze of all the "audience" around them, the two men stretched out their hands extremely slowly, as if they were going to the execution ground.
Li Jiuyou's hands were broad, with distinct knuckles, and were burning hot with a slight, barely perceptible tremor.
Jiang Xuelan's hands were slender, and her fingertips were cold, like the finest cold jade, and also slightly stiff.
The two hands paused in the air for a moment, and finally they gritted their teeth, put their palms together and pressed them together!
Through the Heart-Killing Contract, a perception several times stronger than usual surged towards the other party!
Li Jiuyou only felt a piece of warm yet biting ice on his palm. Beneath the ice was surging immortal power, deep fatigue, vigilance, and a hint of... indescribable embarrassment.
Jiang Xuelan felt as if he was holding down a burning iron. Beneath the overbearing and scorching demonic power lay the source of his restlessness, the ferocity of pretending to be calm, and an equally vivid embarrassment.
Both of them use their power at the same time!
Ice-blue and scarlet-gold light overflowed from their pressed palms. They instinctively wanted to fight, but due to external pressure and the blood pact, they were forced to struggle to find that delicate balance!
At this moment when the forces of ice and fire intertwined and reached a brief balance—
The soul-guiding lamp on the bow suddenly shone brightly! The strange runes on the lampshade seemed to come alive and flow!
A tiny, yet incredibly pure, strange energy, interwoven with strands of ice and fire, was slowly drawn from their touching palms and absorbed into the lamp! That energy seemed to hold the unique aura of the awkward, antagonistic, yet mutually dependent bond between them.
The flame of the lamp jumped suddenly and became brighter, and there was even a faint trace of colorful light in the dim halo.
"Hmm!" The two of them groaned at the same time, as if something extremely private had been spied on and taken away, and an indescribable feeling of emptiness and shame swept over them!
They quickly withdrew their hands as if they were scalded, and turned their heads to look at the swamp in opposite directions, their ears red and their breathing unstable.
"Haha! Wonderful! Wonderful!" The ferryman seemed very satisfied and laughed hoarsely. "Such pure contradictory energy! It's a rare tonic! Thank you for your generosity, guests!"
Li Jiuyou: “…” Want to kill someone.
Jiang Xuelan: “…” Want to freeze the boat.
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