"Who is his family?"
Chi Qingying shot Ji Mo a furious glare, a rare hint of shyness appearing on her face.
This fellow was too detestable, even wanting to be her uncle. Truly wicked.
What made her even more upset was that Ji Mo had arrived in Blue Jade City long ago but hadn't sought her out. How unfair.
Bonny's mood plummeted, her heart sinking into despair.
So they already knew each other. She was just an extraneous fish.
She decided she would use her own life to fulfill the wishes of this pair of scoundrels.
"Madam, Ximen Yaoqing of the Ximen family requests an audience."
At this moment, Cui Niang hurried in to report, her face alight with excitement.
"This scoundrel still dares to show up? I'll beat him to death."
Chi Qingying gritted her teeth. Her mood was foul, and she needed someone to vent her frustration on.
Moreover, if it weren't for Ximen Yaoqing shamelessly impersonating the author of "When Will the Bright Moon Appear," she would have already met Ji Mo. How could there be such an awkward situation today?
"I will not see him."
Madam Chi also had a poor impression of Ximen Yaoqing, knowing him to be a dissolute young man, and had no intention of receiving him.
"Madam, Ximen Yaoqing has brought the Poison Hand Medicine Saint, along with a small jar of mermaid's heart blood."
This was also why Cui Niang was excited.
To cure the Ji poison, mermaid's heart blood was needed as a medicinal guide.
As long as they obtained this jar of mermaid's heart blood, Madam Chi could be saved.
"Does that mean there's hope for Mother's poison?"
Chi Qingying's face lit up with joy, and she quickly urged, "Quickly, let that fellow in."
"Yes."
Cui Niang nodded with a smile and left.
Madam Chi, upon hearing this news, showed no joy. Instead, she frowned slightly.
There was no such thing as a free lunch.
Ximen Yaoqing choosing this moment to appear likely had ulterior motives.
Furthermore, the merfolk had gone extinct. Where did he get mermaid's heart blood?
She smelled a hint of conspiracy.
After a while.
Cui Niang led Ximen Yaoqing and the Poison Hand Medicine Saint over.
"Nephew Ximen Yaoqing pays his respects to Madam Chi."
Ximen Yaoqing held a folding fan, appearing cultured and polite, like a handsome young gentleman.
However, his suave demeanor lasted less than three seconds.
He turned and saw Ji Mo, his expression one of utter disbelief, exclaiming, "You brat, how are you not dead?"
Yesterday, Han Zhu had confidently stated that she had dispatched sea clan experts to assassinate Ji Mo, ensuring he wouldn't live to see the dawn.
Now, Ji Mo was unharmed and appeared here, causing Ximen Yaoqing to lose his composure.
"I'm still alive even though you're dead. Pay up."
Ji Mo immediately demanded repayment upon seeing him, showing no leniency towards Ximen Yaoqing.
Did this guy dare to curse him to death? Was his skin itching?
"Please grant me a few more days."
Ximen Yaoqing's face was burning with embarrassment, being hounded for debt in such a setting was extremely undignified.
Ji Mo kindly reminded him, "You'd better repay the money quickly. I charge interest, compounded. The longer you delay, the more you won't be able to afford it."
"Don't worry, the Ximen family never defaults on its debts."
Ximen Yaoqing vowed, patting his chest as a guarantee.
Inwardly, however, he was seething with rage, contemplating how to get rid of Ji Mo and tear him to shreds.
"Madam Chi, after learning you were poisoned, your nephew has been seeking help everywhere, inquiring extensively. After great hardship, I finally found a jar of mermaid's heart blood and specially invited the esteemed Poison Hand Medicine Saint to refine a cure for you."
Ximen Yaoqing ignored Ji Mo and turned to Madam Chi, showing his solicitousness and eagerness to please.
He proudly took out the small jar of mermaid's heart blood and displayed it to everyone.
He even looked provocatively at Ji Mo, his meaning clear: you think you can compete with me for Chi Qingying? Dream on.
With the mermaid's heart blood in hand, he was confident that his wish would be granted today, and Chi Qingying would obediently submit.
Bonny stared intently at the crystal jar in Ximen Yaoqing's hand, her eyes bloodshot.
The acquisition of mermaid's heart blood was incredibly bloody and cruel. To obtain the best quality, the mermaid's heart would be dug out alive to extract the essence.
"This is top-grade mermaid's heart blood. Once refined into an immortal pill by this old man, it will eliminate the Ji poison. Within seven days, Madam Chi will be completely healed."
The Poison Hand Medicine Saint had a youthful complexion despite his white hair, maintained very well. He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance with an arrogant expression.
As one of the most renowned Grandmaster-level alchemists in Purple Thistle Province, he had the capital for pride.
Moreover, accustomed to flattery and praise, he put on airs, even offering a perfunctory cupped-hand salute to Madam Chi and the others.
"Yaoqing, you are too kind. Such a valuable gift, how can I possibly accept it? I feel unworthy."
Madam Chi smiled broadly, feigning modesty but extending her hand to take the jar of mermaid's heart blood.
She wanted to see if Ximen Yaoqing was truly so generous.
However, as she expected, Ximen Yaoqing was not about to hand over the mermaid's heart blood for free. He stated directly, "Madam Chi, I have long admired Miss Qingying. I wish to offer this jar of mermaid's heart blood as a betrothal gift. Of course, I can also marry into the Chi family. As long as I can be with Qingying, anything is possible."
"Ximen Yaoqing, you toad wishing to eat swan meat! Your infatuation is delusional. I will never marry you, no matter what."
Chi Qingying instantly bristled, shocked by Ximen Yaoqing's shamelessness in proposing such terms.
She set her pretty face and asked, "How much did this jar of mermaid's heart blood cost you? I am willing to pay ten times the price."
"Toad wishing to eat swan meat?"
Ximen Yaoqing's face turned ashen. He hadn't expected to be seen so poorly by Chi Qingying. He snorted, "Since that's the case, then exchange it for the Heaven and Earth Three Talents Array Diagram."
"Are you insane? The Heaven and Earth Three Talents Array Diagram is the foundation of my Chi family, concerning the safety of the entire Blue Jade City, and even the entire Western Coast defense line. How can I give it to you?"
Chi Qingying flatly refused, unwilling to hand over the Heaven and Earth Three Talents Array Diagram.
If they lost the Heaven and Earth Three Talents Array Diagram, the Chi family's transcendent status would cease to exist, and they would fall into complete decline.
"You know very well that your Chi family has been declining in recent years, while my Ximen family is flourishing. We are both members of the Western Coast Defense Line Alliance. The Heaven and Earth Three Talents Array Diagram can better fulfill its purpose in the hands of my Ximen family. Moreover, the merfolk are extinct. This is the last jar of mermaid's heart blood in the world. Do you want to watch your own mother die?"
Ximen Yaoqing questioned her relentlessly, each word hitting Chi Qingying's weak points.
Chi Qingying was the most filial daughter, and he wanted to see her choice.
Would she marry him, or hand over the Heaven and Earth Three Talents Array Diagram?
At this moment, Chi Qingying's eyes were filled with struggle. Of course, she couldn't just watch her mother die from poison.
The Heaven and Earth Three Talents Array Diagram was of great importance and could absolutely not be handed over. Therefore, her only option was to marry that shameless scoundrel Ximen Yaoqing.
"Ying'er, Mother is fine. I can hold on for a long time. We don't need this jar of mermaid's heart blood."
Madam Chi naturally would not let her daughter sacrifice her marriage to save her life.
She was not afraid of death and could see that Ximen Yaoqing was by no means a good match.
At this moment.
The Poison Hand Medicine Saint looked at Madam Chi and said faintly, "You must be enduring great hardship. The Ji poison is incredibly vicious, capable of corroding flesh and bone. During its onset, it feels like being gnawed by thousands of ants, causing unbearable pain. And by taking specially formulated immortal pills to prolong your life, you are only making the symptoms of the poison worse, ultimately, you might not be able to withstand the torment and go mad from the suffering."
Madam Chi remained silent. This was the truth, and she had been hiding it from Chi Qingying, choosing to bear it alone.
"Mother, why did you hide this from me?"
Tears welled up in Chi Qingying's eyes. How could she bear to see her mother suffer? She nodded resolutely, "Ximen Yaoqing, I will marry..."
At this critical juncture, Ji Mo spoke, "The Ji poison? I seem to be able to resolve it as well."
Upon hearing this, Bonny's eyes completely lost their light.