"What?"
Shi Wuxie and Shen Lang, one aggressively interrogating and the other racking his brain for a reply, were so focused that they didn't notice someone prying open the door and barging in.
The woman in red leading the charge was about twenty-five or twenty-six. Dressed in crimson, she wore a Tang dao at her waist, her long hair tied in a ponytail. She was spirited and imposing.
The eight men in black behind her, in contrast to the woman in red, had dark complexions and emitted black energy from their arms. Their eyes were vacant, making them appear like eerie puppets.
"Shen Lang?"
"Shi Wuxie?"
Seeing the two in the room, the woman in red smiled and said, "How wonderful, you two have come together. It'll be much easier to take care of you both at once."
"Who are you?"
Shi Wuxie frowned as he looked at the woman in red.
"Tang Clan's Eight Steeds—Tang Hongyao."
The woman in red declared her name and coldly spoke to Shi Wuxie, "Shi Wuxie, with your abilities, you should have been able to save Young Master Tang at the execution ground with absolute certainty. Yet, you didn't, leading to Young Master Tang being shot. The Clan Head is very displeased, so he decreed that either your sister or you, both must die."
Tang Hongyao's smile was cruel, "Therefore, you don't need to worry about your sister's safety, because after I kill you and bring your head back to the Clan Head, I will then send you to reunite with your sister."
"Tang Hongyao?"
"Tang Clan's Eight Steeds?"
Tang Hongyao's words made Shi Wuxie's expression turn grim. He was about to act, but Shen Lang grabbed his hand at that moment.
Looking at the spirited Tang Hongyao, Shen Lang smiled and said, "I've heard of your name. Rumor has it that although you are young, you simultaneously cultivate poison arts and hidden weapons, making you an exceptional powerhouse among the younger generation of the Tang Clan. I didn't expect you to be so young and beautiful."
"Oh, such sweet words."
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Tang Hongyao chuckled, "It's a shame you caused Young Master Tang to be executed, and crippled Third Young Master by cutting off his hands and a leg. The Clan Head has issued a kill order for you. Otherwise, I might have been interested in chatting with you, or even becoming friends."
"Never mind. Since we can't be friends in this life, we'll be friends in the next. I hope you'll be smarter in your next life and not offend those you shouldn't."
With that, Tang Hongyao waved her hand and ordered the eight men in black, "Attack, kill them."
"Slow—"
As Tang Hongyao finished speaking, Shen Lang shouted, "Sister Hongyao, don't be in such a hurry to attack. I have something to say."
"What?"
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Tang Hongyao made a stopping gesture, causing the eight men in black to halt. She looked at Shen Lang and smiled, "That address of 'sister' is quite pleasant, but unfortunately, it won't change the fact that you are going to die."
"The Clan Head wishes for you to be torn into a thousand pieces. If I let you live, I'll be the one who suffers that fate at the Clan Head's hands."
"It's not that serious, not that serious. How could I let Sister Hongyao be in such a predicament?"
Shen Lang looked at Tang Hongyao and smiled, "I can sense that your martial arts cultivation is close to the peak of the Yellow Realm, reaching the Half-step Profound Realm. Combined with your hidden weapons and poisons, there's no way I can survive. So, I just want to chat with you before I die, to make my final arrangements."
"No way, no way! Sister Hongyao, surely you wouldn't refuse someone a chance to make their final arrangements before killing them?"
"Final arrangements?"
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Tang Hongyao smiled, "You're the first person to discern my Half-step Profound Realm martial arts. Boy, you have sharp eyes."
"Alright, considering your perceptiveness and your sweet talk, I'll make an exception and give you a chance to make your final arrangements."
Tang Hongyao's smile bloomed like a flower, "You may proceed."
"Thank you, Sister Hongyao."
Upon hearing Tang Hongyao's words, Shen Lang was overjoyed. He silently reached into his pocket and took out a small green bottle. He opened the cap and tossed it onto the bed, then said to Tang Hongyao, "Sister Hongyao might not know, but I'm an orphan. My parents abandoned me in Nanling when I was young, and I lived by begging, with my life hanging by a thread. There were countless times I almost starved to death. Fortunately, I met a girl my age named Chu Ge, who saved my life with a bag of milk."
"However, she was suddenly abducted later, and her whereabouts have been unknown ever since. For all these years, this has been a great source of pain for me, even a knot in my heart."
Shen Lang looked at Tang Hongyao with deep emotion, "The first final arrangement I wish to make is, can Sister help me find her?"
"The Tang Clan is known as the sixth great family, with members spread across the land. If Sister Hongyao uses their influence, you will surely be able to find Chu Ge for me. I'm about to be killed by you, so this would be fulfilling my dying wish."
"Sister Hongyao may appear cold and distant on the outside, but I know your heart is warm. Therefore, you will definitely help me with this, won't you?"
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Tang Hongyao's brow furrowed, and she found herself developing a hint of admiration for him.
The Tang Clan had no loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, or righteousness. They lacked even warmth. Their hearts were as cold as their hidden weapons.
Tang Hongyao had been adopted by the Tang Clan from a young age and had only ever seen ruthless and inhuman people. She had never imagined she would encounter someone as devoted to sentiment and righteousness as Shen Lang. His dying wish was to implore her to help him find a girl he had met years ago.
Honestly, if it weren't for the fact that Shen Lang had caused the death of Tang Zixuan and crippled Tang Qubing, Tang Hongyao might have spared him.
"Alright, I understand your dying wish. I promise you, I will find a way to help you find this girl you speak of. This will also be a comfort to you."
Tang Hongyao agreed to Shen Lang's request and then said coldly, "Now you should have no regrets. Die."
With that, Tang Hongyao waved her hand, preparing to order the eight men in black to finish Shen Lang.
However, as the eight men in black were about to move, Shen Lang shouted again, "Slow, don't rush. I still have something to say."
"What? You still have something to say?"
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Tang Hongyao frowned, a hint of dissatisfaction in her voice, "Shen Lang, I've already agreed to your final request. What else do you have to say?"
"What? Are you trying to beg me for your life?"
"No, absolutely not."
Seeing a flicker of anger appear on Tang Hongyao's face, Shen Lang quickly explained, "Sister Hongyao misunderstood. I absolutely have no intention of begging for mercy. You've been so kind to me, how could I possibly let you break clan rules and be punished?"
Hearing this, Tang Hongyao's expression softened slightly. This boy, at least, hadn't disappointed her.
Tang Hongyao thought this, but the next sentence Shen Lang uttered almost made her spit blood.
Shen Lang looked at Tang Hongyao with utter sincerity, speaking somewhat hesitantly, "The request just now was my first. Next, I have two more requests."