Chapter 60
Qiao Wan squatted in front of the honey badger and faced a difficult decision on her journey of life.
The Demon Emperor, who was renowned in the cultivation world, had turned into a honey badger before her eyes.
Even as a honey badger, its gaze remained arrogant, as if it did not find its current form horrifying.
Even as a honey badger, this was a dignified and proud king of honey badgers.
The incredibly noble honey badger sat on the ground with a cold expression, "You've done it, today I spare your life."
Qiao Wan could no longer keep her poker face.
Internal sarcastic remarks surged within her, and she couldn't help but let out a frustrated yell.
Who exactly was sparing whose life now?
After thinking for a moment, Qiao Wan sat down beside the honey badger.
She had prepared for a deadly battle, but never expected it to end in such a bizarre way. Her tense muscles relaxed, and even the intense hatred and determination that had been brewing inside her dissipated.
In the end, she felt a sense of powerlessness, like punching cotton.
After all, the Demon Emperor had turned into a honey badger. Could she really argue with this shiny and slippery creature in front of her?
She couldn't possibly kick the honey badger.
The honey badger glanced at her disdainfully, "Aren't you leaving?"
Qiao Wan didn't answer, lowering her head as if lost in thought.
The honey badger furrowed its brow.
This person's gaze made him uncomfortable all over.
Qiao Wan was worried like never before. She didn't know how to deal with this honey badger.
Qiao Wan didn't have the patience to leave behind her past grudges and walk away.
She didn't steal the Thunder Disk, everything was just a disaster caused by human intervention.
Jia Yin didn't listen to her explanations and smashed her bones with a single palm. The torment at night was all because of the honey badger in front of her. The broken bones started because of him, and the bone forging also started because of him.
Thinking about the Killer Order she saw in Wangyun City, those fifty thousand top-grade spirit stones.
Qiao Wan was a bit conflicted.
Qiao Wan thought for a moment and slowly reached into her pocket, taking out two iron hammers.
How about... she beats him up, knocks out the honey badger, and takes it to exchange for money?
The honey badger seemed to sense Qiao Wan's thoughts and spoke softly, "Even if I revert to my original form, you won't be able to do anything to me."
"I will kill you," the honey badger's black eyes widened, and a powerful killing intent burst forth from his small eyes, "It will be as easy as flipping my hand."
Qiao Wan suddenly became angry, her grip on the hammers tightened, and her voice turned cold.
She certainly believed in Jia Yin's abilities, but that didn't mean she would let him act as he pleased when he revert to his original form.
Qiao Wan held the hammers and said calmly, "The Demon Emperor can try, even though I'm just a cultivator, it doesn't seem like your situation is very optimistic right now."
"If you kill me, I won't just sit back and wait to die. Even if I die, I will bring you down with me."
"Even if I can't bring you down, I can at least give you more injuries."
"I see someone is hunting you down?" Qiao Wan looked up, "When that happens, if you revert to your original form and suffer more injuries, will the Demon Emperor still be as confident as today?"
After saying that, Qiao Wan felt like she saw the honey badger's face turning dark.
The already shiny black face became even darker, like the bottom of a pot.
Actually, even if Jia Yin didn't say those words just now, Qiao Wan didn't really plan on taking it to exchange for money.
This thought crossed Qiao Wan's mind but was quickly abandoned.
Fifty thousand top-grade spirit stones were tempting, but the conditions of the Killer Order were mysterious, and she didn't want to get involved in the turmoil of a change in the demon world's ruler. Fifty thousand top-grade spirit stones were not worth her life.
Moreover, although Demon Emperor Jia Yin was a bit aggressive and not too responsible, he could still be considered a good demon lord. With his thunderous methods, he suppressed the various tribes in the demon world, and in the face of his terrifying power, no demons dared to cause trouble. It was precisely because he was aggressive and had no interest in expanding territory or devouring humans that the coexistence between demons and humans under his rule was relatively peaceful.
There was a patch of white grass on the ground, and Qiao Wan pulled out a white grass root and put it in her mouth.
The slightly sweet juice permeated her mouth, and Qiao Wan squinted without saying a word for a long time.
It feels good to be alive.
No one doesn't want to be alive.
Although Qiao Wan was unwilling to admit it, she had to admit that demons like Jia Yin were different from wandering cultivators. Wandering cultivators were like the weeds all over the ground, they would die and no one would pay them much attention. Since Jia Yin had reached such a position, whether he lived or died, he had to carefully consider and weigh his options.
But what's valuable is not the person himself. It's the position that he represents and the series of chain reactions that it will cause.
No one's life is worth less than another's.
"Give me one."
The honey badger with a white crew cut suddenly spoke up.
Qiao Wan turned her head.
The honey badger looked at the white root in her hand and calmly said, "Pick one for me."
Qiao Wan took a step back and said, "I'm not a demon, I don't need to serve the Demon Emperor."
Honey badger: ...
Qiao Wan: ...
Qiao Wan calmly met the honey badger's gaze.
It seemed too difficult for the honey badger to pick a thin white root with its claws.
After struggling for a while, the honey badger couldn't pick a single one. It got frustrated, swung its paw in anger, and closed its eyes with a cold snort.
Qiao Wan spat out the white root in her mouth, stood up, and brushed off the dust from her body.
She sat on the ground with her eyes closed in anger for a while. When the honey badger opened its eyes again, it asked coldly, "Where are you going?"
"Let's go," Qiao Wan said. "The Demon Emperor just promised to spare my life today."
Honey badger: "I'm asking where you're planning to go."
Qiao Wan didn't hide anything. "South Huo State."
Honey badger: "I'm going there too."
Qiao Wan was stunned.
Meeting Qiao Wan's gaze, the honey badger's eyes were sharp. "To kill."
With a glance at the honey badger's bloodstained fur, Qiao Wan decided not to ask any more questions.
Before Qiao Wan could speak, the honey badger added arrogantly, "I can't act openly right now. You'll accompany me on the way."
Qiao Wan didn't understand.
The honey badger repeated with pride, "On my way to South Huo State, you'll travel with me."
Qiao Wan said, "The Demon Emperor seems to hold a grudge against me. I'm just an ordinary wanderer, I can't get involved, and I don't dare to."
Honey badger: "If you help me, our past grievances will be settled."
Qiao Wan turned and walked away.
The honey badger suddenly spoke in a deep voice. "On the road, I'll teach you."
Jia Yin's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an air of authority, probably because he had held a high position for many years. His words were clear and commanding.
Qiao Wan was taken aback and stopped in her tracks.
Jia Yin casually said a sentence, but he accurately pinpointed Qiao Wan's pulse.
He could tell.
The person in front of him doesn't want spirit stones for cultivation.
Otherwise, she could just take him now and exchange him for money. But cultivators are all greedy, and this person is no exception.
Jia Yin lowered his gaze, picturing Qiao Wan on the ground last night, her eyes red from pain, sweating profusely, her face contorted, gritting her teeth and cultivating her bones, starting from the small piece of finger that could move, until now, standing in front of him.
She wanted to live, she wanted to become stronger.
In a way, they were actually similar.
He never judged people based on their gender, age, or race.
For people like himself, Jia Yin always had patience.
Since he could exchange with "teaching," he must have his own considerations.
Between Demon cultivators and human cultivators, there are differences. They have separate paths of cultivation. He can only teach her what both humans and demons can use in their practice.
But with just a few words of guidance, Jia Yin feels that he has done enough.
Getting guidance from a top-class cultivator is something many cultivators dream of, but can never obtain in their lifetime.
Now, it is being casually mentioned by this honey badger with a white crew cut in front of them.
But Jia Yin soon realizes that he was mistaken.
The human cultivator in front of him did indeed stop in their tracks.
But...they are not quite what he imagined.
Jia Yin furrows his brow.
The Demon Emperor from the Demon realm wants to teach her cultivation.
Qiao Wan stops and ponders.
She realizes that no matter how diligently she cultivates, she can never compare to the guidance of a powerful expert.
The top-class expert of this era wants to teach her.
Qiao Wan realizes that she can't resist this temptation either.
But what hurts her more is the condescending attitude of this honey badger in front of her.
Since last night, he has been looking down on her, accusing her of stealing the Thunder Disk. And now, he can't change this condescending attitude. It's as if it's her honor for him to condescend to teach her.
She hasn't settled the score with him from last night.
With past grudges surging up, Qiao Wan becomes furious. Without expression, she reaches out and directly grabs the honey badger in front of her by the scruff of its neck!
If other cultivators were to see this scene, they would surely exclaim in surprise. How dare she grab the Demon Emperor by the back of his neck? Does she think she has lived for too long? Jia Yin , who usually looks down on others, could not have expected that this human cultivator in front of him would have such audacity to grab him by the neck.
The majestic Demon Emperor from the Demon realm, hanging with just four paws, being lifted up by a human cultivator.
The honey badger's pair of black eyes remain calm.
Qiao Wan holds the honey badger in her hand and says with an unchanged expression, "It's said that the Demon Emperor from the Demon realm is fierce and usually keeps to himself."
"But as the ruler of a realm, you must surely have guards and attendants around you."
"Why did you specifically seek me out for the matter of going to South Huo State?" Qiao Wan stares at the honey badger in front of her, her gaze lowers and falls on the blood stain on its chest.
Jia Yin suddenly changes his expression, looking displeased.
Qiao Wan slowly says, "Taking the risk to seek out an unfamiliar enemy."
"Does it mean that you have no one else to rely on now?!"
"Even Demon Emperor Jia Yin has fallen into such a desperate situation. And you want me to risk my life for you?"
"What good would it do even if you can teach me?" Qiao Wan quirks her mouth. "My meridians are shattered. Can a few words of guidance from you make me reach the golden core or nascent soul realm instantly?"
The honey badger stares straight at Qiao Wan with its dark bean-like eyes, its tone cold and gloomy. "Aren't you afraid that once I've recovered from my injuries, I'll kill you with a single palm?"
"He wants to kill people even though things have come to this point. The people he wants to kill are definitely his enemies who he hates and wants revenge on."
On the path of cultivating immortality, there have always been enemies, especially those enemies who never give up.
Qiao Wan appeared calm, showing no signs of being threatened.
I may be in a terrible situation, but I have nothing to lose. I have no parents, no sect, no worries. I've already told you, if you try to kill me, I will fight back."
"I am just a Qi cultivation stage cultivator. I definitely hold less importance in the Demon Emperor's heart compared to your enemies. Think about it, you can focus all your time and energy on me, a worthless cultivator, and we can both suffer losses. Or, listen to me, and we can mutually benefit each other and get what we want."
Suddenly, everything quieted down.
Qiao Wan stood calmly, holding the honey badger by its neck fur.
This was a negotiation, a contest.
The honey badger, being held up by its neck, smirked and its angry expression eased. "So, what exactly do you want?"
"I can help you escape," Qiao Wan pondered for a moment.
Because she couldn't bring herself to abandon the duck that Jia Yin had presented to her.
"But you have to agree to three conditions of mine."
The honey badger replied coldly, "Tell me."
"First, teach me without any deception, like intentionally leading me astray."
The honey badger seemed slightly offended, its face darkening. "I never use such tricks."
"Second, guarantee my life."
"Third, listen to me on our journey south."
"I am not a demon. I won't listen to your orders, nor will I accept your condescending mercy."
Qiao Wan brought the honey badger closer, their noses almost touching. The honey badger with its white flat-top hairstyle showed no sign of backing down, staring back at the girl with cold eyes.
They stood there, frozen in confrontation.
Qiao Wan's voice echoed clearly in Jia Yin's ear.
Each word was emphasized.
"Take a good look. Right now, I am holding you, and I am looking directly at you. Not like your subordinates, kneeling and looking up at you."
"This is not your mercy, it's a trade."
"Both sides are equal in status, a mutually beneficial transaction."
The girl had a beautiful face, with dark, tranquil eyes that seemed to contain a fierce fire.
Facing those fierce eyes, the honey badger suddenly realized that he may have been mistaken.
Perhaps it had underestimated the girl's will.
