This was simply just deserts.

When Han Jingyi heard that Chen Sheng intended to uproot the entire Earth Core Lotus and take it back for a so-called "inspection," his heart sank to the very bottom.

’Inspection? More like throwing a meat bun at a dog—gone for good!’

"Captain Chen, it’s not that the Han Family is unwilling to cooperate. It’s just... just that a moment ago, I had already promised Young Master Li to sell him a portion of the lotus seeds. This matter..." Helpless, Han Jingyi could only brace himself and attempt to deflect the disaster onto the Li Family, hoping Li Xuanche would step forward and share the pressure.

But who present could fail to see through such a clumsy attempt to shift the blame?

Li Xuanche immediately let out a cold snort, the corner of his mouth curling into a sarcastic smile as he said in a severe tone:

"Clan Leader Han, there’s no need to drag me into this. Since this item may be stolen goods related to the Demon Dao, our prior agreement is naturally void. Am I such an unreasonable person?"

Though he said this, he was secretly cursing Han Jingyi. ’That old fox, trying to drag me down with him.’

Chen Sheng’s attitude had just made it clear he had no intention of giving the Li Family any face.

Stepping forward now would only bring humiliation upon himself. What other outcome could there be?

Li Xuanche’s unhesitating decision to cut ties shattered Han Jingyi’s last glimmer of hope. His face turned ashen, and he was unable to speak. After a long silence, as if he had exhausted all his strength, he let out a dejected sigh.

"Since... since it has come to this, I... have nothing more to say."

He then looked to a grief-stricken elder beside him, his voice hoarse. "Great Elder... go and... and bring... that Earth Core Lotus... here."

"Patriarch, we can’t!" the Han Family’s Great Elder cried out, his face filled with indignation.

"Bring it!"

Han Jingyi suddenly raised his voice, his tone firm and absolute, yet his eyes were filled with endless pain and humiliation.

Innocence is no crime, but possessing a treasure is.

He understood this principle better than anyone. From the moment the secret of the Earth Core Lotus was leaked, the Han Family was doomed to lose it.

If they dared to resist now, their entire clan would face annihilation in an instant.

Only by enduring this for now and handing over the treasure could they hope to preserve the family and bide their time. ’Besides, the Iron Sword Sect receives substantial offerings from the Han Family every year. They would never just stand by and ignore this.’

At this moment, the person he hated most was not the aggressive Chen Sheng, but Han Ling’er, who stood to the side with a deathly pale face.

If this wretched daughter hadn’t leaked the secret, how would the Han Family have ended up on bad terms with the Xu Family, ultimately inviting today’s disaster?!

"Yes."

Seeing that the Patriarch’s mind was made up and that they were in a position of weakness, the Han Family’s Great Elder could only agree with sorrow and indignation before staggering away. The other Han Family members felt deeply humiliated, but they could only swallow their rage, daring not to voice it.

Chen Sheng was not surprised by this outcome in the slightest.

The dwindling Han Family had no room to negotiate when faced with the authority of the Jingwu Bureau he wielded.

Of course, if they had truly been desperate enough to fight back, he would have been pleased. It would have given him the perfect justification to remove the thorn that was the Han Family once and for all. Even if questions were raised later, he had more than enough reason to defend his actions.

Before long, the Han Family’s Great Elder returned to the main hall with heavy steps. He held a Cold Jade Treasure Box about a foot long in both hands, presenting it with a tremor.

The moment the lid was opened, a gentle wave of Spiritual Qi wafted out. Inside lay a lotus, entirely crimson with veins as crystalline as jade. Its central pod was plump, embedded with sixteen round, jade-like seeds that shimmered with a hazy glow, a dazzling sight to behold.

Chen Sheng reached out and took the box. The moment his fingertips touched the jade, he could feel the pure life force and warmth it contained, and his mind was set at ease.

’This treasure is finally mine!’

"Patriarch Han, since this matter is settled, I shall take my leave."

Seeing that the Earth Core Lotus was now in Chen Sheng’s hands, Li Xuanche knew there was no longer any chance of him getting a share. Staying would only be awkward, so he gave a perfunctory salute with a cold expression and turned to leave.

Having been repeatedly humiliated today, he firmly committed Chen Sheng’s face to memory. ’I’ll just wait for the right opportunity. I’ll definitely have my brother teach him a lesson and thoroughly disgrace him to repay today’s insult.’

Seeing this, Han Ling’er, who was standing to the side, grew frantic. She scrambled to her feet, intending to leave with Li Xuanche.

She knew that as soon as the outsiders left, the family’s pent-up fury would be unleashed entirely upon her. The fate that awaited her was all too easy to imagine.

"Wait!"

Han Jingyi’s icy voice rang out. "Ling’Er, you stay. The clan has some ’family matters’ to discuss with you in detail."

He deliberately emphasized the words "family matters," his gaze as cold and sharp as a blade.

Han Ling’er’s body trembled violently, and the color drained from her face. She cast a pleading look at Li Xuanche, her eyes filled with desperate appeal.

However, before Li Xuanche could speak, Han Jingyi cut off her escape route:

"Young Master Li, this is a private internal affair of the Han Family. I hope you will not interfere."

Li Xuanche paused his steps, hesitating for a moment. But in the end, he didn’t turn back, merely saying indifferently, "As you wish, Clan Leader Han."

With that, he departed without a second thought, flicking his sleeves as he strode directly out of that nest of troubles.

To him, while Han Ling’er had some beauty, his earlier willingness to speak up for her was mostly for the sake of the Earth Core Lotus Seeds he had hoped to obtain.

Now that he had failed to gain any benefit and only managed to get dragged into this mess, why would he care whether this woman lived or died?

Besides, a woman who would break an engagement and even leak her family’s core secrets for her own prospects had long lost any value in his eyes. She was amusing to play with, but he could never take her seriously.

"Senior Brother Li! Senior Brother Li!"

When Han Ling’er saw how utterly ruthless Li Xuanche was, she panicked and called out to him again and again, her voice wretched.

However, his figure didn’t pause for even a moment, quickly vanishing beyond the courtyard gate.

In her despair, Han Ling’er suddenly turned her gaze to Chen Sheng, who was seated in the place of honor, carefully examining the Earth Core Lotus. As if grasping at her last straw, her eyes filled with tears, her voice a wail tinged with a hint of reckless seduction:

"Com... Commander Chen, I... I am willing to offer you my Yin Yuan to aid your cultivation. I only ask that you... that you take me away from here! Save me, just this once!"

She vaguely remembered that Chen Sheng had seemed to give her special attention before, even using her to threaten Xu Shenzhi. ’Now Chen Sheng holds a high position and immense power. If I could gain his protection...’

’...that would be an acceptable outcome.’

However, Chen Sheng seemed not to have heard her at all. His entire focus was immersed in the Spirit Plant in his hands; he didn’t even raise an eyelid.

Seeing Chen Sheng’s complete lack of reaction, Han Ling’er’s heart filled with despair. She could only turn her last sliver of hope to Xu Shenzhi, the man she had once cast aside like a worn-out shoe. Her voice was thick with tears.

"Senior Brother Xu... Senior Brother Xu, help me. Right now... only you can help me. For the sake of our past..."

Upon hearing her words, Xu Shenzhi let out a sneer filled with boundless mockery and satisfaction. He immediately averted his gaze, showing no interest in acknowledging her.

’If Chen Sheng had decided to save her, coveting her Yin Yuan, I would have had nothing to say.’

’But to expect me, Xu Shenzhi, to plead for the woman who brought me such endless shame? Impossible. My former infatuation has long since curdled into cold hatred in the face of her betrayal. I have awakened now.’

Han Ling’er looked at Xu Shenzhi’s resolute back, then at the cold and silent Chen Sheng, and then at the surrounding members of the Han Family, who glared at her as if they wanted to swallow her whole. A tidal wave of despair washed over her.

As if drained of all strength, she collapsed to the floor, muttering to herself in a stupor.

"Senior Brother Xu... even you... even you won’t help me? I know... I know it was wrong of me to break the engagement... but I... I just wanted to pursue my own path of cultivation! What was so wrong about that?! What did I do wrong?!"

Xu Shenzhi stared at her, his voice perfectly calm, yet every word cut like a knife.

"You did nothing wrong. I was the one who was wrong back then."

"Then... then please, ask Captain Chen for me! Beg him to save me! As long as he saves me, any price... I’m willing to pay any price," Han Ling’er said hurriedly.

However, her only answer was the silence that filled the hall and Han Jingyi’s ever-colder gaze.

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