"Your daughter?"
Orion blinked, his gaze drifting to the woman who had just been called the Young Valley Master.
"That must be her," he thought.
At that moment, Yu Xiang, who stood beside Orion, whispered, "Your Majesty, Yao Qianming, the master of Yaowang Valley, has only one daughter, Yao Xi'er. It's well-known that Yao Qianming dotes on her—she's the apple of his eye. General Xu San captured her just now."
Orion raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Huh? Why does this scenario feel familiar..." He scratched his head in confusion.
"Father's love? The apple of his eye?" He glanced over at Jiang Qianning, who was standing nearby.
"Oh, right," he realized. "No wonder this feels familiar. She's just like Jiang Qianning—both treasured by their doting fathers."
However, he noted the contrast in their personalities. One was playful and lively, the other gentle and quiet—two distinct kinds of beauty.
After some thought, Orion spoke up, "Fine. If you want me to release your daughter, I have a condition. I need thirty eighth-grade healing pills, no less than that."
Yao Qianming's expression froze, shock flashing across his face. Thirty eighth-grade healing pills? The audacity! The value of such pills could easily buy a city of millions.
The frost on Yao Qianming's face nearly solidified, but he quickly masked his thoughts. "Very well," he agreed, his voice calm. "I'll provide thirty healing pills."
"Good! Now that's refreshing," Orion chuckled. "As a gesture of good faith, I'll return your daughter first."
After all, Orion had come for the pills. He motioned to Xu San, who then released Yao Xi'er.
"Daddy!" Yao Xi'er, trembling with fear, threw herself into Yao Qianming's arms.
"Xi'er, are you alright?" Yao Qianming's icy demeanor softened instantly, replaced by concern.
"I'm fine, Daddy," she said, looking up at him like a lost kitten, fragile and shaken.
Suddenly, Yao Xi'er's expression hardened, and she pointed toward Uncle He, who was standing nearby. "Dad, it was him! He tried to push me aside to save himself when he ran away!" she said, her voice trembling with betrayal.
Yao Qianming's eyes darkened as he turned his gaze to Uncle He. The audacity! This man had used his daughter as a shield? Fury boiled within him.
"Uncle He, do you have anything to say?" Yao Qianming's voice was cold, sending a chill through the air.
Uncle He, realizing his fate was sealed, fell to his knees in panic. "Valley Master, please! I've served Yaowang Valley for years. I've worked hard, surely you can forgive me just this once!"
But Yao Qianming wasn't a man to be swayed by pleas. His position as Valley Master had been built on strength and decisiveness. Without hesitation, Yao Qianming struck Uncle He with a palm, reducing him to a bloody mess on the ground.
"Tsk tsk tsk." Orion clicked his tongue as he watched. "So ruthless." He smirked, impressed by Yao Qianming's cold efficiency. The Valley Master had no qualms about eliminating traitors.
Yao Qianming, his eyes still burning with rage, now turned his attention to Orion. His daughter's captor might have been released, but Yao Qianming had no intention of letting Orion and his men leave alive.
"You, boy," Yao Qianming hissed, his voice dripping with malice. "You've insulted me and slaughtered my disciples. Capture them all!" He commanded his forces, his eyes locked on Orion. "But leave the leader alive—I'll deal with him myself. He'll beg for death before I'm done."
Hearing Yao Qianming break his promise, Orion's eyes narrowed. "Seriously? You're going back on your word? You call yourself the master of a transcendent force, and you can't even keep a promise?"
Yao Qianming sneered. Did Orion really think he was that gullible? That he'd hand over thirty healing pills without a plan? His daughter was safe now—there was no longer any reason to negotiate.
"I guess talking it out is pointless," Orion sighed. "Yuan Zuozong, mobilize the Dragon Cavalry. Let's end this nonsense."
Yuan Zuozong, sensing Orion's simmering anger, shouted an order to the 100,000 dragon cavalry soldiers.
"Dragon Cavalry, attack! Conquer Yaowang Valley!"
The soldiers roared in unison, their murderous intent filling the air. Even the clouds in the sky trembled before the might of the Dragon Cavalry as they prepared to unleash their fury upon Yaowang Valley.
...