Chapter 4: The Conditions of Selling One's Life

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  Zong Yin didn't know why Zhao Ya Jing became so tough after Zong Yue let him go to the Soul School in the Imperial Capital, but he still heard from her words that he should have replaced someone else and would be in danger of his life after going there. Suddenly, a surge of anger rose up, and he glared at Ah Da, whose hands were still on Zhao Ya Jing's shoulders.

  The barefooted one isn't afraid of the shoed one. Anyway, his soul is now being controlled by someone else, so even if he dies, it's a kind of liberation. Who knows, maybe he'll even be able to put them back on again.

  Ah Da loosened his grip on Zhao Ya Jing as soon as he heard Zong Yin's threat. Everyone in the hall looked at Zong Yin with unsightly expressions, unable to believe that this child who had been silent from start to finish would actually resort to threatening suicide.

  If it were at any other time, he would have wanted to die and no one else would have stopped him. But now, at this critical moment, it was different. If Zong Yin died, then one of Zong Yue's three other sons would definitely be in danger, which was something that neither of the two madams nor Old Madam wanted to see.

  "Want me to risk my life for you? Fine! But I have three conditions!"

  "Firstly, I want to marry my mother in a proper and grand manner, with all the formalities and fanfare, and have her treated with the same respect as others! And also guarantee that before I die, she won't be harmed by certain people!"

  Zong Yin pointed at Mrs. Da, whose face had turned the color of a pig's liver. One major reason why Zong Yue hadn't brought Zhao Yajing back to the Zong estate was because of her.

  Moreover, from her previous behavior, it's not hard to see that Madame sometimes even has more speaking power than Zong Yue.

  "Secondly, my mother needs an industry that completely belongs to her, one that has absolutely nothing to do with any of you. Even if I were to die, my mother would still be able to live without worrying about food and clothing!"

  "Thirdly, give me the family's inherited Soul Refining Technique!"

  "As long as you agree with me on these three points, I'll let you have your way! Otherwise, even if it kills me, you won't get any benefits from me!"

  Zong Yin pushed away Ah Er's hand, which had already lost its spiritual energy and was resting on his shoulder. He slowly stood up, gazing straight at Zong Yue at the other end of the long table, extending three fingers, with a resolute expression that seemed to be saying something completely unrelated to himself.

  "I've given birth to a good son! How dare you threaten me? Do you think I'll compromise? What a joke! The thing I hate most in this life is being threatened by others! If you have the guts, come and try to kill me!"

  At this time, Zong Yue suddenly regained the prestige of the nine-ring city lord, and his gaze at Zong Yin was filled with a hint of mockery.

  "The lord of the castle is indeed very imposing. When others threaten your lover who has a real relationship with you, you are as timid as a coward, unmoved. But when your own son proposes an equal exchange, you start to show off your lordly demeanor! Let me tell you, I am most intolerant of being provoked by others!"

  This life's Zong Yin might have been a person who had always endured in silence, but the other one wasn't. He pulled out the dagger from his waist and directly stabbed it into his chest with force, blood immediately dyeing his chest red.

  Fortunately, at the critical moment, Zong Yue's eyes stared, using his thick soul power to directly fix his subsequent actions. If not, this would have directly pierced into Zong Yin's heart.

  "Brother!" Zhao Yajing let out a mournful cry as soon as she saw the dagger pierce into Zong Yin's chest, and rushed over to him. She pressed her palms against his brother's back, and a milky white texture flowed from her palm to Zong Yin's chest, wrapping around the dagger and pulling it out.

  Zong Yin's chest wound, which was still bleeding profusely just a moment ago, is now healing at an incredible speed visible to the naked eye.

  This was the White Star Healing Soul Technique that Zhao Ya Jing had learned when she was still a Soul Master, spending 300 gold to purchase materials. It could stimulate the human body's potential in a short period of time, causing injured wounds to heal quickly. Although using this soul technique for an extended period would have severe consequences for the patient, it was still very useful in critical moments to save lives.

  Zong Yin gazed at the soul technique pattern on his chest, a wave of emotion rising in his heart. The abilities of this world were indeed extraordinary. According to his understanding, soul techniques were also divided into seven levels, from lowest to highest: gray, white, green, blue, red, purple, and black.

  The soul technique of the Grey Star is the easiest to cultivate, and the materials are also the most common. The higher the level of the soul technique, the more difficult it is to cultivate, and the materials are also harder to collect. As for why it's hard to cultivate, for someone like Zong Yin who still doesn't know what soul power is, it's really too difficult to understand.

  "Yin'er, don't be foolish! Mother now has only you to rely on!"

  Looking at Zhao Yajing again, she was already in tears, her eyes filled with regret, she really regretted bringing Zong Yin back to the Zong family.

  The two madams stared at Zong Yin in astonishment, his expression earlier didn't seem like he was joking at all. Zong Yue's gaze towards Zong Yin was also filled with complexity, his hand gripping the chopsticks tightly, with veins bulging out.

  Zong Yin's expression was as calm as if nothing had happened, his pale face staring at Zong Yue. His eyes showed unyielding determination, like a white poplar tree that would rather break than bend. The dagger in his hand did not relax in the slightest, as if he would stab it into his own heart again if Zong Yue did not agree with him.

  Zong Yin didn't realize that at this moment, he had thoroughly become Zong Yin, merging from a bystander into the role of Zhao Ya Jing's son, transforming from an onlooker to a participant.

  Just as the two groups of people were at a stalemate, an old lady with a hunched back, wrinkles all over her face, and leaning on a cane appeared at the entrance of the rear chamber of the great hall, followed by a 18 or 19-year-old maid.

  At this critical moment, she appeared, obviously having been inside all along.

  "I must say I've underestimated you, Old Lady. I'll agree to your request on behalf of Zong Yue. This farce should come to an end now. You can set off three days later. Looking at you is really getting on my nerves."

  The old lady looked at Zong Yin with a deep gaze, without any reserve, revealing her disgust towards him. After finishing speaking, she turned around and left, not even looking at anyone else. However, the maid behind her gave Zong Yin a very strange look.

  Zong Yue exerted himself fiercely, quickly snapping the ivory in his hand into two segments, and strode away. As Zong Yue and the old lady left their seats, everyone else also departed one after another. Before leaving, each person took a measuring look at Zong Yin, as if they wanted to reacquaint themselves with him.

  In an instant, the hall was left with only Zong Yin, Zhao Yajing and Mu Zongguan.

  Seeing everyone leave, Zong Yin's legs suddenly went soft and he fell into the chair, his face pale with weakness. If the dagger had gone in a few more inches, it would have pierced his heart. Even if Zhao Ya Jing's soul technique was effective, there would be no way to save him.

  Even with timely treatment, the exhaustion of vitality and massive blood loss still caused Zong to feel dizzy and lightheaded, and just now he was completely supported by a stubborn unyielding spirit.

  "Hey kid! Are you okay?!"

  Zhao Yajing was shocked at the sight of Zong Yin's appearance, thinking that his internal organs had been injured by the previous wound.

  "Mom, don't worry about me, I'm just a bit out of energy."

  Zong Yin restored his previous appearance, with a smile, and gently said to Zhao Yajing. However, his smile looked awkward in the eyes of others.

  "Please be at ease, Third Madam. The young master is just suffering from blood loss and his body being relatively weak, which has led to some weakness. With proper care, he will recover soon. Later, I will send the tonic to the young master's hands. For now, let me escort you two back to the west wing."

  In the next three days, the entire manor began to bustle with activity. All the residents of the nine-ring city knew that the city master was going to marry his third wife, and in three days' time, it would be the day of the city master's great joy. The street where the manor was located was filled with lanterns and streamers everywhere. Countless people were extremely curious about this new city master's wife, but they only knew that she was the city master's former lover.

  Although it was lively outside, Zhao Yajing, who had never left the western wing, couldn't feel happy at all.

  At this time, Zhao Yajing was feeding Zong Yin the tonic brought by Mu Zongguan one mouthful at a time, as if the only thing that could concern her in the whole world was this matter, and her eyebrows were filled with gentle eyes.

  Zong Yin is very much enjoying this time. In the past, he was strong and healthy, and his mother was often not by his side, so he rarely felt such care. Now that he has this opportunity, he cherishes it deeply.

  "Daughter, you're going to have a grand wedding soon, congratulations!"

  Zong Yin looked out through the curtains and saw a joyful scene outside the Zong mansion, smiling and joking. Zong Yin knew that in any era, for a woman, she always longed for a grand wedding, and for someone like Zhao Ya Jing who had been with Zong Yue for so long but didn't have a formal title, her heart yearned for it even more.

  "Your mother once indeed hoped that your father could marry me into the family with great fanfare, but your mother is no longer that young girl. Now she only hopes that you can be safe and sound."

  Zhao Yajing slightly shook her head, with a hint of desolation in her expression. As for Zong Yue, she no longer had any illusions about him. If he could sacrifice his own flesh and blood, what could she expect from him? Now her only hope was Zong Yin.

  Zong Yin smiled wryly, originally he just wanted to find a topic to chat with Zhao Yajing, but unexpectedly Zhao Yajing immediately turned the conversation back to herself. Suddenly Zong Yin's head grew several sizes bigger, as Zhao Yajing had been talking nonstop since yesterday until just now. Just as he was about to open his mouth to say that he wasn't a child anymore, Zhao Yajing spoke up first.

  "Mother knows you've grown up and have your own ideas about many things, but mother wants to remind you of the things she's told you before, and you must always keep them in mind, never again be as impulsive as you were last time."

  As soon as Zhao Yajing saw Zong Yin's expression, she knew what he was going to say and directly interrupted him. After finishing speaking, she didn't say anything else and continued to feed Zong Yin the medicine.

  Zong Yin's smile on his face became even more awkward, after insisting on his own stance last night, Zhao Ya Jing fell silent for a long time, and then it was a whole night of reminders, everything was explained in detail, even the matter of finding a wife early was clearly entrusted. After that, he didn't say much anymore, always staying by Zong Yin's side, enjoying the limited time they had left together.

  "Madam, this is a wedding dress tailored specifically for you by the old master himself."

  Before nightfall, Mu Zongguan entered the west wing with a set of bright red wedding clothes in his hands and carefully placed them on the table. After hesitating for a moment, Mu Zongguan continued: "Also, the old lady ordered that tomorrow when the madam gets into the flower sedan chair, I will personally escort young master to the Temple of Heaven to ensure the young master's safety."

  Zong Yin let out a cold hum. "Protecting my safety? Isn't it just that you're afraid I'll run away, and sent someone to monitor me?"

  Zhao Yajing didn't say a word, took a glance at the wedding dress, and continued to feed medicine into Zong Yin's mouth. Zong Yin could feel Zhao Yajing's hand slightly trembling, unsure if it was because Zong Yue had personally tailored the wedding dress for him or because he was about to be separated from his son.

  Mu Zongguan tactfully did not continue to stay here, and respectfully retreated, leaving the space to Zhao Yajing and Zong Yin.

  After Mu Zongguan left, Zhao Yajing put down the medicine bowl in her hand and walked to the wedding dress. She casually spread it out and scrutinized it from top to bottom with a careful gaze. A moment later, Zong Yin noticed that Zhao Yajing's shoulders began to tremble slightly.

  "Unexpectedly, he still remembered my figure and even my favorite style."

  Zhao Yajing's voice was choked with sobs, and she clutched her wedding dress tightly to her chest, tears falling in large drops.

  Zong Yin let out a sigh, he could see that although Zong Yue might not have much feelings for him, but towards Zhao Ya Jing, he still couldn't put it down, his heart was filled with guilt, and the root of all this was Mrs. and Old Mrs.

  Gritting his teeth, Zong Yin secretly made up his mind that one day, if he had the chance, he would definitely make Old Lady and Big Madam pay for everything they had done!