BTTH: Demon Emperor Xiao Yan

At that moment, Hai Bodong quickly calmed down. A smile crept onto his aged face as he said, "I truly apologize. I just recovered my strength, so I can't fully control my aura yet. I must have startled you."

"Oh? Is that so?" Xiao Yan looked at the smile on Hai Bodong's face, a playful look flashing across his own. "That imposing presence earlier—I thought you were planning to renege on our deal. Turns out it was all just a misunderstanding. I should've known. No matter what, you're still a Dou Huang powerhouse. You wouldn't do something as shameless and ungrateful as that, right?"

"Haha…" Hai Bodong laughed awkwardly, though inwardly, he was painfully aware of how close he had come to doing exactly what Xiao Yan described. This brat was clearly mocking him outright.

"What a shame," Xiao Yan said, shaking his head with mock regret. "I was curious to see just how strong you really are. After all, opportunities to cross hands with a Dou Huang are rare."

Seeing that Xiao Yan wasn't joking, Hai Bodong couldn't help but feel a bit lucky. Judging by this kid's tone, he wasn't all that afraid of him. And come to think of it, although Xiao Yan was young, his shrewdness was comparable to that of an old fox. If he dared hand over the Breaking Calamity Pill, then clearly, he wasn't afraid of being betrayed.

"Alright, Elder Hai. Now that your strength is restored, shouldn't you hand over the other half of the map?" Xiao Yan stood up from his seat and extended his hand.

Hai Bodong hesitated slightly, then retrieved the remaining half of the incomplete map from his storage ring. Though he was reluctant to part with it, he knew that a single piece meant little by itself. And from the impatience in Xiao Yan's gaze, it was obvious that if he delayed any longer, things might not end peacefully.

Xiao Yan accepted the map and took out the previous half he had received earlier. He fit the two together—the size matched perfectly, and the edges aligned seamlessly, confirming that Hai Bodong hadn't played any tricks this time.

"Little brother, you've now got both halves of the map that were in my possession. Can you tell me what it is, exactly? What does it lead to, and what can one obtain from it?" Hai Bodong finally gave voice to the curiosity that had nagged at him for decades.

He had been sealed because of this mysterious item, and though he had studied it thoroughly during that time, he'd never gleaned anything useful. Even after handing the map over, he couldn't let go of the mystery.

"Oh, that? It's a sheet from my cousin's bed. She wet the bed when she was a kid and it got thrown out. I just didn't want the family's embarrassment being exposed to the world, so I decided to pick it up. Nothing special." Xiao Yan casually fabricated nonsense while watching Hai Bodong's face.

Far away in Wu Tan City, Xiao Yu inexplicably sneezed.

Hai Bodong's mouth twitched. 'Kid, if you don't want to reveal the truth, just say so. But can't you make up a better lie? This map's been around for decades—there's no way it's your cousin's old bedding.'

"Oh, our family lineage is rather strange. Don't be fooled by my age—I'm actually of high seniority in the clan. That cousin of mine is a few hundred years old and basically an old monster." Xiao Yan added casually, seeing the doubt in Hai Bodong's eyes.

"I see. So that's the story behind the map..." Although Hai Bodong knew full well the 'bedwetting cousin' story was absurd, he could tell that Xiao Yan wasn't willing to share the map's true origins. Deciding not to press the matter further, he quickly offered a few polite words and dropped the topic.

Seeing Hai Bodong let the matter go, Xiao Yan smiled and continued, "Elder Hai, our first agreement is now fulfilled. But don't forget, we still have a second deal."

"Of course. Just tell me what you need me to do. As long as it's within my ability, I'll do it." Hai Bodong sighed, preparing himself for what might be asked of him.

"It's nothing too difficult. I just want you to accompany me to the Black-Corner Region," Xiao Yan said with a smile.

"The Black-Corner Region?" Hai Bodong's face changed instantly. He shook his head like a rattle-drum. "No way. I'm not going to that place."

He had never been there, but he had heard of its notorious reputation—a land of utter chaos, full of opportunity but rife with danger. Even as a Dou Huang, there was no guarantee of safety there. He'd have to be mad to go.

"Elder Hai, this wasn't what we agreed to." Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you're planning to break your promise just because your strength has returned?"

"I did promise to help with one task, but I also said it had to be within my limits. You're asking me to leave my home and enter a place as perilous as that. Don't you think you're being a bit unreasonable?"

"You make a valid point," Xiao Yan nodded calmly. "But if Elder Hai agrees to help me, I'll offer you something in return."

He had anticipated Hai Bodong's reluctance. It wasn't realistic to expect someone to venture into the Black-Corner Region on a mere verbal agreement. He had come prepared to pay a price.

"Have you ever heard of the Violet Spirit Recovery Pill?" Xiao Yan asked.

"Violet Spirit Recovery Pill? What's that?" Hai Bodong looked puzzled. The name was unfamiliar, but considering Xiao Yan was offering it as payment, it had to be valuable.

"It's a very special Pill," Xiao Yan explained. "Although it's technically a Tier Five Pill, its difficulty rivals that of Tier Six. It's not useful to most people, but for someone like you, it's comparable in effectiveness to the Sovereign Spirit Pill."

He paused before continuing, "The Violet Spirit Recovery Pill can fully restore strength lost due to injuries or sealings. For someone who had their power forcibly stripped away, it can make a world of difference."

(End of Chapter)

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