novelraw Chapter 433: If You Fear Death So Much, Why Cultivate Immortality?
Chapter 433: If You Fear Death So Much, Why Cultivate Immortality?
“You’re going to the God-Abandoned Land?”
“Yes, any problem with that?” Jin Yuan crossed her arms with a haughty expression. “Don’t tell me you all are too scared to go.”
Feng Jiu Si and the others exchanged looks, dumbfounded.
None of them expected Jin Yuan to barge in and immediately announce her intent to visit the God-Abandoned Land. Coincidentally, Yu Zhao had mentioned the same thing not long ago.
Feng Jiu Si’s gaze turned speculative. “Have you been in contact with Liu Yun privately?”
“That’s right.”
Jin Yuan admitted it without hesitation.
Her response only deepened their confusion.
“She told me she wanted to train in the God-Abandoned Land, but none of you dared to accompany her. So she asked if I could go instead. I agreed.”
Everyone: !“You don’t even like her,” Huo Shao Yan said with a strange expression.
“But she calls me ‘sister’ in private,” Jin Yuan said, arching a brow. “So I decided to join your little wager. If I win, Liu Yun is mine.”
Everyone: !!!
“Are you insane? You’re a woman!” Tu Xiao exclaimed, utterly shocked.
“So what?” Jin Yuan twirled a lock of her hair with a sly smile. “What if Liu Yun prefers women?”
The four recalled how Yu Zhao had kept her distance despite their best efforts to woo her. Yet she secretly reached out to Jin Yuan, who barely acknowledged her. Their expressions turned sour, as if they’d swallowed flies.
“I’m also a Young Master, just like you all. Why should you be allowed, and not me? Besides, I’ve been there before.”
Feng Jiu Si and the others stiffened. They suddenly remembered that Jin Yuan was the only one among them who had ventured to the God-Abandoned Land and returned safely.
This realization steadied their nerves.
If Jin Yuan could survive, surely they wouldn’t fare worse. Perhaps the place wasn’t as fearsome as the rumors claimed.
Feng Jiu Si asked cautiously, “Jin Yuan, are you confident you’ll make it back safely from the God-Abandoned Land?”
“Not at all,” Jin Yuan replied nonchalantly.
Tu Xiao’s eyes widened. “Then why are you still going? Are you courting death?”
Jin Yuan cast him a disdainful glance. “If you’re so afraid of dying, why bother cultivating immortality? Just stay at home and enjoy being the pampered heir of the Tu family.”
“Jin Yuan!”
Tu Xiao nearly leapt up in rage.
Jin Yuan paused her hair-twirling, and a golden glint about an inch long flickered at her fingertips. “Hmm?”
Tu Xiao froze, his bravado evaporating. He quickly shifted topics. “I think we should take more time to plan this.”
“Do as you like. I’ve already made up my mind. By the way, where’s Liu Yun? I want to see her.”
Jin Yuan spoke with the authority of someone completely at home, leaving Feng Jiu Si no choice but to have a clan member escort her to Yu Zhao’s room.
Huo Shao Yan voiced his concerns. “Jin Yuan wouldn’t cause trouble for Liu Yun, would she?”
Tu Xiao rolled his eyes. “They’re practically ready to share a bed. Why would you worry?”
“What?” Huo Shao Yan was dumbfounded. “Jin Yuan was joking, right?”
“Jin Yuan never jokes,” Shui Qiu Bai said gravely. “She’s serious.”
A heavy silence fell over the room after those words.
…
“You said that to them?”
“Yes, any problem with it?”
Yu Zhao couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.
She had contacted Jin Yuan hoping she could help persuade Feng Jiu Si and the others. If that didn’t work, she planned to explore alternative strategies.
Instead, Jin Yuan dove headfirst into the fray, forcing the others to follow.
It was a route Yu Zhao had never considered.
“You didn’t think they might refuse?”
Jin Yuan scoffed. “I know them too well. These privileged heirs, born with silver spoons in their mouths, think themselves unmatched. They can’t bear being outdone.
If anyone agrees to accompany you, the others won’t sit still. To back out would mean losing face. For the sake of their absurd pride, they’ll all agree.”
That was precisely why Jin Yuan had come in person.
Yu Zhao asked again, “What about you? Why are you willing to go to the God-Abandoned Land?”
Her reason was to escape the tracking of the major families. Jin Yuan had no such need to risk herself.
“The God-Abandoned Land is an excellent place. It’d be a waste if they didn’t go.”
Jin Yuan’s tone was flat, but Yu Zhao couldn’t shake the chill that crept into her heart.
Realization struck Yu Zhao like lightning.
Jin Yuan wasn’t here for her. She was targeting Feng Jiu Si and the others.
With the Great Thousand Alliance’s selection nearing, the chances of the remaining competitors would soar if some of their rivals met with “accidents.”
Yu Zhao’s proposal to go to the God-Abandoned Land had inadvertently aligned with Jin Yuan’s interests.
That was why Jin Yuan had rushed to her side.
Rather than mutual assistance, their alliance was more a matter of convenience.
The next day, Feng Jiu Si and the others came knocking, announcing their readiness to accompany them to the God-Abandoned Land.
Though wary of its dangerous reputation, they dared not disclose their destination to their families. Thus, the group heading out consisted solely of Feng Jiu Si, Tu Xiao, Shui Qiu Bai, Huo Shao Yan, Yu Zhao, and Jin Yuan.
Jin Yuan suggested traveling by starship, but Tu Xiao and the others vehemently opposed the idea.
“Starships are too slow! Let’s use teleportation arrays—it’s just a few extra jumps.”
“Yeah, starships aren’t even safe, mmmph!”
Before Huo Shao Yan could finish, Shui Qiu Bai clamped a hand over his mouth.
Jin Yuan had already heard from Yu Zhao about their misadventures with starships. She thought it was bad luck but didn’t take it seriously—until now. Realizing they were genuinely scared of starships, she mocked them mercilessly.
Their faces darkened, and they spent the journey wearing sour expressions, avoiding her gaze.
Jin Yuan, unfazed, chatted exclusively with Yu Zhao. She even held Yu Zhao’s hand, praising her smooth skin and sweet scent, leaving Feng Jiu Si and the others utterly speechless.
By the time they finally reached the small world of Divine Tree Star, closest to the God-Abandoned Land, the group was at its wits’ end.
“Let’s find a place to stay for a few days,” Feng Jiu Si suggested as they exited the teleportation array.
After settling at an inn, Feng Jiu Si gathered everyone in his room.
“The God-Abandoned Land is no ordinary perilous zone,” Feng Jiu Si said gravely. “We represent the Five Great Families. We must not succumb to greed or act against each other for personal gain.”
Tu Xiao and Huo Shao Yan froze, their expressions shifting.
Before now, they’d only thought of the external dangers of this venture. They hadn’t considered the possibility that the greatest threat might come from the people sitting in the same room.
Now that Feng Jiu Si had pointed it out, the gravity of the situation hit them like a ton of bricks.
Tu Xiao abruptly stood up. “I’m not going!”