Volume One: The Cloud-Veiled Immortal Palace Chapter 117: Exchange

Chapter 117: The Exchange

Nangong Xun gripped Yu Nan’s throat with his left hand and Xiao Shanshan’s with his right, slowly tightening his grip. The two women’s faces twisted in agony as the air was squeezed from their lungs. This slow, cruel method of murder was bone-chilling. It was clear that Nangong Xun was using this to force a favorable answer from Zhou Hao.

Choked and unable to cry out, the two women were drenched by the torrential downpour, appearing as if they had just been dragged from the river. In their youthful prime, these two beauties looked particularly pitiable.

There was no doubt that in the current situation, Nangong Xun did not need to resort to deception. The lives of the two women now rested entirely on whether Zhou Hao was willing to surrender.

Opposite them, Zhou Hao clenched his fists. He watched their suffering in silence, but the yellow-skinned gourd hovering above his head betrayed his inner turmoil. The seven-inch-tall gourd spun rapidly, emitting rings of white arc light. The void hummed, and invisible sword qi condensed, boiling with killing intent.

"Young man, do not be foolish! If you dare to strike, I guarantee they will die before I do. Your gourd is indeed formidable, but you cannot fully control it. With just a slight increase in pressure from my hands, their lives will be extinguished," Nangong Xun sneered, reading Zhou Hao’s thoughts perfectly. "Of course, you could also choose not to save them, and in doing so, you could kill me to avenge your master."

Two Night Envoys stood by Nangong Xun’s side, watching coldly while acting as his protectors. The yellow gourd was their greatest concern. While the Night Envoys could rely on their deep cultivation and immortal artifacts, Nangong Xun was far more vulnerable; his status as a Great Immortal was largely inflated. If he were struck by the sword qi of the gourd, he would undoubtedly be gravely injured.

Zhou Hao was no fool. He knew that handing over the gourd meant death with no chance of survival, yet refusing to do so meant watching Yu Nan and Xiao Shanshan perish. His heart burned with anxiety; he could find no way to resolve this dilemma.

"Zhou Hao, negotiate with Nangong Xun to stall for time. I will use the Void Escape technique to rescue them," Huohuo transmitted via telepathy.

"It’s too dangerous. The Night Envoys are right next to him. It’s questionable whether you can even get close, and I cannot let you throw your life away," Zhou Hao replied.

"You underestimate my Void Escape. Getting close is not a problem. Just do as I say and negotiate; I will be back in a flash," Huohuo finished and vanished into the void.

All of this occurred through mental communication in an instant. Zhou Hao made his decision, his gaze hardening.

"Nangong Xun, you win!" Zhou Hao said, cradling the yellow gourd in his hands and gritting his teeth.

"Then let us make the exchange," Nangong Xun smiled.

"Wait. Release your grip first and let them catch their breath," Zhou Hao said, holding the gourd against his chest.

Nangong Xun glanced at the Night Envoys and raised his lips. "No problem."

The iron-like grips loosened. Yu Nan and Xiao Shanshan’s necks were finally freed, and they gasped for air, their swan-like throats marked with striking, crimson handprints.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, as the two women gasped for air, they vanished into thin air. However, a moment later, they reappeared not far from their original position, with three figures behind them.

It turned out the Night Envoys had placed a restriction on them, allowing them to track their movements or end their lives at will. The third figure was Huohuo. She had attempted to use the Void Escape to rescue the women, but the moment she tried to transport them, she was detected by the Night Envoys. Not only did the rescue fail, but she herself was captured.

Zhou Hao’s pupils dilated, his golden heavy-pupils manifesting, and a brilliant sun rose behind him, making him appear like a son of the Sun God.

"Zhou Hao, you are still too naive to play tricks on me. But rest assured, I only want the gourd. As long as you hand it over obediently, I will not kill these two rebellious disciples of mine," Nangong Xun mocked, as if he had foreseen everything.

"Do you think I would trust the words of an enemy?" Zhou Hao scoffed.

One of the Night Envoys spoke up: "Since there are three of them here, we can kill one and use the other two as leverage. We aren't worried that you won't agree."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the Night Envoy struck without hesitation, thrusting a thin, snake-like chain sword toward Huohuo’s brow.

"You dare?" Enraged, Zhou Hao frantically channeled the gourd, which spewed white light that transformed into a thousand rays of sword qi, blasting toward the Night Envoy.

Clang!

Seeing the surging sword qi, the Night Envoy hurriedly parried with his chain sword. The long chain shattered into pieces, and his black robes were pierced through by the qi, forcing him to stumble back several steps before he could stop.

"Everyone, stop!" Nangong Xun intervened. "Neither side can do anything to the other, so let us take a step back." He turned to the furious Zhou Hao. "Zhou Hao, I will show the utmost sincerity and release two of them first. But you must stop playing games. Hand me the gourd, and I will release the last one immediately. How about that?"

Zhou Hao remained silent, his eyes locked on the Night Envoy who had tried to kill Huohuo. He had not expected such ruthlessness; if he had been a second slower, Huohuo would have certainly died on the spot. These Night Envoys were more terrifying than he had imagined. Facing such powerful enemies without strength or a means of survival, one would surely be devoured until not even bones remained.

Seeing that Zhou Hao did not speak, Nangong Xun beckoned to the other Night Envoy to release the hostages. The latter nodded and pushed Yu Nan and Xiao Shanshan forward. Huohuo, however, remained in the hands of the Night Envoy who had tried to kill her. After the previous clash, he dared not act rashly; his only option was to keep Huohuo bound as his life insurance.

"Do not try to bluff me. You must have placed restrictions on their bodies; otherwise, the Night Envoy wouldn't have been able to intercept them the moment Huohuo tried to rescue them. Besides, everyone knows how overly cautious you are. If you are truly sincere, do not make me say it a second time," Zhou Hao said, gesturing toward the women.

Nangong Xun gave a cold, mirthless smile. "Naturally."

The Night Envoy extended a pale arm and curled his fingers; two streaks of black energy emerged from the backs of the women and vanished into his hand.

Afterward, Yu Nan and Xiao Shanshan were pushed toward Zhou Hao. He signaled for them to stand behind him and apologized, "I am sorry for the suffering I have caused you."

Yu Nan said weakly, "It was my impulsiveness that led to this. We must find a way to save Huohuo; she was captured because she tried to save us."

Xiao Shanshan nodded. "I feel so guilty. Zhou Hao, I want to help you save Huohuo!"

Zhou Hao handed them two immortal pills. "Eat these first to recover your immortal essence. Don’t worry, we will definitely get Huohuo back!"

Nangong Xun then called out, "Zhou Hao, it is time for you to show your sincerity. Let us exchange simultaneously—you give me the gourd, and I give you the person."

Zhou Hao held up the yellow gourd. "Fine. I will count to three, and we will exchange at the same time!"

Nangong Xun pushed Huohuo forward from the Night Envoy’s grasp. "Start counting!"

"One!" Zhou Hao took a step forward in the air.

"Two!" Nangong Xun also stepped forward.

"Three!" The two were now only ten meters apart.

Zhou Hao pushed the gourd toward Nangong Xun, whose eyes burned with greed, while simultaneously, the latter pushed the tightly bound Huohuo toward Zhou Hao.