"I'm not trying to hit on you!"
Xiang Mantang, who was not good with words, couldn't help feeling anxious when he heard the girl's sarcastic remark. He hurriedly said, "You really look a lot like my sister. I'm not joking. Can you tell me your name? Let's go to the hospital to get tested. Don't worry, I won't make you come for nothing. Whether it turns out you are or aren't, I will give you one million yuan."
The girl looked at Xiang Mantang's excited expression and listened to his promise, seeming to believe he wasn't just kidding. The smile on her face then faded.
Afterward, she took a careful look at Xiang Mantang and said in a low voice, "My name is Chen Qianqian. I have my own family, and my last name is not Xiang. You must have mistaken me for someone else. As for the one million yuan, I'm not interested in such a small amount of money, so forget about it!"
Chen Qianqian didn't doubt Xiang Mantang's words, as it seemed unlikely that someone who appeared to be powerful and significant would stop her and prevent her from leaving if he were a pauper.
It was quite normal for him to offer one million yuan.
But she didn't want to go with him to get tested and waste her time.
"What about ten million yuan... no, one hundred million yuan?!"
Xiang Mantang hesitated upon hearing Chen Qianqian's response, then said as much.
It wasn't that he was stingy. He had money and was willing to spend it. It's just that he didn't have that much money; in total, he had a bit over ten billion yuan, almost all of which was set aside as a betrothal gift for Mu Jinyu. The only cash he had left to offer was one hundred million yuan.
In other words, to confirm whether the girl in front of him was his sister, he was ready to spend his entire fortune.
After speaking, Xiang Mantang, afraid Chen Qianqian would refuse, pleaded again with a beseeching tone, "Please help me. I'm desperate to know what has become of my sister!"
Xiang Mantang knew he shouldn't be so impatient, as it might scare Chen Qianqian. He should have taken his time to get to know her and then, once they were acquainted, obtain a few strands of her hair for testing. If he had discovered that she truly was his sister, he could have considered revealing the truth to her gradually.
Such impatience might frighten her. Even if Chen Qianqian were willing to help, if it turned out she was indeed his sister, suddenly learning about her different heritage—that she wasn't the biological child of her family—it could cause her to collapse.
But having endured decades of torment, Xiang Mantang, at the moment he found Chen Qianqian, could no longer bear it. He urgently needed to know whether the girl before him was indeed his sister Xiang Yinxui!
If she wasn't, then losing one hundred million yuan wouldn't matter.
If she were, he would spend time with her to ease her anxiety and fear, helping her gradually return to normal and understand that with a brother by her side, if her adoptive parents rejected her, he could give her the whole world!
Even if it meant relinquishing his position as the Big Dipper Tianshu at Dragon King Hall or giving up the title of Slaughter Redemption Slayer Lord, he would not hesitate!
Looking at Xiang Mantang's pleading eyes, Chen Qianqian's expression softened a bit.
After a moment of hesitation, she shook her head and said, "Forget the money. I can help you with this, although I don't think I'm your sister. But this will have to wait until after I've taken care of some urgent business I have right now…"
"What urgent matter? Are you in some kind of trouble? Tell me, maybe I can help you!"
Xiang Mantang, upon hearing Chen Qianqian's words, immediately asked anxiously.
"A few days ago, when I came here to have fun, I lost an earring. It was a gift from my mother on my eighteenth birthday, so I need to find it," Chen Qianqian explained.
Xiang Mantang said, "Then I'll call someone to help you look for it. Can you come with me to get tested first?"
"No, I want to find it myself," Chen Qianqian frowned, her tone a bit willful and stubborn.
Xiang Mantang gave a wry smile and ultimately had to tamp down his impatience, nodding and saying, "Alright, I'll help you look for it then."
After speaking, he seemed to remember something and added, "By the way, describe what your earring looks like, and I'll let my people know so they can split up and search for it."
"Okay," Chen Qianqian nodded, and immediately described the design of her earring to Xiang Mantang.
After listening, Xiang Mantang typed up the details and sent it off to the subordinates who had come with him.
The subordinates, who were originally planning to report to Xiang Mantang, received the message and dispersed to various places to search for Chen Qianqian's earring instead.
"I remember going to this area, though I'm not sure. I might have lost it over there. Let's go and take a look,"
Chen Qianqian pointed out a direction to Xiang Mantang after he finished sending the message, asking him to accompany her there.
Xiang Mantang naturally agreed.
Afterward, Xiang Mantang, Chen Qianqian, and an assassin they brought from the "Desolation" Guild, walked onwards.
After half an hour had passed.
Xiang Mantang, while scanning the surroundings, continuously searched for the lost earring as he moved forward.
Soon, they came across a narrow valley entrance. The valley was lush and blooming with countless flowers, stunningly beautiful.
Upon seeing the valley, Chen Qianqian's eyes lit up, and she excitedly said, "Yes, yes, yes, this is the valley. I had fun in there before, and my earlobe even got scratched by a tree. It's very possible that I lost my earring in here."
"Then let's go in and take a look,"
Xiang Mantang replied, hiding his impatience.
"Hmm."
Chen Qianqian immediately took the lead and hurried into the valley!
Xiang Mantang followed close behind, of course, without neglecting to inspect the surroundings; Chen Qianqian's earring could have been dropped nearby.
The two of them walked through the valley, one after the other, with Xiang Mantang beginning to search for the earring among the flowers.
As Chen Qianqian had Xiang Mantang helping her search, she felt too lazy to look herself, her eyes dazzled to exhaustion and pain, choosing rather to enjoy the flowers and let Xiang Mantang seek for her.
"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!"
Just then, a group of people rushed into the valley from the narrow entrance!
"Beidou Tianshu, we have finally caught you alone!"
A stern-faced young man stood at the forefront, his cold gaze fixed on Xiang Mantang who was searching for the earring amidst the flowers like searching for a needle in the ocean.
Upon hearing the commotion, Xiang Mantang turned to look at them.
The newcomers were several hundred strong, each one emanating a fierce aura, exuding a savage qi—a clear sign they were bloodstained warriors.
"Hmm? Who are you?"
Xiang Mantang, unaware of their background and not taking them seriously, directly asked about their origins.
He speculated that they must be from Withered Tree Quest for Spring or a group of enemies he had offended in the past.
"Enough talk, kill!"
"Kill him!"
The crowd immediately grasped their long knives and charged toward Xiang Mantang!
"Ah-Xiu, get behind me!"
Seeing the crowd rushing over, Chen Qianqian, already terrified and trembling, immediately hid behind him upon hearing Xiang Mantang's words.
"Kill!"
By now, some had already approached, raising their long knives and sneering as they aimed for Xiang Mantang's neck!
Xiang Mantang pinched the flowers and leaves around him, flicked his wrist, and the petals instantly hardened like metal slices.
"Whiz, whiz, whiz!"
With a flick of his hand, Xiang Mantang shot the petals towards them!
The petals sliced through their throats, felling them dead on the spot!