Seeing Yu Yuan sizing her up with that aggressively invasive gaze, Xi He only felt her scalp go numb, and her whole body became uncomfortable.
This scene was strikingly similar to the initial encounter.
She took a deep breath and stared at Yu Yuan without saying a word.
But her eyes were unusually cold and harsh, filled with deep hatred and unwillingness.
Yu Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly, somewhat surprised, he said, "I thought you would shout at me like before to let you go, or threaten me with the Demon Emperor... Why do you look like you have resigned to your fate now?"
"Would you let me go if I did that?"
Xi He's noble phoenix eyes twinkled slightly, clear yet profound, like an unfathomably deep, dark pool, as if she had long seen through Yu Yuan's true face.
Hearing her words, Yu Yuan grinned, revealing a set of neat white teeth, "I could let you go, but you don't know I was responsible for our first meeting, let's make another deal."
Xi He's heart sank instantly.
Hundreds of years ago, she had agreed to his terms, ultimately aiding his escape.
Had she not agreed back then, would there not be so many issues now?
As Xi He fell into contemplation, Lu Jun, whose presence was protected by the White Jade Disk, had his expression change.
He had previously felt that Yu Yuan seemed familiar with his mother and suspected something had happened, thus phrases like "fallen into my hands again" and "make another deal".
At this moment, seeing his own mother pondering, he suddenly had a bad premonition.
Just as that thought appeared, Lu Jun felt a burning rage inside and couldn't hold back anymore, he burst out cursing, "Damn Yu Yuan! If you dare, kill me! When my father and uncle return, they will settle the score with you!
But if you expect me to grovel at your feet, that's wishful thinking!"
"Childish, always thinking about fighting and killing…" Yu Yuan sneered, and casually waved his hand, sending the Golden Crow Crown Prince protected by the White Jade Disk flying out.
"Step aside; I'll deal with you later!"
His words caused Xi He to tremble slightly.
Not only was she now in Yu Yuan's hands, but her only remaining child as well!
With this thought, Xi He sighed as if resigning to her fate, and said with a cold voice, articulating clearly, "As long as you can spare my son and I, no matter what the deal is, the palace… I agree to it!"
Far away, the Golden Crow Crown Prince uttered an angry and desperate howl.
"Mother, don't worry about me. I would rather die than see you dishonored!"
"What is he thinking?"
Yu Yuan raised his eyebrows, lifted Xi He high over his head, and said solemnly, "Your son seems to have some unhealthy thoughts, as a mother, you must have been lax in his education, letting him be exposed to things he shouldn't have… cough cough!"
While speaking, he stole a glance at her prominent peaks.
"Let's talk business!" Yu Yuan shifted his gaze back, seriously saying, "This deal is simple. You just need to answer three questions honestly and make a vow to the Heavenly Dao as a witness, then I will let you and your son leave."
Xi He's expression changed, seemingly not expecting it to be that simple.
She looked at Yu Yuan, saying in a deep voice, "Will you also make a vow?"
"Of course!" Yu Yuan quickly replied.
His brisk attitude even made Xi He somewhat hesitant to believe.
But being at his mercy, all she could do now was to trust him.
Yu Yuan took out the Daluo Divine Needle, pierced Xi He's brow with it, then let go, "Come on, first, make a vow exactly as I say…"
He transmitted a lengthy vow template to Xi He, spanning over a thousand words.
This template sealed all possible loopholes, leaving even the most cunning and sharpest minds no room to find an escape in a short time.
Under his supervision, Xi He reluctantly made a lengthy vow.
Once the vow was made, should she lie while answering Yu Yuan's questions, she would immediately be struck by lightning as punishment from the Heavenly Dao.
"What do you want to ask?"
Xi He's demeanor was icy, exuding a dignified, inviolable authority.
"First question, over a decade ago, the presence of the Chaos Bell Fragments was detected when the Demon Emperor Hall manifested in the Northern Continent. Do you know where that fragment of the Chaos Bell is?"
"Chaos Bell Fragments?"
Xi He slightly furrowed her brows, pondering briefly before directly responding, "Throughout these years, I have been in self-imposed encapsulation, sleeping to avoid karmic backlash, only awakening recently. Thus, I do not know the whereabouts of that Chaos Bell fragment."
Upon hearing her answer, Yu Yuan's brows wrinkled slightly.
He had learned from the Earth Book borrowed at the Longevity Mountain's Wuzhuang Temple that the Chaos Bell fragment was in the Northern Continent, but despite deploying various forces and even searching alongside the Golden Spirit Saint Mother, his teacher, they found nothing, not even a hint of the Chaos Bell fragment.
He analyzed it carefully, and there were only two possibilities.
Either the Earth Book was wrong, or someone had hidden the Chaos Bell fragment.
Considering there was no conflict between him and Immortal Zhenyuan, the likelihood of an error in the Earth Book was not high, thus the second possibility was much more probable.
Especially after Yu Yuan noticed the subtle maneuvers behind the Demon Court, he increasingly suspected this Heavenly Queen of the Demon Court.