Chapter 563: Revelation.
With Tatyana on her lap and Cecile on her right, Yasenia looked to her left and smiled. "Well, Tengliu. Let's talk now that we are in a similar position."
Tengliu looked at Yasenia closely, and her body relaxed, showing a smirk. "I admit it. You caught me off guard. I didn't expect you to have the power to restrain someone at my level."
Yasenia waited for Tengliu to continue.
"Yet, these actions confirm many of my suspicions. First, you are not that strong. Second, only after I'm completely tied and under your control do you consider we are on the same playing field. This point also tells me many things about how you see me, and outside this room, you can't stop me without using that dangerous thing you possess."
Yasenia lifted her eyebrow. "If things don't go my way, I can kill you and be done with it."
Tengliu smiled. "Oh, Yasenia. Don't play silly games with me. You and I know that killing or even hurting me permanently is not something you can do now."
The Matriarch continued. "Moreover, this tells me that unless you have a method to control me all the time for the rest of your life, I'll be able to retaliate sooner rather than later as soon as I'm free."
Yasenia leaned back with Tatyana and nodded without any fear. "You are right. I'm utterly powerless against you in that regard. You may be physically restrained, but in truth, I'm not a threat to you. You have an advantage even in this situation that could be called dire for you."
Tengliu was confused. "Then why did you do this? Didn't you consider that this can create resentment inside me and take my chance to retaliate even if we become friendly in the future?"
Yasenia sighed and complained. "You were stepping on my bottom line like an uneducated bandit, and you expect me not to retaliate in the slightest and allow myself to be pushed below your talon? I do not fuss about a bit skin-to-skin interaction. However, you were about to kiss and try to charm me with your skill to then, most likely, force yourself on me!"
Yasenia gently pushed Tatyana off her and seated her on the sofa. Then, she leaned forward and looked directly into the harpy's eyes. "I'm going to be honest with you, Tengliu. I want to kill you. However, if what Ghana said to me about you in the past is fifty percent true, it is worth it not to do so."
Yasenia showed a flood of killing intent that was not faked as her pupils thinned and the receding red in her iris gained new brightness. "Also, don't think you are completely out of danger. I can kill you, kill Ghana, and clean all the harpies in my clan with a single wave of my hand. After doing so, other clans would respect me as strong. My only enemies would be the entire harpy race and your allies."
Tengliu smiled. "Isn't that a lot?"
Yasenia laughed angrily. "Do you think your subordinates will be safe when the other powers learn about your death? I can use the time it will take for danger to fall onto my clan to strengthen me enough to retaliate. Moreover, in the worst-case scenario, I can propose a war to resolve things "fairly," and when all your little birds gather in one place, I'll annihilate each of them with my talisman. Do you believe it?"
Tengliu's smile disappeared. The scenario Yasenia suggested was possible. "You think they are easy prey? Even without me, they are still a powerful clan and will know if they are being guided to a trap."
Yasenia laughed in mockery. "But you are the Guardian and strongest harpy who keeps the enemies and allies at bay. You are the connection link in the chain of relations. With your death, everything would collapse quickly."
Tengliu squinted. "Tsk, I really like you, but I hate that head of yours. You would make for a great mate if you were a bit stupider."
Yasenia leaned back and closed her eyes for two seconds while taking a deep breath.
When she opened her eyes again, they were completely golden and warm like before.
With a sigh, she spoke like usual. "But that way is filled with too many dangers. Hence, a path without everyone killing each other is best."
Yasenia looked at Tengliu and uncoiled her tail to free her. "Now-."
Tengliu instantly clenched her fist and punched Yasenia.
Yasenia saw a flash and barely placed her hand in front of the strike before it impacted her.
*BANG!*
The furniture below them exploded, and Tatyana and Cecile were blown back a few steps.
And Carbira had her eyes lean forward while her little mouth opened in disbelief.
"That's impossible! Don't you dare scam me after all of this, Yasenia!"
It is natural for Tengliu to be angry. After all, the people of this continent couldn't cross the last step into the Transcendence Realm because of a lack of energy and because the world's heaven was still too young to allow the cultivators to cross this step.
Tatyana's strike when she arrived wouldn't have hurt it if the Heavens weren't this young.
Yasenia smiled. "Well, it's normal not to believe me. So... analyze the quality of the formation below you in detail. You can even try to break it if you want."
Tengliu looked at the ceiling, floor, and walls shining with complex lines and runes and focused on it. "Ghana, come here and help me."
Ghana took a step forward but stopped after a second, looking at Yasenia with complicated eyes.
Yasenia nodded with a smile.
Ghana smiled gratefully and quickly went to help Tengliu.
Yasenia approached Carbira while those two tried to inspect the formation.
"Nothing will happen, so don't be this tense, okay?"
Carbira quickly nodded and muttered. "S-Sorry for being so useless, Lady Yasenia."
Yasenia patted her head soothingly. "Don't worry. Also, why have you reverted back to Lady Yasenia?"
Carbira's eyes shyly danced. "Y-Yasenia."
Yasenia smiled. "En. That's better."
Cecile approached and said without filters. "Are we really not going to kill her?"
The dragoness hugged her and stole her lips in a tantalizing kiss that softened the phoenix's legs. "I'm not, sweetheart. Haven't you heard our conversation?"
Cecile buried her face in Yasenia's neck and smelled her scent. "I-I've heard. Sorry."
Yasenia hugged her soulmate tightly and comforted her until she saw Tengliu about to finish.
After a few minutes, Tengliu stopped and looked between Tatyana and Yasenia with complicated eyes. Thanks to her Fate-attributed physique, she could perceive a bit of the depth in the formation, and it scared her.
"How did you build a formation of this quality in this room without my notice? Moreover... This... This is not from our continent."
Yasenia returned to the couch and patted her side. Tengliu sat there and looked at our dragoness, waiting for her answer.
"You see, Tengliu. My clan has seniors who have already cracked the secret to increase past the limits imposed by this young World. I'll come completely clean with you this time. The Heavens cried in anguish because our experiment was successful, and a senior managed to hurt them."
Tengliu's expression became solemn at that claim.
Yasenia saw it and asked with a smirk. "Knowing this, do you think we have the qualifications to cooperate with your clan?"