Chapter 25: Are you satisfied now?

"Then what would it take for you to help me?"

Ashen, wearing a sinister smile, showed three fingers to Shiyue as he answered:

"Accept my three conditions!"

"W-What Conditions?" Shiyue asked with a frown, caution reflecting on her face.

She didn't know what Ashen would demand from her in exchange of walking into a trap of his own volition.

Ashen smiled politely in response as he answered: "Nothing too difficult, you can just consider them requests from me."

Shiyue nodded as she asked: "Alright, tell me, what are those conditions? I don't think that I can't complete some requests for my sister's safety"

"So here is my first condition, listen well" Ashen informed with a smile, raising his index finger, he said: "Become my maid and accompany me in my house for a year. It isn't much right?"

His smile widened as he gazed at Shiyue, waiting for her response and it didn't take long for Shiyue to understand what he was asking of her as she shouted with wide eyes:

"W-What?

How can you ask for such a ridiculous thing?

Do you think I am some lowly woman who will serve you tea and make your breakfast?

I belong to the richest family in the southern region of the empire, Do you think you are worthy enough to have me as your maid?"

Ashen kept silent, listening to her outrage with a calm expression.

After she was done, he smiled widely at her as he shooed her away, speaking: "Then go and ask your rich family for help. Why have you come to me? I have to sleep anyways"

Saying that he turned around facing the bed, acting as if he was going to sleep. This was a subtle reminder for Shiyue of the situation she was in. She had no right to complain.

Shiyue also remembered the predicament she was in as she thought to herself: "If I could ask my family for help, would I come to you, you bastard?"

Afterwards, her gaze fell on Ashen who had already leaned on the bed to sleep.

She continued to get anxious as she bit her lower lip before shouting: "I-I agree, but I need you to promise me that you will not touch me inappropriately while I am your maid. Also, A year is too long, I will only agree if you reduce the duration to a month!"

Hearing her agreement, Ashen got right back up from the bed with a cheerful expression as he held her hand between his, nodding with a smile as he agreed: "Alright!"

He had already predicted that she wouldn't agree to this condition right away, therefore, he mentioned a longer duration.

His original request was going to be to make her his maid for a month, however, he knew that she would attempt to reduce it, therefore, he mentioned a year in his condition. This made Shiyue mistake herself in a favorable position in this deal after successfully reducing the duration.

Ashen was happy with how his first condition went, however, the next condition was a real headache. He knew that it wouldn't be easy to make Shiyue accept this condition, however, he had his ways.

He maintained his smile as he suggested: "Now, Let's move on to my second condition"

Shiyue nodded as she didn't want to waste time in saving her sister. She had already accepted her fate, therefore, she was ready to sacrifice herself to Ashen.

She raised her right hand, her three fingers raised, facing the heavens as she began:

"I, Bi Shiyue, take an oath to complete all the three conditions, proposed by Wang Ashen after he saves my sister.

If I fail or refuse to complete these conditions, My heart will be corrupted and my cultivation will become stagnant for the rest of my life. Heaven and Earth shall bear witness to my oath!!"

Completing her oath, Shiyue breathed a sigh of relief, asking Ashen while gazing at him: "Are you satisfied now?"

"Hmm" Ashen nodded with a calm expression, showing his agreement.

Now, with this, Ashen's plan was entering its second phase.

He called Shiyue to sit on his bed before asking: "Now tell me, what was written in the letter"

Although he knew everything about the demands made in the letter, he acted oblivious to the details to not let Shiyue suspect him.

Shiyue sat on the bed and took out the letter before handing it to Ashen.

Ashen went through the letter, grasping all the details he required as he held Shiyue's hand between his, assuring her with a smile: "Don't worry Shiyue, I shall leave right now and save Veli from this fiend's clutches"

"What? Right now? Isn't it too dark right now?" Shiyue asked with a surprised expression.

Ashen shook his head, answering: "I need to be fast to save your sister. Also, this is the best time to leave the sect as most people would be asleep"

"A-Alright!" Shiyue nodded as she thought that Ashen must have a plan if he was this confident and his words made sense, therefore, she just agreed.

Also, her priority was her sister's safety, why would she worry about Ashen?

He could die for all she cared.

Ashen got up from the bed as he suggested: "Let's go Shiyue, You should go to your house and get some rest. I will make sure to return with Veli safely."

Shiyue nodded in agreement as she left Ashen's house as she parted ways with Ashen, leaving for her own house.

She had some questions, however, she discarded them, not finding them as important as her sister's safety.

Ashen was now left alone outside his house.

He, standing there, smiled menacingly as he muttered:

"Let's go see my second prey, hehe"

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(A/N - Thanks for reading. ^..^)