"You all..."
Ju Aman's eyes nearly burst from their sockets. He could not believe his own kin were casting aside their dignity, abandoning their blood feud, and choosing to serve their greatest rival.
Had most of their elders not sacrificed themselves heroically before the Great Monster and Great Han clans to protect the Ju Clan? If the spirits of those fallen heroes witnessed this scene, they would surely be unable to rest in peace—perhaps even rising from their graves in sheer fury.
The Ju Clan numbered barely thirty; now, over ten stood behind Ju Yaotong. They bowed their heads in shame, unable to meet the eyes of the two siblings, Ju Meiying and Ju Aman.
"Haha! You have made the right choice. As long as you serve this Ju Yaotong, the status of the Ju Clan will rise with the tide. In time, you might even become the second greatest power in the Manhuang Realm!" Ju Yaotong laughed heartily, his gaze lingering meaningfully on Ju Meiying, anticipating the moment she would submit.
In the Manhuang Star, where men were many and women few, what could be more satisfying than conquering a beauty of Ju Meiying's caliber—one possessing both peerless talent and celestial grace?
"What are you staring at? Would Young Master Ju Yaotong ever deceive you? With his current status, if he wished us harm, he would only need to speak a single word. The Great Monster Clan wouldn't even need to lift a finger; countless sects would hunt us down just to curry favor with them!" Ju Zhong shouted, bowing even lower before Ju Yaotong.
"Indeed. By then, the Great Monster Clan would not be seen as breaking the ancient oath, for we ourselves would never have struck a blow!" the Great Monster Elder added, stroking his beard with a cold, menacing smile.
The giants shuddered. They were no fools; they knew they were at a dead end. Only two paths remained: fight to the death to preserve their honor or surrender to Ju Yaotong. Faced with that choice, how many possessed the courage to embrace death?
"Big Sister..." A young giant looked toward Ju Meiying, his resolve shaken by the words of Ju Zhong and the Elder.
"Do not call me. You are all adults; you have the right to decide your own future," Ju Meiying replied, her voice cold and her body trembling.
She had long realized the stifling nature of their daily life. Many of her brothers and sisters were dissatisfied with their lot; Ju Yaotong's arrival was merely the spark that ignited their long-simmering resentment. Furthermore, the Ju Clan was truly incapable of resisting the Great Monster Clan at this time. The gap was as vast as heaven and earth. Even if they had recovered the Eight Inner Gates, would they even be granted the time to cultivate it?
Ju Meiying accepted that her kin chose the path of subservience, but she was determined to walk the opposite way—to preserve the last shred of the Ju Clan's dignity.
"Big Sister... will you marry Ju Yaotong?" those who had not yet chosen asked.
"No!" she breathed out coldly, stepping forward to support the wounded Ju Aman.
"Hmph! As long as we all become the Young Master's people, does Big Sister truly have another choice? You are all so foolish!" Ju Zhong's eyes narrowed with a sycophantic glint as he sneered.
The remaining giants' eyes lit up. It was true. Their Big Sister would never abandon them. If the entire clan joined the Great Monster Clan, she would be unable to stand alone; she would eventually have to follow.
Though her "allies" who had recently arrived seemed formidable, the giants did not believe one or two people could change anything. The Great Monster Clan was a mountain that could not be moved by a single solitary force.
"Big Sister... Brother Aman... I don't want to be looked down upon anymore. I don't want to struggle against savage beasts every day just for a few measly Man-Stones. I'm sorry!" A small-statured giant with pale skin, Ju Xiao, gritted his teeth and stepped behind Ju Yaotong.
"Ju Xiao... you!" Ju Aman spat a mouthful of blood, his face turning ashen.
This was the very giant who had been on the verge of death, forcing Ju Aman to risk his life at the Martial Arena to win Man-Stones for his medicine. Now, Ju Aman felt that he should have let the boy die then; saving him had been a waste of breath.
"Is this little brother still injured? I have some pills here," Ju Yaotong's eyes flickered as he casually tossed a jade bottle to Ju Xiao.
"Body Supplementing Pills?" Ju Xiao trembled with excitement. These were pills that money couldn't buy—specially refined by the Great Monster Clan's exclusive Alchemists.
Although the status of Spirit Cultivators was low in the Manhuang Realm, those with professions like Alchemists or Blacksmiths held a certain level of respect and were often kept as retainers by the great clans.
Without a second word, Ju Xiao swallowed a pill. Within moments, his complexion turned ruddy, and the heavy wounds on his body began to scab over rapidly.
"Miraculous!" The eyes of the other giants shone. The gap between them and the Great Monster Clan felt more insurmountable than ever.
As time passed, one by one, the giants made their choice. Aside from Ju Aman and Ju Meiying, the rest now stood behind Ju Yaotong—even those who had previously roared "Rather death than submission."
The scene surpassed Ju Aman's worst fears. Overwhelmed by fury, he spat out another mouthful of blood and fell unconscious.
"This lion-headed fellow didn't become the top prodigy of the Great Monster Clan by being brainless," Lan An remarked to Wu San Niang as they watched from a distance.
Ju Yaotong's casual act of giving the medicine was a masterful blend of intimidation and enticement—the perfect application of the carrot and the stick. It had pushed the wavering giants over the edge.
"What is the plan?" Wu San Niang asked.
She understood that even with their combined strength, saving the entire Ju Clan was impossible. The Great Monster Clan was far too powerful, possessing a Clan Treasure no less potent than the Great Han Heaven-Shaking Drum. A reckless move could cost them their own lives.
"We owe a debt to Senior Ju Phach Thien. Naturally, we will not allow his descendants to suffer. As for the rest of the Ju Clan... they are no concern of mine," Lan An's eyes flickered. He finally understood why Ju Meiying had not revealed the return of the Eight Inner Gates to the whole clan; she didn't fully trust her own people.
The current situation proved her wisdom. Had she spoken of it, they would not be facing just a Young Master and an Elder, but likely the Great Monster Clan Leader himself.
Wu San Niang nodded. Lan An's intent was clear: protect Ju Meiying and Aman because they were the children of Ju Phach Thien. As for the others, since they had chosen their path, their lives were their own to deal with.
Neither of them had expected to find the Ju Clan in such a state. The time since the clan's downfall had been too long; the hatred of the remaining youth had faded, replaced by a sense of subservience born from the sheer disparity in power. This was simply the reality of human nature.
"Lady Meiying, a gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years. I can guarantee that you and Aman will leave this place safely," Lan An sent a secret Divine Sense transmission into her ear.
Ju Meiying's eyes flickered slightly, but her face remained expressionless, as if she had heard nothing.
"Well done! You shall all be proud of the decision you made today! Hahaha!" Ju Yaotong laughed toward the heavens.
Though he was the top prodigy, he faced fierce competition within his own clan. Capturing the Ju Clan as hunting dogs would solidify his position as the next Clan Leader. If he could also win over Ju Meiying, his victory would be absolute.
"Meiying, your decision will greatly influence the status of the Ju Clan in my heart. I hope you do not disappoint your kinsmen," Ju Yaotong said meaningfully, glancing at Ju Zhong to prompt him.
"Big Sister, if you become the beloved wife of Young Master Ju Yaotong, who in the Great Monster Clan would dare look down on us? The Ju Clan could walk with our heads held high across the entire Manhuang Star! The mere thought moves me to tears!" Ju Zhong bellowed with false emotion.
His words painted a beautiful picture for the other giants. Their breathing grew heavy as they urged her, "Ju Zhong is right, Big Sister... perhaps you might even become the Matriarch of the Great Monster Clan in the future!"
"Bastards! You scum! If the prestige of the Ju Clan must be bought with the lifelong happiness of my sister, I, Ju Aman, would rather die!" Aman roared, his eyes bloodshot and filled with tears. He realized that while he was simple-minded, he understood things his "intelligent" kin did not. He was utterly disgusted.
"Foolish boy! How could Big Sister not be happy marrying someone with a future as bright as the Young Master?" Ju Zhong sneered.
"I need time to think..." Ju Meiying said suddenly, her tone softening slightly.
Ju Yaotong's eyes lit up. It would have been suspicious if a proud beauty like her had agreed instantly. Her request for time meant she was already on the verge of surrender. Ju Zhong's plan was working; once the clan was under his control, could Meiying truly escape his grasp?
Ju Yaotong waved his hand magnanimously. "It is only natural for you to hesitate, Meiying. This involves your lifelong happiness, after all. One month from now, I shall bring the betrothal gifts to the Ancient Wilderness Forest. I hope you do not disappoint this Young Master."
Ju Meiying remained stoic, ignoring him. Her behavior only bolstered his confidence; he expected nothing less from her character.
"Half of you stay here to care for Big Sister. The other half follow me back to the Great Monster Clan to receive your duties. We serve Young Master Ju Yaotong now!" Ju Zhong commanded the giants.
The "guards" he left behind were meant to monitor her and prevent her from fleeing with Aman. It was a clever move; she wouldn't strike her own kin.
"You have done well," Ju Yaotong praised Ju Zhong, thinking this servant was quite sharp and should be utilized more.
"Young Master, who are they?" the Great Monster Elder asked, noticing Lan An and Wu San Niang in the distance.
Ju Yaotong looked over. Seeing Wu San Niang's beautiful, wild visage, his eyes sparkled. He felt a pang of regret that she was just an ordinary human of such small size. Once I wed Meiying, I might as well take this woman back as a plaything to stave off boredom, he thought smugly.
"Reporting to Young Master, they are allies of Ju Aman and Big Sister. Their strength is very great!" one giant reported, remembering Lan An's previous display.
"If they are Meiying's allies, they are allies of this Ju Yaotong!" the Young Master declared with false chivalry, hoping to move her heart.
Ju Meiying showed no emotion, but the other giants felt a trace of goodwill toward him, their trust in him growing. It had to be said, his manipulation of hearts was consummate—his acting was flawless.
In truth, Ju Yaotong held the giants' assessment of "great strength" in utter contempt. Seventh to Ninth Transformation Body Cultivators? What could they possibly achieve? Especially since they were mere humans, likely lacking in combat talent and fame. How could they ever enter his sight?
Under Lan An's cold, calculating gaze, Ju Yaotong led his group away with a swagger, leaving ten giants behind to watch over Ju Meiying and ensure she played no unnecessary tricks.
Ju Meiying carried Ju Aman into a massive cave on the cliffside, casting a subtle glance toward Lan An. Lan An's lips curled into a smirk as he prepared to follow her in.
SWISH!
Ten massive giants suddenly blocked his path.