After a pause, Gu Xiechen narrowed his eyes and added, "I also require a video recording and a signed confession written by their own hands. I want every detail dug out regarding who they colluded with to sabotage the duel agreement. After this testimony is backed up, send a copy to His Excellency Bo Youyou, the liaison sent by the Star Alliance!" Gu Xiechen’s voice was loud enough that the Blue Captain, withered into a blue lump on the ground, angrily thrashed his long tentacle, whipping a streak of electric light through the air.

He shrieked fiercely, “No! We will not do such a treacherous thing! Our Bloodfang Adept Group has our honor, our credibility, and our dignity!

We will not sell out our clients!” Gu Xiechen pointed a finger, and a streak of gray-white lightning flashed down rapidly from the sky, exploding onto the Blue Captain with a loud ‘Boom!’ This lightning was chilling to the bone. After the explosion, large shards of ice sprayed far away. The Blue Captain’s body convulsed, and a large, semi-transparent white block of ice rapidly formed, freezing most of his body within it.

A strange, eerie laugh drifted over. Jin slowly twisted a lock of her hair around her finger and hopped over with an almost skipping gait. She pointed mockingly at the Blue Captain and laughed, “Please, you four old men, aren't we all thieves?

Do pirates care about credibility? Do pirates care about honor? Especially the four of you—how many times have you engaged in ripping off your own kind?

Do you even have dignity? Three years ago, my father collaborated with you once. And what happened?

You ganged up on my father and nearly tore him to pieces. Is that your credibility?” “Is that so!” Gu Xiechen chuckled, saying with a hint of sarcasm, “I initially thought you were real men, and I wasn't planning on humiliating you too much. Turns out this is just your character?” After a few cold laughs, Gu Xiechen beckoned to Ruohua with a finger, slowly nodding towards the four trembling Captains huddled on the ground.

Ruohua rubbed his palms together excitedly, laughing triumphantly, “Back when I was tempering my heart in the mortal world and traversing the jianghu, I served as a jailor in the Ministry of Punishments of the Great Qing for over three years! Heh heh, more than half of the Ten Great Tortures of the Qing Dynasty were introduced or improved upon thanks to my additions! Ah, those were the vibrant years of this Lord Ruohua!

Back then, if I just squatted by the gate of the Ministry’s prison, how many inmates inside would cry out and call me ‘Grandpa’?! Today is going to be fun!” Jin and the adepts of the Broken Hook didn't understand what Ruohua was saying, but Gu Xiechen felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet straight to his scalp. So Ruohua actually had such a magnificent, glorious track record?

He glanced with pity at the four captured Captains, drew a cross haphazardly over his chest, and prayed sincerely, “Buddha bless you all. Amen!” Jin took tiny steps over to Gu Xiechen, unceremoniously grabbing the wide sleeve of his left robe and naturally leaning a small part of her body against his arm. She lifted her small face, squinted, and smiled at Gu Xiechen, “Let them handle these bloody affairs.

I know Sister Fuya has some good private stock wine. Lord Xiechen, do you prefer something strong, or something with a gentler, softer finish?” Instinctively, he tried to pull his arm back, but seeing Jin almost completely tumble into his embrace as he recoiled, Gu Xiechen hastily supported her body with his left arm. Jin very generously and naturally looped her arm through his, her small face beaming with a smile sweeter than honey mixed with hundreds of pounds of rock sugar.

Combined with her ethereally beautiful, bewitching face, the adepts from the Broken Hook Adept Group nearby stared dumbfounded. Such girlish coquetry—when had that ever been seen on Jin? There had always been numerous men pursuing Jin, but every one of them had been played until they fled in miserable disgrace.

The only man who could inspire such forward devotion from Jin was Gu Xiechen! “Truly worthy of being the legendary Seven-Star Grand Venerable! The little princess certainly has excellent taste!” Dang Ge chuckled, picking at his cheek with a finger.

Faced with Jin clinging to him like sticky taffy, Gu Xiechen shook his head helplessly, half-passively dragged by Jin toward the palace where Fuya and Ming conducted their daily lives. Fuya-Ming stood right at the palace entrance. Seeing Jin clinging to Gu Xiechen in such a manner, her phoenix eyes instantly widened, and her two sword-like eyebrows nearly shot straight up.

“Jin, what are you doing?” Fuya-Ming stood with her hands on her hips, her gaze sharp as a knife, as if she wanted to scrape Jin off Gu Xiechen in one swift move. Gu Xiechen fanned himself with a wry smile, watching Fuya-Ming’s slightly annoyed, displeased expression. Jin’s eyes flickered, and with a ‘Pfft,’ she laughed, “I find Lord Xiechen so approachable!

Hmm, Sister Fuya, I know you’ve been hoarding several bottles of the fine wine brewed from the ‘Golden Ruyi Flower.’ Hurry up and bring it out! Lord Xiechen is hardly an outsider; you shouldn’t be stingy.” Gu Xiechen and Fuya-Ming exchanged glances, unable to speak. Fuya-Ming stammered, “What… what do you mean he’s not an outsider?” Jin thrust her chest forward forcefully, squeezing Gu Xiechen’s arm hard, and chuckled merrily, “He’s the fiancé I’ve set my sights on!

And you are my best sister, so of course, none of us are outsiders! Right? Brother Xiechen?” Changing her tone abruptly, ‘Lord Xiechen’ turned into ‘Brother Xiechen.’ Gu Xiechen felt a tingling sensation shoot up his scalp.

He cautiously glanced sideways at Fuya-Ming, whose gaze was as cold and sharp as a honed sword. With a sudden shudder, he used an evasion technique, transforming into a wisp of water vapor to slip free from Jin’s embrace. Gripping his fan handle, Gu Xiechen bowed repeatedly towards Jin, “Miss Jin, I appreciate the high regard, but I’m afraid you are not quite suitable for me!” Because of Ruohua’s twisted logic, Gu Xiechen truly developed a psychological block regarding Jin.

It was one thing that Jin was ethereally delicate and bewitching like Siren, but she was also similarly built—flat-chested both front and back. This genuinely created a mental barrier. Gu Xiechen considered himself a reasonably normal man, and he had no interest in such androgynous women.

Fuya-Ming’s lips curved slightly, revealing a hint of happy satisfaction. Jin felt an emptiness where the solid arm had been; Gu Xiechen’s strong arm had suddenly vanished. She felt as though a large part of her own heart felt hollowed out too.

Her beautiful eyes rolled, and she snapped angrily, “Then, Brother Xiechen, what kind of girl is suitable for you? What kind of girl do you like? I can transform into her!” Her eyes continuously flowed toward Gu Xiechen with suggestive warmth, yet Gu Xiechen wouldn't spare her a single glance.

Ruohua’s words had been too vicious, too impactful. The moment Gu Xiechen looked at Jin, he felt as if Siren was flirting with him. This bizarre feeling caused goosebumps to erupt all over his body.

Almost subconsciously, Gu Xiechen looked towards Fuya-Ming, nodding to her with a reserved smile.