socalfunplaces Chapter 77 Mutual Schemes
Chapter 77 Mutual Schemes
Chapter 77 Mutual Schemes
Dai Youheng paused, looked at Xu Jiujiu, and asked, "What does Your Highness mean by this?"
The princess smiled charmingly, a hint of cunning in her beautiful eyes. "Don't be in such a hurry, Youheng. How can such a precious treasure be given away so easily? I will use this soul bone as one of the prizes for the final champion of this competition."
She leaned forward, very close, and lowered her voice, her breath sweet as if sharing a sweet secret, "Consider this a small challenge and gift that I've prepared in advance for my future husband. If you can lead the Shrek team to the end and win the championship yourself, this soul bone will be yours, and I will personally hand it over to you then."
Beauty, power, and treasures.
Xu Jiujiu lavishly painted an extremely tempting picture, attempting to completely whet Dai Youheng's appetite and ambition.
Dai Youheng sneered inwardly. A pie in the sky, an empty promise? He was all too familiar with this tactic.
First, give him a tangible but intangible goal to motivate him to work hard for her? This princess is quite adept at manipulating people.
However, a perfectly timed expression of surprise, longing, and fighting spirit appeared on his face. He glanced deeply at the jade box, then looked intently at Xu Jiujiu. "The champion's prize? That sounds very interesting. Your Highness truly knows how to motivate people."
He showed no dissatisfaction; on the contrary, he seemed to have been aroused by his competitive spirit.
"In that case, Your Highness, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. I need to join the Shrek Academy team as soon as possible to familiarize myself with the situation," Dai Youheng said, offering to leave.
"Go ahead." Xu Jiujiu nodded in satisfaction. "I look forward to seeing your heroic performance on the field."
Dai Youheng said no more, gave a slight bow, turned and left, his back straight and composed.
Only after Dai Youheng's figure completely disappeared outside the palace gates did Xu Jiujiu's bright smile gradually fade, transforming into a calm scrutiny.
She gracefully sat back in the chair covered with soft satin, her fingertips lightly tracing the rim of the white jade porcelain cup that Dai Youheng had just used, her eyes unfathomable.
"Grandma Manyi," she spoke softly, her voice devoid of the gentleness she displayed when facing Dai Youheng, replaced only by the calm and calculating nature of someone in a superior position, "how do you think he is compared to before?"
The figure of Nebula Douluo Manyi reappeared silently like a ghost. Her aged face was calm and expressionless, but her cloudy eyes gleamed with shrewdness. "Your Highness, this child—has changed drastically."
Her voice was hoarse, yet every word was clear: "Her aura was deep and restrained, and although her soul power fluctuations were deliberately suppressed, I could sense the profound depth of her foundation, far surpassing that of a Soul Venerable, and even giving me a faint sense of danger. Faced with a 50,000-year-old soul bone, she showed joy but no greed, displaying extraordinary self-control. She was completely different from the impetuous and impulsive young man I remembered, whose eyes were only on you, Princess."
"Yes, he's like a completely different person." Xu Jiujiu's lips curled into a playful smile. "It seems that Shrek Academy is indeed a place that can transform a person. Or perhaps we underestimated this illegitimate son of the Dai family before. He actually has great potential, but it was just that he focused his attention on me before, which caused this potential to be wasted."
'7
"Princess, such a precious soul bone, are you really going to bestow it upon him?" Manyi asked again to confirm. Even to her, a 50,000-year-old head soul bone was by no means an ordinary thing.
After a long pause, she picked up her slightly cooled teacup, her gaze fixed on the rippling liquid. Her tone was calm yet carried an undeniable resolve. "Of course it's true. But in this world, there's no such thing as a free lunch, nor is there any such thing as a windfall. If he can truly shine in this competition as I wish, demonstrating a value that surpasses Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin, a value that will make the royal family suppress all criticism and wholeheartedly support his ascension to the throne, then my entire future belongs to him. Why should I be stingy with a piece of my soul bone?"
Her investments are always based on returns. Dai Youheng's value will determine the cost of her investments.
Man Yi remained silent for a moment, a knowing glint in her aged eyes, then asked, "What if he ultimately fails to meet your requirements? Or what if he develops disloyal thoughts in the future, no longer wishing to be controlled by the royal family, or even gives up halfway?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Jiujiu took a sip of cold tea. The icy liquid slid down her throat, giving her words a chilling edge. "Not meeting the requirements? Then he doesn't even have the right to touch this soul bone. It will remain in the royal treasury as a reward to motivate others."
She put down her teacup with a soft, crisp sound.
"As for harboring disloyal thoughts? Or giving up halfway?" Xu Jiujiu raised his eyes to look at Manyi. His beautiful eyes were devoid of any warmth, filled only with the coldness and cruelty of a politician. "Grandma Manyi, soul bones aren't disposable items. Even if you've already absorbed one, can't you take it back?"
The words, though seemingly casual, carried a chilling undertone.
How can we retrieve the absorbed soul bones, especially the head soul bone that is closely connected to the skull?
There is only one answer: kill the absorber! Only after its death can the soul bone be retrieved.
According to long-held logic, this transaction was never equitable from the start. If Dai Youheng demonstrated value beyond imagination, she could offer him marriage, power, and resources.
However, if he fails to meet expectations or attempts to escape control, then his value will disappear. In that case, withdrawing the investment and completely eliminating an unstable factor would be the most reasonable choice.
She was never a princess blinded by love; she was Princess Jiu Jiu of the Star Luo Empire, and every step she took was related to the power of the empire and the interests of the royal family.
Dai Youheng can be a handy tool, or it can be a failed investment that needs to be recovered and disposed of.
As Dai Youheng stepped out of the majestic gates of the Star Luo Imperial Palace, he glanced back at the magnificent palace complex.
Princess Jiujiu in the story is cunning, shrewd, and adept at making empty promises while also knowing how to use carrots and sticks to manipulate people.
They forced him into the scheme by acting first and informing him later, then used a 50,000-year-old head bone as bait to keep him working for the royal family, and finally even wanted to completely control him, bone and all.
After such a series of punches, if it were the boy from before, he would probably have been filled with gratitude and bloodlust, rushing to risk his life for the princess.
"What a pity." Dai Youheng chuckled to himself and shook his head. "What you gave me is not what I truly want. And the bait you used to fish, in my opinion, is perhaps more suitable for feeding another, more obedient knife."
>