Chapter 702: You Must Avenge My Family

Back when she first woke up on the island, she had been plagued by nightmares for a time. The Daoist had hung the Jade Pendant by her bed, and things had gotten much better after that.

She had grown accustomed to the scent of the Jade Pendant. She couldn’t sleep soundly without it, so it became an item she carried with her at all times.

"What’s so special about an identical Jade Pendant?"

"My father’s Jade Pendant is extremely... extremely precious. There is only one in the world..." The boy’s voice grew even hoarser as he spoke. "The day tragedy struck my family, my father was brutally killed. I remembered his words... I searched the entire secret chamber, but I couldn’t find this Jade Pendant..."

Ye Qianning’s brow furrowed deeper. ’Only one in the world? Don’t tell me the Daoist actually left the island back then and stole this from someone?’

"Where did you get this Jade Pendant?" the boy demanded.

"It doesn’t matter where I got it, but it certainly wasn’t stolen. If one of something exists in this world, there can always be a second. It’s not that strange." Ye Qianning wasn’t sure if the Jade Pendant was unique, but she trusted the Daoist’s character.

"You’re lying..."

"What reason would I have to lie to you? The Jade Pendant has nothing to do with your family, so you don’t need to be entertaining any improper thoughts."

The boy’s initial shock gave way to even greater certainty. "You... you know what I’m thinking... That proves this Jade Pendant was my father’s!"

"It’s just that your intentions are painfully obvious."

"I don’t care! You took my family’s Jade Pendant... You have to avenge my family! My father said that in a time of crisis, the Jade Pendant could be exchanged for a single favor to save our family from peril. The Jade Pendant is in your hands, so you have to avenge my family..." The boy’s hoarse voice was bordering on a scream, his eyes filled with a ferocious light.

Ye Qianning clicked her tongue, a headache coming on. ’How did the Daoist manage to stir up so much trouble? This Jade Pendant...’

"I will get to the bottom of this matter with the Jade Pendant."

"You have to avenge my family."

Ye Qianning laughed. "And why should I?"

The boy’s gaze fell on the Jade Pendant. "You have the Jade Pendant, so you have to avenge my family."

"..."

Ye Qianning was speechless. ’He really is just a kid. His talent for being unreasonable is truly unrivaled.’

"Even if this Jade Pendant I’m holding is the one from your family, you said your father claimed it could be exchanged for one chance to escape peril in a time of crisis. Have you ever considered that perhaps, many years ago, your family already used that chance? That would mean the Jade Pendant has already been returned to its rightful owner. The opportunity was a one-time thing. You can’t expect someone to protect your family for a lifetime, can you?"

The boy was stunned and refused to believe it. "You’re talking nonsense..."

"Exchanging a Jade Pendant for a favor? You’re the one talking nonsense."

"You... you... Everything I said is true..."

"And who would believe you?" Ye Qianning arched an eyebrow.

"You..."

"You don’t believe what other people say, so why should anyone believe you? Who do you think you are?" Ye Qianning didn’t pull her punches, even with a child.

’Besides, at fourteen or fifteen, he’s not that young anymore. His family suffering a tragedy is unfortunate, but guilt-tripping someone like this is a matter of character.’

The boy pressed his lips into a thin line, staring at her fixedly without another word.

"WAAAH..."

The baby in the swaddling clothes suddenly started to cry.

The boy grew visibly flustered. He lifted a hand to pull back the swaddling clothes. "It’s okay... it’s okay..."

"I don’t have time to waste on you two." Ye Qianning stood up.

The boy looked up and instinctively moved to block Ye Qianning.

"Kid, you’d be better off taking care of the baby in your arms. Look at him. His face is flushed, his breathing is weak, and he’s burning with a high fever. If you don’t get him to a doctor, he’s not far from death." Ye Qianning lowered her gaze, her eyes sweeping over the baby in the swaddling clothes.