Chapter 184 Discussion With Stella, The Butterfly Spirit Queen
“Seems like we’re out of harm’s way for the time being. My faction is engaged in a fierce battle with those two demons, keeping them occupied,” Wang Jian remarked, wearing a thin, smug smile.
The Butterfly Spirit Queen, Stella, visibly relieved, gazed at Wang Jian and inquired, “…Why did you choose to help us?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Wang Jian responded casually, a hint of anticipation in his voice. “Besides, I am eager to claim the mark you promised for saving your comrades and driving away these demons.”
His words resonated with Stella, and after a moment, she probed further. “Why did you set fire to our hideout?”
Wang Jian knew this question would arise and had pondered the perfect response for days. Alas, there was no ideal answer that could fully justify his actions. Instead, he opted for a different approach.
With a measured tone, Wang Jian offered, “I will present you with two questions that might help you comprehend my motivations. I will respect whatever conclusion you arrive at.”
Stella, somewhat taken aback by his proposal, nodded slowly. “Very well. Please proceed with your questions.”
With a sinister satisfaction concealed within his heart, Wang Jian spoke, his voice tinged with intrigue. “Do you believe I had prior knowledge of your group’s presence in that forest?”
This query prompted Stella to glance at Lady Zhuoran, recognizing the subtle power emanating from her—a Silver Five-Tailed Fox. Yet, Stella remained confident that even Lady Zhuoran could not have detected the illusionary array set by the ancestral experts of the Butterfly Spirit Race.
“No,” she replied, her voice betraying a hint of astonishment.
A smirk played across Wang Jian’s face as he continued, “If I had no inkling of your group’s presence, what motive would I have for setting it ablaze?”
Stella found herself unable to fathom a plausible reason for Wang Jian to harm them and admitted, “I don’t know.” However, she added, her gaze stern, “You cannot deceive me so easily! Ye Chen has informed me of your malicious deeds. I know you are a nefarious man with ulterior motives.”
Wang Jian, upon hearing her response, felt a twinge of surprise. As Stella mentioned Ye Chen, he couldn’t help but chuckle silently within his mind.
“Oh, really? And what did Ye Chen say about me?” he inquired, his tone laced with amusement and mischief.
Thus, Stella proceeded to recount all the tales Ye Chen had shared, detailing Wang Jian’s betrayal of his comrades for immediate gains, his ruthless elimination of dissenters, and even his slaughter of innocent bystanders to safeguard his secrets. She concluded by revealing his dark history of conducting cruel experiments on beasts.
As the Butterfly Spirit Queen, Stella held a deep-seated aversion towards Wang Jian, an impression that had been nurtured by Ye Chen’s damning words.
“How intriguing. Lady Zhuoran, what is your take on these accusations? How much truth do they hold?” Wang Jian turned abruptly towards Lady Zhuoran, a smile both amused and devious adorning his face.
Caught off guard by Wang Jian’s sudden shift in attention, Lady Zhuoran sensed his ulterior motives and understood what he expected from her.
“Miss Stella, most of the claims you’ve heard are entirely false. As the Mistress of the Silver Tailed Fox Race, I can confidently assure you that Wang Jian has never betrayed his close comrades or conducted any unethical experiments on beasts. While he may have eliminated his adversaries, which is only natural considering his status, he has never once taken the life of an innocent bystander,” Lady Zhuoran responded, her words flowing with eloquence and conviction.
The authenticity and persuasiveness of Lady Zhuoran’s statement were so compelling that Stella found herself grappling with doubt regarding her perception of Wang Jian’s true character.
This internal conflict arose from her trust in Lady Zhuoran as the Mistress of the Silver Tailed Fox Race, believing that she would not deceive a fellow beast for the sake of a human.
Unbeknownst to Stella, however, she remained unaware of the unique bond between Lady Zhuoran and Wang Jian.
“W-What? That can’t be true! But why would Ye Chen fabricate such accusations about you?” Stella stammered, her voice trembling with uncertainty. Despite her inclination to trust Ye Chen, she also felt compelled to consider Lady Zhuoran’s words.
With a slight smile playing on his lips, Wang Jian responded, “The reason behind Ye Chen’s falsehoods is clear—he wanted to tarnish my reputation in your eyes.”
“But why would he do that?” Stella questioned, her confusion evident.
Assuming a grave expression, Wang Jian replied, “Ye Chen is infamous throughout the Empire as the lover of the demon princess.” 𝚋𝚎𝚍𝚗𝚘𝚟ｅｌ.ｃ𝚘𝚖
“W-What did you say?!” Stella was dumbfounded by Wang Jian’s revelation, struggling to process the shocking information she had just heard. Doubt clouded her mind as conflicting emotions swirled within her.
Wang Jian continued, his tone growing more serious, “Furthermore, he is responsible for the assassination of one of my dear friends and has made multiple attempts on my own life. Although he has failed so far, he has relentlessly pursued his murderous intentions. It’s likely that he intended to exploit your group to carry out his plan against me.”
Stella’s voice wavered as she expressed her disbelief, “No, it can’t be. I can’t fathom him being so wicked. He has been a great help to our group in these past few days.”
Wang Jian pressed further, his tone laced with a hint of mockery. “Oh, really? And where exactly is he now?”
Taking on a serious demeanor, Stella responded, “He fearlessly charged into the heart of the demon camp, serving as a distraction to allow our group to reach this location and rescue my comrades.”
With a devious smile, Wang Jian pressed on, “I ask again, where do you believe he is? If his plan had failed and the demons had returned to their camp, wouldn’t you expect him to come back and rescue you?”
These words caused Stella’s eyes to widen in realization. She had been so preoccupied with helping her beast comrades who had been imprisoned in the demon camp all this time that she failed to note this thing.
“N-No way. He wouldn’t betray me like that. My comrades are with him. They wouldn’t allow him to do such a thing,” Stella uttered with a growing sense of unease coursing through her body.
Wang Jian’s smirk widened further as he continued, “There is another possibility, and I believe you’re aware of it.”
Stella’s heart sank as she contemplated the chilling possibility that Wang Jian alluded to.
To ensure complete understanding, Wang Jian articulated his thoughts aloud, “It’s conceivable that he may have led your comrades into a trap meticulously laid out by the demons.”
Seeking to reinforce his point, Wang Jian continued, “While it was our group’s unintentional actions that alerted the demons and led them back to the camp, I genuinely believe that Ye Chen would have returned to aid you.”
Stella’s doubt lingered, causing her to extend her spiritual energy to sense the area beyond the camp. To her dismay, she detected the presence of Ye Chen and his team.
However, instead of heading towards the camp for assistance, Ye Chen’s team was making their way towards the location of the seal housing the coveted Elemental Sparks.
Stella’s heart sank further as she realized that the seal was being guarded by a formidable group of demons.
The demons had stationed a formidable contingent to safeguard the seal, a testament to its paramount importance to them.
It was an expansive abyss, within which the invaluable Elemental Sparks were concealed, their brilliance hidden from prying eyes. Furthermore, nestled within the depths of this pit, they had stumbled upon their sacred Ancestral Totem, protected by a labyrinth of additional seals.
Stella’s voice trembled with concern as she addressed Wang Jian, “Ye Chen and his team are not returning to the camp. They are heading towards the seal, but it is guarded by a powerful group of demons. What should we do? I can’t let my comrades die!”
Having sensed Ye Chen’s location earlier, Wang Jian was well aware of the dire situation unfolding at the seal. He could also discern Ye Chen’s underlying motive.
Ye Chen had undoubtedly realized the paramount significance of the Elemental Sparks seal to the demons. It was only logical to assume that the demons would go to great lengths to safeguard it against any potential attack.
However, most of the powerful demons had been called upon to fight against Wang Hao and Wang Ying’s factions. This led Ye Chen to a crucial deduction—the demons guarding the seal were undoubtedly formidable, but they fell short in comparison to the sheer might of Tristan and other members of the Oceanic Tempest Storm Devil Bloodline.
This revelation instilled a glimmer of hope in Ye Chen’s mind, convincing him that his group stood a chance at survival.
His plan was to launch an assault on the demons near the seal, triggering a chain reaction that would draw the attention of all demons in the camp, thereby diverting their focus and potentially facilitating the rescue of Stella’s comrades.
However, Wang Jian harbored a clandestine agenda. He had no intention of revealing this vital information to Stella.
Instead, he aimed to artfully manipulate the circumstances, skillfully distorting the context to sow seeds of animosity within Stella’s heart towards Ye Chen.
Aware of the precariousness of his plan, Wang Jian knew he must exercise utmost caution.
He was resolute in his determination to prevent his third brother or any other potential adversaries from derailing his meticulously crafted scheme this time.