[Thirty-One] Lin Xiaoyang’s Meeting with Tanya

Guard Shobana brought Lin Xiaoyang and his wife to the tower, where Tanya received the couple.

Hussell asked in astonishment, “How could the reincarnated David be an Eastern man with yellow skin?”

Lin Xiaoyang and Huang Minhua walked up to Tanya, who carefully examined the two of them.

Lin Xiaoyang cupped his hands and said, “Tanya, I am David, and she is Irene.”

A brilliant smile spread across Tanya’s face. “You are David, and you are Sister Irene.”

At this moment, Huang Minhua also recognized Tanya. “You’re Tanya!”

Hussell could not recognize the two people standing before him because he could not see the original spirits of David and Irene.

Tanya said, “Was it my cousin Maria who sent you here to find me?”

Lin Xiaoyang said, “Yes.”

Tanya asked in surprise, “David, why didn’t you marry my cousin?”

“Maria is with Rufu.”

“Rufu? How could my cousin be with that villain? What on earth is she thinking?”

A bitter smile flashed across Lin Xiaoyang’s face. “That was Maria’s own decision. What can I say?”

“Don’t you resent Rufu in your heart?”

“Resent Rufu? To some extent, I do, but this was Maria’s own choice.”

Tanya sighed. “Sigh! Cupid really does like to play cruel jokes! Did my cousin ask you to come here and retrieve the Sun Staff?”

“Yes. The princess assigned this mission to me.”

Tanya said sadly, “David, you really are a fool! In your previous life, you became a wandering spirit for my cousin, and in this life, you’re still her loyal servant, letting her order you around. Is a life this muddled really worth it?”

Lin Xiaoyang gave a bitter smile. “As long as the princess can find happiness, I am willing to bless her and Rufu.”

“I can let you take the Sun Staff back with you, but I must give you some honest advice: do not listen to my cousin again and help her remove the seal on the staff. You must have heard the saying, ‘Absolute power corrupts absolutely,’ haven’t you?”

Lin Xiaoyang was deeply shaken. In an instant, Tanya’s warning awakened him.

“Tanya, you mean…”

“Once the seal on this staff is removed, Maria will not only be able to completely control the Dark World, but she will also be able to control the human world. Such supreme power could very likely bring endless consequences. You need to think this through carefully…”

Tanya’s words caused Lin Xiaoyang’s confidence to begin to waver.

“But, honey, Maria is waiting for us to complete the mission!” Huang Minhua said.

Seeing Xiaoyang’s wavering resolve, Huang Minhua could not help reminding him.

Tanya then revealed something shocking. “I have guarded this staff for more than three hundred years. In order to seal it, I made a deal with Satan. The price was that I would never be able to obtain your love in my lifetime…”

Lin Xiaoyang was deeply moved. “Tanya, you… Why did you have to do this?”

Lin Xiaoyang gazed at Tanya. Shocked and overwhelmed, he felt a mixture of emotions all at once.

“As long as the seal on the staff remains intact, it is nothing more than an ordinary token. Let it remain here in Netherworld Valley. In this world, apart from you, David, no one has the ability to take it away from me. Even if someone did steal it, the staff would still have no practical use without you to remove its seal. You must think carefully about the consequences and what is at stake.”

Lin Xiaoyang pondered for a while before saying, “Tanya, if you can guarantee that this staff will never fall into anyone else’s hands, I am willing to go back and persuade Maria.”

A smile blossomed across Tanya’s face. “I promise you. For as long as you live, I will guard this staff with my life!”

Lin Xiaoyang made his decision resolutely and nodded. “Then we’ll do as you say.”

Huang Minhua asked anxiously, “Honey, but how are we going to explain this to the princess when we get back?”

Lin Xiaoyang placed his hands on Minhua’s shoulders, his gaze earnest. “Minhua, please face reality. In this life, you are Huang Minhua. You don’t need to live for Irene. None of us should be pawns in Princess Maria’s hands, allowing her to manipulate us however she wants.”

Tears glimmered in Huang Minhua’s eyes. “Honey, why don’t we go back to Taiwan?”

Lin Xiaoyang said, “It’s time for us to leave this place of trouble behind.”

“You two, wait a moment. I’ll send my men to find the monster leaders. They will take you safely out of the Monster Forest.”

After saying this, Tanya waved to Shobana. Shobana stepped forward to receive her orders.

“Go find Yami and Colin. Have the two of them escort our guests safely out of the Monster Forest.”

Shobana cupped his hands. “Yes, Princess.”

Shobana turned and left, mounted a flying dragon, and rose into the sky.

The two monster leaders, Yami and Colin, accompanied Lin Xiaoyang and his wife back to the edge of the Monster Forest, where they reunited with Chen John and the others. Everyone stared at the two hideous-looking monsters. Lang En, Adono, and the others had questions in their minds but did not feel comfortable asking Xiaoyang about them directly.

Lin Xiaoyang said, “These two leaders will escort us safely out of the Monster Forest.”

Lang En seemed to have figured out the mystery. “So that explains it. These monsters and giant insects all take orders from the master of Netherworld Valley.”

Chen John, Stryker, and Rufu were puzzled because they did not see Xiaoyang carrying the staff.

“Father John, may I speak with you privately for a moment?”

Xiaoyang pulled Chen John aside.

“The staff is staying here in Netherworld Valley, under Tanya’s protection. I’ll tell you the key reasons through telepathic communication on the way back.”

Seeing that Xiaoyang seemed to be hiding something, Chen John nodded in agreement. “All right. I’ll listen to you on the way.”

The two men returned, and Chen John addressed the group.

“Everyone, we’ve completed our mission. Let’s head back.”

Following Chen John’s command, everyone formed two columns and set off.

Although the mission had ended without accomplishing its objective, Rufu had actually anticipated this outcome.

“Even if the three of us had entered Netherworld Valley, if Tanya had insisted on stopping us, we might not have had any chance of winning. And if the two sides had actually fought, the casualties would certainly have been enormous. Now Lin Xiaoyang has not brought the staff back, and he is whispering with Chen John at the back of the group. Clearly, Tanya must have persuaded Lin Xiaoyang…”

Chen John and Lin Xiaoyang walked at the back of the group. Xiaoyang placed one hand on Chen John’s wrist and used telepathic communication to tell him the essential details of his meeting and negotiations with Tanya, as well as the crucial interests and consequences involved.

Chen John, of course, understood the key implications. He agreed with Xiaoyang’s decision, but his main concern was, “I’m worried about Rufu being at Maria’s side.”

“Father, once we leave Hell Valley, we’ll part ways. Please pass a message to the princess for me.”

“Go ahead. I’ll make sure she gets your message.”

“Please tell the princess: Please have mercy and, for the rest of this life, set Minhua and me free.”

“Sigh! Go, then. Take Minhua and leave. Go back to Taiwan.”

Chen John agreed with Xiaoyang’s decision.