833: Chapter 822: Nine Souls Jade 833: Chapter 822: Nine Souls Jade Tulip is certainly not a virtuous woman.
Her promiscuity was so notorious that even someone like Teng Yun Geshang had heard of it.
So when he confirmed that Tulip was currently working under Ning Fan, a mocking smile crept across his face.
Ning Fan naturally understood what he meant and didn’t bother putting on a pleasant expression.
Coldly, he retorted, “Do I look like the kind of man desperate enough to settle for anything?”
He knew what kind of woman Tulip was.
Just by her Bewitching Technique alone, Ning Fan could guess, not to mention the fact she once nearly cost him his life.
He held no fondness for her whatsoever.
If it hadn’t been for Ouyang Feifei pleading on her behalf, Ning Fan would have planned to keep her confined for the rest of her life.
Did she really have a chance to see daylight again otherwise?
Although she had helped him once, in Ning Fan’s view, Tulip’s survival was permitted but the manner of her survival remained entirely up to him.
After all, she had come out of the Umbrella Organization.
Sparing her life didn’t mean he could let her roam free, especially with the secrets of the Shadow Base she had undoubtedly glimpsed.
“Haha, seems I’ve misjudged you.
With so many women already around you, I thought you might enjoy a taste of something wild!”
Teng Yun Geshang’s tone deeply annoyed Ning Fan.
This man truly treated him as if he were some starving simpleton.
Realizing the man’s mockery was intentional, Ning Fan kept his composure, his expression steady and calm, never letting his emotions waver.
“Let’s do the math.
I’ve given you over a month, haven’t I?
So, what’s your decision?”
Teng Yun Geshang asked again, his expression changing, his eyes suddenly gleaming with a chilling, malevolent light.
No one gets to string him along for this long.
If it weren’t for the potential he saw in Ning Fan, Teng Yun Geshang wouldn’t have granted him this much leeway.
With anyone else, he wouldn’t bother allowing time for consideration—agree or die—it was just that simple.
But when it came to Ning Fan, Teng Yun Geshang had allowed significant time for deliberation, an exceptional degree of leniency—and yet Ning Fan showed no gratitude whatsoever, which increasingly irritated Teng Yun Geshang.
“What’s there to consider?
Didn’t you already send people after me?
What else is there to think about?” Ning Fan mocked Teng Yun Geshang.
When it came to deliberation, his answer had always been the same.
Besides, Ning Fan hadn’t forgotten what had happened earlier.
Teng Yun Geshang had already sent people to deal with him.
There was nothing left to discuss between them, wasn’t that obvious?
Upon hearing this, Teng Yun Geshang’s expression remained impassive, with not the slightest change.
Instead, he spoke calmly, “If you seek compensation for what happened, we at Umbrella are willing to compensate you.
Moreover, if you agree to my terms, what you’ll gain in the future is far more than just some small compensation.”
“Do you remember what I said from the beginning?
Umbrella needs talented people like you.
As long as you don’t disappoint us, sooner or later, this world will belong to young talents like you.
Surely you understand what I mean?”
Were it anyone else, they likely would’ve been moved to tears by this moment.
The sincerity in Teng Yun Geshang’s tone was palpable, and Ning Fan could clearly feel it.
The man’s intention to groom him as a successor—this much was true.
But Ning Fan had no desire to get involved with Umbrella.
He saw through the ambition burning in this second-in-command’s eyes.
This man was destined to be consumed wholly by his own ambition.
“My answer remains the same.
If it’s about making friends, I’m very willing.
But joining Umbrella?
Sorry, THAT I can’t do!”
If they could be friends, Ning Fan would gladly accept.
As the saying goes, leaning against a tall tree provides cool shade.
A massive organization like Umbrella could certainly offer great benefits through collaboration.
But as for joining them and getting entangled in Teng Yun Geshang’s ambitions?
Forget it—Ning Fan wasn’t about to wade into muddy waters.
To Ning Fan, Umbrella’s internal dynamics seemed far from harmonious.
Just as Teng Yun Geshang’s ambition was uncovered by Ning Fan, he had already surmised what the man was after.
Upon hearing this, Teng Yun Geshang sighed heavily, an expression of regret clouding his face.
“Ning Fan, is this really your decision?
There’ll be no turning back if you ever regret this in the future.”
In truth, Teng Yun Geshang’s patience was nearing its limit.
To be repeatedly refused by Ning Fan—had it been anyone else, they’d have long been buried in the Siberian glaciers.
Only Ning Fan had been afforded so many chances.
Ning Fan’s unwavering stance left Teng Yun Geshang helpless.
He feared today would once again end in vain.
As Ning Fan resolutely shook his head, refusing Teng Yun Geshang’s olive branch, Fei Peilie’s expression darkened, his gaze turning fierce and hostile.
At this point, it was certain that with a single order from Teng Yun Geshang, Fei Peilie would unleash everything, determined to take Ning Fan’s life.
Teng Yun Geshang waved his hand, signaling Fei Peilie to relax, while simultaneously uttering words that sent Ning Fan reeling: “Nine Souls Jade!”
Ning Fan’s eyes widened—Nine Souls Jade.
What was Teng Yun Geshang implying?
“The Nine Souls Jade from Mingwang Pavilion is in your possession, then there’s the one from Chen Fengnan, followed by Fang Guild, and then…”
“Enough!
What exactly are you after?”
Ning Fan interrupted Teng Yun Geshang.
The man had somehow investigated the origins of all five of Ning Fan’s Nine Souls Jade pieces with astonishing precision—this revelation caught Ning Fan entirely off guard.
This was his deepest secret: five fragments of the Nine Souls Jade.
He was only four pieces away from completing the set.
Ning Fan had originally intended to quietly gather the remaining pieces, but to his surprise, Teng Yun Geshang of Umbrella had managed to uncover it all.
“Haha, you’re still missing four pieces of the Nine Souls Jade, aren’t you?
Konstantin has two.
I wonder if you’re interested?”
“…”
Ning Fan stared intensely into Teng Yun Geshang’s eyes, trying to find a crack or weakness, but unfortunately, those eyes were like an impenetrable fortress, offering no openings.
The mention of the Nine Souls Jade had struck Ning Fan’s Achilles’ heel.
The jade was incomparably important to him—it was the thing he craved most.
Now that he’d learned of two fragments in the possession of Umbrella’s leader, Konstantin, he instinctively swallowed hard.
How could he not be interested?
At the revelation of the Nine Souls Jade, Ning Fan could no longer maintain his composure.