I Transmigrated as a Doomed Villain and Awakened a Rebate System, Then Pampered the Protagonist’s Fiancée to Heaven - Chapter 17:

Chapter 17: Stirring Heaven and Earth

Just as Chu Qiuran finished speaking, a cold voice suddenly rang out behind them.

“What’s down there far surpasses what you can imagine.”

Both Chu Qiuran and Bai Luoluo stiffened and spun around.

Unbeknownst to them, Liu Ruobing had appeared silently not far behind. Dressed in snow-white robes and holding the Violet Lightning Frost Sword, she stood still, her eyes fixed on them and the deep, dark pit.

When did she get here? Neither Chu Qiuran nor Bai Luoluo had sensed anything with their cultivation level—utterly terrifying!

“Se… Senior Sister Ruobing?” Chu Qiuran’s tongue knotted slightly, a storm surging in his heart. Liu Ruobing’s sudden appearance was no coincidence—she clearly had another motive for coming to this abandoned medicine garden!

Bai Luoluo reacted faster, narrowing her eyes slightly. “Senior Sister Liu, what timing you have. Could this disturbance in the leyline spirit cavern be part of your plan as well?”

Liu Ruobing didn’t respond to Bai Luoluo directly. Her gaze landed sharply on Chu Qiuran, as if it could pierce through all disguises.

“Rotspirit Liquid. Heavenly Thunder Talisman. And… the explosive burst of at least three Dao Heart Fruits,” she said flatly, yet Chu Qiuran’s heart skipped a beat. “Chu Qiuran, the ‘opportunities’ on you are more than I expected.”

She paused, looking toward the patch of soil Chu Qiuran had “refined” and the shattered remains of the Devouring Spirit Bud. “You used Dao Heart Fruit and Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Stalactite Essence to improve the soil, then forced out the remaining power of the Devouring Spirit Flower with Rotspirit Liquid and Heavenly Thunder. It triggered a leyline tremor and revealed the entrance guarded by the Earth-Slumbering Beast… If this was all coincidence, it’s too convenient to be believed.”

Beads of sweat appeared on Chu Qiuran’s forehead. This woman wasn’t just powerful in cultivation—her insight was terrifying. She had nearly deduced everything he did, and even understood the chain reactions they might cause!

“Senior Sister Ruobing is incredibly perceptive. I… I merely wanted to finish the task you gave me quickly. I didn’t expect it would create such a commotion,” Chu Qiuran bowed hurriedly, attempting to explain.

“Oh?” Liu Ruobing’s lips curved slightly with an unreadable smile. “To cultivate three stalks of Condensation Dew Grass, you needed such a grand display? Or… did you already suspect there was something strange beneath this abandoned garden, and used my mission as an excuse to explore?”

Bai Luoluo interjected, “Senior Sister Liu, that’s a bit unfair. This garden is strange to begin with. Without special methods, Junior Brother Chu wouldn’t even survive here, let alone cultivate anything. He was forced into this.”

Liu Ruobing gave her a dismissive glance, then turned her attention back to Chu Qiuran.

“Chu Qiuran, I don’t care what your motives were. The entrance to the leyline spirit cavern is now open. What’s inside is of great importance to me.” Her tone was cold and devoid of emotion. “I’ll give you a chance—join me inside. I’ll take 70%, you take 30%. I’ll also overlook the items you previously gave me, and your mission to cultivate the Condensation Dew Grass will be considered complete. What do you say?”

Chu Qiuran’s mind spun quickly. Liu Ruobing was blatantly laying down the terms. She had already seen through some of his cards and was betting that he had designs on the leyline spirit cavern. On the surface, the seventy-thirty split seemed domineering, but if this allowed him to establish a connection with Liu Ruobing and also complete the System’s mission, it might be worth it.

“Senior Sister Ruobing.” Chu Qiuran looked up and met her gaze, his tone calm yet firm.

“Thirty percent is too little.”

“I was the one who went through all the trouble to open this entrance. Without me, Senior Sister would still be searching—or may never have found the exact location at all.”

“Fifty-fifty. We’ll share the risks inside equally. Any treasures will be divided based on contribution and need. If there’s a dispute, Senior Sister chooses one item first, then we split the rest evenly.”

The air went still for a moment.

“You’re bargaining with me?” Liu Ruobing’s voice turned colder, and the surrounding temperature seemed to drop.

“I wouldn’t dare,” Chu Qiuran said steadily, his back straight. “I’m just stating the facts and asking for a fair share of what I’ve earned.”

“If Senior Sister finds this unacceptable, then I won’t enter the cavern. If you have a way to claim the treasures alone, I won’t object.”

Then, with a trace of regret in his tone, he added, “It’s just that I used up a lot of resources to open this entrance. I doubt I have many ‘opportunities’ left now.”

It was a blatant threat, and an obvious power play.

If Liu Ruobing wanted to seize everything by force, Chu Qiuran wasn’t going to be anyone’s pushover. Worst case? Mutual destruction. No one would get anything easily.

Besides, he still had his final trump card—the System mission.

Liu Ruobing fell silent. Her icy eyes locked onto Chu Qiuran, as if reassessing this junior disciple she once thought merely clever.

Bai Luoluo watched the scene with great interest, quietly impressed.

She hadn’t expected Chu Qiuran to stand so firm against a powerhouse like Liu Ruobing—and even push back! This guy had guts!

After a few moments, Liu Ruobing finally broke the silence.

“Fine.”

One word. Crisp and decisive.

“Fifty-fifty. But you must follow my lead. If you act on your own and cause the mission to fail or introduce new dangers, you bear all the consequences. I won’t give you another chance.”

“Agreed!” Chu Qiuran replied immediately, a weight lifting from his chest as joy surged within.

Being able to negotiate a fifty-fifty split far exceeded his expectations. Clearly, a little firmness had paid off.

But just as they finalized the deal, a sudden change erupted!

“ROAR—!”

A roar far sharper, louder, and more violent than before exploded from the depths of the cavern!

Then, a massive suction force surged from the darkness, like an abyss opening wide to devour everything on the surface!

“Not good! The Earth-Slumbering Beast is out of control—or… something deeper inside is about to emerge!” Bai Luoluo exclaimed, stumbling as she was nearly dragged into the pit. Her face paled in fright.

Liu Ruobing’s eyes sharpened. In a flash, she moved to the edge of the cavern.

The Violet Lightning Frost Sword rang with a sharp cry, radiating lightning and icy power. The elements merged into a shield before her, barely resisting the terrifying suction.

“Chu Qiuran! Move!” Liu Ruobing shouted, her voice tense but without hesitation. In the next moment, she became a streak of white light and leapt into the abyss.

Chu Qiuran’s pupils shrank. An intense sense of danger surged up and engulfed him.

Without hesitation, he pushed off and followed Liu Ruobing, diving straight into the darkness below.