"Are you going to fight or not?"
I asked, but Jean Xu still clung to Rippleblade in her arms, shaking her head in terror.
"Sir, I don't know how to fight. I'm just a woman, and I'm afraid of pain."
Jade Zeng at the side had tried to make a move several times, but each time she did, Jean Xu would immediately beg for mercy. Now things had ended up like this—Eugene Smithson just sat not far away, watching everything unfold with a silent smile.
"Did you really feel nothing after picking up this sword?"
I asked again. Jean Xu shook her head.
"I'm just a rough person, can't read, and don't know much. Sir, what exactly do you mean by 'feeling'? Can you explain it to me?"
I could only press my forehead and say.
"It's like having strength inside your body, immense strength, like you could lift a mountain—that kind of feeling."
Jean Xu immediately shook her head, looking at me strangely.
"Sir, of course I have strength. I woke up with it. It took a lot of effort to pull out this sword, but if you're talking about lifting a mountain, I can't do that. Don't joke with me, sir. I can help with chores if you want—just tell me where it's dirty and I'll clean it."
This woman puzzled me. I didn't understand why I couldn't control her with commands. I'd already ordered her and Jade Zeng to fight, but Jean Xu refused to obey. The Hell Imprint was already branded on her—this was the first time I'd seen this happen. I glanced at Eugene Smithson.
Thinking about it now, the only possibility was that Eugene Smithson had done something, but I couldn't figure out what. I couldn't even glimpse his memories or know what he was thinking, which surprised me greatly.
"Are you going to fight or not?"
I asked again, and Jean Xu immediately shook her head.
"No."
Clenching my fist, I grabbed Jean Xu and pulled her into the air in front of me, staring at her intently.
"If you refuse to fight, I'll send you straight back to Hell right now."
Jean Xu immediately became unhappy.
"Sir, you have no credibility at all."
For a moment, I was at a loss for words and quickly let go of Jean Xu. She began to speak.
"I may be a rough person and illiterate, but I know that when people like you make a promise, you keep it. You said whoever pulled out this sword would be free to go to the living world. Isn't that what you said?"
Feeling awkward, I glanced sideways at Fiona Blaze, Pyra Blaze, and Ember Doom, who were all watching, while Black Moon just shook his hand helplessly.
"I did say that, but you need to understand—you work for me now, so you have to follow my orders."
"Even if I work for you, there are things I simply can't do. If you want a show, let those three girls beside you fight Jade Zeng instead. I really can't fight."
I was speechless, unable to come up with a retort, so I just waved my hand.
"Go wherever you want."
Jean Xu turned and ran off immediately, looking rather helpless.
"Why is this happening, Eugene Smithson?"
I asked, but Eugene Smithson still said nothing. At that moment, Black Moon seemed to notice something and floated over.
"Boss, from what I've observed lately, I think that woman might be pure of heart. The Hell Imprint only uses people's negative emotions and greed to control them, giving them power from those feelings. But that woman is like a blank sheet of paper."
I looked at Eugene Smithson in confusion as he walked over slowly.
"The materials I use for forging weapons are pure to the extreme. They may not compare to the very best, but they can make a fine weapon. That woman is the same—the saying 'like attracts like' applies here."
"Then what about a weapon like that..."
I didn't finish my thought. Eugene Smithson seemed ready to forge another weapon. He walked over to a greenish stone and quietly stroked it. Black Moon had already found him a bunch of colorful stones as requested, all sourced from the middle depths of Hell, though their quality was mixed.
"If all the weapons you forge and those who draw them are like this, then sending these vessels to the living world would be pointless, wouldn't it?"
I asked, and Eugene Smithson just smiled.
"Those pure of heart are good, but in Hell they're rare, aren't they?"
I nodded, realizing it was true. I'd never met anyone as free of desire as Jean Xu before. At that moment, Jade Zeng floated over with her sword, looking furious. I followed her, with Black Moon close behind.
"I'll carry out your orders, Master. When it comes to dealing with women like her, I know exactly what to do."
Soon, we found Jean Xu at the edge of the Heart of Hell, above one of the deep pits, hugging Rippleblade and grinning foolishly with joy.
"What are you doing? What's so funny?"
"Miss Jade Zeng, could you not sneak up on me like that? You scared me to death."
Jade Zeng glared at Jean Xu in annoyance, pressing her sword to Jean Xu's neck. Jean Xu immediately raised both hands, and the sword in her hands fell to the ground.
"What do you mean by this?"
"Didn't you just put your sword to my neck? I surrender, Miss Jade Zeng. I'm no match for you, so please let me go."
Jade Zeng glared at Jean Xu with clenched teeth, but didn't strike with her sword.
"Why surrender before even fighting?"
"I can't beat you anyway."
For a moment, the anger vanished from Jade Zeng's face and she started to smile.
"You really are strange, but let me tell you, getting to the living world isn't that simple. If you can't show your true strength, Master will send you right back to Hell."
"He won't."
Jade Zeng replied, her eyes firm.
"I've met plenty of people in power in my life—even the King of Hell himself. They all keep their word."
I swallowed, pressing my hand to my chest. The thought of sending Jean Xu straight back to Hell still lingered in my mind, but if I really did it, I'd lose face.
"So what will it take for you to fight me?"
Jade Zeng asked, but Jean Xu still refused.
"I simply can't do it, Miss Jade Zeng. I hope you understand."
For a moment, Jade Zeng's expression turned sad.
"My role is to test those who pull out the sword. If I can't even fulfill that, I'll turn back into one of those Human-faced Trees across the way. I don't want that—please, I'm begging you, just fight me once."