Chapter 436 Chapter 434 The Dragon King'S Schemes
Chapter 434 The Dragon King'S Schemes
Listening to Xiao Ming’s somewhat frivolous remarks, Song Liyin frowned displeasedly. "I don't much like strangers calling me by name. Besides, whether the Young Lady returns or not is none of your concern."
"Yes, yes, yes, my lady Head Maid. Your personal maid has come to Jiuzhou City alone, so it seems the Young Lady is the one who sent you to find me."
Xiao Ming shrugged helplessly. Seeing that the maid before him had not taken the bucket of instant noodles offered by one of his men, he waved a hand, and his subordinate passed it into his own hands.
He had met the Head Maid and the Young Lady during his studies at an aristocratic high school abroad, and naturally, he understood their dispositions well.
Even though the Head Maid was now wearing a stern expression, and her gaze held disdain, Xiao Ming remained completely unruffled. Instead, he said calmly, "So then, Head Maid, what business do you have with me?"
The Head Maid didn't mince words, getting straight to the point. "You should know that Su Dingtian of the War God's Palace still has a descendant in the country, right? Her name is Su Tao."
Xiao Ming took a mouthful of instant noodles. "I know. What about it?"
The Head Maid raised an eyebrow. "Since you know, why are you so casually eating noodles here..."
"Hold it right there." Xiao Ming held up his fork and waved it slightly. "I know what you're trying to say. It's nothing more than trying to provoke animosity between my Asura Palace and the War God's Palace. Since you've come to find me, and directly to Jiuzhou City, that means the Young Lady is also returning to the country."
"But your influence is mostly overseas, right? You want to borrow my Asura Palace's people for your initial purposes. Don't think I, Xiao Ming, am easily swayed. I do have a long-standing feud with Su Dingtian, that's true, but our matters do not require your interference."
At these words, the Head Maid gave him a look as if he were an imbecile.
"Are you being too conceited?"
"Huh?"
"The Young Lady has countless people at her disposal. With a mere wave of her hand, countless powerful clans would flock to her. Do you think she's in need of your meager forces?"
"Then what exactly are you here for?"
Xiao Ming could never quite figure out this Head Maid before him.
Nor could he fathom the extremely arrogant Young Lady, whose actions were unpredictable.
They had returned to the country, and they actually sought him out over the matter of Su Tao.
Song Liyin said calmly, "There are two reasons I've come to find you. The first is to inform you that Su Dingtian will also be returning to the country soon. The specific reason is unclear, but as his sworn enemy..."
She left a delicate pause mid-sentence before continuing, "And then, the second matter is, I wish to borrow some ancient martial artists from you."
Hearing these three words, Xiao Ming finally stopped eating his noodles, and a serious expression appeared on his face. "Ancient martial artists?"
"Yes," the Head Maid nodded lightly. "While every family or power has plenty of such individuals, most of them relied on elixirs or drugs to achieve their strength. They only have slightly better physical capabilities than ordinary people; they're unfit for any significant task."
"Of course, there's no shortage of ordinary people, but for truly formidable ancient martial artists, one still needs to recruit. Although I could use the Young Lady's name to find some people, favors, you see..."
The Head Maid shook her head helplessly.
She wasn't afraid of owing others favors. What she feared was that after interacting with various families, they would mistakenly believe they'd found a chance to climb the ranks, and then flock to them.
What would follow would be all sorts of vexations.
And as for these ancient martial artists...
Song Liyin said, "While the people of your Asura Palace are a bit lacking in the intelligence department, they are far more useful than those homegrown ancient martial artists who came up through drugs."
A corner of Xiao Ming's mouth twitched. "Thank you for the compliment. But I refuse."
Song Liyin frowned.
Xiao Ming continued calmly, "To put it bluntly, you're trying to rope me into trouble. Regardless of the grievances between Su Dingtian and me, at the very least, our conflict hasn't openly dragged his daughter into it."
"If I lend you people, my Asura Palace would be dragged in. When Su Dingtian returns, his primary target for revenge would undoubtedly be his old enemies. I don't want to get involved in such a mess."
"And," Xiao Ming put down his instant noodles and casually lit a cigarette. "The three-year period is not yet up. I absolutely will not intervene."
"This is a contract!"
Song Liyin's mouth twitched. "I find you truly are problematic in the head. Even Su Dingtian is completely outmatched by the Young Lady. If you join the Young Lady's camp, as long as it's in the country, what can Su Dingtian possibly do to you?"
"Yet you still want to use me as a pawn."
Song Liyin said, "I know you have a conflict with Su Tao. This is merely an opportunity, and we can both get what we want."
"I refuse."
Xiao Ming snorted lightly. "Ye Liang and Chu Lingfeng were both eliminated. I've had contact with them. I know they were likely similar to me, that indescribable feeling—I don't know if you can feel it."
"Even the Young Lady herself could face risks."
"As long as I wait calmly for three years, once the contract expires, what does it matter if ten more Su Taos appear? I can act freely in the country, and Su Dingtian and Su Tao would be powerless. Why should I take such a risk to cooperate with you?"
Xiao Ming took another puff of his cigarette. "If this is all, then you can leave now."
"Tsk." Song Liyin stood up, her eyes full of disdain. "You're truly regressing with age."
With that, she turned and walked out.
Just before leaving, however, she heard Xiao Ming's cold, emotionless words again: "The Autumn Envoy is quite shrewd. To have such a person remain here doing menial tasks is a bit of a waste of talent. How about sending him into the city to gather some intelligence?"
Song Liyin raised an eyebrow after hearing him, then walked out the door again.
She then saw the Autumn Envoy who had been waiting outside and asked, "Do you understand what Xiao Ming said?"
"Yes, Miss Maid. I am now your bodyguard. I don't belong to the Dragon King's forces, nor to the Asura Palace. As for the people you need, I can bring you four."
Four genuine ancient martial artists.
Plus this Autumn Envoy, who isn't bad with his wits.
It seemed this trip was more worthwhile than she had anticipated.
Xiao Ming, cowardly he might be, but he's not entirely useless. He's much better than that Chu Lingfeng.
Now that she had some people, but according to the plan...
The Head Maid sighed deeply. "Young Lady, what exactly are you thinking?"
***
Time swiftly passed, bringing them to April.
After confirming that both safety and the world's will remained inactive, Chi Xiaocheng and Su Tao also returned to their own apartment complex.
Leaving Si Chen's villa, though it lacked the luxurious amenities and furnishings of that villa, being in someone else's home was nowhere near as comfortable as her own humble abode.
And the first order of business upon returning home was to pick up the two kittens from Fang Ning.
Xiao Ran was fine; its nature was inherently docile.
But the ever-proud Dàwáng, after enduring a few days of fending for himself, was quite displeased.
As soon as it got home, leaping onto Chi Xiaocheng's shoulder, it began delivering a barrage of "cat punches" at her, venting all its frustration.
It took Chi Xiaocheng a long time to finally soothe the feline.
At the same time, upon returning home, they also faced another new problem.
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