Hearing Yujinâs explanation, Ning Cheng didnât react much. He said âOh,â and turned to leave. Yujinâs face grew doubtful. Was this man not going to bother with Chengâer anymore? She quickly chased after him and asked, âMaster Cheng, youâŠyou donât care about Chengâer?â
âShe brought it on herself, so she can fix it herself. What virtue or ability do I have to bother with her?â Ning Cheng retorted.
Yujin wanted to retort but couldnât find a reason even after more thought. Ning Cheng then added, âIf she has the skills to seduce Shangguan Ze, why didnât she stand out earlier? Does she really think I want to get involved with Han Xiang?â
Yujin felt something was off about his words. She watched Ning Cheng leave while thinking over what was the matter. But Ning Cheng actually stopped walking abruptly, causing Yujin to nearly crash into him. Fortunately, she realized it in time and quickly backed away in fright. Ning Cheng looked back with contempt. Despite being an assassin, this womanâs vigilance was too low, right? He had no idea that Yujinâs situational awareness was actually very high, but it fell after she met Chengâer. Anything related to Chengâer would also lower her alarm.
Ning Cheng stood for awhile before Yujin noticed they had already circled around the Shangguan Estate to end up at its front doors. Currently, Ning Cheng was staring at the plaque over the gate.
âMaster Cheng, whatâŠ.do you plan to do?â Yujin asked curiously.
Ning Cheng didnât answer. He strode up the steps and starting banging on the door. Soon enough a servant came to open the door. Sensing something amiss, Yujin quickly slipped away. The servant saw that Ning Cheng was dressed in ordinary clothes and asked irritably, âWho are you? Know where this is? Are you worthy of knocking on the door?â\nNing Cheng replied, âPlease tell Young Master Ze that Liubei Trade Consortiumâs Ah-Cheng requests an audience.â
âYouâre Master Cheng of Liubei Trade Consortium? HahaâŠâ Before the servant stopped laughing, Ning Cheng used the silver draft heâd previously offered the mama to gag his mouth.
âGo!â
The servant took out the money in surprise. âPlease wait!â
When he found Shangguan Ze, the latter was currently in the rooms that shut up Chengâer.
âYoung Master Ze, a so-called Master Cheng of Liubei Trade Consortium is requesting your audience at the door,â the servant said.
There was a spell of silence before the doors were pushed open. But it wasnât Shangguan Ze that came out, but Chengâer.
âHe came? Did he say why he came?â Chengâer asked happily.
Shangguan Ze followed her out, his eyes filled with nothing but doting for this long-lost little sister. After all, she looked too much like his late mother! Ever since she went missing, father and mother had never given up searching for her. Unfortunately, theyâd scoured all of Mysterious Continent in the past few decades without any clues. He never expected her to seek them out herself. If not for the ornaments worn in her youth and this face, he would have hardly believed this was true.
âŠ
Although Chengâer was determined to be a waste at birth, it didnât affect how everyone spoiled her. In a world where martial strength was king, deep affections still existed between parent and child, brother and sister. He couldnât imagine what fatherâs reaction would be once he emerged from closed door cultivation to see Chengâer. Before that happened, he could only temporarily conceal the news and keep her here for now. After all, these were clan matters and Chengâerâs previous identity would affect their reputation. Thus, he only said Chengâer was âhis personâ when rescuing her from Han Xiang without explaining anything else.\nChengâer was thinking of Ah-Cheng the entire time after she was brought back, too sad to care about anything else. It wasnât until she reached the Shangguan Estate that she began to feel afraid. She knew that Mysterious Continent was a world where martial arts reign supreme. She felt it even more keenly after coming here herself. She couldnât imagine how much of a laughingstock a useless waste like her would be in a big clan like the Shangguan.
But everything was different from what she imagined. After entering the courtyard, the proud and haughty Shangguan Ze actually hugged her tightly and almost cried. She almost cried back. If she knew there was still a father who cherished her and an older brother who loved her, she wouldâve come back much earlier!
Chengâer kept asking the servant urgent questions, but he couldnât answer any of them.
âHe only said he wanted to see Young Master Ze,â the servant replied.
âDonât! Warn him that if he comes again, weâll break his legs!â Shangguan Ze said coldly.
âYou dare!â Chengâer glared back.
Shangguan Ze was dumbfounded. He had no idea what kind of relationship Chengâer had with Ah-Cheng, but he knew that the man was involved with Han Xiang and that Liubei Trade Consortium would fall into the Wolf Sectâs hands eventually.
âBig bro, let him in,â Chengâer pled.
âWhatâs he here for?â Shangguan Ze didnât understand.
âI donât know either, butâŠbut in any case, he came, so just let him inside!â Chengâerâs heart was pounding as if a little fawn was jumping around inside. She had no idea what sort of good thing Yujin had done, but she had nearly given up herself. She thought Ah-Cheng wouldnât care about her anymore, not that heâd actually show up.
âHan Xiang is no good. You should keep your distance from anyone that hooks up with her,â Shangguan Ze said seriously, but Chengâer was even more serious.\nâBig bro, Iâm no good either. Ah-Chengâs even worse than me. If we get tangled up together, you donât have to worry about a thing.â
Shangguan Ze was left speechless. He silently thought heâd have to watch out for his little sister and protect her more. The Shangguan Clan was quite strict, especially with its family rules towards females. Wouldnât anyone take advantage of her daily with that kind of personality?
âCall him in!â Chengâer was already tugging at his hand, so he could only agree.
Soon enough, Ning Cheng was brought into the courtyard by the servant. Shangguan Ze sat at a stone table while Chengâer hid inside the rooms to peek from a window. She was so nervous. That day, her older brother said words that would definitely make this fellow misunderstand. She could only silently mutter, Take me away, take me away, take me awayâŠ
Shangguan Ze was a proud sort and had every right to be that way. He sat unmoving and arched a brow at Ning Cheng. But Ning Cheng wasnât humble either and stood with his back straight. When he stood in front of the other man, his aura didnât lose against his.
He said, âYoung Master Ze, today Iâm here to discuss a sale with you. I donât know whether youâd be interested.â
Hearing this, Chengâerâs heart gave a jolt.
Shangguan Ze didnât invite him to sit, but stood up and asked, âWhat sort of sale?â
âSomething related to the Wolf Sect,â Ning Cheng replied.
Now Shangguan Ze was interested, while Chengâerâs heart sank. So it has nothing to do with me, ah.
Ning Cheng said, âLiubei Trade Consortium is already an empty husk. Han Xiang can only clean up the mess. If you object, I can create a new consortium solely loyal to the Shangguan Clan. I promise that after a year, no one from the Wolf Sect will be able to steal anything from you on the bidding field!â\nShangguan Ze finally realized that Ning Cheng was no simple man and looked at him directly. The Wolf Sect was richer than the Shangguan Sect, so in the past few years they had stolen lots of elixirs and pills from them at auctions. He and his father had been suppressing their temper over the fact for ages. He never thought this fellow could stab their weak point as soon as he opened his mouth.
âWhy should I believe you?â Shangguan Ze asked.
âBy the fact that Liubei Trade Consortium established itself until my rule, and the two keys I hold to its treasury,â Ning Cheng replied.
Shangguan Ze smiled. âSince you can trick Han Xiang today, you can trick me tomorrow!â
âIf Young Master Ze doesnât believe me, I can sign an indenture agreement as a slave,â Ning Cheng replied simply.
Inside the room, Chengâer was gaping. She couldnât understand why Ah-Cheng was doing this. She wondered if he was hiding some sinister plot instead? Shangguan Ze thought as well and laughed coldly. âAfter saying all that, what terms do you want?â
Ning Cheng stared at him squarely and said, âLet Chengâer go.â
The world grew still.
But Chengâerâs world was ever quieter.
Abruptly, she couldnât help but shriek, âAhâŠahhhhâŠ.ahhhh!â
After that she opened the door and ran out to lunge at Ah-Cheng. Her momentum was so strong that Ning Cheng might have fallen to the ground if he wasnât tall and sturdy enough. Just like the time she forced a kiss on him, she pounced on him directly with her arms around his neck, legs around his body, and buried her head in his shoulder to cry out nonstop.
Ning Cheng was lost.
Shangguan Ze was as well, but he was intelligent enough to quickly understand what was going on. He wanted to laugh as he felt helpless, but didnât get to speak before Chengâer gestured behind her body for him to shoo.\nWhat could Shangguan Ze do? He left them.
âHave you yelled enough yet? Get off!â Ning Cheng snapped.
Chengâer looked up at him with a wordless grin. Ning Cheng was about to pry her off when she held on as tight as death.
âEnough!â Ning Cheng was really angry.
âYou cameâŠâ
Before Chengâer had finished, Ning Cheng actually threw her on the ground and demanded, âWhatâs going on?â
Chengâer sprawled unhappily on the ground. âIâll tell you if you help me up!â
Ning Cheng turned to leave without hesitation. Chengâer didnât fuss and climbed to her feet before chasing after him to wrap her arms around his back.
âCan you notââ Ning Cheng tried to pry off her hands.
âYou like me!â she cried. âYou didnât even care about selling yourself off in order to save me. I brought on the trouble myself, but you still came to help me. You like me, you have to!â
âYouâre thinking too much,â Ning Cheng rejected without hesitation.
âThen why did you come?â Chengâer asked.
âBetween the Shangguan Clan and the Wolf Sect, I prefer the former more. Saving you was something I did on the way,â Ning Cheng easily said an excuse.
âBut itâs still liking me. Otherwise, why not pick something else to get along the way?â Chengâer asked cheerily.
Ning Cheng fell silent a while before saying, âBecause I donât want to see you in the Shangguan Clan.â
Chengâer was even happier. She shouted outside the courtyard, âBig broâŠbig brother! Come here! Hurry back! This person agreed to sign himself into slavery with you! A gentlemanâs word is worth nine cauldrons, donât let him go back on it!â
Big brother?
Ning Cheng slowly turned around to look at Chengâer hugging him as his face gradually grew whiteâŠ\n