What is guarding? Day in and day out with the client, always by their side, constantly on your toes. The key factor was time, because poor timing could mean someoneâs life.
Zeus, the untouchable master of the mercenary world, had served before as a body guard for two years. It was intolerable.
Why did he become a mercenary in the first place?
A Ninth Level Talent, God-Ranked Mecha-Pilot, infinite possibilities⊠why choose the life of a mercenary? It was simple, really â freedom.
Thus Lan Jue rarely returned home, he couldnât stand the constraints.
Simply said this condition set by Zhou Qianlin went against his very nature, indeed he couldnât comply.
He took up the enameled pot, pouring himself another small cup of tea. He replaced it and took another sip.
âSomething else,â Lan Jue said in ill temper. When in her presence, even if he didnât realize it, he hardly seemed like a noble.
âNo need.â Zhou Qianlin stood. âA man who fails to keep his promise, what use could I have for him?â
As she spoke, she moved towards the door to leave.
âYou!â Lan Jue jumped to his feet, grabbing her wrist. âWhat on earth do you want?!â
She glared cruelly at him. âWhat do I want? I told you what I want, but since you canât agree then forget it.â
âThen what happened between usâŠâ he began in hesitation.
Zhou Qianlin yanked her hand away and stood toe to toe with him, staring fiercely in to his eyes. Lan Jue unconsciously took a step back.
âIt was like being sat on by a pig.â She spat the sentence at him, turned on her heel and left.
Lan Jue felt like a victim of his own Lightning Discipline, standing there frozen for a long while.
âStop!â After a few moments he finally reacted, running outside. He ran nearly headlong in to the waitress.
âSir, you havenât settled the bill.â
He paid hurriedly and hastened outside. He finally caught up with Zhou Qianlin at the door to the Luo Yun teahouse.
âStop right there!â Lan Jue shouted at her.
Zhou Qianlin lin spun around, regarding him calmly. âYou have something to say?â
âY-youâŠ!â lightning rippled in Lan Jueâs eyes, clearly on the verge of erupting.
She lifted her head, scorn evident in her beautiful sky-blue eyes. âWhatâs the matter? Ashamed?â
Lan Jue loosened his tightened fists, stepping back. âAsk for something else!â
Zhou Qianlin turned once again and began to walk off.
This time Lan Jue did not pursue, watching her slender form vanish around a nearby corner. He couldnât stop his fists from clenching once more. He was finding it difficult to contain his emotions.
Around the corner Zhou Qianlin had stopped when out of sight, leaning against the wall. She covered her red face with her hands, gasping headily through her open mouth.
The pressure was immense, and she felt as though in that moment there still burned the heat of those two large hands pressing down on her shoulders.
And then a laugh burst unbidden from her lips. The whole scene was too much! Sat on by a pig!
Hah! Heâs got to be so pissed! What choice does the honorable and respected Zeus have?
ζ
In the same instant Lan Jue was returning to Zeusâ Jewelry Store.
Seeing his infuriated face, Xiuxiu and Keâer gulped. The expression in his eyes was stranger still.
Lan Jue said not a word, going directly to his room. He needed to think.
âWhoâs he so upset with? He looks so⊠ugly,â Keâer said, wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
Xiuxiu shook her head. âItâs the first time Iâve seen him this angry.â
As he entered the room Lan Jue flopped down atop his bed, his head resounding with Zhou Qianlinâs pleasant voice.
âBodyguard!â
âSat on by a pig!â
The two phrases echoed over and over in his mind. He knew that had someone else spoke to him like that heâd have incinerated them. But not Zhou Qianlin, she was his Jinyuâs sister, and he stillâŠ
Only, this request was nearly impossible to accept. To be beside her every day as a bodyguard. How could anyone who values freedom live like that? And it was more than two years â the length of her schooling, at least two years and three months.
No, impossible! Regardless of the circumstances, impossible!
Yet to refuse was to go against his own moral code. In the heat of the moment they never discussed terms. Moreover he was the one that had taken her innocence. If he didnât make recompense it would be like a thorn in his heart forever, like a fish bone caught in the throat.
At the same time Zou Qianlin was also lying in her bed, covered by a light pink gauze curtain. Her room was constructed like an ocean of flowers. Lying atop the soft bed, her eyes were hazy, filled with several emotions, her mind in a constant state of flux.
Will he accept? If he doesnât, what then?
Beep, beep, beep!
Zhou Qianlin nearly leapt from the bed, but sputtered when she saw he number on her communicator.
âLittle Mi, what is it?â
âTang Mi!â came the agitated shout from the communicator.
âI heard youâll be returning to classes next week. Are you sure everythingâs alright?â
Zhou Qianlin responded, âWhat do you mean alright?â
âYour mood,â Tang Mi said. âAfter something like this you certainly canât forget it right away.â
Zhou Qianlin snorted. âI forget about it ages ago. Iâll return to class next week. Let me copy your notes.â
Tang Mi chuckled. âYou really want to forget then thatâs fine. Iâm telling you though, you arenât allowed to have any sort of relationship with my idol. Iâll be a mercenary myself, the beautiful woman chasing the every step of the Mercenary King, you wont be able to compete with me.â
âGo then, meet a man and lose all your friends.â She unceremoniously hung up the communicator.
Beep, beep, beep the communicator rang anew.
Zhou Qianlin impatiently answered. âI wonât compete with you, alright? Heâs all yours!â
âCompete with what,â a surprised voice answered from the communicator.
Zhou Qianlin sat up. âIs it you?â
The response was low, simple, like it required a great deal of courage to utter.