Hearing the familiar voice behind him, Shi Hongda's smiling face stiffened. He whirled around to see Xu Ke and Tang Yingchang walking out, acting like old friends as they waved. "Elder Shi, good morning!"
"Who's having a good morning with you?"
A flicker of unease crossed Shi Hongda's eyes. His expression turned gloomy in an instant, and his voice beca as hoarse and grating as sandpaper. "What does this journey have to do with you?"
mbers of the Assassin's Alliance had been watching Xu Ke's movents at the Deyun Hotel since early this morning. If I let Xu Ke get in the car, wouldn't I be putting myself at risk? That's out of the question! Of course, my biggest concern is that if the Assassin's Alliance sees Bai Qian'er and the others nearby, they might call off their plans because of the onlookers. In that case, Xu Ke might actually escape unscathed!
"That's right! We don't welco you, and there's no room for you here," Fang Caizhe added, hopping anxiously as if his feet were on fire.
After going through so much trouble to get Bai Qian'er away from Xu Ke, how can I possibly agree to let him get close to her again?
Xu Ke sighed. "Why must you all be so petty? We're all heading to Tianhai, so what's the harm in traveling together?"
"Impossible!" the Yin and Yang Elders chid in, their voices sinister.
"Elder Shi, why be so petty? It looks like we're all heading the sa way, and it's only two seats. Just let Mister Xu and Elder Tang get on, won't you?" At that mont, Xie Jiancheng, who shouldn't have been there, suddenly erged from the side.
Upon seeing the Xie Family Patriarch, the expressions of Fang Caizhe and Shi Hongda's group of four darkened. What is Xu Ke up to? Calling Xie Jiancheng over this early in the morning… is he planning to use the Xie Family's power to force his way into the car?
"Mister Xie, this car was prepared by the Bai Family. The decision isn't up to you, is it?" Shi Hongda said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, his gaze cold.
Does he really think that just because I've been acting ek these past few days, it ans I'm afraid of the Xie Family?
"Of course not," Xie Jiancheng said, raising an eyebrow as he looked toward Bai Qian'er. "Miss Bai, could you do your uncle a favor and let Xu Ke and Elder Tang on board?"
Xu Ke did indeed call over. Since he told he wanted to leave with Shi Hongda and asked for my help, I have to lend a hand. I don't understand why he made such a decision, but I'll definitely help him!
All eyes turned to Bai Qian'er.
Damn it, Shi Hongda thought. Given how close Bai Qian'er and Xu Ke are, she's sure to agree.
Moreover, he felt sothing was odd. Just yesterday, the Bai Family had asked for his escort, and today, Xu Ke was insisting on getting into the car, as if he wanted to forcefully bind them together for the return trip to Tianhai.
Could the Bai Family's strange, last-minute request for an escort have been orchestrated by Xu Ke all along?
As he was pondering this, Bai Qian'er spoke. Unexpectedly, her brows furrowed slightly. "Let it be. I'm afraid there's no more room in the car."
Shi Hongda was taken aback by her words. Could my guess have been wrong?
Upon being rejected, Xu Ke beca visibly "anxious." Pointing at the car, he exclaid, "But it looks like there are plenty of empty seats, aren't there?"
"Qian'er rejected you, so just be a good boy and find another way back. Can you stop pestering everyone and wasting our ti?" Fang Caizhe was ecstatic.
Like Shi Hongda, I thought she would agree. But she rcilessly rejected him! It feels like I'm finally the one in charge now!
"What kind of rejection is this?" Xu Ke's face looked even more "anxious" as he turned to Bai Qian'er. "Qian'er, isn't the friendship we've built these last few days enough for us to return to Tianhai together?"
The Yin and Yang Elders sneered, "You have no real skill, but you're certainly good at latching onto connections."
Shi Hongda laughed heartily. "Forget it, Xu Ke. Just take another vehicle."
Seeing things unfold exactly as he'd hoped, Shi Hongda was imnsely pleased.
At that mont, Bai Qian'er sighed. "Xu Ke, it's not that I'm unwilling to let you travel with us.
"It's just that we shouldn't put all our eggs in one basket. If we travel together and soone plans to harm both you and , wouldn't we be in imdiate danger?"
Xu Ke protested, "How could anyone possibly want to harm both of us at the sa ti? What kind of excuse is that?"
Bai Qian'er seed sowhat impatient. "Everyone in the Northern Dragon Guard knows your potential. Sooner or later, they will try to recruit you again. Plus, I'm also a mber…
"In that case, if soone wanted to destroy the future of the Northern Dragon Guard, couldn't they just kill all of us at once?
"It's better if you don't travel with . Otherwise, if this vehicle gets taken over, it ans both of us will be under their control."
Hearing this, Fang Caizhe's joyous expression stiffened. So, Bai Qian'er wasn't rejecting Xu Ke! She refused to let him on for his own safety! His glee had not yet fully blood on his face before his complexion began to turn a sickly green.
But when Shi Hongda heard this, his expression changed dramatically.
Control. Control Xu Ke!
That one word struck him like a bolt of lightning, and his thoughts of refusal were instantly overturned.
I only wanted to get rid of him because I was worried that with onlookers present, the three great assassins from the Alliance would have to hold back. But with their fearso reputation, would they really worry about being watched while killing soone like Xu Ke? Would they care if it was reported to the authorities? Of course not! So, maybe I should let him get in the car after all. That way, I can control him! When the three great assassins from the Assassin's Alliance appear, I can help them capture Xu Ke, leaving him with no path of escape. Last ti, he managed to lure the tiger from the mountain, but this ti, he's serving himself up on a silver platter. With him in the sa car, it'll be like catching a turtle in a jar… Xu Ke will die without a grave to his na. And I can just tell Bai Qian'er and the others that Xu Ke himself had caused the Ghost Poison Elders to violate the assassin's code, so to protect myself, I had no choice but to hand him over. That way, the Martial Alliance won't hold responsible.
A sly smile crept across Shi Hongda's face.
As Shi Hongda's mind raced, Xu Ke seed to be persuaded. He nodded with apparent regret. "Alright then, you have a good point. In that case, I'll see you in Tianhai."
Bai Qian'er nodded slightly. "Okay."
Xu Ke turned to leave. Bai Qian'er glanced instinctively at Shi Hongda, wondering to herself, Can that guy really force Shi Hongda to personally invite him on board? It seems so unlikely…
"Xu Ke, wait a mont!" Shi Hongda suddenly called out.
Xu Ke stopped and turned to look back. "Shi Hongda, what is it?"
Shi Hongda, who had been smirking inwardly, stiffened.
This bastard. When he wanted to get on the car, he called 'Elder Shi.' Now that he's not getting on, he just calls 'Shi Hongda'? Damn him!
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