Having released the festering bile within, Ye Tian looked at the neatly arrayed row of people before him and feel a tinge of remorse, as if he had been too harsh. He dispelled the Clear Wind Gang Qi from his fingers, and the rage in his heart completely evaporated.
"Mr. Ye, it’s about ti for us to step in."
Zhang Liang sauntered forth, gesturing with a spread hand in front of Ye Tian, and spoke languidly.
Seeing this guy who had been comfortably sitting back and fishing all this ti, the anger that Ye Tian had just quelled flared up again. I hate sons of bitches like you the most, hiding at the back when it’s ti to fight, and now that it’s over, you co out looking all prim and proper, wanting to duel with . What, you think I won’t kill?
Seeing the change in Ye Tian’s expression, Zhang Liang smiled and said, "Mr. Ye isn’t angry with , is he?"
Ye Tian reined in his fury and asked with a grin, "Why would I be? Where does Mr. Zhang work?"
"I’m just a head of the sanitation team. A very ordinary position."
"What authority do you have?"
"Just cleaning up, not much different from the work of a street cleaning aunty."
"So you’re saying, it wasn’t your idea, was it?"
Zhang Liang bowed slightly, asking humbly, "I’m not sure what Mr. Ye is referring to?"
Ye Tian waved his hand grandly and plunked himself firmly onto a stone seat, wearing a look of disdain, "Cut the crap, these people were obviously sent by you for to beat up to let off so steam, right? If you hadn’t been sure I wouldn’t kill, would you have sent them? Speaking of which, these folks are so of the few combatants you have on hand, right? I took a look just now; there are even two using martial arts from the Heavenly Stems, Dingshan and Jipei. Speaking of which, you’re still missing two from the Twelve Earthly Branches, are they just for show?"
Zhang Liang didn’t seem to mind Ye Tian’s insinuations at all, having been forewarned by his superiors before arriving that this kid is just a hooligan, and no matter what he says, don’t get angry. I don’t need you to bring him back neatly, just make sure he vents out, whatever it takes.
How could soone with nearly a decade of experience in the governnt be easily offended by this guy’s remarks?
"Heh, true heroes often erge in youth. Before I ca, the old boss told that Mr. Ye is resourceful and highly skilled, fit for great responsibilities. Seeing you today, your reputation is indeed well-deserved. I’m impressed."
"Get lost! Trying to choke with flattery, aren’t you?"
"Wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare," Zhang Liang stepped forward but then stepped back slightly as if the distance was too close, and said, "Indeed, these from the Sixth Group are our elite forces, and it’s true that two from the Heavenly Stems made the ultimate sacrifice during their missions. This mixed crew has also completed many missions, with many stronger than Mr. Ye. However, only one person has been able to discern the distinction between the Twelve Earthly Branches."
"Don’t try to flatter . With your modest stock, if we really squared off, I can’t guarantee I’d co out alive. I know you’ve given face this ti, just so I could vent. I can tell it’s been a tough decision for you. But let’s make it clear, there’s no such thing as free breakfast, lunch, or dinner in this world. What do you really want, lay it on the line. Last ti you dragged back, saying it was for so secret weapon, I nearly died out there. It’s only because I’m handso and have good karma that I survived, or else, hmph."
Seeing Ye Tian’s beatable deanor, those Assassins of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches couldn’t help but roll their eyes. Ye Tian didn’t mind and rolled his eyes back, not one to back down, given his thicker skin.
"Mr. Ye, rest assured, this ti we request your presence rely for consultation, not for front-line combat."
"So it’s brain work?"
Zhang Liang thought for a mont, then said, "Sothing like that."
"Nope!"
Zhang Liang slightly narrowed his eyes, but then his face broke into a smile again, "Are you comfortable living here, Mr. Ye?"
Ye Tian turned away and began to pick out impurities from a winnowing basket of yellow beans, relentlessly picking out bits of twig and wilted leaves.
"You could take handfuls and sort through them."
Zhang Liang sat calmly on another stone seat while waving his hand gently. The twelve individuals quickly departed, no longer lingering.
Ye Tian paused, looked up at him, and then grabbed a handful of beans from the basket, indeed, sorting through them this way was much faster.
Zhang Liang also took a handful, first blowing on them to whisk away the lighter leaves and dust, then picking out the broken pieces and sand grains. Soon, a handful of beans was sorted clean, "Where should I put these?"
Ye Tian pointed to a nearby clay jar already filled with many beans.
After Zhang Liang put the beans in, he said, "My mother taught this thod when I was a child. She always said, in life and in undertaking tasks, never bite off more than you can chew. Eat one bite at a ti, walk one step at a ti. Rush and you’re likely to stumble, eat too fast and you might choke."
Zhang Liang’s sorting was indeed faster than Ye Tian’s. While Ye Tian was still on his first handful, Zhang Liang had already completed three.
"You don’t seem to be eating slowly," Ye Tian said with a discernible sourness, reluctantly picking up another handful.
"Mr. Ye, I really have no other intentions by coming here. The prosperity of a nation is every citizen’s responsibility. I presu you don’t want to hear about the national security matters and I don’t want to bother ntioning them either."
Ye Tian nodded, "That’s right. If you really started with that, I’d be out the door in an instant."
Zhang Liang smiled and said, "The Sixth Group is not a lucrative departnt; it is what people would call the Qingshui Governnt Office. But if you don’t do it and I don’t do it, soone has to."
"So you chose for this?"
Zhang Liang finished the last handful of beans, clapped his hands, and said, "Because you are the most suitable candidate."
Ye Tian watched him preparing to leave and asked, "If I had really killed just now, would I be lying dead and not talking to you here?"
Zhang Liang’s eyes narrowed, but he just smiled and said nothing.
...
Apart from the shattered stone slabs in the yard, only Ye Tian remained, picking beans on the stone table.
"Twelve Assassins couldn’t withstand a single glance of yours; this Zhang Liang is truly a character. Just worried that once there, they’ll be the masters and I’ll be the executioner’s blade."
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