“When we caught you in Blackflame City, your Qin family seemed to be planning to leave, right?” With little else to do, Cao Yuan turned his head to look at Qin Wuyao and asked.
Qin Wuyao shot a glance at Cao Yuan but chose not to engage.
Cao Yuan didn’t mind.
He chuckled and said, “Qin Lie, as the Chief Steward of the Heavenly Alliance’s Blackflame City branch, didn’t use the Alliance’s connections to solve his problems. That’s quite the tough guy move. But trying to run away? That doesn’t quite hold up. Since the global dataization, the world’s landmass has expanded several times over, but finding someone has actually become much easier than before.”
His words seemed to mock Qin Lie’s decision.
Qin Wuyao still ignored him.
Then.
Cao Yuan suddenly turned to look at the Sifangzhai members behind the city wall.
He shouted out, “That newcomer from half a month ago, what was her name… Wang Yujiao? Step forward for a moment.”
Qin Wuyao jolted in surprise.
She turned her head in astonishment, just in time to see Wang Yujiao, who had left Blackflame City, step out from the crowd.
Meeting an acquaintance, Qin Wuyao was very surprised.
But Wang Yujiao only glanced at Qin Wuyao before averting her gaze and walking over to Cao Yuan’s side.
“Guild Leader, what do you need?” Wang Yujiao asked casually.
Her appearance had changed quite a bit from before.
Perhaps it was from going through party dungeon runs and such.
Although her level was still low, not even reaching twenty.
This progress wasn’t exactly slow either.
After all, she was a newly-awakened professional.
Her demeanor wasn’t as soft and fragile as before; instead, she seemed somewhat weathered.
Probably due to the strong winds, sand, and dry air of this northwestern region.
Wang Yujiao wasn’t as delicate and pretty as she used to be.
“Wang Yujiao, I recall you’re from Blackflame City, right? Qin Wuyao is about your age. Do you know her?” Cao Yuan asked.
“We attended the same school,” Wang Yujiao replied truthfully.
It was hard to believe.
That Cao Yuan, the guild leader, could remember a newcomer like Wang Yujiao so clearly.
He even remembered where she was from.
But it was also understandable.
Guilds like Sifangzhai weren’t bottom-tier, but they certainly weren’t the choice for hidden class holders, or even rare class holders for that matter.
After all, aside from the Four Major Guilds, among the top-ranked large guilds, many were eager to recruit rare class holders.
For Wang Yujiao, a rare class holder, joining Sifangzhai naturally meant she received significant attention and the resources and support she could get here were likely much better than what she’d receive in a large guild.
A guild like this was the most suitable springboard for growth.
No wonder Cao Yuan remembered so clearly.
“What a coincidence, classmates then. Since that’s the case, if Qin Lie still doesn’t show up soon, the task of killing your classmate will be handed over to you,” Cao Yuan said bluntly.
What?
Wang Yujiao jolted, her face changing dramatically.
Having fought and killed many wild monsters and dungeon bosses, Wang Yujiao wasn’t afraid of killing itself.
But to kill Qin Wuyao… after all, they were once schoolmates!
And also…
Qin Wuyao had an extraordinary relationship with Lu Ran.
Wang Yujiao’s face turned somewhat pale.
Qin Wuyao’s heart also sank as she looked at Wang Yujiao.
“I…” Wang Yujiao gritted her teeth, hesitating.
Cao Yuan immediately frowned.
He said mildly, “Wang Yujiao, it hasn’t even been a month since you awakened your class. You’re not officially a member of Sifangzhai yet, and you can leave anytime. I’ve allocated you so many resources and support. I don’t need to elaborate on how I’ve treated you, do I?”
Wang Yujiao clenched her jaw.
Indeed.
She couldn’t join the guild officially yet.
She was only staying at Sifangzhai as a probationary member.
But Cao Yuan had already倾斜 (leaned) considerable resources her way.
She could leave at any time.
Cao Yuan could also kick her out at any moment!
At the same time.
Wang Yujiao also roughly understood Cao Yuan’s purpose in doing this.
Killing Qin Lie’s daughter meant Wang Yujiao wouldn’t be able to leave anymore. She would have no choice but to beg for Sifangzhai’s protection, tying herself firmly to the guild!
Wang Yujiao didn’t want to agree.
But at this point, her fate was not in her own hands.
She could only grit her teeth and say to Qin Wuyao, “We share no bond, and I have no choice in this matter. Back then, when Lu Ran abandoned me, you also played a part in it. If I kill you, you can’t blame me.”
Huh?
Cao Yuan was startled. Was there another story here?
“Bullshit!” Qin Wuyao angrily retorted. “You were the one who betrayed Lu Ran!”
Wang Yujiao gritted her teeth, seeming to want to argue.
But the words stuck in her throat, unable to come out.
She just turned to look at Cao Yuan and said, “When do we start? I’ll kill her!”
Cao Yuan laughed heartily, nodding with satisfaction.
He spoke up, “No rush. If that Qin Lie…”
Before he could finish.
A subordinate beside him suddenly shouted, “Qin Lie is here!”
Oh?
Cao Yuan’s body trembled, and he quickly turned to look.
Amidst the blowing yellow sand at the mountain pass entrance, two figures were walking step by step towards them.
“Two people?” Cao Yuan frowned.
But he also breathed a sigh of relief simultaneously.
He had been worried that pushing Qin Lie too far might force him to use the Heavenly Alliance’s power.
While the Heavenly Alliance might not necessarily intervene for Qin Lie’s private affairs, the worry was still there.
Now, seeing Qin Lie arriving with just one other person, the big rock in Cao Yuan’s heart finally settled.
However.
He stared at the other person beside Qin Lie for a long time.
But Cao Yuan couldn’t recognize who it was: “A young lad. Judging by his age, probably not even level 30, right? Qin Lie came with just one attendant? He really does have guts.”
Beside him.
Wang Yujiao and Qin Wuyao both froze at the same time.
They both recognized him instantly—it was Lu Ran!
A trace of joy appeared on Qin Wuyao’s face, but it was immediately followed by deep worry.
Coming here now, isn’t that just delivering himself to death?
Qin Wuyao didn’t know how much Lu Ran had grown by now, so her worry was natural.
Wang Yujiao had been diligently leveling with Sifangzhai members these days and hadn’t paid attention to news about Lu Ran.
It seemed in both their minds, Lu Ran’s coming here, like Qin Lie’s fate, meant death!
But Qin Wuyao understood Lu Ran’s importance to Longxia.
If he died here because of her, she, Qin Wuyao, would be a sinner for the ages!
Wang Yujiao turned to look at Qin Wuyao, her tone odd as she said, “Your relationship really is extraordinary. For you, Lu Ran dares to take this risk and come. But even if it’s him, can he save you?”
Wang Yujiao was completely unaware of Lu Ran’s current capabilities.
Although Lu Ran leveled up quickly, that didn’t prove much.
A newcomer was still a newcomer!
Qin Wuyao glanced at Wang Yujiao and said calmly, “If you hadn’t betrayed Lu Ran back then, he would have done the same for you.”
These words made Wang Yujiao’s heart twist violently.
It felt as if sharp claws had torn open her chest and were squeezing her heart.
Of course she knew!
Her impulsiveness, greed, and wrong choice back then had caused her to lose Lu Ran completely!
At that moment.
Lu Ran and Qin Lie had already walked to the foot of the city wall.
This was the outer perimeter of the Sifangzhai guild base’s protective shield.
Qin Lie was very nervous. This was already a position where Sifangzhai members could focus their fire. Moreover, the surroundings were bare, with no cover at all. If targeted by focused fire, death was immediate!
In contrast, Lu Ran was completely composed.
He looked up at the city wall.
Seeing Qin Wuyao still alive, Lu Ran also breathed a sigh of relief, but seeing her so weak, anger instantly flared within him.
As for Wang Yujiao.
Lu Ran naturally saw her too, but merely swept his gaze over her, showing no reaction whatsoever.
She was just an insignificant stranger, not even worth a second glance!
