“Hmm? Venerable the Blade?”
The strong man standing by the door immediately saw Venerable the Blade and Su Ping who was sitting on the sofa. He wasn’t surprised to see Su Ping there because it was the person he was looking for.
But why would Venerable the Blade be there with him?
The King of Arms blinked. Venerable the Blade worked for Yuan Tianchen. So, was there a connection between the store and Yuan Tianchen?
That would complicate things.
He was still unsure of that assumption. Yuan Tianchen’s men would normally avoid offending the Star Organization, unless there was some deep-rooted hatred. After all, the deceased legendary battle pet warrior of the Star Organization had once been close with Yuan Tianchen.
Strange!
While the strong man was trying to figure things out, Venerable the Blade stood up and went to meet the strong man. “Brother Xie, I thought you were guarding the Well of Abyss in the north. What brought you here?”
Two other titled battle pet warriors were standing behind the strong man, but the latter had blocked them so no one noticed the two for a moment. When the two saw Venerable the Blade, both were surprised and they shared the strong man’s speculation. “I should be the one asking the question. Why are you here?”
Xie Gange could tell from Venerable the Blade’s question that the latter was unaware of the conflict between the young man and the Star Organization.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have started such a boring chitchat. Venerable the Blade rolled his eyes. He was there because of that embarrassing reason. He believed that Xie Gange was probably there for a similar reason. Why else would the honorable King of Arms come to such a shabby store in that remote base city?
“Don’t ask the obvious. Since you have arrived, come on inside,” Venerable the Blade said grumpily. He turned around and walked back to where Su Ping was without hesitation.
Xie Gange: ??
What was obvious?
He soon realized soon that Venerable the Blade had misunderstood the reason for his visit.
That was even more baffling.
Xie Gange looked around and saw many titled battle pet warriors in the store. Interesting. He had sensed those presences before he went in. But he didn’t take them seriously since none of them were at the peak of the titled rank. The only ones that mattered to him were Venerable the Blade and the young man.
“You must be Mr. Su.”
Xie Gange came in, wearing a gentle smile. Before he was able to get the specifics about Su Ping’s store, he decided not to question him directly.
Su Ping asked casually, “Are you here to buy something or to find someone?”
Xie Gange was not surprised to hear that Su Ping knew who he was. “The latter, of course. I wonder, is that person doing fine?” He smiled.
Su Ping replied with a silent smile. That is none of your business’ was what Su Ping left unsaid.
The other elders present had come back to their senses.
They were startled to see Venerable the Blade stand up to greet the strong man. Venerable the Blade would not go and greet just anyone. Besides, the strong man had created much tension in the room.
Is he from the Star Organization?
Why would they send over only one man?
Xie? Is he Xie Gange, the King of Arms?
The elders were anxious and doubtful.
Xie Gange raised his eyebrows. A glint of coldness rose in his eyes. He glanced around the store and immediately noticed some strangeness.
Something had begun to trouble him ever since he first arrived at the door. The two dragon statues seemed to be alive; the vividness and the dangerous sensation they exuded made him feel that he was being faced by two living, breathing beasts.
The store was even stranger than the statues. He was unable to feel the closed rooms, at all!
The places that could block out his senses were usually important locations or places where titled battle pet warriors at the peak had set up seals. But this was merely a pet store. What could the store have that required this level of secrecy?
That strangeness confused him even more.
He didn’t lose his temper just because Su Ping was arrogant. He looked into Su Ping’s eyes and said, “Brother Su, I’m a member of the Star Organization, Xie Gange. I’m here today to pick up a girl that our organization has been grooming. Since she’s with you, I hope you can let me get her. We have found out about the event. Let bygones be bygones. What do you think?”
The other family elders eyed each other in speechless surprise.
They did have some theories about the man’s identity, but were unsure of him actually representing the Star Organization, not to mention being a real member!
He had to be at the peak of the titled rank!
The even stranger thing was to see Xie Gange acting so politely.
That was not how they pictured the scene of the Star Organization’s arrival!
Since when did the Star Organization become so kind?
Venerable the Blade had been seated by Su Ping. After hearing Xie Gange’s words, he couldn’t help but gaze at Su Ping in wonder.
He realized that he had misunderstood Xie Gange. It turned out that Xie Gange was there… to have someone released!
That was to say, something happened between Su Ping and the Star Organization.
What a bad day to visit, Venerable the Blade said to himself. First, those local titled battle pet warriors showed up, and then Xie Gange from the Star Organization arrived. What has Su Ping been doing recently? He must have created a ton of troubles.
Besides, if a fight were to break out between Xie Gange and Su Ping, Venerable the Blade believed the former would suffer. After all, even Yuan Tianchen had almost lost his life in the store.
Once something bad happened to the Star Organization, the butterfly effect would kick in. The entire political structure of the Subcontinent District could very well shift and other disasters would ensue.
Su Ping was the one able to control everything. At that thought, even Venerable the Blade couldn’t help but get nervous.
Tang Ruyan was standing behind them like a maid. She was surprised by Xie Gange’s words; soon enough, that surprise turned into happiness. He was here for Yan Bingyue.
It turned out that the Star Organization had gone there before the Tang family did.
When he took Yan Bingyue away, she could also leave according to the agreement she reached with Yan Bingyue. I am about to escape this abyss of misery.
Tang Ruyan was secretly gloating.
“How can I believe that you’re a man of your word?”
Su Ping did not seem to be interested at all. “I let you take her away and I’ll be left without a hostage. That will make things easier for you, right?”
Xie Gange frowned. Indeed, that was his plan.
Deliver his promise?
He didn’t have to do that if Su Ping died.
But, before he found out everything about the store, he would not resort to violence so quickly. By asking for Yan Bingyue, he just wanted to save some dignity for the Star Organization first.
“What can I do to make you trust me?” Xie Gange asked.
Su Ping grinned. “I don’t have to trust you, because that’ll put me in a less advantageous position. Do you want her? Sure. You have two options. First, the Star Organization has to demonstrate enough sincerity. Second, you want to find out about something. I’ll grant you that wish. You can take her away as long as you can last three seconds in front of my battle pet.”
Xie Gange did not expect that.
Venerable the Blade and the other elders were also stunned into stillness. The first option was understandable but the second… He said that if this man, who was at the peak of the titled rank, could last three seconds, he could take Yan Bingyue away?
It sounded as if Su Ping was confident Xie Gange would be unable to do that!
How was that even possible?!