Yao Yan sized up Yao Tang and Yu Chen silently, his eyes clouded with complex and unknown emotions.
Seeing that he had successfully intimidated the Search Division,Yu Chenwas pleased with himself. So much so that he almost flashed them a smug smirk.
But the next thing he knew, Yao Tanghad landed a sound slap on his cheek.
“Stop fooling around and speak properly.”
Her voice was low and unlike what she normally used.
Even her closest friends wouldn’t have been able to tell that it was she who had spoken.
Yu Chen pouted and let out a sigh of resentment.
Fine, then. Since the terrifying little ancestor said so, then he wouldn’t play with these idiots anymore.
“Why did you help the Search Division?”
Although Yao Yan’s question was directed atYu Chen, his eyes were fixed onYao Tang.
It was obvious to him just how things stood between these two.
Yao Tang averted her gaze and refused to look at him.
Yu Chen took one glance at her expression and answered obediently. “We were going on a pleasant journey when we happened upon injustice, so we figured we should lend a helping hand. If something like this happens again in the future, we will be sure to do the same thing.”
When he finished speaking, he cast another careful glance at Yao Tang. When she said nothing,Yu Chenheaved an inward sigh of relief.
That meant that he had said the right thing just now, right?
Yao Yan nodded at his response, though he seemed to be mulling it over as well.
This guy had indeed stolen their starry sky fragment earlier, but he still willingly helped them when they were in trouble. Perhaps his toughness was merely an act to cover up his soft heart.
The girl beside him didn’t say much, but it was clear that she was the one in power in their relationship.
Who was she?
“All right, then please state your names,” Yao Yansaid, his gaze turning sharp as he observed every single detail of the pair’s reaction. “TheSearch Divisionwill be paying you a formal visit in the following days.”
Yu Chen replied without thinking. “My name isXiao Feng. I am the only son of the Xiao family. When you come to my residence, just state my name and the staff will bring you to me.”
He ended his sentence with another pompous roll of his eyes.
He did look like a pampered young master.
“I’m his sister, Xiao Ling,” Yao Tang said briskly. “We were out for training and ended up at Lingyun Peak by coincidence.”
She had the bearing of someone who had been trained in martial arts her whole life, and looked nothing like Yao Tang.
Yao Tang always had a lazy gait and languid posture, and she almost always drawled out everything she said.
A strange look passed over Bai Jing’s eyes. He nodded and cupped his hands as he said, “OurSearch Divisionwill remember this favor and repay you in the future.”
He looked uncharacteristically serious, not like the slacker that he usually was.
“Understood,” Yao Tangreplied before looking into the distance. “My brother and I still have matters to attend to, so we will be taking our leave now.”
With that, she led Yu Chenaway before the others could say anything else.
Yao Yan watched them disappear into the trees. It wasn’t until they were out of sight that he finally dispelled his suspicions.
For a moment there, he began to assume that the girl was Yao Tang, just because they were of similar age. He had even thought that she had donned some hyperrealistic mask or something.
But after that brief round of questioning, he soon realized that the girl was far cry from his sister.
There was no way she could be Yao Tang.
After walking for some time, Yu Chencalculated the distance and presumed that they were well out of sight of theSearch Division. He braced himself for what might happen next.
They were about to exit the mountain. Was he still expected to follow this little ancestor even in the outside world?
If he would only keep on living in fear of her, he might as well die. He refused to suffer the terrifying knowledge that she could dispose of him on any given day.
But then he thought about the benefits that Yao Tanghad mentioned earlier.
She virtually had an entire rare metal mine in her possession. It was only right that he be given some of the loot, wasn’t it?
Besides, even though he didn’t contribute much to the fight, the space that she used to transport the items was originally his. He deserved some credit for that, didn’t he?
Yu Chen’s pace slowed as he considered his options. From time to time, he would glance at Yao Tang, with a frown.
“What are you thinking so hard about?” she suddenly asked. Her voice had returned to normal.
Yu Chen was so frightened by her question that he trembled and shook his head frantically. Thoughts of the benefits and advantages he might gain all flew out the window.
“Take off your clothes,” Yao Tangordered, catching him off-guard yet again.
“Sister, what are you planning this time? I really have no other clothes. Please don’t say that you want me to emerge from the mountain naked!”
Yu Chen put his arms over his chest like he was some weak lady who was about to be assaulted.
Yao Tang rolled her eyes and sighed. “Give them to me.”
Yu Chen surrendered in the end, of course. He gingerly discarded his clothes and handed them to her.
After everything, he didn’t have it in him to disobey a single word that Yao Tangsaid.
