Chapter 559: Scheme (1/2)

[V6C89 – Sorrow of a Silent Parting]

Qianye took a couple of steps after him but Zhao Jundu was nowhere to be found. Only then did he discover that he didn’t quite know where Song Zining’s tent was in this new camp. He couldn’t help but scratch his head as he went over to Duke You’s aide-de-camp to inquire about the staff office’s location.

Zhao Jundu was much faster. A flash of violet energy flitted through the camp and soon arrived before the central command camp. Moments later, he found Song Zining in a separate tent within the staff office area.

Song Zining was standing before the desk, composing a painting of a fierce tiger under the moon. The last brush stroke fell just as Zhao Jundu entered the room. He glanced at the serious looking Zhao Jundu and said, “I knew a bad guest would come today. Speak, what do you want?”

“I want a favor from you to give to Li Kuanglan.” Zhao Jundu got right to the point.

Song Zining’s expression turned beyond ugly. “Can’t you demand something else? Does it have to be her?”

“It must be her.”

“Absolutely not! It’s not like you don’t know her identity.” Song Zining refused decisively.

Zhao Jundu flexed his fingers and said, “I’m not here to negotiate. I’m only here to inform you.”

Song Zining sneered, “You want to attack? Do it, I won’t even fight back. This is the central command area. You’ll also get into trouble if you kill me.”

Zhao Jundu’s eyes were suffused with frost as he thrust a finger at Song Zining’s throat. The latter didn’t evade at all, so much so that he didn’t even activate his origin defenses. Zhao Jundu’s finger barely stopped at Song Zining’s throat and produced a small red dot therein. Just a slight forward push would have punched a hole through his throat.

Anger flashed through Zhao Jundu’s eyes as he said, “I never expected the stately Song clan seventh young noble to actually be so shameless.”

Song Zining broke into a laugh. “Likewise, likewise. So the Zhao Fourth Young Noble also has times where he can’t quite force people to do things. Speaking of which, it’s quite the honor to be able to act shamelessly before you.”

“You must give Li Kuanglan this favor.”

Song Zining smiled calmly. “I don’t even know how much this favor of mine is worth, but why haven’t you given her one?”

“I have.”

An “Ah” escaped Song Zining’s lips as he clearly wasn’t expecting this. He retracted his frivolous attitude and said with a serious expression, “You do know how much trouble this will be, don't you? And you still dare gift her a favor? Naturally, you and I aren’t the same. Your name is clean, but the same can’t be said of my reputation. How will I dare get involved in this trouble?”

Zhao Jundu said, “It was Qianye who owed her these favors at first.”

Song Zining’s expression shifted. “Qianye?! What did Li Kuanglan originally want? Why did he ask you to shoulder it for him?”

Zhao Jundu discerned some clues from these words. “Do you know how Qianye came to owe her these favors?”

Song Zining laughed wryly. “Qianye used a bottle of her ‘Stillwater Rebirth’ while exploring Giant’s Repose. I would have never expected Li Kuanglan to make such a blatant demand. There probably aren’t a lot of things that would strike her fancy.”

Zhao Jundu broke into a frown as he briefly recounted the exchange of favors. Song Zining’s expression suddenly became mysterious as he muttered, “It’s not a problem if it’s just a life and death battle…”

Zhao Jundu cut the latter short without the slightest bit of hesitation. “No, Qianye mustn’t get involved with the Jingtang Li Clan.”

The two stared at each other for a good while before Song Zining finally sighed. “Since that’s the case, then I’ll agree.”

Zhao Jundu nodded and turned to leave.

“Wait a minute,” Song Zining stopped him, “my favor has to be worth something, right? Aren’t you going to give me any benefits at all?”

Zhao Jundu didn’t even look back. “Is the dignified Seventh Young Noble asking for money?”

Song Zining said indignantly, “Why can’t I? I still have a family to feed.”

Zhao Jundu didn’t slow down his footsteps at all. He just pretended not to hear anything.

Song Zining chuckled. “Looks like Qianye’s status in the Zhao clan is just so-so. Rather than have him live a sneaky life… why not return him to me?”

Zhao Jundu glanced back with a cold glint in his eyes.