novelapdf Chapter 280 Ran Qingshan: The sky has fallen!
Chapter 280 Ran Qingshan: The sky has fallen!
After getting rid of the annoying Ran Chun'er, Jiang Mu's mood was not greatly affected.
He returned to the courtyard and began to take stock of the spoils he had brought back from the Divine Sword Sect.
Anything that could be exchanged for money was left to Chu Dahai to handle; anything that could be given away was given away; and any useful spiritual materials and pills were stored in his companion space.
Some good-quality calligraphy and paintings are picked out and displayed at home to make a good impression.
As for this ancestral home, he has no intention of selling it.
Although the decision had been made to move the whole family to Fazhou City, it was still the old Jiang family house that held so many memories.
It's not like I'm short of a few coins anyway; I'll keep them as a keepsake.
At noon, another uninvited guest arrived at the courtyard gate.
"Congratulations, Master Jiang."
Xun Xiaomo looked at Jiang Mu with a smile, her eyes filled with a complex emotion.
The woman's appearance surprised Jiang Mu.
After all, the two sides had a very unpleasant falling out in Yancheng. At that time, Xun Xiaomo was so angry that he wanted to devour him alive.
I never expected the woman to appear here again.
"What does Lord Xun wish to congratulate me on?"
Jiang Mu laughed and said, "Is this to congratulate me on killing that girl named Jiang Sheng'er? If so, then it is indeed worth congratulating."
Xun Xiaojin's smile froze slightly, but she quickly returned to normal.
She smiled faintly:
"Master Jiang is joking. When we were in Yancheng, there was chaos caused by the demon army, so some misunderstandings were inevitable."
Moreover, it was Jiang Sheng'er who was ignorant and took the initiative to persecute Hall Master Jiang first. Hall Master Jiang acted in self-defense and executed her on the spot, which was reasonable and justifiable.
Jiang Mu narrowed her eyes slightly.
Jiang Sheng'er was Yang Qintian's adopted daughter, and Xun Xiaomo was Yang Qintian's man. Back in Yancheng, this woman hated him to death.
Now, with just a casual remark, this grudge has been turned over and done with.
It's clear that it wasn't because she was particularly magnanimous, but because someone behind her had spoken up for her.
Jiang Mu was too lazy to waste time with her pretense and said coldly:
"No one visits a temple without a reason. Speak, Lord Xun, what brings you here today?"
Xun Xiaomo's smile faded, and her expression turned solemn: "It's about Yang Feifei."
"Yang Feifei?"
Jiang Mu frowned slightly, feigning confusion. "And who is this?"
Xun Xiaomo's gaze lingered on his face for a moment before she said:
"She is the younger sister of Deputy Commander Yang Qintian. She suddenly disappeared a while ago and there has been no news of her since."
Lord Yang is worried that she has encountered some trouble, so he would like to ask Hall Master Jiang for a small favor: to find her.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Mu felt a chill run down her spine.
Could this woman have found some clue?
Why did she come knocking on my door demanding my return the moment I got back to the city?
Or is he testing the waters with his words?
Jiang Mu remained expressionless, a mocking smile playing on her lips:
"Lord Yang's sister has gone missing and he wants me to help find her? Lord Xun, are you perhaps drunk last night?"
Faced with Jiang Mu's sarcasm, Xun Xiaomo sighed helplessly:
"Master Jiang, you flatter me. I had no choice but to come to you for help. I wonder if Master Jiang knows someone named Yan Zixiao?" Jiang Mu nodded and said frankly, "I know him, but we're not close."
"Then I'll just say it directly."
Xun Xiaomo looked up at him and said,
"This former outcast of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect possesses a magical artifact. And the other half of this artifact happens to be in Yang Feifei's possession. If we can get our hands on the artifact, we can follow the clues to find Yang Feifei's whereabouts."
Therefore, I would like to ask you to help me find Yan Zixiao.
Tianyuan Dingxingzi!
Jiang Mu suddenly realized.
Yan Zixiao held a [Heavenly Origin] chess piece in her hand, while Yang Feifei carried a [Earthly Origin] chess piece.
The two are a set of rare treasures that complement each other and resonate with one another.
Back then, Yan Zixiao was chased all the way through the wilderness and nearly lost her life because Yang Feifei wanted to kill and rob her of the Tianyuan Chess Piece. Having figured out the logic behind it, Jiang Mu's tense nerves finally began to relax.
It seems that Xun Xiao bumped into these people without knowing that Yang Feifei had already died.
That makes sense, though, because after Yang Feifei died, her star position didn't return to the Star Sea, but was directly grafted onto him.
Without this crucial signal, it would be difficult for outsiders to confirm her death.
However, the current reality is that the [Earthly Star-Fixing Stone] that Yang Feifei had is now in Jiang Mu's hands.
Xun Xiaomo's elaborate journey to find him was destined to be a futile effort, all for naught.
Thinking of this, Jiang Mu shook her head:
"I'm sorry, Lord Xun, I really don't know that Fellow Daoist Yan well. We only met by chance, and I don't know where he went. You've got the wrong person."
Xun Xiaomo did not give up and continued:
"Our internal security intelligence network has pinpointed Yan Zixiao's approximate location and has also obtained a special way to contact him. However, the problem is that this person is extremely vigilant. If the internal security personnel intervene, he will definitely hide and escape."
We need someone we know who has interacted with him before, someone who can put him at ease, to contact and invite him.
Currently, you are the most suitable candidate.
Xun Xiaomo paused for a moment, then looked directly at Jiang Mu and smiled.
"Master Jiang, since our inner guards were able to find your door, it means we have confirmed that you can lure him out."
Moreover, Master Jiang, rest assured, as long as you can help us with this, the Imperial Guard will definitely offer you a generous reward after it is done.
Furthermore, I can vouch for you with my personal integrity that we will absolutely not harm Yan Zixiao in the slightest; we only need to borrow the magical artifact he possesses to locate Yang Feifei.
"Personal guarantee?"
Jiang Mu scoffed lightly, "So if I'm determined not to help, are your Imperial Guards planning to torture me?"
Upon hearing this, Xun Xiaomo laughed instead:
"Master Jiang underestimated your current importance. With your current status, unless you commit treason, no one in this world would dare to touch you. Neither the Imperial Guard nor the General Command would dare to move against a seventh-realm prodigy based on unfounded suspicion."
Therefore, I'm here to invite you, not to force you.
She suppressed her smile and looked at him intently. "In short, I still hope that Hall Master Jiang can seriously consider this."
After all, this reward is exactly what you need right now.
"Oh?"
Jiang Mu raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Tell me, what's the reward?"
Xun Xiaozhang's red lips parted slightly:
"I only learned from intelligence the day before yesterday that Hall Master Jiang has obtained the Star of the Venerable in Xiyun Town and entered the seventh realm."
Therefore, the reward this time is a clue to a Star Pill.
A clue to a Star Core, originating from the same lineage as Hall Master Jiang's current Star Rank.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Mu's gaze suddenly turned cold.
He said coldly, "It seems Lord Xun already knows what star rank I've attained this time?"
Xun Xiaomo met his gaze without flinching and said frankly:
"Master Jiang, since you have chosen to accept the star position information provided by the General Headquarters, the details of this star position will naturally not be hidden from our Inner Guard's intelligence network."
However, Master Jiang can rest assured that even within the inner guard, only a handful of people have the authority to know your true star position.
We all understand the stakes involved, and no one will reveal a single word of your astrological chart.
Jiang Mu fell silent.
Admittedly, the offer Xun Xiaozhi made was indeed very tempting.
It should be noted that after killing Zhou Yuanzhi, he now possesses two Star Cores belonging to the [Kang Jinlong] system: [Kang] and [Yangmen].
Five more Star Pills are needed: Da Jiao, Zuo She Ti, You She Ti, Dun Wan, and Zhe Wei.
The road ahead is long and arduous, and obtaining the [Kang Jinlong] Star Venerable position is undoubtedly very difficult.
The intelligence network of the Inner Guard is absolutely no less capable than that of the Demon Slayer Division.
If he could obtain a clue about this Star Pill, it would undoubtedly save him a lot of time and energy.
Furthermore, and more importantly...
He hadn't forgotten that the seventh-realm orthodox star position that Yang Feifei had forcibly implanted into his body before her death belonged to the [Ji Shui Bao] constellation system, just like the one Xun Xiaomo was in front of him!
According to the rules of raising Gu, he and Xun Xiaomo were already destined to be mortal enemies, fighting to the death.
Since we'll have to kill her and seize her core sooner or later, could we take advantage of this opportunity to find Yan Zixiao and get rid of this woman as well? Compared to [Kang Jinlong], [Ji Shuibao] only needs three Star Cores to achieve his goal.
Jiang Mu's mind raced through various possibilities.
After a moment, he raised his head and asked:
"Is it just the two of us going to find Yan Zixiao this time, or will your Imperial Guard send more men?"
"Such secretive matters are more likely to be alerted if too many people are watching."
Xun Xiaomo answered without hesitation, "Of course, it will just be the two of us traveling together."
really.
Yang Qintian couldn't possibly make a big fuss about killing his own sister.
This is a great opportunity.
Jiang Mu's heart warmed, and she joked, half-jokingly:
"That's hard to say. I'm afraid that on the way, your inner guards will suddenly set up an ambush and tear me to pieces."
After all, I have a deep-seated grudge against your Deputy Commander Yang. Who knows if this is a trap to lure me out of the city and then ambush me?
Xun Xiaomo laughed, a smile tinged with amusement:
"Master Jiang, I'll say it again: unless you commit the heinous crime of treason, no one in this world dares to touch you, Jiang Mu."
Lord Yang only works for the court, and his heart is only with His Majesty. He can distinguish between the important and the trivial. How could he ruin the affairs of the court for a little personal grudge? "One should always be wary of others."
Jiang Mu shrugged noncommittally. "I need to think about this carefully and weigh the pros and cons. Besides, I have some messes to deal with these past two days, so I can't get away for the time being."
"I understand, but it would be best to hurry."
Xun Xiaomo did not urge him.
"If Hall Master Jiang has thought it through and made a decision, he can come to the post station to find me at any time. If I am out, you can simply leave the message with the guards there."
"Okay, take care." Jiang Mu nodded.
Just as Xun Xiaomo turned around, Jiang Mu suddenly asked, "Lord Xun, aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"
Xun Xiao's steps faltered.
She turned around and smiled sweetly:
"Master Jiang, we are all smart people and we won't do such a thankless and foolish thing."
The path of cultivation is full of schemes, but in the end, they all boil down to self-interest. Instead of killing each other, it's better to each take what they need.
We are of different positions and follow different paths; there is no fundamental conflict of interest between us. Killing me will not only bring you no benefit, but will also bring you endless trouble.
I believe Master Jiang would never engage in such a self-defeating deal.
After saying that, the woman turned and left with light steps.
Jiang Mu stood there, watching her figure gradually disappear into the alleyway, a bloodthirsty glint in his eyes.
A smart person?
Yes, smart people never do anything that doesn't pay off.
Unfortunately, despite all his calculations, Lord Xun failed to foresee that Yang Feifei, on her deathbed, would turn him into the biggest "deal" of Jiang Mu's life. All great paths lead to scheming.
As dusk fell, the setting sun on the horizon was as red as blood.
Ling Ye has arrived.
She still wore her signature black fitted outfit and a high ponytail.
And he was carrying two large watermelons.
"I heard you wiped out the Divine Sword Sect?"
Upon meeting, Ling Ye didn't even exchange pleasantries. He stared intently at Jiang Mu with his phoenix eyes, his tone somewhat cold and stern.
Jiang Mu pulled her into the room, closed the door, and explained the whole story in detail.
He didn't hide the matter of becoming a prince from Ling Ye.
This is the woman I've chosen; there's no need to hide anything from her.
Ling Ye listened quietly, his heart filled with turbulent emotions.
Prince Sheng has indeed been reborn and is hiding in the Divine Sword Sect.
What shocked her even more was that Jiang Mu single-handedly defeated the old monster along with He Shan'er, who was at the eighth realm.
"You're too impulsive."
After the initial shock, Ling Ye frowned and said with displeasure, "You should have waited for me to come back so we could go together."
"I was just checking some clues, I didn't expect that old monster would actually choose that rebirth location, and with such a wicked method. I was really careless this time."
Jiang Mu scratched the back of his head guiltily, "Don't worry, Sister Ling, I'll be more careful in the future."
Ling Ye snorted softly and ultimately didn't pursue the matter further.
Jiang Mu looked at her and suddenly asked, "And you? Are you planning to start your seclusion tonight to prove your star-level prowess? I'll protect you."
"No, I'll wait for Shui Miaozheng to come with me." Ling Ye gently shook his head.
"Why do we have to wait for Aunt Shui to arrive?"
Jiang Mu was puzzled.
Ling Ye slightly raised his jade-white chin, his tone carrying a hint of arrogance:
"Currently, only she and I are qualified to obtain the Venerable Star Position of [Bi Yue Wu]."
I plan to prove this star position to her face, openly and honestly, so she won't gossip behind my back, saying I cheated when she wasn't around, or that I was resentful even after losing.
"..."
Jiang Mu was speechless for a moment.
This woman's competitiveness can sometimes be endearingly childish.
This is a Nine Realms Star Position that concerns one's future on the Great Dao; anyone else would have already secretly seized the opportunity.
But she insisted on waiting for her rival to be in place for a fair competition.
Ling Ye's expression turned serious again. He resumed the previous topic and said solemnly:
"Little Jiang, although you destroyed the Divine Sword Sect this time, the General Headquarters won't say anything openly, after all, your current value is undeniable. However, it will inevitably arouse the dissatisfaction of some people behind the scenes."
To save her own life, He Shan'er had donated most of the Divine Sword Sect's resources to the General Headquarters, which tacitly approved of providing them with protection. There were also officials in the imperial court involved, with whom there were negotiations over benefits.
As a result, you uprooted them completely, causing their families to be destroyed and their lives to end.
This would make the Chief Commander lose face, and many high-ranking officials would definitely think that you are arrogant, domineering, and completely disregard the overall interests of the court.
"The matter of being promoted to Prince involves a royal scandal. After obtaining the token, Quan Shanhai would absolutely not reveal the truth for the sake of the royal family's reputation, much less step forward to explain the reason for your family's massacre."
Ling Ye grasped the man's hand and said earnestly,
"So you should be more careful and discreet in your actions in the future."
"The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. I fear that one day you'll run into trouble or your value will plummet, and those who already dislike you will seize the opportunity to attack you en masse and trample you underfoot."
Jiang Mu stopped smiling and nodded solemnly:
"I understand, Sister Ling. I will be more careful in the future."
He knew perfectly well what was going on.
From secretly entering the Soul-Falling Swamp secret realm to steal the opportunities from Princess Xiang Xiuxiu and Yun Xiaocheng of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, to later killing Yun Xiaocheng at all costs, and now destroying the Divine Sword Sect despite the court's "unspoken rules."
Along his journey, he has trampled on the interests of too many people and severed the interests of too many others.
Currently, because of his extraordinary talent and immense value, the imperial court still has to support him, and no one dares to touch him.
But if he repeats the mistake of being "wrongly judged and disqualified" last time, he will face more than just being disqualified from the trial; he will face attacks from all sides, both overt and covert.
But Jiang Mu didn't care.
Their confidence comes from their father's connections.
"Alright, let's not talk about these unpleasant things anymore."
Jiang Mu suddenly stretched out his long arm and pulled Ling Ye's graceful body into his arms, letting her sit on his lap.
He lowered his head, inhaling the cool, delicate fragrance emanating from the woman's hair, and asked softly:
"Sister Ling, after your Star Certification event ends, will you come to Fazhou City with me?"
Ling Ye leaned against his chest, remained silent for a moment, and then gently shook her head:
"Won't."
Jiang Mu was taken aback, and the hand around her waist tightened slightly: "Why?"
Ling Ye raised her head, her beautiful eyes gazing at him quietly, her voice gentle:
"Xiao Jiang, since I promised to be your woman, I will not go back on my word. But I will never be like a caged canary, clinging to you and sticking to your side all the time."
If I were just an ordinary woman who had never engaged in spiritual practice, I would naturally be willing to stay at home, cook for you, and raise our children.
Unfortunately, I am not.
She extended her cool, jade-like fingers and gently smoothed the wrinkles between Jiang Mu's brows. Her clear, phoenix eyes reflected the last rays of twilight outside the window, bright and serene. "Little Jiang, I have things I need to do, and roads I haven't finished walking."
From the moment one embarks on the path of greatness, each person has their own direction.
Actually, you're the same.
You are destined not to stay in Huzhou City forever, nor will you stay in Fazhou City forever, and the same goes for the Water Master.
We met by chance, but we cannot stop because of that chance.
Jiang Mu remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a soft sigh: "When you're in the martial world, you're not in control of your own destiny."
Ling Ye smiled gently, her smile as warm as a spring breeze melting snow, her beauty beyond compare.
She leaned close to Jiang Mu's ear, her breath sweet as orchids:
"But don't worry, I'll still make time to visit you often. Otherwise, if someone isn't watching over you, they might really treat you like their own personal possession."
"Since Sister Ling is so worried about me being monopolized,"
Jiang Mu lowered his head, forehead to forehead, and smiled, "Why don't we claim this 'private property' for now?"
Ling Ye was taken aback. Her usually cold and aloof face flushed red, like brocade soaked in rouge.
Seeing that the woman was biting her lower lip and did not push him away, looking shy and acquiescing, Jiang Mu was not about to say anything more.
With a swift movement of his hands, he skillfully reached for the belt around the waist of the other person's tight-fitting clothes.
With a "click," the hidden clasp was opened.
Ling Ye hurriedly pressed down his mischievous hand, her beautiful eyes glistening with tears, and said coquettishly:
"Not here... go to Bedside..."
"unnecessary."
Jiang Mu's other hand had already quietly placed on her lower back, forcefully pinning her against the door.
At the same time, separate your hands.
The woman's fair wrists were firmly pressed against the door panels on both sides.
Ling Ye turned around as if to say something, but in the end he just sighed softly, closed his eyes, and let it go.
After all, on the way from Xiyun Town, they had experienced ten times more absurd things on that carriage.
What does this matter?
The next morning.
Outside the city gate of Huzhou, the sun shone brightly.
With a radiant face, Ran Qingshan finally returned from the capital, full of high spirits.
Seeing Xu Fu and Yan Fenghuo who had come to greet him, he beamed and walked over to pat each of them on the shoulder:
"At least you two have some conscience."
Where's Jiang Mu? Why didn't he come with you to greet me?
"Yeah, that kid's got too big for his britches now. Not only has he broken through to the seventh realm, but he probably doesn't even respect me, his superior anymore."
Despite his grumbling, his mouth stretched into a wide grin that he couldn't suppress.
Faced with the Lord's enthusiasm, Xu Fu and Yan Fenghuo stood rooted to the spot like two wooden stakes, without uttering a sound.
Lost in his joy, Ran Qingshan didn't notice the constipated expressions on their faces and continued speaking to himself:
"I have good news for you. I think you've heard the news by now. I have successfully passed the Star Certification test during my trip to the capital and have officially entered the ranks of the Ninth Realm [Venerable One].
Haha, now you'll have something to be proud of when you go out on missions, right?
Also, since that kid Jiang Mu has already reached the seventh realm, and it just so happens that Elder Tian has gone to Yan City to take up a post, the position of deputy commander has become vacant. I've already planned it out; in a couple of days, I'll report to the chief commander and have Jiang Mu directly take over as the deputy commander of our Huzhou City.
"He'll be your boss then, so you'd better learn from him."
Ran Qingshan paced back and forth a couple of steps, gazing at the familiar street scenes of Huzhou City, overwhelmed with emotion:
"It really feels like a dream. When that kid was squeezed into our Demon Slayer Division through connections, I was disgusted with him. Who would have thought that he would become so dazzling?"
Just you wait and see, in a few years, our Huzhou City Demon Slaying Division will definitely be the number one Demon Slaying Division in Daqing.
You'll all benefit from it too...
Ran Qingshan was speaking animatedly and spitting as he went on and on.
But they found that the air behind them was still very quiet.
Yan Fenghuo was one thing, but he was a quiet, unyielding guy who wouldn't utter a word even if you hit him three times.
Ke Xufu has always been someone who loves to join in the fun.
This guy actually acted like a silent gourd today.
"What's wrong?"
Ran Qingshan finally realized something was wrong, stopped, looked at the two suspiciously, and asked half-jokingly,
"Seeing how amazing Xiao Jiang is now, are you feeling resentful? Jealous?"
Xu Fu raised his head and muttered in a low voice:
Jealousy? Jealousy is definitely the answer.
The problem is, he's no longer a resident of Huzhou City. Even if he becomes famous throughout the land, we won't benefit from it at all. We can only watch enviously as people from other places reap the rewards.
"Um?"
Ran Qingshan was taken aback, his brows furrowing. "What nonsense are you spouting? What do you mean you're not one of us anymore?"
Yan Fenghuo spoke coldly:
"Lord Commander, didn't your own sister tell you that while you were in seclusion, she sold Old Ginger to the Water Commander of Yunzhou City?"
"What?!"
Ran Qingshan was stunned, as if he had been hit on the head with a blunt object.
Yan Fenghuo said in a deep voice:
"We've figured out what happened these past few days. The headquarters must have been acting strangely back then, they revoked Old Jiang's qualification for the secret realm trial."
Your sister probably felt that Old Jiang was no longer of any use, so she took it upon herself to use his transfer order to exchange for a fourth-level genius and 30% of the resources in Fazhou City.
"Lord Commander, did the General Headquarters not mention a single word to you either?"
Ran Qingshan stared blankly for a long time, his mind buzzing.
After a long pause, he shook his head and said:
"That's impossible. Don't talk nonsense. The people from the headquarters never told me about this."
Besides, even if Ran Chun'er is incredibly stupid and acts recklessly, she wouldn't do something so foolish.
Seeing the two remain silent, Ran Qingshan had a bad feeling.
Then he recalled the evasive look in Deputy Commander Yao Wenxian's eyes in the study, when she said the Commander had "misjudged" and canceled Jiang Mu's trial. And the strange, hesitant expression of Inspector Zhu Wuyuan…
"Buzz"
Ran Qingshan's brain exploded with a bang.
The scene before my eyes suddenly went black, and a strong sense of dizziness struck me. I staggered back three or four steps.
"Master!"
"Master Boss!"
Xu Fu and Yan Fenghuo were startled and hurriedly stepped forward to help him up.
Ran Qingshan flung their arms away, his face turning purplish-blue, his temples throbbing.
He gritted his teeth, remained silent, and rushed towards the Demon Slayer's office.
Along the way, the demon-slaying guards in the yamen bowed and greeted their commander with joyful expressions when they saw him return.
But Ran Qingshan ignored him and headed straight for the signing room with murderous intent.
His robes fluttered in the wind.
Every step he took was filled with barely suppressed anger.
Upon arriving at the signing room, they saw Ran Chun'er sitting behind a desk organizing documents.
Inside the room stood a handsome young man in his early twenties, dressed in the official robes of the Demon Slayer Bureau.
Ran Chun'er looked up and saw her brother. A hint of panic flashed across her face, but she quickly put on a smile and stood up to greet him.
"Brother, you're back. Come in and sit down. Let me introduce you. This is Feng Zhishan, a new member of our Huzhou City. Little Feng, please greet the Commander."
The handsome man named Feng Zhishan quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and his expression showed a mixture of excitement and arrogance:
"Your subordinate, Feng Zhishan, greets Your Excellency."
Ran Qingshan stood there with a cold face, staring at Ran Chun'er without saying a word.
He didn't even glance at the young man.
Ran Chun'er swallowed hard and forced herself to continue:
"Brother, you may not know this, but Xiao Feng used to be an inner disciple of Jiufeng Temple."
He's only in his early twenties, yet he's already at the fourth level of cultivation. Looking across the entire Demon Slaying Division, there aren't many young people with his talent." Hearing the words "Nine Peaks Temple," Ran Qingshan turned his head slightly and glanced at the young man.
After all, it is one of the sacred sites of Taoism, so its cultural heritage is quite profound.
But compared to Jiang Mu's talent...
Also match?
Ran Qingshan suppressed his surging anger and waved to Feng Zhishan, "You can go down now."
"Yes, I'll take my leave."
Feng Zhishan sensed that something was wrong, so he bowed respectfully and quickly left without lingering for even a second.
Inside the house, only the brother and sister remained.
Ran Qingshan approached Ran Chun'er step by step, his voice seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth:
"Tell me, what exactly happened?"
Ran Chun'er felt a chill run down her spine, but she still forced a smile and stepped forward:
"Brother, that Feng Zhishan just now, he's really talented."
He comes from a prestigious family, has a solid foundation, and most importantly, is a down-to-earth person.
With a little effort and resources invested in cultivating them, they will surely become a pillar of strength for our Huzhou City in the future. That's what I was thinking… "I'm asking you, where's Jiang Mu?!"
Ran Qingshan interrupted her sharply, his eyes bloodshot.
Ran Chun'er's eyelids twitched, and she guiltily avoided his gaze, muttering:
"He... he just didn't want to stay here anymore. He's arrogant and insists on going to Yunzhou City, what can I do? I can't exactly tie him up in the yamen with a rope, can I?"
"Was it that he didn't want to stay, or did you forcibly send him away?!"
Ran Qingshan took a step closer.
Ran Chun'er bit her lip and remained silent.
"Say something!!"
Ran Qingshan slammed his hand on the table.
The brush holder tipped over with a crash, scattering brushes all over the floor and splashing ink onto the snow-white rice paper, leaving several smudges.
Ran Chun'er trembled with fright.
The woman's inherent pride and resentment surged up instantly, and she raised her head, retorting in a shrill voice:
"Brother, he was just a guy with a bit more talent. If he's gone, he's gone."
There are so many geniuses in the world, across the entire nation, can't we find someone with more potential than him?
The world has no shortage of geniuses!
I can get rid of one today and find ten more tomorrow. Why would I be afraid of not finding someone better than him?
Why are you getting so angry over a stranger?!
"Ran Chun'er!"
Ran Qingshan was trembling with rage. He pointed at the woman's nose, his finger shaking, "Have you lost your mind? Do you even know what stupid thing you've done?!"
"What stupid thing have I done? I did it all for Huzhou City, for your sake!"
Ran Chun'er was completely enraged and shouted back loudly.
"Brother, have you ever thought about why Souji would abandon him for no reason?"
Isn't it because his foundation has hidden dangers?
Once you do it the first time, you'll do it a second time, and a third time!
Why should we bet our money on someone who's destined to become useless? I used him while he still had some fame to acquire resources and talent, cutting my losses in time. What did I do wrong?!
"Snapped!"
A resounding slap landed hard on Ran Chun'er's face.
Ran Chun'er was slapped so hard that she fell to the ground, half of her cheek swollen up.
A trickle of bright red blood slowly seeped from the corner of his mouth.
She covered her face, tilted her head back, and stared blankly at Ran Qingshan's ashen face. Her lips trembled several times before she managed to squeeze out a sound:
"Ran Qingshan, I'm your own sister! How could you hit your own sister for an outsider?"
"You're just a self-righteous idiot!"
Ran Qingshan's chest heaved violently as he pointed at her angrily and cursed, "I shouldn't have trusted you in the first place and kept you in this position! Ran Chun'er, do you think you're so smart? That you can manipulate everyone?"
When will you finally grow up? When will you finally understand what the Demon Slayer Division really is?!
You can ostracize him because of personality clashes, or you can cut back on his treatment. At most, I'll scold you a couple of times.
But you absolutely mustn't stab him in the back when he's down on his luck!
Ran Qingshan clutched his chest, paused for a moment, and continued cursing:
"You have to calculate everything and always seek to exchange benefits. Do you think that's being shrewd?"
Do you even know that people's hearts aren't like beads on an abacus? You can't just think about how to manipulate them. Calling you stupid is an understatement; it's an exaggeration!
A person, at the very least, needs a brain and a conscience!
Hearing the other party's scathing rebuke, tears finally rolled down Ran Chun'er's cheeks.
But there was no regret in the tears, only resentment and obsession.
She pushed herself up from the ground, clutching her swollen cheek, and yelled back in a shrill voice:
"Yes! In your eyes, I am just a scheming, vicious woman."
My mother and I are both scheming, despicable people!
Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You've always believed that your father was tricked by my mother and me back then, and that your mother died of depression because we drove her to her death.
No matter how well I do, in your eyes, Ran Qingshan, I, Ran Chun'er, will always be a cold-blooded, ruthless, and unscrupulous bitch! "Get out of here!"
Ran Qingshan was so angry that his vision blurred, and he pointed at the door and roared.
"Fine, get out! Ran Qingshan, let me tell you, one day, time will prove me right!"
Ran Chun'er wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand, glaring at him hatefully, gritting her teeth.
"Let's keep our eyes wide open and see just how far your invincible prodigy, carrying all those hidden dangers, can go on this cannibalistic path!"
After saying that, the woman turned around and stormed out the door.
She had just reached the door when she suddenly stopped.
Turning back, a cold smile curled at the corner of his lips: "Oh, right. I almost forgot to tell you something interesting."
The narcissus you've been so infatuated with for so many years has now given up everything to rush to redeem that good-for-nothing. I bet she and that guy surnamed Jiang have been having an affair for a long time.
ho ho...
"You can't even keep the woman you like, letting your subordinate steal her away. And you still have the nerve to talk to me about loyalty? What a joke!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Ran Chun'er's figure flashed, and she disappeared from the government office like a shadow.
The signing room was deathly silent.
Ran Qingshan clutched his throbbing chest, his face deathly pale, and slumped into a chair, panting heavily.
At that moment, he seemed to have aged ten years in an instant.