Chapter 492 - 224: Did Not Miss
Inside the private room, only Xu Zhiyin and Luo Shuqing remained.
Luo Shuqing gently shook Xu Zhiyin’s arm, her voice laced with anxiety:
"What should I do?"
"What should you do...? What else *can* you do?"
Xu Zhiyin shot her a glare, frustrated with her lack of resolve:
"That’s the Demon Evil God. Do you have any idea how many people he killed on his trip to the Northern Domain?
"The rivers ran red with blood, and the bodies piled high as mountains!
"He’s probably killed more people than you’ve ever met in your entire life.
"Since he’s clearly ignoring you, why are you still chasing after him so eagerly? Aren’t you afraid he’ll get angry and kill you with a single palm strike?"
"Ah?"
Luo Shuqing jumped in fright and subconsciously touched her own head:
"W-Would he?"
"...Probably not. Although he’s killed countless people, they were all trying to kill him. He’s never actively killed an innocent person."
Xu Zhiyin shook her head gently:
"But your performance just now... it’s hard to put into words.
"You’re clearly the master, so how could you let that Zuo Xuan speak for you?
"It would have been one thing if he just spoke, but you didn’t even show any resolve...
"Let me ask you, if Fang Shuwen takes this job, and later on he needs your cooperation for something, what will you do if Zuo Xuan objects? Will you side with Fang Shuwen, or with Zuo Xuan?"
Luo Shuqing froze:
"Why would something like that happen?"
"Why wouldn’t it?"
Xu Zhiyin said seriously:
"You have to understand, once you accept Fang Shuwen’s protection, he will shield you from every open attack and hidden arrow along the way.
"But the prerequisite is that you must also cooperate with him.
"You must agree to everything he says.
"If you pretend to obey but act otherwise and something goes wrong, it’s your lives on the line.
"I’m not worried about you, personally. You don’t have a strong opinion of your own, so you’ll do whatever he says.
"I’m just afraid that subordinate of yours is too headstrong, to the point where he can sway your decisions.
"If that really happens, he might not care whether you live or die, but if you ruin his reputation, he might hold a grudge against your entire Qingxiao Pavilion."
"This..."
Luo Shuqing subconsciously lowered her head.
Xu Zhiyin sighed softly:
"So, let me ask you one more time: if he agrees to help you, can you guarantee you’ll obey his every word on this journey?"
Luo Shuqing immediately nodded.
"Your promise alone is useless. A single Zuo Xuan is enough to make you waver.
"If you want Fang Shuwen to agree to escort you, first sort out that subordinate of yours... With your personality, sigh... if you ask me, you should just not go back.
"Even if you do make it back, I’m afraid you’ll still be walking a dead-end road after Fang Shuwen leaves.
"You’d be better off staying here in the Eastern Domain and keeping me company."
Xu Zhiyin’s tone was tinged with frustration at her friend’s lack of resolve.
"No."
But Luo Shuqing shook her head:
"That is the one thing I absolutely cannot agree to.
"I have to go back... before things spiral completely out of control.
"But... but Hero Fang already refused..."
"You still don’t get it."
Xu Zhiyin said:
"The deal between the Golden Bell Tower and him is already set. All that’s left is to sign the contract.
"He said he’ll be waiting at One Square House today and tomorrow. He’s not waiting for me, he’s waiting for you...
"This is the chance he’s giving you. He’s giving you a day or two to sort out the people around you."
Hearing this, it finally dawned on Luo Shuqing:
"So... so that’s what he meant..."
"So what are you going to do?"
Xu Zhiyin asked.
Luo Shuqing blinked:
"Zhiyin, please help me."
"No."
Xu Zhiyin shook her head:
"I can help you now, but once you’re out on the open sea, how can I help you then?
"If this isn’t handled properly, with Fang Shuwen’s temper, he might actually kill someone... When that time comes, don’t have any regrets."
"I... I understand!"
Luo Shuqing clenched her fists tightly:
"I will... I will handle it."
...
...
「One Square House.」
Fang Shuwen sat in a chair, not looking at the stack of job requests beside him.
Xu Zhiyin was right. Fang Shuwen had indeed given Luo Shuqing a chance.
As long as there were no issues with the details of the job, he would most likely take it.
After all, there really weren’t any other seafaring jobs to choose from right now.
However, once he took the job, there could only be one voice among their group.
If that point couldn’t be handled, Fang Shuwen would rather not take the job at all.
As for whether Luo Shuqing could grasp his meaning, he wasn’t worried. Not only was Xu Zhiyin there to help, but even if she wasn’t, Luo Shuqing would eventually understand.
He didn’t stay in One Square House for long.
Someone from the Golden Bell Tower came to find him again. This time, it was to inform him that the items transported back from the Northern Domain had arrived.
They needed Fang Shuwen to find a place to store them.
So, Fang Shuwen led them to the small courtyard house he had previously bought in Julu City.
The courtyard wasn’t very large, however. After placing the ’Sword Stele’ inside, it felt rather crowded.
As for the few Famous Swords from the Sword God Palace, he was worried that thieves might covet them if left in the house, so for the time being, he had the Golden Bell Tower keep them safe.
He was already starting to regret that he’d bought such a small courtyard.
He should have bought a larger one and built some secret rooms or similar places. Then he could have Yu Yaoguang come over to set up an Array or something to store his treasures.
But for now, he would have to make do.
Besides, no one else could move the Sword Stele anyway.
After seeing off the people from the Golden Bell Tower, Fang Shuwen didn’t return to One Square House.
Instead, he went into a room, found a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone, and began to write.