NOVEL NEXT Chapter 158:
Chapter 158
At the Qin family estate, Qin Jiuyue tearfully protests with Qin Deshu, “Grandpa, this time you must avenge me, or you'll never see your granddaughter again.”
Qin Deshu smiled kindly, “Who has upset our Xiaoyue this time?”
“It's not just upsetting, someone tried to kidnap me,” Qin Jiuyue said, deliberately looking frightened and hesitant, glancing at Qin Deshu several times before bowing her head, appearing too scared to speak.
Her acting could rival that of a movie star, convincing Qin Deshu without question. Seeing his beloved granddaughter so aggrieved made him furious.
“Tell me, what exactly happened? Who dared to kidnap our Qin family’s Xiaoyue?”
“It was… it was…”
“Who was it? Speak up.”
“It was, Li families Li Ziyu's fiancé, that Xiao Chen!” Qin Jiuyue then exaggerated the story of how Xiao Chen approached her that night, intending to kidnap her.
“Grandpa, Xiao Chen is a martial arts master and also the successor to the Ghost Doctor. I didn't know he was Li Ziyu's fiancé before. Thinking that Su Lin had driven him away, I didn't dare to tell you. It was only after seeing the portrait Li Ziyu made that I realized that man was Xiao Chen, her fiancé.”Her story was full of holes, but as Su Lin predicted, Qin Deshu didn't question any of the details. Instead, he looked seriously at Qin Jiuyue, “How do you know he's the successor to the Ghost Doctor Wang Yannian?”
“This… this was told to me by Su Lin.” Qin Jiuyue eventually brought up Su Lin, believing he would have prepared himself for this since he agreed to let her complain to her grandfather.
“Su Lin, that Su Zhenguo's son? When did you meet him?”
Qin Jiuyue nodded, “On my birthday.” Su Lin exchanged a Yuan Dynasty Blue and White Porcelain for Grandpa San's treasured porcelain. Then I teased him, making him bring me a gift, and he gave me a toy snake. That's how we met.”
Qin Deshu believed every word, having never been lied to by Qin Jiuyue before. “So you went out that night?”
“It's because Grandpa forced me into an arranged marriage.”
Qin Deshu sighed, “Xiaoyue, there are things I don't wish to do, but great families have their unavoidable circumstances. You don't understand now, but it'll be too late when you do.”
“Um! Then, Grandpa, you’re just going to let that Xiao Chen bully me like this?” Qin Jiuyue asked angrily.
Qin Deshu slammed the table, “How could I let it go? Little Moon, rest assured, I will make the Li family give you an explanation.”
He didn't ponder why Su Lin knew Xiao Chen's identity. All he needed to know was that Xiao Chen nearly kidnapped Qin Jiuyue.
“Not just the Li family, but Xiao Chen too. I heard Li Ziyu is hunting him down, Grandpa, I want revenge,” Qin Jiuyue said firmly.
Qin Deshu was surprised yet felt it was expected.
Qin Deshu's eyes gleamed, thinking how fortunate for the Qin family that such a good suitor like Xiao Chen was being targeted.
He decided not to involve the Qin family directly in Xiao Chen's pursuit, knowing Wang Yannian's wrath was not something anyone could bear, so he had a plan in mind.
Meanwhile, Su Lin, just having returned home, was about to rest when he received a call from Li Ziyu.
Li Ziyu's cool voice came through the phone, making Su Lin feel her increased aloofness, as if devoid of emotion. Considering her long manipulation by her grandfather, it seemed normal she'd become colder.
“Su Lin, Xiao Chen has been found.”
Su Lin was surprised, “That fast?”
Li Ziyu simply stated, “As long as Xiao Chen is in Donghai, I can find him. He thinks he can escape to a small town and I’d lose track of him, which is just foolish.”
Su Lin chuckled, “Maybe he's not even running. Don't impose your thoughts on Xiao Chen; maybe he's just resting.”
Li Ziyu paused, then asked, “I'm making a move tonight. Will you join?”
“Oh? So soon? Remember, Xiao Chen escaped from three masters, showing his exceptional fleeing skills. If you act, make sure it's foolproof,” Su Lin cautioned.
“Don't worry. I've not only got our three masters, but I've also enlisted two more and reached out to an assassin group. Though they refused us, they might follow. Adding you, that's nine masters, which should be fail-safe.”
Su Lin didn't respond immediately, thinking of the protagonist's survival law. Despite his interference altering the plot, Xiao Chen's luck was undeniable. Eight masters and a grandmaster could besiege any martial artist in the country.
Yet, Su Lin knew the protagonists like Xiao Chen weren't easy to eliminate. Such a force might even draw Wang Yannian or other grandmasters.
If a grandmaster engaged him, allowing Xiao Chen to focus on escaping, he might slip away again.
“So, does the Li family have a grandmaster?” Su Lin asked, noting Li Ziyu's quickened breathing.
The Li family did have a grandmaster, her grandfather's twin brother, a martial fanatic. But such a person was beyond her reach.
“You might be overcautious. Nine masters can't handle Xiao Chen?” Li Ziyu challenged.
Su Lin replied, “It's always best to exert full effort, especially against a skilled escapist like Xiao Chen. He might not fight us directly, but escaping is another matter.”
Su Lin, now a grandmaster, wasn't worried about Xiao Chen escaping him, thanks to his superior lightness skill.
Li Ziyu, pondering Xiao Chen's escape from three masters, considered whether he could escape from more. Li Ziyu suggested, “Should I bring snipers?”
Su Lin laughed, “You underestimate a master's speed. Your snipers won't catch them, let alone shoot.”
“What do we do then?”
“Bring two grandmasters, ideally skilled in both internal and external martial arts and quick. They'd be the key in a real fight.”
Li Ziyu was taken back by Su Lin's casual suggestion of finding two grandmasters as if they were common.
“Su Lin, what's our success rate without grandmasters?”
“Counting me, fifty percent.”
“And without?”
“None.”
Shocked, Li Ziyu almost laughed, “So confident.” If that's the case, you might as well go alone. You have the same success rate anyway.”
Su Lin didn't expect her to react like this, “If you find a grandmaster, let me know, and I'll join. Otherwise, I need rest. Staying up ages you. Let's leave it at that. I'll wait for your news.”