Scourge Messenger

Chapter 298 I'm afraid I won't be able to hold back

Yan Qing was taken aback. Meeting Shang Xinlei's determined gaze, she realized that she was not joking.

“This training is not dangerous for me. Even if it is, I can handle it on my own. You really don’t need to come and help me.”

Shang Xinlei chuckled: "I didn't plan to help either. I'll just keep pushing you when the battle starts."

"Even if you go with me, you won't get any reward. It's not that I'm unwilling to share, but you simply can't replicate my method."

"I'm not doing this for the reward. You've already prepared the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends for me, so apart from the Foundation Establishment Pill, I don't need any other cultivation resources."

"This reward really is a Foundation Establishment Pill," Yan Qing thought to himself.

If he had a way to ensure everyone could claim the event rewards, he would definitely organize a team-building activity for everyone to participate in. White Fox, Black Wolf, and Red Snake would go without saying, and Qian Gongyu, the little kid, could come along. Shang Xuanwen could also give him a spot out of consideration for his daughter and the Rat Monk. But apart from him, local Muggles simply couldn't claim the event rewards.

"If you're not there to help me or for a reward, then what are you going there for? To see the scenery?"

“Yes.” Shang Xinlei nodded directly: “I’ve been a bit bored at Jingxin Xiaozhu for so many days. I was planning to go back to Jiangnan City to rest for a few days and relax. But you’re going to the Demon Gathering Land for training now. It’ll definitely be more interesting than Jiangnan City.”

"I'm not going there to play!"

"I'm not going there for fun. Do you really think I, a dignified third-tier messenger, would hold you back?"

"But how can you get there if you're not in Qi?"

"Of course you're the one to pick me up." Shang Xinlei rolled her eyes at him. "Are you trying to say that you have a way to get Black Wolf out of Zhou, but not a way to get me out of Liang?"

Yan Qing blinked.

He wasn't surprised that Shang Xinlei had guessed [Immortal Journey], after all, his conversation with the pharmacist two days ago had revealed a lot. He was even mentally prepared for Shang Xinlei to question him. If Shang Xinlei insisted on participating in [Natural Calamity], he would probably try to refuse, but if Shang Xinlei insisted, he would have no choice but to give in.

After all, he had already accepted the pharmacist's wish to become a permanent member, so giving Shang Xinlei a place wouldn't be a problem. Yan Qing had already implicitly accepted that Shang Xinlei was a member of [Natural Disaster], and was just waiting for the moment when Shang Xinlei needed support so he could immediately pull her into the organization.

Therefore, when Shang Xinlei said she wanted to come over, Yan Qing really couldn't refuse.

"But my plan is to act alone..."

"Then let's change the plan!" Although Shang Xinlei spoke arrogantly, there was a hint of nervousness in her voice: "What, are you going to refuse me if I want to come along?"

Yan Qing's heart stirred.

Yeah, why refuse? The Demon Gathering Land isn't dangerous at all. Taking Shang Xinlei along is practically the same as going on a trip. Besides, it'll definitely be much more fun with two people than one. During breaks, one can take the night watch while the other sleeps... No matter how you look at it, traveling with someone is much better than traveling alone.

Seeing Yan Qing's hesitant expression, Shang Xinlei's heart was pounding, far from the calm she appeared to be.

She wondered if she was being too bold. After all, the Demon Gathering Land was in Qi, a foreign country thousands of miles away. Even if she was a third-level messenger and even if Yan Qing could help her travel back and forth, it was still an unfamiliar place. The only person she could rely on was this bandaged bastard in front of her, and she had always had no fewer than thirty servants with her on every trip since she was a child... But she still wanted to go.

She wasn't a travel enthusiast; she preferred staying within her own little world. Familiar cities and roads gave her a great sense of security. Even speeding through the skies above Jiangnan City at midnight felt as safe and secure to her as playing hide-and-seek at home.

She was actually very shy, so she always had to take a carriage wherever she went, because she couldn't sleep in unfamiliar houses, just like a little snake that could only sleep in a cave... But when she thought about going to the Demon Gathering Land thousands of miles away, Shang Xinlei didn't feel too uneasy. It was as if as long as she went with this guy, she could sleep peacefully no matter where she was.

Yan Qing replied, "I refuse."

Shang Xinlei was slightly taken aback. "Oh."

"That's fine," Shang Xinlei thought. Five days in the secret realm—how would she use the restroom? How would she take a bath? How would she sleep? I'm the fourth young lady of the Shang family; I've never suffered hardship in my life. Besides, there's no carriage, no servants, and my only companion is a stinky man. What if he loses his temper? Thinking it over carefully, it was too impulsive. Rushing off to an unknown place for training is like forcing myself to endure hardship. It's much more comfortable to go back to Jiangnan City and stay home…

That's what she thought, but her eyes wouldn't cooperate. Shang Xinlei felt her vision blurring, and a wave of soreness welled up in her nose. She lowered her head and asked in a low voice, "Why?"

"There's no reason why," Yan Qing said coldly.

"If you don't have one, then let me go."

"It doesn't work anyway."

"You really don't want to tell me?"

"Did not say."

"Do you think I'll cause you trouble? I promise I'll obey your orders," Shang Xinlei asked as calmly as possible. "Or do you not trust me and are worried that I'll find out your hidden secrets?"

She knew Yan Qing was always secretive and had countless trump cards hidden away, like 'treasure hunting tokens'. If she were Yan Qing, she certainly wouldn't want to reveal too many secrets either. It wasn't about trust; the fewer people who knew, the safer she would be.

Besides, even married couples have secrets. They were just teammates, so it's normal for Yan Qing to be reserved with her. Although Shang Xinlei would be unhappy, she could understand. She knew that Yan Qing most likely wouldn't accept her traveling with him, and to avoid making the atmosphere too awkward, she even took the initiative to find reasons for Yan Qing.

However, Yan Qing did not take the opportunity to back down.

"Don't ask anymore, it's none of your business anyway." Yan Qing paused and then said, "I'm leaving, you train well and don't worry about me."

It's none of your business.

Shang Xinlei couldn't hear what he said after that, because the moment she heard those words, all her grievances turned into raging anger that burned through her body, and she felt like a string in her head had snapped. She let out a howl, suddenly grabbed Yan Qing's right hand, and her black-stockinged legs wrapped around Yan Qing's neck like two giant pythons, forming a perfect frontal riding armbar, pinning him to the ground before he could react.

"What are you doing!?"

"Did you agree with Black Wolf to go together?" she asked through gritted teeth.

"No! You know Black Wolf's situation, she will never leave Zhou!" Yan Qing suddenly sprang to her feet, but Shang Xinlei immediately changed her move to a back armbar and pressed Yan Qing back down.

"Then you must want to bring Jiang Shi along, which is why you don't dare let me join!"

"I already told you Jiang Shi isn't here! It really is just me!"

"Why can't I go when there's no one else here?" Shang Xinlei sniffed, still unable to suppress her emotions, and said in a wronged tone, "You didn't even give me a reason!"

Shang Xinlei wasn't unable to accept Yan Qing's rejection; if Yan Qing had given her a reasonable explanation, she wouldn't have felt so wronged. But what was with Yan Qing's attitude? Did he even know what it meant for a young girl to take the initiative to go to an unfamiliar place with him? Did he even know how much courage it took for her to say those words?

I didn't ask you about your shared secret with Black Wolf, or why you hugged Black Wolf. You coaxed me and I made up with you... but now I'm really a little sad.

The two fought like crocodiles on the ground, constantly struggling and suppressing each other. They exchanged over a dozen rounds of attacks and defenses in the time it took to talk, their training of the past few days completely absorbing into their movements. However, Shang Xinlei steadily suppressed Yan Qing, who had the advantage in qi and blood. This was not only because Shang Xinlei had the initial advantage, but also because, in her rage, she was almost in a state of flow, her every move flawless. Yan Qing couldn't find a single opening to turn the tide!

"Do you hate me? If you do, just say so! I'll give up Thieves' House to you and Black Wolf!"

"no!"

"Then why don't you let me go?"

"Because I don't want you to go!"

"Why don't you want me to go? Didn't you say there was no danger? Or are you lying to me?"

"There is no danger..."

"So what are you afraid of? Are you afraid of me?"

"I already said it's none of your business!"

"Whose business is that?"

"I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself—"

The room suddenly fell silent.

Yan Qing, who was lying on the ground, stopped struggling, and Shang Xinlei, who was pressing down on him, also stopped exerting force, as if Yan Qing had uttered a spell that turned both of them into stone.

After a while, Shang Xinlei lowered her head and pressed her cheek against Yan Qing's, her warm breath on Yan Qing's neck. However, Yan Qing turned her head away and avoided eye contact with her, as if trying to escape a young virgin being harassed by a rogue.

"What did you just say?" Shang Xin's eyes gleamed with a strange light: "Are you afraid you won't be able to resist doing something?"

"I did not say."

“You definitely said it, I heard it.”

"You heard wrong."

"Are you afraid you won't be able to resist attacking me?" Shang Xinlei poked Yan Qing's cheek, her tone teasing: "Pervert, lecher, wolf, bandaged monster."

Yan Qing was so angry she gritted her teeth: "I'm afraid I won't be able to resist beating you up!"

"If you say so, then so be it." Shang Xinlei wasn't angry at all anymore, and chuckled.

(End of this chapter)