A Kind Master and Filial Disciple

The prospective master and disciple walked one before the other through the empty streets after the rain, looking more like a couple having a lovers' quarrel.

They said nothing along the way. Watching the silent girl following behind him, Ji Qinglin was puzzled. If someone had transmigrated into the future and met another person who could riff on hometown memes, then even if it wasn't a case of fellow villagers meeting with tears in their eyes, there should at least have been some surprise, right? Yet this girl acted as though everything were normal. Could she really have answered by accident? No, she was probably on guard. Better start with an easy topic.

"Why were you arrested and sent to prison?"

Crazy Night: Can you even hold a conversation? She's quite pretty, but what a waste that she has a mouth.

Wind Riding: "Illegal immigration."

The girl's answer was still brief. She did not even raise her head.

Illegal immigration? That was common enough. A third of Bangkok's population had to be outsiders. Still, her utterly emotionless tone was rather unpleasant.

Ji Qinglin's lips curled faintly as he discreetly pressed the light-shock button on the remote in his pocket.

"Ah!"

Caught completely off guard, the girl's body suddenly curled up from the shock delivered by the collar around her neck. Her legs clamped together, and she nearly lost her footing. Her watery almond eyes burned with anger as she raised her head and glared at Ji Qinglin.

Ji Qinglin, meanwhile, pretended to panic as he helped her up and apologized, "Accident, accident. I pressed the wrong button by mistake. I forgot I had a remote in my pocket."

Crazy Night: Mistake my ass! Let me slaughter him! Wind Riding: Quiet. Neither of us is capable of causing trouble right now.

Crazy Night: Don't tell me you enjoy this kind of training? Wind Riding: Shut up.

Ji Qinglin leaned close and whispered, "But now you should be able to answer questions properly. I just checked the files, and you only have a prison number. What is your name?"

Who would have thought such a simple question would put the girl in a difficult position? She did not answer immediately.

Ji Qinglin assumed she was deliberately resisting, so he pretended to move his hand in his pocket as though he were about to press the remote again.

Sure enough, the girl reached out and grabbed Ji Qinglin's arm.

"Don't! I... My name is Yu Ye."

Yu Ye? No matter how he heard it, it sounded like something casually plucked from that line about "Imperial Jade Liquor Wine."

Right, she had entered the country illegally. People like that generally did not want to use their old identities or names. That was not really a problem.

Ji Qinglin did not expose her and continued, "Oh, Yu Ye, meaning a crystal-clear, viscous, delicious liquid—"

Before Ji Qinglin could finish, the girl glared up at him again.

Crazy Night: Pervert! Yu Ye: Hooligan! The girl also realized that the name she had made up on the spot was rather strange, and immediately corrected herself. "It's Yu Ye, a gentle and mellow night."

"Not easy. You finally managed to squeeze out a few more words this time."

Yu Ye realized that whether she was a prisoner or a prospective disciple, her earlier attitude had indeed been inappropriate. No wonder this fellow had deliberately teased her. Thus, she said nothing in response to Ji Qinglin's mockery.

"Fine, Yu Ye. How exactly did you come up with the second half of that Imperial Jade Liquor Wine line? Had you seen it somewhere before?"

"I had never seen that sentence before. It simply came out of my mouth instinctively."

Ji Qinglin took out the remote and placed his hand over the shock button in front of Yu Ye. "I want to hear the truth."

But this time, Yu Ye showed no fear whatsoever. She stared straight into Ji Qinglin's eyes. Though her face was somewhat dirty and her red lips and willow brows had lost some color, those almond eyes were like a clear pool of water, exceptionally bright.

"What I said is the truth!"

Seeing Yu Ye's resolute expression, Ji Qinglin hesitated for three seconds before finally putting the remote back into his pocket.

Whether she genuinely did not remember or was playing dumb out of wariness toward him, he would have plenty of time to find out.

Yu Ye: Hmph, he barely counts as a gent—"Ah~"

Before Yu Ye could finish praising Ji Qinglin in her heart, he pressed the light-shock button again. Caught off guard, Yu Ye was shocked until her entire body went numb, and her weakening legs clamped together once more.

Crazy Night: Gentleman my ass! He's clearly a sadist and a hooligan!

Ji Qinglin added:

"That one was merely to remind you that you should speak more naturally to your prospective master in the future, understand?"

Seeing Yu Ye's brows furrow again, her cheeks puffed out with anger as she nodded unwillingly, Ji Qinglin slapped his forehead. "Look at my memory. I forgot to ask whether you, Yu Ye, are willing to become my disciple. Don't worry, your prospective master values democracy most. If you're unwilling, I'll send you back right now. How about it?"

The moment she heard she might be sent back to prison, Yu Ye hurriedly shook her head and bowed. "No, no, no! This disciple Yu Ye will respectfully follow Master's teachings!"

Crazy Night: I think prison would be safer.

Yu Ye: Stop saying things in anger. Though this guy acts frivolously, it's still better than being locked in prison.

Having learned part of the information he wanted, Ji Qinglin was about to take Yu Ye back to the General Store when someone silently emerged from the alley ahead.

That person was wrapped entirely in black clothing. When it first emerged, Ji Qinglin had thought it was merely a shadow. It was black from head to toe; not only could he not make out any facial details, he could not even tell its gender. Only when it came closer did he discover two red dots where its eyes should have been.

The person stopped not far ahead of Ji Qinglin and Yu Ye. A rough sound like metal reeds came from where its mouth should have been.

"Target confirmed."

After speaking, it spread its arms, and two red-glowing blades sprang out to either side.

Ghost Blade!

Ji Qinglin was no stranger to that appearance. His brokerage work had brought him into contact, one way or another, with the Puppet Club—a killer organization that accepted anonymous assassination contracts.

Most of these puppet assassins were robots outfitted with weapons and corresponding saber or sword technique modules.

Seeing that the newcomer meant trouble, Yu Ye immediately assumed a combat stance.

Ji Qinglin was somewhat bewildered. Looking at Yu Ye, who had readied herself, he asked, "Here for you?"

Crazy Night: No way? They chased us all the way here? Yu Ye: It doesn't seem to be the people who were chasing us before.

Seeing that Yu Ye did not answer, Ji Qinglin felt his guess was right nine times out of ten.

Young people really know how to stir up trouble. And if you cause trouble, why not clean it up properly? How could you let the other side have a chance for revenge? If Yu Ye is the root of disaster, I may have to reconsider taking her as a disciple.

With that thought, Ji Qinglin stepped to the side. Yu Ye asked in confusion, "Master, what are you doing?"

"You haven't performed the disciple ceremony yet. Strictly speaking, we are not master and disciple, so handle your own affairs yourself."

Crazy Night: Damn, this old schemer! I'm impressed. Didn't I say prison was safer than following him?

Yu Ye: Forget it. Focus on the enemy. It had nothing to do with him in the first place.

But to everyone's surprise, the black-clad assassin turned its head and looked at Ji Qinglin.

"Target locked. Executing elimination mission."

At those words, both Ji Qinglin and Yu Ye froze.

After hesitating for a moment, Yu Ye also stepped to the other side, widening the distance between herself and Ji Qinglin.

"Master, this disciple thinks you make sense. One should still handle one's own affairs."

"Huh? But I'm your master!"

"Yes, but we haven't performed the disciple ceremony yet."

Crazy Night: Pfft, karma came fast! Yu Ye: I just want to divide its attention. I'll help once we start fighting.

Crazy Night: Help with what? Wouldn't it be better to watch them fight? If this old schemer gets killed, we can escape directly.

Yu Ye: Don't be foolish. Leaving aside whether it will kill witnesses, even if we truly escape, we will definitely be blamed for killing him.

Whoosh—

The puppet assassin did not care about this scene of "kind master and filial disciple." It dashed straight toward Ji Qinglin in a single stride. Judging by its speed, its legs were likely equipped with Divine Movement or Wind Riding modules.

Ji Qinglin retreated to Yu Ye's side without the slightest hesitation.

Crazy Night: Damn it, this bastard wants to drag someone down with him! Yu Ye did not think that much. With life and death at stake, she could only try to act. But before she could step forward, Ji Qinglin raised his left arm before her, pressed down on her shoulder, and at the same time held her collar in place.

Physical contact was the only way to bypass his phone's self-defense effect.

Along with her surprise, Yu Ye noticed that Ji Qinglin, who had been smiling with curved eyes just moments ago, now had a slight frown and icy light in his gaze.

"Stay by my side."

It was a simple instruction without emotion. The puppet assassin had already turned toward them, but fortunately, Ji Qinglin had raised his right hand.

Yu Ye did not see what happened. She only felt a faint, barely perceptible vibration.

The leaping puppet assassin had not even raised its pair of blood-red Ghost Blades to unleash Cleaving Water Slash before it seemed to run out of power. Its movements went crooked, and it crashed heavily onto the ground before them with a dull clang.

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