"Easy for you to say. Who knows whether you'll pull something like this again?"
Su Qing said with some disdain.
Looking at her, she did seem quite sincere.
But just because she was sincere, did that mean he had to be nice to her?
There was no such logic!
"Master, I—I'm sincere. I won't do something like that again!"
After hearing this, Qin Lan Shan spoke in an urgent voice.
There were tears in her eyes, and she was clearly close to crying from anxiety.
She had already made up her mind, so why couldn't she stay after all?!
But I don't want to leave. I really don't want to leave Master!
Su Qing said nothing. He merely curled his lips, seemingly unmoved.
"Master, i-if you're still worried, you can place a restriction on the collar!"
"If something like this happens again, you can make me wish I were dead!"
Qin Lan Shan spoke urgently.
If this could let her stay here, she was willing to accept it!
"If your family members point their weapons at me someday, what will you do?"
After remaining silent for a moment, Su Qing suddenly asked.
"...Th-then they must be in the wrong. I'll bring them to justice!"
After a brief struggle, Qin Lan Shan said softly.
However, that expression of hers was completely unconvincing.
She was clearly in a difficult position and speaking against her true feelings.
After all, they were her family. Besides, she was kind-hearted by nature and used to letting others walk all over her.
But Qin Lan Shan firmly believed that if something like that happened, she would still stand on his side after struggling with it.
Although Master's methods were somewhat problematic, his ultimate goal was good.
During the past few days here, she had already realized this clearly.
"Completely wrong!"
Su Qing rapped her on the head and lectured her.
"Huh?"
Qin Lan Shan looked at the young man in confusion.
"You idiot. If something like that happens, you have to guide them onto the right path in time."
"You have to make them understand my good intentions and have them join under my command!"
Su Qing spoke in a serious tone.
The Little Slave's advanced training was all about making her learn to think from her master's standpoint!
"Mm?"
Qin Lan Shan looked at him in confusion.
Clearly, she hadn't quite recovered from those words.
The gentle big sister still had tear marks in her eyes, making her look exceptionally adorable and clueless.
"You should know that I've always been an extremely kind-hearted person."
"I don't want to come into conflict with anyone. Generally speaking, it's always trouble that comes looking for me."
"If those people want to deal with me, either they have selfish motives, or there's been a misunderstanding."
"And if we can clear up that misunderstanding, wouldn't we be able to turn hostility into friendship?"
"If they can work for me, wouldn't that also count as atonement...?"
Su Qing's voice became much gentler at this point as he began coaxing her patiently.
Amid that voice, the Shopkeeper gradually began losing herself.
So... so there was actually a solution that could satisfy everyone?
As long as everyone cleared up the misunderstanding, they could all be happy?
Take Goddess Ye, for example. She had originally been the one to scheme against the Realm Protectorate.
If she sincerely repented, wouldn't that clear up the misunderstanding and even earn her his help?
Qin Lan Shan's face filled with sudden understanding, along with a trace of regret.
If she had known this earlier, she shouldn't have let her go.
She should have helped Master and directly enlightened that Goddess!
Su Qing looked at the Shopkeeper, who had suddenly seen the light, and nodded in satisfaction.
True loyalty naturally didn't require choosing one side or the other. Instead, it meant turning enemies into useful allies.
Only then could he keep his kind-hearted slave highly loyal.
If she continued harboring guilt, problems would inevitably arise over time.
That way, no matter what happened, she would consider things from his point of view.
Without a doubt, everything earlier had been an act.
It could even be said that everything tonight had been within his expectations.
As a player, he knew the Shopkeeper's personality inside out.
Repaying kindness was a fine quality, but she was also shackled by it.
For the sake of her family and out of gratitude, she had been manipulated in all sorts of ways in the game.
That was a hidden danger that needed to be detonated ahead of time.
Only by finding a suitable opportunity to correct her could he obtain her complete and unconditional loyalty.
Otherwise, if he truly hadn't wanted to let the Goddess go, how could he have allowed that undercover agent to help?
The situation was already completely ruined anyway, and she would certainly never forget him even in her dreams.
Besides, her resistance was extremely strong, so there wouldn't be any progress in the short term.
The Goddess was more valuable after being released!
He had originally been lacking a suitable opportunity, but his personal maid had helped fill that gap.
Hmm, should he properly thank her?
Tonight's operation could be described as a resounding success.
He had made full use of the Goddess's remaining value to detonate the hidden danger for him without suffering any losses.
Looking at the big sister who was currently filled with gratitude, he felt somewhat emotional.
He seemed to be growing increasingly skilled at manipulating people's hearts.
Why was that?
Could it be that he really had the makings of a modern-day villain?
"Since you've put it that way, I'll give you another chance."
"But next, we'll have to discuss how you're going to atone."
As Su Qing spoke, he looked meaningfully at Qin Lan Shan, who was kneeling on the ground.
The serious business was over. Next came the personal matter.
The night was still long, and since someone had woken him up, he naturally had to do something!
"Master, I—I understand."
Qin Lan Shan fidgeted under his stare and spoke softly.
Some things didn't need to be said. A single glance was enough to understand them instantly.
Unknowingly, I've become this mature too?
The big sister inexplicably began to entertain this thought.
Her cheeks soon flushed crimson, and she felt ashamed of herself for thinking that way.
But just then.
Su Qing's whisper suddenly reached Qin Lan Shan's ear, making the Shopkeeper, who had already grown accustomed to the situation, shudder all over.
The flush on her already-red cheeks spread to her earlobes.
After hesitating for a moment, she finally nodded.
There was no helping it. She could only choose this even more humiliating way to atone.
Who could blame Master for finding the mistake she had made so difficult to forgive?
Master was willing to forgive me. What right do I have to complain!
Before you continue