Conquest, Punitive Expedition
Jianan regarded him coldly, the chill at the corner of his mouth chilling to the bone. "Remember this: the moment I get the chance, I'll kill you without hesitation!"
Ji Xiu smiled faintly. "I'll say the same to you."
Jianan drew a deep breath. His long, fair fingers, sharply defined at the knuckles, clenched with a series of cracks. After a long moment, he abruptly turned his icy gaze toward a certain spot.
Rong Huan paused, then came to his senses. This time, the man's gaze landed squarely on him.
The meaning seemed rather obvious: I can't deal with that thorn, but surely I can deal with you.
A chill ran over him, and he hurriedly offered a rueful apology. "I failed to fulfill your request, sir. I deserve a thousand deaths!"
"You do deserve to die." Jianan glanced coldly at him, then turned his gaze back to Ji Xiu. "And you are indeed useless. The enemy is in the open while you're in hiding, yet you can't even deal with a bunch of people far weaker than yourselves."
"Easy to say when you're not the one doing it. Come back and say that to me after you've dealt with them! Otherwise, you and I are no better than each other!" Ji Xiu sneered, apparently certain Jianan couldn't punish him. There was not a hint of restraint in his words.
Jianan bared his teeth in a cold grin. "If I deal with them, will you dare come see me with your head in your hands?"
"Deal with them first, then we'll talk." Ji Xiu snorted. He wouldn't fall for that; he wasn't a fool.
Jianan sneered. "Keep mouthing off in front of me. I won't punish you now, but let's see how you explain this to your