"I know you have Lord Li Qingxian behind you, and a seventh-rank son, too. We're not forcing you. We're just offering a fair deal. If you won't sell, there's nothing we can do except have a chat with you."
Zheng Hui looked at the two men. Back when he served in the Night Guard, he had heard of this man whose face was covered in knife scars.
Yue Xiong had been a bandit, a mounted outlaw, and an escort guard. Later, he offended the Northern Green Forest and could no longer survive there, so he fled to the Divine Capital, reined in his vicious nature, and became all smiles and chatter.
But Zheng Hui knew that Yue Xiong used to boast about how many people he had killed. Now, he never mentioned it.
Zheng Hui had seen this eighth-rank saber wielder chop off a seventh-rank swordsman's left arm with a single stroke, at the cost of nothing more than a sword thrust through his shoulder.
Zheng Hui slowly lowered his head.
"In the old days, a Dark Guard post really wasn't much, but now the court's streamlining things. A Dark Guard appointment needs the personal approval of the left deputy commander-a mighty fourth-rank expert. Am I supposed to offer up my head to get an audience? I'm out of options, too. Old Zheng, even if a deal falls through, goodwill remains. Don't worry. If it doesn't work out this time, I'll come again in a few days. Just think of yourself as running a shop that sells Dark Guard posts, and me as someone who drops by now and then." Yue Xiong smiled, the scars on his face resembling red snakes.
As he spoke, Yue Xiong turned to leave. After a few steps, he suddenly slapped his forehead and turned