A Worker's Soul Is Made for Work

"Holy crap, Xiao Yanzi is ruthless! He usually looks so honest."

Lin Qingyun, who was hiding in the wardrobe, was startled and hurriedly pushed the wardrobe door open.

Liu Xi could not die yet. He was still useful.

The creak made Xiao Yan's movements freeze. He turned his head slightly and was stunned.

"Brother Yun, why are you here too?" Xiao Yan asked.

"Same reason as you, but this guy can't die right now!" Lin Qingyun said.

"If this guy dies, won't the Jia Lie Family lose its backing? The Xiao Family won't have any worries left either," Xiao Yan asked in confusion, though he still withdrew the flame in his hand.

"Heh heh, don't you think it'd be a pity to kill him just like this? What a perfect tool!" Lin Qingyun glanced at Liu Xi, who was kneeling on the ground with terror written all over his face.

But when Liu Xi heard that he could live, a faint, hazy hope appeared in his terrified eyes. He looked at Lin Qingyun, shuffled over on his knees, and threw himself down in front of Lin Qingyun. "Big... ptooey, Dad... no, Grandpa, I'll do anything you want! Don't kill me!"

"Kill you? That'd be letting you off too easy!" Xiao Yan said flatly. Clearly, he agreed with Lin Qingyun.

Lin Qingyun half crouched, smiling as he leaned in before Liu Xi.

Liu Xi retreated a little in fear. Though the person before him was smiling, he gave Liu Xi an extremely terrifying feeling.

Master, I'm so scared!

After swallowing a sob, Liu Xi said tremblingly, "I can give you anything you want."

Lin Qingyun did not speak. He only looked at him quietly like that.

Liu Xi's body trembled. He could not tell at all what this youth before him was thinking. Only unease lingered in his heart.

A full half quarter of an hour passed before Lin Qingyun suddenly spoke. "Work for me! No meals, no lodging, and you'll live in the Small Black Room. What do you think?"

"What?"

Liu Xi cried out in shock. He did not understand what Lin Qingyun meant.

"You're unwilling?" Lin Qingyun tilted his head, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"No, no, no!" Liu Xi shook his head repeatedly, face full of terror.

"So you're unwilling!"

Lin Qingyun had already stood up.

"Xiao Yanzi, I think beating him up first isn't bad either. You do it!" Lin Qingyun said.

"No problem!" Xiao Yan understood instantly, made a reassuring gesture, and grabbed Liu Xi with a sinister grin.

"Damn it, you really think I'm made of mud?" Since begging for mercy had failed, Liu Xi's anger surged up all at once, and he slapped Xiao Yan's hand away.

"I'll allow you to use Dou Qi!" Xiao Yan smiled faintly, and his dark eyes were dyed with a layer of silvery white.

"Who are you looking down on?" Liu Xi roared, rolled up his sleeves, and went at him. Dark-yellow Dou Qi on his body covered his skin like burning flames, turning into a layer of gauze-like clothing.

Once he had guarded himself, he threw a punch.

"You really are weak!"

Xiao Yan made his move abruptly. His figure seemed like a ghost as he circled directly behind Liu Xi.

Liu Xi had been careless and did not dodge.

With a smack, a solid slap sent Liu Xi flying.

In that moment, Liu Xi even wondered if he was gone.

His organs were all shaking, and the intense pain seemed as if it would tear his body apart. He had never felt such pain before.

Damn it, can someone tell me why a youth's strength is this strong?

Liu Xi began to doubt his life.

Gritting his teeth, Liu Xi stood up and looked at Lin Qingyun.

"You want to do me?" Lin Qingyun raised an eyebrow.

Liu Xi did not think much. With one leaping step, he pounced straight toward Lin Qingyun.

"This young man has a very promising future!" Xiao Yan stopped and silently mourned for Liu Xi in his heart.

He had seen Lin Qingyun's strength before. It was very strong; even a Dou Shi could do nothing to him.

"A flash of cold light arrives first, then the spear comes out like a dragon."

Lin Qingyun drew out a long spear and swept it toward Liu Xi.

Bang!

It struck him dead on. Liu Xi was sent flying straight out and spat blood on the spot.

"You seemed pretty capable to me!"

Lin Qingyun did not let up, the spear tip falling like raindrops.

Liu Xi dodged with difficulty, but a few thrusts always landed on his body.

"Fuck, stop, I admit defeat, I agree!"

"No, calm down, calm down, it stabbed me, it stabbed me! Aaaah, I'm going to die, I'm going to die!"

There was not a single intact spot on Liu Xi's body. At this moment, he was vomiting blood, and his face had turned green.

Why? Why?

Are young masters of clans all this strong now?

Run?

I can't escape!

He wanted to beg for mercy, only to discover that he had no chance to speak at all.

Looking at Liu Xi's terrified, disbelieving eyes, Lin Qingyun said flatly,

"Kid, times have changed!"

"I'm still very democratic, but now I have to add one more option: remain unyielding unto death, and die by my hand."

"Come on! Will you submit and work for me, or remain unyielding unto death? Choose! If you don't pick, you won't get another chance."

"You're an alchemist, at least. Hurry up!"

As Lin Qingyun spoke, he even lifted the long spear in his hand.

Liu Xi's face turned green!

But at this moment, his dignity as an alchemist began faintly making trouble again.

Liu Xi raised his head and stood tall. "I am a first—"

However, before Liu Xi could finish speaking, his vision suddenly darkened.

A massive fist landed on his face.

"Pfft!"

Liu Xi was smashed until he spat three liters of blood on the spot.

He struggled to open his swollen eyes, narrowing them to a slit, barely able to see Xiao Yan smiling at him.

"Have you thought about what to say?"

The calm voice was like a nightmare.

Liu Xi gnashed his teeth. "My master is—"

Bang!

Xiao Yan punched again, an uppercut. Two white objects tinged with red could be seen flying out of Liu Xi's mouth.

Liu Xi was furious and flustered, pointing at Xiao Yan as he cursed, "You're taking advantage of someone in danger! You have no martial virtue!"

"Is it right to bully someone heavily injured like me?"

Bang!

Clearly, Xiao Yan had no intention of talking about martial virtue.

He swung his fists, took up a stance, pinned Liu Xi down, and delivered a round of intelligence-lowering blows to his head.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Intelligence -1

Intelligence -10

Intelligence -100

Xiao Yan was not hitting randomly. Every punch landed just right, yet did not easily cause serious injury. But the pain of each fist striking flesh quickly turned Liu Xi's voice from initial anger into pleas for mercy.

"I'm an alchemist! My master is a Third-grade Alchemist! You dare—"

"You, bullying me, you... don't just hit the head!"

"If you've got the guts, let me go and we'll start over... you're still hitting me?"

"I was wrong, I was wrong! I can't take it, big brother, you can't keep going! If you keep going I'll be crippled! Grandpa, spare me! I really can't take it! If this continues, I won't be able to get up."

"Spare my life!"

"I'm willing to surrender! Work, I'll work! I love working the most! Working makes me happy! Spare me!"

"Aah!"

Poor Liu Xi ultimately submitted beneath the iron fists of the laborers.

"Stop, stop!" Lin Qingyun shouted.

Xiao Yan paused, not yet reacting, and subconsciously added another blow.

This punch was even fiercer.

Liu Xi's intelligence -999

Liu Xi entered a concussed state and collapsed limply to the ground.

"Ah! Satisfying!" Xiao Yan let out a long breath and stopped.

Lin Qingyun walked forward and kicked him, clicking his tongue in wonder.

"He's still breathing. Not bad. As expected of an alchemist, very spirited. I respect you as a real man!"

Liu Xi: "...Let me die!"

At this moment, two tears quietly slid from the corners of Liu Xi's eyes.

They were tears of unwillingness and humbleness, and also tears of repentance.

Liu Xi was crying out loud inside.

What was I even after?

I should've just surrendered and been done with it!

Is there something wrong with my brain?

I shouldn't have been stubborn just now. I should've nodded right away.

Wu... my head hurts!

I took that beating for nothing. This is too hard... boohoohoohoohoo...

I'm already concussed...

Liu Xi shed tears of humiliation.

Lin Qingyun crouched and smiled faintly. "How have you considered it this time? I didn't force you. You have the right not to choose, and the freedom not to choose."

"I absolutely respect your choice. Don't worry, I'm someone who really keeps the decisions I make."

"Wu, wu..."

His swollen face could not make the slightest clear sound, but his tears flowed even more fiercely.

"Looks like you still don't agree!" Lin Qingyun said with a smile.

In that instant, Liu Xi panicked a little and hurriedly nodded, his mouth constantly making "wu, wu" sounds.

"That's more like it! From now on, you're a good comrade of our company."

Lin Qingyun withdrew the spear resting against Liu Xi's neck, and Xiao Yan also withdrew the flame in his hand.

Lin Qingyun helped Liu Xi up, smiled, and very warmly patted the stunned Liu Xi.

"Ha, don't mind it. I just haven't moved around in a long time."

"Don't worry. From now on, we advance and retreat differently. I prosper, you suffer. Are you moved?"

I don't dare move, I don't dare move!

Liu Xi was shedding tears, his soul stiff!

For an instant, he felt very fortunate.

Fortunate that he had set down his arrogance and had not resisted.

Otherwise, he would probably have already become a corpse by now.

In his heart, Liu Xi also found it extremely unbelievable. How could two youths who were only around fifteen years old be this strong?

Even swallowing pills would not be this fierce, all right!

If he had not known the origins of these two youths before him, he would even have suspected that they were favored sons of heaven from the Misty Cloud Sect.

Sigh! I'll accept my fate.

Liu Xi sighed, narrowed his swollen eyes, and looked up at the ceiling.

Life was like a strong man locking onto a man; if you could not resist, then enjoy it.

Traditional working ended here.

Liu Xi comforted himself through his tears.

And at this moment,

"Brother Yun, how should we bring this guy back to the Xiao Family? It won't be easy to bring a living person!" Xiao Yan said.

"Then how about?" Lin Qingyun turned to look at Liu Xi and revealed an evil smile.

Liu Xi, who had been recalling his life, shuddered and came back to himself. He hurriedly waved his hands and said, "I can walk by myself. We're going to the Xiao Family, right? No problem!"

"But I think there's a problem!" Lin Qingyun said seriously.

"How about we pack him up and take him away? It's just that doing that might attract the attention of that old fox Jia Lie Bi," Xiao Yan said.

"Don't you have your master? He can help out," Lin Qingyun said.

"Then that's the only way!" Xiao Yan nodded and looked toward Liu Xi.

"Wu, wu, wu..."

Liu Xi wanted to say something, but his swollen face could no longer form words. His helpless little eyes turned toward Lin Qingyun.

"Sorry, you'll have to suffer a bit! Take care!" Lin Qingyun brought his palm down heavily on Liu Xi's shoulder.

Xiao Yan grinned viciously.

One punch!

Bang!

"We're off. You carry this guy!" As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Qingyun had already leaped out the window first.

"Wha..."

The next morning, at the Jia Lie Family.

Jia Lie Bi's expression was dark to a terrifying degree. Wisps of icy aura seeped from his body, frightening the beautiful Maidservant kneeling on the floor until she trembled all over.

His cold gaze swept carefully through the room where Liu Xi had been staying, and Jia Lie Bi said in a chilling voice, "You're saying Liu Xi has vanished?"

"Yes, clan leader. For some reason, this servant suddenly lost consciousness last night. I only woke at daybreak, but once I did, Lord Liu Xi was gone. This servant asked the guards on duty outside, but none of them had seen Lord Liu Xi leave." The maidservant spoke in fear and trepidation.

"Then what about the signs of fighting in this room?" Jia Lie Bi said darkly.

Looking around, the floor was littered everywhere with wood splinters, yet such an intense fight had failed to wake anyone.

"This servant does not know." The maidservant's face was deathly pale, terrified that Jia Lie Bi would blame her for it.

The corner of his eye twitched rapidly. Jia Lie Bi, whose mind was almost tangled into utter chaos, took a deep breath. No longer paying attention to the trembling maidservant, he slowly searched the room carefully.

Seeing Jia Lie Bi's actions, the maidservant did not dare make another sound. Her kneeling body did not dare move in the slightest.

Step by step, he walked through the quiet room. When he reached the window, Jia Lie Bi's footsteps suddenly paused. There were several messy yet clearly visible footprints.

Jia Lie Bi's heart sank. He had already thought of one possibility: Liu Xi had been abducted.

Taking a deep breath, Jia Lie Bi felt a wave of panic in his heart. To abduct a living person right under his nose was simply harder than ascending to the heavens.

Unless that person's strength had already reached the Dou Wang, or even Dou Emperor, realm, it would be possible to do it without making a sound.

But how could Wu Tan City possibly have such a figure?

"Who is it? Who wants to destroy my Jia Lie Family?"

Phew, this author must strengthen his resolve and keep up two updates every day.

But today...

I'll take my leave first.