Path Of The Lilies 217 Friend Or Enemies?

"Yeah, long time no see."

The way the two of them talked made Ye Jiao sure that they had known one another. However, there was this faint stifling atmosphere near them. It was as if they were already impatient to have a bout with one another and couldn't stand the sight of the other person before them.

It was weird.

"Master, do you know him?" Qi Huan asked.

Zhan Jing nodded his head. "You can say that we're acquaintances. I can't say that I know him well, though."

"I see."

Ye Jiao looked at her master. "Master, are you going to the Spring Island too?"

"Yes. Why do you think I came here today?"

"Then, can I go with you?"

"Sure," Zhan Jing readily agreed. He was only planning on tailing after Qi Huan, so he didn't really expect to see Ye Jiao in this place too. There was no doubt that he would have to work harder to protect them.

Qin Zheng's eyes flashed as he looked at the two of them. It seemed that the little girl he met by coincidence and also very annoying was someone who has a special connection with these two.

"Zheng Ge, are you going to come along too?"

"If this man permits," Qin Zheng flicked a glance at Zhan Jing. "If not, I'll just search for another s.h.i.+p that will bring me into the island."

"Jiao'er, how did you meet with this man?"

"It's a long story," Ye Jiao scratched her head. She didn't know where she should start. She kind of helped him and forced him to help her obtain the secret manual. Aside from that, she also kind of leeching on him since he was the one who mostly paid for their lodgings and food.

Qin Zheng crossed his arm. "She's just my pet."

"PET?" Ye Jiao glared at the young man before her. "I'm just your temporary companion, Shorty!"

Hearing the word short, Qin Zheng's eyes flashed dangerously. Boys were normally growing taller slower compared to girls when they were teenagers. Right now, he was slightly shorter than Ye Jiao because they were still eleven years old. But he was sure that he would be taller than her soon!

"Don't call me shorty. I'll be taller than you soon."

"Oh yeah? I bet that you'll stay the same for the next year," Ye Jiao challenged. "After all, we're of the same age."

"I'm slightly older than you."

"I'm born in Winter and I'll be twelve this year."

Qin Zheng smirked, showing a proud smile. "I'm born in Summer and I'll also be twelve this year. It means I'm older than you by around three to six months."

Ye Jiao opened her mouth and closed it again. d.a.m.n it! She was hoping that she could be slightly older than him so that she could make fun of him for wanting her to call him as older brother. Unfortunately, he truly turned out to be older than her albeit not by too much.

Qi Huan looked at Qin Zheng with a frown on his face. He couldn't detect Qin Zheng's power, which meant that this man should be higher than him. "You're also eleven years old? Did it mean you also have the same talent with Jiao'er?"

"She's still lower."

"I'll reach rank 3 soon! Just watch," Ye Jiao pursed her lips in annoyance. This man seemed to have a talent of making her angry. For the past few days, she couldn't count the time when she hoped to smack his head like today. Unfortunately, he wouldn't let her hit him for real because they would just end up with a brawl. 

Zhan Jing shook his head as he watched the three of them bickered. He really wondered if they would ever get along based on how they acted so far.

"Alright, you should return back because your father will search for you if you get out for too long, Qi Huan."

"Yes, Master," Qi Huan replied. He turned his head to Ye Jiao. "I won't be going with you because I'll be with my family. Let's meet on the island again."

"Okay, Senior Brother Qi."

After Qi Huan left, Ye Jiao noticed the atmosphere turned tense. It has lowered slightly due to her banter with Qin Zheng, but it has risen to another degree once more.

Qin Zheng pointed to the door with his chin. "You can rest first. I'll go back later."

"Ok. See you later, Master."

Zhan Jing merely nodded his head as Ye Jiao slipped out. As soon as Ye Jiao got out, the killing aura intensified as the two of them glared at one another. It didn't look like they would be having any peaceful talk soon.

"I'm surprised that you're still alive despite the number of a.s.sa.s.sination's request for your head, Qin Zheng," Zhan Jing returned back to his cold tone.

Qin Zheng stared back emotionlessly. "If they think they can kill me, they have to think twice. I may not be that strong right now, but my guards are not those that you can touch easily. Even your disciple died under my hand."

"Tsk, you're still the same."

The two of them looked at one another. It would be difficult to say that they were not enemies, but at the same time, they didn't really want to kill each other.

"I'm surprised that you still decide to take disciples in this place. Are you that desperate to get out of here?"

"I don't have any other choice," Zhan Jing shrugged. "It's not like you didn't understand why I want to return back. As the one who make me got sent into this place because of a failed mission is none other than you."

Qin Zheng's expression didn't change in the slightest as he looked back at the man. "You're the one who wants to a.s.sa.s.sinate me. Should I just stay quiet in one place and let you decapitate my head to present to the higher ups? Thanks to you, I already lost one of my guards."

"You lost one guard, I lost one disciple, and the organization lost dozens of excellent a.s.sa.s.sins," Zhan Jing shook his head. "It's apparent who has the upper hand."

"You shouldn't try to pick a fight with me."

Looking at how calm Qin Zheng was, Zhan Jing just stood there and looked at the young man. "How's she?"

"She's fine."

"That's good."

"You know that you can return back if you kill me right now, right?"

"I know, but I don't want to." Zhan Jing turned around. "I don't have any reason to make the organization happy by sending your head to them. There's another way for me to return back, an easier way that won't place her in a difficult situation."

Qin Zheng's eyes flashed. "You're planning on sacrificing those children just like what you did in the past?"

"Even if I did, what would it matter to you?"

"You should have just left Ye Jiao to me. I'll raise her and make sure that she s.h.i.+nes brightly."

"Her talent might be rare, but there are hundreds of people of the same talent with her in your place. There's no need to be so fixated on her," Zhan Jing said unhurriedly. "We'll meet again when it's time to depart. I won't kill you but I also won't protect you."

As Zhan Jing left, Qin Zheng stayed still in his place for some time. His eyes held a concealed complicated expression. It was only after a while did he leave the place.