Chapter 96: Secret Rivalry
As Hui Ji spoke, he secretly rejoiced in his heart, thinking himself an indispensable and capable assistant.
Chi Wan, however, was struck with shock, her heart turning cold with dread.
“Are… are they both ruined?” she asked in a trembling voice.
Hui Ji was so caught up in his performance that he didn’t stop to wonder why she used the word “both.” He simply clutched his chest, putting on a pained expression while nodding repeatedly.
Chi Wan immediately felt like a criminal.
She furrowed her brows, momentarily at a loss, her face filled with guilt.
From behind her, Yun Qi sensed her intense feelings of remorse. He glanced over, his eyes flickering with a subtle light.
On the other side, Cang Lin immediately noticed the guilty expression on Chi Wanâs small face.
His heart felt as though it had been dipped in honeyed fruit.
She was so worried about him…
It seemed that fellow Hui Ji had done a good job delivering the message. Heâd have to give him a raise when they got back.
Chi Wan hesitated for a long moment. She felt that no matter what she said now, it was useless. The damage of “ending his bloodline” had already been done. She could only say with a distressed face:
“It was my fault. If your Commander needs me to do anything to make amends, I will do my best.”
Hui Ji replied with a pained look, “Good.”
The moment he turned around and approached Cang Lin, the heartbreak on Hui Jiâs face vanished, replaced by a jubilant beam.
He leaned in and whispered, not forgetting to claim credit for his work:
“Commander, thanks to my artistic processing of the language, Guide Chi Wan is very distressed for you.”
Cang Lin lowered his gaze, unscrewing his canteen to drink some water to hide his anticipation and nervousness. His voice even softened unconsciously:
“What did she say?”
Hui Ji applied his “artistic processing” once more, speaking each word with dramatic emphasis:
“She said she is willing to make it up to youâanything will do.”
The final syllable seemed to strike heavily against Cang Linâs heart, a blow that left him completely defenseless.
The hand holding the canteen paused. Amidst the rippling water, his jin (gold) eyes leaped across the crowd to fixate on that petite figure.
Time seemed to stand still. Joy, accompanied by an inexplicable sense of pity, made it impossible for him to look away.
What a little fool. How could she give such an important promise over a minor injury?
Did she really not know how to protect herself properly?
He could no longer suppress the longing to be near her and strode toward her.
With a tall stature, broad shoulders, and a narrow waist, he possessed the most domineering and powerful presence among the Commanders. As he walked straight toward Chi Wan with his long legs, his jin eyes, shadowed against the light, showed no emotion. This gave her the illusion that he was coming to settle a score.
Chi Wan took a fearful step back.
Sensing her emotions, Yun Qi looked over again, his gaze thoughtful as it landed on the approaching Cang Lin.
At this moment, Cang Lin saw nothing else.
He looked at her intently. Deeply.
Standing before her, his voice became as soft as possible:
“Donât say such things to others in the future. The world is full of greedy people. If someone takes this chance to demand the impossible, it wonât be good for you.”
Seeing that he wasn’t there to settle a score, Chi Wan breathed a sigh of relief, only to hear him continue:
“As for making amends, I only have one small wish.”
“…What is it?”
“To become your designated Shaobing (Sentinel).”
Chi Wan fell silent.
His “lineage” was ruined, yet he only asked to be bound as a designated Shao-Xiang pair. It was truly… beyond her understanding.
Footsteps approached from behind, accompanied by Yun Qiâs unique scent. His cold, clear voice sounded faintly:
“I wonder what the criteria are for Guide Chi Wan to choose her designated Shaobing?”
Cang Lin looked at Yun Qi, who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Chi Wan. They were nearly the same height. As they stood face-to-face, the domineering and aggressive aura of the Gold Dragon clashed with the deep, all-encompassing presence of the sea. Neither yielded to the other.
An inexplicable sense of crisis rose in Cang Linâs heart.
“What? Does Commander Yun also wish to compete?”
The question was laced with coldness. Yun Qi looked back at him directly.
He hadn’t quite realized his own inner thoughts yet; he simply felt, subconsciously, that as his Sea Godâs Bride, he should protect her a little more to prevent her from being tricked by some questionable Shaobing into a designated or even a contracted bond.
But facing Cang Linâs arrogant interrogation, he changed his mind.
“Why can I not compete?”
Chillness appeared in Cang Linâs aggressive features as he shifted the topic:
“Iâve been meaning to askâwhen will that ordinary, beyond-ordinary Haizu (Sea Tribe) contract of yours be dissolved, Commander Yun?”
This sentence left Yun Qi speechless.
Three days ago, he had said coldly that it should be dissolved as soon as possible.
But in his heart, he knew better than anyone that this blood-fusion could not be undone.
Chi Wan looked at the two of them and spoke up honestly:
“We will work together to find a way to dissolve it.”
Cang Lin arched an eyebrow at this. His eyes swept over Yun Qiâs silent, snow-cold face as he spoke with hidden meaning:
“Commander Yun is like the snow on a high mountain, a flower on a lofty ridge. He has always preferred solitude. I imagine this contract must be causing you quite a lot of trouble.”
Chi Wan pondered his words, feeling that Cang Lin made sense.
Cang Linâs voice continued:
“Commander Yun must have been exhausted and losing sleep these past few days trying to dissolve this contract. Heâs even looking a bit thinner.”
How could Yun Qi not understand Cang Linâs subtext?
He lifted his eyelids slightly, his qingming (deep sea blue) eyes looking at the other man, already freezing cold.
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