Chapter 163 – Under the Bed
Seeing Ling Luochen hiding under the bed at this moment, Xiao Qiang remained silent. It was just an ordinary meeting. Why would she hide just because someone came? There was nothing shameful between them.
On the contrary, hiding like this made it look like they were sharing some unspeakable secret.
Xiao Qiang didn't care what Ling Luochen was thinking. He had a clear conscience. So, without hesitation, he walked straight to the door and opened it.
The moment the door opened, Ling Luochen's breathing became quiet and subtle. For Xiao Qiang, there was nothing to be ashamed of. But for Ling Luochen, it was different.
She was one of the Shrek Seven Devils of the previous generation. Her position was respectable—at least it had been in the past.
She had been tricked by Elder Xuan into betraying her companions, betraying herself, and even several senior friends. Coupled with her current obsession over the invincible shield, she couldn't even convince herself that she was truly loyal to Shrek Academy anymore.
Ling Luochen understood the delicate situation she was in. With so much already weighing on her, it was impossible to say Xiao Qiang held no resentment toward the academy. If someone saw her, a former member of the Seven Devils, meeting secretly with Xiao Qiang—the top genius of the Sun Moon Empire—it would surely raise suspicion, even if nothing inappropriate had occurred.
To avoid misunderstandings, she chose to visit only when everyone else had gone to sleep.
But she didn't expect she wasn't the only one who had decided to visit Xiao Qiang late at night.
"Are you… Ning Tian of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect?" Xiao Qiang asked calmly. "What brings you here?"
Ning Tian smiled faintly and spoke without rushing, "Wouldn't you like to invite me in to sit down?"
"Come in," Xiao Qiang responded.
He led Ning Tian into the room and gestured toward the seat where Ling Luochen had been sitting just moments ago.
Ning Tian sat down, but after taking a breath, she suddenly asked, "Hmm? There's a faint scent of a woman in here. Was Mr. Xiao entertaining a guest before I arrived?"
"No," Xiao Qiang replied with a neutral expression. "Just someone I know. Compared to that, what is your purpose here?"
"It's like this," Ning Tian said seriously. "My Nine Treasures Glazed Sect wants to collaborate with Mr. Xiao on a matter of mutual benefit."
Xiao Qiang looked her up and down and replied bluntly, "Nine Treasures Glazed Sect?"
Ning Tian nodded slightly. "Yes."
Xiao Qiang didn't sugarcoat his words. "Then you should take this matter to my teacher. And frankly, if we were talking about the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect from ten thousand years ago, I might've been interested. But the current Nine Treasures Glazed Sect… doesn't seem to have the qualifications to speak on equal terms with Mingde Hall anymore."
"The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect back then was a top-tier sect. When there were fewer than 100,000 soul masters in total, your sect had more than 4,000 disciples. Two Super Douluos could assist in hunting 100,000-year soul beasts. In an era where Soul Douluos were incredibly rare, your sect had more than three or four of them."
"But now? Ever since Shrek Academy rose to power, the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect can't even produce five Soul Douluos. Without power, you can't maintain wealth either. What value does your sect really hold for Mingde Hall?"
Ning Tian forced a bitter smile. She knew Xiao Qiang's words were true, but she still had to push forward. "Maybe not for Mingde Hall… but what about for Mr. Xiao personally? If our sect offered all of our cultivation resources solely for your use, wouldn't that be of help?"
"I've already passed the stage where I lack resources. Even if I needed them, the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect doesn't have the means to meet those needs. After all, you don't even have the ability to hunt for a 100,000-year soul ring anymore."
Despite still smiling, Ning Tian was now drenched in cold sweat. She had already realized her bargaining chips were even weaker than she expected. Still, she came tonight with a goal: to win over Xiao Qiang, no matter the cost. Even if they couldn't recruit many talents, securing Xiao Qiang's support would allow them to invite Nana to their sect as an honored guest.
Though Nana was Xiao Qiang's servant, her talent was extraordinary. Even the Sect Master would have to treat her with great respect.
"Alright, I'll give you ten minutes," Xiao Qiang said coolly. "Think carefully. If the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect still has anything of value, and it's enough to impress me, then maybe—just maybe—I'll help you once when the time comes. But if your sect really has nothing left to offer, then I'm sorry. Strength is required to talk cooperation. Right now, your sect is simply not qualified."
Considering that the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect was once the wealthiest in the continent, Xiao Qiang gave them this one opportunity—just to see if any hidden value remained. If there was none, he would simply waste ten minutes of his time.
Eight minutes passed in silence. Ning Tian still hadn't said a word when suddenly—
Knock knock.
Someone knocked on the door again.
In a flash, Ning Tian mimicked Ling Luochen's actions—diving under the bed in panic. Their circumstances were similar, after all.
But what she didn't expect was to lock eyes with Ling Luochen under the bed.
An awkward silence fell over the cramped space. The two women quickly turned their heads away from each other as if they had never met, both pretending the other didn't exist. Their movements were perfectly synchronized.
Xiao Qiang's expression was blank. "Senior Meng?"
The door opened, revealing the white-haired, blue-eyed Meng Hongchen.
"Won't you invite me in to sit?" she asked.
"Come in," Xiao Qiang replied once more.
Meng Hongchen entered and sat on the same seat once occupied by both Ling Luochen and Ning Tian.
She sniffed the air and raised an eyebrow. "Why does the room smell like a woman? You don't have a girlfriend, do you?"
"No," Xiao Qiang said plainly. "Just some acquaintances."
Meng Hongchen visibly relaxed. After a moment, Xiao Qiang asked, "Senior Meng, is it really okay for you to be here right now?"
"What could be wrong?" Meng Hongchen said, kicking off her high heels. Her white silk stockings rested casually on the coffee table. Compared to Ling Luochen and Ning Tian, she was far more at ease. They chatted idly for a bit, until suddenly—
Jing Hongchen's voice rang out from outside the door.
Instantly, Meng Hongchen's face turned bright red. She wasn't worried about political implications like the others, but she was visiting a boy's room late at night. If her grandfather saw this… she would be socially destroyed.
She hesitated briefly—then looked under Xiao Qiang's bed.
Xiao Qiang was stunned.
"…You're all doing this on purpose, aren't you?"