Chapter Eighty-Seven: The Pawn

Jiang Xiaotian was completely stunned. He had not expected the authorities to disregard Ouyang Zijing’s sacrifice and instead exploit the conflict between the two families to force their way in.

Perhaps sensing his displeasure, the filthy-bearded old man let out a cold laugh. “What is it? Feeling sorry for a beauty?”

Jiang Xiaotian did not bother to hide it. “Yes and no. The Ouyang family has a very good reputation here, and the two sisters have good characters. Besides, before I came, Zhang Guodong also said that of the three major families, the Ouyang family was the most stable. Isn’t it rather inappropriate for you to use them like this?”

The filthy-bearded man only snorted again, his eyes growing even more contemptuous. “You’re ridiculous. If I hadn’t been ordered from above, I really wouldn’t want to save a fool like you! The Ouyang family has been able to exist here for so long. Do you really think that’s possible without some real ability? Their kindness is only relative compared with the other two families.”

Jiang Xiaotian pressed his lips together and said nothing.

He was not stupid, either. After a long breath, he asked, “Telling me all this—was that also the order from above?”

The filthy-bearded man did not deny it. “You could say that. You’ve turned the plan into a complete mess. It has to be patched up somehow.”

Jiang Xiaotian could only accept it. He had not expected so many interests and hidden arrangements to be tangled up in this matter, but to be honest, he did not regret it. In fact, he even began to doubt whether the court really did things this way: hurting others to benefit itself.

“Actually, the higher-ups have already confirmed that there is a treasure hidden in the city park. As for what it is, we don’t know. But you must do everything in your power to get it!” The filthy-bearded man’s words amounted to a complete change in Jiang Xiaotian’s mission.

Now he understood clearly.

The task on Zhang Guodong’s side no longer needed him to complete it. The martial arts authorities of Dragon City had taken over Jiang Xiaotian’s operation. From now on, he needed to obtain the so-called treasure. As for the killer, that part could only be left to his companions.

He deeply felt like nothing more than a tool, to be used as they pleased.

“I understand. I’ll do my best, but how am I supposed to slip in?” Jiang Xiaotian thought for a moment. He did not really have the right to refuse.

Putting everything else aside, he was also somewhat curious about this treasure. Since it could gather spiritual energy, other people might not be able to use it, but if it were given to him or to Sister Ling’er, it would surely be a priceless treasure.

But at this point, infiltrating the place seemed very difficult.

The filthy-bearded man coughed several times in a row and spat out a mouthful of foul blood. His face went even paler. “Don’t worry. For now, just wait for news. When the time comes, you’ll understand naturally.”

In truth, Jiang Xiaotian was a very unreliable existence to him: young, weak, impulsive, and disobedient. Because of him, the entire plan had been thrown into disorder, and everything had to be recalculated.

By all rights, someone like that should have been sent packing. Yet for some reason, the higher-ups not only gave him no punishment at all, they even ordered that he must be the one to seek out the treasure.

Strange. Far too strange.

But he would not ask. A task was a task; carrying it out was enough. Otherwise, he would not have stepped forward and used himself to lure Zhao Yin.

“Jiang Xiaotian, one last piece of advice: don’t be too conceited! In your little corner, you may be somebody, but in Dragon City, inner-force martial artists are everywhere. If you let your guard down for even an instant, you’ll be doomed beyond recovery! I can’t stay here any longer. After this, you’ll have to rely on yourself. I hope you won’t disappoint us!” the filthy-bearded man said in a low voice.

Although the sudden interference from the Ouyang family had allowed him to escape disaster, judging by Zhao Yin’s manic state, he would likely not let this go lightly. If he remained in Dragon City, he would truly be courting death. So he had to leave.

Jiang Xiaotian silently took the warning to heart. He was grateful that the filthy-bearded man had saved him, and he admired the man’s loyalty to the organization.

But if he were to speak honestly, Jiang Xiaotian did not like him. He was too much like a machine, unable to adapt.

He still trusted his first instinct. Even if the intelligence said that Ouyang Zhiqian had been doing good deeds all along for the sake of the Ouyang family’s reputation, at the very least she had actually done them, and she truly was a gentle person. Ouyang Zijing had even been willing to save him.

“If, I mean if, we end up competing with the Ouyang family for the treasure, what then?” Jiang Xiaotian asked with a faint hope.

The filthy-bearded man frowned, his gaze turning even more displeased. “I don’t like repeating myself. Your mission is to get the treasure. Do everything you can, at any cost, by any means necessary. Understand? This isn’t for one person; it’s for everyone. Have you ever thought about this: even the Ouyang family, after enduring for so many years, if they were to obtain the treasure and become much stronger, what would they do?”

Jiang Xiaotian did not answer, because the answer was obvious: they would certainly destroy the Zhao family and the Li family.

By then, the ensuing upheaval would probably force even the authorities to intervene. And what if that treasure was a devastating weapon?

So the best course was to seize it before anyone else could.

In the silence, scattered footsteps sounded behind them.

Jiang Xiaotian turned around and saw three people walking toward him, with Qin Lulu at their head.

When she saw Jiang Xiaotian’s ragged, disheveled appearance, she was startled. “Brother Tian! Are you all right?”

But when Qin Lulu realized that Jiang Xiaotian was only pretending to be a beggar and had actually suffered no serious injury, she nearly burst out laughing.

Of course, as a healer at heart, her main task was still to treat him first.

Fortunately, the filthy-bearded man was not weak himself and had no fatal wounds, so treatment was not difficult. His complexion gradually returned to normal as well.

However, with outsiders present, the filthy-bearded man did not speak much. He merely looked at Jiang Xiaotian coldly, clearly dissatisfied with him.

There was no helping it; that was simply the kind of person he was. Whether others liked it or not was their own business.

Jiang Xiaotian agreeing to go after the treasure was already the greatest concession he could make.

Under Qin Lulu’s direction, the two martial physicians worked with pinpoint precision. Their bandaging, stopping of the bleeding, and dispersion of bruising flowed like water. Very soon, the filthy-bearded man had recovered to the point where he could walk.

Though he still found Jiang Xiaotian unpleasant, the latter had nevertheless called in medical support especially for him. So when he left, he clasped his hands in a brief salute. “Take care of yourself. I hope it succeeds.”

“Mm. I’ll do my best,” Jiang Xiaotian replied in a flat tone.

Qin Lulu, standing nearby, was in no hurry to leave. She pulled Jiang Xiaotian aside, her face full of confusion. “Brother Tian, what happened? Old Man Zhang’s side is in complete chaos. I asked around a bit—secretly telling you, your entire mission has now been placed under the Dragon City operations department. Even Old Man Zhang can’t give you orders anymore. This is my last visit. After this, no one will be able to help you.”

Jiang Xiaotian already understood part of the situation, but he could not explain the details. He only felt that something was fishy in the middle of it all.

It was just like the time he had inexplicably been given an identity and then forced to join the Hunting Falcon team. Now, once again, he had been abruptly pulled away to complete another task. That irritating feeling made him resentful to the extreme.

And according to the filthy-bearded man, if he really ended up facing off against the Ouyang sisters, he would likely have to fight them.

If it had been before, he truly would not have cared. But no matter what the Ouyang family was actually like, those two girls really were good. He did not want to hurt them.

“Forget it. I don’t really know either. I’ll just do it. By the way, Lulu, you think Brother Tian treats you well?” Jiang Xiaotian wore a mischievous smile.

Qin Lulu was a bit slow on the uptake and still had not realized the seriousness of the matter. She immediately answered, “Yes.”

“Then that’s right. Lend me some money, will you? I haven’t eaten properly in days, and my clothes are worn to this state. Since my target has changed now, I probably don’t need to keep dressing up like a beggar. Have some pity on me.”

Naturally, as a super miser, Qin Lulu would not part with money so easily. After Jiang Xiaotian badgered her relentlessly and promised to repay it tenfold, she finally agreed to lend him five thousand.

How generous of her.

After handing over the money, Qin Lulu also had to leave. It was still relatively dangerous for her to remain there, not only because of Dragon City’s situation, but because members of the Hunting Falcon team were never truly one hundred percent safe. Of course, that was a matter for later.

After seeing Qin Lulu off, Jiang Xiaotian hurried off to buy a set of clothes, get a hotel room to take a proper bath, eat a full meal, and finally sleep in late.

At the very least, he should recover a bit before the opportunity the filthy-bearded man mentioned arrived.

He had not expected that the very next day, shocking news would spread through the city...