"…"
Listening to the tune of a flute being played through her phone, Wu Xiao rests on her bed with a faint smile of leisure on her face.
Currently, her long crimson hair is left loose, and having gotten out of the qipao, she is dressed in a white halter top with short pants that are comfortable to sleep in.
*Ping.* detecting a sound other than that of a flute, Wu Xiao turns her attention to the phone that displays a single new message, which reads—
[Congratulations.]
A simple message, and just as Wu Xiao is about to hit a reply—
"Tch."
The phone vibrates from an incoming call.
"What?"
Answering the call, Wu Xiao immediately speaks into the device in an irritated tone, to which, the person on the other line asks—
[Elder sister, you actually got married?]
"Little brother of mine, you got objections?"
[No, just… Curious. Who was it?]
"Bai Wen's new friend, the one Nuo'er was talking to us about."
As the other side responded with prolonged silence, Wu Xiao is just about to end the call, however—
[You're only using marriage as an excuse to keep an eye on him, right? Because he's an uncontrollable variable in this world?]
"Smart of you to notice."
Turning onto her back, Wu Xiao adds—
"That despicable bastard managed to kill me twice. Once can be considered a coincidence, but twice means he's capable. Do you think a person like that can just be left unchecked?"
[True. But there's still plenty of other ways to keep an eye on him, right? Why marriage of all things?]
"I'm tired. Also, thanks for keeping news of that incident sealed."
Answering as such, Wu Xiao ends the call.
The only reason Wu Xiao and Long Hua's fight hadn't made any waves in the news was because information on it had been sealed under the orders of her little brother.
Immediately, the melodies of a flute resume playing, but at this point, Wu Xiao is no longer interested in continuing to listen to it, as she hits pause.
"…"
Tossing the phone aside, and staring up at the ceiling, Wu Xiao blinks her eyes with her arms spread apart.
"…"
Closing and opening her hand repeatedly, Wu Xiao raises a frown, and mutters—
"So tempting to just rip that mask off… A person with a gleam that harsh, they're either a hideous monster, or a real beauty. But…"
Narrowing her eyes, Wu Xiao's frown widens.
"…Would the selfish face that I wish to see again...… Be behind that mask?"
...…
Since the sports car is electric based, the only sound it makes comes mainly from its moving wheels—providing a rather tranquil driving experience.
Gradually the yacht comes into view, and situated to the side of it, Long Hua and Tian Cheng saw—
"Hm?"
"…?"
A white luxury car with a bulky appearance parked nearby.
Stopping their car, and lifting its doors upwards, Long Hua and Tian Cheng step out of the vehicle.
In the same instance, the suicide doors of the other vehicle opened—allowing the qipao wearing duo of Nian Yao Yao and Nian Tao Tao to step out.
Spreading his divine senses outwards, Long Hua detects no other individuals aside from Jing Yin, who is still in the car with the driver, along with Zhui Yun, who is just getting out of the vehicle.
Raising a sigh, Long Hua asks—
"So, what's this about? I, for one, can't wait to hit the hay at this point."
"Dressed like that, one would think that the sword saint had just returned from his own wedding."
Towards Nian Tao Tao's remark, Long Hua chuckles without light in his eyes.
"…"
"…"
As silence looms between the two parties, the cold wind howls.
Blinking her eyes, Nian Yao Yao asks—
"…No way, you really did just return from your own wedding?"
"Get on with your business."
Despite being curious about who Long Hua's partner had been, Nian Yao Yao clears her throat, and says—
"I'm hiring you to excavate the ruins that I brought the rights to."
Throughout the entire auction, Long Hua doesn't recall witnessing Nian Yao Yao having bid on any of the excavation rights, in that case—
"There's one near GC021?"
"Indeed. By the way, I was one who started the trend of bidding for excavation rights."
"A real entrepreneur you are. Ah Yao aside, Madame Nian?"
Towards being called "Ah Yao," Nian Yao Yao directs a glare at Long Hua. This nickname is much more befitting of a dog.
"Same thing as Ah Yao."
"Uh?"
Being called this by her own mother as well, Nian Yao Yao widens her eyes. She would have much preferred her mother calling her "my foolish daughter" than this new nickname that Long Hua had started.
"Hmm. When does excavations start?"
"Not anytime soon. I plan to have some of my Moon Guards enter the ruins to gain some experience first."
In fact, this is the main reason as to why Nian Tao Tao had spent five million NWDs to purchase a single right.
Adding to Nian Tao Tao's remark, Nian Yao Yao says—
"I plan to do the same for my side."
"Oh? Smart decision. Now then, regarding my compensation…"
"You're free to choose some items. The details can be discussed once the ruins are cleared."
Towards Nian Tao Tao's offer, Long Hua thought for a moment. There's no way to know what he'd even be able to find in the ruins that these two had purchased the rights to; hence—
"Five items—at minimum. More if the task turns out to be more trouble than its worth."
"Doable."
In response to how quick Nian Tao Tao had answered, Long Hua asks—
"You two… Don't actually know what grade your ruins are yet, right?"
"I won't know mine, but Ah Yao's…"
Being looked at by her mother while also being called by this nickname, Nian Yao Yao's expression darkens, as she says—
"Can you not call me that, old hag? Mine is grade five."
Towards Long Hua's hint of astonishment, Nian Yao Yao explains—
"We had a small team composed of men from both our sides head in to do some preliminarily scouting. They got out using a teleportation magic talisman."
"And the teleportation magic talisman came from…?"
Seeing Nian Tao Tao raising a V with her left hand, Long Hua has his answer, as he remarks—
"This Long Yue family of yours… How are you able to acquire Immortal tech—even before ruins excavation became a thing?"
"Everyone has their own secrets, Sword Saint Long."
Having said this, Nian Tao Tao returns into the car, whereas Nian Yao Yao walks forward with Zhui Yun behind her.
So my first week at my job is over, and I think at this point, I won't be able to update multiple times a week. The job starts at 3 and I get back home at 11 exhausted, my head wouldn't be in the right state to write and edit chapters.
Still, one update a week should be fine.