Shen Qing had her back to Li Tianyun as she flashed a smile. Then she lowered the curtain and turned around, resuming her poker - faced look.
"What? Have you figured it out?"
Gritting his teeth, Li Tianyun took a desperate gamble. "I only want my life and wealth. Whether the Ling family members live or die has nothing to do with me. As long as you offer enough, I'll do things for you!"
"But I must warn you that you have no idea how powerful the enemies you're facing are. Let's not even mention the emperor. Do you know about the immortals in the Nine Desolation Continent? It's them who want the lives of the Ling family!!"
"So I have only two conditions for cooperating with you. First, you must keep me alive, not a single hair on my body can be harmed. Second, I want wealth and honor! I want wealth and honor!!!"
Li Tianyun, tortured by the pain in his body, shouted out his conditions.
Shen Qing nodded. "Deal."
Half an hour later, Li Tianyun, who had returned to his normal appearance, looked as pale as death. He let Shen Qing place all kinds of image stones and talismans on his body.
The red marks on his body disappeared in an instant after Li Xian smeared some unknown substance on them.
But the painful spots still ached.
The poison he had ingested also didn't flare up for the time being because Li Xian had fed him the antidote.
He had really boarded the pirate ship now. Thinking about his unknown future, Li Tianyun couldn't help but want to cry.
Seeing Li Tianyun looking so desperate, Xue Ling kindly consoled him. "Amitabha, it's a good deed, benefactor. The Ling family has good merits. If you save them, it will surely be a great deed. Merits will shine upon you, and your descendants will also enjoy good fortune."
Li Tianyun was comforted by Xue Ling's words. There was a glimmer of light in his eyes. "Master, is what you said true?"
Xue Ling said seriously, "A monk never tells lies."
Except me.
Li Tianyun immediately believed Xue Ling's words to some extent.
He took a few deep breaths and summoned up his courage. Since he had boarded the pirate ship, he had to do a good job. He was in a new position and had to fulfill his duties. He had changed his master, so he had to do a good job for his new master.
With just two sentences, Li Tianyun managed to console himself.
Shen Qing stared at Li Tianyun menacingly and threatened, "You'd better remember every single word I said, including the punctuation marks. If something goes wrong, don't blame me for not being able to protect your life."
Li Tianyun shivered and nodded repeatedly. "I'll remember your words as if they were imperial edicts. I dare not forget."
When everything was ready, everyone stood up. Li Tianyun stood at the front, looking as if he were going to face death bravely.
Just as the five of them were about to leave the tent, a weak voice sounded. "Master Li, all you immortal adults, what should I do?"
Shen Qing looked at the small soldier still kneeling on the ground. She was momentarily at a loss for words. She had almost forgotten there was still someone here.
Hong Chaoyang made a throat - slitting gesture at Shen Qing, which scared the small soldier half to death.
"Spare my life, fairy! I'm not a great villain. It's just that my family is too poor. I have an eighty - year - old mother at home and two - year - old younger siblings waiting for me to feed them. That's why I bullied others by relying on powerful people. But I can guarantee that I'll be very useful!!"
"Before I joined the army, I was a well - known hooligan in the Western Market. I know all the people there, beggars, prostitutes, people from all walks of life. If you immortal adults want to inquire about any information, I can get it for you!!"
"As long as you immortal adults spare my life, I'll follow your lead from now on, work like a beast of burden, and have no complaints!!"
The small soldier kowtowed sincerely. After just a few times, his forehead swelled up high.
Shen Qing quickly stopped him. "What's your name?"
The small soldier sensed the hope of survival. He looked up excitedly and answered loudly, "My name is Wang Wang. Please give me your orders, fairy!!"
Hong Chaoyang frowned and muttered in a low voice, "Wang Wang? How could someone have such a name?"
Shen Qing looked at Li Xian. Li Xian nodded and took out the pill that Li Tianyun had eaten before and handed it to Wang Wang.
Wang Wang took the pill, put it into his mouth without hesitation, lifted his chin to swallow it. After eating, he even opened his mouth for Shen Qing and the others to check.
Shen Qing's gaze on Wang Wang showed a bit of admiration. Then she said to Li Tianyun, "Find a way to transfer Wang Wang to be by your side as your personal guard."
Li Tianyun nodded. "It's a small matter. I'll do it right away."
Hearing this, Wang Wang kowtowed a few more times sincerely and spouted a basketful of words of gratitude.
He was from a hooligan background. A few years ago, when the imperial court recruited soldiers, he unhesitatingly joined the army in exchange for five taels of silver to support his family. He was smart. After several reassignments, he only went to the battlefield once and then was withdrawn.
Later, he was lucky enough to be assigned to the patrol camp in the capital and became a small soldier guarding the city gate.
But the salary of a small soldier was far less than that of a personal guard of the national teacher's disciple. This was a great leap for him. How could he not be grateful?
Although he knew that being involved in the Ling family's big case was life - threatening, he understood the principle of seeking wealth in the face of danger.
If he had to live a mediocre life, it would be better to take a big gamble. If he won, he and his family would rise to prominence!
Shen Qing didn't know that Wang Wang had gone through so many thoughts in his mind. She simply thought that he was just trying to avoid harm and compromise temporarily.
Li Tianyun adjusted his expression and resumed his arrogant look. He strode out of the tent.
He led Shen Qing and the other four to the city gate entrance. The official who had checked Shen Qing's documents before immediately came forward. "Master Li! I failed to welcome you from afar. Please forgive me, Master Li."
Li Tianyun didn't even look at the official. He said in a cold tone, "I'm taking that small soldier named Wang Wang away. I'm going to promote him to be my personal guard. Go and tell the deputy general guarding the city gate."
"And your eyes, how did you grow them? Do these four people look like they have problems? You dog - eyed thing. Get out of here."
The official smiled obsequiously, bent slightly, and quickly apologized to Li Tianyun.
Li Tianyun listened impatiently for a couple of sentences and then swaggered into the city gate with Shen Qing and the others.
When he scolded the official just now, there was also a bit of personal grudge. If the official hadn't sensed that there was something wrong with Shen Qing and the others and brought him to Shen Qing, he wouldn't have been so unlucky as to be fed poison and threatened by Shen Qing.
Now, his peaceful and ordinary life was about to end.
After entering the city gate, the excitement in Hong Chaoyang's eyes became even stronger.
The streets were crowded with people, bustling with activity.
Li Tianyun led Shen Qing in the direction of the prison. Thinking about the Ling family, Shen Qing was not in the mood to observe the bustling surroundings. She just walked forward with her head down.
But when they reached the center of the main street, the children beside them shouted excitedly, "Today's execution is about to start! Let's go and watch. I heard it's a flogging today. I'd like to see if those Ling family members, who are like immortals, will be whipped to death!!"