Chapter 630: Chapter 182: I, Carrying Ambitions! (Happy New Year!)
Liu Er, upon hearing Shuangjing’s arrangement of words against Du Tiechuan, dared not join the conversation.
With a bitter expression on his face, he said: “Commander Du is a revered Divinity Transformation level cultivator, high in status and power, every move he makes is accompanied by the force of a storm. A small figure like myself can only closely follow behind, drifting along with the current.”
Shuangjing nodded, pointing at Liu Er: “You, of lowly status, are but a half-blood demon. If you wish to rise through the ranks, you cannot simply drift with the current; you must choose the right faction to support.”
“Since you’ve come to seek help from me, in consideration of our comradeship, I’ll also give you a chance.”
“Regarding the allocation of Heavy Armor, I can go against Du Tiechuan’s wishes and assist you. However…”
Shuangjing drew out his voice and did not continue.
Liu Er got the hint, hastily cupping his hands together, indicating his willingness to cooperate and asking Shuangjing to give his orders.
Shuangjing flashed a slight smile: “Well, serve me tea.”
Liu Er: “It is this humble one’s honor!”
He held up the teapot with both hands, poured the tea, then lifted the cup with both hands and presented it to Shuangjing.
But Shuangjing did not take it, still sitting in his original place, and sneered, “Liu Er, you are somewhat confused.”
“In terms of status, I am of the Dynasty’s surname, born of a noble family. You, a mere mixed-race, even if cloaked in the tiger’s skin of the Blood Slaughter Dynasty, when compared to me, are like mud to the clouds.”
“In terms of cultivation level, I am of the Nascent Soul Level, while you are just a small Golden Core.”
“Furthermore, considering the current situation, it’s you who needs my help, urgently needing Heavy Armor. Without it, your Three Generals Camp will not be able to withstand the Iron Stream Flat Country Military Art and will inevitably become cannon fodder, buried in the battlefield.”
“Have I made myself clear?”
“Under such circumstances, how dare you serve me tea while standing?”
The atmosphere in the room turned icy as Shuangjing looked down on Liu Er.
Liu Er stood there, stunned, a muscle in his face twitching.
His heart shook, and waves of humiliation flooded over him.
Grinding his teeth, with a smile on his face, he said: “Shuangjing truly instructs well! It was my oversight, please… Sir, have some tea.”
His legs trembling slightly, he slowly knelt halfway, offering up the tea to Shuangjing.
Shuangjing then revealed a satisfied smile: “This looks more like it.”
As he took the cup and sipped the tea, immediately he spat it out onto the floor before Liu Er.
“It’s a bit cool.”
“You know? Tea should be drunk while it’s hot, pass that moment and it becomes hard to swallow.”
“In life, once the moment arises, one must compete with all one’s might and seize a firm hold. Otherwise, once missed, one might regret it for a lifetime.”
“You understand this principle, don’t you?”
Liu Er nodded: “Thank you for the advice, sir. I will bear it in mind.”
Shuangjing sneered again: “Merely remembering it, how could that suffice? Wipe the floor clean first.”
Liu Er was taken aback once more.
Shuangjing narrowed his eyes, overlooking Liu Er who was half-kneeling on the ground: “How so? Lowly as you are, you are indeed well-suited for such cleaning work.”
“You should know, many people long for the opportunity that you have, daydreaming without any chance of it.”
Liu Er nodded repeatedly, a smile appearing on his face: “Yes, Shuang Sir instructs well! I will clean it now.”
Saying this, he bent down and began to wipe the floor with his own sleeves.
Soon, he had the floor wiped clean and spotless.
Shuangjing looked up, bursting into loud laughter, pointing at Liu Er: “Your performance is not bad.”
“I am starting to take a liking to you.”
“Alright.”
“Now, do one more thing for me, and I will get you the Heavy Armor allocation.”
Seeing Shuangjing finally relent, Liu Er exhaled a breath of relief and hurriedly asked what the task was.
Shuangjing said: “It’s very simple. Have your entire Three Generals Camp be incorporated into my White Jade Camp, serving as auxiliary soldiers. Especially your military advisor, whom I take a great interest in.”
“He has close ties with the Red Flower Camp. You’ll need to persuade your military advisor to join as well.”
Seeing Liu Er wanting to speak up, Shuangjing immediately raised his hand to stop him: “Of course.”
“I just want to see how you perform.”
“It’s not that I truly wish for your incorporation.”
“Honestly, adding you country bumpkins to the mix, I’ll have to spend much effort convincing my own officers here.”
“But since you have chosen to follow me, naturally, you must demonstrate your loyalty.”
“If you don’t pledge allegiance to me, why should I go against Du Tiechuan for your sake?”
Liu Er fell silent, for a long time he did not speak.
After a moment, he then cupped his hands together and bowed deeply: “Shuangjing, my two sworn brothers and I rise and fall together. I am confident in persuading them to join you as well.”
“But our military advisor is from a prestigious family, has always invested heavily to sustain the Three Generals Camp.”
“In fact, without him, our resources would never have reached the state they are in today.”
“Also, he has fought alongside us and shares a profound camaraderie.”
“If I were to scheme against him, would that not be repaying kindness with malice?”
Shuangjing snorted coldly: “Liu Er, you should slap your own face! Are you implying that throwing your lot in with me is scheming against Ning Zhuo?”
“To join under my command, is it such a contemptible act?”
“To the point of repaying kindness with enmity?”
Liu Er hurriedly pleaded guilty.
Shuangjing’s gaze was icy as he surveyed Liu Er from head to toe: “Now, I give you two choices.”
“The first choice, you agree to my last request and do as told. Forget about the Heavy Armor, I can even arrange for you to enter the court as an official later on.”
“The second option, you refuse me. Although you’ve wasted my time and emotions, I will not trouble you. Slap yourself thirty times, and I’ll forgive you; then you can just roll back to where you came from.”
Liu Er was silent for a while, before suddenly lifting his right palm, ruthlessly striking his own cheek.
Slap slap slap…
He didn’t pause, indeed striking himself thirty times in a row, until his cheeks swelled red and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.