"Did you come to me for something?"
Qian Ran held a teacup, leisurely taking a sip.
Xu Jiujiu had already explained the purpose of the royal banquet: to mediate relations between the White Tiger Duke's Mansion and Spirit Sect. Throughout the event, Dai Hao and the Duchess had been constantly casting glances his way.
As expected, the Duke's people couldn't hold back the moment Qian Ran stepped outside.
Qian Ran glanced at the Duchess standing before him. She was dressed in a tailored uniform that highlighted her mature and voluptuous figure.
The uniform's V-shaped neckline was lined with a layer of white fabric, but the material over her chest was so sheer that it was nearly transparent. Up close, the full contours beneath the silk were unmistakable.
As a member of the Zhu family, the Duchess seemed to be a generation older than Zhu Lu, likely Zhu Lu's aunt.
"I'm here to demand justice for my Yueheng!" the Duchess said angrily, her tone laced with fury. Just the sight of Qian Ran set her temper aflame.
"Dai Yueheng's predicament has nothing to do with me," Qian Ran replied calmly, crossing his arms.
"What about Hua Bin then? Hua Bin was engaged to Zhu Lu early on, so why did you treat him the way you did?" the Duchess retorted, her voice sharp. Though her words were harsh, the moment she laid eyes on Qian Ran's handsome face, she could understand why Zhu Lu had fallen for him.
With such a face and physique, what woman wouldn't be tempted?
"Whatever happened to Dai Huabin was his own doing. Besides, I don't owe him anything—why should I indulge him?"
The Duchess was left speechless by Qian Ran's blunt response.
"If you need my help, I suggest you adjust your attitude," Qian Ran added coolly.
"You!"
The Duchess had imagined this confrontation countless times. She had expected Qian Ran to argue, to make excuses, or even to show fear. What she hadn't anticipated was his indifference, as if none of it had ever happened.
He was just a student at Shrek Academy, yet he dared to act so nonchalantly in front of her—a Duchess whose long-standing authority even Dai Hao occasionally feared.
"You have a way to save Yueheng, don't you?" The Duchess suppressed her anger, biting her lip as she stared at Qian Ran.
"Is that so hard to believe?"
Qian Ran had just revived Huo Yun'er from the dead; healing Dai Yueheng's injuries was hardly a challenge in comparison.
Unlike other healing-type soul masters, Qian Ran's healing abilities extended to repairing damage to martial souls.
"Even Healing Immortal Douluo couldn't accomplish it. Are you sure you can?" The Duchess's voice trembled with a mix of shock and hope. "If you can help Yueheng, the Duke's Mansion will write off all grievances with you."
"Madam, are you joking?"
"Do you think the Duke's Mansion is an enemy I can't afford to offend?"
Qian Ran gave the voluptuous woman before him a look as though she were a fool. He had noticed a peculiar confidence among nobles in this world—a belief that their forgiveness or approval was some invaluable gift.
It was likely a bad habit cultivated by a lifetime of deference from servants.
Qian Ran had no intention of indulging such arrogance.
"You're not afraid to become enemies with the Duke's Mansion?" the Duchess asked, her beautiful eyes widening in disbelief. She hadn't expected Qian Ran to make such a bold statement. Even the most powerful factions gave the White Tiger Duke's Mansion a degree of respect.
"Why would I be?"
"Then what do you want? Whatever it is, as long as it's within our power, the Duke's Mansion will agree. Save Yueheng, and even Zhu Lu—our family can let her go without issue."
Realizing that Qian Ran was entirely unbothered by the Duke's reputation, the Duchess relented. Zhu Lu might be outstanding, but there were still other exceptional young women in their family. Even if they weren't as remarkable as Zhu Lu, they couldn't be far behind. Trading Zhu Lu for Yueheng's recovery was a fair deal in her eyes.
"May I know the lady's name?"
"Zhu Ying," she replied.
"Lady Zhu Ying, are you familiar with the concept of unspoken rules?" Qian Ran asked, his tone dripping with amusement as he examined her.
"What do you mean?" The Duchess blushed deeply, her heart pounding. She wasn't ignorant of what Qian Ran was implying.
Over the past few days, she had gathered considerable information about Qian Ran and knew he wasn't someone to be treated like an ordinary junior. What she hadn't expected was for him to be bold enough to set his sights on her.
"What do you want?" she asked hesitantly.
"Exactly what you're thinking," Qian Ran replied. Despite having borne two children, Dai Huabin and Dai Yueheng, Zhu Ying's figure remained impeccable.
"Isn't there another way?" Zhu Ying instinctively pressed her legs together, feeling flustered under Qian Ran's gaze.
"If Madam isn't willing, then there's nothing I can do," Qian Ran said with a shrug, turning to leave. Truthfully, his interest in Zhu Ying stemmed largely from the power dynamics involving Dai Yueheng, Dai Huabin, and Dai Hao.
The unique identity Zhu Ying held intrigued him, and combined with the reputation of the Zhu family women as natural seductresses, Qian Ran found his curiosity piqued.
That said, she wasn't indispensable to him.
"Wait, don't go! Come with me. Let's discuss this further," Zhu Ying said through gritted teeth, grabbing Qian Ran as he turned to leave.
Soon, Zhu Ying led Qian Ran to a secluded chamber. The room had been prepared by Xu Jiawei for the purpose of facilitating negotiations between Spirit Sect and the White Tiger Duke's Mansion. It was secure, ensuring no prying eyes.
Seated on a sofa, Zhu Ying leaned slightly forward, the downward pull of gravity causing her neckline to dip, revealing a hint of what lay beneath.
Her seated posture emphasized her already prominent hips, the snug uniform straining to contain her curves as if on the verge of tearing.
Unwittingly, this half-revealed state was irresistibly enticing.
"Qian Ran, are you sure you can save Yueheng? If you truly can, I'll do whatever it takes," Zhu Ying said, her tone a mix of determination and desperation.
"I've always believed in payment before service. If you want me to save Yueheng, I'll need compensation first. But I can give you a demonstration of my abilities," Qian Ran said with a smile. He stepped outside and brought in Zhu Ying's personal maid, casually chopping off her arm with a hand strike.
Zhu Ying's face turned deathly pale, and she was about to scream when she noticed the severed arm reattaching itself to the maid's body at a speed visible to the naked eye. Within a minute, it was fully healed.
Zhu Ying stared in stunned disbelief.
Even Healing Immortal Douluo Wang Xian'er couldn't achieve such miraculous results. Now fully convinced, Zhu Ying realized just how formidable an enemy the Duke's Mansion had provoked. Her frustration with Dai Hao grew.
If Qian Ran was already this monstrous now, what would he become in the future? And when that day came, how would the White Tiger Duke's Mansion contend with him?
After dismissing the trembling maid, Zhu Ying made up her mind.
"You have to keep your word."
"I, Qian Ran, always do."
"Yingying, I'm coming for you," Qian Ran said in a deep voice.
In the sealed chamber, Qian Ran's voice lingered low and steady.
(Chapter End)