Chapter 613: Dying for Me (5/10, for 'Ruichi Tianxia')

But if Hai Guanjia were to ask, these problems wouldn't arise.

The ins and outs of such matters—Hai Guanjia, with decades of experience in human relations, had long mastered them effortlessly.

The young mistress had always disliked Hai Guanjia's slickness, but she had to admit that with him around, many things became far easier.

"Night Elder has a blade, and its uniqueness lies in gathering Qi and shaping it through a ring. Such an object may be rarer than the divine weapons we've acquired. At least, as far as I know and have seen, I've never encountered a blade—or a ring—quite like this."

That's true; Hai Guanjia had also sensed the uniqueness of that two-meter black blade.

But if we don't give him the blade, then only…

Hai Guanjia vaguely guessed what the young mistress intended to gift, but… the risk was too great.

The young mistress glanced at Hai Guanjia's expression and immediately understood he had guessed her intention.

"There will inevitably be risk, but if we wish to please him, this is the most direct path!"

"... Then let the Regimental Commander decide."

The young mistress frowned, slightly angry.

Hai Guanjia is so stubborn! This matter is clearly the best solution—he already understands it, knows it's the best, yet he insists on consulting Father! Father's insight, experience, and courage are all far inferior to yours!

Just because Father saved your life back then, you're this…

The young mistress sighed; if she successfully became Regimental Commander, head of the Dayang Merchant Caravan, she would never let Hai Guanjia hesitate or fear this and that.

"What exactly are you two talking about? What could please Night Elder?"

Watching the two speak in riddles, the Regimental Commander was baffled.

The young mistress sighed and said: "Night Elder wants to investigate the Phoenix Organization. If we can provide some intelligence, he will surely act for us."

"The Phoenix Organization?!"

The Regimental Commander's pupils shrank; his face turned pale with shock.

"He wants to investigate the Phoenix Organization? Investigate the Phoenix Organization in Chunuan City? He's suicidal!?"

Hai Guanjia and the young mistress both froze at the Regimental Commander's extreme reaction.

"... Father, do you know something about this?"

"..."

After a pause, the Regimental Commander shook his head: "The more you know, the greater the danger. When you one day inherit my position, you'll learn all of this."

These words made the young mistress clench her fists: "I'm not a child anymore."

"I know you're not a child, but you've had too little experience and are too impulsive. Some things, when rushed, become mistakes—and mistakes mean ruin. Right now, we're already on a wrong path. If you hadn't mentioned Night Elder's intent to investigate the Phoenix Organization, and if we hadn't foolishly helped him, the Dayang Merchant Caravan might be destroyed by tomorrow!"

The young mistress's face darkened: "What are you implying, Father?"

"Have Night Elder leave at dawn. We must sever all ties with him. If he stirs no trouble while investigating the Phoenix Organization, we'll be safe. But if he does stir trouble, we'll blame everything on Hai Guanjia—then we'll need to send someone of weight to take responsibility."

What…

The young mistress's face changed; her eyes instantly turned red.

"You! Father, how could you!"

"Young mistress, it's fine."

Hai Guanjia smiled sadly: "I'm fine. Don't let this damage your father-daughter bond."

Then he composed himself and told the Regimental Commander: "Regimental Commander, rest assured—if the Phoenix Organization comes knocking, I will bear full responsibility! I won't drag anyone else in the Dayang Merchant Caravan down with me!"

"Hai Guanjia… thank you. All these years… I swear, I'll care for your family and friends!"

"Thank you, Regimental Commander!"

Hearing this, the young mistress was so furious tears nearly spilled; she stamped her foot.

"You! Both of you! Hai Guanjia, I won't allow you to sacrifice yourself! And Father, why are you so terrified of the Phoenix Organization? You're always so polite to everyone! Our Dayang Merchant Caravan has grown! We're no longer that small caravan—why should we still be looked down upon? What right do they have to look down on us?"

The young mistress shouted in fury, her chest heaving, breath ragged, eyes red, fists clenched, her gaze blazing with rage.

Outdated! Outdated! Outdated!!

Times have changed! The Dayang Merchant Caravan is now a pillar of the Tian Shang Alliance in Chunuan City! Why must we still belittle ourselves?

Even if the Phoenix Organization is powerful, it's still an underground organization with no legitimacy! As long as it dares not challenge the Government's power, it remains hidden!

Why fear something that must stay hidden?

"Young mistress, calm down…"

"How can I calm down?! Hai Guanjia, Father is ordering you to die!"

"... My life was saved by the Regimental Commander. If he asks me to sacrifice myself, I have no regrets."

Stubborn! Stubborn! Stubborn!!

The young mistress clenched her trembling, furious fists and said coldly: "Fine. You want to die? Then die for me! I'm going to help Night Elder investigate the Phoenix Organization—will you help me? This task is deadly. If you don't help me, I'll die. Will you die for me?"

"..." Hai Guanjia paused, glanced at the Regimental Commander's stunned and furious expression, then at the young mistress, and bowed his head: "Of course I will."

"Then come with me! From today on, you no longer handle the Dayang Merchant Caravan's affairs—serve me fully!"

"Yes!"

Seeing this, the young mistress's anger slightly subsided.

She led Hai Guanjia out.

"You! Both of you!"

The Regimental Commander had now regained his senses; he trembled with rage and shouted: "Come back! Hong Xia, when will you ever change this temper of yours?! Come back! Don't go investigate the Phoenix Organization!"

Insane! Insane!

Watching the two walk far away, the Regimental Commander's face twisted with fury.

The Phoenix Organization is a colossal force, with deep roots in Chunuan City, infiltrating every corner of it—even the smallest fraction I've learned fills me with awe and terror; we cannot possibly oppose it!

Hong Xia's impulsive actions will drag the entire Dayang Merchant Caravan to ruin with her!

After years of hard work, carefully managing every relationship, finally establishing ourselves in Chunuan City—how could I let it all be destroyed for the sake of some outsider?!

So even though Hong Xia already has the ability to lead the Great Sun Caravan, that's why he just can't bring himself to entrust the caravan to Hong Xia!

"To inherit my position, to inherit the role of Regimental Commander of the Great Sun Caravan, means being responsible for the lives of over a thousand people in the entire caravan! To keep everyone alive, to ensure steady, solid development—that is the Regimental Commander's duty!"

"Acting on impulse, always acting on impulse! Back when I held the martial contest for marriage, I should've married you off then, so I wouldn't be furious now!"

I'm wondering whether to write You Sisi's side story, and the history of the parchment scraps… Hmm, I'll deal with it when I have time.

(End of Chapter)