Finest Servant Chapter 107

Chapter 107 The Unexpected

“Oh God,” Lin Wanrong cried out in despair, feeling as if his heart had shattered, his eyes on the verge of tearing. In that moment, his mind was flooded with countless thoughts, all transformed into the determined yet tender gaze of Xiao Yushuang.

“Ah—” Lin Wanrong let out a thunderous roar, striving to place his body in front of Xiao Yushuang in an attempt to protect her. Tear clusters dripped from the Second Miss's eyes, but her face was adorned with a hint of a smile.

With a soft clang, Lin Wanrong assumed he and the Second Miss were on the verge of losing their lives to the approaching sword. He grabbed Xiao Yushuang's hand, thinking, 'Her affection… I can only repay in the next life.'

After waiting for a moment, however, he felt no pain. Opening his eyes, he found a dazzling sword hanging in the air between him and Xiao Yushuang, stopped by another blade.

The one launching a surprise attack on them was a thin, agile figure dressed in black, his face masked. He turned to his companion who had halted his sword, shouting, “Junior Sister, what are you doing? How can we leave this mansion without staining our swords in blood?”

The Junior Sister, a delicate woman with her face covered in a black veil, replied, “Senior Brother, why bother with these servants? We have urgent matters to handle. Let's get to the point before our enemies arrive, or it will be difficult for us to escape.”

Her voice was muffled and unnatural, making it hard for Lin Wanrong to understand at first.

Lin Wanrong was soaked in cold sweat. He had almost lost his life to that sword, and other than the moment he fell from Mount Tai, this was the most desperate he had ever felt.

He turned to look at Xiao Yushuang. Her face still had traces of tears, but she was smiling, her eyes bright and unafraid. She looked at Lin Wanrong with deep emotion, her grip on his hand unyielding.

Lin Wanrong was speechless with emotion. This girl, she was going to be the death of him. A tear nearly escaped his eyes. Judging by her selfless act of protection, Xiao Yushuang was no child, but a woman of sincere affection.

Lin Wanrong did his best to suppress his emotion, feeling as though he owed her more than he could ever repay. Thinking of his previous attitude towards her, he felt guilt creeping into his heart. He held her small hand tightly, considering himself foolish for not appreciating what was willingly offered until someone had risked their life for it.

The Senior Brother seemed somewhat wary of his Junior Sister, so he sheathed his sword and said, “As you wish. Let's quickly capture Miss Xiao and that servant and return as soon as possible.”

The Junior Sister nodded. As she walked past Xiao Yushuang, she noticed her hand tightly gripped by Lin Wanrong. A flash of anger crossed her eyes. She snorted and said, “You shameless woman, meeting your lover in the dead of night. You bring disgrace upon our gender. Today, I'll gouge out your eyes, and we'll see how you seduce men then.”

Her fingers curled like a hook, moving fast as lightning and stirring a strong wind, aimed directly at Xiao Yushuang's eyes.

“Lin San—” Xiao Yushuang screamed in fright, darting behind Lin Wanrong for cover.

Upon hearing Xiao Yushuang call out Lin Wanrong's name, both the Senior Brother and Junior Sister froze in surprise, a cold smirk surfacing in the Senior Brother's eyes.

By now, the place Xiao Yushuang held in Lin Wanrong's heart was beyond words. For such a deeply affectionate woman, he was willing to sacrifice his life to ensure her safety.

Lin Wanrong stepped in front of Xiao Yushuang, keeping her closely guarded behind him. The Junior Sister moved swiftly, appearing before Lin Wanrong in an instant.

Lin Wanrong felt a strong gust of wind as the woman's slender, powerful fingers swept across his face, yet they did not harm him in the slightest. His heart pounded in his chest. 'Damn it, another near-death experience,' he thought. Even with a thousand strategies in his mind, he was powerless against these powerful figures. Although fear welled within him, knowing that the little girl Yushuang was behind him, his fear disappeared, replaced by a cold smile as he observed the female thief.

The Junior Sister snorted, saying, “What are you waiting for? Why are you still here?”

Lin Wanrong was taken aback. However, he reacted quickly, grabbing Xiao Yushuang's hand to leave. Yet, the Senior Brother who stood slightly afar shouted, “Wait, are you Lin San?”

A chill ran down Lin Wanrong's spine. In her panic, Xiao Yushuang had already called out his name, so denying it was no longer an option. But why would these powerful figures know the name of a lowly servant like him? Could it be that someone had deliberately—

The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. However, with the sword against his neck, he had to respond. But before he could speak, Xiao Yushuang intervened, “He's not Lin San, I am.”

Xiao Yushuang's words were incredibly naive. If she had said this earlier, he would have thought her childish. But now, he found her simplicity and sincerity endearing.

He gave Xiao Yushuang a gentle look, smiled at her, and kept her closely guarded behind him, saying to the man, “You're right, I am Lin San.”

“Hahaha—” The man threw his head back and laughed. “So you are indeed Lin San. We've found you without much effort. We won't make things difficult for you. Just come with us quietly.” The Junior Sister glanced at Lin Wanrong, remaining silent.

Xiao Yushuang realized that her previous outcry had put Lin Wanrong in danger. She began to sob softly, gripping his hand tightly, “Lin San, it's all my fault. I've brought this upon you. If they take you, I will go with you. We will never be apart.”

The Senior Brother looked at Xiao Yushuang, a spark in his eyes as he remarked, “What a beauty in the making. Since you wish to accompany your lover, I'll grant your wish.”

But the Junior Sister interjected, “Senior Brother, we should get to the task at hand instead of accumulating burdens.”

The Senior Brother laughed, “Junior Sister, don't be jealous. In my heart, you will always be number one.”

Lin Wanrong's palms were slick with cold sweat. Having already faced death several times, losing his life today would not be unbearable. However, dragging Yushuang into this mess was his greatest regret. Recalling the Junior Sister's words, they, too, had enemies. From the sound of it, it seemed they were also rushing this way. If he could delay for a while, there might still be a chance.

With this in mind, he gritted his teeth, saying, “If you want me to go with you, that's fine. But you must release this young lady first.”

The man burst into laughter, “Do you think you're in a position to negotiate with me? Don't forget, your lives are in my hands.”

Lin Wanrong smirked, “Whether I'm qualified to negotiate with you isn't for you to say. That would be more appropriate coming from your master.”

The man startled, “You—”

Lin Wanrong's heart raced. His words were a mere conjecture. If someone was targeting him by name, they certainly had something they wanted from him and must have been cautious about his life. This was why Lin Wanrong had made such a bold statement, hitting the man's weak point.

The man, though, was quite brutal. He snarled, “You're clever, indeed. I may not take your life, but I have many ways to make you wish for death.”

“That would still require your master's approval. You don't even know what your master wants me to do. I advise you not to offend me lightly,” Lin Wanrong coldly retorted. 'Damn it, I'm already on the chopping block; might as well go all out.'

The man, apparently terrified of his master, glared at Lin Wanrong. However, several more shadowy figures swooped in from the side, one of them a woman carrying a hostage, shouting, “Senior Brother, Miss Xiao has been brought.”

The woman's long hair hid her face, but the contour that peeked through was familiar.

“Sister—” Xiao Yushuang exclaimed.

It was indeed Eldest Miss Xiao held captive by the woman. Xiao Yuruo looked at Xiao Yushuang, her eyes flashing with affection. Though a woman, she carried a certain aura of dignity. She glanced at the gang's leader with contempt, saying, “Do you want silver? As long as you do not harm my family, even if it costs all I have, I will repay you.”

The gang leader, Senior Brother, was about to respond when a light sound came from outside, and another white lotus soared into the sky. The Junior Sister, who had intended to take Xiao Yushuang's eyes, cried out, “Our enemies are here, let's go.”

The gang leader, Senior Brother, was flustered, ordering the others, “You take Miss Xiao and this servant and go first. Young girl, tell Madam Xiao to prepare ten thousand taels of gold within ten days to ransom her daughter's life. Otherwise, don't blame us for being ruthless.”

As he spoke, the clash of weapons rang out, followed by a feminine yell. A radiant white figure, like a shooting star, crashed over the wall.

The figure moved swiftly, closing in within the blink of an eye. Her face was covered with a light veil, but Lin Wanrong recognized her in an instant—it was Xiao Qingxuan.

Xiao Qingxuan hovered mid-air, her long sword trembling, conjuring seven blossoms of sword light accompanied by a sharp whistle, assaulting the Senior Brother and his companions.

“I'll hold them off for a while with Junior Sister, the rest of you run!” Senior Brother countered with a single backhanded strike, barely blocking one sword blossom. His Junior Sister, however, was astoundingly agile. She waved her own long sword, meeting the sword blossom, and managed to parry three of Xiao Qingxuan's attacks without losing ground.

Upon landing, Xiao Qingxuan furiously exclaimed, “You remnants of the White Lotus, evil to the core, I won't let you go today!”

The Senior Brother shouted back, “You've killed many of my brothers; there's no way for the White Lotus to coexist peacefully with you! Junior Sister, you fight her. I'll leave first with our brothers.”

Xiao Qingxuan turned to the woman, “You again? Humph, the last time we didn't decide on a victor. Today, I'll unmask you to see who you really are.”

Junior Sister giggled, “I am also curious about how you look, sister.”

Hearing the conversation between the two women, Lin Wanrong lamented, 'Damn it, why didn't I arrive in this world when I was ten years old? As a child, I could have learned some martial arts. Coming here in my twenties is bloody useless. Even these youngsters are hundreds of times stronger than me.'

Just as he was pondering, he felt a numbness overwhelm his body, and he could no longer move. One of the thieves seized him and sprang into the air, shooting towards the distance side by side with the man who had captured the young miss.

“Lin…!” Xiao Yushuang let out a horrified cry.

Startled, Xiao Qingxuan gritted her teeth and sprung into the air like a swallow soaring in the clouds, her sword trailing a cold wind, targeting the man who held Lin Wanrong captive.

“Junior Sister, go and face her,” Senior Brother shouted, and before his voice fell, he sped like lightning towards Xiao Qingxuan's back.

Junior Sister hesitated for a moment, then jumped up hastily, swinging her sword. It was a feint, lacking any real power. Xiao Qingxuan didn't stop her attack, continuing to aim at the man's back.

Her sword struck swiftly. The thief holding Lin Wanrong was cornered and unable to dodge. The blade went straight through him, causing him to drop dead without uttering a single groan.

Having slain the man in one breath, Xiao Qingxuan was significantly drained. Seeing his chance, Senior Brother scooped up Lin Wanrong's body and continued towards the distance.

'Damn it,' thought Lin Wanrong, 'I'm just a plaything flying around in the sky, relying on these young ladies for rescue.' For the first time, a sense of sorrow welled up in him. Even with a wealth of scientific knowledge, what good was it? In this world where might makes right, power was the only truth.

Xiao Qingxuan's lethal thrust, while mighty, had exhausted her strength by half. With no energy to launch another strike, she could only watch as Lin Wanrong was carried away.

She stomped her foot in frustration, pain coursing through her heart. 'You've always had excuses for not learning martial arts. Now let's see if you can keep your life.' But she knew that even if Lin Wanrong learned some basic moves, it wouldn't help much. Against the demonic members of the White Lotus, he'd be like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she mulled over the situation, silently berating herself for departing too soon that day. If she had waited a little longer for him, this predicament would not have arisen. Yet, at the moment, her physical strength had been depleted to such an extent that she had no ability to go after him. Her mind felt empty, as if devoid of all strength.

Just as she was at a loss, she sensed a strong gust of wind coming from behind her. Swiftly, she raised her sword and just managed to counter the incoming force. Turning around, she found it was the junior sister, who had thrust her own sword towards her.

“You sneak attack from behind, how despicable!” Xiao Qingxuan accused angrily.

The junior sister giggled and replied, “In your eyes, we of the White Lotus Sect have always been demons. If I weren't underhanded, I wouldn't be a disciple of the White Lotus.”

Xiao Qingxuan retorted, “With your skills, you are among the top in the White Lotus Sect. I don't believe you're some nameless nobody.”

The junior sister chuckled, “You're right. In fact, considering our connections, I should be calling you senior sister. Please convey my regards to Master Ning and wish her everlasting beauty and eternal supremacy.”

Xiao Qingxuan exclaimed in shock, “So you truly are a disciple of that witch! I don't acknowledge you as my sister.”

The junior sister laughed nonchalantly, “I saw how you spent your energy earlier trying to save Lin San. What is he, your lover?”

“You–” Xiao Qingxuan's face reddened in anger. “You witch of the White Lotus, stop your nonsense.”

The junior sister, eyes gleaming, scoffed, “Deny it all you want. You escaped from me once before and even injured me. Today, I will settle the score with you.”

Without another word, she attacked. Her palms moved elegantly, glowing white as a lotus. She transformed her palm into a claw, aiming directly for Xiao Qingxuan's face, intending to mar her beauty.

Seeing the ruthlessness of her attack, Xiao Qingxuan grew furious. She gritted her teeth, circulating her qi throughout her body, and her palm glowed a soft blue as she clawed back at her.

“All disciples of Master Ning are renowned beauties. Today, I will ruin your face and see how you seduce men after that,” the junior sister taunted, laughing as her movements grew faster, dodging Xiao Qingxuan's attack. Her fingers split apart, aiming for Xiao Qingxuan's eyes.

Their exchanges, rooted in a complex history, were rapid and dazzling. Their qi, one blue and the other white, intertwined like a beautiful display of fireworks. If Lin Wanrong were there, he would have gasped at the sight.

The junior sister's fingers moved in unpredictable patterns, ruthlessly aiming for Xiao Qingxuan's face as if driven by deep-seated hatred. On the other hand, Xiao Qingxuan's movements seemed plain, but they were cleverly simple, matching and countering each of her opponent's moves. Their tactics were polar opposites, and for a while, it was hard to tell who was gaining the upper hand.

Despite their youth, both were top-notch fighters in the martial world due to their respective sects. They were usually equally matched, but Xiao Qingxuan had exhausted more than half her energy in saving Lin Wanrong earlier. As they continued to tussle, her movements gradually slowed down.

The junior sister was a crafty and ruthless character. Seeing Xiao Qingxuan showing signs of fatigue, her movements became even more aggressive. On several occasions, she nearly scratched Xiao Qingxuan's cheek.

Xiao Qingxuan sighed inwardly, stomped her foot, and leaped out of the fight circle, avoiding further combat. “Qin Xian'er,” she said, “If we continue like this, I will get hurt, but you will not end up any better.”

The junior sister's body trembled slightly, exclaiming in surprise, “How did you recognize me?”

Slowly, she pulled off her veil, revealing the seductive face of Qin Xian'er. If Lin Wanrong had witnessed this scene, he would have been unable to believe that the gentle and charming woman before him was the ruthless White Lotus witch in secret.

Xiao Qingxuan had been observing her for many days. Qin Xian'er was in the open while she kept herself hidden. She had been injured during their last confrontation when Qin Xian'er and her fellow brothers ambushed her, confirming that this woman was indeed Qin Xian'er.

Upon discovering Qin Xian'er's whereabouts today, she sneered, “Did you think your tricks could deceive everyone, even me? And yet that man, so obstinate, still believes in you.”

Qin Xian'er responded with a seductive laugh, “Senior sister, I sense a touch of sourness in your words.”

Ignoring her taunts, Xiao Qingxuan continued, “Your desire to ruin my face is because of Lin Wanrong, you're afraid he'll grow fond of me. It seems to me that you're the one who is infatuated with him.”

Qin Xian'er's face reddened before she retorted, “If I like him, I like him. What of it? At least I dare to admit it. But from the looks of you earlier, you were beside yourself. Such a pity, you have thrown your lot in with the wrong people and now, you'll never have a chance.”

Xiao Qingxuan countered, “I won't engage in baseless talk with you. You're young, appearing gentle and lovely in his presence but so jealous behind his back. I'm afraid Lin Wanrong may not fancy you.”

Qin Xian'er huffed, “Thank you for the reminder, senior sister. Can I interpret this as you being jealous? Oh, I'm sorry. I almost forgot, you can never marry. What a pity, what a great pity.”

Chapter end