The Immortal Ruins Chapter 73 Li Xiang's Trick

Lin Yuetao looked at the smart watch on his wrist and shook his head.

Next to him, Xu Jianjun spoke softly, his expression unchanged: "Has Jiang Shaoliu refused to join the military?"

"Yes," Lin Yuetao rubbed his eyebrows. "He's accepted our gift of the villa, but he has no interest in enlisting."

Xu Jianjun smiled. "If he has accepted the villa, it means he has accepted the military as his ally. You are his friend too, so I don't think there's a difference whether he wants to join us directly or not." Then, he frowned and asked, "Has he told you what he is going to do next? Maybe we can help him if he needs us."

"Yes," Lin Yuetao turned back and looked out a south-facing window, towards the suburbs. "He is going to the Hongfa Group to pick up his younger sister, Jiang Xiaoyun, so she can live in the villa."

A hint of recognition passed over Major General Xu's eyes. "I think I've heard the name before. It's the girl Li Xiang is after, isn't it? So, she's Jiang Shaoliu's younger sister?"

"Absolutely," Lin Yuetao tilted his head and smiled. "Jiang Shaoliu went to get her with the Monkey King and the white tiger. I wonder what'll happen if Li Xiang refuses to let her go..."

…

Astride the Monkey King's immense shoulder, Jiang Shaoliu raised his hand and said, "Xiaoyun, I'm on my way to the South District…"

"Brother!" interrupted Xiaoyun's delighted voice, "I've just watched that viral video of you and I was so worried! I feel better now that your gold monkey friend showed up. Li Xiang and I are now in the biology base; we can pick you up when you arrive."

Jiang Shaoliu smiled and replied, "Good. See you there."

Up ahead, the southern gate of the city walls was fast approaching. Jiang Shaoliu briefly greeted the guards and led Xiao Bai and the Monkey King to the barracks where Liu Guang and Chen Anguo were staying.

Liu Guang and Chen Anguo greeted him at the door. "This is one huge monkey, Mr. Jiang!" said Liu Guang with surprise. "And my goodness - Xiao Bai's grown so big! What are you feeding him?"

Chen Anguo added, "Mr. Jiang, you've really surprised us. We had a special meeting to discuss the footage of the fight between, Lion Warrior and those two giants, and realized that you are much stronger than even Lion Warrior. Your power is beyond the scope of our ability to evaluate."

Then, he turned to Xiao Bai and smiled: "As big as that giant dog we faced on the mountain. Got your third silver life ring, didn't you?"

"Yep!" Jiang Shaoliu scratched his head and chuckled. "Anyway, I'm headed to the Hongfa Group for something and thought I'd stop by to see how you guys were doing."

Liu Guang and Chen Anguo looked at each other and smiled.

The Monkey King was wandering back and forth, peeking through the windows of the barracks. Jiang Shaoliu had promised more wine, so where was it?

Xiao Bai glanced aside and notice the grey wolf, Xiao Hui, and the black bear, Da Hei, cowering at the far corner of the compound, hesitant to come forward at the sight of the Monkey King and Xiao Bai's size.

Xiao Bai roared happily and ran towards his old friend. Da Hei obediently dropped to the ground, covered his head and waited to be beaten.

Seeing this, Jiang Shaoliu and Liu Guang laughed heartily, while Chen Anguo said with a bitter smile, "Xiao Bai, be gentle!"

"Hehe, Xiao Bai knows what he's doing," Jiang Shaoliu laughed. "Can you guys help me with some wine? Well, you know, I'm flat broke…"

Chen Anguo nodded. "Don't worry, we have a special high-quality wine they'll enjoy."

Liu Guang took out two small metal boxes from his pocket and handed them to Jiang Shaoliu: "I've exchanged some contribution points for you. These are electronic tracking chips for Xiao Bai and the monkey, with batteries that can last decades."

"Now come, Mr. Jiang," Chen Anguo beckoned him in, "have a shower and change your clothes, and we'll talk."

…

On the top floor of the Hongfa Group office building.

Jiang Xiaoyun gently knocked on the door of Li Xiang's office. She wore a beige miniskirt and her hair was tied in a ponytail. Her cheeks were a hearty pink.

"Xiao Yun," Li Xiang opened the door with a bright smile, "you're so beautiful today!"

Xiao Yun giggled: "Yes, my brother is coming soon and I wanted to give him a good welcome. Will you come with me to pick him up when you finish your work?"

"Your brother is coming?" Li Xiang's features stiffened momentarily, but he quickly recovered and smiled warmly: "Of course. I'll arrange everything."

"All right, I'll be in my room."

She playfully stuck out her tongue at him and skipped away like a happy little bunny.

Li Xiang shut the door and his face fell. He clenched the fists tightly and stared grimly at the closed door. "Jiang Shaoliu, Jiang Shaoliu… So, you're coming to take Xiaoyun away from me, huh? You won't get a damn thing from me, even if you show up with your golden monkey and the entire Chinese military! You can't have her..."

He picked up an intercom handset from his desk, pushed a button, and said in a low voice, "I want all security elements on high alert. Distribute the BC firearms, and prepare for a fight. And tell Bai Long to drop whatever he's doing and come to my office."

As soon he hung up, his smart watch started ringing.

It was Jiang Xiaoyun: "Li Xiang, my brother just told me he's almost here. Meet you at the elevator."

"Okay, I'll be there soon." Li Xiang hung up and went over to a window overlooking the main gate of the compound.

He quickly spotted a human silhouette roughly two kilometers from the entrance, approaching fast. It had to be him...

"Is he coming alone, without his golden monkey or the tiger?" A vein angrily popped out on Li Xiang's forehead. "Jiang Shaoliu, you think too highly of yourself!"

Jiang Shaoliu tore down the road, a pleasant grin plastered on his face. He stopped at the main gate of the Hongfa Group compound and looked up.

There were dozens of people closely watching him through the windows of the elevated guardroom overlooking the gate. One of them went out to the control panel and opened the electric door, nodding respectfully to Jiang Shaoliu.

The sun was bright that day, obscuring the imposing shadow of the gargantuan rock hanging precariously over the city. Jiang Shaoliu was delighted to finally visit his sister again. As he passed through the gates, he stretched and popped his joints.

"Brother!"

Jiang Xiaoyun's voice came from far away. She ran the whole way from the main office building. After quickly looking him up and down, she pouted: "Didn't you bring your monkey and Xiao Bai? Aw, I wanted to see them…"

"Well…" Jiang Shaoliu chuckled, "I will show you later, and I'll even ask the Monkey King to let you sit on his shoulder."

Jiang Xiaoyun grabbed his arm and wrapped herself up in it. "Brother, don't leave in such a hurry this time. Stay a while. I'm so curious about what happened on Liang Duan Mountain, you have to tell me all about it!"

Before Jiang Shaoliu could speak, Li Xiang came up behind Jiang Xiaoyun and said, "Shaoliu, you've put on quite a performance at Liang Duan Mountain! You're famous now! People are talking about you all over the country. I agree with Xiaoyun - why don't you stay with us now? When the situation is more stable, I will arrange to have all our parents brought here for a family reunion."

"Li Xiang," Jiang Xiaoyun quickly whirled around to face him, "Please don't talk like that. I haven't agreed to be with you."

Li Xiang smiled at her lovingly.

Jiang Shaoliu frowned and pushed Jiang Xiaoyun behind him. "Thank you for your kindness, but I'm taking her with me this time. I've prepared a villa in the city center, Xiao Yun will be safe there."

"No, no no…" Li Xiang said with a tone of heartfelt sincerity, "My brother, you underestimate me! I like Xiao Yun from the bottom of my heart, and I will do everything in my power to let her be happy here."

Jiang Xiaoyun's face hardened. "Li Xiang, stop. I told you that we're only friends. I don't want my brother to have a false impression."

"Xiaoyun," Jiang Shaoliu ignored Li Xiang and took his sister's hand, looked seriously into her eyes, "come with me to the city center. I'm strong enough to protect you myself."

Somewhat stunned, Jiang Xiaoyun hesitantly glanced at Li Xiang, then turned back to her brother and bit her lip.

"Okay."

Chapter end