The venomous snake, Xie An, had a gloomy face, looking as if he wanted to tear Zhao Shuning to pieces.
She shrank her head and dared not say another word.
She had learned about Xie An's habits when they were in the Dark Abyss. Usually, this young man could maintain a calm demeanor. But once someone hit a nerve, he would be like a man possessed, determined to take the other's life.
Xie Yu cast a sympathetic look at Zhao Shuning.
He wouldn't even casually mention Xie An's senior. Yet his boss had dared to question that senior. No wonder the venomous snake had reacted this way.
"Okay, okay. I said the wrong thing," Zhao Shuning said with an apologetic smile. She raised a hand to hold back Mo Bai, who was about to charge forward again. "It's okay. We were just joking."
Zhao Shuning tried to smooth things over, fearing that if Mo Bai charged out, there would be another bloody scene of neck - biting.
But Xie An wasn't having it.
"Who's joking with you!"
Zhao Shuning quickly replied, "Me! Me! I'm joking with myself! Is that okay?"
Xie An lost the mood to see Zhao Shuning off. With a wave of his hand, he left the scene.
Xie Yu stepped forward and gave Zhao Shuning a thumbs - up.
"Boss, you're really something."
"What?"
"We all know that Xie An can tolerate others scolding and hitting him, but he won't allow anyone to slander that senior. You've got guts to say that his senior isn't that great. I really admire you."
Zhao Shuning felt a black line running through her mind.
She was just telling the truth. She didn't think that senior was so worthy of Xie An's fanaticism.
Moreover, she hadn't said anything really malicious, right?
Compared to Nan Feng calling Xie An a coward at the venue that day, her words were nothing.
"Boss, I won't say much more. Have a good journey," Xie Yu said.
As soon as he said these words, he was whipped by Zhao Xiangxiang.
"Xie Yu, can you talk properly?"
Zhao Xiangxiang stepped forward and said, "Zhao Shuning, have a smooth journey. We'll be waiting for you to come back anytime."
Zhao Shuning nodded and said, "I will. Hey, Xie Yu, remember to send Zhao Xiangxiang back to the Zhao family. Also, our Zhao family will soon move to Yanqing City. If you encounter any difficulties during this period, remember to help out."
Xie Yu patted his chest and replied, "Boss, don't worry. From now on, your family is my family. Xiangxiang is no exception. I'll send her back to the Zhao family safely."
Xie Yu was a playboy and a pampered young master who loved to boast, but he was still a loyal guy.
Zhao Shuning could believe about seven or eight out of ten things he said.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
"Don't worry, boss."
Zhao Shuning nodded and then set off south with Mo Bai.
Watching her back, Zhao Xiangxiang couldn't help but feel a lot of emotions and let out a deep sigh.
Xie Yu asked, "What? Can't bear to part with the boss?"
Zhao Xiangxiang replied, "I just feel so useless."
"Why?"
"When I first met Zhao Shuning, she was only five. At that time, I thought she was just a kid and didn't take her seriously. But in the spiritual power test, she beat me. However, the gap between us wasn't that big then.
"Because of my foot injury and offending the Meng family, and since the Meng family had influence in the Misty Rain Tower, they made Zhao Shuning replace me to practice there. I thought she must have suffered a lot of grievances there. I've been working hard to practice in Qinghui Town, even ten times harder than before. I didn't have such a strong desire to pursue spiritual power before. It was Zhao Shuning who became my goal.
"Later, I was promoted to a second - level spiritual pharmacist. I thought I could stand on the same starting line as her. But when the Zhao family was on the verge of collapse, I couldn't do anything. I could only stand there. Even if I tried my best, I couldn't protect the clan members.
"If she hadn't suddenly come back, I'm afraid the Zhao family would have been destroyed, and I wouldn't be alive today.
"When she appeared, I realized that the gap between us could never be bridged. Zhao Shuning has talent and has worked much harder than us. Do you know? During the test in our Zhao family, she even dared to risk her life to break through to the second level with the help of my father's power. She's so tough and adventurous. I don't have the courage like hers."
Xie Yu looked at the red - dressed girl in front of him and was a bit touched.
He seemed to have never felt this way before.
"Xiangxiang, although I don't know what you're thinking, I think if I had a sister as great as the boss, I'd be smiling in my sleep. She's so powerful. I could just follow her around and live off her for the rest of my life."
Zhao Xiangxiang kicked at Xie Yu, but he nimbly dodged.
"I said, Xiangxiang, you're a girl. How come you're just like my old man, always kicking people in the butt?"
Zhao Xiangxiang gave Xie Yu a dirty look and walked away without looking back.
What was she thinking just now? Why did she tell Xie Yu all these things and naively think that he could understand her?
"Zhao Xiangxiang, don't go. Really, are you unhappy just because the boss is so powerful?"
The red - dressed girl stopped and said in a soft voice, "I'm happy. It's just that I'm the elder sister."
She was the eldest daughter of the Zhao family. She should have protected Zhao Shuning.
Zhao Xiangxiang was disappointed not because Zhao Shuning was too excellent, but because she herself was too weak.
Xie Yu patted her on the shoulder from behind.
Zhao Xiangxiang turned around and saw Xie Yu looking very serious.
"Xiangxiang, you shouldn't think like this."
"Xie Yu."
"There are so many people we need to look up to in our lives. Look at the inner - sect disciples of the four great families. Which one of them isn't more outstanding than us? And look at me. I'm the legitimate son of the Xie family. No, I'm the only child of the Xie family. But look at me. I still can't even beat Xie An. If I thought like you, wouldn't I have to kill myself with a block of tofu?"
Zhao Xiangxiang burst out laughing through her tears, and her mood improved a lot.
Although Xie Yu was a bit of a slacker, he wasn't a bad person.
"Xie Yu, thank you."
"Thanks for what? It's what I should do."
Xie Yu's expression was so serious.
Zhao Xiangxiang thought that he was okay at comforting people. At least she wasn't as sad as before.
"See, isn't big brother very considerate to you?"
"Moreover, you can't compare with the boss. Comparing people will only make you angry. Don't you know that?"
The good impression Zhao Xiangxiang had just had of Xie Yu was completely shattered by this last sentence.
She was furious. Staring at him with wide eyes, she asked, "Xie Yu, what did you say?"
"Comparing people will only make you angry. Don't humiliate yourself!"
"Xie! Yu! You're dead!"