Calamity Messenger

Chapter 197 - 156: Shang Xinlei, You Rascal...

The pleasant table conversation abruptly stopped, and the Thief’s House fell into silence once more. Both of them lowered their heads and quietly ate the Dragon Sturgeon fish. Even though he was eating fish meat that was so fresh and sweet it made his tongue curl and melted in the mouth, Yan Qing felt like it tasted like chewing wax, only wishing to quickly finish this lunch.

He genuinely wanted to share his experiences with Shang Xinlei, which is why he mentioned the Rabbit Heroine so proudly and with such pride. Soloing through the Demon Path Evil Land, killing through the Second-Turn with ease, and elevating the Pharmacist’s Wish to the fourth Great Guardian—these were all achievements worth bragging about, stories to boast about on game forums.

But he also understood why Shang Xinlei was angry. She had met Jiang Shi and the Mouse Monk, and she thought they were both very, very good people, so naturally she would sympathize with the Rabbit Heroine far away... and be disgusted by someone like him.

Bad people won’t like other bad people, and good people certainly won’t like bad people. Moreover, someone who shows no mercy toward their subordinates—who can such a person cherish? Yan Qing would think the same.

Yan Qing had no intention of explaining. This was his deepest secret, his foundation in this world, far more important than the friendship with a teammate at the Thief’s House. He wouldn’t change his way of gaming, nor his attitude toward junior accounts.

Just as the country was established to serve Foundation Establishment Messengers, junior accounts were created to pave the way for senior accounts.

This way was better, it should have severed this inexplicable relationship long ago, better than letting Jiang Shi or Mouse Monk die and having her come to hold him accountable. Maybe only people who don’t care about his style would be willing to associate with him? But here’s the problem, if someone who genuinely doesn’t care about how he deals life and death with junior accounts appears, Yan Qing wouldn’t associate with such inherently cruel people.

This is a deadlock, no solution.

"I won’t be coming tomorrow," Shang Xinlei suddenly said.

"Oh." Yan Qing wasn’t surprised and responded calmly.

The Dragon Sturgeon fish quickly left only clean fish bones, and as Yan Qing helped clear the dining plates, he called out to Shang Xinlei, who was about to leave, "Wait for me a moment."

Returning to his room, he picked up his gaming device and checked the inventory. Although Demonic Messengers didn’t have good tokens, there was an exception. Earlier in the morning, when rummaging through bodies, Yan Qing discovered a token very suitable for Shang Xinlei.

He handed a Bell Bracelet to Shang Xinlei outside: "Killing Sound Bell, a Second-Turn Rare Token, it has only one ability, every attack can generate a killing sound vibration, enhancing weapon damage. The greater the attack interval, the better the sound kill effect."

Shang Xinlei didn’t take it: "Why give it to me?"

"Black Wolf has Fierce Tiger Arm Armor; White Fox and I both prioritize attack speed. Only you still have a bracelet slot." Yan Qing glanced at her hands, with her left wearing the Green Grass Bracelet previously gifted by Yan Qing. Actually, in the game, only one ring accessory can be worn; this is one of the few things reality surpasses the game.

"You have a Treasure Hunting Order, you could list it for sale." Shang Xinlei suddenly recalled: "Today I saw you list a lot of random stuff, could it be looted from the Demonic Messenger?"

"Consider it as the meal expense for these days."

"A few meals aren’t worth the Second-Turn Rare Bracelet." Shang Xinlei shook her head, blurting out: "Could it be that taking your stuff means I have to obey you?"

Upon saying this, not only Yan Qing but even Shang Xinlei herself was stunned. Yan Qing suddenly became calm, grabbed Shang Xinlei’s hand, and shoved the Killing Sound Bell into her hand: "Whether you lose it or sell it, it’s up to you, anyway, I don’t owe you anymore—"

"Wait!"

Shang Xinlei grabbed Yan Qing’s hand back, and the Killing Sound Bell swayed in their palms, emitting a melodic sound. She stared into Yan Qing’s eyes, appearing so aggressive, yet her tone softened: "What I said in the Secret Vault was sincere, I truly believe you are a trustworthy companion... even now I still believe so."

"Don’t you think I did wrong?"

"Of course I think you did wrong! How could you send a cute girl to the Demon Path Evil Land? You’re simply inhumane!"

"Then—"

"But I still want to trust you." She pressed her lips tightly, her fingers clinging firmly to Yan Qing’s hand, her inner turmoil exposed completely: "A scoundrel wouldn’t lend Bingzi Pepper Forest to Jiang Shi, a scoundrel wouldn’t let Mouse Monk protect Shang Xuanwen, and a scoundrel wouldn’t expose the Treasure Hunting Order to save me... I’m willing to believe you have secrets you can’t speak of, so you seem like such a despicable, shameless person."

"Your latter accusations are completely unfounded..." Yan Qing paused: "It’s up to you how you want to think, but I still have to say, when I decide they should die, they have to die."

"You’re actually quite strange." Shang Xinlei felt both frustrated and amused: "Normal people don’t always show their worst and darkest sides... It seems you don’t want others to trust you."

"That’s because I am such a person." Yan Qing replied lightly: "I don’t like to lie."

Yan Qing thought his declaration would make Shang Xinlei back down, but for some reason, Shang Xinlei seemed rather determined. She softly apologized: "I was wrong earlier, saying such hurtful things, sorry."

"It’s natural for you to think that way, no need to apologize, I didn’t get angry."

"Sigh, which means you did get angry, how could someone like you be so petty." Shang Xinlei took out a milk candy from her pocket: "Here, accept my apology."

"I accept it, but I won’t eat."

"Eat it!"

Jiang Shi shoved a milk candy into Yan Qing’s mouth; Yan Qing tried to back away and keep his mouth closed, resisting with all his might, but Jiang Shi still held his hands tightly, leaving him with no way to escape. In the end, Yan Qing’s strength fell short, and he was forcefully made to accept the candy in his mouth.

"You’ve eaten my candy; you can’t be angry anymore, okay?"

"I wasn’t angry before, but now you’ve got me upset."

After their tussle, their hair and clothes were all messed up, looking disheveled as if they’d been fighting. They caught each other’s gaze; one of them must have smiled first, causing both to show helpless smiles. The atmosphere at the Thief’s House suddenly became more relaxed.

"Anyone willing to confess their darkest thoughts won’t be a bad person," Jiang Shi said.

"Why do you think that?" Yan Qing asked, puzzled.

"Because I’m that kind of person too," Jiang Shi said with a laugh. "I also hope that when people admire my beautiful appearance, they also appreciate my twisted, dirty roots buried underground."

Yan Qing was slightly stunned, remembering Jiang Shi’s lost demeanor in the Secret Vault. He suddenly felt an indescribable sensation, as if the candy in his mouth had truly melted into him, yet his tone remained unforgiving: "I see the twisted, dirty roots, but the beautiful appearance can’t mean you crying with snot running down your face, can it?"

"If you dare bring that up again, do you believe I’ll bring bitter melon with beef every day?" Jiang Shi gnashed her teeth, "And where am I not good-looking?!"

Only then did Yan Qing notice Jiang Shi was wearing white over-knee socks paired with black shorts today; over the white socks were thick-soled leather shoes, and a black band was tied to her thigh to hold a dagger, perfectly outlining the curve of her leg. She wore a shirt with black edges and a white base, topped with a very small haori held only by ties, balancing flexibility and style. Even in the somewhat dim environment of the Thief’s House, she looked so radiant, both charming and dashing.

Yan Qing suddenly asked, "Are you planning to attend a party today?"

"No, in the afternoon, I was at home training with Xiaoyu, and I won’t leave the Shang Family today at all..." As Jiang Shi spoke, her voice gradually grew quieter, gazing down at her dressed-up appearance, feeling her cheeks flush with heat.

What’s worse, perhaps due to some exertion earlier on, their hands clasped together were sweating and increasingly sticky. Neither released the grasp, as if playing a childish game of ’the first one to care loses.’

Suddenly, the Killing Sound Bell rang, and they both released their hands at the same time, Jiang Shi grabbing the bell in her hand. Yan Qing, acting as if nothing happened, returned to help Jiang Shi tidy the dishes and carried them to her room; handing a bowl midway, their fingers brushed inadvertently. Both reacted as if shocked, avoiding each other, as the bell Jiang Shi had just put on rang softly again.

After moving all the dishes inside, Yan Qing glanced at Jiang Shi, speaking after a brief silence, "Goodbye."

"Goodbye," Jiang Shi replied, "I won’t be coming tomorrow."

"I know, you just said so."

"Father’s hosting a family dinner tomorrow at noon, and I’ll be busy all day. We can only have a meal together the day after tomorrow."

Yan Qing stopped in his tracks, suddenly turned to look at her; upon hearing this, how could he not have realized he’d been tricked. Thinking about how the other side fooled him into revealing all his skills, he couldn’t help but clench his teeth in frustration: "You...!"

"It’s just one day we can’t eat together, is there any need for such a big fuss? You really crave food too much."

Looking innocent, Jiang Shi shrugged her shoulders, and quickly shut the door, fleeing as if she feared Yan Qing would burst through to catch her.

After returning to the Shang Family, Jiang Shi had a maid come to clear away the dishes and she sat in the pavilion outside, hands propping her chin, gazing at the flowers and plants in the courtyard. She suddenly pursed her lips slightly, recalling something both cheerful and amusing, eyes filled with a smug delight like a snake secretly laughing.

Shang Xuanwen appeared behind her soundlessly: "Sister, have you been eating a bit too much lately? At this rate, you might get chubby."

"I’m about to undergo the Third Turn, eating more is normal," Jiang Shi replied nonchalantly. "The Third-Turn Messenger business, the Second-Turn Messenger shouldn’t ask too much."

She paused, pinched her own cheeks, with some hesitation on her face, "Have I really gained weight?"

Shang Xuanwen immediately replied, "No, no, and even if you have, you’re still my most beautiful and cute sister."

Jiang Shi’s mouth corner twitched, biting her teeth, "Well, thank you then!"

From the maid’s findings that Jiang Shi moved piles of food into her room daily and only dishes came out later, Shang Xuanwen vaguely grasped what Jiang Shi had been doing. He saw her admiring the gold bracelet on her wrist and asked, "What’s this...?"

"Isn’t it tacky? Gold bell, gold bracelet, not suitable for me at all." Jiang Shi remarked critically, though the corner of her mouth still arched into a faint smile.

"Absolutely tacky, why wear something like that?" Shang Xuanwen echoed.

Jiang Shi suddenly became annoyed: "This happens to be a Second-Turned Rare Bracelet, what do you know, Third Brother? Hmph, I’m going to find Xiaoyu to play."

She left with a brisk stride, leaving Shang Xuanwen dumbfounded.

I was just agreeing with you and you still got offended? Silly sister.