Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 771 - Four Hundred and Eighty-Four: Kidnapped

Chapter 771: Chapter Four Hundred and Eighty-Four: Kidnapped

As the sound of his voice faded, a myriad of information flashed through Li Junqing’s mind.

Setting aside the treasonous act of raising private soldiers, the mere fact that Xu Yuan had a military force not under the control of the Prime Minister’s Mansion was absurd.

Though he had never dealt with military power, as the head of the Imperial Family’s business, Li Junqing was somewhat aware of the tremendous human and material resources required to cultivate an army.

Starting from the initial screening of qualifications, the cost at every step was astronomical.

Upon this realization, Li Junqing’s gaze towards Xu Yuan turned somewhat peculiar, and two words unconsciously surfaced in his mind.

Hiding his talent.

In the over thirteen hundred years of Dayan’s history, there were no shortage of sages who endured hardship and deliberately concealed their abilities, only to stun everyone with their prowess later on, but Li Junqing’s reasoning kept telling him that such matters could not possibly be related to the Xu Yuan before him.

Endure hardship for vengeance? It’s the petty who seek revenge all day long!

Even if we disregard these issues, Xu Yuan’s temperament and style of behavior were all part of a performance, and he had already constructed a vast network of influence over the years.

But the question is... is it necessary?

Those who once deliberately hid their abilities were always in absolute danger.

Without concealing their talents, they would die.

And Xu Yuan?

In the family environment of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, when Xu Yuan encountered any issue, a simple "Brother will handle it" would solve it, and if that failed, one more phrase, "Father will handle it".

Reality is not a storybook,

The Prime Minister had managed the Prime Minister’s Mansion into a behemoth over the past decades. There was no need for Xu Yuan to start from scratch, which would be completely redundant.

Upon piecing together all the illogical information, Li Junqing’s gaze towards Xu Yuan gradually took on a hint of caution.

Based on past experience,

This guy was probably plotting to con him out of his very coffin.

"So... Changtian, how many troops can you lend me?"

"...."

Xu Yuan’s pupils, glowing faintly golden, swept across the bustling street below without noticing the change in Li Junqing’s expression. After a moment’s thought, he replied softly,

"Initially, I should be able to lend you a full battalion."

Upon hearing this, Li Junqing’s eyes became even more wary as he tentatively asked,

"Five thousand troops initially? What are their cultivations?"

Xu Yuan recalled the information Xiao Bai had reported back to him and responded,

"At the very least, Seventh Grade."

Li Junqing’s eyebrows raised slightly, thinking to himself that the bait was not small, and he said with a smile,

"Although these troops are not as elite as the true Elite Troops, they are still formidable and well-trained soldiers."

Xu Yuan smiled faintly, his pale golden pupils locked onto the two foreigners who had just walked out of the Yacui Palace,

"The strength of the Xi’en nation is not weak, lending too few soldiers could lead to your death, but aside from that, the important thing is that the troops I lend you would be buried with you."

Li Junqing’s eyes twitched, maintaining his previous demeanor, he asked cheerfully,

"Don’t worry, I am someone who loves my soldiers like my own children. I will definitely take good care of the troops you lend me. But I wonder, where are these troops stationed, and could you possibly take me to see them?"

As he spoke,

Li Junqing looked towards Xu Yuan with a slightly tense heart.

It’s difficult to cook without rice.

With only the meager aid given by the emperor, he had to navigate the situation in the Bullet Island Nation with caution at every step.

And even so, he still had to keep an eye on the mood of the Qing Imperial Dynasty.

Therefore, even though Li Junqing didn’t believe Xu Changtian could suddenly pull such a huge army out of thin air, he still harbored some hope.

After all,

The more troops he had in hand after going to the Bullet Island Nation, the safer he would be, and the more he could accomplish there.

If he had enough to reach a critical point, these chips could even be enough for him to overturn and rebuild the entire strategy he had developed over these days.

And under Li Junqing’s expectant gaze, Xu Yuan fell silent.

After a long while, he finally choked out a sentence:

"It’s not possible right now."

"....." Li Junqing.

Smacking his lips, Li Junqing probed:

"Why?"

Xu Yuan had just realized the implication behind Li Junqing’s words, and turning his gaze back, he retorted:

"Are you doubting me?"

Li Junqing’s fists tightened under his sleeves as he feigned a smile:

"Doubt? How could that be, even if I don’t trust the Emperor, I would trust you, Changtian. After all, we’ve conducted so many transactions, I know your character all too well."

Xu Yuan furrowed his brows:

"Wait, when have I, Xu Changtian, ever cheated you?"

"Heh," Li Junqing laughed dryly.

"Tsk..."

"Ha."

"...."

"...."

The atmosphere suddenly fell silent.

For a moment, Xu Yuan felt very hurt.

To think that he gave his all, and Li Junqing would perceive his character in such a way over a trivial sum from the past.

However, even if their trust had collapsed, he had to intervene and strategize, because the current situation on the Dongying Island involved more than just Dongying itself. And under the guise of the imperial command to visit Dongying, Li Junqing was predestined to be the best candidate for the job at hand.

Rubbing his temples, Xu Yuan contemplated in silence, eventually understanding the doubts in Li Junqing’s mind, and said in a soft voice:

"I think I know what you’re suspecting, and I can appreciate your doubts. After all, given the situation at my Prime Minister’s Mansion, there truly is no need for me, Xu Changtian, to start from scratch."

Upon hearing these words, Li Junqing’s expression softened slightly, but he still did not speak.

Seeing this, Xu Yuan chuckled, speaking leisurely:

"If you had trusted me outright, I was actually prepared to pay you a portion of the mercenary cost tonight. But it seems that’s no longer feasible, tsk..."

"...." Li Junqing.

Xu Yuan cautiously chose his words, then suggested:

"Let’s do this, since you don’t trust me at the moment, let’s put aside the matter of the mercenary fee for now. We’ll discuss the price for hiring my troops after you’ve seen the actual goods, how about that? This way, you won’t lose anything."

"Of course,"

"If it really comes to that point, to make up for your distrust in me, the price will undoubtedly be higher than it is now."

Are you deliberately trying to be annoying?

Li Junqing cursed inwardly, but before he could speak, Xu Yuan laughed, gesturing with his hands:

"I’m just kidding. Although I will indeed ask for some mercenary gold, the price will definitely not be steep."

With that, Xu Yuan’s expression became somber:

"After all, the matter of Dongying Island is no longer confined to that tiny Bullet Island Nation."

Li Junqing opened his mouth, looking at the expression on the face of the man before him, and felt somewhat touched, but he quickly suppressed that fleeting sentiment and chuckled lightly:

"It seems, Changtian, you take this Xi’en Dynasty very seriously."

"Yes," Xu Yuan did not hide his thoughts: "Given the current situation in our Great Yan, an unknown force with unclear strength must be given due attention."

As he spoke,

Xu Yuan raised his hand and pointed to the stunning blonde woman who was slowly stepping into the carriage, along with the iron-clad figure, and smiled faintly:

"So, Yunqing, let’s go tie them up now."