"I..."
A flicker of shame flashed in Zhang Xinyan's eyes.
But, she gathered her courage and hugged Chen Jie tightly.
Softness filled his embrace.
A hazy voice whispered in Chen Jie's ear, "If you agree to those conditions, I, it's not impossible..."
She gave a bitter smile inwardly. Yang Siqing was, after all, her best friend.
Without further hesitation, she pressed herself close to Chen Jie.
*Poof...*
Chen Jie pushed her away unceremoniously.
Zhang Xinyan's delicate body swayed backward like a willow leaf, her sleeves fluttering, the curves of her form subtly visible beneath her silk nightgown.
"Go back and tell Yang Siqing that if she wants me to spare her, it's not impossible. But, she should not harbor any delusions about the things on Mount Wutai, or she will only bring ruin upon herself!"
Chen Jie stood up, adjusted his collar, and was about to leave.
"You..."
Zhang Xinyan's face flushed with shame and indignation.
So many men desired her body.
So many men beat their chests and stamped their feet when they couldn't have her.
Yet, this man, when she threw herself into his arms, had pushed her away.
What a blow to her pride.
At the same time, she finally confirmed that Chen Jie had never harbored any ill intentions towards Yang Siqing, nor had he ever threatened Yang Siqing with the treasures on Mount Wutai to coax her into being with him.
"Yang Siqing won't let you go if you do this!" Zhang Xinyan said.
Chen Jie looked at her and said playfully, "You mean Yang Siqing doesn't know about this visit?"
Zhang Xinyan stiffened, looking at Chen Jie in surprise, her eyes saying it all.
"Is it worth it for you to do this?"
Zhang Xinyan no longer concealed her feelings, saying, "There's nothing worth it or not. Yang Siqing is my best friend, and our families have been close for generations! For her, I'm willing to make some sacrifices!"
"But I don't accept your sacrifice," Chen Jie said calmly.
"Are you even a man, Chen Jie? Two beauties throwing themselves at you, and you're unmoved?" Zhang Xinyan was getting anxious.
"I am naturally a man. When a woman throws herself at me, there's no need to be coy. However, I don't accept a woman throwing herself at me with conditions!" Chen Jie replied.
"Let Siqing go! She's my only good friend!" Zhang Xinyan pleaded.
Chen Jie said lightly, "I can only grant you one thing. If Yang Siqing dares to do anything inappropriate to me, for your sake, I will spare her life."
Zhang Xinyan trembled, a bitter smile playing on her lips. "Siqing, this is all I can do for you."
She looked at Chen Jie again and said, "One more thing, be careful about the safety of those close to you."
Chen Jie's gaze turned cold. "Does Yang Siqing dare to lay a hand on anyone close to me?"
"No, that's not what I mean. I heard you offended the Dark Shadow Sect. I think the Dark Shadow Sect might target people close to you..." Zhang Xinyan quickly explained.
Chen Jie's expression softened. "Thank you for the reminder. Farewell."
Seeing Chen Jie leave, Zhang Xinyan sank onto the sofa.
For the first time, in close proximity to Chen Jie, she discovered he possessed a demeanor entirely different from other men.
This demeanor stirred something within her heart.
Chen Jie had suggested she also be included in his plans. She had felt immense dislike for him then, but now that he had truly left, she felt a pang of disappointment.
Perhaps this feeling arose from Chen Jie slipping from her control.
After a long while, she finally calmed down and decided to take a bath.
She had been so nervous being alone with Chen Jie earlier that she had broken into a sweat.
*Splash!*
The bathroom door was suddenly pushed open.
Chen Jie had returned and, with a single motion, scooped up her bathing body into his arms.
"Chen Jie! You, hypocrite!" Zhang Xinyan was both ashamed and flustered. Just moments ago, he had said he wouldn't accept her sacrifice, and now he'd come back and barged into her bathroom.
"Shut up, get down!"
Chen Jie frowned and pressed her down, making her fall onto the floor.
Zhang Xinyan cried out in pain.
Her knee hit the floor accidentally, and she suddenly thought with horror if Chen Jie would...
*Rumble, rumble...*
A burst of gunfire echoed. Several bullet holes appeared in the wall where Zhang Xinyan had been standing.
"Someone wants to kill me?" Zhang Xinyan exclaimed in alarm.
*Bang!*
Chen Jie stomped his foot against the wall.
Immediately, he and Zhang Xinyan slid across the floor towards the exit.
Then, Zhang Xinyan saw a man wearing a hood aiming a gun at her.
"Ah!"
Zhang Xinyan shrieked, instinctively covering her body.
"You're asking for death!"
Chen Jie's eyes turned cold, and he raised a finger.
Instantly, a surge of spiritual energy shot towards the assassin's forehead.
With a soft *thud*.
The assassin froze on the spot.
"Chen Jie, this..." Zhang Xinyan stood up, quickly finding her clothes to put them on.
*Knock, knock, knock...*
As Zhang Xinyan was about to open the door, Chen Jie said, "Let me."
With a creak, Chen Jie opened the door.
A person dressed as a waiter looked surprised. "Are you two alright? I just heard gunshots with silencers inside."
Zhang Xinyan was about to ask for help when Chen Jie suddenly said, "How did you know they were silencer shots?"
"Ah, this..." The waiter panicked and pulled out a pistol, aiming it at Chen Jie.
*Slam!*
Chen Jie slapped his hand out.
The gun flew from the waiter's grasp.
Chen Jie then grabbed him by the collar and dragged him inside.
Zhang Xinyan finally reacted.
She quickly stepped forward and asked, "Who, whose people are you?"
"Heh heh, people who want you dead," the waiter said with a smile.
"If you don't speak, I have ways to make you talk!" Zhang Xinyan's eyes turned cold.
"Is that so? Can you make a dead man talk?" The waiter glared at Chen Jie venomously.
It was all this man's fault that his mission had failed.
The price of mission failure was often death.
Immediately, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and he lost consciousness.
"Hey! What's wrong with you?" Zhang Xinyan's pretty face changed color as she shook him.
Chen Jie said indifferently, "No need to bother. This is a highly trained assassin. Once captured, they will bite into the poison hidden in their mouth and commit suicide."
*Stumble, stumble...*
Zhang Xinyan stumbled back a few steps in fright.
Chen Jie looked at her with a half-smile. "You told me to be careful about the safety of people close to me. Yet, why were you the one targeted for assassination first? Could it be that you are also considered someone close to me?"
Zhang Xinyan looked pale with residual fear, then calmed down and looked at Chen Jie. "Chen Jie, thank you. If it weren't for you, I probably would have died today!"
"Could you please escort me out?" Zhang Xinyan asked.
As a prominent family from Pingcheng, she had seen her share of storms.
After a brief moment of panic, Zhang Xinyan quickly regained her composure.
She was not without expert protection, but she had not brought any along for this meeting with Chen Jie.
"Alright, let's go!"
Zhang Xinyan cast a complex glance at Chen Jie.
It seemed she owed Chen Jie a life.