Chapter 400: Chapter 85: The Girl Appears Again_4
Ah Dai apologized: "I’m sorry, City Lord, I didn’t know this would happen. I just took this task from the Mercenary Guild and delivered the goods directly to you. Who knew such an incident would occur?"
Tiro, with Tifya supporting him, walked over, losing all his composure. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and glared at Ah Dai, saying: "It must be your doing, Grandpa Fagle, kill him."
Fagle glanced at Tiro and said, "Grandson, don’t rush. This matter is peculiar; it may not be as simple as it seems. This young man’s martial arts are impressive. If he wanted to assassinate me, he wouldn’t need to poison me. Besides, this isn’t a potent poison: it is just a sleeping potion called Sleep of Thousand Days. Look." Saying this, he pointed at the unconscious servant lying on the ground.
"Wow, grandpa, you saw through everything, you’re amazing." As a tinkling voice echoed, a girl in blue ran in. Ah Dai looked intently and saw that she was shorter than Tifya, yet just as beautiful. She was smiling intelligently and hopped over to Fagle’s side.
On seeing this beautiful girl, Tiro was dumbstruck. Fagle furrowed his brows, saying, "Rong Rong, was this your doing?"
The girl stuck her tongue out, pretending to be pitiful, and said, "So what if it was me? I saw you so tired from dealing with all those official affairs every day and wanted you to have a good sleep, it was just a joke. I have the antidote, and the Sleep of Thousand Days won’t harm the body. Grandpa, you love Rong Rong the best; you won’t be mad, right?"
Ah Dai looked at her, dumbstruck, and muttered, "Did you assign the task at the Mercenary Guild?"
Rong Rong glared at Ah Dai and said discontentedly, "Yes, that’s me. What about it? You’re so stupid; you ruined my plan. After handing over the item to grandpa, you should have left promptly. You wouldn’t be in this situation otherwise."
Fagle looked at his granddaughter, helpless and amused, "Rong Rong, you are too bold, daring enough to poison your grandpa, I’ll ask your dad to spank you."
Rong Rong made a face at Fagle, jumped to hug his neck, and kissed him on the face, giggling: "Grandpa won’t rat me out, would you bear to see me spanking?"
Fagle sighed, "I really don’t know what to do with you. We have a guest today, don’t be so wayward and make a fool of yourself."
Rong Rong turned to Tiro and snorted, "Dare you laugh at me?"
Tiro looked at Rong Rong’s charming appearance and repeatedly said, "I dare not, I dare not. So, it’s Miss Rong. It’s my pleasure to meet you."
Ah Dai suddenly asked: "Miss Rong Rong, what if the mercenary who took your task opened the wooden box out of curiosity?"
Rong Rong casually replied: "Then he’d be unlucky. Who asked him not to follow the rules of the mercenaries? The Sleep of Thousand Days can’t kill you; at most, you’ll just sleep for ten or so days."
Ah Dai let out a sigh. He could not comprehend the mindset of noble children. Even though he too enjoyed pranks, Yue Yue was much better. At least she wouldn’t joke with people’s health. Having no desire to remain here, he bowed slightly and said, "City Lord, since it was a misunderstanding, I will take my leave." After finishing his sentence, he turned to leave. "Wait." Fagle stopped Ah Dai and looked at him appreciatively, "Young fella, I admire your martial arts. Why not come work for me?" A good general was hard to find, and Ah Dai was a martial artist of profound skill; Fagle would not let him go so easily.
Ah Dai gently shook his head, "No thank you, I appreciate your offer, but I value my freedom and don’t like to be restrained." He continued to walk towards the exit. As he passed Tiro, he clearly heard Tiro whispering, "Kid, remember today’s events. I’ll settle the score with you." Ah Dai paid no heed to his threats – after all, what’s one more in the list of people who wanted him dead? Tiro, although a skilled martial artist, was not a concern for Ah Dai.
Just as Ah Dai reached the entrance, he heard Fagle’s voice again, "Young fella, may I know your name?"
Ah Dai propelled his internal True Qi, his body floated up, and his faint voice lingered in the air, "My name is Ah Dai."
Upon hearing Ah Dai’s reply as he was leaving, Rong Rong chuckled, saying: "No wonder he seems quite simple, he’s actually called Ah Dai, what an interesting person."
In contrast to Rong Rong’s reaction, Tifya was jolted upon hearing Ah Dai’s words. Her rosy face instantly lost all color. Ah Dai, it’s Ah Dai. No wonder she had this familiar feeling. So he was the Ah Dai she had been searching for tirelessly, and he had actually mastered such advanced Martial arts. Ah Dai, so you are still alive.
Tifya was actually once a little girl in Nino Small Town. After following the wife of the Governor of Mica Province, Terhos, back to the Governor’s Mansion, she, with her clever and obedient disposition, won the favor of both the Governor and his wife. They adopted her as their goddaughter and renamed her Tifya. Although she had transformed from a petty thief to an envied noble, she never forgot Ah Dai who had cared for her when she was young. She always remembered the promise she had made to Ah Dai. Three years ago, when she was sixteen, she managed to gain the agreeance of Lady Governor to return to the City of Nino in search of Ah Dai. During the search, she eventually found Uncle Li, who told her that Ah Dai had already died shortly after she left. She was completely devastated on hearing of Ah Dai’s death. It took her a long time to gradually recover. It was then that Tiro, the grandson of the Governor, fell in love with her and after persistent pursuit, she finally gave in to his constant entreaties and became his girlfriend. Though the Governor and Lady Governor were always very fond of her, her poor origin prevented them from proposing marriage. Today, when she and Tiro visited Fagle in Duru City, she had a very intimate feeling when she saw Ah Dai, who was like a beggar in the city. However, with the change in age, Ah Dai did not recognize her, and she likewise did not recognize the imposing Ah Dai. Unexpectedly, this young man who she had once given alms to was her Ah Dai, whom she had been separated with for more than eight years.
Tiro did not notice the change in Tifya’s complexion. His mind was completely captivated by the beautiful Rong Rong. Although he also liked Tifya, his pride made him feel that Tifya’s background was not fit for him. The noble-born Rong Rong, whose beauty was no less than Tifya’s, had already stolen his heart. This was indeed his best choice!
Watching Ah Dai’s retreating figure, Fagle mumbled, "The martial arts prowess of this youngster is one of the best I’ve seen in my life! Achieving such feats at such a young age is not easy, what a pity I can’t use him."
Tiro snorted coldly, saying: "I refrained myself from using my Master’s unique skill just so as not to kill him; otherwise, humph."
Fagle glanced at Tiro, thinking to himself that Tiro, although a disciple of the Northern Sword Saint, was too arrogant and narrow-minded, and might find it hard to attain greatness. But considering his relation with Governor of Mica Province, Terhos, he smiled and said, "Of course, how could a commoner like him ever compare with a student of the Northern Sword Saint."
Rong Rong was startled and exclaimed to Tiro, "So you are a disciple of the Northern Sword Saint! I have heard that Sword Saint is the highest honor for martial artists on the mainland."
Tiro haughtily said, "Of course, my respected Master has the ability to reach the heavens and pierce the earth."
Rong Rong chuckled, "What a pity, you seem to have learned far less from your Master! You couldn’t even beat that simple-minded mercenary."
A semblance of anger flashed through Tiro’s eyes, but looking at Rong Rong’s charming smile, he held back, gritting his teeth, "One day, I’ll make that little punk know how strong I am." He couldn’t lose his tempers in front of a beautiful woman, however, his resentment towards Ah Dai grew even deeper.
Rong Rong turned to Tifya, surprised, "Sister, why are you looking so pale? Did you also get hit by the Thousand Days’ Drunk? I have an antidote here, do you want to take one?"
Tifya hadn’t heard their previous conversation as her mind was entirely on Ah Dai, who had already left. When Rong Rong asked her, she shook her head and replied, "Thank you, I haven’t been poisoned, I just feel a little unwell. Mr. Fagle, I’m sorry, but I think I need to rest now."
Fagle asked with concern, "Do you feel unwell? Shall I call the doctor for you?"
Tifya shook her head again, "Thank you, I think it’s unnecessary. Maybe I’m just tired from the journey, I’ll be fine after some rest."
Fagle apologized, "I blame this naughty girl Rong Rong for causing you such a shock. Tiro, I leave it to you to take good care of your sister."
