He employed mercenaries from the Tong family side branch using the ident.i.ty of a steward from the Tong family's main branch, which lowered the guard of the Tong mercenaries. Then, the Tong mercenaries wouldn't be suspicious or intentionally open the box to check it.

"Young Master, I didn't expect… everything to be accounted for within your plan. This way, the Tong family will fight to the death with the Zhou family, and the Ji family won't be threatened by these two families anymore… Just when did you make these preparations?" The teenager was br.i.m.m.i.n.g with admiration as he stared at the handsome youth.

"While you were sleeping," Ji Xiuran answered aloofly.

The teenager released an embarra.s.sed chuckle before asking, "But what if Ah-Ming betrays us, Young Master? What would we do?"

Ji Xiuran softly replied, "His whole family is in my possession."

"Brilliant!" The teenager gave a thumbs-up. "The Zhou family and the Tong family have acted abominably and committed all kinds of evil deeds. Those two b*stard families really thought they were invincible and dared to offend our Ji family. Evil people truly have other evil people tormenting them…"

It wasn't until Ji Xiuran shot him a glance that the teenager realized his words were remiss and he looked embarra.s.sed.

Before the teenager could explain, a girl's blood-curdling scream was heard in the distance.

The teenager furrowed his brows and reflexively turned to the origin of the sound.

A girl in a leisurely outfit was sent cras.h.i.+ng to the ground, but her grip around her dagger remained tight.

Next to the girl was a man dressed like a mercenary.

"Whose child are you? You look 11 or 12 at most, but why would you come asking for death for a mercenary fee?" The mercenary apathetically stared at the girl he knocked to the ground. "Tell me who sent you here and I can spare your life."

…

"Young Master, it looks like a bountied defected mercenary," the teenager reported to Ji Xiuran.

These defected mercenaries were very common in the Independent State. Most of them had committed some terrible deed then defected from their group, so their group would offer a bounty on their heads.

"Heh, how old is that girl? She looks only 11 or 12, no? But she actually dared to seek trouble from a defected mercenary. How suicidal." The teenager shook his head. "Young Master, let's hurry and leave—eh, Young Master… where are you going…?"

The teenager hastily followed when he saw Ji Xiuran walking toward the girl.

"Oh? You have companions? No wonder," the defected mercenary remarked coldly with a glance at the girl when he saw a youth approaching.

The girl also turned to look at the youth, confusion surfacing in her eyes. She didn't know this good-looking youth.

"Tell me, who sent you three here? Or perhaps your mind became muddled from the mercenary reward?" The defected mercenary glanced at the youth, his voice glacial.

However, the youth ignored him and stopped next to the girl and knelt down gracefully. His eyes—brilliant as the starry night—met the girl's eyes.

"Is your name Worriless?" The youth adopted a gentle tone.

"How did you know?" The girl nodded, her expression curious.

"Three years ago, you and Grandfather Nie visited my house." Ji Xiuran smiled and softly patted her hair. "Have you forgotten?"

"You are… Brother Xiuran?" The girl's eyes instantly lit up.

"Does it hurt?" The youth touched the girl's slightly swollen cheek.

"No…" The girl shook her head after a moment of silence.

"Are you three truly suicidal?" A murderous intent arose in the defected mercenary when he saw the youth and girl talking in front of him as if he wasn't there.

"Noisy."

The youth frowned and took the girl's dagger.

Before the defected mercenary could realize what had happened, a cold glint flashed and the dagger pierced a fatal spot in his body as fast as an arrow leaving its dock.

The next second, the defected mercenary's body dropped to the ground and stopped moving after a brief convulsion.

To his death, incredulous fear was printed on his face.