Ruan thought, ' It would be good to take the lead. ' He said, looking straight at Xu Li, "Firstly, answer this, how.... no... what level of cultivation are you in?"
She bluntly answered, " Final state of transcending tribulations." Ruan felt shivers all over thinking, ' Did I just step on my own foot? Why did I have to open my big mouth in front of a mortal master? No .... before this gets any more complicated, I should save my own ass.'
"Say, who ordered you to come here? For your information, I'm not asking about which supervisor of yours had the balls to do so. You better answer me correctly. Which bastard paid for our information?" Xu Li asked, trembling in anger.
Xu Nian could feel how anxious she had gotten over this matter. He instantly came to a conclusion that she must've dealt with such situations before, too. She seemed like a formidable foe. 'Well, a musclehead has its own use.' He thought.
Ruan was having a splitting headache after hearing the question. 'Why do you have to be so smart? Now, what should I answer? I can't lie, nor can I say the truth?' He weighed the repercussions that would occur depending upon his answer's.
"Um, you see... the order came from high above the social ladder. A third-rate information collector like me won't be given such precious information. All I can say is that someone from the capital came a week ago. That person tipped me to find traces of a woman named Xu Li. So.. I.. I came here." Ruan answered with hesitation, almost giving up.
"Who? Who was it?" Xu Li got even angrier after hearing his answer. She was looking at Ruan with bloodshot eye's.
Fearing that he might end up in a precarious situation if he failed to answer her properly. He said it in one breath. " It was Murong! Morong Chi! "
As if Xu Li was struck with lightning, she staggered behind and asked Xu Nian to ask any questions he had. Xu Nian felt heavy tension that got built upon the name, 'Murong Chi.'
Ruan was scrutinizing the child sitting on the wheelchair. He was adorned with silk garments. Long black hair made his white jade skin stand out. An incomprehensible beauty was before him. He was in awe. 'Who? Who can it be? There were no such records of a child in the Xu family from the Fenan region. How come..... Who ?' Ruan was full of doubts looking at the mesmerizing figure before him. 'God weighs flaws and fortune in a definite way. Look how the child is fixed to his wheelchair.' Ruan pitied the child thinking that there was only one threat that is Xu Li.
Xu Nian carefully observed Ruan. "You said you were a lowly information collector. Then how did you know?" Ruan felt a piercing gaze he sighed while saying, "I know the threat I'm under. Do you think I would be careless in front of a mortal master. If we leave those who have hidden themselves in the whole Shang Dynasty, there are only eight of them. Well, though, now it's nine."
"Now answer me. Who are you?" Ruan asked curiously. " Now...Now, mister. Do you think you are trustworthy enough for me to play your game? The deal is off. Only answer me if you want to see the daylight tomorrow. " Xu Nian smiled menacingly.
Ruan felt an enormous pressure binding him to the wooden wall of the tree house. He felt as if someone choked him. He was panting heavily, gasping for breath. " Leave...L... Leave...Me." He sobbed pathetically. "Aaah!! Help... plz." Ruan couldn't handle the pressure and started begging.
Xu Nian stopped Xu Li from pressurizing him any further. He said," Since you are what you say to be. Why don't you spill everything about this Murong Chi?"
Ruan looked at the beauty with bloodshot teary eye's as if he were a deity. 'This child is good. I'm saved. Oh! The pressure from a mortal master. I was about to piss myself.' Ruan was covered in cold sweat.
He said hurriedly, " I... I will answer. Can you remove this pressure." He pleaded looking towards Xu Li.
With a thud he fell down. Xu Nian looked down, he felt unpleasant looking at the man who easily switched sides just by a threat. Xu Li could feel the displeasure all to well. She thought, 'Don't worry Nian'er. I will remove such filth before it harms you in anyway.' She waited patiently in a corner. After Xu Nian asked him several questions and was done. Xu Li dragged the man in the forest to who knows where. Xu Nian could only hear a screaming voice which stopped coming as soon as it started.
" Things are about to get interesting." He said thoughtfully. "Murong Chi, the Murong clans prince chicken. How should I eat you sautéed or stewed? You dare covet my sister." Xu Nian gave a hysterical laugh and quited down looking angry.