Free Web NovelChapter 221: Chapter 221: The Uses of the Vine
In Qiao Yu’s view, their Marshal Yun was so powerful that Ning Xuan and her group’s successes, like their safe return from the Red Sand Sea, were surely all his doing.
Ning Xuan should have been grateful to Marshal Yun.
Yet Ning Xuan’s attitude toward their Commander was utterly scathing. He could never forget the sight of their Commander crawling out from under Ning Xuan’s leg. It made him constantly scheme to get the Commander back, and even though Marshal Yun had warned him repeatedly, he couldn’t shake the thought.
Therefore, the day before Ning Xuan planned to leave, Qiao Yu found his chance and secretly approached her. Ning Xuan was out shopping at the trade center with Chen Nan, and she was very displeased when Qiao Yu intercepted them.
"Miss Ning, Xie Heng offended you before. The Heavenly Might Corps, under Marshal Yun’s orders, has already taken the opportunity to eliminate him. Miss Ning, I didn’t come to see you today to take credit for it."
"I came to request that you allow Marshal Yun to temporarily return to the Heavenly Might Corps to oversee things. The area around the Jiujiang Security Zone is fraught with danger, and Marshal Yun can be of greater value within the army. Besides, you’re not short on men to serve you, so why not be magnanimous? Everyone in the Heavenly Might Corps would be grateful." Qiao Yu had learned his lesson from last time and was smarter now; his attitude toward Ning Xuan was extremely respectful. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
"As for any loss this might cause you, the Heavenly Might Corps is willing to dispatch a hundred-man team to be at your command." Although Marshal Yun was powerful, he was still just one person. With this hundred-man team, Ning Xuan would surely achieve a high ranking in her graduation assessment. A trade of 1 for 100—Ning Xuan wouldn’t be getting the short end of the stick.
"Commander Qiao, are you here today on your own initiative, or did Yun Han send you?" Ning Xuan asked, looking at Qiao Yu.
’Qiao Yu manages the entire Jiujiang Security Zone and has Yun Han’s trust, so he must be an extremely capable man. But what he’s doing today makes no sense.’
"We are the ones who need Marshal Yun to oversee things. This was my own initiative. I beg you, Miss Ning, please be merciful." Qiao Yu bowed humbly.
’No matter how much I resent and hate Ning Xuan, I know she’s the Marshal’s Contractor—the one who holds him in the palm of her hand. After the last lesson, how could I dare be disrespectful to her?’ freewebnσvel.cøm
"The last time you and Qin Chuan came to my residence on behalf of the Heavenly Might Corps to demand a man back, I thought Yun Han would have dealt with the matter completely. I didn’t expect you to come to me again today on your own initiative." Ning Xuan’s gaze was calm and emotionless, yet Qiao Yu keenly felt a sense of unease.
"Miss Ning, I... I was already taught a lesson by Marshal Yun last time. It’s just... it’s just that we suffered heavy losses on this New Star Body recently, and we’re feeling unsettled. That’s why I came to make this request of you." Part of what Qiao Yu said was true. The other part was that, after wielding so much power in the Jiujiang Security Zone for a while, Qiao Yu had gotten carried away and forgotten his previous lesson.
"Go back and wait. I’ll have Yun Han find you in a bit." Ning Xuan glanced up at him, then turned and walked away.
Qiao Yu’s heart pounded. ’What does she mean? Did she agree or not? She’s sending Marshal Yun to find me... is it for the trade? Or is he coming to punish me?’
While ordering his men to prepare a hundred elite soldiers, Qiao Yu returned to the military barracks, his heart filled with apprehension.
Ning Xuan walked quickly ahead. Chen Nan, moving with some difficulty, started to fall behind. Ning Xuan happened to turn back just in time to see him pull on a wound somewhere on his body with an awkward movement. His face twisted into an odd expression, somewhere between pain and something else.
"Ah Nan, what are you dawdling for back there? And what was that look on your face just now?" Ning Xuan asked with a frown.
The other day, emboldened by Little Jin’s evolution and advancement, Chen Nan had brazenly asked for her affection. As a result, he had been spending his nights in Ning Xuan’s tent. However, Ning Xuan hadn’t touched him. She had used a single vine to torment him to the point of blissful exhaustion. For the past few days, his waist and legs had been weak, and the number of small wounds on his body had been steadily increasing.
"Contractor, I just accidentally pulled on a wound. It hurts a little," Chen Nan explained quickly, afraid Ning Xuan would misunderstand.
"Regretting your impulsiveness? Learned your lesson now, have you?" Ning Xuan looked at the dark circles under Chen Nan’s eyes. It was only then that she remembered he’d been tormented for days, bound and lashed by her vine. His slow movements now were her own doing.
’Still, Chen Nan’s constitution is much weaker than Yun Han’s. Yun Han has been through much worse, and it never affected his ability to function during the day.’
"I don’t regret it, Contractor. I’ve been very happy these past few days, and my heart feels at ease." Although Chen Nan had dark circles under his eyes, his gaze was bright and radiant, and he didn’t look the least bit tired.
It was clear that Chen Nan was speaking from the heart. He was truly happy.
Back when Ning Xuan had first gotten together with Chen Nan, her vine hadn’t yet recovered its power. She had only used it as a whip to lash him when he made a mistake. Later, as the vine gradually recovered, its uses became much more varied.
Ning Xuan gave him an uncomprehending look. "Why would you be happy? Tell me the truth."
’Could Chen Nan be some kind of masochist?’ she wondered.
"Contractor, the vine is your Plant Pet. Its aura is the same as yours, and it can soothe the restless bloodline and frantic spiritual power within me. As long as it comes from you, I like it." Chen Nan was speaking from the heart. In truth, he really enjoyed the sensation.
’It’s just that after three straight days, my stamina is really running low.’
Ning Xuan glanced at Chen Nan, a bit awkwardly, and didn’t say anything more. She’d forgotten that she had perfected the vine’s various uses on Yun Han; in the beginning, she had even put some thought into it. It seemed the vine was now automatically applying those techniques to Chen Nan.
When Ning Xuan returned to her quarters, she found that Yun Han hadn’t gone out that day. He was organizing their things, checking to see what else they needed to procure before their departure the next day.
Seeing the various supplies laid out in Yun Han’s room, some of Ning Xuan’s anger dissipated.
When Yun Han saw Ning Xuan standing at his door, he immediately came forward to greet her. "You’re back, Contractor."
"Yun Han, your good brother came to me to plead your case, asking for you to stay behind in the Jiujiang Security Zone. What do you think about that?" Ning Xuan asked, looking at him calmly.
’Honestly, of the few people I’ve taken in, Yun Han is the one who causes me the most trouble. And I despise trouble.’
Yun Han’s face paled when he heard this. "Contractor, I am your man. Naturally, I must follow you and stay by your side. Qiao Yu acted on his own. I’ll go teach him a lesson right now. When I return, I will come to you to ask for punishment."
Yun Han cursed inwardly. ’Damn it. How did I never realize what a stubborn fool Qiao Yu is? Why does he insist on ruining things for me?’
’If we hadn’t been brothers for so many years, I’d seriously be questioning his motives.’
"No need to come back and ask for punishment. Chen Nan, you go with him. One hundred lashes with the punishment whip, to be carried out right in front of Qiao Yu."
