Free Web NovelChapter 1981: Chapter 1978: Token of Allegiance
The position where Lin Tian and the others sat was near the door, also close to the window. Above the window was the upstairs private room. Usually, people couldn’t hear the noise, but Lin Tian, with his keen hearing, could hear it.
"What’s wrong?" Xiao Manxuan noticed Lin Tian’s odd expression and felt curious.
Then she realized it wasn’t just Lin Tian; Zhang Lingyu was the same, while Xu Feibai always had a cold face, so he didn’t count.
"I think I heard the voice of that waitress from last night," Lin Tian said with a frown.
"That’s right, and she’s crying too," Zhang Lingyu added, rarely agreeing with Lin Tian. As they were discussing, several security guards came running in from outside and hurried upstairs.
Just then, a waitress came to ask for their order, and Lin Tian casually asked, "So many security guards, is something happening upstairs?"
The waitress, probably someone who couldn’t keep things to herself, immediately said, "You guys are from out of town, right? You don’t know about our Boss Ma’s affairs."
"The Ma Family are wealthy merchants in the county. The young master of the Ma Family is naturally a second-generation rich kid. Around here, there are few who dare provoke him. Everyone calls him Brother Ma. Brother Ma likes pretty girls, either he uses money to lure them or other means. Even many waitresses at the villa have been harassed."
"It’s the usual stuff. You’re just staying for a few days, so don’t get involved. It won’t do you any good to meddle." The waitress whispered a reminder.
Lin Tian and the two women exchanged amused glances and laughed, "These days, even the second-generation rich kids in the county can run rampant?"
"Why not? The Ma Family has assets worth several hundred million. Who dares mess with them?" The waitress widened her eyes, looking as if they were inexperienced, and then lowered her voice, "Forget it, I won’t say more." With that, she left with the menu.
Not long after the waitress left, the security guards came down from upstairs, but now there were two young women in between them, one even younger than Xiao Manxuan, around fifteen or sixteen years old.
As for the other, Lin Tian recognized her. She was the waitress from last night. The security seemed to be escorting them out.
"The Compass is responding," Xu Feibai suddenly said.
Lin Tian turned his head to look at the Compass and found the needle wasn’t spinning erratically but pointing in a direction, leading towards the people going downstairs.
This situation was clear; the Yin Jade had appeared, and Xiao Manxuan couldn’t help but ask, "So many people, who is it?"
Lin Tian thought for a moment, his eyes lit up, and said, "It’s that girl." He was referring to the one who appeared to be fifteen or sixteen.
Xiao Manxuan and Zhang Lingyu were puzzled at first, wondering why Lin Tian was so sure, but then it dawned on them. Because there was no Compass reaction when the security came in, nor was there any last night with the waitress.
Eliminating all those possibilities, only the fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl remained. By now, the security had already driven the two young women out of the restaurant.
"Let’s go." Lin Tian signaled Zhang Lingyu to put away the Compass, skipped breakfast, and immediately left the restaurant.
Lin Tian and the others chased after them, discovering the two women hadn’t gone far. They stood beneath the morning sun, which should have been a bright scene, but the sight was anything but bright.
The younger girl was wiping the older one’s tears and comforting her, "Sister, don’t cry, don’t be afraid, I’m here for you."
It should have been an age for her to be cherished, yet there she was, comforting and protecting her sister. Such a sensible girl, it was moving.
Xiao Manxuan’s eyes reddened at the sight. The scene seemed familiar, reminding her of her own sister, who had always protected her.
"Ladies, is there something troubling you?" Xiao Manxuan couldn’t help but walk over and softly ask.
The young girl glanced at Xiao Manxuan, then again at Lin Tian and the others, her eyes flashing with caution. She took a step forward, shielding her sister behind her, with a stern face asking, "Who are you?"
She probably mistook Lin Tian and the others for accomplices of the Ma young master, yet the young girl showed no fear, her gaze firm. This earned even more favor from Xiao Manxuan; she was a brave girl.
"Little girl, what’s your name?" Xiao Manxuan said congenially.
"Why should I tell you?" The little girl held her head high, a face full of vigilance.
Xiao Manxuan wasn’t offended and continued to smile, "Alright, let me introduce myself first. My name is Xiao Manxuan, that tall and handsome one is Lin Tian, and that expressionless one is Xu Feibai, the lady in the purple dress is Zhang Lingyu..."
"Why bother? Just get the Jade Pendant and be done with it," Xu Feibai suddenly cut off Xiao Manxuan, his tone indifferent.
A prominent zombie, having lived for hundreds of years, yet needing to appease a little girl here, it wasn’t his style. His approach would have been to take it directly.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Manxuan and Zhang Lingyu glared at him, while Xu Feibai maintained his expression, not feeling he said anything wrong.
But those words had a different impact on the young girl’s ears. She took two steps back, clutching her clothing, glaring with wide eyes, "How do you know I’m wearing a Jade Pendant? Hmph, and you say you’re good people, you’re just like Ma Mingcai, all bad!"
"Sister, let’s go." The older sister glanced at Lin Tian and his group, her gaze rather complex. Because of Xu Feibai’s words, she couldn’t tell if Lin Tian and the others were good or bad.
Lin Tian, hearing the young girl’s words, was initially delighted because she admitted to wearing a Jade Pendant, although not visible, it was surely related to the Yin Jade. However, their reaction made him feel helpless, more so at Xu Feibai’s behavior.
"Little girl..." Xiao Manxuan was anxious, chasing after them.
The young girl turned back, angrily shouting, "Don’t follow us, if you do, I’ll call the police."
"We’re not..." Xiao Manxuan attempted to explain further.
Lin Tian patted her shoulder, softly saying, "Let me try."
"Hehe, the little girl is particularly wary of men because of her sister’s situation. Are you sure you can handle it?" Zhang Lingyu whispered with a chuckle, doubting Lin Tian.
"If I can’t handle a little girl, I’ll do whatever you ask, how about that?" Lin Tian responded confidently.
Zhang Lingyu raised her beautiful eyebrows, with a half-smile, "I’ll be waiting to boss you around."
Lin Tian just chuckled, moving forward. The young girl originally wanted to say something harsh, but upon seeing Lin Tian’s deep eyes, her heart skipped inexplicably, and the harsh words remained unspoken. Her tone softened considerably, "What do you want?"
"Little girl, what would it take for you to believe we’re good people?" Lin Tian calmly asked.
The young girl blinked her big eyes, a hint of cleverness in her clear gaze, "Have you heard of the blood oath from movies? If you can make Ma Mingcai face justice and stop harassing my sister, then I’ll believe you’re good people."
"A blood oath?" Lin Tian chuckled inwardly, what a clever young girl.
