Chapter 31: And so, Once Again

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“Boss, this Xiao Heng apologizes from the bottom of his heart!”

Liu Jin stares blankly at Xiao Heng as the teen literally kneels before him. With how busy everyone has been due to the wedding, it is the first time the two have been alone in quite a few days.

“When I told Boss I would be grateful for the rest of my life, I meant it,” Xiao Heng says, his head still bowed. “I planned on following Boss no matter where he went. However, because things ended up this way, there is no way I can do that now.”

Liu Jin crosses his arms and sighs. “Get up. There is no need for you to apologize. The moment your brother died, you had no option but to stay here.”

The moment Xiao Dong died, Xiao Heng became the heir of this branch. That is all there is to it.

Well, considering how little Xiao Ding cared for his son before Liu Jin fixed him, it could have been possible to convince him to part ways with Xiao Heng as long as his improved condition was kept hidden from him. However, Liu Jin never had any intention of doing something like that. He hadn’t helped Xiao Heng to obtain a servant.

Besides, having someone like Xiao Heng around would get tiring pretty quickly. Liu Jin would rather not get praised too much.

“Even so, I was the one who went and asked for Meili’s hand, Boss. Back then, I was just thinking I might have a chance with her. The consequences didn’t even occur to me until later. If I hadn’t done that, I might have been able to convince Father to let me go with Boss.”

It is highly likely, but Liu Jin is not about to let him know that. Instead he says, “I did not heal you so you could be my servant. I healed you so you could live your life. If your wish is to marry that woman, that’s fine.”

“Boss is kind and merciful as always. Even so, this Xiao Heng still feels he should do something for Boss.”

Faced with Xiao Heng’s earnest face, Liu Jin raises an eyebrow, an idea starts taking form. “Do you really wish to do something for me?”

“Absolutely!”

Liu Jin pretends to think some more and nods. “Very well then. I’ll give you three instructions.” Liu Jin raises his hand and holds up three fingers. “You must follow these instructions until the day we meet again. Do you accept?”

“I accept and will do my utmost to follow Boss’ commands until my dying breath.”

Liu Jin’s lips thin. That is quite a bit more than he asked for but whatever.

“Then listen, and listen well. Number one, you took your brother’s bride before his body was even cold. From now on, don’t take another woman from anyone else.”

As soon as he hears Liu Jin’s words, Xiao Heng winces and with good reason.

The whole thing had left a bad taste in Liu Jin’s mouth. He might have spoken in favor of Xiao Heng that day, but that did not change what happened. Xiao Heng acted to take his brother’s wife-to-be the second he could. It was not something that had been forced on him. Xiao Heng simply saw a chance to be with the girl he liked and took it.

“Boss is harsh indeed,” Xiao Heng says glumly.

“Do you accept or not?”

“Of course I accept, Boss!”

“Good. Number two, from now on, you must dedicate yourself to the Xiao Sect first. Many people have died to consolidate the Xiao Sect’s hold on New Moon Town. If all goes well, one day you will take over for your father. Do not make all that has happened be in vain.”

After all, if nothing good were to come out of this, wouldn’t that just be way too pitiful?

“I won’t let you down, Boss! This Xiao Heng shall dedicate himself to the Xiao Sect first!”

“Number three. Never fully trust your wife. That woman is not sincere at all.”

Here, Xiao Heng scoffs. “Boss, with all due respect, are you serious? How can my wife not be sincere? Did you not see her tears during the audience? Did you not see her wounds? My wife is the most sincere, loving woman I know.”

Liu Jin sighs again. As expected, Xiao Heng has not noticed at all.

“Her wounds were not deep enough.”

Xiao Heng blinks. “What?”

“Her wounds were not deep enough,” Liu Jin repeats. He holds out his arm and taps it gently. “The cuts she showed us were large but not deep. They were not the type of wounds that would get someone killed. Someone who attempted to kill herself, maddened by grief as she was supposed to be, would have made deeper wounds.”

“W-Well, maybe she got scared.”

“If she had gotten scared, Hu Meili would have stopped at the first cut. Instead, she was able to make two large superficial cuts on her person that were never going to seriously threaten her life.”

“That…maybe…”

“Furthermore, the injuries were nowhere near old enough. By my estimate, she made those wounds to herself that very morning.” Liu Jin nods as he speaks, confident in his ability to discern the age of a wound. It is one skill both his father and Old Jiang have drilled into his head.

“What is Boss trying to say?” Xiao Heng looks confused and lost as he asks the question.

“I am saying she made those wounds to herself, so she could present them to the Elders and earn some sympathy for her father. She didn’t try to kill herself out of grief. She made those wounds to get herself and her Clan out of a troublesome situation.”

“B-But if that’s true, why did Boss not say anything then?”

Liu Jin clicks his tongue and scratches the side of his head. “Well, there was no need to.”

“Huh?”

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“If someone like me noticed it, do you really think the others didn’t?”

Xiao Nan definitely had. Xiao Ding, to his surprise, caught it as well as had two of the Elders. There had probably been more who had.

“Then why did they not say anything?!”

“You would have to ask your father and the Elders about it,” Liu Jin says, shrugging. “However, my guess is they approved of it.”

“Approved of it?”

“Someone who is willing to go that far is impressive,” Liu Jin admits. “I guess they thought that was enough. You will have to ask your father if you want to know his thoughts. However, that’s exactly why I am telling you now that your wife is someone you must be wary of.”

“I… I see.” Xiao Heng looks crestfallen, like someone just swept the floor from underneath him.

“Do you accept the third instruction?” Liu Jin asks when Xiao Heng does not say anything for a while. Xiao Heng looks up at him and takes a deep breath.