Chapter 27: Dog Eat Dog

In truth, at this moment, Leng Tianyi was still somewhat uneasy. If Ye Aotian truly had some skill, that would be one thing, but judging from what he’d seen so far, it was impossible for Leng Tianyi to ascertain whether Ye Aotian was capable; what he could be sure of was that the man was certainly afflicted with something. For no apparent reason, he had come before him and put on such airs, as if he were truly formidable. Even if he were the so-called Warlord of the Borderlands, so what? Did that entitle him to disregard everyone else?

Besides, the man before him appeared to be leagues beneath the legendary Warlord. Leng Tianyi, himself cunning and calculating, considered what Leng Ningxue had just said. It seemed to make sense. Previously, he wouldn’t have cared much, but lately he'd heard that the Qin family had been recruiting heavily, bringing in many experts. With the current strength of the Leng clan, it would be difficult to contend with such developments.

He needed to consider whether there might be another way.

“So, you’re Ye Aotian, are you?” Leng Tianyi said. “You just finished praising yourself, acting as if you’re so impressive. But you know the Qin family is recruiting and sending martial artists here. It’s a challenge for us. I’d like to know how you plan to deal with the Qin family.”

Ye Aotian waved his hand grandly, exuding an air of total control. “If this had happened before, perhaps it might have been troublesome. But under the current circumstances, I don’t see it as complicated at all. The Qin family is nothing more than a minor threat. I know they started to rise long ago, but after so many years, do you really think they still possess that sort of strength?”

He became even more pleased with himself. The Qin family now was nothing but a paper tiger. They appeared formidable, but as long as they prepared well, they could easily deal with them.

Leng Tianyi had no patience for Ye Aotian’s boasting. “Enough nonsense. If you have a suitable plan, speak up. If it works, we’ll cooperate with you. But if you dare to deceive me, I won’t let you off easily.”

Ye Aotian turned his gaze to Leng Ningxue. “Miss Leng, I’m here because of you. No matter what, this situation came to be because of me, and I won’t let you bear this responsibility alone.”

“If the Qin family insists on defying us, then let me handle them this time.”

Seeing Ye Aotian’s tender expression, even Leng Tianyi frowned deeply. He said nothing more; if Ye Aotian truly possessed such ability and could be confirmed as the mysterious Warlord, then letting him be with Leng Ningxue wouldn’t be a bad thing. But if he dared to deceive him, Leng Tianyi would ensure Ye Aotian vanished from the world with ease.

With Ye Aotian’s involvement, matters became much simpler. His subordinates were all highly skilled and could fully leverage their advantages in the coming conflict. Ye Aotian’s task now was to earn the Leng clan’s trust and bring about complete cooperation.

...

After his last conversation with Qin Guosheng, Lin Li had been waiting for news. At last, he received a call from Leng Ningxue.

“I didn’t expect things to turn out as you said. Ye Aotian has suddenly transformed into this so-called Warlord of the Borderlands.”

“He kept his cards close. He never told me he had such an identity,” Leng Ningxue remarked with a trace of disdain. Although Ye Aotian had praised himself extravagantly, Leng Ningxue did not believe he was truly so formidable.

“He’s just a Warlord of the Borderlands; that’s only part of his identity. There are plenty more surprises to come,” Lin Li replied calmly, unsurprised by Ye Aotian’s behavior. Moreover, Ye Aotian had only revealed a portion of his true self. Beyond the Warlord, his other identities remained hidden.

Lin Li was in no hurry to reveal everything; he wanted Leng Ningxue to experience some surprises.

Leng Ningxue didn’t quite understand what Lin Li meant, but she silently noted that Ye Aotian must have other identities.

“What do you plan next? How can we make them pay?”

Leng Ningxue was at her wit’s end with Ye Aotian. She wondered why she had ever let him become her personal bodyguard.

“I know you’re impatient, Miss Leng, but we must be cautious. This matter involves many people and issues; a mistake in detail could put us in real danger.”

Lin Li hadn’t realized that Leng Ningxue had grown so utterly weary of Ye Aotian. It seemed Ye Aotian was completely oblivious—he still believed himself the protagonist, basking in his own glory and disregarding others.

Without Lin Li’s intervention, Ye Aotian might have won Leng Ningxue’s favor by contrast with other suitors. But now, Lin Li’s involvement had sent events spiraling out of control. When all the characters around the protagonist refuse to play dumb, his greatest advantage disappears.

Even now, with events at this critical juncture, Ye Aotian still hadn’t grasped the real issue.

“If my guess is right, Ye Aotian has volunteered to confront Qin Guosheng on behalf of the Leng family, hasn’t he?”

Leng Ningxue replied, “Before we could decide how to handle it, Ye Aotian showed up. He made it clear: relying on ourselves alone isn’t enough. With him taking action, it will be much easier.”

Lin Li nodded. “Ye Aotian is right on that point. The Leng family may be a commercial empire, but you lack strong means. The people Qin Guosheng has called upon this time are not easy to deal with, and from the beginning, his target was Ye Aotian.”

“All you need to do is let Ye Aotian take action, and then reap the rewards.”