Chapter 24: Transaction
"Xia Feng."
A deep, resonant male voice called out, carrying a tone of condescension. Xia Feng scooped a spoonful of egg custard into his mouth and glanced up. "What is it? Go ahead."
He had encountered the refined, portly man known as Panda several times before, but today marked his first meeting with Yan Xujia.
Yan Xujia couldn't help but frown when he noticed that Xia Feng showed no intention of stopping his meal. Instead, the young man acted as if he were a high-ranking executive listening to reports from subordinates.
Placing his hand on the back of a chair, Yan Xujia forced a smile onto his handsome face. "May I sit here?"
Xia Feng was about to respond when Yan Xujia pulled out the chair and sat down without waiting for an answer.
The restaurant fell into an unusual silence as Yan Xujia's arrival drew the attention of nearly everyone present to the small dining table.
Mushroom, unable to handle the pressure of being the center of attention, instinctively gripped the hem of Xia Feng's clothes under the table.
Yan Xujia casually activated a soundproof barrier around them and spoke with a faint smile. "Xia Feng, there's no need to be nervous. I'm here today to propose a deal."
"A deal?" Xia Feng's interest was piqued, and he immediately understood. "You want me to stay away from your goddess, right? Got it. Ten million, and I promise not to badmouth you to her."
"..." Yan Xujia opened his mouth to speak but choked on his words. After a full three seconds of silence, he finally managed to say in a low voice, "I want more than just that—"
"Oh? What else do you want?" Xia Feng raised an eyebrow.
Yan Xujia took a deep breath, regaining his composure. He tapped the table lightly and spoke calmly. "Xia Feng, you may not be aware of the details of the Saint Maiden Trial. Let me explain. The four candidate saints—"
"I already know about that. Skip the preamble and get to the point," Xia Feng interrupted with a frown.
"..." Yan Xujia was caught off guard again, wondering how Xia Feng could possibly know everything. But it didn't matter—it saved him the trouble of explaining. He interlaced his fingers and rested his arms on the table, his gaze steady. "Since you're already informed, I'll cut to the chase. Naxue has chosen to practice 'Lonely Moon,' which requires her to sever as many emotional ties as possible. The most effective way to do that is through death."
Yan Xujia's lips curled into a playful smile. "But obviously, we can't actually kill you, right?"
Panda had warned him against attempting to assassinate Xia Feng again, but he hadn't said anything about other methods.
"So, I've come up with a safer approach, and it requires your cooperation, Xia Feng."
Yan Xujia's smile was odd, but his tone was sincere. "Given our past friendship, I believe you'd be willing to make a small sacrifice for Naxue's future."
Though Xia Feng was internally rolling his eyes, he nodded with a smile. "Sure, I'm the most naive, simple, and kind-hearted person you'll ever meet. Tell me what you need, and I'll see if I can help."
"Don't worry, it's nothing too difficult," Yan Xujia said with a smile. "I just need you to agree to two conditions."
"Go on."
"First, hand over the pocket watch Naxue gave you. Second, agree to relocate to the North and remain there for ten years."
"In return, I can provide you with a letter of recommendation to join the Marquisate of Dongbo and become a distinguished knight of the territory."
"..." Xia Feng paused mid-scoop, the spoonful of egg custard hovering in the air. He looked up and remained silent for a long moment. In his mind, he could only think one thing: This guy must be out of his mind.
The Empire and the Evil Race had been locked in conflict for thousands of years. There were two primary border regions: the Northern Border (District 49) and the Southern Border (District 13).
These areas were far from peaceful—they were chaotic and dangerous. While the Northern Border had been relatively stable in recent years, the Southern Border was a constant warzone. As someone who preferred comfort over conflict, Xia Feng had no intention of leaving District 51, let alone moving to the volatile Northern Border.
As for the pocket watch, it was a token of love exchanged between him and Cha Naxue during their childhood. She still held onto his, and he cherished hers.
"How about it? This deal is fair, isn't it?" Yan Xujia smiled faintly. "You don't need to die physically. As long as you fade from her life, the emotional bond will weaken, and her practice will remain unaffected."
Seeing Xia Feng continue to eat his egg custard without responding, Yan Xujia frowned and shook his head. "It seems you still don't fully grasp the significance of becoming a knight of the Dongbo Marquisate."
He gestured behind him with a hook of his hand. "Why don't you introduce yourselves to our young friend here?"
One of the seven or eight young men standing in the background stepped forward, his chest puffed out with pride. He looked at Xia Feng with a confident smile. "My name is Rhodes, a Marquis and Holy Knight with three stars of merit and honor. I hold the rank of Major. My father is the commander of the Third Legion of the Northern Territory."
After his introduction, he stepped back into the sunlight, standing tall and proud.
The tall, slender man beside him stepped forward next, speaking in a calm tone as if discussing mundane matters. "I am Huo Yisen, a Marquis and Holy Knight with five stars of honor and merit. I hold the rank of Colonel and am 25 years old."
"My name is Xi Jia, a Marquis and Silver Knight with two stars of honor. My father is Earl Schiller, and my mother is the president of the Azure Sky Chamber of Commerce. I have personal assets exceeding 100 million."
"..." Xia Feng listened in silence, feeling a strange mix of amusement and exasperation. It was as if he were witnessing a group of elementary school children trying to one-up each other.
"Qiu Li, Marquis and Holy Knight, four stars of honor. My father is..."
The introductions continued, with each of the eight young men proudly listing their titles, achievements, and family connections. Xia Feng's eye twitched as he listened. Are they seriously trying to impress me?
But he had to admit, they did have the credentials to boast. Each of them was a noble's son, after all.
"Let me share another secret," Yan Xujia said with a soft laugh. "I am actually the second son of the Marquis of Dongbo. Do you understand now? By becoming a knight of the Dongbo Territory, you'll gain access to the fastest promotion channels and even the opportunity to earn a title. You'll also forge connections with the northern nobility. Your future will be bright."
Xia Feng wasn't sure about the "bright future," but he was certain this deal was ridiculous.
Seeing Xia Feng deep in thought, Yan Xujia grew impatient. "If you're concerned about your engagement with the Mu family, don't be. The head of the Mu family is merely a minor Viscount. I have ways to ensure Miss Mu accompanies you to the North."
With that, he straightened his collar and stood up, looking down at Xia Feng with a calm expression. "So, Xia Feng, you have no objections to this deal, do you?"
He and the eight knights behind him stared at Xia Feng, their collective gaze cold and indifferent.
Silence.
The soundproof barrier had long been deactivated, and though the students in the bustling restaurant hadn't heard the initial conversation, they caught the latter part of the exchange.
A strange, oppressive atmosphere settled over the room. The students held their breath, their eyes fixed on the black-haired boy at the center of it all, who continued to eat his egg custard in silence.
Xia Feng finally set his spoon down in the bowl. "Honestly, Yan Xujia, I have a question."
"What is it?"
Xia Feng leaned back in his chair with a smile. "Does your tea goddess know you're such a bootlicker?"
Yan Xujia's expression stiffened. "I am not a bootlicker!"
Xia Feng chuckled without responding. He knew that behind Cha Naxue's three guardian knights were powerful nobles. The positions of Yin and Panda were secure, but Yan Xujia had nearly been dismissed by Cha Naxue on multiple occasions.
Each time, Yan Xujia had resorted to offering substantial resources from his family to Cha Naxue in exchange for a chance to redeem himself. Based on Xia Feng's understanding of Cha Naxue's pragmatic nature, she would discard anyone who no longer served a purpose.
If Yan Xujia failed to secure his position as the heir and couldn't match the value of Yin and Panda, he would inevitably be cast aside once his resources ran dry.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Xia Feng tapped the table. "Let me make this clear. It's not a matter of whether I have objections. The real question is whether your proposal holds any weight."
(End of Chapter)