Chapter 59 - The Deal

Chapter 59: The Deal

For some reason, when Qin Li saw Chu Junzhuo, a sense of unease arose within her, as if this woman would take her brother away.

Qin Li knew that Qin Xian had many women in the past—some were casual flings, others were celebrities—but she didn’t mind.

To her, those women were merely playthings for her brother. In Qin Li’s eyes, they weren’t even worthy of being called people, just toys that could never set foot inside the Qin family’s gates.

But Chu Junzhuo was different. With her beauty, talent, and prestigious background, Chu Junzhuo had the qualifications to become the future mistress of the Qin family.

Chu Junzhuo smiled slightly, her beauty so captivating that it seemed to steal the very breath from the air, overshadowing even Qin Li. In truth, Qin Li’s appearance was no less exquisite than Chu Junzhuo’s.

Both women were equally flawless and elegant, bearing the aura of noble daughters from powerful families.

However, in comparison, Qin Li still had a hint of youthful inexperience, while Chu Junzhuo exuded a mature, regal grace.

“Junior Qin, I simply want to make a deal with you,” Chu Junzhuo said softly, her eyes focused intently on Qin Xian’s handsome face.

“What deal?” Qin Xian asked.

Chu Junzhuo waved her hand, and a glowing scroll appeared, casting a barrier around her and Qin Xian.

Qiu Bo, who was standing nearby, narrowed his eyes but didn’t intervene. The scroll was a [Silencing Scroll], which created a soundproof barrier, preventing anyone outside from hearing their conversation. It would last for five minutes.

After ensuring the barrier was in place, Chu Junzhuo smiled and said, “Junior Qin, you’ve heard of the Decaying Kingdom, haven’t you?”

Qin Xian nodded.

The Decaying Kingdom was a dead land discovered by the human world, a once-thriving kingdom now consumed by a terrifying corrupting force. The entire continent was shrouded in the power of decay, and any living creature that entered would be eroded by the decaying aura.

The Decaying Kingdom was known to be incredibly rich in resources, with many valuable secret realms scattered around its outer regions. With the right equipment and items, it was possible to resist the decay near the kingdom’s outskirts.

However, the closer one ventured toward the kingdom’s royal city, the more intense the decay became.

The decay in the royal city was so concentrated that it could almost become tangible. Once, a level 69 expert had entered the Decaying Kingdom’s royal city, only to be severely injured by the corrosive decay.

Although they survived, it took over a decade of recovery to regain their strength. The expert’s injury caused a significant shift in the balance of power among the major guilds at the time.

—

“My class is the Saintess Empress, and when I reached level 30, I received a class quest that requires me to retrieve something from the royal city of the Decaying Kingdom,” Chu Junzhuo explained.

“After completing the Shattered Heaven dungeon, we will receive the blessing of the ancient gods. With this blessing buff, we’ll be protected from the decaying aura for one month. I’m asking you, Junior Qin, to accompany me to the royal city of the Decaying Kingdom after we complete Shattered Heaven.”

Any other man, when faced with such a request from a breathtaking beauty like Chu Junzhuo, would likely agree without hesitation. But Qin Xian remained unmoved, his expression calm as he smiled and asked, “Since it’s a deal, what’s in it for me?”

Seeing that Qin Xian didn’t agree immediately, Chu Junzhuo didn’t show any anger. In fact, there was a trace of admiration in her eyes.

The type of man she despised the most was one who would lose his head over beauty and agree to anything. Such men were destined to amount to nothing.

With a soft sigh, Chu Junzhuo said, “Junior Qin, you’re making this difficult for me. You’re the eldest son of the Qin family. With the Qin family’s power and influence, what could possibly tempt you?”

The Qin family was the empire’s most prestigious noble clan, and arguably the most powerful and influential house in the entire human world. What treasures or artifacts could they possibly lack?

Although Chu Junzhuo came from an extraordinary background and lacked for nothing, she knew that Qin Xian would hardly be impressed by her wealth or possessions.

Looking directly at Qin Xian, Chu Junzhuo said seriously, “If you help me complete my class quest, I will give you a promise. In the future, whatever you ask, as long as it doesn’t harm the Chu family’s interests, I will agree to it unconditionally. Even if you wish to deal with Lord Lu Ji, I will help you!”

Anyone else hearing this would have been shocked. After all, Lord Lu Ji, the empire’s regent, was a figure of supreme authority in the eyes of the public. Yet Chu Junzhuo spoke of him without a shred of reverence…

In this respect, she and Qin Xian were quite similar.

Qin Xian’s eyes narrowed slightly as he considered Chu Junzhuo’s offer. After a moment, he nodded slowly, smiling.

“Deal!”