"Director Shen, I might not be as formidable as Scarface, but I keep my word and value credibility!" She confidently looked at Shen Yu. "Scarface is indeed a hero, but heās also famously unreliable. Iām different. Once I make a promise, Iāll fulfill it."
Shen Yu rubbed his head with both hands, squinting at her. "What kind of promise are you offering me?"
"Deputy Captain of the Hired Soldiers, how does that sound? As long as you make it to Southern Border alive, our doors are wide open for you, just beneath one person but above ten thousand others."
"But I like being number one."
"Donāt push your luck." Sinong said unhappily.
"Shut up!" Li Xia reprimanded coldly.
"Yes!" Sinong retreated to the back, biting into a bun fiercely.
"Director Shen, as I said, I value my credibility. If you force me to promise you, it means youāre forcing me to break my trust with you." Her words carried an obvious threat.
Even a fool could understand.
Wanting to be number one and stepping on her was absolutely impossible. Even if she agreed now, sheād definitely go back on her word once they reached Southern Border. She might even send people to hunt him down.
Itās better to be number two.
"Alright!" Shen Yu agreed straightforwardly. He didnāt care whether Li Xia kept her word or not, he certainly wouldnāt rely on her. Once at Southern Border, would everything still be up to her?
"But just based on that, itās impossible to let you take away the hostage needed for survival. At most, I agree to let you take the sea route back."
Taking the land route would attract more attention, while the sea route was much safer.
"Director Shen, let me analyze it for you. Firstly, the hostage is useless to you. Because the people trying to kill you are the Shen Family, they wonāt care about the hostageās life or death! You canāt threaten them."
Shen Yu looked at her coldly, saying nothing, but his mind was racing.
"Secondly, the sea route is not entirely safe. One of my subordinates knows the plan to retreat by sea, and this subordinate was likely captured by Living Yama and could reveal it anytime. Then, the most troublesome people will pursue you on the sea route. On the land route, you wonāt have King Yan chasing you, which makes it easier."
"This is a gamble. Weāre betting on whose life is tougher, whose luck is better."
"Great! I love this gamble."
"I love it too." Li Xia clapped hands with him.
"However..."
Shen Yuās words caused a crack in Li Xiaās confident and calm demeanor. This damned man, sheās already conceded once, yet heās still so complicated.
"Go ahead!"
"Four of your subordinates, leave two with me, and you take the other two."
"One; donāt you also have one subordinate?"
"Two, itās essential."
Li Xia gritted her teeth, "Fine, I agree." She glanced at Sinong, "You stay with him, Yoda and Xiao Si come with me."
"Alright!" Sinong nodded.
They finished their discussion, conveniently after eating. Li Xia stood up to scout the terrain, and Sinong followed.
"Captain, be careful." Sinong said, worried.
"Hmm!" Li Xia sighed, a foreboding feeling lay heavily over her head, "We underestimated them this time. We shouldnāt underestimate Living Yama nor the rescue worldās combat capabilities."
The entire Southern Borderās defeat back then wasnāt without reason.
"Captain, donāt worry; the sea route will be smooth."
"Hmm!"
Since deciding to make the return via sea route upon arrival, thereās no way she hadnāt arranged it in advance. Her recent words were just to confuse Shen Yu.