Above Destiny

Chapter 849 The End of a Green Stream
"Hey, bro!"

The blond-haired boy stood up and pressed the answer button.

There's something I need to tell you.

Chen Xingzhou's voice came from the other end, calm and composed, getting straight to the point: "Yesterday, Mr. Ji called me and said that he saw you were doing well recently and asked if I wanted to give you more responsibilities, but I declined."

What he wants to do is not suitable for you.

Chen Xingzhou paused slightly before continuing, "As your older brother, it wouldn't be right for me to cut off your chance to succeed."

If you feel it's inappropriate, I can ask him to reconsider.

"Huh? Even you think I'm not suitable, then I definitely can't handle it."

Without hesitation, the blond man shook his head repeatedly: "Forget it, forget it. If I mess this up, I'll be embarrassed, but if I ruin Mr. Ji's plans, I won't have the face to go back to Yacheng!"

Chen Xingzhou laughed, "Aren't you going to ask what it is?"

"This……"

The golden retriever looked bewildered: "Is there a difference?"

"...Okay, then come back, and bring a few more reliable ones with you."

Chen Xingzhou's tone remained calm: "You've been doing very well at Xinquan, and Mr. Ji also wants you to continue. Keep up the good work and don't let us down."

"Then I'll have someone buy the earliest flight right away!"

"There's no rush. Things should be done slowly."

Chen Xingzhou concluded by reminding him, "Mr. Ji is being kind to you, so don't be impolite."

"Don't worry, brother, I understand!"

Golden Hair nodded repeatedly. After hanging up the phone, he kicked open the door, ordered his subordinates to pack their things, ignored their astonished expressions, and drove straight to Ji Jue's residence on Luo Island.

All the way there, I was thinking about how to thank Mr. Ji for his high regard and how to say goodbye to him properly. I racked my brains for auspicious words, but as I thought about it, I couldn't help but hate myself for being so uncultured: apart from common phrases like "May your happiness be as vast as the Eastern Sea" and "May your longevity be as enduring as the Southern Mountains," all I could think of was "Happy Birthday"...

As a result, when the time came, he opened his mouth but forgot his lines.

Stuttering and stammering.

Ji Jue, however, remained smiling and invited him into the living room to sit down. On the table, the brewed tea was just warm.

"So, Mr. Chen has already told you he's preparing to leave?"

"Um, ah, yes...yes!"

"Don't be nervous, and don't overthink it."

Ji Jue waved his hand, signaling him to relax: "Working in Qicheng is different from working in Xinquan. Qicheng is too chaotic. If you are forced to do it, I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it."

But Xinquan's matter is too important; I don't trust anyone else to do it.

These days, not many people follow the rules, and besides, you've always been sensible in your actions and conduct. Mr. Chen and I both have high hopes for you.

Immediately, the golden-haired boy became even more excited, subconsciously standing up with his face flushed: "Yes, I, I... I will not let you and my elder brother down!"

Ji Jue chuckled and sighed slightly.

If it were Ling Shuo, he might have simply dropped the "big brother" from the sentence, making it sound more natural. But conversely, it's precisely because the "golden-haired boy" part can't be removed that it's reassuring.

He pushed the box on the table over.

"Since you're leaving, at least take some local specialties back with you," he joked. "You can't just drink your herbal remedy for nothing..."

The golden retriever quickly shook his head:
"Where are you from...?"

The words were abruptly cut off before they could be finished.

He stared blankly with his head down.

The box that Ji Jue opened contained a folding knife laid out on brocade, its light shimmering and captivating... He forgot to breathe at just one glance.

Then, on the second glance, I couldn't breathe anymore.

The folding knife opened in Ji Jue's hand, swirled lightly, rose, and pierced into his heart, all the way to the hilt.

He didn't even realize it.

Stunned and bewildered.

"Huh?"

It wasn't fast enough to catch anyone off guard, yet it left no room for resistance. The movements were too concise, fluid, and flawless, as if it were a matter of course, leaving absolutely no chance to fight back.

Even though everything was happening right under his nose, he still couldn't hide from it.

What's more, he still doesn't understand what happened...

Huh? What's going on?
Why did Mr. Ji stab me in the back?

real or fake?

Did I say something wrong?
Then, it belatedly came to my attention: why couldn't I feel any pain?
Not only did I not feel any pain, but I also felt refreshed and relaxed all over!

Even breathing became easier.

The blade that pierced his heart seemed to have become one with him, drawing upon his blood and spiritual essence. It changed slightly, and soon, a viscous black liquid silently seeped from the hilt and dripped onto the table.

The smell of alcohol and tar was pungent.

"Smoking and drinking are harmful to health. Even the chosen ones must exercise restraint."

Ji Jue drew his knife and placed it in front of the blond-haired boy, telling him, "Take care of yourself, take this."

The golden retriever remained dazed, breathing heavily.

"This...this..."

His voice trembled: "Is...this really for me?" "With your blood on it, it's now linked to you. Who else would I give it to if not you?"

Ji Jue laughed and urged him to put it away quickly: "After the spiritual essence is fully infused, remember to keep it with you at all times and don't leave it unattended. It can save your life."

"I...I...thank you, Mr. Ji...I..."

The golden retriever carefully picked up the knife, holding it with obvious affection.

That last slash wasn't meant to kill, it was meant to heal!

Under this blessed creation, all the harmful substances in my body were actually ripped out with a single stab...

At that moment, he felt better than ever before.

The golden retriever's strengths lie in its sense of propriety, obedience, and adherence to rules; its weaknesses are the same.

If you don't have enough brainpower, you can only focus your attention on what's truly important. That's why you're able to gain the trust of Ji Jue and Chen Xingzhou, and that's also why you're prone to being naive.

Getting rid of him is too easy, sometimes even unnecessary—one cup of poisoned wine, and nine times out of ten he'll be hooked. If you're enthusiastic when trying to persuade him, he might even think the wine is really strong.

That's why Ji Jue forged this creation.

Whether it's a curse, poison, or even mind control and attraction from the heart, a single strike can completely refresh the body and soul from the bottom up, stripping away all external interference and influence, leaving the person completely renewed.

If the user's condition deteriorates to a certain extent, it will replenish all of their spiritual energy and life force, and at the same time, grant them a short-term overclocking state.

Even if you only have a breath left, you can be fully reborn, maximizing your attack speed, reaction time, and damage output, and entering a berserk state. This ensures that even if you don't survive, you can still fight to the death.

It incorporates some design and mechanism elements from Fish Intestine and Chun Jun, and has been specifically adapted and optimized for Golden Retriever.

More importantly, Ji Jue's name and mark were engraved on the hilt of the knife.

Even just the mark is enough to cause its value to skyrocket to a level that is unimaginable to ordinary people, which can be regarded as compensation for the golden retriever's hard work during this period of time.

"It's just something to practice with, nothing serious."

Ji Jue told him, "If you really want to thank me, then do your job well."

"Yes!"

The golden-haired boy said his final farewell and solemnly got up to leave.

His impassioned demeanor made it seem to anyone who didn't know better that he was going to die in place of Ji Jue, which made him feel quite guilty.

Silly child, you've never seen anything good before, this is only the beginning.

I'll get him some new gadgets when I have time later.

After saying goodbye to Ji Jue, Golden Hairy didn't delay any longer. That afternoon, he boarded a ship with his subordinates and left, leaving all his territory and profits to Ling Shuo to deal with at his own pace.

Suddenly, it left the game, and then went offline in a flash.

So much so that even Ling Shuo found it hard to believe when he received the news: No, he really left so cheerfully?

Didn't they even say a word?
I've been thinking of so many ways to make you back down without hurting our feelings, but now I don't need to use any of them?
You make me look really silly!
That's why he could feel Ji Jue's almost undisguised affection for Jin Maozai: "Silly kid, you can't do such complicated things. Go home and play."

That is precisely why, after a moment of astonishment and jealousy, one cannot help but feel overjoyed.

Rest in peace!
That was a great farewell!
It is precisely because the golden-haired boy passed away peacefully and calmly that he is able to be so at ease—Mr. Ji is ultimately different from others!

To some extent, for Qicheng and for Ji Jue, the best outcome would have been for him to stay, struggle in vain, and fight and resist with all his might, resulting in a life-or-death struggle between the two sides.

The struggle for power is never child's play; it's a matter of life and death.

There is no peaceful exit, only survival of the fittest and the law of the jungle.

As a stepping stone, Ling Shuo can eliminate the useless Jin Maozai and then naturally swallow up his territory and assets. Furthermore, he can make everyone feel Ling Shuo's authority, obey his position, establish his rules, and make him stand out completely. This is the best way to use Jin Maozai!
Even if we spare his life, we could let the blond-haired boy suffer a crushing defeat as a warning to the evil spirits!

Now that the golden retriever is gone, it will certainly be a bit more troublesome for him to take over the work, but isn't this also a way out for himself?
Mr. Ji was ultimately kind and magnanimous; he would never abandon someone who risked their life for him like others did.

Knowing this is enough!

He was already fired up.

"Brother Ji Jue said, 'The opportunity is yours.'"

That evening, a strange young man with a long sword at his waist came to his office and handed him a box:

"Whether you succeed or not, whether you can wear it openly and honestly, is up to you."

Ling Shuo lowered his head and stared at the opened box. The dazzling and majestic dark gold ring on the brocade was so beautiful that he almost forgot to breathe.

For a fleeting moment, he almost wanted to pick up the ring and put it on his hand, but when he realized what was happening, he recoiled as if he had been electrocuted.

Carefully close the box and put it away.

This is not something he can currently afford to touch, but a gift, a congratulatory gift from Mr. Ji to the leader of the Seven Cities!
"I understand."

Ling Shuo firmly assured him, "Please rest assured, Mr. Ji, I will absolutely not let him down!"

"Oh."

The somewhat dull-witted boy simply nodded upon hearing this.

As if completely oblivious, he didn't respond at all, leaving Ling Shuo speechless for a moment.

I don't understand. The golden retriever just left, and then a strange face appeared immediately. Who is this guy?
She looked like she wasn't even an adult yet; she was slender, and her face, framed by her wispy hair, was as beautiful as a young girl's. When she spoke, she wouldn't look people in the eye, as if she was always subconsciously avoiding eye contact.

But when those clear, quiet eyes seemed to sweep over him unintentionally, they sent a chill down his spine!
Like a wild beast that trembles instinctively when it senses the gaze of its predator.

That feeling was like something I'd seen in a nightmare before.

He subconsciously lowered his head, instinctively adopting an even more humble attitude. "May I ask how I should address you?"

"Your Excellency? Are you referring to me?"

The puzzled boy looked at him and smiled slightly:
"My name is An Ran."

(End of this chapter)