Chapter 10

After searching for a while, Chen Chao found quite a few good things on the young man. Feeling satisfied, he glanced at the young man who was now barely breathing and asked, "Do you want to leave a live one?"

Xie Nandu, who had been in a daze, finally came to his senses and frowned, "Can he still be saved?"

"Hardly."

Chen Chao chuckled and then ignored the man, walking towards the stove. However, just as he was about to sit on the old chair, Xie Nandu got there first.

Chen Chao frowned but said nothing, instead sitting opposite the stove, feeling the warmth. He hummed contentedly.

After a moment, Chen Chao looked at Xie Nandu and asked, "Shouldn't there be something to say now?"

Xie Nandu thought for a moment. Now that the two of them were truly in the same boat, there was nothing to hide. He said straightforwardly, "I was born into the Bailu Xie family."

Chen Chao frowned, "The Bailu Xie family, the one that shares the same lineage as the Shendu Xie family?"

Xie Nandu nodded, very calm.

Chen Chao was somewhat surprised. He had known that the girl's identity was unusual, but even knowing her surname was Xie, he hadn't guessed it was the Xie family, as the name carried too much weight.

Over two hundred years ago, during a time of chaos, the founding emperor of the Great Li Dynasty decided to rise up and overthrow the tyrannical rule. The Bailu Xie family provided all-out support, not only funding the war but also sending many outstanding family members to assist. After the Great Li Dynasty established its rule, under the founding emperor's rewards, the Xie family had over a dozen members ennobled, who immediately became key ministers of the Great Li Dynasty. Over time, these dozen people gradually established themselves in Shendu, forming a new family, which became the Shendu Xie family.

The Bailu Xie family was the ancestral temple, and the Shendu Xie family was initially just a branch. However, over time, the Shendu Xie family, with its generations of influence in the court, gradually became comparable to the Bailu Xie family. By several decades ago, after over a hundred years of accumulation, the Shendu Xie family had become one of the largest families in the dynasty, even rivaling the centuries-old Qinghe Wei family in the court, and at times surpassing the Bailu Xie family. Although the southern ancestral temple was still the ancestral temple, many of its rules had changed over time.

Xie Nandu is the most outstanding member of the current generation of the Bailu Xie family. Sending her to Shendu, the Bailu side may have had other intentions.

"I've already said it, being friends with me should be a good decision."

Xie Nandu added a piece of charcoal to the stove and said regretfully, "If only there was one."

Chen Chao frowned and analyzed, "The Shendu Xie family wants you to go north to Shendu, but some of them don't want you to appear in Shendu."

"It's not that they don't want it. In high-ranking families, there's no such thing as affection; everything depends on whether it's worth it. The thoughts of the great figures are not hard to guess; they just want to see me."

Xie Nandu looked at Chen Chao, and the meaning in his eyes was already clear.

"Seeing if you are the so-called genius, this is also a test. Only if you pass will you truly be a Xie."

Chen Chao sneered, "This kind of behavior is very much in line with the temperament of those so-called great figures in Shendu."

Xie Nandu looked at Chen Chao seriously, "Thank you."

A girl who hasn't even started practicing, how could she pass the so-called test after all her guards were killed? She could only rely on external help.

This is what it means to use people.

As the top family in the Great Li Dynasty, using people is one of the most important skills for Xie family members.

Xie Nandu suddenly asked, "You don't know much, and I haven't explained clearly to you. How did you know he would appear here?"

Chen Chao glanced at the young man who was already dead and tilted his head, "There are many fools in the world, but I'm not one of them."

The monster appeared twice on Changyuan Street. A normal person would definitely choose to wait there. However, during their idle chat earlier, Xie Nandu suddenly mentioned that a cultivator was raising a monster, which made Chen Chao realize that these two murders were not simple. Moreover, Xie Nandu chose to stay behind instead of going to Changyuan Street with him.

This was the biggest issue.

Xie Nandu, who always considered staying with Chen Chao the safest option, why would he choose to stay behind at this time?

Was he trying to separate Chen Chao from this troublesome matter?

What fate did he leave for himself?

So it was clear that he was trying to lure out the young man and was also betting that Chen Chao, a smart person, would understand the hint he left.

In short, there was nothing accidental tonight; everything was a setup by the two of them.

At this point, even Chen Chao couldn't help but marvel at the girl's depth.

Steady in temperament, deep in thought, and extremely methodical in action, plus meticulous in thought, if she was also a genius in cultivation, then when Xie Nandu appeared in Shendu, he would certainly stir up the Xie family's storm.

The future outcome is hard to predict, but if he could have her friendship, it would certainly be a good thing.

"Does that mean I might be talking to the next head of the Xie family?"

Chen Chao raised an eyebrow but didn't show much excitement.

Not even as excited as when he found the treasures on the young man.

"The atmosphere has been set. What about your story, aren't you going to tell it?"

To be honest, Xie Nandu was really interested in Chen Chao's story. The young county guard of Tianqing, where did he come from, where did he get his martial arts skills, and what level of martial artist is he... all of this, Xie Nandu wanted to know.

Curiosity can kill the cat, but it certainly won't kill Xie Nandu.

"There's nothing much to say, but since I helped you again today, shouldn't I get paid more?"

Chen Chao blinked and then took out the monster pearl he had just found on the monster. This pearl was different from ordinary monster pearls; it had a less intense monster aura but could record images, which the noblewomen in Shendu would surely like.

To catch a cheater, one catch is all it takes.

Putting away the monster pearl, Chen Chao became serious and asked, "Is this test over, or is there more to come?"

Since he was already on the bandit's ship, what else could he do but try to keep the ship from sinking?

Xie Nandu smiled and shook his head, "The thoughts of the great figures, who can truly understand them?"

One more look or another, who can say?

Chen Chao suddenly said, "A person like you, whoever marries you in the future will have to live in constant fear, won't they?"

Hearing this, Xie Nandu wasn't angry but asked, "Why must one marry?"

Chen Chao was stumped by this question and didn't know what to say. Xie Nandu then smiled and said, "If there is a truly excellent man, why not marry him?"