chapter 44

Qi Mo placed her back in her seat . She crouched at the edge of her seat, leaning to the side and breathing heavily, her face pale . Her body ached all over . Qi Mo watched her discomfort indifferently and said, “I can spare you from death, but I can’t forgive you entirely . You nearly ruined my plans for the sake of one woman . I don’t allow such mistakes from my people . ” His voice was rough, but the hand that smoothed itself over her wound was soft .

Li Xin knew that his stern tone arose from the fact that she had nearly dragged him under the bus; her actions had unintentionally affected the execution of his plans, which was not what she wanted . It was only that she had acted independently out of instinct . Qi Mo had also made his move twenty some seconds slower than she’d anticipated, causing this nearly disastrous outcome . She didn’t entirely understand the mechanics behind his scheme, but without his ire, she would not have realized how much danger she had put his people in — they could have died because of her disobedience .

This was the error that Qi Mo referred to, the way in which she had dragged him down, regardless of what she had actually done . If she had known this, she wouldn’t have revealed all the other unnecessary details to him . She frowned; she was too ignorant in the ways of underworld crime, which caused her and Qi Mo to perpetually be on different wavelengths . She would have to pay attention in the future .

She leaned against his chest with her gaze fixated on his still eyes and opened her shaking hands, revealing the explosive devices she had taken . “I found these too,” she said quietly, raising the objects before him . “It wasn’t all because of the woman . ” She hoped her discovery would make up for her mistake .

He furrowed his brows at her offering and reached out to grab the devices, the coldness in his eyes diluted with inquisitiveness . “How did you come about these?”

Nearby, Red Falcon and the rest of the men eyed the objects in surprise . They’d never seen the small rings before, but the button-like devices resembled the ones they had witnessed turning the sea of poppies into ash . It was virtually undetectable by machine or human . The amount that Li Xin had carried out was definitely lethal .

Li Xin noted that the anger in Qi Mo’s face had been completely replaced by an ominous look of apprehension . She took a breath, then said, “I was recording something useful for you from the surveillance centre and came upon its location, so I brought it all with me . I really was trying to help you, you know . If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have been late . “

Well, that was 80 percent true and 20 percent false, but she was sure Qi Mo couldn’t tell . Besides, it really was because of these devices that she had wasted an extra twenty seconds .

“I never asked you for any help,” Qi Mo shot back . “If I weren’t sure of myself, I wouldn’t have acted . ” While speaking, he handed the objects to Red Falcon and returned his arm around her waist, gentle massaging where she was hurt .

Although his words were abrasive, the level of his anger noticeably decreased, and Li Xin felt the hair on the back of her neck settle down in relief . He was still irked, but it was at a stage that she felt was manageable . “If you don’t want it, then whatever,” she tossed out candidly . She knew that he had gone prepared, otherwise he wouldn’t have made a move . She had only helped him because it had been along her way .

“Give it here . ” Qi Mo looked down to see Li Xin rubbing her wrist . Illuminated by the dim car light, her skin seemed to glow with blue and purple bruises . He frowned .

She huffed and tossed him the disc that contained the footage she’d copied in the surveillance center . “I took it from the surveillance room . We can forget my punishment now, correct?” Qi Mo calming down saw the prompt return of her arrogant attitude . She was an excellent reader of body language .

Qi Mo gave the disc to Li Hu, who inserted it into the car’s video player . The scene that played on the screen made everyone raised their brows — Li Xin had given them something valuable .

Yellow Falcon slapped the back of his seat and laughed . “This gives us even more leverage . The Blue Clan is going to pay for this . “

“Good work,” Red Falcon agreed, his taut face relaxing for once as he side-eyed Li Xin .

Their reaction confirmed Li Xin’s assumption that their greatest desire was to take revenge on the Blue Clan . But she was more concerned about Qi Mo’s reaction, for she was already covered in wounds and had no desire to gain any more .

The overlord saw her staring fixedly at him and his eyes lit up jovially for once . He threw his arm around her body and shifted so that she leaned against his shoulder . “I’ll let things go this time,” he said quietly . “You’ve done us a great service . However, don’t let this ever happen again . Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you . “

Things in the world of crime shifted dramatically from one second to the next . It was never easy to predict when the events of a single moment resulted in a completely different outcome . He was an arms dealer and possessed items that could obliterate an entire skyscraper in a few seconds . If Li Xin continued to rebel in the way she did, doing things her own way, it would be dangerous . She was, by habit, someone who danced to her own tune, but she did not fully understand the consequences of doing so .

Li Xin alone was unaware of how many lives had been sacrificed for the extra twenty seconds she had made them wait . Everyone else knew, and it would weigh in their minds as they thought about whether one life was more important or the lives of multiple . This was the difference between a thief and a robber .

The good thing was that they had gained the explosive devices she had stolen, so those men’s lives had not been lost for nothing; they would be able to prevent a lot more lives from being lost now, and Qi Mo could properly face his own people .

Li Xin let out a breath . Whatever would come would come . For now, she had gotten through this round . But she was still dissatisfied at the fact that she had sacrificed so much to earn so little . “But I already got punished . Shouldn’t I get some reward in return?” She shoved her bruised wrist out for Qi Mo to see .

His face turned stormy again .

“Fine, fine, never mind,” she replied hastily .

Silence fell upon the occupants of the car . Li Hu, who had been watching the footage on the screen the entire time, suddenly spoke up, breaking the short-lived and stifling quiet that had enveloped the car . “You saw?” He was referring to the people Qi Mo had sent to stealthily invade the Wind Clan building; all of it had been recorded on the monitors .

Red Falcon raised his head to see what Li Hu meant, and Qi Mo swept a glance at Li Xin, who kept her head down . She threw Li Hu a disdainful look and pursed her lips . “If you guys were going to choose someone to hack the system, you should’ve chosen someone good,” she said . “I repelled them so easily . You should be embarrassed . “

Silence descended upon them once again . After a long moment, Red Falcon threw a casual glance at Li Hu, who looked upset . “Looks like your skills need improving . “

Yellow Falcon coughed . “Quite the expert,” he commented to Li Xin, looking at her brightly .

She noticed the the two Falcons looking at her thoughtfully; even Li Hu was eyeing her from the driver’s seat through the rearview mirror . The contemplation that passed through their eyes caused a shiver of fear to run through her . She turned and let her head fall into Qi Mo’s chest . “That’s all I know,” she said miserably . “Don’t get any ideas . “