Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King-Chapter 240 - 230: The Guest Becomes the Host, the Wicked Servant Bullies the Master

Chapter 240: Chapter 230: The Guest Becomes the Host, the Wicked Servant Bullies the Master

Li Xian was determined to do his utmost to help Wen Caishang escape danger and repay past debts. All grudges and grievances would be settled with satisfaction. Seeing that Wen Caishang was unreasonable, without her usual cunning, and acting much like an ordinary girl’s tantrum, he wanted to leave for a moment to let her calm down.

Li Xian said, "Alright. I’ll leave first, madam, please rest well!" He used the Clear Wind Leg technique, leaping over the courtyard wall and leaving.

Wen Caishang was stunned, incredulously saying, "You actually dare to leave?!" Seeing Li Xian disappear into the darkness, she couldn’t regain her senses for a long time.

As time passed, the night wore on, becoming extremely silent. She couldn’t move at all, her Inner Qi was completely depleted, and injuries covered her body.

She couldn’t help but feel secretly afraid, vaguely hoping for Li Xian to return and follow her every word and action.

"Alright, saying he finds it hard to comply, unwilling to kill the innocent, is just an excuse, afraid of death and abandoning me."

"I didn’t have the Ancestral Silkworm bite him earlier, and I truly regret it. With my injuries, stranded here, it’s mostly hopeless."

Wen Caishang lay in the carriage, becoming more hateful and angry as she thought about it. She had always held a high position, who dared oppose her? And now, with fortune unfavorable, she encountered misfortune, falling to the bottom.

Without her formidable abilities, various thoughts surged in her mind. She was no different from ordinary women. If Li Xian obeyed, he’d naturally please her, but he’d be no different from Pang Long or Qiuyue. Li Xian’s retreat as an advance strategy infuriated Wen Caishang to the point of wanting to kill him to vent her anger, yet it was the key to thinking outside the box.

Wen Caishang, angry and furious, cursed him as an ungrateful wolf, hated him for his disrespect. But towards Li Xian, she no longer felt above him. With much deliberation, her thoughts were all about Li Xian.

The moon was bright and the stars sparse, a gentle breeze blew.

Time passed. As dawn broke, suddenly the sound of horse hooves could be heard from afar. Wen Caishang awoke groggily, guessing that pursuers were approaching, trying to move her body but not able to budge, despair set in, thinking, "Even if Li Xian were here, what could he do? Could he still help me escape the peril?"

Amidst her sorrow, suddenly the carriage lightly shook, and Li Xian returned, looking solemn.

Wen Caishang joyfully said, "You didn’t leave?" Then quickly put on a cold face, "Alright, so the enemies were brought by you!?"

Li Xian said, "Madam, I circled nearby all night, never went far. Seeing the pursuers approaching at dawn, I quickly rushed back."

Wen Caishang, having lost and regained him, saw Li Xian’s respectful words, and her odd annoyance completely vanished, thinking, "I’ll make an exception and forgive you this once." With a cold face, she said, "Really?"

"Really." Li Xian laughed, "How cold-hearted must I be to abandon you, madam? Last night, Li Xian’s words were clumsy, I hope madam won’t blame me."

"Hmph! What’s the use of saying this now, I’ve already been angry at you all night." Wen Caishang’s emotions fluctuated, suddenly feeling cheerful, yet scolded, "Wretched servant."

"If madam wants to scold me, you can scold to your heart’s content on the way, but for now, please follow me." Li Xian lifted his hand to help up Wen Caishang, carrying her on his back. Wen Caishang’s pretty face blushed slightly.

Li Xian had wanted to take Wen Caishang and flee last night, but they argued, fearing she’d release the Ancestral Silkworm to bite him. So he intentionally remained distant, calming emotions. But unexpectedly, the pursuers arrived quickly. Taking a few steps forward, he suddenly realized that fleeing like this, there were many hidden threats, then a brilliant plan dawned on him as he muttered towards the small courtyard, "Sorry to borrow your old horse."

He sneaked into the house, knocked out Old Zhang and his children. He led the horse, giving its rump a slap.

The old horse, startled, quickly took off in leaps, running westward, causing quite a commotion. Li Xian carried Wen Caishang and also took off towards the direction of the horse.

Wen Caishang said, "Diversionary Tactics, if you’ve already diverted east, why go towards the east?"

Li Xian said, "I figured that in Sword Rain Tower, there must be clever people, otherwise, they wouldn’t have found us so quickly. Diversionary Tactics might delay them a bit, but it’s not very useful. My diversion towards the original direction might yield unexpected results."

Wen Caishang nodded, "You’re rather clever." Remembering their argument last night, she spat lightly, "Wretched servant."

Li Xian smiled, secretly thinking, "Madam really has a bit of a temper."

At this moment, they were still in the city, with many houses along the road. Li Xian moved in the same direction as the horse but slowed down to hide along the way. After traveling about seven to eight miles, a figure descended from the sky.

Su Qiuyu stopped the horse, seeing no one, he realized he was tricked and said, "What a cunning boy, deliberately letting the horse create a commotion, he must have run in another direction, go after him!"

He immediately doubled back, dispatching Sword Rain Tower disciples to search in other directions, fearing a delay and letting the tiger return to the mountain. Unbeknownst to him, Li Xian was nearby.

Li Xian watched Su Qiuyu leave, exhaling lightly in relief. He quickly ran out of the city, ducking into a secret forest. After setting down Wen Caishang, he had a moment to rest.

Once regaining Qi Power, he continued on. Delving deeper into the forest, using trees for cover. Around noon, when the sun was fierce, Li Xian attentively listened, not hearing any pursuers, so he found a stream to rest by.

He set Wen Caishang down, lying flat on the ground. Wen Caishang’s white dress was stained with blood, its hem flowing, her figure captivating. Despite her dire condition and inability to move, in her frowns and smiles, there was an indescribable charm.

Li Xian said, "That was close!"

Wen Caishang felt quite impressed, pondering her many decisions, beset by misfortune, always leading to failure, each step a misstep. If Li Xian assisted, borrowing his intelligence and strategy, perhaps might they yet flee? Yet she only lightly "hmphed," still sulking.

Li Xian knew they temporarily escaped danger but were still in great peril, their fate uncertain. Seeing Wen Caishang’s upset face, devoid of past majesty, he suddenly thought, "Madam is ruthless. Although I risked saving her to repay a debt, she might not appreciate it. Regardless of the outcome, I must leave Yihetang Manor afterward. It’s rare to see madam so embarrassed, sulking like a young girl. If I don’t tease her a bit, won’t I leave feeling repressed?"

Seeing Wen Caishang resting with eyes closed, he grew bold, plucking wild Hui Grass by the riverbank to lightly tickle her nose. Wen Caishang endured for a moment, then sneezed, angrily exclaiming, "Li Xian! What are you doing!"

Li Xian said, "I wanted to see if madam was still angry with me."

"Hmph!" Wen Caishang retorted, "You, a mere country bumpkin, is it worth my anger?" In truth, she was infuriated with Li Xian.

Her attitude towards Li Xian was that of using an object. But past feelings quietly lingered in her heart. Now that Li Xian took charge, treating her with disrespect, her emotions subtly shifted.

She appeared more like a little woman.

Li Xian said, "So whatever I do, madam won’t be angry with me?"

"You..." Wen Caishang said, quietly, "How presumptuous!"

Li Xian teased her nose lightly, irritating Wen Caishang to no end, thinking, "Had I known you were this kind of person, I should have struck you down with one sword!" But helplessly, she had to endure several sneezes, looking extremely disheveled.

Li Xian laughed playfully, "I used to think you were as cold as ice, without any emotion. Now it seems, you’re no different from an ordinary woman."

"An ordinary woman, how could she compare to me." Wen Caishang said coldly, "Only now do I realize, you brat, how annoying you are. A petty man showing off his success."

"Indeed, your skill in sulking is more formidable than ordinary women." Li Xian chuckled, "I am honest and straightforward, not one to be punched. But you certainly have not spared any in beating me in the past."

Wen Caishang said, "Oh, you’re remembering the grudge of when I stabbed you, bringing me to this secluded place to take revenge on me!"

"Feel pleased for now, but wait until my Inner Qi recovers, then see how I punish you," Wen Caishang said.

Li Xian said, "Madam, you misunderstand me. I genuinely wish to save you, my honest nature, you should know."

"You even deceived me, how are you honest then?" Wen Caishang said angrily, "Mention being honest one more time, and I... I..." She wanted to kick him.

"Alright, alright, I won’t mention it again." Li Xian felt a bit aggrieved, then laughed again, "If I’m not mistaken, Madam, you were targeted by a Gu, right?"

Wen Caishang was stunned, "How do you know?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"I guessed it," Li Xian said, "Since that day when you met Ma Zhongguang, you seemed slightly unusual. That Ma Zhongguang is skilled in setting Gu, so I guessed you were targeted. But I didn’t expect that Gu worm to drain your Inner Qi completely."

"It has already... dragged us both into danger."

"Hmph!" Wen Caishang turned her head away, "If you find it dangerous, you can leave. What can I do to you now? I just hate my fate, being schemed against, betrayed, eaten by a tiger, bitten by a wolf. It’s all destiny."

Li Xian held the Hui Grass, teasing her nose again.

Wen Caishang sneezed again, her chest heaving with anger, her face flushed, "Are you done yet!"

Li Xian said, "Madam, you look quite cute when you’re this angry." Wen Caishang said, "You’re unusual, you’re the first under the heavens to say Lady Zhe Jian is cute when angry."

Li Xian replied candidly, "I just call it as I see it, cute is cute, pretty is pretty. Why can’t it be said?"

Wen Caishang didn’t know whether to be angry or not, she gave Li Xian a sidelong glance.

Li Xian said seriously, "Madam, today’s situation threatens both of us. We need to be honest with each other to find a way to survive."

"What do you plan to do?" Wen Caishang asked.

Li Xian said, "I said we should be honest with each other. You need to tell me your backup plans." Wen Caishang was furious, feeling Li Xian had taken advantage of her, "What backup plans do I have left, if I did, would I let you bully me like this?"

"You have, that silkworm, is a strong trump card," Li Xian said.

Wen Caishang asked nervously, "What do you want?!"

Li Xian said, "I know, Madam, you hide a poisonous silkworm under your clothes, and surely there’s a Heaven and Earth Treasure Box. Please, Madam, open the treasure box and let the poisonous silkworm crawl inside."

Wen Caishang faced Li Xian, coldly, "Are you afraid I would use the poisonous silkworm to kill you?"

Li Xian said nothing. Wen Caishang squinted slightly and sighed, "Li Xian, I did underestimate you. Your plotting and thinking are indeed thorough. I fear our past interactions were all just a charade?"

Li Xian sat beside Wen Caishang, letting Wen Caishang call the poisonous silkworm out to lie on his palm, effectively entrusting his life to her. He said, "The poisonous silkworm is already in my hand, Madam, if you want my life, a mere thought could have the worm bite, and I would die instantly."

"What I say next is all heartfelt."

"My feelings towards you, Madam, are genuine, not just a facade. But I know that your feelings towards me are mostly scheming. I have no regrets, my affection towards you is sincere. But Madam, how have you treated me?"

Wen Caishang was taken aback, she always expected Li Xian to treat her in a certain way, completely ignoring how she should treat Li Xian. From a standpoint of interests and calculations, Li Xian truly owed her nothing. Even though she had saved Li Xian several times, in exchange... each time, wasn’t it Li Xian risking his life to fight for her benefit?

She looked into Li Xian’s eyes, suddenly feeling guilty. She had always looked down on Li Xian, everything seemed justified. But now caught in danger, all her superior airs vanished. All these issues surfaced.

Wen Caishang said, "You..." feeling a strange sensation, seeing Li Xian calm and composed, with indifference to life and death, this demeanor she couldn’t quite match.

For the first time she felt,

Li Xian was not her subordinate, nor her dependent servant.

Standing upright and straightforward, before her.

"Alright then..." Wen Caishang said, "Three inches from my sleeve is a Heaven and Earth Treasure Box, open it."

Li Xian opened the box. The Ancestral Silkworm crawled inside, this action... symbolized Wen Caishang putting her last card away in the box.

Under all these circumstances, she had nothing left to hide from Li Xian. Her temperament, her thoughts, her schemes... all like the Ancestral Silkworm entering the box.

Li Xian closed the treasure box and placed it in his chest.