Martial King's Retired Life

Out of nowhere, a bossy person hollered, “Is that Ming Feizhen up ahead?”

I raised an eyebrow and looked over my shoulders. “Possibly not.”

I shall skip the introduction for the tall and muscular man resembling a fortress because I recognised him.

“You are Ming Feizhen!”

“No! No! No!”

Isn’t Zhao Tiankui at Eight Deities?! What is he doing here?!

I bolted along the path of hopes, while a muscular man chased after me.

***

I spared no energy, no strategies, no blood bombs, no smoke bombs and no alleys for shaking people off to sneak into Northern Wondrous Warrior Manor’s hiding spot. Zhao Tiankui continued searching for me nearby.

I knew my way around by the second visit, so I waited around for a while for the steward to take me to Zuo Suniang. She saw me alone this time, proving that I had earnt her trust.

“You are really cunning, Fuma. After we finished negotiations, you turned around and sent a team to keep surveillance on us. Do you deem me untrustworthy?”

You thought I sent Long Cheng’s group to keep tabs on you? I sent them here to stay out of view.

I was going to rectify the misunderstanding until it dawned on me that I could turn it in my favour.

“The agreement is between Your Highness and His Majesty, not me. Is this minor problem too much for your already?”

Zuo Suniang’s gaze read, “If it wasn’t on account of that, I’d have plunged a new hole in your head with my spear already.”

Since business was my primary goal, I cut to the chase. “Are you not curious why I am back so soon?”

It took her a quick glance to come to an overjoyed conclusion.

“His Majesty has acquiesced?”

I cracked the grin of a master strategist. “His Majesty and I are in-laws. It never was hard for me to put in a word.”

“Words cannot do my gratitude for you justice.” Zuo Suniang gave me possibly the most charming bow I’d ever seen.

I had never seen her so polite, so I instinctively got up and told her she didn’t have to go so far. I felt bad about it because… I hadn’t completed His Majesty’s mission.

“It is still too early to express gratitude. I have not finished.”

Zuo Suniang went from a bright expression to a vigilant one faster than I could blink. “His Majesty refuses to accept the demands?”

I leisurely picked up my hot tea for a nip.

“If His Majesty has concerns about my demands, why not just outright tell me, Fuma? For what reason must you keep me guessing?”

Zuo Suniang assumed she was rejected as she deep down felt her demands were excessive. I’d agree. Even though His Majesty accepted her demands, she most probably was prepared for the possibility of rejection. Hence, she believed there was room for negotiation today. Being aware of what her trump card was manufactured confidence for me.

“His Majesty will accept if I speak up. You need not be concerned, Your Highness.”

“In that case, what else was it that you had to say?” Zuo Suniang sat back down.

I met with her gaze using an aggressive one. “After I spoke to him, not only has His Majesty approved, but he has also said he would provide you with five times what you requested! All that remains is for you to agree to one condition.”

Zuo Suniang stretched her eyes reflexively. “Wh-what condition?”

Got you now!

As a master negotiator, I had to withhold the answer to induce a sense of urgency.

“Hehe.” I wore on a refined smile as I scanned Zuo Suniang’s face. “Why not take a guess?”

Then, I had another drink.

If she wasn’t smart, she wouldn’t have been able to survive while she had two parties pressuring her – and even find a way to thrive. After she finished ruminating, she looked up at me, and I smiled back. Then, her face started to turn pale. In a shaky voice, she uttered, “You don’t mean to tell me…”

“With your intellect, you would know that ordinary things cannot satisfy me or the glory and wealth Northern Wondrous Warrior Manor covets. I want Northern Wondrous Warrior Manor’s most prized possession.”

Zuo Suniang gasped. “Y-you would dare…”

Looks like she’s guessed it.

“Hahaha, indeed, it is as you have guessed.”

Zuo Suniang slammed the table and pointed at my face. “You’re contemptible!”

“Exactly!”

Hmm? Uh… that was not what I expected to hear.

“Huh?”

“Dream on!” Face as red as fresh blood, Zuo Suniang bit down on her lip and shouted, “I have protected it for more than ten years since my husband passed away! I will not let you ruin it! You… You’re young, yet your audacity knows no bounds! How dare you threaten me with this?!”

Erm… I understood she protected the secret passage for more than a decade and that it was her family’s most important secret, but… that reaction was weird, no? Contemptible?