CHAPTER 376: CHAPTER 376 AMBITION

Facing the ominous gun muzzle, Xu Ke’s face showed not a hint of panic, not even the slightest change in heartbeat. Yet, he felt the small hand he was holding had become somewhat cold, with cold sweat appearing in their intertwined palms.

Xu Ke’s heart softened for a moment, and he felt a brief pang of regret, regretting having agreed to her request to bring her here.

"I still stand by what I said, I disagree with your previous arrangement. However, I can work for you. I don’t think those two people deserve my position. What I can achieve, they may not. There’s no comparison between them and me," Xu Ke said with a proud expression. This arrogance made him appear much more vibrant than before, but also more foolish, like someone with his head in the clouds and lacking depth.

Xu Ke’s words eased the previously tense atmosphere significantly, even making K’s previously cold face warm as spring.

"So you refused because of this, huh? Easily solved, just bring it up. I appreciate that about you," K said, patting Xu Ke’s shoulder and laughing heartily.

"You want a position above theirs, that’s fine, but you’ll need to prove your worth to me. Without showing me your value, how can I elevate your position? Even if I did, my subordinates wouldn’t respect you; wouldn’t you agree?"

"Then how do you want me to prove my abilities?" Xu Ke asked, raising one eyebrow slightly.

"That depends on how ambitious you are."

"What I want, of course, is to be second to none and above all others," Xu Ke stated matter-of-factly.

"Hahaha, very ambitious, I like that," K laughed, clapping his hands.

"You want to be second to none and above all others? It’s possible. You just need to prove your abilities. If you want this position, go and assassinate the Knight of the East District. He’s a trusted aide of the East District’s Boss. If you kill him, proving you’re stronger than his trusted aides, then the position is yours. Do you dare to do this?" K squinted slightly, looking up at Xu Ke from beneath lowered brows.

"Of course, as long as I kill their Knight, you’ll make me the second-in-command in the West District. Is this true or not?" Xu Ke asked again, as if in disbelief.

"I always keep my word, but you should know if you fail, you’ll be punished," K said, licking his strikingly crimson lips, with an indescribable danger in his eyes focused on Xu Ke.

"What kind of punishment?" Xu Ke asked, frowning.

"Well, that depends on my mood," K withdrew his dangerous gaze, becoming somewhat lazy and relaxed, like a young master strolling on the beach.

"Fine, in a month’s time, I’ll let you see the news of his death," Xu Ke nodded, prepared to leave with Lin Mengyao’s hand in his, but the man in black blocking his way still held his gun and didn’t seem willing to let them leave.

"What do you mean by this?" Xu Ke turned back, looking at K with a dangerous gaze.

"Don’t look at me like that. It’s rather unreasonable to ask me to believe you with just a few words. My intelligence prevents me from doing such foolish things, so please leave the woman beside you here. Having someone around might hasten things, and it’ll set my mind at ease. Isn’t it a perfect win-win situation?"

K appeared as if negotiating, yet his actions left no room for anyone to refute him. The man in black received K’s instructions, reaching towards Lin Mengyao, but was promptly blocked by Xu Ke.

"I can’t do without her. If you want her to stay, your house will need to set another pair of bowls and chopsticks. I must stay with her," Xu Ke looked at K without yielding.

"Alright," K’s gaze lingered on the two of them for a moment before quickly agreeing. After all, another set of tableware at home wasn’t a big deal.

K waved, and the bodyguards blocking Xu Ke parted to the sides, making a gesture of invitation.

Lin Mengyao squeezed Xu Ke’s hand uneasily, but her face remained calm. Nothing on her face revealed the extent of her inner nervousness.

"Am I holding you back again?" Once they were confined to a room, Lin Mengyao finally buried her face in Xu Ke’s chest, speaking in a muffled voice.

"That’s not true, don’t overthink it. I thought you were scared because you didn’t say a word on the way here, but it seems you were just dwelling on these baseless things," Xu Ke said, holding Lin Mengyao and placing his chin on her head.

"How can you be so adorable?" Xu Ke took a deep breath, his tone carrying a hint of amusement, making Lin Mengyao feel a bit embarrassed. She buried her face in Xu Ke’s chest, unwilling to lift her head, though her fair ears had turned a soft pink.

"We’re now locked up here; can you be serious for once? Stop being so frivolous and think about how to escape," Lin Mengyao, with her face buried in Xu Ke’s embrace, extended her delicate fist lazily hitting Xu Ke’s body, neither hurting nor itching.

"Why escape? The living conditions here aren’t bad. Tomorrow we’ll have people serving us food and drink for free. It’s a perfect deal," Xu Ke continued stroking Lin Mengyao’s head.

"But they want you to kill, and they have guns. Staying here doesn’t feel safe," Lin Mengyao frowned slightly in Xu Ke’s embrace, though no one could see the worry in her eyes.

"Just treat this as an adventure game. Don’t overthink it. I am confident I can get us out safe and sound. We’ve hardly gone out before while back home, so take this as a real-life game. Once we’re satisfied, we’ll leave. What do you think?" Xu Ke said, spinning Lin Mengyao around a few times before they fell together onto the spring bed, letting out a content sigh.

"I’m not one for plain living. I enjoy thrill-seeking. Being with me, you can’t expect an ordinary life. I hope you come to enjoy this kind of life with me," Xu Ke said gently into Lin Mengyao’s ear, as he held her tightly.

Lin Mengyao raised her head to look at Xu Ke lying beneath her. He had a pair of eyes as clear-cut as black and white. When these eyes looked at someone quietly, it felt like the softest honey, wrapping them tightly, giving a sense of sweetness and happiness from which one couldn’t escape.

But Lin Mengyao still remembered just how savage and terrifying those eyes became in a fight. Clearly, they were the same person’s eyes, yet the former could bring people to Heaven while the latter could drag them into Hell.