Chapter 38: Xu Tianran's Visit (1/1)
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Jiang Li arrived as promised. Under the guidance of the Mingde Hall guards, he passed through heavily guarded corridors and entered a concealed room.
The room was luxuriously furnished but not ostentatious. Warm yellow light poured down, stretching the figure on the main seat into a long silhouette.
Xu Tianran sat in a wheelchair, wearing a gentle smile. He looked like a refined nobleman, with no trace of the ruthless reputation he was known for.
Jing Hongchen stood beside him. Seeing Jiang Li enter, he only gave a slight nod and said nothing.
"So this is Young Friend Jiang Li?"
Xu Tianran spoke first, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze. He even gestured invitingly toward a seat. "Hall Master Hongchen speaks very highly of you, calling you a rare genius of the century."
Jiang Li calmly glanced at Xu Tianran's flawless face and walked to the guest seat without any restraint.
"Your Highness flatters me. I am merely a bounty hunter, not a genius of any sort."
"A bounty hunter?" Xu Tianran chuckled. "A bounty hunter praised so highly by Hall Master Hongchen is rare indeed."
"Just some minor tricks," Jiang Li replied indifferently.
Seeing this, the smile in Xu Tianran's eyes did not fade, but his tone suddenly shifted.
"I assume Hall Master Hongchen has already told you why I came—the matter of the remnants of the previous dynasty."
"He has," Jiang Li said, looking directly at Xu Tianran. "Your Highness wants me to take Xu He's life. What is the price?"
The smile on Xu Tianran's face deepened, but a faint, almost imperceptible cold light flashed in his eyes.
"You are quite straightforward, Young Friend. As long as you bring me Xu He's head, I will give you twenty million gold soul coins, and additionally, I can confer upon you a hereditary noble title—Viscount of the Sun and Moon Empire."
The conditions were extremely generous, enough to make most soul masters desperate.
Yet Jiang Li only smiled faintly and shook his head.
Xu Tianran's smile froze slightly, a trace of coldness flashing in his eyes before disappearing.
"What? Not enough for you, Young Friend?"
"You misunderstand," Jiang Li said calmly. "I'm not interested in titles. Money is more practical."
"In that case, how much do you want?" Xu Tianran asked with interest.
Without hesitation, Jiang Li raised five fingers. "Five million gold soul coins. After all, it's Shrek Academy. The risk is high."
Xu Tianran's smile slowly faded, and the air seemed to grow heavier.
He stared at Jiang Li for a long moment, then suddenly let out a low chuckle.
"Your appetite is quite large."
"I have the ability to match it," Jiang Li replied without backing down. "Xu He is hiding in Shrek Academy. In the entire Douluo Continent, I'm afraid no one but me would dare take this job."
Xu Tianran fell silent, his fingers lightly tapping the table in a steady rhythm.
He knew Jiang Li was telling the truth.
After a long pause, Xu Tianran finally spoke again.
"Five million gold soul coins is not a small sum."
"But for eliminating future trouble, it is worth it."
He paused, then looked at Jiang Li sharply.
"However, I have one condition: it must be completed within one month. If you exceed the time limit, the deal is void."
Jiang Li nodded calmly.
"Agreed."
But then he added: "I have one more condition. During the operation, the Sun and Moon Imperial Family must not interfere. I dislike being controlled from behind."
"Of course," Xu Tianran agreed without hesitation. "I, Xu Tianran, always keep my word."
He then took out a gold soul coin card and placed it before Jiang Li.
"This is one million as a deposit. The remaining four million will be paid in full upon completion."
Jiang Li took the card casually, weighed it slightly, then put it away.
"Pleasure doing business."
"Likewise," Xu Tianran nodded.
Without further words, Jiang Li turned and left.
His steps were calm and unhurried, as if this five-million deal was nothing more than a trivial errand.
Only after his figure disappeared did the atmosphere in the room turn heavy.
Xu Tianran's smile faded completely, replaced by coldness.
He turned his wheelchair toward the window and asked in a low voice:
"Hall Master Hongchen, what do you think of this Jiang Li?"
Jing Hongchen thought for a moment.
"Unfathomable strength."
"Oh?" Xu Tianran tapped his armrest. "So he does have some ability. But he is too unruly and greedy. Not an easy person to control."
Jing Hongchen nodded, then continued:
"But there is no denying he is the only one capable of dealing with Xu He."
"In my opinion, Jiang Li is greedy, but he keeps his word."
Xu Tianran looked at him with interest.
"You seem to think highly of him."
"I am only stating facts," Jing Hongchen replied calmly. "He is meticulous. Since he dared to ask for five million, he must be confident. As long as his demands are met, he will not cause unnecessary trouble."
"And more importantly, he has no ties to Shrek Academy. To him, this is purely a transaction."
"If successful, we eliminate a threat and also test Shrek Academy. If it fails, we only lose one million. It is negligible."
Xu Tianran was silent for a long time, then suddenly laughed softly.
"Hall Master Hongchen is right. I may have overthought it."
He looked out the window again, his gaze distant.
"I wonder whether he can really take Xu He's head from under Shrek Academy's nose."