Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King

Bian Qiaoqiao knocked on the door with great force, but there was no response. Knowing that Bian Chengfeng was unwilling to help, she clenched her delicate fists tightly. With the reputation and life of Nangong Liuli at stake, how could she easily give up? So she decided to seek Bian Bianyun again.

Bian Bianyun was cold by nature. He only helped Bian Qiaoqiao out of kinship. Seeing her entangled again with this matter, he wouldn’t pay any attention to it. Annoyed by her persistence, he simply expelled her from the guest room.

After being rejected repeatedly, Bian Qiaoqiao felt a bone-chilling coldness deep in her heart, experiencing the warmth and coldness of human relations for the first time. She thought: ’If only I could get the help of Sister Ranran, that would be better than those two brothers. If Sister Ranran was willing to go with me to eradicate the Flower Thief from a thousand miles away, she would surely agree when I plead with her.’

Then she arrived at Zhao Ranran’s door, about to knock. A breeze pushed her back several steps. Su Lanfeng lightly shook his folding fan, smiling as he said, "Little Sister Bian, why are you here so late?"

Bian Qiaoqiao said, "I have something to discuss with Sister Ranran." Su Lanfeng said, "If it’s about Nangong Liuli, there’s no need to disturb her. The sister has already rested." Bian Qiaoqiao said, "Even if it means disturbing her, I must see Sister Ranran!" She was about to force her way in.

Su Lanfeng chuckled lightly, fanning casually. A strong wind enveloped Bian Qiaoqiao, forcing her to retreat repeatedly. Bian Qiaoqiao attempted to speak, but as her lips parted, she felt the strong wind fill her mouth, suppressing her voice. She tried several times but was silently forced back.

Standing at the corridor corner, her beautiful eyes turned red as she stared for a long time. With a tear sliding down, she angrily left the inn. The night in Swallowing Water City was silent, and filled with grievances and confusion, she ran aimlessly, traversing several streets.

The resentment and anger in her heart were hard to dispel, and she couldn’t understand many things. The full moon tonight was as round as a disc, but the beautiful moonlight seemed cold.

Bian Qiaoqiao reached a lake, picked up pebbles from the shore, and began to throw them. She resented her own lack of talent and wisdom, knowing full well how Nangong Xuanming intended to harm, yet not knowing how to help. She recalled that she originally came to rescue Nangong Liuli, but in the end, she seemed to do more harm than good.

Suddenly, she heard rustling footsteps. Bian Qiaoqiao turned and said, "Who’s there?" She saw several shadowy figures emerging from beyond the lake, full of murderous intent, revealing themselves as bandits from Swallowing Water City.

The bandits laughed repeatedly, forming a circle to trap her. It turned out that Bian Qiaoqiao had run out in anger, her graceful figure naturally attracting attention. Seeing her alone, they harbored evil intentions and increasingly surrounded her.

Bian Qiaoqiao shouted, "Well then, I was just looking for someone to vent my anger on!" She faced them fearlessly, taking the initiative to strike. Her strength was formidable, and the bandits found it difficult to approach her at first. But seeing more and more of them appearing, her inexperience made her secretly fearful.

Suddenly, cries erupted from elsewhere, shadows scattered in all directions, some crashing into walls, some falling into the water, hanging from trees, and dangling from eaves. The bandits’ pitiful cries echoed, and they fled in panic.

...

...

Bian Qiaoqiao steadied her gaze and saw a tall silhouette lending a hand. The bandits were of ordinary strength, but their numbers were many. Although she believed she could handle them, it would have cost some effort. She stepped forward to express her gratitude: "Thank you, hero, for your assistance!"

Li Xian said, "No need."

At that moment, the moonlight was clear, the lake like a mirror, shimmering with light. Bian Qiaoqiao let her gaze wander, recognizing the man’s appearance.

Under the cold moonlight, with the lake breeze blowing, the man was dressed simply, his face as beautiful as jade, a face that was both exceptional and rare. Could this not be the "Flower Thief Prodigy, Li Xian"? Bian Qiaoqiao had seen his portrait before, where he appeared handsome, yet it was nothing compared to seeing him in person.

She had seen Li Xian once when bound in the ship’s cabin. But in the dim light and at a strange angle, she could never see clearly.

Now, seeing him so suddenly, she was temporarily stunned, murmuring in shock and disbelief, "Ah! No wonder Sister Liuli actually... actually...", her pupils slightly trembling. When she finally came to her senses, she bit her silver teeth, angrily cursing, "It’s you!" immediately attempting to capture him. Li Xian, however, had already acted first, seizing Bian Qiaoqiao’s hands.

Bian Qiaoqiao bit her silver teeth tightly, immediately raising her leg to kick. With preparedness in mind, Li Xian reached out with his left hand and also grabbed Bian Qiaoqiao’s ankle. Thus restrained, Bian Qiaoqiao found it difficult to move, knowing she was at a disadvantage.

Li Xian released her hands, gently pushing her away, and said calmly, "Don’t make a noise." Bian Qiaoqiao immediately backed away several steps, glaring at Li Xian with vigilance and cursing, "You Flower Thief, how can you appear here!?"

Li Xian said, "You are too reckless. Though you have some strength, rushing out alone, you can counter open attacks but can’t guard against hidden ones. In this Swallowing Water City, it’s easy to suffer an unexpected defeat."

"If you get captured by the Water Bandits and taken to their den, blame it on me again."

Bian Qiaoqiao said, "Hmph, do I need you to discipline me? You wretched Flower Thief, dead Flower Thief, vile Flower Thief, ugly Flower Thief! Take care of yourself first! And besides... besides... Sister Liuli, because of you..." she rubbed her tearful eyes, glaring at Li Xian with hatred.

Li Xian said, "Your Daoxuan Mountain’s tradition is truly consistent. Repaying kindness with bitterness, falsely accusing."

He continued, "I came to tell you one thing, regarding Nangong Liuli, I will handle it myself. You need not scramble around senselessly."

Bian Qiaoqiao paused and asked, "Do you... know something?" Li Xian said, "At that time, I was at the inn drinking wine. I heard all of your discussions. It’s laughable that you prestigious families, while I was right in front of you openly, you couldn’t catch me. Instead, you thought of underhanded schemes."

Li Xian said sternly, "When you see Nangong Liuli, inform her of Nangong Xuanming’s wicked intentions, so she’ll be prepared. Your family infighting has reached such a stage. Back then, being captured by the Flower Thieves might have been a plot by villains behind the scenes."

Bian Qiaoqiao’s face turned red with shame, unable to argue against his scolding. Trying to refute his points seemed difficult, so she said awkwardly, "You are clearly a Flower Thief, acting as if you are so righteous yourself." She wiped her tears, probing as she asked, "Do you... actually have a way to resolve this?"

Li Xian said, "Naturally." Bian Qiaoqiao said, "What solution? If it can... can help Sister Liuli, then it would be a good deed."

Li Xian said, "You need not know. If you trust me, just wait quietly for two days, and you will know the result." Bian Qiaoqiao jumped up, angrily exclaimed, "You liar! You plan to use these two days to escape!"

Li Xian said, "If I wanted to escape, why would I come out to help you?" He rubbed his shoulder, turning around nonchalantly, his voice slowly trailing off: "That’s all. Don’t mention seeing me. Although you’re a bit foolish, you should know the difference. For you, my life, as Li Xian, is as dust, life or death doesn’t matter. But Sister Liuli holds some weight in your heart, right?"

Bian Qiaoqiao watched Li Xian’s departing figure, feeling strangely perplexed.

She had sought help from Bian Chengfeng, Bian Bianyun, Zhao Ranran, and all had thoroughly refused her. Never did she expect that a Flower Thief would be the one truly concerned about Nangong Liuli’s life.

Observing his carefree demeanor, she couldn’t help but stare blankly for a long time, finding herself unconsciously seeing him off as he disappeared around the corner.

...

...

Li Xian’s Peach Blossom Bow was already damaged. The newly acquired "Heavy Bow" was of rough quality, but barely usable. Li Xian plucked the bowstring, adjusting to the force of the Heavy Bow.

Leaving Swallowing Water City, he climbed to the top of a distant hill, where he could see the Anhao Inn. The mountain wind howled, and he stood tall, his eyes full of brilliance. He thought, "That Jade Girl from Daoxuan Mountain, Zhao Ranran, despises me greatly, with a firm intent to kill me. Yet, the solution to breaking the situation is simple, though not without risk worth trying. If I don’t try... Sister Liuli will be affected because of me..."

He drew the bowstring fully, released the copper arrow. The arrow sped like a dragon towards Anhao Inn, with a crash, piercing through a window.

Zhao Ranran suddenly opened her eyes, effortlessly catching the arrow between her fingers. At the arrow’s tail was a piece of paper that read, "Tomorrow at dusk, Absolute Palm Peak, meet for life and death!"