Chapter 473: For a Woman

"Jihan, what are you doing?"

The two immediately stopped moving after Xu Ke's arrival. "Why are you— "

"She tried to stab me." Xu Jihan immediately said.

"Using her own dagger?"

He nodded.

Lyca, on the other hand, just maintained her silence. She stared at Xu Ke, wondering why his aura seemed to change. Was he angry? Was it because of Xu Jihan? No, he was already angry when he came inside. Then perhaps… it was because of what was happening outside?

"Come with me," Xu Ke gestured Xu Jihan to go out. Then he gave Lyca a meaningful glance before turning away, the door once again closing behind him.

"You were careless," Xu Ke said just as they arrived in his office. "You wanted to make it seem like she was the one who hurt you, but you actually used a gas that could weaken her. Are you that desperate to make me hate her?"

Xu Jihan said nothing. Instead, he instructed one of Xu Ke's men, who followed them to fix his wound. "I already told you. She is working with the Shen family."

"And that conversation didn't prove anything, Jihan." Xu Ke sighed. "I am disappointed in you. You cut yourself for nothing."

"Why'd you stop me? I could have made her confess! I could have— "

"You are wasting your time."

"You— "

"You said that Shen Qui might be alive. You said that she is working with the Shen Family. And yet you cannot prove any of your claims. You already tried to kill her, hoping that she would say something and reveal something that would prove this was all her plan. Obviously, you failed."

"But you interrupted me! How could you— "

"I was trying to save you!"

"You— "

"If she wanted to kill you. She could have done that. Even if you used gas to make her limbs go numb."

"You think she could— "

"I know she could kill you. Even with her eyes closed."

*BANG!*

The loud sound of Xu Jihan slamming his palm against the wooden coffee table in front of the couch he was sitting on, echoed. "You don't believe me! I— "

"Jihan, why are you trying to ruin my relationship with her?" Xu Ke said as he poured himself a glass of whiskey. Then he used another glass and pour his cousin a glass of the same alcohol. "Drink. Try to relax. I want to hear your thoughts, your honest opinions about this matter. Just like before." Xu Jihan was always smart. And that was the reason why Xu Ke chose him.

"I am not ruining something that does not exist. Can't you see it? I mean… are you really going to act like a fool forever? She is using you!"

"For what?" Xu Ke hissed. "I have her under control! She loves her family and is scared that I would hurt them if she does something crazy!"

"But— "

Xu Ke's gaze stopped him. He accepted the glass of whiskey and finished it in one go. "I want you to observe her actions."

"I am observing her. She is being recorded even when she sleeps. She can't talk to anyone. Even her food was sent via a drone that I created myself. She doesn't have any communication outside of her walls. Moreover, the chaos happened even before she came here. It happened because we bought the armors."

"You seem to trust her a lot."

"I don't trust her." Xu Ke said. "And that is the reason why I am still alive," he chuckled. "One wrong move and she would kill me without any hesitation."

"Then…"

"I am telling you. She is useful for our plans. She is a genius in poisons. Everything that we were able to summon from that plane or dimension was poisonous creatures. We need her to work for us."

Xu Jihan pursed his lips. "You don't believe me." Of course, he really wanted to talk some sense into Xu Ke. How was he so blind to everything involving that woman? Lyca was someone who killed without remorse. How could Xu Ke restrain her and even control her?

No, Xu Jihan was sure that Lyca was hiding something, and that she was only staying here because she wanted to know what they wanted to do. Once she figures this out, she would immediately leave.

"If you are still thinking about her leaving, then… I can assure you. She won't be able to leave this facility alive." Xu Ke said as he downed his drink. "Also… you said something about proving to me that Shen Qui is alive and working with the Shen Family. But you never told me about the gas. That gas is flammable. If she used a chemical to defend herself, she would immediately die from the explosion."

"How did you know that?" Xu Jihan's face darkened.

"I can smell it, and Lyca did too. Her senses might be equal or even stronger than mine."

"You mean— "

"You expected her to play dirty and throw something at you. However, she could smell the chemicals in the air. So, she ran instead."

"She can smell it? How?"

"She's like me," Xu Ke confirmed. "Her senses should be as good as mine. Don't look at me like that. I just found out today when I walk in and notice that she was holding her breath."

"You — " Xu Jihan didn't continue his words when he realized something. "You knew that she was like you from the start." Realization hit him. "And yet you never told me."

"You didn't ask."

Xu Jihan squinted. "Then… why are you telling me this now?" It didn't take a minute for him to realize that something was wrong. He stood, but just as he was about to approach Xu Ke that was standing a few feet away from him, he staggered, his gaze turning hazy. "What did you do?"

"You shouldn't have tried to hurt her, Jihan. I told you… she is important to me."

"You — Ken! What are you — " Xu Jihan tried to say something more, but his mouth stopped moving. In fact, his whole body stopped listening to what he wanted to do. He can't move, his limbs turning numb. He stared at Xu Ke's smiling face as hatred grew inside him.

But it was too late.

He didn't realize that Xu Ke would one day kill him… just for a woman.

2/5