177 Sibling Rivalry 9

"Me? You want me on this treasure hunt with you?"

Lin Liushui smiled at him, while Du Yan nodded his head vigorously. It was the latter who seemed the more enthusiastic of the pair. "You are already strong enough to match your strength against Fatty Zhou, so you shouldn't have any problem keeping up with the two of us. Besides, I would prefer to share the riches that are going to fall into our lap with someone like you, rather than a more powerful stranger," the burly fellow said plainly.

Qin Feng could understand the reasoning behind that. Besides, the pair should know that he isn't really that powerful, so he was not a threat. At least, he didn't have the means to snatch away the treasures that they had been seeking for so long.

Not without a hard fight.

Still, just the three of them? Heading into the wilderness? Wasn't that a little ...

That was when it struck him. And a soft chuckle slipped out from between his lips before he could stop it. Looking up, he saw how the pair were intent on him, and understodd immediately.

"I believe that I will not be the only one who is going on this little adventure with you. Am I? If I am not mistaken, there is a certain cost to organizing this expedition of yours. And we are lacking one more person to round off the team. So I presume that he and the troops that he can bring to the table have already been considered?

"I trust the Second Ducal Prince has no objections to having me along?"

The pair looked startled for a moment. Then both of them laughed. And Lin Liushui immediately reached behind him and knocked on the partition of carved wood that acted as a wall, one that separated the three of them from the next dining room. A door popped open in the same, and a familiar figure made his way over at once.

Qin Feng's smile grew a little forced, when he saw that it was the same Ducal Prince that he had mentioned earlier. He should have guessed that the pair would not have made their offer without some prompting from Li Changhai.

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For moment, he considered rising up to his feet and storming out of the room, as though he had been gravely offended by the pair's, and the Ducal Prince's, presumption. But he decided that it would be a little too much. After all, he had maintained a simple friendship with the Duke's son, and his quarrel, if he could call it that, was more properly with Li Changhai's father.

So he simply accepted the Ducal Prince's curt bow of apology, and gave out a rather obvious sigh as soon as Li Changhai stepped up to him.

"This one has probably made too much of a fuss over this matter, and has invited the laughter of Brother Feng. My father had instructed me to apologize to you. For his earlier behaviour, naturally, and I was trying to figure out a method that would not be too embarrassing. To be honest, he was merely testing me, and wanted to see how much I valued your companionship.

"I can only beg your indulgence, Brother Feng. My father tends to go overboard, when it comes to such matters."

It was rather obvious that Li Changhai was rather anxious by the time that he bowed a second time. And the behaviour of the pair who had invited him also gave him the impression that they were worried that he would refuse to accept this peace-making gesture. Which would certainly be very embarrassing, if it went as poorly as the trio thought it might.

Which left Qin Feng was wondering what sort of story the Second Ducal Prince had told the other two, with regards to what had happened in the Ducal Palace. Hadn't he simply stamped out of the Ducal Palace in a huff? Could it be that no one else had done that before?

But the Prince's sudden appearance, and the deep bow of apology that he tendered the younger man, was enough to surprise Qin Feng completely. As was the almost formal words that he spoke, a moment later, inviting Qin Feng along for the so-called treasure hunt!

"While it may sound overboard, this Prince humbly begs Brother Qin Feng to consider the successes that we have achieved together, and deign to travel with our party on this little quest. With you along, things may go a lot smoother, and it would certainly indicate that you have forgiven me and my father for our terrible blunder."

What could do, when faced with that? Qin Feng may be thick-skinned, but he wasn't about to allow the Second Ducal Prince to go on with his bowing and his scraping. Especially not in front of his friends.

And the small troop of soldiers that he had brought along with him!

Those were led by a rather familiar-looking, stern-faced lieutenant, who was already making faces at Qin Feng from his spot behind the Ducal Prince, still in the attached room. Which was enough to make up Qin Feng's mind for him.

He certainly did not wish the matter to blow up, in front of Lieutenant Wei Xuanran! Who knew if he would carry word of this whole affair back to Lady Xie? Or what sort of reaction she would have, if she hears about it?

So he stepped forward and gently lifted the Second Ducal Prince's clasped hands, until the latter was back in an upright position. "That was not your fault. And you certainly were not aware of your father's intent. But I should say that I am still somewhat annoyed with him. He trampled on my pride rather badly back then, as you may recall," he grunted softly.

"Then ... You will join us on this expedition then? We could certainly do with your help."

That question certainly caught him by surprise. Was Li Changhai insisting that he commit to the treasure hunt straightaway? He didn't know how dangerous it was, or what sort of obstacles and enemies that might be laying in wait for them, after all. Or if he was going to end up binding himself to the Westland Duke and his family by doing this!

While Qin Feng was tempted by the treasures, he was not so willing to sacrifice his own freedom just for a handful of the same.

Besides, didn't Li Changhai already have two strong supporters to accompany him?

But just as he was about to refuse the Ducal Prince, Qin Feng suddenly recalled the situation that had him kicking at his bedclothes earlier. The paucity of his purse was unlikely to be discovered by the trio, of course. But the fact that his medicinal herbs weren't selling was a greater problem than he had expected it to be.

Perhaps this little trip, and the money that it would bring in, would help him to offset the cost of staying at that inn? Had he known that it would cost him that much money, he would have simply hardened the skin on his face and remained at the Duke's Palace!

So he simply sighed, and nodded his head at the Prince. "Very well. I was getting rather bored here myself, doing nothing but practice my martial arts all day. I might as well come with you. No one would ever complain of having too many treasures," he managed to say in a droll voice.

The look on Li Changhai's face could best be described as ecstatic. Clearly, he had not been too hopeful. Especially after how Qin Feng had reacted to his father's so-called apology. Well, that was something that the Ducal Prince will have to settle with his father himself, Qin Feng thought. As far as he was concerned, he was more than pleased to have nothing more to do with the Duke and his people.

Then the Second Ducal Prince's face took on a more restrained look.

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