“First, Little Xi’s safety must be absolutely guaranteed. She cannot leave my sight,” Ye Lan’s voice brooked no argument.
“No problem,” Nan Qiao agreed readily.
“Second, I need independent command authority. Your people, including you, must follow my lead on tactical matters.”
The smile on Nan Qiao’s face faded slightly, her fingers stopping their tapping.
“That’s quite an appetite.”
The two women stared at each other for several seconds before Nan Qiao suddenly smiled again and said, “Fine. As you wish. You’re worth the price.”
Ye Lan met her gaze.
“Anything else?”
“Third,” Ye Lan paused, “after we win, I want thirty percent of the spoils. That will be our starting capital for retaking Wu City.”
“Thirty percent?” Nan Qiao’s pitch rose a notch, “Miss Ye, that’s outright robbery!”
“You need a strategist, and I need resources. It’s fair,” Ye Lan’s tone remained unchanged.
Nan Qiao stared at Ye Lan for a long moment, finally sighing and waving a hand, “But let’s be clear upfront—if you gamble away my entire fortune, I won’t let you off easy!”
“Alright, thirty percent it is! What can I do? I’m your friend, after all!”
The corner of Ye Lan’s mouth lifted almost imperceptibly, “Don’t worry.”
With the deal struck, the atmosphere seemed to ease a little, but Mu Xi felt even more stifled.
She listened silently as they went back and forth, discussing the fate of a city and the lives of countless people as casually as if they were deciding what to have for a late-night snack.
She found she had no appetite.
Lowering her head, she looked at the food Ye Lan had put in her bowl and suddenly felt out of place.
***
“Silent Language Building”—a standalone three-story building, given a name that stood in stark contrast to the rugged style of its surroundings.
To ensure Mu Xi’s absolute safety, Nan Qiao had indeed put in considerable effort.
She had cleared out this building for Mu Xi in a relatively quiet area of Stone City.
Outside the building, not only did Stone City’s regular patrols pass by, but more prominently, nine women in purple uniforms with stern expressions stood guard.
They were Ye Lan’s Nightfall Guards, positioned at key points around the small building, ensuring any movement was under their control.
“Come on, Little Sister Mu Xi, let’s see the safe house your big sister prepared for you!”
Nan Qiao pushed open the building’s heavy metal door with enthusiasm, stepping aside to let Mu Xi enter first.
Her voice was loud, carrying a hearty energy.
Mu Xi obediently stepped inside.
The interior was unexpectedly clean and bright, forming a sharp contrast with the weathered exterior of Stone City.
The air lacked the common dust smell of the wasteland, instead carrying a faint, clean scent similar to disinfectant.
“The building’s main structure is reinforced concrete, with an outer layer of alloy plating. A normal explosion wouldn’t budge it.”
Nan Qiao patted the cold wall at the entrance as if introducing a prized possession, “The first floor is the living area: living room, dining hall, kitchen, and a small weapons maintenance room. Of course, you probably won’t need that last one. It’s mainly for the Nightfall Guards.”
She led Mu Xi through the living room, pointing to the furniture that looked new but had a simple, rugged style.
“The sofa, tables, and chairs are all reinforced, hard to break. Over here is the kitchen, fully equipped. If you want to eat something, you can tell the guards outside, and they’ll arrange it. Or, wait until Ye Lan is free and have her cook for you personally?”
Nan Qiao winked at Mu Xi, a teasing smile on her face.
Mu Xi showed no reaction, just listening quietly.
Her gaze swept over the items, her eyes vacant.
She seemed to be trying hard to understand the purpose of these things, or perhaps she was merely performing the act of “looking,” unable to connect them to any past experience.
The concept of “home” felt as distant and abstract to her as the earlier discussions about city ownership and life-or-death struggles.
She was like a newborn consciousness, passively receiving the flood of information.
“The second floor is mainly bedrooms and a study.” Nan Qiao led her up the stairs, their footsteps making slight echoes on the metal steps.
She pushed open a door.
The furnishings inside were noticeably softer than downstairs: a large bed with clean, soft sheets, and even a small dressing table beside it.
“This is the master bedroom, the biggest and most comfortable, with good orientation. It’s reserved for you. Ye Lan specifically requested it, saying you like softer beds.”
Nan Qiao’s voice held a hint of playful sarcasm, “Tsk tsk, your Ye Lan really is something when it comes to you…”
She didn’t finish the sentence, but the implication was clear.
Mu Xi’s gaze fell on the bed, her fingers twitching unconsciously.
The name Ye Lan always stirred vague ripples in her blank mind, evoking a strange, intense sense of dependence and agitation.
But she couldn’t remember why.
“The rooms next door are guest rooms. One is reserved for Ye Lan, the others are spares. Oh, and this study,” Nan Qiao pushed open another door and said, “Inside were some books, not many, all old-era things Ye Lan had people collect. You can flip through them if you’re bored. But I’m guessing you’d probably rather stick close to Ye Lan, right?”
Mu Xi remained silent, merely nodding to show she had heard.
“The third floor has a terrace and two small rooms: a storage room and a monitoring room. The guards will take shifts there, providing all-around, dead-angle coverage.”
Nan Qiao placed her hands on her hips, looking around with satisfaction.
“So, what do you think? Safety-wise, you can rest assured. In all of Stone City, aside from my command center, this is the safest place. For you, your Ye Lan has deployed her most elite guards to act as babysitters.”
Nan Qiao leaned closer to Mu Xi, lowering her voice a bit with a conspiratorial, teasing air.
“I thought she was going to try and swallow my Stone City whole! But instead, all she talks about is your safety. Tell me, does she owe you something?”
“Hey, I’m saying, that Ye Lan usually acts all high and mighty, but she really has no words when it comes to you.”
Mu Xi blinked her long eyelashes, looking at Nan Qiao with a trace of confusion.
She didn’t understand the deeper meaning in Nan Qiao’s words, nor could she respond to the teasing.
All she knew was that staying here seemed safe, and Ye Lan would come for her.
That was enough.
***
Nan Qiao left in a whirlwind, the heavy metal door closing behind her.
Not long after, the door opened again, and Ye Lan walked in.
Her steps were measured, her gaze immediately locking onto Mu Xi, who was sitting on the living room sofa.
The nine guards followed her in silently, checked the door locks, then retreated, merging back into the perimeter guard line outside.
Ye Lan walked straight to Mu Xi and sat down on the single-seat sofa beside her.
The reinforced sofa seemed to conform perfectly under her.
She carried the slightly cool air of the desert outside, mixed with a hint of gunpowder and leather, briefly clashing with the clean scent inside the Silent Language Building.
“Did Nan Qiao explain everything to you?” Ye Lan spoke, her voice lower than Nan Qiao’s, carrying a unique magnetism.
Mu Xi nodded, her gaze resting on Ye Lan.
Her eyes were still somewhat vacant but seemed to have gained a bit more focus than before.
“I’ll be very busy for the next few days.”
Ye Lan looked at her, her deep phoenix eyes inscrutable as she said, “The Sand Wolves to the west of Stone City need dealing with. Nan Qiao and I have an agreement.”
She didn’t explain in detail, simply stating facts, “So, I won’t be able to stay with you all the time.”
Mu Xi’s long eyelashes fluttered, she asked softly, “Then… can I go out?”
She glanced toward the door, a barely detectable hint of hope in her voice.
“No.” Ye Lan’s reply was crisp and decisive, without a moment’s hesitation.
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