You're Strong But Now You're Mine-Chapter 161 - 160: Despicable Couple (Part 1)

Outside Xuanzhu County, Warehouse No. 18 of the Jing Family at the Third Transport Pier.

Amidst a pile of steel materials, Zhengwu Jing changed into gray-blue sailor attire, using a small knife to cut off his gallant young master long hair, trimming it into a convenient short buzz cut suitable for life at sea, and tied on the thistle-patterned white headscarf representing the Jing Family.

Suddenly, the familiar sound of boots stepping could be heard, and Zhengwu Jing, who was just tense, relaxed immediately, hearing a voice critiquing from behind: "You actually look quite dashing in a servant’s outfit."

Zhengwu Jing rolled up his sleeves, "Thank you for the compliment."

At this moment, a subordinate responsible for guarding outside ran over to look at them, stammering, "Se... Second Young Master, she... she rushed in just as we opened the door, we didn’t dare stop her..."

Zhengwu Jing waved his hand, "Go out, remember to shut the door properly, I have some matters to discuss with her."

The subordinate displayed an expression as if saying ’are you about to discuss a billion-dollar business’, but Zhengwu Jing’s accumulated authority made him strongly resist blurting out jokes, obediently withdrawing, shutting the door with a loud bang, even shouting from outside, "The door is shut! No one will come in!"

Qin Yueshi, with hands behind her back, couldn’t help but laugh, "Your subordinates are rather clever."

"That’s why he qualifies to board the ship with me." Zhengwu Jing took out a handkerchief, placing it on the wooden box of supplies, "Conditions here are rough, pardon me, please take a seat."

"No problem." Qin Yueshi elegantly sat lightly on the handkerchief, "Where are you planning to go?"

"Where else, Scandinavia, of course." Zhengwu Jing leaned against the stack of boxes, speaking with a light tone, "I also thought about going to Yanjing, but Yanjing’s waters are tumultuous, with deep roots. I’m not even a dragon crossing the river, how could I suppress the local tyrants there?"

"Although Scandinavia has a long history, it is ultimately small and sparsely populated. Even if they admire our Radiant culture, they’ve only learned a superficial amount, fighting to the death over resources day by day. If not for slightly distant voyages and large-scale fleets easily attracting Sea Barbarians’ attacks, Scandinavia would have long become a part of the Dongyang district."

"I have already arranged personnel at Dagon Port in Scandinavia, upon arrival, I can contact a batch of personnel, establishing oneself in Scandinavia is fairly easy."

Qin Yueshi inquired, "And then?"

"We’ll see how it goes." Zhengwu Jing sighed, "I also considered an exit strategy when my elder brother ascended, Bai Yulan isn’t merely a plant, but also my fallback... if Bai Yulan were still around, this retreat could even become a shortcut."

"Even if my elder brother takes over as Patriarch, as long as I’m operating in Scandinavia, Bai Yulan continues the slave trade bringing Skyrim People over, I have a thirty percent chance of becoming a warlord in Scandinavia, even unifying Scandinavia is not impossible. Once Radiant’s situation stabilizes, I’ll then return allegiance to the nation, at least I could win a title, even become the first non-native king in Radiant..."

"What a pity." Zhengwu Jing’s voice gradually dulled, "Bai Yulan was exposed, Shen Hong was casually killed... that was when everything began to change."

Bai Yulan, Shen Hong were killed.

Rediscovered favor from father at family gathering.

Youth Daily sold greatly.

Took up patrol team position.

And now...

Too fast, everything has changed too fast.

It seems his decade of effort, decade of time, decade of advancement, were merely needed as a backdrop to highlight his elder brother’s excellence.

Ten years ago, Zhengwu Jing watched his elder brother walk out of Jing Garden in disgrace, thinking that was the final mark of their victory or defeat.

But that was evidently naive ignorance of a child’s innocent playfulness — thirty years east of the river, thirty years west, as long as the person remains, victory or defeat will never be defined.

Indeed, never.

The future is unknown, the past still pursueable.

Now it’s your turn to win, now it’s my turn to leave Xuanzhu County in disgrace.

But you too shall soon be trapped within the prison of Xuanzhu County, Jing Family, Silver Blood Association’s disputes, I’m quite eager to see if your ambition will break this cage, or be torn to pieces by the beasts within.

And I will reach a broader world to stretch my wings and soar, though the road ahead is destined to be rough, though fate presents many hardships, as long as I still breathe, I shall once again stand before you.

Then, just like you said to me ten years ago, I’ll return those words to you in full.

We are not finished yet.

Qin Yueshi: "Is that all?"

Jing Zhengwu was slightly stunned, then he realized something and nodded, "That’s it."

"And what about me?"

"Play around for a few years, then find an honest man to marry," Jing Zhengwu shrugged, "Didn’t you always envy Queen Youyun for having three hundred lovers? Now that I’m gone, you can find as many as you’d like. Take your pick in the Red Jade Sea, when you’re ready, find a young handsome guy to marry. Trust me, with the Qin Family’s power, you could have suitors lining up from the outer city to the inner city."

"You don’t care if I find other men?" Qin Yueshi propped her chin with her hand, "Aren’t you men supposed to be very possessive? Hmm, I remember many men would rather their wives remain widows than remarry."

"That’s because they only have one wife, so of course, they’re very possessive, just like your red radiant gemstone the size of an egg, you keep it hidden so well, you don’t even want to take it out to show off to me," Jing Zhengwu laughed, "Scandinavian women have a unique allure, many with blonde hair and blue eyes, quite beautiful. Once I go there to build my future, I’ll definitely marry more and have many children. I’ll be too busy sowing seeds among Scandinavian women to think of you at all."

Qin Yueshi sneered, "Hmph, dog of a man."

Jing Zhengwu smiled, "Hey, dog of a woman."

They exchanged a look, and after a moment of silence, they couldn’t hold back their expressions and couldn’t stop their lips from curling into laughter.

When the laughter stopped, the smiles faded from their faces, and almost at the same time, they said earnestly:

"I want to go with you."

"I won’t take you with me."

"Then stay!" Qin Yueshi said resolutely, "You are the son-in-law of the Qin Family, with us protecting you, what can Jing Zhengwei do to you? What would he dare to do?"

"Thank you for your kindness, but I have a big appetite, I don’t like sponging off others..."

"Jing Zhengwu, I’m serious!" Qin Yueshi walked over and grabbed Jing Zhengwu’s collar, "The ones who lose the inheritance fight, Xuanzhu County doesn’t have a hundred but at least dozens each year. Do they have to run away just because they lost? Xuanzhu County is vast, but even the Silver Blood Association can’t cover the sky with one hand, let alone a single Jing Family, let alone a single Jing Zhengwei!?"

"And he hasn’t won yet, your father isn’t dead, and you still have—" frёewebnoѵēl.com

"Nothing left." Jing Zhengwu shook his head, "Today’s Silver Blood meeting, Father had Jing Shou relay the order, passing the Jing Family’s permanent seat to Jing Zhengwei. You know what the permanent seat at the Silver Blood meeting means."

Qin Yueshi was slightly disoriented—A permanent seat at the Silver Blood Association is more powerful than any verbal or written promise. It means that Jing Zhengwei will be the sole representative of the Jing Family in the future, this position can only be held by the Patriarch, and the other Silver Blood members will only recognize Jing Zhengwei.

"But..."

"Yes, Father is not dead yet, and my mother still believes there’s a chance, she has gone to persuade him." Jing Zhengwu sighed, "But after loving him for decades, she still doesn’t understand what kind of man Father truly is."

"’Blackthorn’ won’t regret. Once Father made this decision, he was already prepared to bear all the consequences. Whether Mother appeals to passion, entices with benefits, or convinces with reason, she will only be wounded by ’Blackthorn’."

"Even if Father hadn’t made this decision, I know I already lost. Last night’s operation had such a big blunder, Jing Zhengwei not only was unharmed but even deepened his relationship with other captains and vice-captains because of it, sealing my last chance to turn the tables—Father saw this outcome too, which is why he doesn’t want to waste any more time."

"We lost, Brother won."

"My departure is also inevitable." Jing Zhengwu gently pressed Qin Yueshi’s red lips, letting her listen to him finish, "Jing Shou was an orphan raised jointly by Father and Mother, Father had Jing Shou pass the message, which is to convey this to Mother and me, it is Father’s last mercy to me—at least, he doesn’t want the Jing Family to be torn apart because of Brother and me."

Qin Yueshi seemed to find a lifeline, her eyes lighting up as she said, "Right, there’re still so many supporters for you in the family, once your father dies, nothing he says will matter, the Jing Family won’t stand by Jing Zhengwei, they’ll either support you or your third brother...as long as you stay, once your father dies, you can still fight for it!"

Jing Zhengwu laughed bitterly, "But he’s my father, you shouldn’t say that."

"Didn’t you call me a dog of a woman? Well, a dog of a woman is exactly like this," Qin Yueshi clicked her tongue, then her expression suddenly changed, "Could it be your mother..."

Jing Zhengwu’s expression settled, neither confirming nor denying, "Even though Mother ultimately chose to leave the Jing Family, she still loves Father."

"So you really don’t have to go," Qin Yueshi paced back and forth, excitedly saying, "Your father has been bed-ridden for ages, even if he insists on passing the role of Patriarch to Jing Zhengwei, how many people will follow him? The business of the Jing Family is ultimately managed by Jing family members, and Jing Zhengwei’s interests are definitely not aligned with those of the clan!"

"No matter when your father dies, as long as you’re patient, wait until your father finally passes on, till Jing Zhengwei is hated under heaven, that’s when you can strike back!"

"Your father’s not dead, Jing Zhengwei doesn’t dare do anything to you, at most he might embarrass you a bit, can’t you endure that?"

Qin Yueshi pushed Jing Zhengwu against the crates, clutching his shoulders, "A loss is a loss, bow your head if you must, lose face if need be! You might lose once, twice, three or four times, but you won’t lose forever. With me here, you’ll definitely be able to win it back!"

"Because you are my man, the only man I, Qin Yueshi, find worthy!"

"Don’t leave, stay, don’t talk about how a gentleman takes revenge after ten years, you are my dog of a man, you should exact revenge from dawn to dusk, leave no stone unturned to reclaim everything that belongs to you!"