Chapter 587 - 373: The Price of Fighting to the Bitter End

Chapter 587: Chapter 373: The Price of Fighting to the Bitter End

"..."

Zhao Chuan was silent for a moment, then replied, "He failed."

"He failed? How could he fail at something so simple? Utterly useless," Zhao Haoyu said flatly.

With his status and wealth, he couldn’t have cared less about the treasure from the hunt at Bibo Lake.

He had sent Li Mai to Bibo Lake to hunt for treasure merely as a test of his abilities.

But after all this time, Li Mai had actually failed. This made Zhao Haoyu feel that the commoner who had volunteered to serve him was not qualified to be one of his men.

Having served Zhao Haoyu for many years, Zhao Chuan naturally knew what his young master was thinking, so he quickly relayed the situation as he had heard it from Li Mai.

"Young Master, there were actually extenuating circumstances for Li Mai’s failure this time.

He had already defeated the other treasure-hunting teams and was about to secure the Spirit Stone Mine collected by the White-Scaled Drilling Rat, but then..."

After hearing his trusted servant’s account, Zhao Haoyu lifted his gaze from the ancient book in his hands, turned to look at him, and spoke.

"He lost more than half his men? The losses were that great...?"

"Yes! If that person hadn’t drawn out the Centipede Swarm, Li Mai would have certainly completed the task you assigned him, Young Master."

"I suppose something like that couldn’t be helped, but in the end, he still failed the test I gave him..."

"Young Master, Li Mai genuinely wants to work for you. Since he failed the test this time, why don’t we give him another chance?"

Seeing his trusted servant pleading on his friend’s behalf, Zhao Haoyu smiled and said, "You really are good to that childhood friend of yours."

"..." Zhao Chuan lowered his head, saying nothing. Just then, Zhao Haoyu spoke.

"Fine. For your sake, I’ll give him another chance. Go tell him to head back for now. When I have another test for him, I’ll let him know..."

"Yes." Zhao Chuan was delighted that his master was willing to give his childhood friend another chance. Just as he was preparing to leave and deliver the good news to Li Mai, who was waiting outside the manor, Zhao Haoyu called out to stop him.

"Wait a moment."

"Do you have any instructions, Young Master?"

"Tomorrow morning, find a way to ask around if Miss Zhu has any plans to leave her estate anytime soon," Zhao Haoyu instructed.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chuan hesitated. He said, "Young Master, the Master told you to pursue the Lord City Lord’s daughter, and to stop thinking about Miss Zhu.

Your confinement will be lifted in a few more days. If the Master finds out you’re still being stubborn about this, I’m afraid he’ll just extend it."

"..." Zhao Haoyu remained silent, not answering his trusted servant.

"Sigh..." Seeing his master’s unwavering resolve, Zhao Chuan sighed. "Very well, Young Master. I’ll inquire about Miss Zhu’s recent plans for you tomorrow."

With that, he turned and left.

When Zhao Haoyu was the only one left in the pavilion, he began to mutter to himself.

"That Li Qian... her mind is filled with nothing but cultivation and sparring. She’s beautiful, sure, but how could she ever compare to Xinru, who is as gentle as water!"

Recalling Zhu Xinru’s gentle nature, her every frown and smile, Zhao Haoyu felt his heart about to melt.

"Once my confinement is over, my old man will definitely have people watch my every move.

Just as Zhao Chuan said earlier, the moment my watchers discover me going to see Zhu Xinru, they’ll report it to my old man immediately.

He’ll fly into a rage, and then it’ll be another round of scolding and more confinement. I have to use the time before my confinement is lifted to think of a good plan."

Inside the quiet pavilion, occasional muttering could be heard, mingling with the chirping of insects from the flower bushes surrounding it.

...