Chapter 33: Clever Ye Xi

"You aren't going to kidnap me, are you?"

Ye Xi followed behind Yasuo, timidly attempting to negotiate.

"I'm the daughter of the head of the Ye family. Name your price, and I'll try my best to have my dad satisfy it."

"Just please don't kill the hostage."

Zhou Huai was almost amused to laughter by Ye Xi's cautious yet deadpan appearance.

It seemed his action today had indeed frightened this little girl quite a bit.

However, his face still maintained that cold, keep-strangers-at-a-distance expression.

"Rest assured, I'm not robbing for money."

Yasuo didn't even look back, his voice flat.

Hearing this, instead of breathing a sigh of relief, Ye Xi instinctively crossed her arms tightly over her chest, her pretty face turning a few shades paler.

"Not robbing for money?"

"Could it be that you want to ravish me?"

She suddenly clenched her teeth, her tone resolute.

"That won't do! If you dare touch me, I… I'd rather die!"

Yasuo's footsteps paused, and he speechlessly turned his head sideways to glance at her.

That gaze was as if he were looking at a fool.

"I'm not here to ravish you either."

Ye Xi was completely bewildered.

Her big, watery eyes were filled with question marks.

Not robbing for money?

And not robbing for virtue?

Then what on earth was this guy plotting, going to such great lengths to pull her down from Lu Qi's car?

Ye Xi was bright and intelligent, far from being a naive airhead.

She quickly recalled that earlier in the car, Big Brother Zhou Huai seemed to still be messaging her, asking if she had set off.

Between the lines, he reminded her to stay safe, as if he had anticipated what would happen all along.

Could it be…

Was this mysterious powerhouse named Yasuo sent by Big Brother Zhou Huai?

Coupled with how earlier outside the Trial Tower, when that guy Lu Qi was pestering her,

it was also this Yasuo who suddenly popped out and resolved her predicament in just a few punches and kicks.

Once could be a coincidence, but twice might not be.

This made her increasingly certain that the weather-beaten man before her

was very likely inextricably linked to Big Brother Zhou Huai!

Just as Ye Xi was letting her imagination run wild,

"Swish!"

the waist-high bushes nearby violently shook.

A petite and exquisite figure darted out as agilely as a forest fawn.

"Boss!"

A crisp, melodious voice rang out.

With a few graceful leaps, the figure steadily arrived before Yasuo, bowed slightly, and stood at attention respectfully.

Only then did Ye Xi notice

that this suddenly darted-out figure was actually a girl of around her own age.

Furthermore, judging by her attire and styling, she seemed to be a Professionals as well.

She was precisely Jasmine, who had previously been "subdued" by Yasuo.

Seeing Jasmine arrive before Yasuo, she first caught her breath slightly, then blinked her large, curious eyes and sized up Ye Xi from top to bottom.

Finally, she asked the question that Ye Xi had been holding back for a long time, wanting to ask but not daring to.

"Boss, what are you planning to do by bringing this young lady along?"

Controlling Yasuo, Zhou Huai remained expressionless and succinctly spat out three words.

"To level up."

As soon as those words came out,

Jasmine was completely dumbfounded.

Level up?

You highway-robbed, used thunderous means to eliminate those annoying bodyguards, and casually "taught a harsh lesson" to that hateful rich young master…

Just to invite this ridiculously pretty girl over

to go level up together?

Jasmine's mind instantly flashed with countless mini-dramas of "overbearing big shot forcing his love, beauty forced to journey the ends of the earth together," and the gaze she cast at Ye Xi carried a trace of sympathy and understanding.

On the contrary, upon hearing the word "level up," Ye Xi's face displayed an expression of "as expected."

It must be that Big Brother Zhou Huai didn't trust her, nor did he want her to team up with that hateful fellow Lu Qi to level up.

That's why he specially arranged this powerful man to come specifically take her away and level up together!

Thinking of this, Ye Xi felt a warmth in her heart, quietly took out her phone, and rapidly typed on the screen.

Soon, Zhou Huai, who was in his courtyard bedroom with his consciousness linked to Yasuo, received a message sent by Ye Xi.

"Big Brother Zhou Huai, this Yasuo… is someone you sent, right? (/ω＼)"

Receiving this text message with cute emoticons, Zhou Huai couldn't help but hook his lips into a wry smile.

It seemed Yasuo's previous actions had been a bit too deliberate, and this little girl had seen right through them.

But there was no help for it; he couldn't bear to watch his future wife go level up with scum and trash like Lu Qi.

He thought for a moment and replied: "Rest assured, he won't hurt you."

This was considered a disguised admission.

To Ye Xi, Zhou Huai could confess a part of his situation.

Anyway, he would tell her sooner or later.

Receiving the text and seeing this comforting reply, the last shred of doubt in Ye Xi's heart vanished into thin air, and she relaxed completely.

Immediately after, Zhou Huai sent another message over.

"This is a little secret between the two of us, you must absolutely not tell anyone."

Looking at this message, Ye Xi's eyes curved into two cute little crescent moons, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Mhm mhm! Rest assured, Big Brother Zhou Huai, I absolutely, positively will not tell anyone! This is our little secret! (〃'▽'〃)"

Just as expected, this Yasuo was Big Brother Zhou Huai's person!

It's just, where on earth did Big Brother Zhou Huai find such a powerful subordinate?

Jasmine, standing aside, watched Ye Xi furrow her brows one moment, giggle the next, and then hold her phone with a blissfully foolish smile on her face, her expressions shifting unpredictably, leaving Jasmine somewhat dazed.

This Young Miss truly had a huge heart!

She had been taken away by a stranger who looked very tough to mess with, yet why was she still so cheerful?

Boss truly has extraordinary charm!

…

Ten minutes later.

Clear Water Lake Dungeon entrance.

The lake water shimmered in the sunlight, but the shore was a bustling and lively scene.

Various makeshift stalls were set up haphazardly, selling potions, equipment, and all sorts of bizarre Materials.

Even more were crowds holding signs and loudly shouting to form parties.

"Clear Water Lake Normal difficulty party, need a strong output, three-plus-two!"

"Nightmare exploration party! Need a healer! Healing output required to be over one thousand, experienced ones prioritized!"

"Sexy Ranger leading the team online, newbies and greenhorns hop on, Normal difficulty guaranteed to pass!"

Bringing Ye Xi and Jasmine, Yasuo's high-attractiveness combination of one man and two women attracted many gazes as soon as they appeared.

"Holy crap! That buddy's got it good, holding beauties in both arms and bringing along two top-tier stunners!"

"Hiss… I'm jealous, I'm jealous! That dark long-haired royal sister, and that petite, cute loli, they're both top-grade!"

"I wonder which guild's young master he is, having such grand style just going out to level up."

The sounds of discussion rose and fell one after another.

Zhou Huai couldn't be bothered to pay attention to these gazes, controlling Yasuo to walk straight towards the teleportation light gate at the dungeon entrance.

Beside the light gate, a huge crystal screen displayed the dungeon information.

[Clear Water Lake]

[Recommended Rank: LV10 – LV20]

[Optional Difficulties: Normal, Nightmare]

[Calamity and Hell difficulties are not yet open]

Zhou Huai's gaze swept across it.

Normal difficulty: mutant beasts' strength is 30% higher than wild monsters of the same Rank.

Nightmare difficulty: directly doubles, comparable to elite monsters.

Furthermore, the dungeons here were not like the children's play of the newbie Trial Tower.

With the slightest carelessness, one would die within the dungeon.

Of course, risks and rewards coexisted.

The experience points and drops of high-difficulty dungeons were also far beyond what Normal difficulty could compare to.

"This is the one."

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhou Huai directly selected the [Nightmare] difficulty.

"B-Boss!"

Seeing this, Jasmine's little face turned slightly pale, and she spoke somewhat hesitatingly.

"Nightmare difficulty… isn't it a bit too dangerous?"

In the party, her Rank was the highest, a level 12 [Eagle-Eyed Summoner].

But this was a pure reconnaissance support class, and her frontal combat capability was almost zero.

Ye Xi was a level 6 [Holy Light Chanter], considered a healer, but her Rank was too low and her healing output was limited.

The only main force was Boss Yasuo, who had just reached level 10.

Using a level 10 main carry to bring two low-level supports to clear a level 10 dungeon on Nightmare difficulty…

No matter how you looked at it, this was practically courting death!

"It's fine."

Zhou Huai's tone was calm, exuding an unquestionable confidence.

"Just follow behind me and mind your safety."

Naturally, Ye Xi had no objections.

The entire person was still immersed in the blissfulness of Big Brother Zhou Huai finding someone to carry her while leveling up.

Unable to extricate herself.

[Ding! You have selected Nightmare difficulty. Do you confirm entry into the dungeon?]

"Confirm!"

The next second, the figures of the three were swallowed by the teleportation light gate.