Chapter 127 (1/2)
As expected, Liu Xin withdrew from the conversation when Chang said that.
At the same time, the door of the room was opened and a muscular figure walked in - Liu.
”I am glad to see you're already awake, Chang.” A set of toiletries lay in Liu's giant palm. ”No one has used this set before, please make yourself comfortable. By the way, I also bring news.
”I sent a human to Qing Shui already, I hope he'll bring back good news this afternoon.”
”Oh really?” Chang nodded. ”I do hope it's going to be good news.”
”Mr. Liu, it'll never be bad news. I won't hurt you no matter how Qing Shui responds. After all, I don't want to take the risk of bringing discord between me and him.
”Since Qing Shui sent you to me for an honest negotiation, I can't turn down his favor.” Liu stood at the center of the room, explaining his plan whose intention was yet to be seen. ”Though, I consider this to be a friendly communication regardless how important you are to Qing Shui and whether he is willing to help me break through the reproduction problem.”
”I hope that's really how it is.” Chang looked away.
Sorrow hit him and he didn't even say bye when Liu left the room.
Chang curled up on the bed and didn't speak until afternoon.
3:20 P.M
A juvenile amphibia holding a man by his s.h.i.+rt's collar was running out from the jungle.
Liu and Chang awaited his arrival outside of the sand hole.
The amphibia didn't have a chance to speak for Liu instantly asked him in a strict tone, ”You weren't followed, were you?”
”No, I was waiting at the edge of the jungle all time, when he returned from the inst.i.tute, I carried him back by his s.h.i.+rt, running back in full speed.” Amphibias didn't sweat as they didn't have sweat glands distributed on their skin, instead, a special fluid secreted on their tongue, indicating that they were fatigued.
The little amphibia breathed heavily, then he spat a bit of dark green saliva to the ground, saying, ”I don't think any human has a more sensitive nose than me, nor is my match speed wise. Hence, there shouldn't be anyone that could've followed me.”
”Great.” Liu heaved a sigh of relief, nodding. He then asked the human on the ground. ”Did you deliver my message? What did Mr. Li say?”
”I recited everything you told me word for word.” The human raised his head, proud. ”There were three messages in total. 'I have Chang as my guest.', 'I need reproduction ability.''I have no intention of causing harm but seeking cooperation.' These are exactly what you told me last night.”
”Great, I am glad to see that you didn't run away.”
”I can't... my wife and kids are with you, I can't risk running away.” The human almost choked. ”Are they okay?”
”Of course they are okay, there is no point for me to do anything to them if you didn't run away.” Liu stated, then asked again, ”So how did Mr. Li respond to my suggestion?”
”He only said six words.” The human felt pressured when Liu asked the question with his face approaching his, he swallowed to disguise his anxiety.
”Tell me, what did he say?” Suddenly, Liu had a bad feeling. He comforted the timid human. ”Hey, don't be scared, I won't blame you for anything you say.”
”He said...” The human swallowed again. ”'Release him, or you'll die.'
”Trust me, please. He said nothing but this. He sent me away with his soldiers afterward,” the human explained all in a fl.u.s.ter. ”It wasn't because I didn't want to negotiate with him, either. Mr. Li didn't even spare time for me to negotiate with what you taught me to tell, he literally kicked me out from the inst.i.tute...”
”Hmmmm... Release him or I'll die?” The amphibia drew his attention to Chang, the color of his pupils changing. ”It seems like you are quite important to him.”
”I told you, we are friends.” Chang shrugged. ”If you really want anything from him, threatening him with me isn't a good way to go, he won't play your game.”
”I knew it.” Liu's eyes didn't leave Chang. ”That's why I treated you as a friend since the very beginning. Mr. Liu, you are free to leave now.”
”Leave? Are you sure?” Chang's eyes went wide; Liu's decision was out of his expectations.
Such decision shocked everyone present, including the little amphibias around Liu. The pupils of their eyes enlarged. ”Why? Papa? Why would you do this? Wouldn't it be nice to just keep him since he is so important? We should always have a backup plan, even if we aren't using him for anything, what if he is actually a critical person to our future?”
The little amphibia who brought back the human shouted out, ”Papa? Why are you afraid of Qing Shui Li anyways? We don't need to be scared of him at all! Please give me a gun, and I'll shoot him from afar if it's as dangerous around him as you said.”
”But who will solve our problem if Qing Shui is dead?” Liu frowned. ”Plus, it's impossible to kill Mr. Li even if I gave you a bag full of guns. Stop the nonsense, kids. Please send Chang back home.”
Liu's frown deepened.
”I am not going! Why do we have to compromise with a human? Why don't we just steal all his stuff from the lab and figure something out? I don't see the point...” The little amphibia was interrupted as Liu grabbed him by the torso.
”Please, no more talking.” Liu gazed at the little amphibia's pale face.