Chapter 62: I Simply Want to Kill You—Is That a Problem?

Kla nodded and continued, "It's very simple. We'll work together—you help me, and together we kill the City Lord."

As soon as Kla finished speaking, a sudden silence fell over the group. Qing Yan frowned, glancing at Kla, a card already in her hand, looking ready to unlock it at any moment. Qu Ya and Lin Shuang broke out in cold sweat.

Many people might have entertained such thoughts in private, but no one dared speak them aloud. The City Lord was essentially the ruler of all these survival zones. What ruler would tolerate his own people saying they wanted him dead? All nine survival zones were subordinate to the Main City. Even if the hierarchy wasn't explicitly defined, none of the survival zone leaders had ever spoken of killing the City Lord of the Main City.

Though Xi Yan was surprised by Kla's proposed alliance, he quickly regained his composure. Xi Yan lowered his gaze, smiled softly, and then looked up. "Mr. Kla, this isn't really a request for my opinion. You're forcing me to cooperate with you."

"Oh? Is that so?" Kla feigned ignorance.

"You've said it so openly. If I refuse, my friends will likely all be killed by you. After all, something like this can't be known to anyone but your own people."

Xi Yan's tone was light, betraying no sign that he was being threatened. Kla was surprised by Xi Yan's attitude, though he showed nothing outwardly. "So, does that mean you agree?"

"Do I really have any other choice?" Xi Yan retorted.

"Then let's have a fruitful partnership."

Kla extended his hand, and Xi Yan, without hesitation, did the same. "A fruitful partnership," he said.

Qu Ya looked on in shock. Xi Yan had just agreed, just like that? If this were discovered, the Main City would hunt him down without mercy.

"In order to show my sincerity, these thirty people are a gift to you. You can quickly expand your territory and influence in the Ninth Survival Zone."

"No need." Xi Yan refused Kla's offer without a second thought. "I don't need them. Since this is a partnership, I assume you'll help me with my request as well."

"Go ahead."

"I'd like you to manage the Ninth Survival Zone for now, and I want to visit your Eighth Survival Zone. How about it?" Xi Yan rolled his neck, leaned back in his chair, and continued, "As allies, it's not unreasonable for me to see your strength. After all, my own abilities are clear to you, but yours are still a mystery to me."

"That's perfectly fine." The condition was simple enough. Kla knew Xi Yan's abilities well, perhaps even more about Xi Yan's identity than Xi Yan himself. But Kla would never reveal that.

If Kla became the acting master of the Ninth Survival Zone, he could make full use of its resources—a stroke of luck he was more than willing to accept.

Qu Ya, thinking Xi Yan didn't understand the implications of relinquishing control, tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Xi Yan, if you give up management rights, you'll lose a lot of resources."

Xi Yan looked at Qu Ya, shook his head, then turned back to Kla. "It's settled, then."

Kla nodded. "When do you want to visit the Eighth Survival Zone? I can take you there directly."

Xi Yan shook his head. "I'll go whenever I feel like it. After all, killing the City Lord of the Main City isn't something that can be done overnight."

"Very well. Ha ha ha! Then let me wish you an enjoyable time in the Eighth Survival Zone in advance. But let me warn you, if you die, I won't be responsible."

Kla stood, and the white-robed figure behind him instantly handed him a cane. Kla took it, turned, and with a simple motion traced a circle in the air—a tunnel appeared.

At that moment, the table, chairs, and umbrella all vanished. Qu Ya and Lin Shuang nearly lost their balance, but Xi Yan was unharmed, having stood up as soon as Kla did.

Kla walked toward the tunnel. Just as he was about to step inside, he suddenly turned to Qing Yan and said, "Young lady, you'd better take good care of the City Lord! Ha ha ha!"

Laughing heartily, Kla left, followed in turn by the thirty-odd white-robed figures. Once they had all passed through, the tunnel disappeared.

It was as if the whole episode had been nothing but a dream.

Qing Yan, biting her lip, fists clenched tightly, jumped down from Xiao Jin's shoulder, marched up to Xi Yan, and delivered a hard kick.

Xi Yan was completely unprepared. She struck his knee, and he immediately grabbed it in pain, but voiced not a single complaint.

He only asked, puzzled, "Miss Qing Yan, why did you suddenly kick me?"

Qing Yan stamped her foot in anger. "Are you stupid? You just agreed to work with him like that?"

"I didn't have any other choice. Refusing would just mean death, and I don't want to die," Xi Yan replied, deliberately sounding aggrieved.

Qing Yan's tone softened, yet she still looked at Xi Yan with a mixture of pride and frustration. "You... you're hopeless! You'll just end up dead anyway! Don't you understand what the Main City represents, what the City Lord means?"

Xi Yan pressed his lips together, fell silent for a couple of seconds, then answered, "I understand. But I don't want any of you to die. I can die, but you can't—because you're my friends..."

With that, Xi Yan lowered his head in dejection. Hearing his words, Qing Yan's heart began to race.

Friends... Was that not an unfamiliar word?

When Qing Yan didn't reply, Xi Yan slowly lifted his eyes and caught the look on her face, secretly pleased. This was the effect he wanted. He intended to use Qing Yan; although he didn't yet know her true identity, he was certain it was extraordinary.

If he could bring her to his side, it would make things much easier.

Of the three present, Xi Yan only trusted Qu Ya. As for Lin Shuang and Qing Yan, he saw them purely as tools for now.

Qing Yan suddenly sighed and said, "The days ahead won't be easy for you. Besides those who already hunt you for being the master of the Ninth Survival Zone, there will be trusted agents of the City Lord coming after you. News of your alliance with Kla will surely spread soon."

"It doesn't matter. As long as you're all safe, that's enough. Besides, my life has always been yours. It's only right that I do something for you," Xi Yan said, giving her a gentle, warm smile that brought a flush to Qing Yan's cheeks.

"By the way, may I ask, Miss Qing Yan, why do you want my life?" Xi Yan pressed on.

At this, Qing Yan suddenly grew flustered. "I... I... There's no real reason! I just want to kill you. Is that a problem?"