Interstellar Pharmacist Chapter 5
The Battle
After seeing Yan Hao in person, Tang Jing left in a daze.
“Looks like Prince Charming just claimed another victim,” Tang Xin laughed.
But Yan Hao wasn’t pleased by this at all. “You must be joking, Eighth Miss,” he said, looking as serious as always.
Tang Xin raised an eyebrow, “Oh, so you’re not gonna address me as ‘M’Lady’ now that Tenth Brother isn’t around?”
Pursing his lips, Yan Hao cussed her out mentally. After a few moments, he spat out the words with great difficulty: “M’Lady.”
“Whatever,” replied Tang Xin, getting to her feet. She hadn’t expected such a lengthy conversation with Tang Jing. Ever since their first meeting, she had an impression of her younger sister as a conniving, untrustworthy person. But their meeting earlier changed her mind, and she was starting to take a liking to her half-sister.
“Time to go meet the butler. I still gotta claim my resources,” said Tang Xin as she was walking out the door. Suddenly, a knife flew towards her. She managed to duck to one side just in time, with the blade catching a few strands of her head.
When she saw who the culprit was, she exploded. “Tang Ningyi, are you insane?!”
“I’ll kill you,” replied the boy, his eyes red with rage. He swung the knife at her again.
Tang Ningyi had asked the butler to ask his father for help. But to his surprise, the butler returned with the news saying that his father had instead approved Tang Xin’s decision, and that the case was closed.
Case closed? Says who? thought the youth as he rushed back to his room to grab his knife.
If he killed Tang Xin, then Yan Hao’s contract would revert back to the original. Getting rid of this pest would also show everyone that he is not somebody to mess around with. Then, in two years’ time, Yan Hao will be his.
It was the perfect plan. Too bad Tang Xin dodged his blade.
Tang Ningyi sneered. So what if she missed this time? Her level-2 ass is no match for a level-4 warrior like me.
Surprisingly, Tang Xin didn’t show the slightest inclination of wanting to take him on. “Yan Hao, get him,” she yelled.
“Coward,” spat Tang Ningyi, giving her his iciest glare.
To give such an order, knowing full well that he would never hurt Yan Hao—she was putting her poor subordinate in a difficult position. What an awful, horrible boss! thought Tang Ningyi. I could never do that to my beloved Yan Hao.
Tang Xin ignored his insult. Of course she knew that she was no match for him. But Yan Hao, on the other hand, is a level-5 warrior. Now this was a show she wouldn’t want to miss.
As it turned out, Tang Ningyi overestimated his own charm.
Without hesitation, Yan Hao smacked his wrist, causing him to drop the knife in pain. Then the guard locked the young master’s arm behind his back, rendering him immobile.
Instead of struggling to free himself, Tang Ningyi merely said wistfully, “I know you’re only doing this out of no choice. I won’t hold it against you.”
A chill ran down Yan Hao’s spine. He didn’t like Tang Ningyi at all. In fact, he felt moderately creeped out at being targeted by this kiddo pervert. At the thought of this, he instinctively tightened his grip.
“Tang Ningyi, you’ve got some nerves, charging at me like this with a knife t,” said Tang Xin coldly. Seeing that Yan Hao had her brother in a deadlock, she felt bold enough to approach him at last.
“You got lucky this time,” Tang Ningyi hissed, staring daggers at her. “Next time if I get you, I’ll make your life a living hell till the point that you’ll wish that you were dead!”
Tang Xin laughed, “You attacked me and failed, and now you’re in my hands. I have the final say on what kind of punishment to levy against you. Do you really think your threats have any weight right now?”
“As if you’d dare to do anything to me,” the younger brother snorted. “Hurry up and let me go before you get into trouble. Don’t you know that I’ll be the next head of the household?”
“Well then, let’s see how a dead man can become the master of the house!” Tang Xin went to the cupboard and retrieved a dagger.
Seeing the gleam of the silver blade made Tang Ningyi panic. “This is the Tang residence. I don’t think you dare to touch me,” he said, trying to sound bolder than he was.
“I’m not going to ‘touch’ you,” Tang Xin corrected him. “I’m going to kill you. I’ll say I did it in self-defense when you tried to attack me. Nobody will give me flak for that.”
With these words, she aimed the dagger right at her half-brother’s heart. He was a troublesome character, and she had more sense than to let him walk free.
The dagger was suspended barely an inch from his heart. No, she hadn’t changed her mind. Someone had grabbed onto her wrist.
She turned to face the genteel smile of the butler. “Tenth Young Master was only fooling around. Eight Miss shouldn’t get so worked up over it,” he said lightly, as if he wasn’t the one who’d bound her wrist.
Upon seeing the butler, Tang Ningyi felt emboldened once again.
Only fooling around? Then how about I “fool around” by stabbing a few holes through his heart??
But Tang Xin knew that it was pointless to argue. “Let go,” she said to the butler. He complied.
“Why is this crazy kid here?” she asked.
Before Tang Ningyi could reply, the butler stepped in on his behalf, “The Master said that there’s no reason to question Eighth Miss’s choice now that you have already selected your guard. Tenth Young Master couldn’t accept the decision and momentarily lost his cool.”
Tang Ningyi wanted to dispute this version of events. But then he remembered that the butler just saved his life, so he held his tongue.
Tang Xin narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “I didn’t even know about this. How did he know?” she asked.
“Well,” replied the butler, still smiling. “I happened to run into Tenth Young Master on the way.”
“As the butler, you’ve served our father for so many years,” said Tang Xin, looking at him coldly. “And yet you don’t even know when to keep your mouth shut?”
“It was my mistake. I misspoke.”
“You misspoke? Like that time when I was selecting my guard? Well, well. You’re quick to admit your mistakes, but you don’t seem to learn your lessons.”
The butler was at a loss for words. Deep down, he felt a bit resentful. All the young masters and misses of the house have always been courteous to him. The Eighth Miss is the only one who’s given him such a hard time. But then again, she even takes on the same attitude with the Tenth Young Master, so it’s no surprise that she would be irreverent towards him.
“Eighth Miss, I know you were unfairly targeted,” he said wryly. “But this is the Tang family. Tenth Young Master mustn’t be harmed.”
“I know this is the Tang family. Otherwise, why would an eyesore like you be here?” the young lady replied.
And anyways, where was he when Tang Ningyi was charging at her with the knife? It wasn’t even written in stone yet that her younger brother will be the next head of the household, and this butler was already being such a shameless sycophant.
The butler could do nothing but smile.
But Tang Xin had given up on the kill. She looked at Yan Hao, who released his grip on Tang Ningyi, then she pinned the little rascal to the wall.
“What?” Tang Ningyi barked, trying to sound tough. After nearly being killed by her just now, he was feeling rather scared of his sister.
With the butler standing guard, Tang Xin had no chance to exact her revenge. But she could at least get some frustrations off her chest.
“As your older sister, I should impart some words of wisdom to you before I leave home. When you’re under someone else’s hands, don’t be too arrogant. You might just piss them off and make them want to slash your throat even more.”
“As if you dare to do that,” Tang Ningyi snorted.
Tang Xin smiled and stabbed her dagger into the wall, just a few millimeters away from his ear. This sudden move caused the younger brother to break into cold sweat.
“And one more thing: No matter how much talent you have, that’s all pointless if you drop dead in the next moment. There’s a difference between potential and actual abilities. Don’t get too cocky.”
Tang Xin patted his face with mock fondness. “Take heed of your Eighth Sister’s well-meaning advice,” she said sweetly. “It would be a pity if someone slashes your throat before you become the next master of the household. You’re a rare A-gene after all.”
But the look on her face didn’t match the mood of the words “pity” and “A-gene” at all. In that moment, Tang Ningyi felt an overwhelming urge to get away from this psycho.
Afterwards, Tang Xin sauntered over to the butler. “Take me to see my father,” she said.
The butler was hesitant, “This might not be a good time. The Master is handling some urgent business at the moment.”
“You’re mistaken. I’m not making a request or asking for your permission. I am ordering you,” she looked him square in the eye and repeated herself, “Take me to see my father.”
Seeing her steely determination, the butler bowed his head slightly and replied, “Yes, Eighth Miss.”
As he was leaving, he glanced back to see Yan Hao following closely behind Tang Xin. Tang Ningyi was the only one remaining in the room. The butler heaved a sigh of relief before exiting.
As they were approaching the master’s study, the butler said, “I’ll go in and inform the Master of our arrival.”
“Go,” said Tang Xin, waving him off.
After he left, Yan Hao turned to her, “Aren’t you worried that he might tattle on you to the Master?”
Tang Xin shook her head. “The fact is that Tang Ningyi attacked me first. There’s no way the butler can deny that. If taken seriously, an assassination plot on one’s own sibling would lead to a disqualification from the competition. But Tang Ningyi is my father’s favorite. The old man will never allow him to be disqualified. Even if the butler tells him the full truth, he will do everything in his power to keep the little brat in the game.”
“And you’re okay with that?” asked Yan Hao. There was a trace of bewilderment in his eyes.
“I’d anticipated such an outcome when I missed my chance to kill him. The butler is a level-5 warrior, and you’re keeping your level a secret, so we’re no match for him at this point. I won’t get mad because it will only achieve nothing. Besides,”—she flashed a cunning smile—“if father wants me to let this slide, then he would at least do a little something to sweeten the deal for me.”
Yan Hao was at a loss for words. There was hunger in her eyes; it was clear that she saw this as an opportunity to get a leg up in the competition.
“Speaking of which—why didn’t you let go of him when I tried to stab him with my dagger?” Tang Xin asked curiously. “ If I’m the killer, and if something happened to him, you would have to take responsibility, too.”
Her guard was puzzled. “I thought we agreed: I will serve under you for three years, and then you’ll release me. So I’m just following your orders and fulfilling my end of the promise.”
She studied his face carefully, but couldn’t make out anything besides his usual cold demeanor. “You did well,” she said at last. But deep down she wondered, is he really going to be 100% loyal and do whatever I tell him to?
AUTHOR’S COMMENTS
Mini drama 1
Tang Ningyi: I’m arrogant? Speak for yourself, woman QAQ
Tang Xin: Don’t lump me in with you. I have actual skills *smug face*
Mini drama 2
Tang Xin: I know we have an agreement, but I didn’t think Yan Hao would be so obedient ●▽● He’s like my own White Fang.
Author: Pls send me a boyfriend like him…
