Faced with Li Daoqiang's sudden and unusual coldness, Qi Fang snapped back to reality, her small face turning pale.
With a hint of confusion, she looked at Li Daoqiang, her heart jolting. *Yes, my benefactor has already saved me once and given me so much guidance. Why should he help me again? How can I trouble him for no reason?*
As she thought this, her gaze grew increasingly resolute. She said earnestly, "Benefactor, I have nothing to repay you with. I only ask that you guide me again to save my senior brother. In this life and the next, I will serve you like a beast of burden to repay your kindness."
Li Daoqiang remained expressionless, then said flatly, "Do you trust me that much?"
Qi Fang nodded heavily, full of determination.
"Heh, if you heard my name, you probably wouldn't trust me so much." Li Daoqiang said with a playful smile.
Qi Fang was puzzled and replied seriously, "No, I wouldn't. Please tell me your name, and I will pray for you every day."
"Fine, I'll tell you, and we'll see if this silly girl still trusts me." Li Daoqiang chuckled lightly, paused, and said calmly, "My name is Li Daoqiang, the chief of Black Dragon Stronghold."
As he spoke, his eyes locked onto Qi Fang.
Qi Fang was first stunned, then shocked, staring at him in disbelief.
"You... you are...!"
"What's wrong? Don't I look the part? Or don't you believe me?" Li Daoqiang laughed.
Qi Fang shook her head, then immediately nodded, her mind in chaos. *The benefactor who saved me and guided me is actually the biggest bandit in Jingzhou! The one rumored to be utterly evil and steeped in crime!*
*But how could my benefactor be a bad person?*
Qi Fang didn't believe it, but the news she'd heard over the past few months clearly told her that the man before her was a great villain. She was lost.
"Hahaha, look at you, scared silly. Have you heard too many bad things about me?" Li Daoqiang said indifferently, showing interest.
Qi Fang nodded blankly, unsure what to say. *Is the person before me really a bad person?*
Li Daoqiang turned his head to look out the window, his expression relaxed, carrying a hint of pride and cold disdain. He said calmly, "I told you from the start, I'm not a good person. I'm still saying it now—I'm not a good person. I'm a bandit, that's true. But though I admit I'm not a good person, I'm still better than those who seem noble on the surface but are full of deceit underneath. And I value fair trade above all. As long as someone can pay the price, I'll handle anything. That's me, Li Daoqiang."
Qi Fang was stunned again, then realized that from the very beginning, her benefactor had never deceived her. It was she who had willfully assumed he was a good person. Thinking about it, she felt a bit embarrassed. And when she thought of the Wan family, inexplicably, she gained more trust in this man everyone called a great villain, feeling a sense of peace. *No matter what, my benefactor never lied to me.*
Watching the girl's expression change from the corner of his eye, Li Daoqiang roughly guessed her thoughts. He mused inwardly, *Young girls are still easy to fool. Or rather, young people are easy to fool—especially those truly kind and inexperienced. No wonder many protagonists deal with morally ambiguous or even evil characters. They know this game. Commit a thousand wrongs and finally correct them—that's called a prodigal's return. Do a thousand good deeds and mess up once—that's revealing your true nature. Honest people always lose. True villains sometimes fare better than hypocrites. Especially with naive, kind girls like Qi Fang. She'll think that this Black Dragon Stronghold chief, whom everyone calls a great villain, isn't so bad and is even more sincere.*
He turned his head, looking at the silly girl with a half-smile, and said casually, "So, after hearing my name, do you still trust me?"
Qi Fang hesitated only a moment before nodding heavily and saying earnestly, "I do. You saved me and guided me to recognize evil people. I believe in you, benefactor."
"Haha, I don't really care if you believe me or not, but I told you, I value fair trade. Everything has a price. If you can pay it, I'll do anything for you."
As he spoke, Li Daoqiang looked Qi Fang up and down. While she anxiously wondered what price she could offer, he said appreciatively, "You want me to guide you? No problem. Even saving your senior brother? No problem. The question is, are you willing to pay the price?"
Qi Fang nodded without thinking, eagerly saying, "I am! As long as I can save my senior brother, I'll pay any price. But I don't know what I can offer."
As she spoke, she looked on the verge of tears again.
*Dumb.* Li Daoqiang cursed inwardly, then had no choice but to spell it out. "Silly girl, do you really not know, or are you pretending? A woman, especially a beautiful one, her greatest value is her beauty."
Qi Fang looked down at herself, and her face flushed red again. She wasn't stupid, just a bit naive. After the series of shocks and never having faced such a situation before, she'd never considered her own beauty or its worth. Now that Li Daoqiang had made it clear, and recalling his earlier mention of a beautiful concubine, if she still didn't understand, she'd be foolish. *My benefactor wants me?* The thought brought both shyness and surprise. She lowered her head, unable to look at Li Daoqiang, unsure how to respond. Of course, she didn't want this—she loved her senior brother. How could she be with someone else? But...
Still kneeling, her mind was in turmoil.
Li Daoqiang showed no restraint and continued bluntly, "Don't overthink it. I just think you're pretty and have a good nature, so I want to take you back as my little stronghold wife. That's why I'm being direct. But I'll never force you. You can ask around—I'm known for my integrity and fair trade. It's all voluntary. Of course, before that, I need to lay out the price for you. Listen carefully, then decide if you're willing."
Qi Fang blushed furiously at the mention of being taken back as a "little stronghold wife," even silently cursing her benefactor. But in the end, she couldn't help listening closely.
Li Daoqiang took a sip of tea and continued calmly, "First, your request should be to save your senior brother. To do that, you'll need to deal with the authorities. Dealing with officials is always troublesome for martial artists, especially since I'm a bandit. Getting him out directly will take a lot of effort. Then, you'll need to settle him, make sure he's well-fed and lives peacefully, right?"
He deliberately emphasized the last two words, looking at Qi Fang.
Qi Fang listened carefully and nodded dumbly.
Li Daoqiang's lips curled into a smile. "Second, saving your senior brother means offending the Wan family. I don't care about them, but they're still one of the major righteous forces in Jingzhou City. Offending them is another hassle. Third, after your senior brother gets out, he'll want revenge, right? Even if not, he'll need to force information about your father from the Wan family. Needless to say, that job will fall on me again—an even bigger headache. So this deal isn't easy. Ordinary Xiantian masters couldn't handle it. In silver terms, it's worth a hundred thousand taels."
"A hundred thousand taels!"
Qi Fang couldn't help but exclaim, her mouth falling open before she quickly covered it. A hundred thousand taels was an astronomical sum to her—unimaginable. She'd never thought she'd be connected to such a number.
"Judging by your reaction, you don't have the money, so you'll have to trade with something else. All you have is your beauty and your life. As the saying goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure. In my eyes, I'm quite satisfied with you. So, your beauty and your life are worth a hundred thousand taels to me. I've said all I need to say. Now it's up to you whether you're willing to pay. Fair trade, all voluntary." Li Daoqiang said unhurriedly. Despite claiming to be satisfied with Qi Fang, he seemed indifferent, as if the deal was entirely up to her.
Qi Fang had collapsed to the ground, her face pale. Li Daoqiang's words were clear, and she understood them thoroughly. She now grasped the difficulty of the matter. *Yes, the authorities, the Wan family—neither is something I can handle. The only way to save my senior brother seems to be this. But... but...*
Forgetting her shyness, she was torn inside. *Beauty and life—that means the rest of my life belongs to this man as his wife. I don't care about my life; I'd gladly serve my benefactor like a beast of burden. But what about my senior brother?*
Tears silently streamed down her face as she sat in a daze.
Li Daoqiang sipped his tea, watching Qi Fang from the corner of his eye, appreciating her stunning, tear-streaked beauty. He felt some pity, but only because she was beautiful. As for anything else, he'd already said he wasn't a good person. In this chaotic world, he just wanted to live better, a little better. He wouldn't forcibly take women, but fair trade, mutual consent—no one owed anyone anything. There was no reason to help for free.
After waiting a while and seeing Qi Fang still like this, he wasn't in a hurry. He stood up and said, "Think it over. You can stay here today or leave anytime. Tomorrow, I'll wait for your answer."
With that, he walked out.
Qi Fang snapped back to reality, watching his imposing retreating figure. She opened her mouth as if to say something but didn't. Lowering her head, she sank back into memories and struggle.
Leaving the Black Dragon Stronghold outpost, Li Daoqiang began his plans for the night. Of his two goals in Jingzhou City, the first was already in motion. He believed the silly girl in the room wouldn't disappoint him. As for the second, he'd have to handle it himself tonight.
(There was a delay today, so just one chapter.) ······