CHAPTER 276
Loyalty
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"Miss Qinghan, how about some juice? My master can be a bit childish—please forgive him~"
Amber pressed down on her white skirt, which Xiao Ai was about to yank off—the bow on her underwear was already peeking out. Yet she remained expressionless, as if this were routine…
"Um…" Ye Qinghan glanced at Xiao Ai's resentful glare. Could this kid really have no sway over Amber?
Did a personal attendant's privileges really extend that far?
"Amber, show some respect! Miss Qinghan has traveled far to visit us. How dare you offer her mere juice?"
If word of this reached His Highness, wouldn't he blame Xiao Ai for neglecting the princess?"
While restraining Amber, he also shot Ye Qinghan a series of meaningful winks and winks!
"Miss Qinghan, you want some too, right? You definitely do! With such delicious food, you must agree!"
Ye Qinghan looked utterly helpless—this was practically a miniature version of Li Shiyao!
"Fine, fine, fine. Qinghan will have just a little."
Oh my, now that she had an ally, Xiao Ai grew even more cocky, tugging at Amber's skirt and swaying back and forth!
"Did you hear that? Miss Qinghan said she wants some! Hurry up and get it!"
Amber sighed deeply, wearing an expression of utter helplessness toward Xiao Ai. She had no choice but to fetch the wine for her.
The moment Amber stepped out of the room, Xiao Ai's expression shifted back to that of the stern Gu Ai.
"Has Hakou eaten his fill?"
Xiao Ai tilted her head, staring at He Guang as if she was about to tell him to pack up his bowl and get lost!
Hekou, no longer in pain, was busy gnawing on an unknown animal's hind leg—as thick as a lamb's shank—when Xiao Ai's words reached him.
At first, he paid little mind, but when Xiao Ai's gaze fell upon him, he hurriedly retreated. Only upon reaching the doorway did he remember the leg he'd left behind, dashing back inside to retrieve it…
As Hakou prepared to leave, every servant in the room had already retreated three paces. Xiao Ai spoke slowly.
"A13-75.3-H53. These are the starting coordinates. Can you remember them?"
Ye Qinghan looked utterly confused. What did that mean? Eh, what's "Yao San"? Eh, "Chi Wu San"?
"What does it mean?"
"You don't need to understand. Just go back and tell Su Cheng that you heard it from Amber reporting to me."
"Why should I do that?"
Ye Qinghan narrowed her fox-like eyes, meeting Xiao Ai’s mocking smile with a look that seemed to say she wasn’t quite up to the task.
But Xiao Ai offered no explanation. She simply walked over to Ye Qinghan's side and draped the military coat she'd been carrying over the back of a chair.
"Um… Lady Gu Ai, I'm not interested in girls. I still prefer my master…"
Xiao Ai chuckled softly but ignored Ye Qinghan, continuing to undress herself.
"Gu Ai, I'm not interested in children either…"
"Bullshit! Who the hell are you calling a kid?!"
As if struck at a sore spot, Xiao Ai pouted and playfully flicked Ye Qinghan's forehead. The blow instantly left a red mark on Ye Qinghan's Yuan Infant Holy Body…
"Ouch! Ah~ Ow~ That hurts…"
Now behold the once-arrogant Xiao Ai seated in the chair before Ye Qinghan, her back turned to him. Slowly, she peeled off her cartoon-patterned shirt, revealing the engraving on her back in stark clarity.
"Is it different from Qinghan's 'mark'?"
Ye Qinghan's eyes widened. This was…
Indeed! She hadn't misread it last time!
Last time, she had glimpsed a bit of the pattern peeking out from the collar. She had only suspected then, but now it seemed her hunch was correct!
"Somewhat similar? Yet also different?"
The mark on Xiao Ai's back wasn't just text. Surrounding the characters were tattoo-like patterns, like wings encircling the words.
"Qinghan's mark is Master's name. But the engraving on Lady Gu Ai's back… it doesn't seem to be Master's name?"
Xiao Ai's already large, watery eyes widened slightly in surprise. "It's also a name—someone very important to Xiao Ai."
"The mark on Qinghan's body symbolizes the Master's protection of her disciple."
"Xiao Ai's is different. Xiao Ai's mark is carved with unwavering loyalty until death."
"As long as that bastard in Su City wants to, he can find Xiao Ai anytime. Wherever she is, she'll be under his control like a puppet."
Ye Qinghan was slightly surprised. The word "control" didn't sound like something Xiao Ai would say.
Though Xiao Ai constantly spoke of "grooves," Ye Qinghan sensed she would never harm her master.
But what did "control" mean?
"Gu Ai, what does 'control' mean?"
Xiao Ai pouted, showing no hurry to dress. Still clad in her child-sized tank top, she leaned back against the chair…
"It means exactly what it says… Wait outside!" Mid-sentence, Xiao Ai's impatient shout echoed from beyond the door!
Amber had returned. After chatting for so long, Ye Qinghan had more or less grasped the situation.
Xiao Ai had dismissed everyone, even sending away Amber, her personal attendant, not because she didn't trust Amber, but because she didn't want Amber to worry about her.
"Xiao Ai isn't just wearing a spatial anchor. This is a spell designed to prevent slaves from escaping—it's called the Binding Lock."
"Just as every lock has its key, the slave shackles binding Xiao Ai also have a corresponding spell."
"No matter where Xiao Ai is—even if she's in another world, even if she flees to the ends of the earth—the moment that spell, what you call immortal magic, is activated, Xiao Ai will die instantly."
"And now, only two people know that incantation and are still alive—Xiao Ai and your Groove Master."
Ye Qinghan's face paled with shock. A slave's shackles…
Even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she couldn't escape her master's grasp…
"You wouldn't want me to join you in seeking revenge against my master, would you?"
Xiao Ai chuckled softly, gazing at Ye Qinghan as if looking at a little fool.
She now felt all the rumors were lies. Weren't fox spirits supposed to be incredibly clever?
How did she come to this conclusion?
If she wanted revenge against Su City, would she really need to go through such a complicated process?
"That spell… Xiao Ai told him herself. Does that make sense now?"
Ye Qinghan looked utterly stunned. Once again, she was astounded by this so-called loyalty. Was this what loyalty looked like?
If Xiao Ai hadn't lied, then she was absolutely trustworthy!
"What do you want me to do?"
"You could just say it plainly—that I told you. You'll know exactly what's there."
"Master Gu Ai, I believe in your loyalty to the Master, but you wouldn't deceive Qinghan, would you?"
Ye Qinghan dared not disbelieve, yet dared not fully trust either. After all, the Xiao Ai before her was the Master's most outstanding personal attendant—without a doubt!
Though she looked like a cute, innocent little girl, seemingly on par with Li Shiyao in intelligence.
Ye Qinghan dared not take her lightly!
Xiao Ai chuckled cheerfully: "Xiao Ai can make no promises. Xiao Ai's loyalty rests solely upon the absolute trust of the Master."
"Besides, Xiao Ai just can't be bothered to meet that ditch-dweller. If you disobey Xiao Ai, you'll likely regret it when it's too late~"
Ye Qinghan stared at Xiao Ai suspiciously, feeling uncertain…
But Xiao Ai wouldn't harm her master, would she…
If she just said it was Xiao Ai who told her, that should be fine, right?
The Master should be able to discern the truth of the information!
Ye Qinghan nodded to herself, then looked at Xiao Ai and said with feigned resolve.
"Qinghan trusts Lady Gu Ai. Qinghan will relay this to the Master."
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