The Frail Guide Who Devoured an Entire Pollution Zone

Chapter 29: Chapter 29: One Unreasonable Request After Another

Qi Qin was one of the founding members of the Heiyu Alliance, having helped build it from the ground up.

Over the years, most of the members from his generation had either failed to return from missions or had to be put down after going berserk in combat. Very few of them remained.

With the Heiyu Alliance’s current renown, he had naturally become a venerable elder.

In recent years, he had taken a backseat and rarely involved himself in the Alliance’s affairs.

Now that he had suddenly stepped forward, his motive was obvious.

’But so what if he’s an elder? Some people don’t deserve to be in the Heiyu Alliance.’

Qi Qin could sense the displeasure in Lu Jingyu’s tone, but having chosen to step forward, there was no turning back.

’Besides, I’m an elder. If I’m publicly rebuffed like this, how can I possibly face the other Alliance members?’

”Jing Yu, I may have taken a backseat these past few years, but I poured my heart and soul into this Alliance. I can’t just turn a blind eye to everything!”

Lu Jingyu remained silent. He had no desire to deal with these old fossils, but he had to show some measure of respect.

”Jing Yu, I’ve heard all about it. This matter was indeed Yaruo’s fault, but the Li Family Head has already reprimanded her, and she has realized her mistake.”

As Qi Qin spoke, Li Yaru stood to the side, watching Lu Jingyu timidly. Her usual high-and-mighty demeanor was nowhere to be seen.

”Just do this old man a favor. Take back your previous decision and let her rejoin your team.”

Lu Jingyu never went back on his decisions, especially not when Li Yaru had so flagrantly crossed his line.

Before Lu Jingyu could refuse, Qi Qin continued, ”Rest assured, if she fails to improve and makes another mistake, you won’t have to say a thing. I’ll personally expel her from the Alliance.”

”Furthermore, if it’s proven that my judgment was flawed, I will never again interfere in the Alliance’s affairs.”

Lu Jingyu, of course, didn’t believe Li Yaru would ever truly change.

’He saw an opportunity to shut the old fossil up for good.’

’These old-timers, always using their past contributions as an excuse, were constantly trying to meddle in the Alliance’s affairs.’

’He was long past tired of it. If he could get Qi Qin to back off completely, the other elders wouldn’t have the gall to say anything in the future.’

Faced with terms persuasive enough, Lu Jingyu finally relented.

He shot Li Yaru a glance and said coldly, ”I’ll let this slide today for Mr. Qi’s sake. But this is the only time. If it happens again, no amount of pleading will save you.”

”And if you ever think about harming a comrade again, the consequences will be far worse than simply being expelled from the Alliance.”

Seeing Lu Jingyu relent, Li Yaru immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

But when she heard his next words, her heart clenched, and she could only give a timid nod.

”Mr. Qi, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving now.”

Unwilling to say more to the old man, Lu Jingyu turned to leave after speaking.

”Wait, Jing Yu, there’s one more thing I want to talk to you about.”

As he spoke, Qi Qin looked at Li Yaru. The latter received the signal and quietly excused herself.

Lu Jingyu frowned slightly but could only stop in his tracks.

”Mr. Qi, you seem to be keeping quite close tabs on Alliance affairs recently!”

”It’s not that I’m trying to pay attention. Some things are just so sensational that I’m bound to catch wind of them.”

Lu Jingyu raised an eyebrow and said no more, waiting to see what else Qi Qin had to say.

”I hear two people wanted to join the Heiyu Alliance today, but you turned them away over some casual bet?”

Lu Jingyu’s brow tightened. ’Is this old fossil trying to plead for that shameless pair?’

’He pleaded for Li Yaru, which must have been the Li Family pulling strings. But why this shameless couple? What’s in it for him?’

’The Xu and Shen Families might have some clout in their home safe zone.’

’But in Zone 9, they’re completely out of their league.’

’Why would the old fossil speak up for them?’

He was suspicious, but he had no intention of compromising on this.

After all, Xu Qingsui was involved, and he didn’t want those two to upset her.

”A man’s word is his bond. How can you call that a ’casual bet’?”

”Besides, they made a solemn vow. If they can’t be trusted to keep their word on this, how can we rely on them when something truly important is at stake?”

”Jing Yu, you need to learn to be more pragmatic! Some things aren’t worth being so rigid about.”

Qi Qin walked over to Lu Jingyu and patted him on the shoulder with an air of significance.

”Especially now. The contamination is spreading, Mutants are running rampant... this is precisely when we need more people.”

”I heard that Sentinel is quite capable. Not only did he defeat a Mutant of a higher level, but he also severely wounded another.”

”Someone with that kind of power would be a great asset to the Alliance.”

”Jing Yu, you’re responsible for the Alliance’s major operations now, and one day the whole organization will be in your hands. You must think of the Alliance’s future!”

Lu Jingyu’s brow furrowed. He especially disliked Qi Qin’s patronizing tone.

”Power is important, but integrity is more so. The Alliance already has one person who’s liable to throw a teammate in front of a bullet. We don’t need two more.”

”Besides, people that treacherous and disloyal are capable of far worse things than just using others as shields.”

Lu Jingyu’s tone grew colder still as he pointedly brought up Li Yaru.

He was hinting that Qi Qin should drop the subject.

The conversation had reached a point where it should have ended.

But Qi Qin was determined to press Lu Jingyu for another favor.

Taking a deep breath, Qi Qin said, ”Jing Yu, your power is undeniable, but you’re a relative newcomer. Back when the other elders wanted to promote Qiu Fang, I was the one who stood firm and put you in this position.”

”Today, consider this me calling in a favor. Give them a chance.”

Lu Jingyu was taken aback.

The only reason he had entertained this conversation with Qi Qin for so long was because of that past event.

Qi Qin hadn’t mentioned it in all these years, but now he was bringing it up himself. It made Lu Jingyu even more curious about what was so special about that contemptible couple.

They locked eyes for a long moment before Lu Jingyu asked, ”Mr. Qi, why are you protecting them?”

”Jing Yu, the future is looking increasingly grim. With another powerful ally, you can lead the Alliance further...”

Lu Jingyu frowned, uninterested in these platitudes.

Realizing he wouldn’t get a straight answer from Qi Qin, Lu Jingyu stopped pressing. ”Consider this favor repaid. But if those two cause any real trouble, I won’t go easy on them.”

Qi Qin nodded, watching as Lu Jingyu left the hall.

After Lu Jingyu’s figure had vanished from sight, Qi Qin continued to stare at the spot where he had been, letting out a long sigh.