Chen Ningshuang's pride seemed to have completely vanished. She had truly been crushed, her spirit broken.
A martial arts master at the peak of Huajin, someone much younger than her, had willingly become Jiang Che's maid!
What did that make her?
Jiang Che glanced indifferently at Chen Ningshuang. This woman was truly exceptional, with her cold and aloof demeanor that made one want to shatter her pride into dust.
"I heard... you're from the ancient martial arts Chen family, right?"
"Mhm." Chen Ningshuang nodded, fearing that Jiang Che would bring up the Chen family.
"How many people are in the Chen Family Village?"
Jiang Che's question filled the girl with terror. Why was he asking about the number of people? Could it be... that he didn't plan to spare a single one?
"Including me... 327 people."
Chen Ningshuang's voice trembled. It was hard to imagine that a Huajin mid-level martial artist like her could feel such fear.
"327 people? What a pity—"
"No! You can't do this!" Chen Ningshuang panicked.
"Are you... ordering me?" Jiang Che's cold gaze swept over Chen Ningshuang, sending a shiver of fear through her.
"N-no... I wouldn't dare."
"I made a mistake. I'll take full responsibility for everything, okay? As long as you spare the Chen family, I'm willing to atone with my life!"
Jiang Che felt a wave of exasperation.
Who said anything about atoning with your life?
Such a beautiful and lovely maid—I cherish her dearly. Why are you so quick to talk about dying? Don't you realize where your strengths lie?
Jiang Che took another look at Chen Ningshuang.
She had long hair, wearing a white martial arts uniform, her silky black hair cascading down. Her usually cold and elegant face now looked slightly disheveled, with strands of hair falling over her forehead.
As for her figure... thanks to years of practicing ancient martial arts, she was curvaceous and well-proportioned, more so than Ye Mengyao and Qin Qiaoqiao, though she still fell short of Wang Yanran.
"Chen Ningshuang!"
"?"
Chen Ningshuang immediately raised her head, her heart filled with anxiety. She was terrified of upsetting Jiang Che, fearing that the Chen family would suffer as a result. She wasn't afraid of death... but she was terrified of bringing disaster upon her family.
"Chen Ningshuang, you don't want the Chen family to be wiped out, do you?"
"No!" Chen Ningshuang was like a blank sheet of paper. Despite Jiang Che's obvious hints, she still hadn't caught on to what he was implying.
"I'll atone with my life. Please, spare the Chen family!"
Jiang Che, however, reached out and took Chen Ningshuang's small hand.
"You—"
The girl's hand recoiled as if shocked, her face filled with vigilance and a hint of shame.
[You scoundrel! What are you trying to do?]
Jiang Che merely glanced at her and raised a finger.
"Three!"
"Two!"
Chen Ningshuang finally understood. Though she was inexperienced in matters between men and women, she wasn't stupid!
"From today on, you are my personal maid, responsible for taking care of my daily needs."
Chen Ningshuang: "..."
[Personal maid? Impossible!]
[A Huajin master cannot be humiliated. I can't possibly become your personal maid!]
All her pride had been shattered by the grandmaster Jiang Yunhuang. In the past, someone like Jiang Che, who dared to humiliate her, would have been slapped to death long ago.
"J-Jiang... Young Master Jiang, is there another option..."
"Do you have a choice?" Jiang Che's voice turned colder.
"I heard you have an older brother who entered the secular world?"
Jiang Che played his trump card.
Come out, Chen Hao!
As expected, the mention of Chen Hao made Chen Ningshuang's expression change.
"Brother—"
Chen Ningshuang faced reality.
The girl's body emitted a faint fragrance, different from Yu Wan'er's milky scent or the other girls' natural aromas.
Hers was the scent of agarwood, likely from years of meditating and practicing martial arts to calm her mind.
[You scoundrel!]
Though panicked, Chen Ningshuang had no choice but to endure the humiliation.
Not to mention Jiang Che's grandmaster grandfather, even the silver-haired girl in front of her was someone she couldn't defeat.
"I agree! I'll become your personal maid! But I have three conditions!"
"You dare to make demands? Do you believe I can turn the Chen Family Village into a Chen Family Graveyard?"
As expected, Jiang Che's threats left Chen Ningshuang completely speechless.
When had this proud daughter of heaven ever endured such bullying? Yet, despite her resilience, she didn't shed a tear.
Facing Jiang Che, this super villain, Chen Ningshuang silently recited the Heart-Calming Mantra in her mind.
"Alright, come home with me. From now on, you'll be responsible for my daily needs—Shuang'er."
When Chen Ningshuang heard that final "Shuang'er," she completely lost her composure.
But Jiang Che held all the power now. If she were to defy him, her father, her brother, and her entire family would suffer.
So she had no choice but to endure.
[Chen Ningshuang! You must endure. With your talent, you can reach the grandmaster level in ten years at the earliest. Revenge is a dish best served cold. You'll settle the score then!]
[I'm sorry, Father! I'm sorry, Brother! Shuang'er has brought this upon you!]
Though Chen Ningshuang appeared submissive on the outside, she was already plotting in her heart.
Little did she know, Jiang Che, upon hearing her thoughts, felt like laughing.
Still thinking of revenge? In ten years, you'll probably have given birth to three children... and you're still dreaming of revenge?
"Dong'er, let's go!"
Jiang Che got up from the hospital bed, looking completely fine.
Only then did Chen Ningshuang notice Dong'er!
Her mood instantly plummeted to the depths.
With such a prodigious girl by Jiang Che's side, someone even more talented than herself, did she even stand a chance at turning the tables?
What level would this girl named Dong'er reach in ten years?
A grandmaster? Or perhaps an even more terrifying realm?
She didn't dare to imagine. The thought alone made her vision darken, as if she could already see the despair and misery of her future.
"What are you standing around for? Follow me and open the car door!"
Jiang Che immediately began ordering around his newly acquired maid.
[You—]
Facing Jiang Che, no matter how cold and composed Chen Ningshuang's heart was, he could always throw her off balance.
[Scoundrel! Scoundrel! Scoundrel!]