Ning Beichen watched Shi Yong's retreating back, the corners of his mouth curving into a nearly imperceptible smile.
If so many sharks were to swarm into the Eastern Ancient Kingdom without so much as a ripple, then Ning Beichen would truly consider them incompetent.
However, their involvement had also brought Ning Beichen no small amount of trouble. At the very least, there were now four more people around Liu Yilin, and these four weren't just there to protect her, but also to restrict many of Ning Beichen's actions.
Moreover, they clearly didn't see Ning Beichen as a bodyguard. In their minds, they were the regular force, while Ning Beichen was just some rogue element.
Although they hadn't said anything harsh to Ning Beichen, he could still see what their eyes conveyed.
Furthermore, these four wouldn't engage in much conversation with him, their bodyguard. They had never consulted his opinion on protecting Liu Yilin.
Yet, in Ning Beichen's view, their professional protection was riddled with flaws. If he were an assassin, he could find at least a hundred ways to bypass their security and kill Liu Yilin.
But Ning Beichen knew that these people wouldn't heed the words of a "little bodyguard" until they had been thoroughly tested.
"Hey, go buy us a few cups of milk tea."
Da Sheng said to Ning Beichen.
"Me?"
Ning Beichen's expression was somewhat odd.
"Of course, who else but you? Are we supposed to go?"
Da Sheng spoke to him without any politeness, treating Ning Beichen as an errand boy.
"Alright, you guys are the masters."
Ning Beichen didn't bother arguing with them. After all, his master's request was to protect Liu Yilin's safety. Now that there were four free protectors for her, it was as if they were reducing his workload.
Ning Beichen drove out and bought them milk tea from a nearby shop. However, on his way back, he spotted a stranger, which immediately put Ning Beichen on alert.
His memory was excellent; he had practically memorized the appearances of everyone living there. Not only did he remember their faces, but he also knew exactly which building they lived in.
And before today, Ning Beichen had never seen this stranger. Based on Ning Beichen's experience, he could tell with a single glance that this guy was either an assassin or a bounty hunter.
However, Ning Beichen didn't make a move. He decided to see if those four had the capability to protect Liu Yilin. In any case, with him around, Liu Yilin would be fine.
Ning Beichen swaggered past the man and even greeted him enthusiastically.
"Oh, are you new here? I haven't seen you before. I live just up ahead."
"Yes, I just moved in today."
The man eyed Ning Beichen warily, but seeing that Ning Beichen had only said hello and walked away, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Although he knew that the ten billion bounty from the Violet Orchid family wouldn't be easy to claim, desperation drove men to take risks. Even knowing there was little hope, many desperate individuals would still try at all costs.
"Here's your milk tea."
Ning Beichen delivered their milk tea. To his surprise, he didn't even receive a word of thanks, as if it were their due.
"I hope you can still smile later."
Ning Beichen didn't bother with them and found an excuse to go see Liu Yilin.
"Ning Beichen, you're here. I'm so bored. Come talk to me."
Liu Yilin's eyes lit up when she saw Ning Beichen.
Ever since those four had started protecting her, Liu Yilin had essentially lost her freedom. They claimed not to interfere with her liberty, but as soon as she stepped out, they would find ways to stop her. Even a simple dinner was made to feel like a Hollywood blockbuster.
After a while, Liu Yilin became too lazy to go out anymore.
Ning Beichen went in and chatted with her for a while. Calculating the time, he felt it was about right and said to Liu Yilin, "Boss, it's a bit stuffy in here. How about we go up to the rooftop and get some fresh air?"
"Going to the rooftop for some fresh air sounds good."
Liu Yilin also felt a bit stifled, so she went to the rooftop with Ning Beichen.
However, upon reaching the rooftop, Ning Beichen quietly said to her, "Boss, there are assassins."
"Assassins!"
Liu Yilin immediately tensed up. She was curious. Since Ning Beichen knew assassins were coming, why wasn't he dealing with them but instead bringing her to the rooftop?
"Boss, I want to see if those four are qualified to protect you. So, I won't intervene this time unless they all fail."
Ning Beichen didn't hide his intentions.
"Isn't that a bit... not good?"
Liu Yilin didn't object to Ning Beichen's approach but seemed a little worried.
"There's nothing wrong with it. If they can't even stop a single assassin, then Boss, tell me, what can they protect you with?"
Ning Beichen said disdainfully.
Liu Yilin thought about it and found Ning Beichen's words to be reasonable. She then began to watch the rooftop with Ning Beichen with great interest, though she couldn't see anything herself, leaving her looking at nothing.
"Ning Beichen, did the assassins arrive?"
Liu Yilin whispered to him nervously and excitedly.
"They're already here."
Ning Beichen replied in a low voice as well.
"Where? Why can't I see anything?"
Liu Yilin leaned out to get a clearer view, but Ning Beichen quickly pulled her back.
"Boss, if assassins were that easy to spot, they wouldn't be called assassins."
Ning Beichen explained to her with a wry smile.
"Then why can you see them when I can't?"
Liu Yilin was somewhat unconvinced. After all, her IQ was 230, and she had become a member of Mensa at the age of eight. There weren't many people smarter than her in this world.
"Boss, you're not in this line of work, so naturally, you don't understand them."
Ning Beichen whispered.
"Then why can you see them? Ning Beichen, do you do this kind of work often?"
Liu Yilin suddenly caught a flaw in Ning Beichen's words.
"Boss, I'm a good person. I don't do such things."
Ning Beichen explained with a wry smile.
"You're a good person? If you're a good person, then there would be no good people in this world."
Liu Yilin rolled her eyes at him.
"Boss, you're slandering me. I'm a bodyguard, not an assassin. How could we do such things? I'm a model citizen."
Ning Beichen exclaimed, feigning innocence, his face not blushing.
"You're a citizen? Then where did you get those scars on your back?"
Liu Yilin said disdainfully.
But as soon as she finished speaking, her face immediately turned red.
"Boss, how did you know I have scars on my back?"
"Don't tell me... Boss, you've been peeping at me?"
Ning Beichen put on an expression of utter astonishment, looking at Liu Yilin as if he had seen a ghost.