Mainland Martial Arts

Chapter 440 The Cao Family Dare Not Help

Cao Lei sighed, then said, "I'm really getting old. You're truly a master." His voice was filled with emotion and admiration, and his eyes revealed his recognition of Xu Tian's strength. He slowly lowered his weapon, clasped his hands together, and saluted Xu Tian in a gesture of surrender.

Xu Tian also cupped his fists and said to Cao Lei, "Great Elder, I'm sorry." There was a hint of apology in his voice, but his eyes revealed a confidence and composure. He knew that through this competition, he had won Cao Lei's respect and trust, and also earned a place in the Cao family for himself and his companions.

Cao Lei waved his hand and said, "I'm sorry for the offense. I would like to ask you guys for help." His eyes revealed a hint of sincerity and expectation, as if at this moment, Xu Tian and the other two had become his last hope.

Chen Xiner stepped forward, smiled, and said, "I came here to help you, so of course I can't do this for nothing." Her voice was playful and witty, and her eyes revealed confidence and decisiveness. She knew that now was the best time for them to negotiate with the Cao family, and they had to secure the greatest benefits for their side.

Cao Lei smiled awkwardly and said, "That's right. Please take a seat first." His eyes revealed a hint of helplessness and compromise, as if he had accepted Chen Xiner's conditions.

Xu Tian and the other two saluted and sat down. The atmosphere in the living room relaxed a lot, and everyone's face showed a hint of relaxed smile.

After Xu Tian and the other two were seated, Cao Lei leaned forward slightly, his eyes swept over their faces one by one, and slowly asked, "Ladies and gentlemen, I wonder what your conditions are?" His voice was low and majestic, echoing in the quiet living room, making people involuntarily feel awe.

Chen Xiner pursed her lips slightly, her eyes revealing a hint of intelligence and courage. She sat up slightly, folded her hands on her knees, and said methodically, "Let me introduce you first." After that, she turned her head to look at Xu Tian, ​​her eyes filled with trust and pride. "This is Xu Tian. He is extremely powerful and talented. He plays an important role among us." Xu Tian nodded slightly and looked back at Cao Lei with a firm gaze, which seemed to speak of his extraordinaryness.

Then, Chen Xiner looked at Chen Yu again with a gentle smile on her face: "This is Chen Yu, who is thoughtful and intelligent, and can play a key role at many critical moments." Chen Yu scratched his head, smiled embarrassedly, and a hint of humility appeared in his eyes.

Finally, Chen Xiner looked at him, her eyes flashing with confidence: "I am Chen Xiner, good at seeing through the situation and analyzing the pros and cons." Her voice was crisp and firm, echoing in the living room.

After introducing the three people, Chen Xiner's expression became serious and continued, "We caused a big disturbance at the Li family yesterday. Now the Li family and the Ding family have joined forces and invited us to Tingya Tower tonight. I guess they want to do something bad to us. We are here to seek refuge." She stared at Cao Lei closely, not missing any change in his expression. Her hands unconsciously clenched the corners of her clothes, showing her inner tension and uneasiness.

Cao Lei's relaxed brow furrowed upon hearing Chen Xin'er's words, his eyes revealing a hint of worry and embarrassment. He pondered: These three have offended the Li family, and now they're seeking refuge at the Cao family. Isn't this pushing the Cao family into trouble? If I agree to their request, I'll inevitably offend the Li and Ding families, and the Cao family can't afford such a tirade. His hands unconsciously rubbed against the armrest, as if weighing the pros and cons.

Cao Junda sat to the side, silently observing the situation. He coughed lightly, breaking the brief silence. "Everyone, it's not that we don't want to help you, but you know, if it were just the Li family, we might be able to maneuver. But now that the Li and Ding families have joined forces, our Cao family's strength is limited. We're truly struggling, and I'm afraid it's difficult for us to help you." His voice carried a hint of helplessness and apology, his eyes revealing a sense of powerlessness in the face of the current situation. He spread his hands, as if to express his helplessness.

Chen Xin'er didn't show any disappointment after hearing Cao Junda's words. Instead, her lips curled up slightly, revealing a confident smile. She said calmly, "Of course, we don't want the Cao family to become enemies with the Li and Ding families. We simply need to borrow the Cao family's reputation for protection. We don't need you to do anything substantial." There was a hint of cunning in her eyes, as if she had anticipated the Cao family's concerns and prepared a response.

Upon hearing Chen Xin'er's words, Cao Lei and Cao Junda exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with surprise and hesitation. They hadn't expected Chen Xin'er to make such a request, and it caught them off guard. They understood that while merely leveraging the Cao family's reputation, it also carried significant risks. If the Li and Ding families learned that the Cao family was secretly shielding these three, they might well turn their anger against them. Awkward expressions crossed their faces, their hands unconsciously folded, lost in thought.

Xu Tian had initially been a bit dissatisfied with Cao Junda's words and wanted to argue. He felt the Cao family shouldn't be so timid; after all, they had their own difficulties. But just as he was about to speak, Chen Xiner stopped him with a look. Chen Xiner shook her head slightly, signaling him not to be impulsive.

Seeing that Cao Lei and Cao Junda didn't respond immediately, Chen Xin'er stood up, straightened her clothes, and said, "Since the Great Elder can't help us, we won't force it. But I still want to remind you that if the Li and Ding families join forces, the first target they'll probably have to deal with is the Cao family. Okay, goodbye!" There was a hint of regret in her voice, but her eyes remained firm, as if she was prepared for anything. With that, she turned and walked towards the door. Xu Tian and Chen Yu also quickly stood up and followed her.

Cao Lei watched Chen Xin'er's retreating back, a mixture of emotions welling up in his chest. He understood that Chen Xin'er's warning wasn't an exaggeration; the Li and Ding families were growing increasingly powerful, and the Cao family was indeed in danger. Yet, he worried that rashly protecting these three would bring disaster upon the Cao family. A hint of struggle and helplessness lingered in his eyes, and his hands gripped the armrests tightly, his knuckles turning white from the strain.

Cao Junda also stood up, walked to Cao Lei, and said softly, "Second Uncle, what should we do?" His eyes revealed a hint of anxiety and helplessness. He rubbed his hands constantly, waiting for Cao Lei's decision.