Book 14: Chapter 16
First Scene – End
“So, in conclusion, I told them to assassinate Ming Feizhen on the streets?” Song Ou had his hands in his head as if it was going to burst despite the nice and bright sunlight.
Loyal Zha Pi loyally nodded. “Yes.”
“What sort of stupid idea is that?!”
Zha Pi shook his head. “It is not stupid.”
“Is there anything you can’t support?!”
“The person you sent was none other than Shadow Blade. He is an expert assassin who also carries out jobs inconspicuously. You can rest assured that he will not leave traces. Besides, the assassination spot you picked is part of our patrol route, so Ming Feizhen is very likely to show up there, yet there is no need to worry Emperor’s Entourage of Qilin Guards can capture Shadow Blade. Those were your words.”
“I said that?” Song Ou suddenly somewhat regretted forgetting his majestic Emperor-like mannerisms when he gave out decrees in his drunken mode.
Song Ou: Ming Feizhen is dead now. Dead… Hmm? Dead?
Because of the cold sweat that formed on his back, Song Ou’s wounds were irritated, making him shriek.
Song Ou: There’s nothing to be happy about! The alcohol is to blame for these wounds!
“Let’s go!” Song Ou growled through his clenched teeth.
“Where to?”
“To stop him!”
“Do you not want him dead, Captain?”
“I don’t care about his life. The point is that His Majesty wouldn’t spare me if he found out I ordered the hit. Ah, my back bloody stings!” Song Ou hissed as he sat back down.
“Captain, you can relax. If neither of us mention a word, who would know you ordered the hit?”
Although Song Ou felt Zha Pi made a good point, he still had to ask, “Where is my brother? Didn’t he just return? Tell him to go stop the hit.”
Song Chi had to return despite his hectic schedule due to the special exams inching closer.
Zha Pi scratched his head. “Uh… I think he went to some Deities to search for someone?”
“Deities?” Song Ou straightened up his back, “Eight Deities! Go there as my, fark! It stings like fark!”
***
Thanks to Long Zaitian’s cooperation, I was able to easily escape the prison with the crew.
There were two days until the academy’s idol competition, three days until the special exams and six days until I could be my old self again.
Proprietor Shi served me up a pot of alcohol. I poured myself a cup and had a sip. The only people in in Eight Deities were us and the group of people I just rescued standing behind me. Nobody uttered a word.
Though they had just gotten out, I had already assigned them roles. Lang Qing and Teng were obviously my bodyguards. As long as I had them, I didn’t need to care if you tried to assassinate me up close or from afar. Gu Xianxian had abysmal combat abilities, but he was good enough to run errands. Ning Zhuoru was pregnant, so it was only right for her to be protected sufficiently. Yuan Kou took orders directly from me and had an all-rounder role.
Even though I released them, they seemed to have realised something that led to them looking at me unkindly. It didn’t bother me, though.
“You’re not using us as tools, are you?” questioned Ning Zhuoru.
I answered, “Considering your level of intellect, you would need to be wealthy to avoid being a tool.”
“What was that?”
I set my cup down and turned around to them. “Who in life can guarantee they’ll never be a tool? What’s important is how the tool is used. In my hands, you’ll all be splendid spears. In the hands of someone else, there’s no such guarantee.”
“The way you speak is annoy-”
“A customer has arrived.”
Eight Deities was guaranteed to have a busy day today. It was just that nobody knew who’d be the first customer.
The customer eyed the empty place and then asked me, “Ming Feizhen?”
I smiled back. “A true capable and fine young man, you are.”
Song Chi began to make his way over to me. He could sense the animosity from Yuan Kou and Lang Qing from both sides, so he smiled back and waited.
I conveyed, “Take a seat.”
Only once he received permission did Song Chi continue forwards and sit down.
It was arguably our first official meeting since we barely exchanged any words back in Hangzhou.
“I did not expect it to be you,” was the first thing Song Chi said to me after sitting down, puzzling everyone.
To add even more puzzlement to the mix, I replied, “If Patriarch Song wants to live, he shouldn’t get involved with this.”
Song Chi narrowed his eyes. “What matter are you referring to?”
“All of them.”
“Can you be more specific?”
I poured two cups of wine, placed one in front of me and stated, “Assassinating me,” then placed the other cup in front of him and added, “Assassinating His Majesty.”
That put everyone in tense mode.
Song Chi stared at the two cups for a while and then sighed. “So it was you.”
“You know me?”
Song Chi gazed at me as though he knew me, yet it didn’t seem so. He nodded, then shook his head. “Song Clan is not involved with either matter and never was. I hope you can accept, Duke Ming.”
As soon as I heard him refer to me as “Duke”, I knew I wasn’t getting an explanation.
“I have told Father to cancel my brother’s engagement to Miss Shen. Song Clan is your ally, not your enemy. Thank you for the drink.” Song Chi gave me a cupped-fist salute and then headed downstairs.
I was as shocked as the crew behind me.
Boss’ engagement has been called off? Boss… is no longer engaged?
A mixture of joy and bewilderment created a swirl of emotions that I couldn’t make sense of.
As soon as I shook out the thoughts from my head, I was hit with a barrage of questions; even the usually taciturn Lang Qing asked, “Someone is after His Majesty’s life?”
“That’s the situation. Now that you are working for me, I have no special orders or instructions. The less you know about these matters, the better it is for you.”
Gu Xianxian exclaimed, “We’re going to oppose rebels?!”
Yuan Kou roared, “Give me the antidote!”
Ning Zhuoru: “You’re so weak, yet you want to lead us in a resistance effort against someone so dangerous?”
“I have but one demand.” I got up, whipped a long sword behind me, plunging it straight through the throat of silent assassin behind me who was about to pull out his blade from his sleeve. Even after he started bleeding out and his corpse dropped to the floor, I still didn’t look back as I sheathed the sword. Like a bite that cut off everyone’s apprehension, the sword clicked into its sheath. “You must obey me at all times.”
Nobody uttered a sound.
I sat back down to resume drinking. After two sips, I said, “Oh, by the way, I’m weak, so you killed him, got it?”