Chapter 8.2 (1/2)
Chapter 8 Part 2 of 2
Half a month later.
He was extension of the shadows and moved swiftly like a bird of the night. If someone caught sight of him, he would have thought it was just a shadow and not a cause for alarm.
He leaped up a building where the dark roof tiles would provide further camouflage. After he left Bai Ming Sect six years ago, he has retained a vague map of the place in his mind. Thankfully, his lack of direction sense was not acting up today and he was able to locate the dungeon after only half an hour.
Crouching, he removed a roof tile carefully.
Yup, it was indeed the dungeon below.
Listening to a faint voice which floated up from below, he moved twenty steps forward to where he thought was directly above the voice, and removed another roof tile.
“Master He, are you awake?”
He Zai leaned against his cage and muttered a sound in response but did not open his eyes. Deng Hai Tang was worried. “Miss Huang Fu, no, Miss Jiang has been brought away. Do you think she will be fine?”
On top of them, the man’s eyes gleamed.
“Since it is not ordered by Sect Leader, she should be fine.”
“Do you think it is because Che Yan Yan has discovered Miss Jiang’s true ident.i.ty? What good thing can happen when she gets her Sky Slaves to bring her away in the middle of the night?”
“Miss is very good at enduring. She will be fine.”
“But…”
The man on top of the roof straighten soundlessly. After thinking about it, he took out a small woven pouch, placed a piece of broken jade inside and flicked it to the cage below.
He Zai was awake in an instant and caught the pouch. Deng Hai Tang nearly gasp but controlled herself in time and moved forward to peer at the pouch.
Inside were two pills and a broken piece of jade.
She was confused, especially when He Zai pa.s.sed her one of the pills. At the same time, He Zai said rather loudly: “Protector Che asked many questions about Gentleman Xian Yun before taking Miss away. Given the character of Protector Che, Miss must have been taken away because of this man.” He smiled as he looked at the jade piece. “I have seen this before. The original jade was a good piece but Miss has broken it into four. Who would have thought the jade would find its way back to its original owner?”
When the person on the roof remained silent, He Zai continued. “Since Protector Che wants a private inquisition, it would naturally be held at her private quarters. To go there, just turn east from the dungeon until you see a red house.”
Back on the roof, the man headed east without pausing to check if the people below have swallowed the pills.
After more roof hopping, he finally found the red house. The house and its courtyard were dimly lit, but he could see about ten Sky Slaves standing neatly in a row inside the house. Since he had no clue what Che Yan Yan was thinking, he removed yet another roof tile to better observe what was going on.
Under the flickering light, Che Yan Yan pursed her lips. “You don’t like him either? Hey, I am giving you a chance, Jiang Wo Bo. Although these Sky Slaves are a choice of the moment and they have tattoo on their faces, but they are definitely on par with Xian Yun.”
“Since Protector Che thinks that they are on par with Xian Yun, why not let them accompany you instead?”
Both women were seated. Jiang Wo Bo stifled a yawn, but was unable to control her smile when she saw Che Yan Yan’s serious face, so she asked: “What is so good about Xian Yun that you are fixated on him?”
“Humph. The man I want must also fall for my charms.”
“That is simple.” Jiang Wo Bo stifled another yawn. “Do you best to chase after him. I promise I will not stop you.”
“It s not my style to rob another woman of her man. When I wanted any man in the past, he would be mine once I captured him and if he does not yet have anyone in his heart. But if he already has someone, to make him fall for me would be a test of my powers. However, I will not shortchange their sweetheart and will always compensate them. Since I am intent on compensating you, you take a good look at these men, choose someone you like, and finish the deed tonight.”
Jiang Wo Bo nearly fell off her chair. “You call this compensation? Are you sure you are not engineering a betrayal before you come between a couple?”
Che Yan Yan was so angry that she stood up. “You sounded annoying familiar and the more I hear you speak, the more detesting you get. If you do not choose a Sky Slave tonight, I will personally pick one for you!”
Jiang Wo Bo can only sighed to herself. A few years back, she has heard about Che Yan Yan’s method of seduction. She must get the man she wanted and yet do so in a way that maintained her image as a female fetale. On the surface, she would not resort to robbery or murder in order to get her man if the man already has a sweetheart. Who would have guessed a mere listener like her to become a victim tonight? Luckily, she was very good at endurance. She could stand this, no problem.
Taking a closer look at Che Yan Yan’s Sky Slaves, they were actually quite good looking without their masks. No wonder this Right Protector wanted to keep them around.
Rubbing her nose, she stifled another yawn. She blamed her sleepiness on the bad habit she formed at Cloud Manor. To remain healthy, all must sleep early. If her head touched a pillow now, she would be dead meat. If there ever was an occasion to showcase her endurance, it would be tonight.
Che Yan Yan gave her a cold smile: “Actually, how can you and Xian Yun be suitable for each other? Before I caught you the other day, he was happily chatting with the young Miss from Tang Manor.”
Jiang Wo Bo replied politely: “Protector Che, did you use the wrong phrase to describe what happened?”
“Huh? Wrong phrase? I shall not keep it from Miss Jiang. Your rescuers are already gathered at the foot of the mountain and I am sure Xian Yun is among them. However, he has been inseparable with Miss Tang for the past two weeks. Do you get my drift?”
It was impossible to discern the expression of Jiang Wo Bo under the dim candlelight, but she said suddenly: “I do recall a Miss Tang at the wedding. She is about eighteen years old and very pretty. I have wondered why she is dressed differently from the current trend, so it is because she is trying to outs.h.i.+ne me. If it is her and Xian Yun, they are indeed well-suited.”
As the man on top of the roof glared at her, she stood and continued. “Since he is heartless, I shall not remain true either. Come, come everyone! Line up so that I can take a look who is better!”
A true heroine can bend with the tide. Rather than blatantly opposing Che Yan Yan and risk a forced encounter, it would be better to choose someone easy on her eyes. She circled the men and reached out from habit for her jade flute. A pity she has pa.s.sed it back to He Zai before she was escorted from the dungeon so it was not with her now. Sigh!
Each man had his own merit, but there was none who could set her heart aflutter. In any case, she just had to find a way to delay this till dawn. Once the rescuers reach the mountain, she would have pa.s.sed this hurdle.
Che Yan Yan tried to hurry her to pick one when she came to a stop in front of a youth who bore multiple whip wounds on his body. Just when she was about to say that she will choose him, all the lights suddenly went out and the house and its courtyard was engulfed in total darkness.
“What happened?” Che Yan Yan hollered. “Men! Light the candles immediately!” Some Sky Slaves rushed to the candle stand but found that the tip of the candle had been cut off. When they tried to turn, someone sealed their meridian points and they were immobilized.
Before Jiang Wo Bo could react, she felt someone grabbing her waist and into his arms. The sound of wind whistled in her ears as she was carried past several motionless Sky Slaves and landed a secluded spot far away. Next she knew, her chin was lifted and a pair of lips forcibly parted her own as she was devoured in a kiss.
She froze at the familiar scent.
The kiss was intense and seemed to go on forever. Was he making use of the fact that she could not see his expression, to be kissing her with such abandon?
She eyelids fluttered close, and open. Close and open. Her heart was racing a little fast but she thought her control was still intact. She has seen such pa.s.sion…. alright, she has to admit that although she has seen bit in her twenty years, she has only encountered such things once, which was in her erotic dreams.