Vol 8 Chapter 55 (2/2)
As the letter pa.s.sed through the door, Liao Hua s.h.i.+fted her body and gestured to me to take it. I nodded and reached out to grab it. When I received it, I found that the letter used silk much like that in the Imperial Palace.
“Alright, let me take a look first.” Liao Hua continued to reply as though she was me just as I took the letter.
When I opened the letter after I received it, I found that there were but few words written on it– [There are matters which I was unable to broach earlier in the day, should you find yourself free and available, please come to see me at once.]
Un, this handwriting is definitely Liu Biao’s– Did you think I was going to say such soap opera-ish lines?
No way, I can barely even read these words, much less recognise his handwriting. Moreover, I have never even seen his handwriting before. Even if i have, I’m not sure I can remember what it looks like.
I raised my arm and pa.s.sed the letter to Liao Hua, who took a quick look at it before looking back towards the backdoor.
“Dare I ask why invite me in this manner? Wouldn’t it be fine to invite me through the front door? Why go to all this trouble?”
“Ah, this…” At this, the carriage driver outside seems to have been shaken, and stood there silently for a moment before he continued, “Lord Liu Biao knows that there are people after your life so for your safety, he has decided that subterfuge would be the best course of action.”
“… Oh? Is that so?” Liao Hua responded doubtfully as she looked towards me. I nodded, as Cai Mao and her faction have indeed taken action against us.
Of course, I haven’t told the rest about how 4,500 of the 5,000 Jing state troops were actually Cai Mao’s loyalists who were out to get us. This wasn’t because I didn’t want to tell them. I just couldn’t find the right time, nor was I able to think about how to tell them.
… Un?
Apart from Liu Qi and her generals, Chen Gong and the other 2, how did Liu Biao come to know that someone is after my life?
… Something feels off.
(Liao Hua, come over here for a bit.)
I called out to Liao Hua softly and made her bend down as I whispered to her my thoughts. Liao Hua’s eyebrows tightened as she heard what I said, and she nodded before returning to the door.
“Imperial Uncle?” The man outside the door called out when he saw no reply and Liao Hua quickly replied.
“Oh? Elder brother knows that I have been in danger? How ingenious of him.”
“Ah, naturally. Lord Liu Biao is a genius after all and sees through many things.”
“I see…” Liao Hua said as she rolled her eyes, “But, this is a very important matter. Why did Liu Biao choose to divulge it to you? Could you be Lord Liu Biao’s kin?”
“Ah… This is…” The man outside stammered something incomprehensible.
“But if you were his kin,” Liao Hua said with gleaming eyes as she stuck her left hand into her sleeve, “Why are you but a mere carriage driver?”
Yaa!!!!!!! Immediately after Liao Hua finished, the door was slammed open forcefully as the man outside yelled.
“Liu Bei! Hand over your life!” The man yelled as he charged in.
Liao Hua, who stood in the blind spot of the backdoor, drew out her short spear and stabbed at his back as he ran in.
“Ah!” But that man had sharp senses and dodged Liao Hua’s attack before responding with a swing of his sword.
Liao Hua silently bent backwards to avoid the blade and actually fell to the ground, rolling towards the man as she did so and stabbed deeply into the man’s calves as he howled under the moonlight.
“You b.a.s.t.a.r.d!” But the man’s will was extraordinarily strong as he was able to move deftly even with the spear stuck in his calf. Liao Hua quickly took several steps back after the attack but the man was able to catch up to her almost as quickly, blood streaming out of his leg as he did so.
“Liao Hua be careful!” I yelled out at Liao Hua as she locked eyes on the machete, ready to dodge anytime. Though it was perilous to wait, it was better than doing nothing.
“Lord Liao Hua! I’ll save you!”
Un? Just then, Guan Ping roared out as she charged at Liao Hua with a slightly smaller version of the Green Dragon Crescent Blade in hand.
*Ding*! Sparks flew as both blades met.
“Haa!! Hei!” Before the sparks could go out, Guan Ping pulled back and swiftly slashed at the man’s throat and abdomen. He was able to block both attacks but was forced to step back as he lost his balance.
“An opening!” Guan Ping yelled out and slashed out, leaving a clear wound on the man’s chest.
The man continued to fight on but Guan Ping bent down and swept out with her blade at the man’s legs, knocking him off his feet.
Wuu… Wuu… He heaved as he lay on the ground, blood streaming out of both legs. Even so, he continued to stare and curse at me while Liao Hua, Guan Ping and I just stared at him.
“Oi! Who are you?! Who sent you here?!” Liao Hua stepped forward and asked.
But in the next instant, the man stuck out his tongue and bit down viciously, and blood poured out in every direction instantly.
“Pu.” Liao Hua sighed. She was clearly unsatisfied but she could do nothing but give up.
Thereafter, the man continued to thrash around for a while before he stopped moving forever.
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