18 True Words (1/2)
Chapter 18: True Words
Translator: TransnEditor: Transn
Gu Shenwei tiptoed along the wall. Even though it was only around 300 feet from the small yard to Ghost Yard, he cautiously observed his surroundings before every move, as if walking along the edge of a cliff.
Though well-prepared, Gu Shenwei underrated Golden Roc Fort's security system. He had only taken a dozen steps when someone caught him by the collar and lifted him up.
Like ghosts, night watchmen lurked around, and they always showed up at an unpredictable moment, no matter how cautious one was.
Captured flat-footed, Gu Shenwei calmed himself and he spoke in a low voice. ”Let me go.”
The night watchman was not the same one that Gu Shenwei had met previously, and he was a little astonished by Gu Shenwei's calmness. Even though his face was covered by a black veil, the night watchman's killing intent lessened.
”You've violated the curfew order.”
”I'm on duty.”
”For what?”
”Well...” Gu Shenwei was not able to make up a good excuse immediately.
Suddenly, Slave Yao's voice rang out. ”I did. I arranged for him to go out.” Gu Shenwei had thought that no one had noticed his actions, however, he had been spied on for a while.
The night watchman had not realized that there was a man behind him either. Slave Yao's appearance surprised him, so he threw Gu Shenwei to the side. His right hand held the hilt and left hand pressed on his scabbard's sheath.
”Who are you?”
”Slave Yao, serving the Eighth Young Master.” Slave Yao comported himself better than Gu Shenwei, adding a bit of impatience and anger.
”You've violated the curfew order, too.”
”I don't care what the curfew order says, I left something in the Eighth Young Master's yard, so I asked Slave Huan to get it back. What's wrong with that?”
Gu Shenwei did not expect Slave Yao to be here helping him to cover up his lie, and he was a little touched. However, it was not easy for Slave Yao to pack up the night watchman and send him off because he also held a low position.
As expected, the night watchman did not take his words seriously and said grimly, ”You two follow me to see the on-duty Blademaster.”
Blademasters were the core leaders of Golden Roc Fort. If someone was sent to meet a Blademaster, it meant his or her improper behavior would be recorded, and then harsh punishment would follow.
It would not be a big deal if Gu Shenwei had only snuck from the yard, however, the key he had stolen made things worse. Gu Shenwei would probably be imprisoned in Ghost Yard.
In fact, Gu Shenwei was now half-expecting to be imprisoned, where he would likely get the chance to find out about his elder sister. However, Slave Yao did not think so.
”You must be Killer Liu Xuan. Right? We are both slaves that belong to the Eighth Young Master, so we should work together. In other words, the Eighth Young Mistress has been in bad mood recently. If you send us to the Blademaster, it wouldn't benefit either side.”
”How did Slave Yao know the night watchman's name?” Both Gu Shenwei and Liu Xuan were surprised. The night watchmen always wore black clothes and covered their faces in order to hide their identities.
”How... how did you recognize me?”
”Well... take it easy, dude. A while ago, you took the job as a guard in the Eighth Young Master's yard. I've met you a lot of times while learning martial arts from Mama Xue. You know, we serve the same master so we should work with each other.”
Rolling his eyes, the night watchman Liu Xuan hesitated in taking them to the Blademaster. The night watchman hid their identities so that they could enforce discipline impartially. However, he had been recognized by Slave Yao and it was now hard to be ”impartial” in this situation. Furthermore, violating the curfew order was not a big deal, and catching them would not further his career.
”Go back right now! Never break the curfew again.”
”But, I need that thing that I left right away.”
”You can't. Go back now. You serve the Eighth Young Master in his yard every day. There will be plenty of chances to get that thing back. Don't worry.”
”Alright...” Slave Yao shrugged his shoulders with displeasure. ”I'll get it back tomorrow.” Then he reprimanded Slave Huan. ”Go back now. It's really troublesome letting you do something for me.”
Gu Shenwei answered him vaguely. Then he rushed back to the small yard... The night watchman Liu Xuan had totally blanked because his identity had been recognized. Eventually, he would figure out that Slave Yao was swindling him. But, he had freed them, therefore, it would be unnecessary to pay the two young slaves back.
Slave Yao snatched the key from Gu Shenwei and locked the gate. Later, he would put the key back into Slave Ji's room. He then came over and pulled Gu Shenwei toward the western gate where they always practiced martial arts. It was the quietest place.
”How dare you? You shouldn't have snuck out.” Slave Yao sighed and spoke in a gentle voice.
”Thank you. It was fortunate that you recognized the killer.”
”Hush! That was just a lucky guess. At first, I didn't know who he was until I saw how he held his sword. Everyone has their own characteristics when they hold a sword. This guy, Liu Xuan, doesn't do Kung Fu very well. But, he does like to show off so he always swings his right hand before holding his sword. Hopefully, he has nine lives. If Liu Xuan ever meets a master, he will be killed while he swings his hand.”
Slave Yao had only been practicing martial arts for two weeks, and he did not have any real fighting experience. However, Gu Shenwei had been astonished by his observation skills and ability to deduce. Later he figured it out. ”Mama Xue must have told him and he just repeated it to others. If the person was not familiar with him, they would likely mistakenly regard him as an expert.”
Gu Shenwei thanked Slave Yao sincerely.