Chapter 244 - The Visitor (2/2)

Just when Edelweiss’ soft snores began to fill the ward, a litany of footfalls began to echo off the walls of the quiet corridor outside. Edelweiss immediately stirred, her hands wandering stealthily to the hilt of her golden dagger. “It’s fine,” I assured her, “It might be someone going to the bathroom. Relax.” Edelweiss nodded. Her hands were about to let go of her dagger’s hilt when the footsteps stopped suddenly outside my door.

Edelweiss straightened up, her hand clutching on her dagger and crept slowly to the door. If there was anything I had learned from my experiences, that was I should never take chances with any unknowns. As Edelweiss moved closer to the door, I quickly took out my Spirit Gourd and released Smoky, my Spirit Cat and it padded skulkingly beside her.

Edelweiss reached the door and she reached out a hand to grip on the door handle. But before she could, we hear three loud raps knocking on the door. She looked at me and I nodded. She carefully twisted the knob and the door swung open to reveal a tall but scrawny silhouette. Edelweiss switched on the lights and ward was flooded with bright luminescence that I first caught sight of that distinctive fur outercoat and the eccentric-looking combination of capri pants and well-polished leather shoes. Having not seen him before, Edelweiss threw him a look reeking of disgust and suspicion.

“I see my partner has come to make her acquaintance,” he sneered and said. “And what of you, Prince Beile? What business do you have in so late an hour?” I scoffed in return to Jin Qichen’s quirky opening speech.

He chuckled. “I was informed by my partner that you were wounded by here. So here I am to visit. I am only here out of concern. You might notice that I haven’t brought Na San with me as a show of goodwill.” And I let out another wordless scoff before saying, “And so?”

Earnestly, Jin Qichen tried persuading me once more. “You should have agreed to my terms, then you would never have to endure such troubles, Spirit of the Sword. By your release of Na San, I trust I won’t be far off by guessing that there are still grounds for a repeal. How’s that? Think about it. Work with me and none of my confederates will ever come to darken your door again!”

My eyes narrowed with disdain. “Tell me about your collaboration with these people. How did you come to be?” Believing that a show of candor might win me over, Jin Qichen revealed, “We each have our own individual goals, even though we call this a collaboration of sorts. I only told them about my meeting with you and one of them, a woman, passed on my word to the others.” I let out a thoughtful “Oh?” and Jin Qichen took it as a cue to go on. “With the exchange of information going on, I was told that you have encountered two other of my partners at a restaurant and the hotel at Shanggu.”

No doubt the woman is one of his cohorts, but the restaurant, he says? That could only mean the middle-age charlatan?! Jin Qichen spied the shift in my expression which was enough to confirm his words. In a tone that sounded as if I had agreed to become his partner, he went on saying, “I have two more partners anxious to meet you. Honestly, I have no idea what they would do to you, Master Spirit of the Shiyan Blade. But work with me and I will see that no one will come to bother you anymore.”

I smiled. “Thank you for providing such invaluable information. I believe it’s best you get on your way.” Hearing this, Edelweiss, who had been standing behind Jin Qichen, opened wide the room door with a look that tacitly said: “Get out!”

The brusque change in the mood only displeased my visitor. “I’ll be frank,” he added crossly, “These are people who have designs for your power. Insidious designs. And I can safely say the same about their modus operandi. To them, I am both a partner and a rival. Hence, I daresay I would enjoy it immensely if they can be removed off the chessboard. I need you, Murong Shiyan! Work together and we can defeat them together!”

Saying nothing, I took out my Spirit Gourd and yanked off the stopper. I released my Spirit Wolves and had them driven Jin Qichen out of the hospital. Finally, when he was gone, Edelweiss came back to sit by my bed. “Who is this man?” she asked.