34 Of Terrifying Nights, a Kindness Repaid and an Assassination Attemp (1/2)
On that very same morning, the Board of War’s Deputy Minister Xie Wuyuan was still waiting for the justice he had asked his father-in-law to exact for him. He was in the midst of thinking how he should add insult to Yun Yang’s injuries upon his capture when his residence was surrounded by guards.
With a single order, his entire family had been sent right to prison. Other than his wife, who had been defended by Grand Tutor Liu and brought back to the Residence of Grand Tutor, the rest of them were bound and carted off to be kept under lock and key. The judgment had been declared on that very day – execution after the passing of three days!
These developments had everyone abuzz in shock.
Shouldn’t the perpetrator be the one that was punished? Why was it the one that had been assaulted that got jailed instead?
The incident had immediately become an undercurrent flowing through the families of officials in Tiantang City, its message clear, “The young master of Marquis of Heavenly Clouds is not someone to be trifled with.”
It was a terrifying thought.
Whilst all these events were taking place, Ji Ling was stomping her feet violently in Sky Room No.1 of the most luxurious tavern in Tiantang City. “Why wasn’t this obnoxious man arrested?!”
There were several other girls in the room lazing around; some of them lounged on Ji Ling’s bed, their delicate jade-like feet twitching in boredom, kicking ceaselessly against the bed. These young ladies of the city’s influential families looked peerlessly elegant and beautiful in the public’s eyes but in front of their best friends, they did not bother to maintain the image they worked so very hard convey outside.
“Oh, what’s gotten you so angry, little sister? An obnoxious man?” One of the girls asked in mock surprise. “Since when did Little Sister Ji meet such a man? How has this slipped by us?”
Ji Ling snorted, “You girls wish to know him? If you have seen him, consider him an impostor! That is if he doesn’t annoy you until you lose your appetite!”
“Oh, if there’s such a person, we sisters must get to know him then.” The girl beamed brightly. “How fascinating!”
Ji Ling snorted with a pout and kept rolling her eyes. Fascinating? Just wait until he annoys you to no end. You girls will know what’s fascinating then!
Within moments, five or six of the girls threw themselves over.
“What’s his name?”
“How tall is he?”
“Is he handsome?”
“Is he good looking?”
“Is he fat?”
“Describe to us his physique!”
“How’s his family background?”
Another girl even managed to look charmed as she said, “Wow, I suddenly feel like I’m about to meet my prince!”
Ji Ling smacked her forehead. “There’s absolutely no hope for all of you!”
“Tell us! Let us go have a look.”
“Yes, maybe we could even find our other halves!”
“This little kitty doesn’t wanna share. Everyone, make her tell!”
“Charge!”
“Help me!” Ji Ling screamed in mock indignation as the girls playfully piled on top her. It soon turned into a chaotic scene, with limbs flailing about and cheerful laughter floating on the air.
…
Just as Yun Yang walked out of his room, he saw Lao Mei and Fang Mofei standing by the door.
“Excuse me?” Yun Yang was surprised to find the two men hovering at his portal like silent statues.
What is going on?
It would be alright if it was only Lao Mei standing here. It’s already difficult for Fang Mofei stand, let alone wait here, upright as a pole!
“Young master, there is someone called Chen San outside the door. He has been sitting by our door since last night.” Lao Mei explained, “He has not left until now.”
Yun Yang nodded and replied, “Go on.”
Fang Mofei then spoke, “Young master, I am unable to articulate my feelings. When I was cultivating last night, I could faintly feel a number of presences in the residence.”
“They were all experts.” Fang Mofei looked downright somber as he continued. “They seemed to be looking something. Young master has to be alerted to this.”
Poor Fang Mofei had been completely terrified last night. Although he had not known the reason behind his alarmingly rapid speed of cultivation and the recovery of his deific consciousness, Fang Mofei was delighted to use it to survey his surroundings but the result was nothing like what he had imagined.
Goosebumps had erupted all over his skin as he felt the eerie presence of strangers come and go from the Residence of Yun. When one left, another one took its place, some even in groups of three of five. Furthermore, Fang Mofei could intuit that those who had come were mostly experts of the fifth or sixth peak; some of them were even more advanced than he was and there were many of them. These apparitions had come and gone at least fifty to sixty times till late into the night; if it were only one person for every visitation, then there were at least fifty to sixty experts who had traipsed through the residence!
Are they f*cking visiting the market?
Fang Mofei was drenched with sweat from the fright. He had thought that it would be safer and more peaceful in the Residence of Yun. He had no idea that this could have happened. It was even more terrifying than roaming the most dangerous locations in the martial arts world.
Yun Yang smiled faintly. “It’s alright, let them be. They can come over all they want, we have a smooth and spacious highway here.”
His smile was impossible to decipher.