27 An Extortion (1/2)

Yan Lie fixed his eyes on her, smiling, ”It's His Majesty's birthday today, Princess. Wouldn't be good if you get tangled up in other people's business and delay such a big event, would it?”

His tone was calm but his smile meaningful. He had emphasized the words big event.

It was then that Pei Yuan recalled her original intent. She frowned, feeling somewhat frustrated for allowing Meng Fuyao to befuddle her. ”Meng Fuyao... why is she so quiet?”

She appeared to have rolled down the steps and into the bushes earlier, never showing herself since. Then came Tie Cangmo's hasty intervention and speech, which had caused Pei Yuan to momentarily forget all about Meng Fuyao.

Zhan Beiye, too, remembered about his chase at this point. He groaned and rolled down the blood-stained path Meng Fuyao had taken.

After turning around the bushes and spotting no one, he lifted his brows in confusion and stared at the blood spots which were still visible on the ground.

Someone snorted behind him. Pei Yuan swept over like a gust of wind but was unable to find Meng Fuyao. She revealed an awful expression and gritted her teeth. ”Let's see how far you can run.”

Zhan Beiye whipped his body around so fast that his clothes swung and hit Pei Yuan on the face. The latter felt as though she had been slapped by an iron plate as blackness concealed her view for a moment.

”Nine more holes. Let me warn you. I'll go after you every time I see you. Dare touch her one more time, and I'll make sure that you get not just nine but 100 holes all over your body. I don't kill women, but you can be an exception,” an icy voice sounded.

Zhan Beiye brushed his sleeves. ”I have no time to waste on you right now, but don't forget my words.”

Pei Yuan covered her face while looking up. As she was about to retort, Zhan Beiye gifted her with another sleeve-slap, which landed on her right cheek, causing her to stumble. At that, he exited with a flash.

”Hey, hey, hey!–––”

”Softer, softer–––”

”Ss... are you trying to save or kill me?”

Murmurings could be heard amid the darkness as two pairs of dazzling eyes flickered in the night. One of the pairs belonged to an unlucky girl.

She had just rolled into the bushes, but before she could get on her feet a pair of steel-like hands pulled her, causing her body to drop. The next moment, she was plunging into a dark tunnel.

As an astonished Meng Fuyao was about to resist, the person covered her mouth and shook his head, indicating that she should remain quiet. His purlicue was rough, a detail that helped her confirm his sex. Yet, his cool palm emitted a faint scent that only noblemen owned. She nodded slightly to express agreement, after which the man relented and removed his hand.

Meng Fuyao looked around and noticed that they were in a secret passageway. She speculated that it was a linkway connecting the dried up well that she had fallen through to a hidden unit further down. Upon the sealing of the unit, plants were grown aboveground to conceal the well, in which the man had been waiting to pull her in.

When Meng Fuyao sensed no hostility from her captor, she released a breath of relief. Suddenly, the man turned her shoulder, immediately tearing the cloth of his sleeve in horror. He worked skillfully on her wounds, completely bandaging them in no time.

Caught off guard by his action, Meng Fuyao winced in pain. But before she was done, he had already removed his hands and turned around.

He had a lean and straight figure, appearing like a palm tree amid the darkness. As the man saw that Meng Fuyao had gradually calmed down, he took a few steps forward, his silhouette being outlined by a faint ray of penetrating light. He had broad shoulders and a thin waist like that of a youth.

The more she looked at that back, the more she found it familiar.

She scanned her surroundings again while knitting her brows. She had never appreciated confining spaces, and her instincts wanted her to get out.

However, the man turned around abruptly, his extremely pale face and deep eyes reminding her of the ever-snowy mountains in Qiongcang. Those abyss-like eyes were cold and unfathomable, yet as bright as a million twinkling stars combined.

Meng Fuyao drew a deep, cold breath.

Those eyes... she had seen them before.

On the second day of her breakup with Yan Jingchen, she had accepted a challenge against a youth dressed in black. It was his Nether Eyes that had caused a big explosion that day.

Although she hadn't forgotten about him, she was still beyond surprised to meet him again in a place like this.

The youth looked at her and said suddenly, ”You owe me one now that I've saved you.”

His voice was bright and crisp, sounding similar to the collision between thin icebergs – cold yet resolute.

”Ah?” Meng Fuyao opened her eyes wide in response.

'What's that kind of logic?' she asked herself. 'Did I ask for his help? Zhan Beiye wouldn't let me die in the hands of someone else in the first place. His help was uncalled for so why do I need to return the favor?'