31 Yun Chi (1/2)

That last wisp of suspicion had already faded, like a trace of blood dispersing within a basin of clear water.

”So that's how it is,” he spoke suddenly before throwing Yun Hen a smirk and a sudden punch on his chest. ”Look at you. A fellow small in size but big in courage.”

That punch landed rather intentionally and so heavily that Meng Fuyao could feel her hair splitting from the wind that strike carried. Her heart skipped a beat.

Yun Hen's injury...

'If he retaliates...'

Thud.

The dull sound of skin contact made Meng Fuyao squirm involuntarily.

Yun Hen staggered backward and just as his bum was about to hit the ground, he managed to break his fall by grabbing onto the clothes of a gunned guard. Red in the face, he cried out, ”Joke's on me. What great skills you have, Sir!”

”What skills are you talking about?” the imperial guard broke into unrestrained laughter, subconsciously killing every last doubt he had in mind. Any martial artist would instinctively defend or strike back if someone threw them such a sudden punch. Plus, would there be no signs of pain on his face if he was really injured?

He laughed heartily, and almost obscenely, as he swept his gaze to and fro between Yun Hen and Meng Fuyao. His laughter was reduced to a mysterious smile. Then, he waved. ”Go on.”

The lines of guards retracted their weapons once more and pointed them toward the sky.

Meng Fuyao heaved a long sigh of relief before loosening her grip on the dagger inside of her sleeve.

She turned around and smiled, hinting at Yun Hen to look downward, to which he complied and saw a big thumbs up beneath her sleeve.

He couldn't understand the meaning behind her gesture but decided that it was a compliment. Upon dropping his gaze, he noticed blood dripping wherever Meng Fuyao passed.

His heart tightened as a foreign pain swept over him. Underneath his sleeves, the aloof, strong youth balled his hands into two tight fists.

'If you're able to sacrifice this much, can't I do the same? To endure this temporal ache and insult? To achieve big things is to ignore the trifles. A man should know this better...'

They had finally arrived at the end of the path. Before them stood a dark green wall that belonged to the Xin Palace.

The imperial guard fixed his attention on the area ahead of him, his eyes revealing a cold smile. 'You've lived enough, Old Yun. Get ready to have your corpse cleared when Prince Qi takes action.'

Yun Hen lifted his head to look at the inscribed board, his icily resolute expression warming up a little.

At 5:00 PM...

The emperor had arrived at the Qianan Palace, and the feast had officially begun. Water lanterns drifted in the pond underneath a glorious display for fireworks as the princes took turns to propose a toast.

Fang Minghe's General exited the camp quietly and solemnly like a meandering black snake, slithering toward Yanjing city.

The transference of guards had been completed. Yan Lie, who was seated on his horse, turned around to look at the palace walls, a confident smile appearing on his face. ”I'll stand by the innermost gate. Pei Yuan and her father will take care of the middle one, and you can take this outermost gate,” he ordered Yan Jingchen.

Yan Jingchen bowed. Before he moved a few steps forward and turned around again, Yan Lie warned him worriedly, ”Your gate's the most crucial one. You have to guard it well. I can't take the fall for you if you spoil the prince's plan.”

”Don't worry, Father. I know how important this is,” Yan Jingchen reassured him. Upon his father's departure, he lifted his head up and exhaled.

A man in light-colored robe emerged from the darkness in front of him. He moved with poise. As Yan Jingchen was about to call out for him, the man's sleeves dropped, and a corner of a jade green tablet appeared in his palm.

Yan Jingchen swept his gaze toward and waved at a guard, who then opened the gate.

The man smirked and entered. When he passed Yan Jingchen's side, a faint, exotic fragrance spread.

Yan Jingchen's eyes followed the man's movement, and it was when the latter's back view was revealed that the former realized he hadn't seen the man's face as he had been too distracted by his graceful bearing.

After pondering for some time, Yan Jingchen turned his head around. In the process, his gaze fell upon an object on the ground.

It was a white, finger-length strand of hair.

Yan Jingchen pinched it up, a strange expression forming on his face.

...