Volume 4 Chapter 43 - He Is Lying (1/2)

This quiet middle-aged man was silent for a long time until the jar on the stove started to emit steam.

Then he looked up at Ding Ning and said, “The problem is you want to kill her. If I tell you some things you want to know, will she die?”

Ding Ning looked at this man called Zhang Luyang and paid attention to the subtle changes in his gaze as he said seriously, “It is very simple. You want her to die or not?”

Jing Liuli, sitting silently by Ding Ning’s side, suddenly looked up when she heard Ding Ning’s words. She suddenly realized that she may have misunderstood what Zhang Luyang said previously.

Zhang Luyang looked at Ding Ning and said, “I must confirm you have the capability to kill her.”

Ding Ning smiled and reached out to touch the chopsticks.

Zhang Luyang’s expression changed minutely. With a movement of the fingers, Ding Ning’s chopsticks suddenly changed direction, and the tips pointed to his lower right ribs.

Seeing Ding Ning’s minute action, Jing Liuli’s expression immediately grew serious.

“I heard you comprehended sword manuals at a glance during the Min Mountain Sword Trials. Your understanding of sword manuals is something normal people cannot imagine. Today, I see even your vital energy cultivation advancement is unprecedented.” Zhang Luyang looked at Ding Ning’s chopsticks and took a deep breath. He said seriously, “But is not a realm four second class challenging a realm six too hasty?”

“I will reach realm five.” Ding Ning skillfully pressed down on the wood fire in the stove and said naturally, “In realm five, I can use a flying sword. It will not be difficult to kill her with a flying sword then.”

An indescribable grimace appeared on Zhang Luyang’s lips. “How much longer?”

Ding Ning glanced at him and said, “Not long, before summer ends.”

“You have been with her for so many years. Do you really want her to die?” Jing Liuli could not help herself and said in a cold voice before Zhang Luyang could speak.

“It is not that I want her to die, but she will definitely let me die.” Zhang Luyang shook his head emotionally. “Because I am also one of her secrets. Now that you know of my existence, then she will not allow a secret like this to keep on existing.”

Jing Liuli was puzzled and frowned. “This counts as a secret?”

“Of course it is a secret.” Zhang Luyang smiled emotionally. “Before you found me, I thought that no one in Changling would know of the relationship between us during my lifetime.”

“Can’t a palace attendant have a lover?” Jing Liuli looked at him in confusion. “What is the problem if she marries and has children?”

In reply, Jing Liuli saw Zhang Luyang and Ding Ning look at her oddly.

“What, am I incorrect?” Jing Liuli looked strangely at Ding Ning and Zhang Luyang.

Ding Ning smiled and said, “If a marriage is built on true and mutual love, of course there is no problem. But if this person is used to resolving her boredom, just a place for her to temporarily not think of other matters, what you say is meaningless.”

Jing Liuli frowned deeply. She was silent and seemed to understand somewhat.

“At the empress’ side, she has many difficulties, and yet if the empress knows she feels insecure following her and needs a place of comfort, then the matter should be a secret.”

Zhang Luyang smiled in grief and said, “I originally was an ordinary swordsmanship teacher of the Blue Sun Sword School. I was indifferent in character and did not like to compete for fame. So I rented this tea garden and lived here in seclusion. When I first met her, I thought this was true love, but over time, I realized I was mistaken.”

Jing Liuli’s expression was still ugly. She understood Zhang Luyang’s meaning but she could not get herself to agree. Even if today was different from the past, this man had truly liked the palace attendant in the past. Now, he was so vicious to let the palace attendant die?

“In reality, just like how you feel you can learn some information from me, she too would think that I know many things I should not after being with her. She will not speak when awake, but when she sleeps, she worries that she will talk in her dreams and tell me something.” Zhang Luyang saw Jing Liuli’s thoughts and smiled self-deprecatingly. “She has come increasingly frequently in these years. I do not know if she really needs more comfort or she worries about me.”

“Also, maybe she truly knows too much that she cannot mention to anyone, so she would speak in her sleep.”

Seeing Jing Liuli’s eyebrows suddenly lift, Zhang Luyang shook his head. “In her dreams, she will speak words threatening to kill me.”