Chapter 157: War (88.1)
Translator: asa.s.sin
“Mr. Han… have you talked enough about the past? If we don't do it now, it will be too late when the men of Prince Ding's Manor come.” The Sick Scholar's ghastly voice rose behind them.
Han Ming Yue snorted slightly as he pulled the dagger out of his shoulder and threw it away. That wound gave him a frown. He turned to Han Ming Xi and said calmly: “Ming Xi, step aside. Don't make me do it.”
Han Ming Xi clenched his teeth. He managed to stand up in front of Ye Li as he spoke: “Over my dead body.”
Han Ming Yue didn't waste his breath anymore. He went forward and reached out for Han Ming Xi's shoulder. Han Ming Xi, who had taken a hit on the back a while ago was injured though Han Ming Yue withdrew his blow at the last second back then. Now he could barely raise his left arm, besides, he wasn't a match for Han Ming Yue in terms of martial arts in the first place. Ye Li, who was behind him, pushed him away as she dealt with Han Ming Yue's attack. She didn't have powerful internal energy but she was extremely good at close combat. None of her moves were fancy but her sliver dagger left him a wound each time she slashed it. This fight where he might lose his life at any second made Han Ming Yue frown. He delivered a few blows and stepped back.
“It has only been a year since the last time I saw you but you've made such a big progress with your skills, sister-in-law.” If a year ago Ye Li had beaten him out of sheer luck, this time, she was the real deal.
She frowned slightly as she said: “You flatter me by calling me that, Mr. Han. I have made a fair deal with Tianyi Pavilion and now you sell me out with no hesitation. Is that how you manage your business? Does Tianyi Pavilion get so far by taking advantage of its customers?”
Han Ming Yue looked sincere as he always did. “You are as funny as ever, My Lady. There are… a lot of things in this world that are out of our control and we can't help that. There are things that I don't want to do but have to finish, right?”
Ye Li responded smilingly with her brows raised: “If Mo Xiu Yao is here right now, are you going to claim this is just another misunderstanding?”
Han Ming Yue smiled silently.
The Sick Scholar sneered: “If Mo Xiu Yao is here, he is going to h.e.l.l with you!”
Ye Li turned to the Sick Scholar who was ready to strike and spoke to him with a smile yet not a smile: “Third Master, I don't think you should make a move without careful thought. If anything bad happens to you, it will be hard for me to explain it to Master Ling.”
Indignant, the Sick Scholar sneered. He took a step forward as if he wanted to say something. Hoot!Two darts flew past him on the left and right, falling half a meter behind him. The Sick Scholar turned ghastly pale when Ye Li let out a laughter.
“Third Master, I've told you, I don't take risks.”
Noticing the Sick Scholar's gloominess, Han Ming Yue chuckled: “Sister-in-law, you don't need to threaten us. I've asked my men to draw the secret guards away. Now that you come in such a hurry, there are at most two to three men with you.”
Ye Li replied with a smile: “Even so, there are still three of us. What about you, Master Ming Yue?”
Han Ming Xi who was sitting on the ground said loudly: “Not three, four.” Apparently, he had taken a stand, against his own brother.
Han Ming Yue didn't bother with him. Smilingly, he continued with his eyes on Ye Li: “Last time in the capital of Great Chu, you did impress me, My Lady. This time, you've given me a bigger surprise, coming here alone in disguise. I wonder if it was also you that put up a good show in the palace?”
Ye Li answered calmly: “Master Ming Yue, you've set up a trap here which means you've been here for quite some time. Why ask when you already know the answer?”
Han Ming Yue answered with raised brows: “I happen to be here. If I knew you were here, My Lady, I would have made a more comprehensive plan instead of taking such a risk.”
Ye Li smiled back: “Well, do you think you can kill me today, Master Ming Yue?”
Han Ming Yue shook his head and laughed out loud: “My Lady, you've taken me wrong. Imagine how many things I can do with you in my palm. If I do kill you, I will spoil all the fun.”
“Han Ming Yue!” The Sick Scholar called out angrily.The reason he worked with Han Ming Yue was to kill Mo Xiu Yao's wife. What does Han Ming Yue mean by that? His malicious eyes were fixed coldly on that handsome man in front of him.If Han Ming Yue dared to use him while breaking his promise, he would let him know why no outlaws dare to mess with him, the Sick Scholar!
Han Ming Yue turned to the Sick Scholar with a faint smile: “Third Master, we can't kill Princess Ding yet. Though you are from Xi Ling, you must have heard of the chaos in the capital of Chu for the past half a year. If we kill her now, we might all make it to Prince Ding's. .h.i.t list.”
The Sick Scholar sneered: “You are afraid? Well, I'm not.” Who is better at killing than a man of the Hall of Darkness?
Han Ming Yue lowered his head with a bitter laughter. “I am, actually. Third Master, I'll take her away with me today. If you need any help in the future, just come to me. Besides… it is Mo Xiu Yao that you hate, not his wife. You'll do nothing more than just disgracing him if you kill his wife, which won't make a difference.”
Ye Li stared at Han Ming Yue angrily as she sneered at him: “Master Ming Yue, don't you need to make sure if you have claim over me when you are talking about me? Third Master, I don't think it is wise of you to deal with a business man like him. Look at me now, I've suffered a financial loss as well as being sold out.”
Han Ming Yue smiled faintly: “Sorry, My Lady. It is Han Ming Xi who took your money. He didn't hand a dime to Tianyi Pavilion. So, it is at most a job he got in Tianyi Pavilion's name for his own benefit. As for my claim…”
He looked up. A crack tore the sky apart and a firework went off midair in daylight.
Ye Li listened and heard many people coming this way.
“What do you think now, My Lady?”
She smiled, lifted her hand and gestured. “It seems I have no choice but to go with you without putting up a fight?”
“You are a wise woman, My Lady.” He looked at her strange gestures. Though he didn't understand what that meant, he noticed that the eyes that were watching him in the dark were gone. He reckoned that might have been signs for her men to withdraw. “My Lady, every time we meet, you surprise me with your courage and insight.”
She smiled: “You should be more surprised at my good fortune.”
Han Ming Yue's beautiful eyes turned dark as he looked at her with his guard up. Men of Tianyi Pavilion slowly gathered around. By now, he finally relaxed a bit after staring fixedly at her for a long time. She wouldn't be able to get away even if she had wings with so many of his men around. Besides, with the Sick Scholar's information, he knew she didn't have good flying skills nor strong internal energy.
Ye Li looked around, as calm as ever.
“Sister-in-law, Xiu Yao is my friend, besides, you don't want me to be rude, right? Do you want to walk by yourself or…” Han Ming Yue looked at her as he said gently with a smile.
With a slight frown, she shook her head and spoke: “In fact, forget that you are Mo Xiu Yao's friend. The more you bring it up, the more I hate you for doing that.”
Han Ming Yue smiled: “No matter how much you hate me, it doesn't change the fact that Xiu Yao and me used to be friends in the past.”
“You said it. It was in the past.” Ye Li couldn't help rolling her eyes at him.
What's wrong with this man, thinking of a past friendship while destroying the remaining bond with all efforts? He is always talking about his friendship with Mo Xiu Yao but never shows any mercy when he strikes. Well… he did let her go last time but Mo Xiu Yao did the same for him.
“Mr. Han, this time you aren't finding fault with me for a special someone again, are you?”
Han Ming Yue's expression changed slightly. “He told you that?”
“He didn't need to. I was there, remember? But… Mo Xiu Yao does promise me one thing. Do you what to know what that is?”
Han Ming Yue's graceful expression was a little stiff and he smiled faintly: “I'm all ears.”
“I'm not the kind of person who returns good for evil. I guess neither is Mo Xiu Yao. So, last time was the only exception.”
He forced a smile. “It seems Xiu Yao does think a lot of you, sister-in-law. Well… since I have you here, I believe this time he'll let me go as well.”
Ye Li smiled. “Hope so. Since you've shown me your final card, would like to see mine, Master Ming Yue?”
Han Ming Yue was shocked. “What do you mean?”
Her brows rose. She lifted her hand and made a sharp whistle.
Not far away, outside Tianyi Pavilion's encirclement, a black firework bloomed in the sky. Somewhere further away, fire of the same color rose up. Then came the sound of horses.