Free Web NovelChapter 400: Chapter 330: Would Refusing Hurt Him Too Much?
"Why do I have to leave?"
On the first floor of the hot spring cottage, Murong Hui sat on the bed she had laid out. She had brought down lots of bedding from the second floor and spread them on the ground, enough to accommodate three people and revealing her intentions. When Yan Qing and Ying Rushi sat down to talk, she even patted the bedding with both hands, almost saying ’The dogs are always here, Noble Consort Fox come and serve’.
Upon hearing them inquire about when she planned to leave tomorrow, Murong Hui made a strange face and asked, "I was in a hurry to leave before to go receive you, Little Fox, but now that you’re here, why should I leave?"
"Now is not the time to be willful, Hui," Ying Rushi said earnestly, "The Demon Gathering Land is no longer a place for sightseeing, even though you are the granddaughter of Purple Tribulation Zhenren. But you saved me, and the Baibao Guards won’t let you off lightly. Staying with us will be very dangerous."
"Even if you don’t mind putting yourself in danger, haven’t you forgotten that you’re still being targeted by an assassin?" Yan Qing asked. "With just the two of us, we only need to watch out for the Baibao Guards. But if you stay, we’ll also have to be wary of the assassin’s long-range sniping. If we part ways, we’ll both be reducing a threat."
"This isn’t just our own business, but it’s also about the Purple Tribulation Zhenren," Ying Rushi said in a serious tone. "Though you may not be very astute, you’ve always been cheerful and friendly. No one would hire such a powerful assassin group to deal with you over a grudge. The only reason could be plotting against Purple Tribulation Zhenren through your death. The sooner you leave and warn Purple Tribulation Zhenren, the sooner they can root out the danger."
"Don’t worry, I’ve learned to read maps these past two days. You’re no longer useful, you little brat," Yan Qing said mercilessly.
Murong Hui nodded repeatedly as she listened, only scoffing at Yan Qing at the end but wasn’t too angry. After they finished speaking, she slowly said, "You’ve made very valid points, but have you considered one question?"
"What question?"
"Now Ying Le is at the Demon Gathering Camp. While she may not kill me, betting my life on Ying Le’s whim is obviously foolish. I can’t leave through the east gate, I must go through another gate, right?"
"Yes," Ying Rushi nodded, recognizing that although Ying Le, as a Foundation Establishment Messenger, may not always be stationed outside the east gate, betting on her not being a lunatic is as crazy as trusting a fart during a stomach ache.
"Leaving via the east gate takes three days to reach the nearest town. Even if I hurried day and night like a Shadow Dance Messenger, it would take at least two days and nights. Exiting through other gates would obviously be farther, costing even more time," Murong Hui said. "And that mysterious assassin, even though I’ve never met him face to face, he can quickly move from a high position, assassinate twice without leaving a trace. He definitely has reconnaissance and movement items. Even if I leave the Demon Gathering Land, he’s very likely to pursue me. They only need to watch the four exits to know where I leave from."
"And I can hold up for a maximum of two days and nights without resting," she held up two fingers. "I’ve tested it. Beyond two days, if I close my eyes, I immediately pass out. Even if I cheat at a casino and win ninety times in a row, I won’t be excited; I just can’t handle it! In reality, beyond a day and night, my state sharply declines and I struggle to cope with sudden assassination!"
Didn’t expect a wealthy Foundation Establishment Clan Patriarch to love gambling; cheating is one thing, but cheating reminds Yan Qing of players using hacks in FPS games...
"So you see? If I leave now, I’ll just end up getting assassinated!" Murong Hui placed her hands on her hips, "The assassin will certainly outlast me. I can’t outlast him!"
"You spoiled brat, feeling proud now?" Yan Qing teasingly pat her head, but he also felt a bit sheepish. In terms of spoiled brats, he and Murong Hui were equally bad...
"And even if I leave early, I have no way of notifying Grandpa," Murong Hui shrugged, "Grandpa left Langhuan Secret Realm some days ago, seemingly to explore other realms. I don’t even know where she is, let alone how to contact her."
"Staying with you all is my best option at the moment."
Yan Qing and Ying Rushi exchanged glances, wanting to argue but Murong Hui was coherent and flawless, leaving them stumped and bewildered — since when was Murong Hui smarter than both of them combined? Was Murong Hui’s brain actually functional?
"Sigh, such a simple truth — I thought you’d have thought of it already. Didn’t expect I’d have to unravel it for you," she sighed, with a mischievous smile, "What will you do when I’m not around in the future? It seems you can only move to Lin Ya City with me and eat, live, and sleep together, isn’t that right?"
"But eventually, you’ll have to leave. What then?" Yan Qing asked.
"I’ll go with her," Ying Rushi said.
"Very simple," Murong Hui replied, "Let’s kill the assassin in the next few days, won’t we?"
She wrapped her arms around Yan Qing and Ying Rushi’s necks, "I’ve already been assassinated twice! The second time even pierced through my belly, it hurt so bad that I almost cried! If I just tuck my tail between my legs and run, I won’t be able to sleep soundly for the next ten years! Murong’s revenge, day and night!"
"Though I can’t deal with that person, you both can help me get revenge, rip the assassin to shreds, fry, stew, stir-fry with garlic salt..."
Seeing her get more and more off track, Yan Qing covered her mouth, "Stop it! You’re making me hungry." Yet Murong Hui lightly bit his hand, staring at him with wide eyes conveying an unmistakable message: ’Help me~’
"Fine." Yan Qing said with amusement, "Let’s figure out a way to kill him."
"A thousand days can make a thief, but not a thousand days can guard against them." Ying Rushi pinched Murong Hui’s cheek, "Turns out sometimes you can be smart."
"I always wanted to interact with you as an ordinary person, didn’t expect I’d be exposed, no more pretending, I am a peerless genius!" Murong Hui giggled.
"Indeed, at least smarter than certain idiots who don’t even know how to ask for help." Yan Qing said flatly, "Clearly having friends to rely on but choosing to court death alone, compared to such foolish women, you are truly a peerless genius, you little brat."
"Seriously, are there really such foolish women in the world?" Murong Hui looked surprised, "Could it be she never considered others as friends?"
"Ah, I wouldn’t want to say." Yan Qing replied earnestly, "Some people appear amiable, but inwardly elevate themselves above others, disregarding others’ thoughts, even making decisions alone and expecting everyone to obey her."
"That’s disgusting! If I had such a friend, I’d spank her hard. I can’t stand people who don’t respect my ideas!"
"Count me in; how about you spank the left and I spank the right?"
Ying Rushi angrily tossed two pillows at the two chatterboxes, "Time to sleep!"
"Coming!" Murong Hui immediately lay in the middle of the bed, "The dogs are always here, Noble Consort Fox, come quickly to serve—"
Yan Qing couldn’t be bothered with her, went to turn off the hall lights. He was on the first night watch; it was impossible for all three of them to rest.
Ying Rushi didn’t mind sleeping with Murong Hui, but Murong Hui was very clingy, wrapping herself like an octopus and snuggling against her chest. It would be fine if it were just the two of them, but Yan Qing could see, right? Plus, Ying Rushi was sure that he would definitely watch!
However, once Murong Hui fell asleep, her posture became wild, soon turning her body around. Just as Ying Rushi was about to drift off, she felt a tap on her forehead, opened her eyes to see Yan Qing beckoning for her to rise.
Ying Rushi carefully maneuvered Murong Hui’s legs down, tiptoed to follow Yan Qing to the windowsill, offering a view of the street outside. The Demon Gathering Land was perpetually deep and silent, night indistinguishable from day, with occasional demon sightings.
They dared stay at the hot spring cottage because they had Three-headed Demon Fiends for cover. Even if the Baibao Guards have reconnaissance items, detecting three demon fiends and three humans together, they’d likely only presume this was six demon fiends.
Even if the Baibao Guards were suspicious, they’d send reconnaissance first, not surrounding them with an army. Thus, Yan Qing’s group would have ample time to react.
Giving up restful sleep to guard against the Baibao Guards would be truly foolish.
Yan Qing gestured for Ying Rushi to sit on the windowsill, it being the only spot lit due to the lights being off.
When Ying Rushi sat down, her toe inadvertently brushed Yan Qing’s leg; she instinctively curled her toes and withdrew, feeling inexplicably nervous.
In the dead of night, the two alone, and he had been watching her earlier, joking like that...
Ying Rushi looked down, twirling her fingers, wondering if he could be that eager? But Auntie had said that men, when provoked, could turn into beasts. What if he really wanted it? Would rejecting hurt him?
