Chapter 467: Chapter 467: Who Are You?
The commoners watched as the Regent King took General Zhan away. After a moment’s silent pause, a shoe was thrown at Baili Jiang, the Main General of Western Rong.
Soon, more shoes were tossed onto Baili Jiang’s body and at his feet.
“Western Rong dog!” someone shouted bravely.
Then, voices rose one after another.
The people of Nanjin truly witnessed the baseness of Western Rong in the midst of a match.
Moreover, Baili Jiang was originally a Nanjin native, yet he became a lapdog for Western Rong!
For anyone with a sense of valor, such a thing was intolerable.
“Rebel!” Emperor Qingwu gestured to the Imperial Army, shouting sternly, “Hold them back!”
His initial intention was to use the competition to intimidate the other three kingdoms, not to spark conflict. His throne was not yet secure, and he couldn’t afford to wage war with Western Rong!
Baili Jiang knew he had incurred public wrath; angrily clenching his fists, he quickly left the Martial Arts Arena.
The anger of the people surged like rushing waters. The law couldn’t punish the masses, and Emperor Qingwu helplessly watched the impassioned citizens of Nanjin.
This was the esteem Zhan Lan held among the people. He recalled the last time the citizens petitioned for Zhan Lan along a ten-mile street.
Standing in the cold wind, Emperor Qingwu felt isolated for the first time, trembling as he touched his golden dragon throne.
The warmth the people felt for Zhan Lan and Mu Yan was as intense as the coldness they felt for him.
His orders to the Imperial Army seemed feeble at that moment; the Imperial Army only watched and did not intimidate the people.
Emperor Qingwu’s legs went weak, and he fell back into his chair.
All the emissaries of the three kingdoms present saw it clearly: Emperor Qingwu was a puppet emperor.
The one who truly held the reins of power in Nanjin was the Regent King Mu Yan.
The one who had popular support was the Brave General Zhan Lan.
The prestige of the couple was evident to all.
Zhan Xinzhang watched as Mu Yan led Zhan Lan away, his gaze lingering on Mu Yan for a long time, unable to look away.
He then glanced at the pale and trembling Emperor Qingwu, thinking how the Si Family declined with each generation.
Si Yao and Si Yuzhang exchanged a glance, their faces grim as they left. Their plan was about to start, but Mu Yan had left with Zhan Lan.
So there would be no subsequent hunt.
Si Yao’s gaze fell on Ye Xiuhan’s figure. Nevertheless, she could still make some use of Ye Xiuhan.
Ye Xiuhan watched the back of Zhan Lan and Mu Yan, lowering his eyes to the spear in his hand.
This spear had been aimed at Zhan Lan for years, but now he uncontrollably chose to protect her.
Even knowing she was married, he couldn’t help feeling sorry for her, not wanting her to be hurt.
…
After leaving the crowd, Zhan Lan held Mu Yan’s hand in reverse and sat down in a nearby room.
Vermilion Bird brought bandages and ointments for the wound. Zhan Lan gently opened Mu Yan’s wounded hand, frowning slightly, “Fool, I could have dodged it, you worried too much.”
The iceberg in Mu Yan’s eyes finally melted; he smiled as he watched Zhan Lan bandaging his wound and asked, “Ye Xiuhan seems to treat you differently.”
Zhan Lan recalled the moment Ye Xiuhan and Mu Yan simultaneously blocked Baili Jiang’s spear for her.
She also felt it was strange; she and Ye Xiuhan were not at the point where they had enough reason to protect each other.
Moreover, this was the second time Ye Xiuhan actively protected her.
If the first time Ye Xiuhan was scratched on the arm by a wolf was an accident, this time it could only be said that while fighting Fan Yao, Ye Xiuhan was still paying attention to her.
Coupled with Ye Xiuhan’s kind reminder that night, Zhan Lan suddenly wondered if Ye Xiuhan harbored romantic feelings for her?
Or perhaps she was overthinking it.
Zhan Lan said somewhat unnaturally, “It’s nothing, I’ll find a way to repay Ye Xiuhan.”
Mu Yan stared into her eyes; Ye Xiuhan was different from Xiao Chen.
No matter how much Xiao Chen liked Zhan Lan, their relationship as comrades and siblings meant Zhan Lan wouldn’t think much of it.
However, Ye Xiuhan’s actions today had undeniably declared to everyone that he liked Zhan Lan and was afraid she’d get hurt.
Mu Yan’s expression turned cold. One Xiao Chen was already enough, now there was another Ye Xiuhan.
No wonder so many commoners admired Zhan Lan; she had a unique charm that drew people in.
If he hadn’t been with Zhan Lan, perhaps she’d have more choices.
“It’s done.” Zhan Lan finished bandaging Mu Yan’s wound and looked at him with clear eyes.
Suddenly, Mu Yan pulled her arm close, the cold fragrance mixed with the scent of blood filled her nostrils, and Mu Yan embraced her tightly with possessiveness.
Zhan Lan gently patted Mu Yan’s shoulder, “Don’t do anything foolish again. If I need help, you’ll be the first name I call.”
“Alright.” Mu Yan rested his chin on her shoulder, his gaze turning completely cold as he looked at the retreating back of the Western Rong delegation.
Zhan Lan let go of him, looking meaningfully at Baili Jiang’s departing figure.
Today, her long-planned revenge was about to commence. Some people needed to be settled!
…
Baili Jiang returned to the hostel to pack his things. As he fumbled through his purse, he suddenly felt something was amiss and anxiously asked, “Has anyone seen my jade pendant!”
“Haven’t seen it.” Baili Jiang heard a unified response.
He narrowed his eyes; that jade pendant was a gift from the Western Rong King!
He had placed it in his purse. When could it have gone missing!
Baili Jiang looked at his subordinates, “Go find it, it must be found no matter where it is!”
If he couldn’t find the jade pendant given by the Western Rong King, how would he explain this?
An hour passed, and Baili Jiang suddenly received a letter, someone had given him an address, saying that someone found his jade pendant and was demanding fifty thousand taels of silver in exchange.
Baili Jiang squinted his eyes, suspecting that the other party had deliberately stolen his jade pendant for money.
“General, be wary of a trap!” the advisor cautioned.
“Ha, what do I fear, even the Nanjin Emperor doesn’t dare to cross me. I’ll go meet the other party personally!”
Today at the Martial Arts Arena, in front of so many people, even Mu Yan didn’t dare harm him, what was there to fear!
Baili Jiang ignored the warnings, donning a veil, and set out with a dagger and ten subordinates to the designated location.
He infiltrated the courtyard of the other party, finding the room described in the letter with a red sachet hanging by the door, and climbed in through the window, seeing a man lying on the bed.
The man suddenly opened his eyes as he saw Baili Jiang, “Who are you!”
Baili Jiang sneered maliciously, “You have quite a nerve, demanding fifty thousand taels of silver is quite greedy!”
“Who exactly are you?” the man on the bed exclaimed in shock.
He immediately realized the intruder was up to no good, as the man drew a cold, glinting dagger from his sleeve.