Wuming paused upon seeing Lan Yan's face. It was the woman who had given him buns last time!
Meanwhile, Jun Yelan had already pulled Lan Yan behind him, holding his sharp sword to Wuming's neck, his eyes filled with fierce hostility. Lan Yan had nearly met with disaster moments ago.
Seeing the person captured, Lan Yan breathed a sigh of relief, her left hand unconsciously clutching Jun Yelan's sleeve. Honestly, she had been a little scared just then.
Seeing this, Jun Yelan's hatred for Wuming intensified as he gripped the sword hilt tighter. "If you dare to appear before me again, you won't live to see tomorrow."
Those people sending assassins repeatedly had touched his bottom line. Even if he couldn't deal with them completely this time, he had to teach them a lesson.
Wuming's gaze fixed on Lan Yan and he said, "Wait, I have something I wish to say to this lady."
"Absolutely not," Jun Yelan shouted without hesitation, his sword drawing a shallow bloody line under Wuming's neck, moving even closer.
Wuming seized the opportunity and cried out, "I owe this lady a meal. Please allow me to repay it before you do as you please. We assassins also have principles."
He placed the dagger in his hand into his palm and offered it to Lan Yan.
Jun Yelan's eyes darkened. Unaware of the underlying reason, he looked at Lan Yan.
Suddenly under the scrutiny of both men, Lan Yan looked at Wuming and shook her head. "I'm sorry, I don't remember you. Did I ever treat you to a meal?" She truly couldn't recall.
Jun Yelan's lips curved into a smile.
Wuming's eyes dimmed slightly. So, his benefactor didn't remember him. "Miss, earlier, you gave a beggar buns at the marketplace. I was that beggar."
He then pulled off his hair tie, disheveled his hair to cover his face.
Lan Yan clapped her hands. "I remember now, there was something like that. Wait, you were here to assassinate tonight, so when I met you last time, it was all a deliberate plan!"
She refused to believe such coincidences existed in the world.
Wuming quickly denied it, "No, last time I was injured and hiding in the marketplace to recover. That day, no one stopped to help, only you gave me buns."
"I, Wuming, once swore an oath: repay kindness must be repaid, and vengeance must be avenged. Miss, I wish to become your guard to repay this kindness."
Lan Yan was startled by the determination in Wuming's eyes and felt he wasn't lying. She waved her hand. "No need, it was just a bun. Besides, you were about to kill the Eunuch, so becoming my guard is even more impossible."
She would never allow anyone to harm Jun Yelan.
Wuming said, "I am an assassin who executes missions. If I were to become your guard, I would refuse this mission and would never kill him."
"Take this dagger. You can kill me whenever you wish."
Lan Yan stared at the dagger before her, not moving. In her eyes, she couldn't trust Wuming. "It was just a meal, and to me, it's filled with uncertainty. I won't take it."
She took a few steps back.
A hint of disappointment surfaced on Wuming's face. He thought about how his dagger had been pointed at Lan Yan earlier, and now being rejected was understandable. "Miss, my promise is always valid. As long as I am alive, you can take my dagger at any time."
Lan Yan was momentarily stunned, not expecting this assassin to be so determined.
Jun Yelan, standing beside her and seeing Lan Yan hesitate, moved further in front of her. "Lan Yan, this person was sent by those who want to kill me, his words cannot be trusted."
"Wuming, you should go to the Eastern Depot." He gestured towards the door, and immediately, guards arrived and dragged Wuming away.
Wuming threw the dagger at Lan Yan's feet. As he was being taken away, he still shouted, "Miss, Wuming will remember you."
Jun Yelan's brows furrowed instantly. This young assassin was infatuated with Lan Yan! A trace of unease bloomed in his heart, and he turned to look at Lan Yan. "He..."
"I don't mind," Lan Yan smiled. "I know your affairs are complicated, and I won't interfere." This assassination was no small matter, let alone the employer behind Wuming.
She picked up the dagger from the ground and placed it on the table. "I'll leave it to you to investigate."
Jun Yelan's pupils trembled slightly. Seeing Lan Yan trust him so much, and remembering her act of shielding him earlier, his heart ached.
"When you stood in front of me just now, did you know the danger?"
Lan Yan nodded. "Of course, I knew. But the moment I thought of your injury, and how close that dagger was to your chest, I acted without much thought."
It was simply too urgent.
Jun Yelan gazed into Lan Yan's bright eyes and listening to her words, felt an urge to embrace her. He moved closer to Lan Yan, their toes almost touching, and said earnestly, "Lan Yan, don't do that again."
"Remember this, you must live." This was the only thought that welled up in his heart.
Lan Yan smiled. "Alright. If that's the case, you promise me too. Pinky swear!" She held up her little finger.
Jun Yelan paused at this, then slowly extended his hand, his pinky finger hooked by Lan Yan's. His finger instantly felt a warmth, like a gentle stream flowing into his heart.
His lips curved upward unconsciously.
Lan Yan muttered, "Actually, it depends on the situation." She didn't dare tell Jun Yelan that if he ever faced danger again, she might not be able to keep this promise and would still choose to save him.
Jun Yelan didn't hear Lan Yan's mumbling. Seeing that it was getting late, he said, "Let's rest. No one will disturb you again." He could have used his own life as bait before, but not anymore.
From today onwards, he would assign extra guards around them, at least to let Lan Yan sleep peacefully by his side.
Lan Yan suddenly remembered it was midnight. Wuming's sudden appearance had woken her up from her drowsiness. She yawned and climbed onto the soft couch, looking at Jun Yelan opposite her, and called out, "I'm going to sleep."
As she spoke, she closed her eyes, and soon, her even breathing could be heard.
Jun Yelan remained awake, lying slightly on his side and gazing in Lan Yan's direction, feeling more at ease than ever before.
The next morning, Lan Yan went to the kitchen early to prepare medicinal meals for Jun Yelan. She stewed a hen with astragalus and red dates, simmering it over low heat for two hours.
When Niang entered, she smelled the aroma and laughed, "Lan girl, you're up so early. If I were the Eunuch, I'd be moved by you."
She put down the ingredients and while preparing them, said, "But Lan girl, you need to let the Eunuch take the initiative more. My husband was also very dull before, but after I talked to him every day, he's become much better."
Seeing the smile on Niang's face, Lan Yan knew she had mastered the art of managing her husband. She asked curiously, "Sister Niang, teach me then." She felt too miserable, having been on missions here without success, and the key missions were difficult.
Niang leaned close to Lan Yan's ear and whispered for a long time.
Lan Yan understood a lot instantly and gave Niang a thumbs-up. "Sister Niang, you're amazing." She sat down, staring at the stewed chicken before her, and narrowed her eyes.