Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Training the dog, Jiang Ci pinches with his hands...
At night, Chu Yao lay in Yue Bai's arms, her eyes fixed on the beams of the house. She pretended to ask casually, "I heard the governor has captured Master Xie and brought him back?"
Yue Bai answered simply, "Yes, but after verifying that he and his wife had not left together, the governor let him go."
Chu Yao's eyelashes twitched slightly, and her tone remained calm: "What about him? Is he still in Fengdu?"
Yue Bai thought about it, then suddenly seemed to remember something and said, "I don't know if he's left yet, but it's really strange. When we caught him, he... had shaved his head."
Chu Yao's smile remained undimmed as she uttered a soft "Oh," seemingly nonchalantly. Then, she slowly stood up and put on her scattered clothes one by one.
Yue Bai leaned against the edge of the bed, watching her movements, and asked in a low voice, "Where are you going?"
Chu Yao didn't even raise her head, and said softly, "I can't be seen staying in your room. After all... I'm someone close to the Madam."
Yue Bai, however, didn't take it seriously. He raised his eyebrows slightly and said stubbornly, "Then let them watch. I'm planning to marry you anyway, so it's good for them to see me. It saves me a lot of trouble. I can take this opportunity to propose to the governor."
Chu Yao chuckled at this, took a few steps closer, placed a finger on his lips, lowered her head and placed a kiss on his cheek, and said softly, "My parents' mourning period hasn't ended yet. It's not the right time to talk about this now. Don't be impatient."
As soon as she finished speaking, she pushed the door open with her clothes straightened and her expression normal.
The door closed gently, and Chu Yao stood in the corridor, her eyes paused slightly, and her brows slowly frowned.
"Neck your head?"
She murmured softly, a hint of sarcasm and confusion in her eyes.
Chu Yao paced slowly along the corridor, the night breeze brushing against her temples, her eyes gradually becoming colder. A faint smile curved at the corner of her lips, concealing an inexplicable coldness and irony.
It was just a one-night stand, and he wasn't even willing to take on this small responsibility. Would he rather shave his head and become a monk, retreating to Zichuan, than take her along for the journey?
"Xie Guijing..." She murmured, the corners of her lips slowly curling up, "You are truly noble."
At this time, on the other side, when Ji Yang led his men to the mountain villa, the moonlight was already as cold and frost-like.
He dismounted, his boots pattering on the sand. His cold gaze swept across the dimly lit courtyard before him. He parted his thin lips and whispered, "Surround it."
As soon as he finished speaking, there were chaotic footsteps all around, and more than 20 secret guards quickly surrounded the villa. Swords and spears were shining, and a murderous atmosphere instantly filled the air.
Ji Yang stood outside the courtyard gate, his uniform erect in the night like a mountain. He looked up and saw Shen Ting standing in the courtyard, dozens of guards behind him quietly awaiting his orders. Bu Fu's figure could be seen faintly in the shadows above the eaves.
Shen Ting'an was not panicked at all. His eyes shot towards Ji Yang like knives, and he laughed coldly: "What a big show the governor has made. For a woman, he is willing to mobilize so many troops. Are you really not afraid of breaking with my Shen family?"
Ji Yang did not answer immediately after hearing this.
He stood under the moonlight, his knuckles clenched quietly, and a moment of tension passed through his heart. He knew that Shen Ting'an had murderous intentions. If he showed any emotion at this moment, Jiang Ci's life might be completely lost, and it would be too passive.
He raised his eyes, his expression indifferent, his voice neither loud nor soft, yet with a chilling calmness:
"Do you really think I care about a woman's life or death?"
Shen Tingan's eyes moved slightly.
"I, Ji Yang, am a dignified governor of Dongyang. If I don't say anything even when my wife is kidnapped, it would be a joke." His tone was cold and hard, his sword-like brows did not move. "I came here today just to save my face. If you, Shen Ting'an, don't give me an explanation, and this matter gets out tomorrow, where will I put my face?"
As he spoke, his eyes swept over Jiang Ci, without any warmth. "She is just the daughter of an old official in Liang Province. If my mother didn't still miss her, why would I keep her until now?"
"Now you've tied her up and want me to come find her myself, Shen Tingan, do you think I can just let you go like this?"
Each of these words was cold and emotionless, like a sharp blade cutting through Jiang Ci's chest. She stared at him, her lips bitten until they turned white, and her heart sank inch by inch.
She couldn't see any emotion in his eyes.
Shen Ting'an looked unhappy, as if he was evaluating the truth or falsehood. After a moment, he sneered: "It's a good play."
Then he waved his hand, and the shadows of the trees around the courtyard swayed. Countless guards with swords rushed out and confronted the Dongyang army. The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
"If you really don't care." Shen Ting'an sneered, "Then kill her. Kill her and pay for my sister's life. I will withdraw my troops immediately. In the future, at Xiling Ferry, the Shen family army and you can still be allies as before."
Jiang Ci's hands were tied, her face was pale, but her eyes were as stubborn as ever. She looked up at Ji Yang, a hint of expectation in her eyes.
Ji Yang lowered his eyes, covered the hilt of the sword with his hand, his eyes deep.
Shen Ting'an's eyes suddenly became sharp, and his voice was filled with anger. "If you can't do it, then don't blame the Shen family army and turn around and hand over the ferry to Xiliang." He paused, his eyes like knives, "You know how closely they have been watching that water vein over the years."
Ji Yang smiled instead of getting angry, the corners of his lips raised, but the smile was chilling: "Okay."
He slowly drew out his sword. When the sword tip came out of the sheath, it shone coldly like water. The courtyard was so quiet for a moment that you could hear a pin drop.
Jiang Ci stood there, her heart pounding as she saw him draw his sword. Disbelief slowly dawned in her eyes. She had thought he would negotiate, refuse, protect her, even with a slight excuse.
But not.
He said nothing, but walked slowly towards her, his boots stepping on the sand, and every step seemed to pierce her heart.
Shen Ting'an stood behind Jiang Ci, his fingers still clasped on her shoulders, a hint of sneer on his lips, as if he was appreciating a script he had already written.
Ji Yang stood in front of Jiang Ci, with the long sword raised in his hand. The edge trembled slightly, and the cold tip of the sword stopped at the side of her neck.
The cold metal pressed against his skin, and Jiang Ci could almost hear his own heartbeat.
She looked at him, her pupils shrank slightly, the corners of her lips trembled, but she forced herself to clench her teeth.
At that moment, she looked at Ji Yang.
There was no warmth in his eyes, as if she was just a task, a chess piece, the most insignificant bargaining chip in a transaction.
The light in Jiang Ci's eyes gradually shattered, and he felt a dull pain in his chest.
But at this moment.
The sword tip suddenly turned, and the cold light swept across, suddenly stabbing at Shen Ting'an behind Jiang Ci!
“Swish!”
Shen Ting'an was horrified and quickly dodged to the side. His hand loosened and slipped from Jiang Ci's shoulder. Jiang Ci lost his balance and stumbled a few steps.
"Aci——" Ji Yang reached out and hugged her tightly in his arms.
His arms were broad and powerful, and the coldness of the sword hilt still remained on his palms, but at that moment, Jiang Ci only felt that this strength was like lifting her up from the edge of a cliff.
He lowered his head and leaned closer, his voice so low and hoarse that it was almost inaudible, "What I said just now was not what I meant."
The string hanging in Jiang Ci's heart also loosened, and all the grievances and fears suddenly found a place to go. Tears quietly rose in his eyes, but he forced himself to hold them back.
She nodded slightly.
Shen Tingan steadied himself, his expression changing slightly as he sneered, "How dare you attack me? Ji Yang, do you really think you can get away with it?"
Ji Yang hugged Jiang Ci, his brows and eyes as cold as frost, and said word by word: "If I really wanted to kill you, you would be dead now."
He looked at the courtyard full of swords and spears with a solemn look, and continued in a calm voice: "I don't need the Xiling Ferry. If I lose it, I can still fight back. But Jiang Ci——"
He paused at this point, then looked down at the woman in his arms. His eyes changed slightly, but his voice remained as cold as iron: "I will protect her to the end."
As soon as the words fell, Shen Ting'an's face turned ashen, he waved his hand and shouted in a low voice: "Go!"
The Dongyang secret guards and the Shen family army attacked almost simultaneously. In the courtyard, swords clanged, fires flashed, and blood flashed. The cries of killing, angry shouts, and the clashing of armor echoed through the mountains.
Ji Yang gently pushed Jiang Ci to a corner of the side corridor, then he raised his sword and started fighting with Shen Tingan.
Shen Ting'an's swordsmanship was ruthless, pressing forward step by step, his weapon swirling with the wind, the sword light and the knife shadow intertwined, his murderous intent was awe-inspiring, and he showed no mercy.
In this chaos, one of Shen Ting'an's guards quietly walked around to where Jiang Ci was, murderous intent flashed in his eyes, and the blade went straight for her throat.
Jiang Ci was startled and was about to dodge when a white shadow suddenly passed by his eyes.
With a flash of cold light, the knife was swept away by a sword.
Yin Shuang rushed out from the darkness, the short sword in her hand carrying a sharp sword energy. She stabbed with her backhand, forcing the guard to retreat three steps and fall to the ground.
"Miss!" Yin Shuang turned around, protecting Jiang Ci behind her. Her face was stern, more calm and sharp than ever before. "Follow me!"
Jiang Ci stood there in shock, unable to recover for a moment, and asked in a low voice, "Do you know Kung Fu?"
Yin Shuang did not answer, but looked around vigilantly.
She leaned over and pulled Jiang Ci up, cut the rope that bound her hands, and said resolutely: "We have to leave first."
"Yin Shuang," Jiang Ci steadied his steps and looked at her intently, "Go help the governor."
"Miss!" Yin Shuang was stunned, a rare hint of hesitation and struggle flashing across her eyes. "I have only one mission, and that is to protect you."
Jiang Ci looked at her, his tone calm but extremely firm: “Shen Tingan’s men are all extraordinary. If you help the governor, you are helping me.”
Yin Shuang gritted her teeth and finally whispered, "Hide well." As soon as she finished speaking, she turned around and rushed into the battle circle like a gust of wind.
She was swift and decisive in her moves, and every strike of her sword hit the opponent's vital points.
Ji Yang turned his head and saw the figure in white sweeping through the crowd fiercely. The landing was like an eagle and the sword was like a snake. Both the attack and defense were extremely steady, and there was no unnecessary movement.
His eyebrows moved slightly, and a flash of surprise flashed in his eyes.
It turns out she has such skills.
But the next moment, he retracted his gaze, raised the sword in his hand again, turned around and continued to face Shen Tingan.
The night was as dark as ink, the lights in the courtyard flickered, and the air was filled with blood and murderous intent. Just as the two sides were deadlocked, Shen Ting'an suddenly raised his hand, and a whistle arrow pierced the air, piercing the dark night with a sharp whistle.
Immediately afterwards, more Shen's troops rushed in from all directions, their steps as fast as thunder. Several guards, nimble and sturdy, leaped onto the roof, their crossbows loaded and pointed coldly at the Dongyang secret guards in the courtyard.
"Ji Yang, be careful!"
When Jiang Ci saw the arrow formation on the roof, his pupils suddenly shrank and he almost subconsciously gave a warning.
Ji Yang moved at the sound, turning his body and sweeping out with his longsword, blocking several arrows with a clang. But Shen Ting'an took advantage of the situation and rushed forward, his blade following him like a shadow, and the fight continued endlessly, the sword flashing and the shadows exuding murderous intent.
Shen Ting'an pressed forward step by step, the coldness in his eyes growing stronger. He suddenly gathered his strength and struck out with the blade moving from bottom to top. While Ji Yang was not looking back, he struck him directly in the back with a fierce angle, almost blocking his retreat.
Jiang Ci's pupils shrank, and he wanted to try to take a gamble, betting that Shen Tingan didn't really want his life, so he rushed forward without hesitation and blocked Ji Yang with his body.
"don't want--!"
Before he could even utter a low call.
“Puff!”
The sound of the blade breaking into flesh was clearly audible, and warm blood gushed out from her chest, splashing on Shen Tingan's face, burning his heart and making him tremble.
A flash of horror passed through Shen Ting'an's eyes. He had already made up his mind to kill, and there was a hint of hesitation in his heart. When he saw Jiang Ci rushing towards him, although he withdrew some of his strength in time, he still couldn't completely stop the sharp blade.
At that moment, his fingers moved on the hilt of the knife, and in front of him was Jiang Ci's pale but calm face.
She looked at him, there was no hatred in her eyes, only a moment of clarity and determination.
Shen Ting'an was stunned for a moment.
"Jiang Ci..."
He murmured in disbelief, his fingers trembling as he hastily drew his knife, but was still a step too late.
Ji Yang suddenly turned around and caught the falling Jiang Ci.
At that moment, he felt as if his whole heart was torn apart.
"Jiang Ci!" He roared, fear and anger mixed in his eyes, and he almost lost control.
Ji Yang's eyes were red, he looked up and glared at Shen Ting'an, and was about to explode, but he saw that Shen Ting'an's face was pale and blue, and there was a panic in his eyes that he had never seen before.
He raised his hand and shouted in a low voice: "Stop it."
The swords all stopped.
Jiang Ci leaned weakly in Ji Yang's arms, her breath was weak, her lips were pale, but she still forced herself to open her eyes. She raised her head, her eyes clear and firm, as if she was looking at him with her last bit of strength.
At that moment, the hustle and bustle around seemed to fade away, and only she and he remained in the world.
"Fortunately... you're okay..." She said softly, her voice as soft as a feather falling, but she tried to draw a faint smile at the corner of her mouth.
As she finished speaking, her eyelashes trembled and her body slowly slid down.
Ji Yang was startled and immediately hugged her tightly. His arms were so strong that they were almost trembling. He held her tightly in his arms, as if she would disappear if he let go.
And Shen Ting'an stood in place, the blade in his hand had already dropped.
His eyes fell on the pool of scarlet blood, and for the first time, a crack appeared in his expression, and a suffocating throbbing rose in his chest.
Panic, guilt, and unspeakable heartache.
He never thought that the knife he stabbed would actually stab her.
At this moment, Shen Tingan actually hoped that she would be alive.
Ji Yang looked down at Jiang Ci in his arms, anger surging in the depths of his eyes, as if he wanted to kill Shen Tingan immediately, but his voice was as cold as an ice blade, and every word pierced into the bone marrow:
“Shen Ting’an, if anything happens to Jiang Ci, I want your Shen family to be buried with her.”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
