Chapter 93 [VIP] Shadow Guard (7)
Seeing that this person didn't even raise his head, spoke sullenly, and his body was constantly releasing cold air. He didn't even look at the two of them. He turned around and walked out of the house without hesitation.
Nan Yan also stood up immediately. She looked in the direction where Shiqi left and subconsciously wanted to chase after him, but Ye Qiuchen beside her held her shoulders.
"Have you forgotten what I said, Miss?"
Nan Yan looked at him hesitantly, her fingers curled up twice unconsciously. She wanted to chase him but was a little cautious. Seeing that figure getting farther and farther away from the yard, she showed some anxiety and worry in her eyes, "But... Seventeen seems a little angry."
"Doesn't being angry just show that he cares?" Ye Qiuchen suddenly chuckled, "What is Fourth Miss afraid of? Isn't this what you want to see?"
“But I’m still a little worried…”
Seeing Ye Qiuchen staring at her lightly and calmly, Nan Yan silently swallowed the rest of the words into her throat.
Seeing this, Ye Qiuchen showed a look of disapproval in his eyes, and said in a steady tone, "What is there to worry about? If the master has always wanted to do this, then go ahead! Anyway, I have already informed you in advance. If the time comes and I fail to achieve the master's goal, then it is not my fault."
After he said this, he calmly let go of her hand and let her make her own choice.
When he let go like this, Nan Yan instantly gave up the idea of chasing after him.
She pursed her lips and watched the figure disappear completely. Then she turned her head and looked at Ye Qiuchen beside her. "You are right. I can't keep giving in to him like this. If I try to appease him every time he gets angry, it won't solve the problem at all. This block of wood won't get wise."
As she spoke, a somewhat happy smile appeared on her lips. She turned around and patted Ye Qiuchen on the shoulder, thanking him with a smile, "Your method is still effective. He almost couldn't help it just now. He obviously cares about me, so why doesn't he admit it?"
Ye Qiuchen also smiled and replied, "That's it. As long as he can't help it, the fourth lady's goal will be achieved, and then Seventeen will not be able to deny it."
When she thought of this, Nan Yan's cheeks turned slightly red.
She looked up at Ye Qiuchen, with a hint of discomfort in her eyes. After all, she was exposing all her thoughts in front of another man, which inevitably made her feel embarrassed.
"Well, thank you for this time too."
"I was indeed wrong about what happened in the ruined temple before. I caused you to suffer some minor injuries. When we return to Qixia Villa, I will definitely ask my father to help you...ah!"
"careful!"
Before she could finish her words, something strange happened. Several willow-leaf-shaped hidden weapons suddenly pierced through the window paper and flew towards the two people in the house.
Nan Yan was caught off guard and was hugged into someone's arms. If Ye Qiuchen hadn't acted quickly and lifted up the wooden table to block it, both of them might have been pierced through by the darts on the spot.
"What happened?"
Seeing the hidden weapon nailed on the table, Nan Yan's face turned pale instantly, and a trace of worry flashed in her eyes.
"It should be the group of killers from before who have caught up with us."
Ye Qiuchen explained briefly, and then added, "We must leave here as soon as possible."
When he said this, he vaguely felt that something was wrong. There was no way this group of people would let them go so easily. They must have a backup plan.
As Ye Qiuchen spoke, he gathered his strength and he didn't know what happened, his brain suddenly became confused and his consciousness became groggy, as if all the strength had been drained out of him. He couldn't use any internal force in his body. He staggered back a few steps and even couldn't stand steadily.
If Nan Yan hadn't stepped forward to help him, Ye Qiuchen would have fallen to the ground on the spot.
"What happened to you? Are you injured somewhere? How come you suddenly can't even stand steadily?" Nan Yan supported Ye Qiuchen beside her with all her strength, especially when she saw his drowsy look, her eyes were full of anxiety and worry.
Ye Qiuchen bit the tip of his tongue and shook his head vigorously, which allowed him to maintain a little clarity in his drowsy consciousness.
"We should be... being plotted against." Ye Qiuchen's voice continued intermittently, his hand subconsciously covering his chest. The pain that continued to spread in his chest made him almost unable to stand steadily.
His gaze slowly shifted, and then fell on the food. A flash of coldness flashed across his eyes, and he instantly understood something, "There is something in the food..."
This time he was really too careless. He thought that not staying in the inn would reduce some risks, but he didn't expect that the other party would have an ambush even in this wilderness. As soon as he finished speaking, he felt a sharp pain in his chest again, which made Ye Qiuchen have no strength to support his body. Cold sweat kept coming out from his whole body and even his forehead.
Nan Yan quickly understood something, her eyes fell on the food that had just been scattered on the ground. She didn't have time to think about anything else, and just asked anxiously, "But, if there was something in the food, how could I be fine?"
Ye Qiuchen shook his head weakly, his face pale, "This, I don't know either..."
This was also what Ye Qiuchen was confused about, but he quickly came to his senses. He coughed a few times and tightly grasped Nan Yan's wrist, trying to make himself stand more steadily, but it still didn't work. At this moment, his whole body was leaning on Nan Yan, swaying and about to fall. Even his voice became a little hoarse, "Maybe... Fourth Miss doesn't know martial arts, so this medicine has no effect on you."
Nan Yan's eyes flashed with understanding after hearing this, but her face turned even paler. "So...what should we do now? How is your body? Can you still stand up?"
Ye Qiuchen could only shake his head helplessly.
"Miss Fourth, please run away first."
Hearing this, Nan Yan immediately grabbed Ye Qiuchen's wrist in panic, holding it tightly, with obvious nervousness in her eyes. She was obviously very scared, but she still shook her head and said, "No, how can I leave you alone and run away?"
Hearing this, Ye Qiuchen's chest churned and he coughed violently a few times. His facial expression did not change, but he could not stop mocking in his heart.
These masters are so ridiculous. They only pay lip service to these hypocritical words and continue to deceive these lowly shadow guards into working for them.
The same goes for the woman in front of me, and all the masters in Qixia Villa are the same!
No matter how nice her words were, when it came to a life-or-death crisis, she would still abandon him and run for her life. When necessary, she would even use their bodies to block the knife. Ye Qiuchen had seen too many such things...
No one would really care about these shadow guards. They were servants, killers, shadow guards locked up in the shadow building without seeing the light of day, and even slaves who didn't even deserve to have a name at the beginning. Even if they died, it was just like losing a handy weapon. There were still hundreds of shadow guards in the shadow building for them to command. No one would really care about their life or death.
The death of a Shadow Guard is nothing unusual for them.
The most useful Shadow Guard is like Shadow Seventeen, who is completely reduced to a killing tool that cannot think and only obeys orders and tasks.
As he thought about this, he suddenly felt resentment and murderous intent in his heart. Why should he die for others?
His life is also very precious. He doesn't want to be a tool, and he doesn't want to be controlled by others for his whole life. Is this wrong? But why is he born inferior to others?
Ye Qiu was completely confused. He tried hard to suppress the hatred in his heart. He took a few deep breaths, and even his breathing became more rapid.
After hesitating for a moment, Ye Qiuchen suddenly shook off Nan Yan's arm and said in a low voice,
"They came prepared this time. This assassination attempt is definitely not just aimed at the Gao family of Tianxiang City, but also includes the shadow guards of our Qixia Villa."
"I don't know what kind of poison I've been poisoned with. I have no strength left in my body. I really can't protect you. While there's still time, Miss Fourth, please escape through the back door first..."
The more Ye Qiuchen spoke, the more sweat formed on his forehead, and his face turned pale at a speed visible to the naked eye. This time it was not because he was loyal and willing to sacrifice himself for others. In Ye Qiuchen's heart, his own life was the most important thing at all times, but he was originally on a criminal mission this time.
Because his failure to protect the Third Young Master had already violated the death penalty of Shadow Guard Tower, even though he luckily survived, his future life would not necessarily be easy.
If he left Ye Nanyan alone to escape again, even if he returned alive, the Shadow Guard Tower would not let him go. He would die anyway, so he might as well fight here. The most important thing was that he was poisoned and felt sore and weak all over, so he could not run far.
So it would be better to let this woman go first. After all, if she died, there would be no need for him to go back alive.
"But……"
Nan Yan wanted to refute, but she couldn't find any reason after opening her mouth. Seeing the footsteps behind her getting closer and closer, she became so anxious that she didn't know what to do.
Ye Qiuchen pushed Nan Yan hard again, luckily helping her avoid a sword attack. Then a black shadow rushed out from the front of the door, holding a long sword in hand, and slashed at the two people without hesitation.
Ye Qiuchen dodged and retreated, sweat dripping down his forehead. He used up almost all his strength to push Nan Yan to the back door, and shouted at her in a hoarse voice, "Don't hesitate any longer..."
"Fourth Miss, please run away quickly. I still have a little strength left to help you. Otherwise, if you delay any further, you and I will die here together."
南嫣被他推得腳下一個踉跄差點摔倒。
等她爬起身來又立馬朝他跑過去，用力将人攙扶起來，“不行，你現在根本連劍都舉不起來了，還怎麽幫我斷後？”
“快起來，你堅持一下，我們一起離開這裏，十七他很快就會回來救我們了！”
葉秋沉薄唇緊抿，幾乎沒怎麽猶豫就打破了她這個期望，“小姐難道沒有發現這邊的殺手并不多嗎？肯定是有人将他們拖延住了，何況十七跟屬下一樣都吃了那些飯菜，這會自身都難保了，還怎麽來救我們？”
聞言，南嫣眼眶幾乎是瞬間就紅了，眼裏滿是擔心，“怎麽可能？那十七他會不會……”
葉秋沉混亂中着急解釋一句，抵抗的力道也越來越弱，“這邊人數還沒增多就說明十七暫時還沒出事，四小姐要是再不走的話就走不了了……”
他說着又用力将人推出去，這一下直接将木桌抵到了門前，徹底隔絕了她沖過來的過道，也擋住了屋內殺手追上去的道路。
南嫣隔着窗口慌慌張張看他，想再沖過來又因為那銳利的劍刃而停了腳步，而葉秋沉則因為躲閃不及，被鋒利的劍刃刺穿了肩胛，鮮血頓時冒了出來，順着腕骨一路淋了下來，從小被養在山莊的大家小姐哪裏遇見過這種血腥場面，眼眶瞬間就紅了，吓得臉色蒼白地往後退着……
“葉秋沉……”
她下意識喊了他一聲，隔着窗戶朝他伸手，又因為突如其來的一劍而吓得立馬就縮了回去，渾身都開始不受控制地發抖，恐懼和不安幾乎将整個人都包圍了。
而此刻情況也實在是太緊急了，根本沒有任何給她猶豫的時間。
“對不起，可是我真的……”
南嫣眼眶通紅地朝他搖着頭。
她倉惶往後退着，一步一步的，甚至連話都沒說完，就轉身跌跌撞撞地逃了。
她逃的狼狽不堪，滿身泥濘，逃之前還回頭看了他一眼，眼裏滿是愧疚和不安。
葉秋沉明明早就料到了會是這種結果。
可再次親眼見證這種被毫不猶豫抛棄的時刻，心中恨意還是不斷翻湧，噴薄的怨氣幾乎要将他整個人都湮沒。
他不甘心，真的很不甘心！
這群所謂的主子們無一不是自私自利、貪生怕死的無能之輩。
他為什麽要為這樣的一群小人賣命？為什麽要被抛棄，然後死在這裏，甚至連屍骨都無人收斂。
葉秋沉用力握緊武器，奮力抵抗着對面殺手的淩厲攻擊，然而力道卻是越來越弱，甚至連站都站不穩了，再加上肩上的傷勢加重，葉秋沉又被一劍劃傷手腕，痛得額頭冷汗直冒，甚至連武器也握不住了，整個人連帶着武器同時“砰”地一聲撞到牆柱，又落到地上滾了兩圈，最後一口鮮血吐出。
葉秋沉是不是第一次被人逼到絕境了，但絕對是離死亡最近的一刻。
所以當那柄長劍順着力道朝着他頭頂劈來的時候，葉秋沉下意識地閉上了眼睛。
說不怕死那是假的，他其實很怕死！
所以每次出行任務都會竭盡所能保住性命，所以才會在三公子看到他躲在暗處求救時一言不發，眼睜睜地看着他被人砍死，他怕死得毫無意義，更怕死在這種連屍骨都無人收斂的荒野之地。
但這一次是真的無能為力了，他身處黑暗，卻無人救他，尤其在這面對生死存亡的關鍵時刻，葉秋沉絕望地閉上了眼睛，等待着那當頭一劍，偏偏他等了好一會兒，那一劍也沒有砍下來，反倒聽見“噗嗤”一聲，長劍刺破皮肉的聲音。
但是這一次，好像不是刺在他身上的。
他沒有感受到痛意。
葉秋沉猛地睜開眼睛，正好對上了面前殺手有些難以置信的眼神，殺手低頭看了看自己的胸口，又轉過頭，看向身後的偷襲者，她面色十分蒼白，臉上還有些髒亂的血跡，烏發淩亂散在肩頭，驚慌失措地對上了葉秋沉的視線，吓得都快哭出來了。
明明狼狽得不成樣子……
偏偏那一瞬間，葉秋沉卻只覺得呼吸微窒，心髒好像被什麽猛地沖擊了一下似的。
開始不受控制地劇烈跳動起來。
讓他怎麽樣都冷靜不下來。
而那畫面在他腦海中留存了很久，直到聽見她結結巴巴又委屈的聲音才徹底回神。
“對、對不起，我、我不是故意的……”
她甚至還跟人道了歉，眼裏淚光閃爍。
但手中那根削尖的斷竹卻沒有松開，反而更用力地往前推了一把，竹尖瞬間紮破了皮肉，鮮血不斷翻湧而出。
那殺手也是一愣，反應過來後，劇烈的疼痛讓他下意識擡起手上的長劍朝身後的偷襲者刺去。
而南嫣則是驚慌得後退了幾步，她手指匆匆忙忙地松開斷竹，整個人已經緊張得不行了，完全不知道該怎麽辦了才好。
葉秋沉也是趁着這個時候，撿起地上的武器直接從身後一劍穿胸，最後一腳将人踹開，然後用力拽起還處在失魂狀态的南嫣開始往外面跑。
兩人跌跌撞撞地逃出了一段距離。
葉秋沉腳下忽然一軟，幾乎整個身體都靠在了南嫣身上，他嘴唇張了張，突然沒忍住問了句，“主子怎麽又回來了，不怕跟着屬下一塊死了嗎？”
南嫣吃力扶起葉秋沉的肩膀，試圖将人攙扶起來，聽到他說的話，她又是害怕又是氣惱，聲音還帶着幽怨，“在你眼中我就是這麽自私自利的人嗎？你都拿命來保護我了，我又怎麽可能丢下你不管呢？只是我什麽都不會，只能偷偷找機會偷襲他們才能救你了……”
葉秋沉确實沒想到這點，他好像差點忘了四小姐從頭到尾只是個手無縛雞之力的女人罷了，就算她真的留下來了，最多也只是再牽連一條人命而已，并不能改變什麽。
但她願意回來救他卻是他始終都沒有想到的，他甚至在想，倘若從一開始他跟的主子就是她的話，那是不是就不會發生之前的一切了？
葉秋沉側眼偷偷看了一眼南嫣，心頭情緒翻湧，又忍不住問道，“可我……可屬下，只是一個影衛而已，就算是死了那也是應該的不是嗎？又怎麽能讓小姐為屬下以身犯險呢？”
南嫣抽空往後看了一眼，隐約可見有人追了上來，她倉惶中聽見他的問題似有些無奈，只能又氣又惱地罵了一句，“這都什麽時候了，你還在計較這些？”
“我若說自己一點也不看重這些身份你肯定又會覺得我在說假的，只是每個人的想法不同而已，我不能去管別人怎麽想，但我自己是絕對不會丢下你不管的，永遠都不會就這麽抛下你一個人逃命的……”
葉秋沉呼吸微微停頓了一下，抓着她手腕的力道也稍微緊了些，似乎有些難以置信，“真的嗎？永遠都不會抛棄屬下？”
“難不成我還會騙你嗎？” 她語氣悶悶的，帶點不被人相信的氣惱。
是啊，葉秋沉心想，難不成她還會騙他嗎？她是主子，原本可以自己逃命的，卻偏偏留了下來，還救了他一命，而他只是一個影衛而已，全身上下最值錢的就是這條命了，還有什麽是值得她騙的呢？
想到這裏，葉秋沉猶豫了一瞬，又試探着問了句，“那……如果今天躺在那裏的是十七的話，主子是不是也會同樣如此？”
“那是自然的。”
她聲音輕輕，卻毫無猶豫。
話說完之後，南嫣還幽怨瞧了這人一眼，似乎有些嫌他話多，“你今天怎麽有這麽多問題要問，就不能等我們安全了再問嗎？”
葉秋沉這下沒忍住笑了笑，嘴角不自覺地就彎起了一道細微的弧度，他其實也不太明白自己為什麽高興，大概是因為頭一次被人真正在意了，有人在意他的生死，甚至永遠都不會抛棄他，這種感覺，真的很新奇。
所以南嫣嫌他話多的事情被他完全忽略了，他又問了一句道，“所以在主子心裏，秋沉跟十七是一樣重要的對嗎？”
南嫣擔心他話越多走得就越慢，下意識地敷衍道，“是的是的，在我心裏，葉秋沉跟影十七是一樣重要的，所以，不管是你還是十七，誰受傷了我都會心疼、都會難過的。”
“好了，別說話了好不好？先留點力氣，你傷口還在流血，我們得趕緊找個地方躲起來……”