Chapter Eighty-Two: Success?

Half a month had passed since Ai Qi had been sent away, and in all that time Dongfang Beiyi had received no message of any real value. Ye Pei, though inwardly anxious, had no way to act.

The situation was, in truth, quite simple.

According to the news Ai Qi had sent back, Lin Hezhi had indeed received her, but after she entered his prince’s manor, he merely had someone arrange lodging for her and then never sought her out again.

After Ye Pei heard this from Dongfang Beiyi, he rubbed the bridge of his nose and said, “Young Master Dongfang, do you have any thoughts?”

Dongfang Beiyi pondered for a moment before saying, “This is indeed rather troublesome. Though the plan to assassinate him in bed is feasible, and Ai Qi was prepared to sacrifice her life for the cause, if Lin Hezhi gives her no opportunity, then it becomes difficult. If we go for a direct assassination, with Ai Qi’s skill, the chance of success is very small.”

Beside them, Zi Qingrong added, “Why not have Ai Qi try to find out what Lin Hezhi does every day? Perhaps another opportunity will present itself.”

Ye Pei nodded. “That would be fine. If we still cannot find a chance, then I’ll have to go with Zhongqing to the Lin family’s main city.”

During this time, Ye Pei had discovered, somewhat helplessly, that Jiang Zhongqing had already surpassed him, her guide, in the attainment of swordsmanship. Thus, Zi Qingrong’s swordsmanship had begun to be taught by Jiang Zhongqing instead. But her foundation was weak, so Jiang Zhongqing could only teach her the basics; the true emphasis still had to be on Ye Pei’s barehanded combat.

That morning, Zi Qingrong practiced her fundamentals nearby with a flushed face while Jiang Zhongqing and Ye Pei sparred with fists and feet.

“Brother Pei,” Jiang Zhongqing asked, “do you have any way to return to the Meridian Vein?”

Though the two were exchanging blows, the intensity was little more than that of a warm-up, and neither of their breathing had changed much.

“Not yet, but there will definitely be progress.” Thinking that he would soon be heading to the Star Realm, Ye Pei said, “Just stay here and wait properly. I’ll definitely come back for you someday.”

Ye Pei could be said to have remade Jiang Zhongqing’s life, and Jiang Zhongqing had not the slightest doubt about his words. He answered at once, “All right.”

“Young Hero Ye.” At that moment, Dongfang Beiyi came over, raising a strip of cloth in his hand. “New information has arrived.”

“Mm?” Ye Pei had not yet said anything when Zi Qingrong, who had been practicing nearby, perked up and hurried over.

Ye Pei laughed at once. “I say, madam, did I tell you to stop?”

Zi Qingrong looked entirely innocent. “There’s new information. Hurry and look.”

Ye Pei smiled. “Go back and practice.”

Zi Qingrong pursed her lips, seeming for a moment not to know how to evade it. Ye Pei, seeing this, naturally understood what was on her mind, and reached out to stroke her hair. “Be good. Go back and practice.”

Zi Qingrong’s pretty face reddened faintly, and with her hands tucked behind her back, she tilted her head. “All right.”

Jiang Zhongqing beside them showed no reaction, but Dongfang Beiyi shut his eyes and took a deep breath, then flicked his wrist, crumpling the cloth into a ball and hurling it out, sending it flying straight at Ye Pei.

Ye Pei would naturally not be struck by such an attack. He reached out, caught the cloth, and with a light laugh unfolded it to read.

...

“Hm...” Ye Pei frowned, his expression half-smiling, half-serious. “This does seem like an opportunity.”

The contents of the letter were not complicated.

In simple terms, Lin Hezhi had sworn brotherhood with a man named Shen Shuang, who had died five years ago and left behind a wife named Liu Gu.

Including Ai Qi, Lin Hezhi had one legitimate wife and who knew how many concubines. But... eating from one bowl while looking at the pot may be common enough; or perhaps infidelity is instinct, and fidelity a choice?

In any case, Lin Hezhi had extended his wicked hand toward the pot. He was following his instincts.

According to the message, Lin Hezhi had lately been testing the waters with his sworn brother’s widow. And in her letter, Ai Qi said there might be an opportunity soon; there would be no time to send word back, so she would act directly.

After reading it, Ye Pei had nothing more to say. He nodded and returned the cloth to Dongfang Beiyi.

Then Ye Pei turned and said, “Zhongqing, let’s go.”

“Hm?” Jiang Zhongqing was momentarily stunned, but asked no further questions and turned to go back to his room to pack.

“Huh? Where are we going?” Zi Qingrong immediately came over upon hearing this; this was not because she had abandoned practice, but because the moment Ye Pei said the words, her first instinct was simply to rush over.

“I’m going with Zhongqing to the Lin family’s main city. Be good and stay here.”

Zi Qingrong’s mouth immediately drooped. “Why won’t you take me again!”

Ye Pei smiled. “Whether Ai Qi succeeds this time or not, Zhongqing and I have to go. If she succeeds, we’ll try our best to bring her back. If she doesn’t, then the two of us will have to begin the next stage of the assassination plan. That definitely can’t include you.”

At this, Zi Qingrong slowly nodded. “Oh... then I guess if I went, I really wouldn’t be able to help much, and I’d just be a burden.”

Ye Pei still stroked her hair. “As long as you’re safe, that helps me more than anything.”

Dongfang Beiyi rolled his eyes again.

For now, let us leave aside Ye Pei and Jiang Zhongqing preparing to depart, and turn our gaze to the female spy Ai Qi.

No hero can withstand the charms of a beauty.

Lin Hezhi was a hero of the age. Since his teens he had been unmatched in valor, waging campaigns in all directions with few defeats. One of his greatest weaknesses was lust. It was called a weakness because “lust” has a knife hidden above it, a knife invisible and formless. A weakness is an enemy’s opening.

With Lin Hezhi’s power and status, he need not have gone out in search of women at all; beauties would have been delivered to him in an endless stream. Yet for a hero of his sort, how could prey so easily obtained be worthy of his peerless prowess? Only prey difficult to catch could satisfy his ambition and desire to conquer the world.

The prey in this hunter’s eyes was his sister-in-law, Liu Gu.

Young and lovely, she possessed a grace and charm that naturally left the tyrant enraptured. Yet she was still his sister-in-law, and even Lin Hezhi, who looked down upon all under heaven, would have some scruples. Thus he decided to proceed in secret.

First, he certainly needed a reason to visit her home. What reason?

“I have long heard that Sister-in-Law’s skill in painting is unmatched. This younger brother has come today especially to ask Sister-In-Law to paint a picture for me.”

This was, however, a case of having an ulterior motive beneath a stated request.

How do later historians record this? “He had a public request.”

Having a request was one thing, but what did “a public request” mean?

It meant there was a private intention hidden beneath it.

Naturally, Lin Hezhi could not come openly and make a grand affair of it. And with his confidence in his own martial prowess, he did not even bring guards, coming alone in secrecy.

What he did not notice, however, was that not far behind him, there had been a seemingly ordinary woman following all along.

How ordinary was this woman? So ordinary that her appearance had nothing remarkable, her figure nothing remarkable, her bearing nothing remarkable, and even her makeup nothing remarkable. Cast into a crowd, you might not find her a moment later. She could be Passerby A, or Passerby B; in any case, she would never be the figure fixed in your memory.

She did not possess Ai Qi’s beauty, but her plain face had become her sharpest weapon.

Lin Hezhi had designs on Liu Gu; how could Liu Gu not understand what Lin Hezhi meant? She knew exactly what kind of man he was. But then again, Liu Gu also had feelings for Lin Hezhi. First, the man was strong of build, overflowing with masculine vigor, very much a man among men, and deeply stirring to a woman. Second, she had been widowed for more than five years...

Neither of them spoke plainly. Each understood the other without words.

Art was a rather time-consuming affair, and thus the painting lasted until the sun had set in the west.

“It’s getting late. Sister-In-Law should put the brush down for now, lest your eyes be strained. I’ll take my leave for today and come again tomorrow to ask for the painting. Please rest early, Sister-In-Law.”

Liu Gu blinked. What was this? He really had come to request a painting?

Watching Lin Hezhi already making his way out into the courtyard, Liu Gu for a time did not know what to say.

But then, with a sudden rip, Lin Hezhi, having reached the courtyard, had “for some reason” had his clothes caught by the jagged rocks of the ornamental mountain there, tearing a large hole in them. Frowning, he stood motionless.

Pfft...

Liu Gu could not help laughing at once. Then she suppressed it and went over to him, saying, “Second Brother, take your clothes off and I’ll mend them for you.”

Lin Hezhi immediately showed delight and, “most grateful,” removed his outer robe and handed it to Liu Gu. The two of them then returned side by side to the house.

As for why Lin Hezhi had gone to so much trouble, it was still because he feared prying ears within the walls and that a bad reputation might spread about him.

By then it was mealtime, and Liu Gu set aside her needle and thread, quickly preparing a table full of dishes and two jars of fine wine. The two of them, candles lit, drank facing one another, and the meal stretched into the deep night.

Everything seemed so natural, so inevitable.

Once there was no more sound from within, and after waiting a little longer, the female assassin who had been lying in ambush outside swiftly scaled the wall and entered the courtyard. She punctured the window paper and sent another breath of soporific incense into the room. Then, after taking the antidote herself, she silently slipped into the bedroom.

In the pitch-black chamber, the outline of a large bed could just be made out. The killer drew a dagger and stepped to the bedside, reaching out to feel the heads upon the pillow. Once she identified which was Lin Hezhi’s, she raised the blade and cut. Her hand was deft, her stroke swift as lightning. With a single slash, the man beneath the blade was severed from his head without making the slightest sound. The assassin quickly placed the head into the bag she carried with her and departed like a wisp of smoke.