White Robe

Chapter 73

Behind Mr. Gongsun, a gray-clad assassin had appeared out of nowhere.

Qian Dakuan chuckled, his laughter seemingly tinged with a sinister intent: "You want Guiyun Manor?... You're such a fool! Guiyun Manor is something I must have, how could I possibly give it to you?!"

I shook my head slightly, my eyes filled with pity. "When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked... You've studied the classics so thoroughly, yet you don't even know such a simple principle?..." But then I saw Mr. Gongsun's face turn deathly pale, his throat gurgling. He opened his mouth to say something, but instead spat out a mouthful of blood, dying without uttering a word. His eyes were wide open in death, clearly filled with resentment. He never dreamed that this uncouth and uncultured merchant would be so ruthless.

Qian Dakuan laughed heartily, as if he had just crushed an ant, and said, "That bastard died a good death! If he had died at the hands of the Prime Minister, there would have been no place to sully the Prime Minister's jade fingers."

"Is that so..." I looked around and saw gray-clad assassins all around me. I was in grave danger, but for some reason, I felt an inexplicable calm and composure. I said calmly, "Master Qian's methods in dealing with Guiyun Manor this time can be described as despicable and repulsive. The fewer people who know about it, the less of a threat there is. Of course, the dead will not reveal any secrets."

Qian Dakuan's eyes fell on me, and he nodded repeatedly, saying, "What a talent! What a talent! ... Such a talent... What a pity, what a pity."

"If it cannot be used, it must be destroyed." I said, "There is only one thing I don't understand. I thought I had no grudge against Master Qian, so why are you so determined to kill a woman like me? If I don't get to the bottom of this today, I'm afraid I'll die at Master Qian's hands, and I'll be a confused ghost!"

Qian Dakuan rubbed his hands together, his fat head shaking incessantly, and sighed, "Baiyi, oh Baiyi, you're supposed to be unparalleled in intelligence. If I get rid of you, how can Guiyun Manor still stand in Jiangzhou? And without you, how can a mere brat like Yun Yiyang amount to anything? With you, I can control the entire silk industry! Everyone says that 'Gentle' assassin is the most powerful, capable of making people disappear without a trace. That's why I spared no expense to kill you, but I never expected you to still be alive! No matter how much I admire talent, the thought that as long as you're not eliminated, Guiyun Manor cannot be obtained makes me want to get rid of you as soon as possible!"

I bit my lower lip hard, and a trickle of blood slowly seeped out. I said, "This...this is why you wanted to kill me...?" Suddenly, I burst into laughter, an unusually loud laugh filled with madness and pain, echoing through the air—

I see……

This is the truth!

This is the truth that is frustrating yet undeniable!

I burst into laughter, laughing until tears streamed down my face.

I would rather give up Guiyun Manor, give up everything I have now, than let so many people die and be hurt because of this simplest of reasons.

Meng Qing, Lingdang'er, Ye Zhi Qiu, Xiao Lü, Yun Yi Yang, even Lan Ye, the gray-clad assassin, Mr. Gongsun...

They could have been happier and more joyful.

My laughter gradually subsided, my eyes almost spitting fire, my fingers trembling slightly, as if the Ju Xue sword in my sleeve also sensed my anger and was about to burst out of my sleeve!

I said slowly, "Master Qian, do you know how many families have been destroyed and people have died because of your one thought, even though Baiyi is not dead? It seems that today, Baiyi should settle things with Master Qian."

A smile crept across Qian Dakuan's face: "That's right, today I'll give you two choices: one, come back to Tianjin Manor with me, where a path to wealth and honor awaits you; two, if you return to Yun Manor... well, I might just send you on a journey to the underworld—"

I scanned my surroundings and saw figures swarming everywhere. With my limited martial arts skills, escape seemed impossible. A chill ran through me, and before I knew it, my palms were damp with sweat.

I'm scared, I'm really scared!

I have never been so scared!

"She still has one path: survival!"

A deep, pleasant voice suddenly rang out from outside the arena. Seven or eight gray-clad assassins, without even a groan, were thrown out in all directions. A few clanging sounds followed, and the remaining gray-clad assassins drew their swords. The four closest to the southeast corner lunged at another gray-clad figure at the edge of the arena. As a streak of bright autumn water flashed by, large swaths of crimson flowers suddenly bloomed in mid-air—the remaining gray-clad assassins watched as this figure slowly withdrew his sword, but dared not advance any further.

I was both surprised and delighted, and exclaimed, "Young Master Shang...you—"

Shang Shaochang was dressed as a gray assassin, but no one knew when he had infiltrated Qian Dakuan's side. He smiled and slowly approached, saying, "You've forgotten that I'm the assassin of assassins. No matter where you are, I will find you."

On his face, the same bright, sunny smile I had when I first met him reappeared, brimming with endless warmth.

My lips trembled slightly as I managed to suppress my shaking voice, and I whispered, "Who told you to come looking for me... Didn't you say you didn't need me as a burden..."

Shang Shaochang chuckled softly, reached out and put his arm around my waist, and said gently, "Don't be willful today, okay?"

A sharp pain shot through my heart. I tried to break free from his grasp, but then I saw a mixture of joy and sorrow, happiness and grief, in his eyes. For the first time, I realized that his eyes were no longer like a bottomless pool; they were clear and bright, reflecting my image perfectly, filled with endless affection and reluctance. I stared at him, so close, yet so bewildered. He was the familiar, gentle Young Master Shang, yet not the Young Master Shang I knew before—when Qian Dakuan's hoarse voice boomed: "You—you are the world's number one assassin: Young Master Shang!"

Young Master Shang chuckled, "I didn't expect you to know my name too." Suddenly, he let out a sharp cry, the sound carrying far. As if in response, a horse's neigh rang out, and a dark shadow flashed in the distance. The black horse charged into the circle like lightning, its four hooves rearing up, seemingly sprouting wings, leaping over the heads of the crowd! Many eyes were immediately drawn to this exceptionally magnificent steed! In a flash, I heard Young Master Shang give a soft shout, and the hand supporting my waist exerted a sudden force, lifting me from the ground. I spun halfway through the air before landing gently on the black horse's back. The horse reared up and neighed, its hooves whistling through the air, completely ignoring the sword-wielding assassin before it, ready to charge out of the circle. In the blink of an eye, I was firmly seated on the horse's back, and I hurriedly called out, "Young Master Shang—" extending my right hand—but then I heard a slow voice say, "Trying to run away…"

A gray blade shadow slowly emerged from behind Qian Dakuan, slashing downwards towards me and Heima. The blade's movement seemed extremely slow, yet it appeared before my eyes in an instant! I was shocked and tried to swing Ju Xue, but it was too late.

At that moment, a bright, autumn-water-like blade flashed past, meeting the gray shadow.

The blade's light was bright yet gentle, just like back then. This bright and beautiful blade cleaved through my black veil, cleaving open my previously sealed world.

It was this knife and its owner who were always behind me, always giving me care and security.

Was it at that moment, when he first met me, that he resolved to protect me, this "burden"?

Was it from that first meeting with him that this infatuation was destined...?

The two swords clashed, one black and one gray.

But at that very moment, the dark horse shot off like an arrow!

I was about to shout when a strong wind choked me, and I couldn't utter a sound. The black horse snorted incessantly, and in that instant, it had left the gray-clad assassins far behind, turning them into a dozen tiny black dots. I had to grip the horse's mane tightly to avoid falling off. I brushed the hair obscuring my eyes, identified the direction of the Prince Ning's residence, and spurred my horse to gallop away!

Young Master Shang, you must wait for me to return.

Young Master Shang, you mustn't get hurt, and you must wait for me safely!

Shang Shaozhang, Shang Shaozhang

You...you are the dumbest, most stupid idiot in the world...

The black horse arrived at Prince Ning's residence in just a quarter of an hour, but those quarters felt like an eternity. The relentless galloping made my heart feel like it was about to leap out of my chest! I tumbled off the horse and stumbled towards the guards, shouting, "Quick! Quick! I need to see Prince Ning!"

Prince Ning, his hair bound in a purple-gold crown, adorned in a brocade robe and jade belt, sat upright on a rosewood chair, his face as cold as iron as he looked at me kneeling on the ground, my long hair disheveled.

"Is this the renowned, dashing, and elegant White-Robed Minister? Is this the White-Robed Minister who is no less capable than any man, pure and immaculate? Look at yourself, how different are you from a madwoman?"

Ignoring the sarcasm in Prince Ning's words, I shouted, "Your Highness, I beg you, as long as Your Highness will send troops for me, I will do anything Your Highness asks me to do!"

"Do anything..." Prince Ning roared, rising to his feet. "Who do you think I am? Sending troops to fight over a mere江湖 (jianghu) brawl? Wouldn't that make me a laughingstock?! You—you've always been arrogant and aloof, yet today you're begging me for the sake of a notorious assassin?! You—you—"

I prostrated myself on the ground, trembling all over: "Your Highness, I beg you, Baiyi!"