I Won't Bully You

Of the fifteen Embroidered Uniform Guards, including Wang Gu, only five remained alive. They were wounded too, unable to get up and walk, so Min Ning assigned several Eastern Depot agents to carry them on their backs.

The Eastern Depot agents who had come to their aid split into two columns. Those in one column either cradled surviving babies from the Infant Tower or carried wounded Embroidered Uniform Guards, while those in the other escorted the villagers under guard.

Chen Yi sat on his horse, gazing toward the distant Capital City.

Ten of the fifteen Embroidered Uniform Guards had died. This matter could be easy to account for, or difficult, depending on how one looked at it. But right was on his side, and he had witnesses and physical evidence alike. At worst, the Ding'an faction would submit a few memorials impeaching him and mobilize the scholars under them to attack and smear him.

Looking at the Embroidered Uniform Guards still groaning in pain, and Wang Gu, now a cripple, Chen Yi frowned slightly.

More than impeachment and slander, what worried him was another murderous ambush like today's.

Today it was Wang Gu. What would it be tomorrow, or the day after?

Who knew whether a fifth-grade expert, or even a fourth-grade one, might come?

Before today, although Chen Yi had anticipated being targeted by the Ding'an faction, he had never imagined they would be so brazen as to try to kill him outright before he took office, all to seize control of the Eastern Depot.

Min Ning glanced sideways at Chen Yi from time to time. Seeing that he seemed lost in thought, she did not dare disturb him.

When Chen Yi raised his eyes toward the distance again, she took off her cape and handed it over.

"Put it on."

Min Ning spoke evenly.

Chen Yi was puzzled for a moment, then noticed where Min Ning was looking. The fight had left his clothes in tatters, with tears all over his upper garments.

"Mm."

Chen Yi took the cape and wrapped it around himself.

"So many Embroidered Uniform Guards... and you just killed them."

Min Ning glanced back.

"There were two chief constables among them, too."

Chen Yi replied:

"They attacked first. In the heat of the moment, I had no choice."

With that, Chen Yi turned his head and asked with a smile:

"So you care a lot about me?"

Her handsome face flushed a little, and she said irritably:

"Is there anything else in that head of yours?"

Chen Yi did not answer.

The long procession slowly approached the Capital City. As they neared the gates, Chen Yi drew Cangshan Fist from inside his clothes and placed it directly in Min Ning's hands.

Stunned by the gesture, Min Ning stared at the fist-fighting manual in disbelief.

"...This... why?"

With the fist-fighting manual she had dreamed of suddenly in her hands, Min Ning felt as though none of it were real.

"Consider it a reward for caring about me."

Grinning, Chen Yi patted her shoulder.

"A reward? A reward for caring about you?"

Flustered and angry, Min Ning demanded:

"What do you take me for? A maidservant?"

Chen Yi feigned astonishment and asked:

"Why a maidservant? I mean, you are quite pretty..."

Min Ning was momentarily speechless, the embarrassed anger on her face deepening. The ends of her long, dark hair could not hide the scarlet at the roots of her ears.

Chen Yi inwardly doubled over with laughter.

After a while, Chen Yi said:

"Can't I just give it to you?"

Min Ning was utterly taken aback.

He was simply giving her such an important Fist Manual?!

Min Ning tightened her grip on the reins, her thoughts rising and sinking, unable to speak for a moment.

If he really gave it to her just like that, how was she supposed to repay him?

The Min Household's family precept was short, only eight characters. The first four meant Introspection, while the last four meant repaying kindness.

But for the moment, Min Ning could not think of how to repay him.

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

Chen Yi asked softly.

Min Ning came back to herself and gave him a bitter smile.

How could she repay him... was there anything she had that he wanted?

Nothing... except, except herself. If she wanted to repay him, she would have to serve him with lowered eyes and an obedient manner...

She had to repay him...

But could she only do something so lowly?

If she did not, how else could she repay him... how could she repay him?

"I..."

"I don't want it.

"If you give it to me, I won't be able to repay you."

Min Ning pushed the Fist Manual back and turned her face away, trying not to look at it.

"I'll... trade you something for it."

Chen Yi glanced at her, then put the Fist Manual away, having already made his plans.

By the time he left the Eastern Depot offices after dealing with Wang Gu and the others, it was already dusk.

Chen Yi hurried to a bookshop. After questioning the shopkeeper, he selected several books of miscellaneous writing and fiction: one book of tales, one collection of stories about gods, ghosts, and strange happenings, and two novels about ordinary city life.

He had seen how Yin Tingxue pleaded with him that day, and he could not leave it unanswered. Besides, his perfect save with all the heroines could not possibly be complete without her. Whether for her sake, for a perfect life, or for his own martial arts, he could not ignore this request.

Next, Chen Yi went to a restaurant to buy some food to take away, then walked home.

Opening the door, Chen Yi was surprised to find that Yin Tingxue had left the bedroom and was sitting alone in the hall.

She sat comfortably in the main seat, her head resting against the chair back as though she were dozing, her little white-jade feet gently swinging in the air.

Not wanting to wake her, Chen Yi quietly set the food box aside. As he approached her, she suddenly woke.

Rubbing her eyes, she looked at Chen Yi and wrinkled her nose.

"You... killed someone again?"

Yin Tingxue had just woken up. She stretched a little and mumbled the question.

Chen Yi was surprised by the girl's keen senses.

"I bathed several times before coming home, you know."

As Chen Yi spoke, he picked up one of the books and placed it before Yin Tingxue. Its cover read Tales of Three Foxes.

"I brought you some books."

Yin Tingxue murmured an acknowledgment. Her thoughts were somewhat tangled, and she actually volunteered:

"I had a dream."

Chen Yi had not expected Yin Tingxue to talk about her dreams with an enemy like him.

Perhaps it was because she had just woken and was still muddleheaded.

"What kind of dream?"

Yin Tingxue said:

"I can't remember clearly... I only remember you walking with a one-armed woman. You seemed to be arguing, and that woman insisted on taking me away. She didn't like you either. She hated you, just like..."

Yin Tingxue stopped there, not daring to continue, and merely gave him a meek glance.

Chen Yi knew what the unfinished sentence meant: just like someone else.

As for who that "someone" was, Chen Yi knew perfectly well. Right before him was a girl who disliked and hated him.

"Do you know who that woman in my dream was?"

After rubbing her eyes, Yin Tingxue grew a little more alert and asked,

"My dreams are always very accurate. Just like back then, when I... dreamed that you came..."

Chen Yi took her little hand and played with it against his chest. She did not struggle; she had become much more docile lately.

"She's Zhou Yitang."

At first, Yin Tingxue thought little of it. Then confusion appeared in her eyes, followed in an instant by shock.

"Yinjian Mountain... the Sword Champion? Ninth on the Martial Ranking..."

Yin Tingxue looked as though she were asking, "How could you know her?"

Chen Yi smiled and said softly:

"I know her, but she doesn't necessarily know me. Still, there'll be a chance."

Hearing that, Yin Tingxue calmed down and said, "Oh."

"Get up and eat. I bought steamed lamb, salt-baked chicken, and some vegetable dishes.

"Oh, and a bowl of bird's nest and honeydew soup. You used to drink that often at the prince's residence, didn't you?"

Yin Tingxue was startled. These were all dishes she liked.

How... had he become so nice?

Offering favors for no reason...

Yin Tingxue could not help growing suspicious. She could not quite make sense of it.

Watching Yin Tingxue ponder something, Chen Yi patted her head and said:

"Or do you want me to carry you over to eat?"

Yin Tingxue grew bashful. Seeing Chen Yi lean closer, she shook her head in a fluster. Being carried by a man would be so embarrassing.

Forget it. Stop thinking about it...

He'd better be this nice every day and spend a fortune every day. I'll eat him out of house and home.

Yin Tingxue thought fiercely.

Catching the subtle look in her eyes, Chen Yi shook his head with a chuckle. Of course he knew she was only outwardly docile.

"Focus on recovering. I won't bully you for now."

Once some time has passed...