Chapter 198: A Newfound Guard
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
A formal invitation arrived at the inn.
Old Marshal Qiu had invited Han Sanhe for a long talk.
Han Sanhe had gone with the other marshals last night to earnestly ask Old Marshal Qiu to release the captured generals. Due to the urgent situation, Han Sanhe had immensely lowered his position and of course, it was very gratifying for Old Marshal Qiu! He was still reveling in it until now… although it was a little too short for his heart’s content.
Therefore, the old marshal had invited Han Sanhe over to reminisce about the old times early in the morning, hoping to recall good times and pick things up from there.
"Reminisce."
Old Marshal Qiu was smiling triumphantly, his beam said it all – he did not bother to hide his glee.
What a jerk!
Han Sanhe kept a straight face as he said indifferently, "It has been so many years. We should be reminiscing indeed."
Old Marshal Qiu laughed and said, "Those people you begged me to release yesterday… they’ve already left the city today?"
Han Sanhe’s bony face subconsciously twitched.
You begged me yesterday…
Han Sanhe straightened up in his seat and said formally, "This old man wants to curse with something like ‘shameless old wreck’. Should I say it?"
Old Marshal Qiu coughed and replied, "Since it’s a curse, of course, it’s better not to say it."
Han Sanhe snorted.
After a while, Old Marshal Qiu finally asked after scratching his cheek for a while, "Han Sanhe, you’ve helped those people so much. Didn’t they thank you?"
Han Sanhe was flustered but he did not say anything.
"They should at least give you something, shouldn't they?" The old marshal was very curious. "Tell me, how did they thank you? How many gifts have you received? You old thing must have made a fortune. Although you’ve put yourself down to beg me, it must be worth it…"
Han Sanhe stood up with a flutter of his sleeves and left, not even saying a word of farewell.
Facing such a shameless old thing whose face was so thick it could be made into a shoe insole and who reveled in poking fun at other’s wounds, even speaking half a word was too much!
Watching Han Sanhe’s diminishing back, Qiu Jiahna hollered, "Old Han, just speak up if you need any help in the future. As long as I can do it, this old man shall never refuse. Nothing is too hard to be brought up to us, there’s no need to beg or plead. That’s disheartening…"
Han Sanhe quickened his pace, speed walking away like he did not hear anything.
The old marshal’s guffaw could be heard from behind him, the laughter loud and triumphant.
"Old wreck! How dare he harass me like that!"
Han Sanhe who exited Marshal Qiu’s residence had long worn a stale face, the resentment he felt filling his chest.
The old bastard had tricked him into coming here, saying he had something urgent to discuss with him early in the morning. In the end, it was all for the old bastard’s self-gratification. Now that the old thing was happy, he was wounded, on the other hand, angry fume licking about his internal organs.
"If we were to meet on the battlefield in the future, I shall definitely catch this old bastard and push him to death myself!"
"What a bully!"
"A tyrant!
Han Sanhe was genuinely angered, words that he should not have uttered tumbling out of his mouth!
The youth dressed in black clothes did not say a thing, merely following closely behind him.
Turning into the next street, the group was startled as they halted their steps immediately.
Right in front of them, a man in white stood in the center of the road.
It was at this same moment that the group felt the icy chill of icebergs flowing towards them.
The man wore plain white clothes that were not unlike snow; his face was fair like snow as well. Other than his hair and eyes that were black, every other part of him was snow white, like he was mourning.
It was fine if he was just in this unprosperous shade of white but his age was also tricky to be gauged.
It was reasonable to say he was in his twenties, it was also acceptable to say he was in his thirties, it would be fine too to say he was above forty years old. It seemed to be a logical case to say he was a few hundred-year-old monster!
Not only was his unprosperous shade of white dizzying, he exuded an iciness similar to icebergs and glaciers.
Seeing that the man had blocked the way with such an intimidating aura, the youth in black’s expression coiled tightly at once as he took a step forward and shielded Han Sanhe. The four guards who were beside Han Sanhe wore similar expressions as if they had met a formidable enemy as well.
Shing, shing…
Before they said anything, the guards were already gripping their weapons; a faint whirlpool of mystical Qi forming rapidly in midair.
Witnessing what had transpired, Han Sanhe could not help being impressed. He had never been renowned for his mystical skill; his mystical Qi cultivation base was sufficiently limited. There was no way he could gauge the mightiness of the man in white standing opposite them but his four guards were expert mystical Qi cultivators.
Just the appearance of the newcomer had all four of them moving simultaneously and pulling their weapons out; it was enough to show the capability of the opposite party. What was more, the four men’s initiative had already put them on the lower hand since it only meant that his four guards had no confidence of tackling this man in white – they had to direct the flow of their Qi beforehand to ensure their safety.
Who was this man in white? Why did he have such an overwhelming presence?
"Who are you?" The youth in black was on his guard, his eyes alert while his right hand was already pressed on the jade bangle on his left wrist.
The man in white replied faintly, "Is this how the Great Marshal Han treats his friend?"
Friend?
Han Sanhe frowned and asked, "May I ask who this respectable one is?"
"Marshal Han need not ask too much. I’ve been asked by someone to protect your safety while you reside in Yutang." the man in white answered.
Han Sanhe despite what he was told, "May I ask who it is who has asked respectable one to do so?"
The man snorted but did not reply, his expression arrogant.
"What is this respectable one’s name?" Han Sanhe continued to ask.
The man in white said coldly, "I am Bai Yixue1!"
When the name Bai Yixue was uttered, the youth in black and Han Sanhe’s four guards all took an involuntary step back.
White clothes that soared into the snow all over the sky…
Was this person before them actually Bai Yixue, the most famous hitman in the world of martial arts?
It was said that this person had battled with Jun Moyan, the Unrivaled Swordsman, back in the years and had lost to Jun Moyan due to a slight mistake. Although he had suffered a severe injury in the form of a pierced chest, he had still escaped, flying through the air so swiftly that Jun Moyan could not give chase. He was so graceful even in flight that he had become a legend in the generation of swordsmanship.
Bai Yixue – divine sword and white clothes through the nine heavens of stormy snow!
He was sixth in the current swordsman rankings.
Han Sanhe wanted to ask further questions, but Bai Yixue was already speaking coldly, "Marshal Han need not ask any more about whose favor it is, I won’t answer even if you do. You only have to know that if I had been sent to assassinate you, you would be a corpse now."
Bai Yixue spoke faintly like he was just announcing a fact.
Han Sanhe chuckled bitterly but did not say another word.
Bai Yixue was right though. If had been tasked to kill Han Sanhe, it was highly probable to succeed – if it wasn't a hundred percent guarantee, it was at least ninety-nine percent.
Just looking at his four guards who blanched as if they were facing a mighty foe, he could already know the truth behind Bai Yixue’s words.
"You can't be so sure." The youth in black said coldly, "If you were to really come for an assassination this time, no one knows who will die and who won't."
Bai Yixue’s clear, icy orbs were trained on the youth’s face when he replied softly, "Perhaps I might perish due to your hidden powers, but the target I wish to kill will definitely die before I do."
The youth sucked in a deep breath, without saying anything further.
Obviously, Bai Yixue was speaking the truth that gave no space for debate. If Bai Yixue were to put his life at stake in order to kill someone, there weren't many people in this world who would survive the attempt.
Han Sanhe caught on immediately, smiling as he said, "If so, I shall thank Bai… Warrior Bai."
Bai Yixue’s face twitched for a bit before he said, "You flatter me. I dare not take the title of warrior… Since ancient times, those with the name of warrior die more devastatingly; there aren’t many who have enjoyed a good death."
The group was left speechless.
How were the others supposed to reply like this? You've already killed the conversation with only a few words.
In spite of this, this group of Dongxuan men no longer suspected that Bai Yixue harbored any intention to assassinate the god of war, despite still having lingering doubts about him.
Han Sanhe and group were wary of him but their intention to forge a relationship grew stronger after the initial wariness was wiped away. After all, it would only be odd not to make an acquaintance with such an expert, given the beneficial situation now.
Bai Yixue then successfully entered the marshal’s group; he was somber, but the group did not mind that much. Experts usually did things their own way; what was more, an extremely proficient expert. Besides, this was the legendary white clothes and divine sword – Bai Yixue. It was expected for him to be arrogant and cold.
Now Han Sanhe’s group had experienced a bolstering of skills and force. Bai Yixue had become a bodyguard of the group; whoever dared to make a fuss would have to go through him first and he was honestly not the easiest man to get through.
Bai Yixue followed Han Sanhe as he paid his respects, sightseeing for the next two days, never staying far – showing the accountability of an experienced guard. Although he was serious all the time, his moves were forthright, adding a sense of comfort and safety to anyone who saw them.
However, the Great Swordsman Bai Yixue was rather ill-tempered in these few days; his expression was ugly as if someone owed him a huge debt.
The group did not think much of it, assuming that it was a demotion for him to be a guard, given his status.
From the afternoon of the second day, Han Sanhe and the youth in black alongside their guards had gone to Thousand Feet Lake – holding their fishing rods to fish.
Bai Yixue followed, as usual.
Time passed but there was no fish caught. Han Sanhe was not dejected though, only stopping to rest before returning to the lake again.
Since Han Sanhe was resting, of course, the guards needed to rest too. Two men were left to guard the door while the rest retreated to the room beside to replenish their energy through meditation and rest.
"I’m going out for a personal matter." Bai Yixue stood up with his cold face and informed simply; it was not known who it was he was speaking too but he went out without waiting for a reply.
The sword that never left him was no longer worn at his waist but clenched in his grip.
"I’m not waiting any longer!"
"I’m leaving as soon as this is done. As long as this is sorted out, I will never ever come to Tiantang City in my lifetime, and never meet that Young Master Yun too! I would just be tricked!"
Translator Note:
1Bai Yixue (白衣雪bái yī xuě): a man dressed in white’s name with Bai being his family name while Yixue being his first name. Literally, 白衣 (bái yī) means white clothes and 雪 (xuě) means snow.