LoT Phoenix 1

Chapter 131: In the Hands of the Gods

Detecting a strange wind, the patrolling guards in Prince Jin's Mansion rushed towards the bamboo thicket where the wind blew, unaware of a fleeting shadow behind them.

Man in Black: My lady, could you keep your dagger a bit further from me?

Xiu Ying: [Carried by the Man in Black, with the dagger pressed against his neck] Keep quiet. Are you going to draw the guards? I warn you. There are lots of hidden guards in the corners of Prince Jin's Mansion.

Man in Black: If so, why don't you put the blade away from my neck? One miss hit and we are both done for!

Xiu Ying: I'm a servant maid of Prince Jin's Mansion, while you are a abductor. Why would I be done for? What's more, I have no idea whether you are telling the truth. It's natural for a fragile girl like me to act with caution.

Man in Black: Fragile? You? Why would you think so? I think you have a deep misunderstanding for yourself!

Xiu Ying: Shut up!

Man in Black: [Whisper to himself] I shouldn't have accepted this job... My reputation would be ruined if other's get to know me being threaten by a girl with a knife.

The Man in Black agilely evades the guards with you on his back. He crosses the garden into a quiet corner and stops before a wall, about to put you down.

Xiu Ying: [Alerted] What are you doing?

Man in Black: [Annoyed] You think the mansion is your own house? Prince Jin's Mansion is famous for being heavily guarded. It took me months to find this least guarded spot as an exit...

You follow his gaze suspiciously, and see him revealing a small hole covered by bushes.

Man in Black: This is no ordinary hole! You'll see when you get in... Are you going or not? Don't draw the guards' attention.

Xiu Ying: I'm not going through. I don't know if you are lying to me.

Man in Black: Why would I lie to you after carrying you all this way and getting threaten?

Xiu Ying: Who knows if you have some more tricks.

Man in Black: There is none! I swear! My Lord would have taken my life should I ever harm you. Otherwise I would never be so kind to you!

Xiu Ying: [Hold the dagger steadily and get down from his back] All right. Let's go!

The Man in Black bends down and enters the hole swiftly. There is no time for hesitation. You hold the dagger tightly and follow him. What appears to be a hole for a dog turns out to be an underground tunnel. It's not long and soon lead to outside of the mansion. Out in the night you can barely see the shadow of trees, unaware of your location.

Man in Black: [Surprised] My lord is here... Who are you truly?

You've heard the Man in Black's surprised voice, yet can't see a thing in the surrounding darkness. Then you spot some light up ahead, and realize that a carriage has been waiting there.

Man in Black: Let's go. Don't keep my lord waiting.

The Man in Black lifts the carriage curtain, revealing a handsome young man with a book inside.

Wei Jie: Get in and be careful... How is your wound?

Xiu Ying: [Slightly brushed] It's all right. No big deal.

Man in Black: [Interrupt loudly] My Lord! She doesn't look like what you told me! I thought you'd got the wrong person! She even threatened me when I was getting her out!

Hearing that, you turn your head and throw a vicious gaze at the Man in Black. He coughs at your gaze and steps back hastily, as if he hasn't got over the scare yet.