Despite all the worries, the tired Fu Yao easily fell into a deep sleep, as if thus wishing to escape even further from the reality that overtook him, while the crown prince threw his hands behind his head and reasoned, technically not needing such a rest. That was why the creaking of the door didn't escape him until Fu Yao's instinct awakened and he tensed up, holding his breath. "Has San Lang returned so late?" he thought and looked at Xie Lian, who turned his head and put his finger to his lips. Fu Yao's face instantly hardened, and he realized that the situation had taken a bad turn. He set up a barrier from evil spirits, but did not count on the fact that living ill-wishers could visit them with exactly the same success. Pretending to be asleep, he closed his eyes again and evened out his breathing, determined to play on the element of surprise as he watched through his lashes, how in front of Xie Lian, a pair of feet shod in worn boots froze, the owner of which knelt down on one knee and unceremoniously closed the prince's mouth, raising his finger to his lips with a predatory grin. As soon as a rough hand touched his own shoulder, the body, as tight as a stretched string, reacted faster than inhalation, and with a well-practiced movement, Fu Yao slammed the attacker in the jaw, causing him to fall to the floor with a scream. Jumping to his feet, the guy was about to make sure that this man would not get up again, when a shout stopped him: - Move another cun, and your friend will no longer see the dawn! Having managed to pull himself together, the second man grabbed Xie Lian by the neck and pressed the blade against the pale skin as the prince helplessly grabbed his rough wrist. Fu Yao was only confused for a split second, but that was enough, so that his opponent comes to his senses and also twists him in the grip, putting a knife to his throat. "Here's a dog, and agile, too," he muttered, blinking away the tears in his eyes. Fu Yao grinned as he looked at his companion, whose expression remained as calm as standing water. He didn't seem to feel in danger now. "San Lang will definitely not like this treatment," the guy muttered, and the invader squeezed his neck even tighter, poking his chin with the point, and this caused a wrinkle between Xie Lian's eyebrows. He could easily endure even the most severe wound, which cannot be said about his more than mortal companion. "He snaps too," the man growled, breathing hotly almost into his face. "Look out that your mouth is not being used for a good cause. Along the way, there is a third with them, I must tell the others to comb the neighborhood. Damn, there were more people outside. The door creaked, but no one paid any attention, only Xie Lian's pupils narrowed in the darkness. There was no time to think, and Fu Yao's brain worked at an incredible speed: pulling out of the sheath a knife with which he almost never parted, with an elusive movement along the hilt, he drove the blade into the opponent's thigh - from the pain shock, he loosened his grip, barely having time to slash the tip on the cheek , and at the same time lost his orientation in space, which the guy instantly took advantage of, knocking the weapon out of his hands and knocking the heavy body to the floor with a simple footboard. The man holding Xie Lian decided to immediately fulfill his promise, but he suddenly found himself unable to move - the grip of the kid he was restraining turned out to be bearish. "I'm very sorry, but you attacked first," the man said softly. then there was a muffled crunch of bone, and the blade fell from limp fingers, the owner of which immediately howled in pain, falling to his knees and clutching the injured limb. "What the hell, why didn't anyone think to come in?" yelled his luckier comrade from the floor, pinned down by Fu Yao's foot. Suddenly, the room was filled with a dull glow, and a silver butterfly floated on the forehead of the unfortunate robber, trembling with graceful wings. "The young master turned out to be right: I really don't like it when people touch what belongs to me. A deep voice suddenly came from behind, causing the guy to stagger and almost stumble over the legs of the man he had knocked down, stopped by a confident hand across his waist. The dim light emanating from the butterflies fluttering around illuminated the noble face, graceful in its calmness, and the dark eyes immediately curved with a smirk - behind him was San Lang himself. "I apologize for such a late visit in every sense. After confirming that Fu Yao was firmly on his feet, he removed his hand, and only now the guy realized their closeness, involuntarily blushing with embarrassment, because most often they got so close to him only with the intention of beating him. Fortunately, San Lang was already near His Highness, and they were quietly talking about something, after which San Lang grabbed the man who was still whining quietly by the collar and dragged him to the door. "There should be a few more outside," Fu Yao warned him, adjusting the collar of his clothes and regaining an indifferently focused look, after which he wiped the knife on the leg of the second man, allowing him to be dragged away as well. "I know you don't have to worry about them anymore. Wait a bit, I want to send this rabble to the Ghost Town so that they can be taught a lesson there. Hearing this, Xie Lian involuntarily grimaced. As soon as the demons heard that these bastards were going to harm their "senior", and the whole gang could be considered missing. The predatory gleam that flickered in Hua Cheng's eyes did not hide from him, which did not mean anything good for the offenders. As soon as the door behind the demon slammed shut on its own, the prince again turned all his attention to the boy frozen in the corner of the room, hiding the knife and clapping his hand on the scabbard, as if thanking him for a good job. "You shouldn't have taken that risk, it was dangerous," he said, and Fu Yao snorted in response. "And just wait for them to stab us?" What else," he said, crossing his arms over his chest. Xie Lian lit a fire in his palm, illuminating the hut, and his companion squinted in surprise, opening one eye. "Nothing would have happened to me if he used a weapon, but you hurt yourself," Xie Lian said, looking at the scratch right under the guy's eye. He, in the confusion, did not even notice her and felt an unpleasant burning sensation only at the moment when he was told about it from the outside, but his face still remained impartial. - A trifle. I was more worried that I wouldn't be able to turn around before the second one attacked you," Fu Yao shrugged his shoulders. Despite the fact that his words were simply a statement of fact, Xie Lian's heart trembled - the two of them were so worried about each other that they were ready to sacrifice their own safety - at least something between them remained unchanged. It's good that San Lang arrived on time, and circumstances played into their hands.
