Unruly Phoenix Xiaoyao

Chapter 33: If I leave, who will be emperor?

Grand Preceptor Xie was starting to get annoyed by all the chirping sparrows tonight. By the time he refocused on the issue at hand, he saw with a start that Song Jin had stood up from the ground. How, how could this be?!

Ning Xiaoyao was as tired as a dog to begin with. After treating Song Jin's poison, she was now as tired as a dead dog and plopped on the ground. From her pocket she took out some sugar beans and tossed them into her mouth. She had to recover her strength quickly when so many people were waiting for poison treatment. Grand Preceptor Xie backed up a few steps, still in shock. His first thought was that there was a problem with the person who had released the poison smoke! Had he already been drawn over to Ning Yu's side and turned into one of her lackeys?

Song Jin didn't know why he could move all of a sudden, but there was no time to ponder that now. He glared coldly at Grand Preceptor Xie before stepping forward to shield Ning Xiaoyao behind him. At this moment, Lou Zigui arrived with Fang Tang supporting him, walking step-by-step into the alleyway. He glanced at Ning Xiaoyao sitting on the ground and felt his heart quiver. Hastily he asked, "Your Majesty?"

Ning Xiaoyao munched on sugar beans as she waved a hand at him. "I'm over here, ah."

Hearing her speak, Lou Zigui felt reassured. His vision shifted to Grand Preceptor Xie, who'd brought along high level experts in both archery and concealed weapons. But without Grand Preceptor Xie's command, they didn't dare to make a move. Grand Preceptor Xie met Lou Zigui's icy gaze and suddenly smiled.

"His Majesty and Supreme Commander are well and safe. Now I can set my cares at rest."

Coldly, Lou Zigui replied, "We've troubled Grand Preceptor to worry. The only fortunate thing tonight was that His Majesty was unhurt."

Grand Preceptor Xie smiled. "Supreme Commander says rightly. His Majesty being unhurt is the most important thing. Supreme Commander ah, the Northern Hu won't stop trying to destroy our Yongning, so you have to take care of yourself."

Lou Zigui nodded. "Grand Preceptor's instruction is apt."

Ning Xiaoyao stayed on the ground as she asked the falcon on her shoulder, "How come they're talking to each other? Aren't they supposed to bite each other to death at first sight?" Instead, they were standing across from each other and exchanging words like friends. What was going on?

The little gyrfalcon first admitted he didn't know, before adding, "All you humans know is how to pretend!" Ning Xiaoyao fell silent. This comment seemed to make sense. She actually had no rebuttal for it.

By now, Grand Preceptor Xie had spoken up again. "His Majesty was long aware of problems with those letters. But for the sake of ensnaring the capital's northern barbarians in one net, he could only wrong Supreme Commander and play out a self-injury ruse. Now that the secret agents have all been caught, Supreme Commander won't need to bear accusations of being a traitor anymore." Here, Grand Preceptor Xie cupped one hand in another and raised it before his chest in obeisance. "I offended Supreme Commander much in the past. I hope that Supreme Commander won't blame me."

Oh my God!

Ning Xiaoyao's hands shook. It felt like ten million alpacas were running amok in her heart. She had just acknowledged this old man's shamelessness when he outdid himself again! Fang Tang's hand supporting Lou Zigui was shaking as well. Grand Preceptor Xie was supposed to be an intellectual scholar renowned for his Confucian values. But he was just a damned despicable villain! The little gyrfalcon flapped his wings and cried, "Awoo, awoo, awoo, Xiaoyao, let me eat him up!"

"... ..." went the people present. This falcon could howl like a wolf?

Ning Xiaoyao hugged the gyrfalcon to her chest. This old guy had so many subordinates that they'd kill the bird before he even flew in front of the old man's face. Lou Zigui patted Fang Tang's hand and looked at Grand Preceptor Xie with a smile that even reached to his eyes. He was a man with the looks of a painting. When he didn't smile, his being was infused with heavy killing intent that scared people off. But when he did smile, it was as if a painter had added extra color to the corners of his eyes with a rush. The scene evoked that of spring breezes for ten li and flowers blooming in bright profusion.