Chapter 135: Seize the Fugitive!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Early in the morning, a troop of the fourth prince’s men had gathered by the doors of the Residence of Yun.
The fourth prince had sent a good amount of people; five hundred armored guards had arrived and assembled in front of the Residence of Yun with much fanfare.
The handful who were defeated yesterday stood at the forefront of the troop.
Although their aura was intimidating, no one dared to charge in by force and stood to wait outside the doors.
Their intention was clear though – they would not give up as long as their goal was not achieved.
People who passed by hastened their steps, afraid that they would fall victim to the commotion. Even those who were slightly braver only took a second glance before they, too, passed by quickly.
By the looks of it, the Residence of Marquis Yun had found themselves in big trouble.
It was at this time when a few loud voices hollered out aggressively.
"Give way, give way! What’s going on with such a big group of people here?"
"What are you fellows doing here? Training formations this early in the morning? Give way, give way, don’t block this father’s way. Good dogs don’t block the way!"
"Am I wrong to say you’re blocking the way? Aren’t each and every one of you standing in front of the residence's doors? What? Are you glaring at me? I swear I'll..."
"Boss, I’m Dong Tianleng. I’ve come to visit you."
"Boss, I’m Qiu Yunsan. I’ve come to share the joy and sorrow, the weal and woe, the fortune and disaster with you…"
"Boss…"
The four young masters shoved their way through the five hundred guards to stand before the Residence of Yun’s doors.
They were harsh with their words but their faces were at peace, unbothered by the drama that was playing itself out before them.
If there was something really dire, why can't it be solved when there are so many of us?
Unless, of course, the sky was falling.
Opening the door, Lao Mei glance at the five hundred guards with the same collected manner before ushering the guests in warmly as if he had not just seen five hundred armed men waiting to draw blood. "I see that the four young masters are here! Quickly, come in. My young master hasn’t woke up yet, he has had too much to drink last night…"
Curiosity was painted on Dong Tianleng’s face. "Had too much a drink? With who? Who was so great that he could get boss drunk? He must be taking advantage of boss’ vulnerability since he has just recovered. What a despicable person…"
"Exactly! Call him out, we seek revenge!" Qiu Yunsan rubbed his palms together. "How dare he make boss drunk to the point he can’t get up? Look at how I shall knock him down all by myself!"
"Let me do it." Xia Bingchuan said in a strange tone, "Qiu Yunsan, you better not get cheated again after you get drunk. We'll have to clean up after you then… F*cking hell, the Luminary Paste isn’t even here until now. How many days has it been? Where is the trust among people? Nevermind that, where’s the person himself?"
"They’ve fooled Qiu Yunsan to the point of enlightenment…" Chun Wanfeng quipped from the side, "I’m rather thankful that thing is not here though. If it was here, Qiu Yunsan might be manipulated beyond recognition; this young master will be ashamed to be seen with him then…"
Qiu Yunsan’s face was flushed with anger. "Are you all still not over this? I’ll cease whatever relationship it is I have with whoever f*cking speaks another word of it! The three of you popinjays, is it fun to make light about someone’s wound every day? Look at how I reveal you guys to boss later…"
The four of them entered the residence bickering among each other.
Outside, the fourth prince’s men were concurrently enraged and bewildered.
Did they not see the number of guards that were standing right outside the door?
How could they still be so calm?
"Butler Mei!" The middle-aged man who led the troop spoke with a straight face. "Please report that we are under orders to seize the fugitive. Please ask Young Master Yun to open the doors in order not to delay our efforts in capturing the fugitive."
Fugitive!
The word shocked all four young masters.
Was boss keeping a fugitive here?
What was going on?
Lao Mei answered, "Very well, I will report to the young master about this. I ask for your patience."
With a jarring crash, he closed the doors again.
The men outside had no choice but to wait patiently.
Marquis Yun’s residence was different from other marquis’ residence. It had a precious sword guarding the residence. If one trespassed, it had every right to slash out at the trespasser; it was not a crime even if it really did kill you.
However, the troop had no choice but to do this.
"Boss, you’re awake! You look great." Dong Tianleng pushed himself over in a friendly manner. "Are you alright now?"
"Boss, Dong Tianleng doesn’t know how to speak or act with consideration. Boss does not only look good, you look like you're in high spirits and well rested. It looks just like you have just nourished yourself with three girls…" Well, that was Xia Bingchuan.
"You only know about girls! F*ck off! Boss, you’re growing more handsome by the day! Sometimes, I wish I were a girl, that I could stand beside my lord. Then I can become boss’ concubine! It saves me from my woes of looking but not being able to touch..." This was Qiu Yunsan.
"My lord is the best!" The extremely short but effective praise came from Chun Wanfeng.
Yun Yang did not look one bit spirited, listening to the men's rambling with a long face.
"Hold on for a bit, the few of you." He then spoke to Ling Xiaozui who was slowly practicing his punches by the side, "Elder Ling, there are people outside who are here to seize the fugitive. You, as the fugitive, go handle it quickly."
Ling Xiaozui felt exasperated. Me? You’re the fugitive!
Your whole family is made up of fugitives!
However, the fourth prince seemed a little too persistent about the whole matter. No matter how down to earth and how good a temper Ling Xiaozui had, he was still offended.
Dong Tianleng and the others were all stupefied.
He’s at your residence and should be under your protection. You’re not going to solve it but you're actually making the fugitive go handle the situation all by himself?
Dong Tianleng’s eyes moved about and he said easily, "Friend, why not allow me to help you?"
Ling Xiaozui was already fuming inwardly so he replied with a faint "Don’t worry about it!" and turned to walk to the door.
The four noble young masters were reasonably unhappy by his flippant manner.
Dong Tianleng pursed his lips. "Boss, who is this? Why is he so arrogant?"
Chun Wanfeng said, "Looks like he has a bit of an attitude… I guess he thinks very highly of himself."
Xia Bingchuan commented, "Hmm, interesting."
Qiu Yunsan said, "I know that this poor soul has no idea of the world’s evils and is asking to be taught a lesson, just by looking at him."
Yun Yang coughed dryly and ignored their comments. "Come, come. Have some tea."
The four of them wanted to ask more about Ling Xiaozui. Yun Yang could figure that out, no matter how outlandish they were, but he hated people who used this tactic on him the most.
I might tell you the truth if you had asked directly.
However, the four young masters had dug their own graves, waiting for Yun Yang to bury them. Yun Yang did not like it a single bit.
If it were before, he would have liked it.
After the severe injury that had the four young masters saving him, without a care for the price it took, Yun Yang did not like this way as much as he used to anymore.
A loud commotion came from just beyond the doors.
Ling Xiaozui, who had gone out, could be heard objecting, but the opposite party seemed to still insist on their orders.
Suddenly, an imposing and palpable aura erupted.
Ling Xiaozui had only said a single thing to the leader of the troop, quietly so that no one but the leader could hear.
As he spoke, the leader's face turned ashen, then white.
After he was done, Ling Xiaozui returned inside without another word.
Behind him, a few guards rushed forth to capture the criminal that had finally appeared but the leader knocked them down onto the ground as if maddened and followed up by issuing several commands in a shrill voice.
"Retreat! Quickly, turn back!"
"Quick, quick! Go back… Are you still speaking? Go on, speak more… I’ll make you speak even more…" As he shouted, he removed a whip from his belt and dealt a terrifying beating to his assistant, as if crazed.
As the entire troop turned around in confusion, the leader was the first to flee anxiously as if there were numerous tigers chasing after him.
It was said that the leader was still wearing a terrorized face when he got back to the fourth prince’s residence, with sweat dripping profusely from his brow.
Those who had gone in high spirits but returned without so much of a reason were all bewildered, of course, discontent spread among all of them. Only the leader had a pale face and would not let a word out until he saw the fourth prince himself.
"Where’s the Seven-Scaled Fairy that I sent you to retrieve? Why…" The fourth prince started to ask in surprise.
Everyone’s gaze went towards the leader, their meaning clear – Ask him! We have no clue about what has happened!
The leader continued to tremble and went close to the fourth prince to whisper something softly in his ear.
His voice was so faint that nobody could anything at all.
Everyone then saw the fourth prince who looked like he was at the top of the world, ruddy and confident, collapse onto the floor in a seated position after hearing what the leader had to say.
His rosy cheeks turned ashen at once; his eyes were filled with terror while his limbs trembled like a sieve.
The middle-aged man who was the fourth prince’s uncle went forward in a dissatisfied manner. "Your highness, what is going on? The Seven-Scaled Fairy involves…"
"Involve my ass!" The fourth prince exploded into movement as he sprung up and began to land a flurry of blows on his uncle. "Do you know the extent of trouble you’ve caused? I am doomed! Doomed, I say! Doomed, because of you!"
After a long while, the fourth prince, who had finished venting his rage, released his uncle who had been beaten badly and mumbled distractedly, "What… what do I do now?"
He was at a loss.
He actually called Ling Xiaozui a fugitive and sent men to capture him. The fourth prince felt the world closing in on him…
Had he actually done something so outrageous?
Ling Xiaozui a fugitive? If word got out about this, his reputation as the prince would really remain for a long time in this world - a joke of a prince!
"Your highness." The leader stepped forward and said in a low voice, "The only way now… I believe an apology is in order. Otherwise, the consequences will be devastating."
The fourth prince was in despair as he said helplessly, "Is that the only thing I can do about this?"
…
Before Dong Tianleng and the gang could drink a sip of tea, they saw the ‘fugitive’ returning leisurely from the door.
"Done?" Yun Yang asked, his tone casual.
There were only five hundred guards of the fourth prince. What trouble could it cause to Ling Xiaozui? He was not worried at all.
"Done." Ling Xiaozui was nonchalant, as he shrugged off the incident as absurd and ridiculous.
It was his first time coming across such a foolish travesty.
"Please, have some tea." Yun Yang chuckled. "It is rare that I get to gather with Brother Ling. I don’t know if our fate today can be repeated in the future. We must enjoy all that we can within the few days that we still have."