Chapter 293
Book 8 Chapter 6: Cornered!!
As he reached his residence, Wu Guo was waiting for him.
This joke-loving person was imposing, "Lady Ya is looking for you. She seems very unsettled, insisting on waiting for you to come home inside."
Xiang Shaolong didn’t expect Zhao Ya to return again after leaving earlier, now that banquet specially set up to welcome Tian Dan hadn’t finished, how come she left the banquet halfway and come looking for him?
He gently said to Zhao Zhi, "Zhi Zhi, you go first to the east room to wait for me!"
Zhao Zhi at that time had become very attentive towards him. Without any protest, she went and followed Wu Guo.
Xiang Shaolong quickly went to the inner hall. As he was about to step over the threshold, Zhao Ya had in a flash already turned around, her face paled, her pair of eyes were full of despair.
He was shaken, came over and said, "What happened? What scared you so badly?"
Zhao Ya seemed to have changed into another person, with a shocking voice replied, "Dong Kuang! Zhao Ya is here to do an irresistible transaction with you."
Xiang Shaolong became wary. His eyes became grim and his lips hinted of a smile, calmly asked, "Even if it’s got to do with my life, I might still reject it."
Zhao Ya realized that she had provoked the opponent, sighed and became soft, "Let’s consider another circ.u.mstance then, just think of this as me requesting your help. As long as you agree, from this moment on, Zhao Ya would only listen to your command. What do you think Mister Dong?"
Xiang Shaolong was confused. What kind of circ.u.mstance would force this lascivious lady to not hesitate to sacrifice everything, betting everything on this request? He creased his eyebrows, "I’ll listen to your request first."
Zhao Ya replied with a bleak voice unlike her usual calm and gentle voice, "Dong Kuang, you might not know that you are currently in a critical situation. After Li Yuan had been informed that he had just become the country’s uncle, he proposed to our king to detain you back to Chu. Otherwise, he wouldn’t support the alliance between the two countries."
Xiang Shaolong was furious. If this afternoon, he had killed him, then he would have gotten rid of any future troubles.
Zhao Ya saw him turned solemn, but still in a calm mood without displaying any of his emotions and thoughts. She admired this of him, softly said, "Brother currently is still hesitating. What he was most afraid of is that even if he sacrificed you, Chu will still be like in the past break their promises. In that case, he would lose in both cases."
Xiang Shaolong suddenly felt like laughing out loud.
Among the absurd things in the world, there is none that surpa.s.sed this example. From this event, you can tell that Xiaocheng is an exceptionally selfish being and every person is just a statistic to him.
If he has a troop of elite Qin soldiers on call, he would definitely make trouble for both Xiaocheng and Li Yuan these two crafty bustards. Zhao Ya continued:"Presently, I am the only person who can influence Xiaocheng, allowing you to flourish in Handan alive. So if Zhao Ya is dead set on doing your bidding, it will benefit Mister Dong in many areas."
Xiang Shaolong recollects the day after he defeated Lian Jin (history: the guy he defeated in Zhao palace and won Wu Tingfang’s marriage). Zhao Ya had this same display of intensity of power when she negotiated with him. Snickering, he solicited:"I know Miss is great both in bed and out of bed but you have yet to tell me what a.s.signment you have in mind for me."
Zhao Ya’s eyes shot out a look of determination. She plainly said:"I want to you contact a person and warn him never ever to step into Handan City. The Zhao King has received secret information that he is on his way to Handan and has laid traps everywhere, waiting for him to send himself to his demise. "
Xiang Shaolong athletic body trembled, gazing at Zhao Ya with eyes wide open.
He finally understood what has transpired.
Zhao Da (Zhao Ya’s bodyguard) is right; Zhao Ya has been unable to forget her feeling for him. The moment she knew about Zhao Mu’s secret message from Qin, she dropped everything and approach him to warn Xiang Shaolong so as to save him from the traps of Zhao.
Composed, Zhao Ya explained:"You, Dong Kuang, are the only man in Handan with the courage and strength to accomplish this task. Most of your subordinates are staying outside the city and are used to the wilderness. I reckon only your forces have the ability to intercept Xiang Shaolong and his followers."
Xiang Shaolong almost wanted to embrace her deeply and tell her he is the Xiang Shaolong she had wanted to save.
Zhao Ya squirmed under his stare. Hanging her head lowly, she pressed: "Dong Kuang, please give me answer quickly. Let me remind you. If I am rejected again, even I would not know what I will do next."
Xiang Shaolong has seen what she will resort to when driven to the wall. Letting out a big sigh, he chided:"If you had known this would be the result, why do it in the first place?"
Zhao Ya was expressionless as she chanted his words twice. Unable to hold her tears anymore, she wailed:"Because Zhao Ya does not want to betray him for a second time."
Xiang Shaolong could feel his emotions rising. Rus.h.i.+ng forward, he grabbed her shoulders and barked sharply:"Look at me!"
Zhao Ya was taken aback at this outburst."Why is Mister Dong so emotional?"
"I am Xiang Shaolong!"
"I am Xiang Shaolong!" he was about to explode but at the last moment, he swallowed his words and made a heart-rending promise:"Rest a.s.sured Princess. I will help you not because of your threat, but because I am touched by the selfless love you have for Xiang Shaolong. I, Dong Kuang, hereby swear that if Xiang Shaolong stepped into Handan City one step, I will bear no descendants and die an inconceivable death!"
Zhao Ya stuttered:"Dong Kuang! Do you know how grateful Zhao Ya is towards you?" From her bosom, she produced a cloth painting and gave it to Xiang Shaolong. "This is his portrait. Obviously, he will a.s.sume a different ident.i.ty and appearance to cover his tracks."
Receiving the painting, Xiang Shaolong yanked it open for a look. The fine lines detailing his appearance gave it a life-like manifestation. He was shaken and enquired:"Who drew this?"
Zhao Ya replied:"I did."
Xiang Shaolong surmised:"Seeing this painting is like seeing the real person. From this we can conclude Xiang Shaolong has left a deep and strong impression in the mind of Princess."
Zhao Ya shot out a strange look. She looked closely at him and slowly quotes:"You have strong piercing eyes that could compare to Xiang Shaolong’s."
Xiang Shaolong smilingly said:"Princess’s love for Xiang Shaolong is well-known. Are you not afraid of jealousy from evil admirers?" Zhao Ya heartbreakingly answered:"You are a special man. Among the men I have come across, you are the only one who can make me forget Xiang Shaolong. Are you happy now?"
Xiang Shaolong naturally accepted:"Very happy. Princess, please return to your home. I need to a.s.sign my men and investigate the surroundings so as to accomplish this case that you have appealed to me. At the end of the day, I have full confidence in intercepting Xiang Shaolong and invite him to return back to Xianyang."
Zhao Ya gratefully agreed to his recommendations to leave. Her mind is full of concern for Xiang Shaolong’s safety and can longer think of other matters. But if Dong Kuang had asked her to stay, she would not reject him.
All the love and hatred for Zhao Ya has dissipated for Xiang Shaolong at this point in time. He accompanied her to the main door and both parties remain in silence.
Reaching the waiting horse carriage, Zhao Ya can no longer hold herself and beseeched softly:"Mister Dong is indeed someone who does not bother about the danger around him"
Xiang Shaolong heaved a sigh:"Birth and Death are fated. Worrying is good for nothing"
Amidst laughter, he returned to his villa.
Zhao Ya waited until his silhouette had disappeared before rousing up. Within the carriage, her mind kept revisiting "Birth and Death are fated"
Having untied his knotty issue regarding Zhao Ya, Xiang Shaolong completely recovered his self-confidence and has the strength to deal with his powerful foes such as Li Yuan and King Xiaocheng
The mindset of the Special Forces is to win through unique methods.
Using smaller numbers to defeat bigger numbers. Using elite to defeat the ordinary.
Utilising the highly efficient organization, he is convinced that no one can keep them in Handan City. Once they leave the city and enter the wild, their chances of escape and survival would be even higher.
Momentarily, he abandons all his thoughts and fear and march towards the unforeseeable future.
Tonight, he still needs to seek out Ji Yanran and inform her that she need not put up with Li Yuan the petty thief anymore.
Arriving in the east room, Zhao Zhi is leaning her face on her palm with her elbow on the table. She is waiting for him painfully.
Watching Xiang Shaolong stepping over the door ledge and looking full of energy, she happily pounced on him and checked:"Has Zhao Ya left?" Xiang Shaolong held her soft fingers and brought her through different rooms, going deeper into his villa. Halfway through, Wu Guo intercepted them. Peeping twice at the shy Zhao Zhi, he reported:"Since dawn, there are some stalkers outside our quarters. We have located their exact locations. There are four of them and situated in front and behind our villa."
Xiang Shaolong coldly commanded:"Capture them alive and interrogate them. I want to know who sent them."
Zhao Zhi was stunned and focused her beautiful big eyes on him
Wu Guo is pleased and rushed off.
Xiang Shaolong reached out and gives a light pinch to Zhao Zhi’s egg-shaped face. Dragging her along the way, he grinned:"Does Miss Zhi know where I am bringing you and what are we about to do together?"
Zhao Zhi’s face turned red and whispered:"I know!"
Xiang Shaolong chuckled:"What do you know?"
Zhao Zhi cannot resist looking at his wonderful physique. Bashfully, she protested:"You are very good with your methods. No matter which ident.i.ty you a.s.sumed, you are able to make me feel attracted to you, causing me days of untold suffering!"
Xiang Shaolong pulled her straight into the bath quarters. Someone has prepared hot water and poured it into a pool. There are another three bronze pots of hot water on standby.
How in the world would Zhao Zhi have guessed the destination is the bath quarters? Not knowing what to do and at a complete loss, she hesitated between going ahead and backing away. Observing her introvert expressions only caused Xiang Shaolong’s blood to race even faster.
Waving the servants to take their leave and after closing the door, Xiang Shaolong remove Blood Wave and laid it besides the pool. Stripping his outer garments, his climbing tools and flying needles are exposed.
Zhao Zhi was horrified that Xiang Shaolong was a single man armed like an entire army. Putting aside her shyness, she lightly a.s.sisted him to remove his hardware.
Xiang Shaolong took off his mask and placed it neatly, and proceeded to take off