Chapter 93: Forgetting the Pain

"Of course I don't believe it. But what other choice is there? Even if I don't believe it, nothing will change."

Ye Xuan looked at Qin Li, then at the medicine in her hand. He took it, surprised that she was actually being kind to him. She was not the type of person he had imagined; at the very least, she had not kicked him while he was down. In truth, Qin Li had no reason to kick him while he was down, as Ye Xuan was already courting death on his own.

"Then why did you agree to it? Why not just leave with Si Nuosang? The Master can't touch you anyway; you are, after all, a member of the Ye Estate."

"I have no connection to the Ye Estate anymore." Ye Xuan despised being associated with the Ye Estate, for he truly loathed his status as the young master of that place.

"Even if you hate it, you cannot change the facts. You are a member of the Ye Estate. Otherwise, why do you think the Master treats you the way he does? If you truly wish to leave the Bright Pavilion, taking over the Ye Estate is the most logical step. It would also allow you to protect Si Nuosang."

"It seems you are very eager for me to leave."

"Of course. As long as you are here, you will always be an obstacle to me."

Unlike Ye Xuan, who had a background to fall back on, Qin Li had earned every step of her journey with blood and sweat, fighting for her life at every turn.

"Hah, rest assured. From now on, I will no longer be your obstacle."

Ye Xuan watched Qin Li, knowing that her path had never been easy. From childhood to adulthood, she had suffered greatly, training relentlessly and carrying out dangerous missions just to reach where she was today. He, Ye Xuan, might be able to act recklessly, but Qin Li could not—and certainly would not.

"Then I wish you luck. But you must be prepared. You know the Master's temperament better than I do. Even if it is the Ye Estate, he will show no mercy. After all, you are not the true master of the Ye Estate, and you hold no real power there. The Master would rather deal with a mountain of trouble than let someone who knows all the secrets of the Bright Pavilion walk away. I have said my piece; the rest is for you to consider."

Qin Li looked at Ye Xuan, truly astonished. That he would leave the Bright Pavilion for the sake of Si Nuosang was shocking. Assassins like them were not meant to have attachments; feelings only brought death. Even she, who loved Xuan-yuan Juesi, would never leave the Bright Pavilion for his sake. That was the greatest difference between her and Ye Xuan.

"Thank you."

It was the first time Ye Xuan had ever said thank you. Qin Li paused momentarily, looking at him with a strange, inexplicable feeling.

"I am returning now; the Master will grow suspicious."

Qin Li turned and left quickly, leaving Ye Xuan alone. He arched a brow. Qin Li had acted a bit strangely just now. Was it because of that "thank you"? Perhaps. People like them rarely said such things in earnest, nor did they often hear them from others.

Back at the inn, he found that Si Nuosang had already fallen asleep. There was no one watching her; it seemed Xuan-yuan Juesi had truly let go.

He wondered how Xuan-yuan Juesi was faring—had he really moved on?

At that moment, Xuan-yuan Juesi was reading by candlelight, a book in his hand. Standing before the dim light was Yuan Qianlü, who was putting on a mask.

"Your Highness."

Xuan-yuan Juesi looked up at him. "Very good. This way, no one will recognize you." Satisfied with Yuan Qianlü's disguise, he nodded.

"Yes, Your Highness. But is this truly necessary?"

"Of course. If I don't teach him a lesson, I will never find peace of mind."

"Understood."

Yuan Qianlü set off immediately, arrived at the inn, and lured Ye Xuan out.

"Who are you?"

"The one who will kill you." Yuan Qianlü intentionally deepened his voice. With his disguise and the mask, Ye Xuan could not possibly guess his identity.

"Are you from the Thousand Gates?"

"Hmph, you seek death." Yuan Qianlü drew his sword and struck, his movements fast, precise, and fierce. Ye Xuan was forced to retreat a dozen steps before dodging sideways and drawing his own blade. Their sword tips clashed.

*This man’s martial arts are excellent,* Ye Xuan thought to himself. *Who in the Thousand Gates could possess such skill?*

He couldn't think of anyone. As he pondered, the masked man withdrew his blade, darted forward, and grazed Ye Xuan’s arm before pulling back to a distance.

"Good skills. Who exactly are you? If I am to die, at least let me die knowing who dealt the blow!"

Ye Xuan looked at his wound and asked.

"Just someone who wants your life. Since you are going to die sooner or later, why bother asking?"

Yuan Qianlü watched Ye Xuan. He wasn't supposed to kill him—only teach him a lesson. But Ye Xuan’s skills were formidable; he had clearly been testing his opponent's strength without revealing his full power. Yuan Qianlü knew he had to be twice as careful.

Ye Xuan stood up, fixed his gaze on his attacker, and lunged. This time, he was not to be underestimated. Yuan Qianlü was forced onto the defensive, finding no opportunity to counter-attack. If this continued, he would be completely overpowered. What should he do?

As he deliberated, another person appeared, also wearing a mask. With a gentle strike of his palm, the man used his inner energy to force Ye Xuan back.

Ye Xuan realized this person’s martial arts were far superior to his own.

"What have I done to deserve two such masters coming after me?" Ye Xuan looked at them. If they had wanted him dead, they would have finished him already, yet they had only forced him back.

"You are wounded; it would be an unfair victory. I shall wait for you to recover before we spar again. Let us go."

The man signaled for Yuan Qianlü to retreat, and they quickly vanished. Ye Xuan did not stop them; he lacked the strength. The palm strike from the newcomer had caused severe internal injuries, and his arm was already wounded. He knew he couldn't have defeated even the first man, so he let them go.

Returning to his room, he bandaged his arm, careful not to let Si Nuosang notice anything amiss. He took some of the medicine Qin Li had given him and collapsed onto the couch. The medicine was effective, temporarily dulling the pain.

He kept wondering who those men were. Could the Thousand Gates truly possess such masters? When he had fought them in the past, no one had been this skilled. Could it be the leader of the Thousand Gates?

He didn't think so. The Thousand Gates would have gone for the kill without regard for whether he was wounded, and they certainly wouldn't have been honorable enough to wait for his recovery.

Who could it be? Ye Xuan couldn't fathom it. It never occurred to him that it might be Xuan-yuan Juesi, as he assumed the Prince would always face him openly. But in this, he was mistaken—it was indeed Xuan-yuan Juesi.