Chapter 73 – Since You Begged Sincerely

Chapter 73 - Since You Begged Sincerely

Bi Luhun was on the verge of exploding with rage, almost spitting blood.

Is this some kind of game to you, old man!

Can't you see how I've aged overnight! Are the assassins around me invisible to you! How shameless, pretending not to see them! Were they sent by you two! Trying to win the bet in such a manner, despicable!

Bi Luhun knew, of course, that the assassins were not dispatched by Wen Ruan or Zhu Yan. This wasn't Zhu Yan's style. If Zhu Yan truly wanted him dead here, he wouldn't have survived the night. He knew that Zhu Yan needed him alive, at least until the trade agreement was finalized and the envoy safely returned to Beidi. Zhu Yan couldn't kill him now, and would even ensure his safety.

Some people just prioritize their personal vendettas and national grudges, no matter how uncomfortable it makes them feel.

That's why he was so bold and reckless since entering the capital.

He didn't think Zhu Yan's presence was merely coincidental; he must be there to protect him. So he gritted his teeth and remained silent.

How dare they mock him, trying to extort him. He would never bow to Wen Ruan!

But Zhu Yan actually listened to Wen Ruan's words. When Wen Ruan said to leave, he followed suit!

What about the assassins targeting me!

His strength was formidable, but the assassins had also suffered significant losses. As time dwindled and more people appeared, they naturally intensified their efforts, making their moves more ruthless in an attempt to swiftly end the battle. Bi Luhun could no longer hold out, forced to shout, "Wait!"

Zhu Yan and Wen Ruan stopped.

"What is it?"

"Have you reconsidered? Need help?"

They spoke one after the other, their expressions similar—feigned sympathy and concern, perfectly in sync.

Bi Luhun clenched his teeth. "I'll give you a chance to prove yourselves!"

"Thank you for your consideration, esteemed envoy," Wen Ruan smiled amiably, excessively polite. "But this assistance can't be given lightly. Surely, the esteemed envoy must—offer something in return?"

Bi Luhun erupted in fury. "Zhu Yan, control your wife! What nonsense is he spouting, daring to ask for payment in exchange for help. If I die here, the trade agreement will fail, and you'll all suffer!"

Zhu Yan spoke calmly. "That won't do. I'm merely a titled prince with nothing to do, what does state affairs have to do with me? If the trade agreement fails and the border becomes chaotic, we'll just fight again. It's not like we haven't fought before. Great Li can still win. To me, my princess is what matters."

As he spoke, he reached out to adjust Wen Ruan's cloak, wrapping him up tighter. "Perhaps your status in Beidi isn't as high as you imagine?"

Wen Ruan looked up at him, eyes sparkling, cheeks flushed. His skin below the chin was completely covered, yet he exuded a healthy, lively, and vibrant beauty. It seemed as if he wasn't cold or uncomfortable at all, traversing through the freezing forest as if it wasn't a hardship. "Since Bi Luhun doesn't want our life-saving grace, let's continue on. Didn't we see a lovely spotted deer earlier? I want to play with it!"

Zhu Yan agreed readily. "Very well, I was wondering how to help you win. If he dies himself, wouldn't that be perfect?"

The two were about to leave again.

Bi Luhun's wound split open from anger, blood seeping through the bandages. Why should he suffer while Wen Ruan, that useless thing, was so relaxed and carefree, playing in the woods as if that's what he came here for!

"Trade! I'll trade, alright!"

"Oh, what will you trade?" Wen Ruan turned around, somewhat disinterested.

Bi Luhun gritted his teeth. "The prey! Half of my prey! Count it towards your total, alright!"

Of course, he was reluctant. They were all hard-earned kills! But giving half away didn't matter. The bet ended tonight, and he still had the entire afternoon. Although it would be tiring, he could still crush this worthless Wen Ruan!

"I can't eat that much," Wen Ruan shook his head, turning back to Zhu Yan. "Bi Luhun doesn't seem sincere. He seems confident he can handle everything without our help. Never mind, let's go."

Zhu Yan: "Alright."

Bi Luhun: ...

Who said anything about eating!

Overwhelmed by emotion, he failed to notice another strike to his arm. His arm was becoming a bloody mess!

He growled through clenched teeth. "All of it! All of it, alright!"

Wen Ruan spoke slowly. "But I might not win anyway."

Win, win, win, all you care about is winning!

Bi Luhun wanted to win too, but he had no choice. Life was more important: "I won't draw my bow or release an arrow for the rest of the day. I won't hunt any prey, letting you win. Will that do?"

He really couldn't hold on any longer.

Wen Ruan pretended to deliberate with Zhu Yan. "What should we do? I'm somewhat tempted."

Zhu Yan: "It sounds good, but what if someone reneges on the deal? They often break their promises."

Bi Luhun felt dizzy. Why do you have so many complaints!

"I won't renege. If I do, let you kill me eight hundred times—"

"If he dares to renege, I'll help Aruan beat him up," Zhu Yan looked at Wen Ruan, his voice filled with tenderness.

"But I'm worried you'll get hurt. Even if you don't, hitting someone will hurt your hand. It's not worth it," Wen Ruan smiled obediently. "Forget it, let him die. I'll win for sure."

Hand in hand, they showed deep affection for each other, completely ignoring Bi Luhun.

Bi Luhun: ...

You people of Great Li know how to infuriate others!

Wen Ruan continued to pour salt on his wounds. "Though the envoy leader is important, he's not the only one here. If he dies, we can help promote the deputy leader. The trade agreement can still proceed smoothly. I think that deputy leader is quite reasonable."

Zhu Yan: "Arun sees things clearly. Let's do it this way."

Bi Luhun was about to explode with anger. That deputy leader was nothing but a brainless fool. If not for his noble status, how could he possibly be on equal footing with him? He couldn't even understand the stakes involved and would listen to anyone who tried to persuade him. Wasn't it true that he was easy to talk to?

"You two—"

"Woof! Woof woof woof!"

As soon as he cursed at the dog, it appeared. Dao Dao, the slender hound, was in prime condition, its black fur glossy and sleek. After wandering around the forest for a day and a half, it had somehow become even more energetic, showing no signs of fatigue. It rushed over and barked fiercely at Bi Luhun, who dared to insult its master, baring its teeth in aggression.

"Dao Dao!" Wen Ruan was delighted beyond measure, dismounting from his horse immediately to scoop up the black dog and rub it affectionately. "You're here!"

The black dog rubbed itself vigorously against Wen Ruan, whining continuously as if recounting its experiences from the past day and night.

Bi Luhun: ...

What was wrong with this man? He was more enthusiastic towards a dog than towards him!

Zhu Yan looked at Lan Tian, who nodded slightly—

The mission was accomplished.

Zhu Yan watched as the dog, which was energetically bouncing around and rubbing against Wen Ruan's cloak, causing it to open. He dismounted as well, pulling the dog aside so it wouldn't continue to bother Wen Ruan.

"I see that Bi Luhun seems to be struggling and might not be able to hold on much longer. Why don't you, Ah Ruan, be generous and let him off this time? Agree to his terms and end this bet immediately?"

"I have no problem with it," Wen Ruan said indifferently, casting a brief glance at Bi Luhun. "But he doesn't seem very willing."

Bi Luhun, having just received a blow from an assassin and spat out a mouthful of blood, exclaimed, "I'm willing, I'm willing!"

Wen Ruan: "What about the promised horses?"

Bi Luhun: "All yours! Not a single one less!"

Wen Ruan: "And what about the mares?"

Bi Luhun: "Also all yours!"

Wen Ruan: "But isn't it a bit embarrassing for your envoy to lose like this?"

Bi Luhun: "As long as the mutual market is successful and I return with several major deals, it will still be considered a great achievement. In my royal court, I'll still have my dignity!"

He was a pragmatic person who valued practical benefits over mere appearances. What did it matter if he lost face in the Great Li Empire? It wasn't as if he would be living there in the future!

As for the losses...

His eyes quickly darted around; he would find a way to make up for them.

But right now, he had to endure this wave of assassins. This was the foundation for everything that would follow!

"Zhu Yan, why are you still waiting! I've said it, I'll agree to all your conditions!"

He was going to die! All the people he had brought into the forest were already dead, leaving only him. He had to get out of there to have any chance of survival!

"Alright," Wen Ruan lowered his gaze, sighing softly. "Since Your Envoy is so sincere in your request, we will reluctantly agree."

"Good."

Zhu Yan leaped into action, joining the fray.

In the camp outside the dense forest, everyone was silent.

The officials from the Great Li side were exchanging glances, their thoughts swirling.

The Prince and Princess had done well, venting their anger! They should indeed humiliate the Beidi people! Look at them now, dare they still act arrogantly!

But wait, did the Princess Consort of Prince Jian foresee this moment... and was she intentionally holding back? Did she plan this victory from the beginning? Could she have thought of this when they were in the palace?

But that shouldn't be possible. These assassins weren't sent by Prince Jian's side; it was too obvious that they weren't. If they didn't send them, how could they have predicted this? Moreover, the Princess Consort had only just returned to the capital from the salt fields and hadn't even met with Prince Jian yet. There was no time for them to discuss anything! How could she have been so calm and collected throughout, predicting everything accurately?

And then there were these assassins. Who sent them, and what was their purpose? Were they trying to disrupt the mutual market? But what benefit would this bring to whoever sent them? As long as they were from the Great Li Empire, their interests in this direction were aligned. No one would have a reason to do such a thing. And looking at Bi Luhun's reaction, it seemed he didn't want to escalate matters either, complying with the intentions of the Princess Consort of Prince Jian... Was he really going to swallow this loss? Was he that generous?

Some wondered where Prince Jian and the Princess Consort spent the entire previous night. Not only did they evade the guards protecting Nanxing, Lan Tian, and the dog, but they also managed to shake off all the accompanying surveillance personnel. In this cold, dense forest, where water turned to ice, even if Prince Jian wasn't afraid of the cold, the Princess Consort would be. Everyone was worried sick, fearing that the longer they waited, the worse the outcome would be. Yet, unexpectedly, the Princess Consort seemed to be in good spirits. How did they spend the night, and why weren't they cold? Could it be that heaven was blessing the Great Li Empire?

The Second and Third Princes were also bewildered. Were they being saved by Wen Ruan and Zhu Yan again, incidentally? They did indeed send a wave of assassins targeting Bi Luhun, and the first attack was their doing. However, they had no knowledge of the subsequent attacks, which clearly indicated that someone was deliberately fanning the flames and using others' knives to kill. If Bi Luhun died here, there would be a thorough investigation, and they would be unable to explain themselves no matter how many mouths they had! Now, this was perfect. Wen Ruan offered them a life-saving grace and conveniently resolved this situation. It seemed that Bi Luhun didn't intend to cause too much trouble over this humiliating matter... Wouldn't they be able to smoothly move past this?

Great, it was wonderful! They would thoroughly investigate who was trying to set them up!

The Beidi envoy dared not utter a word. Their leader was being hunted down like this; if they dared to cause trouble, how could they survive? Didn't it always say that the Great Li Empire was a land of etiquette and easy to bully? Why, then, did they end up being the ones bullied?

The deputy leader felt like sitting on pins and needles. Despite the freezing weather, sweat poured down his forehead.

You fight your battles, but please don't drag me into it! I came here just to gain some experience and add a touch of prestige, so I could enjoy power and influence upon my return. I never intended to stir up any trouble!

Several people had already died, and he didn't want to be implicated. If he truly died here, who would he complain to? The mutual market couldn't be canceled; it was a significant event for Beidi this year. If it didn't happen, they wouldn't be able to survive next year. If they returned without accomplishing anything, they would be punished!

What was Bi Luhun doing! He had already lowered himself and allowed Bi Luhun to be arrogant. Did Bi Luhun really think he was something special, believing that this was Beidi territory?

In the forest.

Although Zhu Yan went to help, he did so leisurely, making sure others could see that he was holding back.

Wen Ruan could tell, so how could Bi Luhun not notice?

He swore directly, "What's wrong with you, surnamed Zhu! You agreed but aren't giving it your all. Do you want to die with me, or do you not want to help your wife win? Does your wife know that you're all looks and no substance!"

"What can I do? Someone insisted on framing me, accusing me of betraying the princess consort and having some 'dewy relationship'," Zhu Yan glanced at Bi Luhun indifferently.

Bi Luhun: ...

He now regretted his actions and felt guilty. If he had known earlier, he definitely wouldn't have played these tricks!

"Where did you find this person? Hm?" Zhu Yan casually deflected an incoming arrow for him, his movements slowing as he asked, "No, how did you know about this person? Who helped you?"

Wen Ruan, observing from the sidelines, suddenly understood. No wonder the details hadn't been discussed last night; they were waiting to extract information today.

It made sense. If others dared to exploit this situation, why couldn't they? Seizing the opportunity could even lead them to unravel the deepest secrets and expose the most hidden players!

Bi Luhun evaded the question, refusing to face it head-on. Zhu Yan stood with his hands at his sides, asking what help he was offering. Oh, not that he wasn't working, but didn't people deserve a rest when they were tired?

"It's not that complicated, I just accidentally overheard..." Bi Luhun genuinely couldn't bear the assassins any longer, admitting his weakness in a low voice.

Zhu Yan: "Accidentally, huh? Where did you accidentally overhear, and who carelessly mentioned it to you?"

Bi Luhun remained silent, at a loss for words.

Zhu Yan sneered. "If you're not sincere in seeking help, there's no point in playing games. I'm leaving."

He started to walk away.

"No, no, I'll tell you!" Bi Luhun had no choice. "Come closer!"

Zhu Yan wasn't afraid of Bi Luhun harming him. Not only did he doubt Bi Luhun's capability, but there was simply no need for such action.

Bi Luhun's lips moved rapidly as he whispered a name.

Zhu Yan listened attentively but didn't miss the scheming in the other's eyes. "Oh, this person, it definitely wasn't him."

Bi Luhun was speechless.

Zhu Yan's gaze sharpened. "Trying to frame someone in front of me isn't easy. You should consider whether you know the people here better than I do. The name you randomly chose might belong to one of my own."

As the assassins went berserk, launching another wave of perilous attacks, Bi Luhun had no choice. "I'll tell you, alright!"

This time, he didn't lie, whispering a name to Zhu Yan quickly.

Zhu Yan raised his eyebrows. "Selling out so easily?"

Bi Luhun gritted his teeth. "Now that he's sent people to kill me, why can't I sell him out completely!"

The connection had been maintained for a long time, and it would be difficult for the Beidi to find someone else like him to cultivate. He wasn't without speculations about the current situation, originally intending to endure and then counter-threaten and exploit the situation. But now that things had reached this point, what was there left to endure?

Others had already overturned the table, and he could also choose mutual destruction. If you won't let me live well, I certainly won't let you have it easy either!