A Stranger Late at Night

This was not the first time Lin Ran had seen him, but it was the first time he had met him after knowing his true identity. He couldn’t help but narrow his eyes and size him up carefully.

To be honest, Xuan Wushang’s appearance was very delicate and pretty, even more so than Emperor Sheng Yuan who was dressed as a man.

Moreover, without the maliciousness and ruthlessness in Chen Tianqi’s eyes, his refined temperament was completely displayed.

In short, after Lin Ran carefully sized up Xuan Wushang, he felt that Xuan Wushang did not look like an emperor who was above the world. Instead, he looked like a female teacher in a private school in the countryside.

!!

As soon as this thought appeared, Lin Ran’s expression turned strange.

Seeing this, Xuan Wushang smiled and looked at Lin Ran with interest. He asked softly, “Do you think I look like a girl?”

“You don’t sound like one when you talk,” Lin Ran said with a forced smile.

Although Xuan Wushang looked feminine, his voice was deep and resounding, instantly making him masculine.

Xuan Wushang smiled and did not mind. After pausing for a moment, he continued to ask, “What do you want to talk to me about? Is it about the Great Yong Dynasty and the Heavenly Saint Dynasty?”

Lin Ran sneered and looked at Xuan Wushang in amusement. “You’re just a prisoner now. What’s the use of talking to you about those important matters?”

“That’s true.”

Xuan Wushang laughed self-deprecatingly. After thinking for a moment, he asked again, “Then you’re here to ask me why I was captured? You should already know about why, right?”

Lin Ran nodded in affirmation. Then, he changed the topic and asked, “I’ll get straight to the point—do you know Fluttering Cloud?”

“Fluttering Cloud, the famous saber ranked first in the Famed Saber Manual?” Xuan Wushang asked with a faint smile.

Seeing Lin Ran nod seriously, he finally couldn’t help but chuckle. “That’s the royal treasure of the Great Yong Dynasty. I’m the current emperor of the Great Yong Dynasty. Do you think I know or not?”

“I’m glad you know.”

Lin Ran nodded again. He didn’t care about Xuan Wushang’s mockery. He paused for a moment before continuing, “I want to know Fluttering Cloud’s weakness.”

The smile on Xuan Wushang’s face froze, and his eyes clearly became vigilant. “Why are you asking this?”

“The man who impersonated you killed my friend. I’m going after him for revenge.”

Lin Ran answered honestly without hesitation, “But that Fluttering Cloud is very difficult to deal with. I can’t think of a good way. Since it’s a treasure passed down in your family, I think you know how to deal with it.”

“I do know.”

Xuan Wushang nodded slightly, and a subtle expression appeared on his face. “But why should I tell you? You’re from the Heavenly Saint. If I tell you Fluttering Cloud’s weakness, how am I supposed to protect myself if you attack me in the future?”

“But if you don’t say it, do you think you’ll have a ‘future’?”

Lin Ran replied calmly. The Yin-Yang Sword in his hand turned slightly, and the smooth blade reflected the moonlight, revealing a snow-white arc at Xuan Wushang’s throat.

A faint killing intent spread in the air. Xuan Wushang looked down at the Yin Yang Sword in Lin Ran’s hand and suddenly smiled. “You can try.”

…

In the Ye family’s house in the north of the Iron City.

historical

Ye Jin hugged her knees and sat on the steps at the entrance. From time to time, she would look up in the direction of the street entrance, her big eyes filled with worry.

Suddenly, footsteps came from behind and a loose robe draped over Ye Jin’s body. “Jin, go back to your room first. I’ll wait here.”

“Father.”

Ye Jin called out, but her eyes were still looking in the direction of the street entrance. “I’m fine. Your injuries haven’t healed yet. You should go back and rest early.”

Looking at Ye Jin’s worried face, Ye Shixiao sighed softly. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly saw a figure rushing over from the corner of his eye.

At the same time, Ye Jin also saw the figure. Her face lit up as she stood up. Before she could open her mouth and say anything, she sat back down awkwardly.

It turned out that the figure was not Lin Ran, but a young man she had never seen before.

Then Ye Jin realized that the person was actually walking straight towards her.

“Miss, sorry to disturb you.”

As that person spoke, he approached and stopped ten steps away. “I was asked by someone to come here to find a family with the surname Ye. However, I’m not familiar with this place. Please guide me.”

“The Ye family?”

Ye Jin frowned slightly and turned to look at Ye Shixiao, who was hiding behind the door. She then looked at that person and asked suspiciously, “Why are you looking for the Ye family?”

“It’s not convenient for me to tell you about it.”

That person smiled awkwardly, his attitude still very respectful. “Miss, don’t worry. I’m not a bad person. It’s just that it’s late at night and I really can’t find anyone to ask for directions. If I’ve been rude, please forgive me.”

Seeing that this person was respectful and polite, the vigilance in Ye Jin’s heart relaxed slightly. She turned around and wanted to ask Ye Shixiao what to do, but she saw his father shaking his head slightly at her. Then, Ye Jin pointed to an empty house not far away. “That is the Ye family, but no one has lived there for a long time.”

“No one’s lived here for a long time?”

The person frowned and looked suspicious, but he still thanked her and hurried in that direction.

Ye Jin took the opportunity to get up and enter the house. After closing the door, she looked at Ye Shixiao. “Father, why don’t you want me to tell the truth just now?”

“I don’t know.”

Ye Shixiao shook his head slightly and said softly with a serious expression, “I’ve never seen that person in the city. Moreover, it’s curfew time now, but he’s running around on the streets. Moreover, this timing is too coincidental.”

Ye Jin nodded as if she understood. “Then what should we do now?”

“You go upstairs first.”

Ye Shixiao locked the door and said softly, “Unless I go up to look for you, don’t come down no matter what you hear.”

“But…”

Ye Jin was about to say something when the sound of light footsteps came from outside the door. She was so frightened that her expression changed and she quickly kept quiet. She grabbed Ye Shixiao’s hand tightly and did not dare to make a sound.

The footsteps stopped outside the door, followed by a light knock.

“Miss, I’m really sorry to disturb you so late at night. Please show yourself.”

...

The person’s voice came from outside the door. Ye Jin and Ye Shixiao subconsciously looked at each other and saw the same seriousness in each other’s eyes.

Fortunately, Ye Jin was quick on the uptake. She hesitated for a moment before replying, “It’s not appropriate for me to see a stranger so late at night. You should ask someone else!”

“Oh? I’m sorry for being rude.”

The person outside the door hurriedly apologized, but he did not bid farewell and leave. “I just want to ask for directions. Since you can see me, please let that elder come out.”

“Elder?”

Ye Jin looked at Ye Shixiao, who was beside her. There was no doubt that the “elder” that the other party was referring to was her father. However, her father had never shown his face from the beginning to the end. How could the person outside the door know that he was here?

Before Ye Jin could figure it out, Ye Shixiao had already picked up the hammer from the forging table. He held the handle of the hammer with both hands and gestured for Ye Jin to open the door. His expression had unknowingly become ruthless.