Chapter 496: Distrust
Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
If they had some plans, Han Xuan and Han Fen would sneak into Ha Chilie’s tent and kidnapped him to Ming Zhen’s bed. After that, Han Fen would use her Delightful Touches to make her mistress faint.
Han Fen was very confident in her occult sciences because she tested it in person and succeed by using it on Dragon King and the Princess. She promised to Han Xuan, saying, “It’ll absolutely be effective.”
Soldiers had been patrolling in the barracks strictly and it was not until the latter half of the night that they gradually lowered their guards. With the death of Tuo Nengya, the commander-in-chief, military discipline was inevitably affected and orders were not fully implemented.
Han Xuan and Han Fen nearly stayed in wait for an hour. Han Fen was willing to wait because she was trained as a killer in the New Moon Hall. She could continue waiting for several hours. However, Han Xuan felt a little anxious and kept quiet because she wanted to compete for tolerance with her partner.
Therefore, when they saw two figures sneaking into Ha Chilie’s tent, Han Xuan could not help pouncing on them before muttering in a low voice, “Don’t compete with my mistress.”
Han Fen was stunned. It was the first time that she had seen someone more unruly than herself, so she also followed her.
The two killers lurked around for half an hour and decided to act only after finding nothing strange. They did not realize that there were other people that had been hiding earlier than them.
Han Xuan thought that she couldn’t be able to defeat them because her martial arts was much worse than them. She only learned the simplest martial arts of the New Moon Hall since young, not occult sciences. Naturally, she would lose.
Fortunately, Han Fen constantly used all kinds of hidden weapons, preventing them from getting hurt.
Those two men were unwilling to fight them. They waved their sabers to force the two women backward before fleeing. But after taking only several steps, they smelled a strange fragrance. It was too late to escape from it. Instead, they stumbled back.
Han Xuan did not notice anything unusual. She was stubborn and always tried her best to fight even when she was at a disadvantage. She tried her best to land a palm stroke on the nearest killer and sent the man flying. Han Xuan was shocked. Why was this powerful man suddenly this vulnerable?
Han Fen realized that the two killers had been caught by knockout powder, but refused to lag behind because of her child-like compet.i.tive mind. She grabbed the other killer with poisonous finger-cot in her five fingers.
With this, Maid Lotus’ plan was destroyed.
She made the two men faint with the Indra Fragrance, but the men died before they could get any important information out of them.
“You!” Maid Lotus scolded them in a low voice, her tone unusually severe.
Han Fen was loyal to the Managing Master but was also afraid of her. She could not help flinching. She pointed to Han Xuan and said, “It’s her.”
The patrolling soldiers noticed something strange was going on and quickly came up to them. “Sweep,” Maid Lotus ordered before entering Ha Chilie’s tent.
Sweeping meant that they should get rid of the corpses, but Han Xuan did not understand the order. She began to frown to see Maid Lotus so casually entering Ha Chilie’s tent.
Han Fen immediately carried two corpses alone and followed after Han Xuan. Together, they entered the tent.
Ha Chilie was not in bed. He was standing in front of his bed, fully clothed.
When the patrolling soldiers outside left, Maid Lotus said again, “What are you doing here?” Her tone was not as severe as before, but it was still as cold as usual.
The more aloof Maid Lotus was, the more afraid Han Fen became. She was much older than Maid Lotus, but she was now like a child who had made a mistake. She nervously dragged at her skirt and whispered, “I… I followed her. She asked me for help. I think since we’re friends, I should…”
Han Xuan did not fear the Managing Master and asked suspiciously, “I asked her to come, and we came to tie… well, protect Ha Chilie. However, Miss, why are you in a man’s tent at night?”
Ha Chilie stopped her immediately and said, “Don’t say nonsense. Maid Lotus knows that there’d be a.s.sa.s.sins tonight and came to protect me personally.”
In order to make this trap credible, Maid Lotus did not even ask the New Moon Hall disciples to follow her. She did not expect this decision to ruin the whole plan.
“She’s Maid Lotus. Why are you calling ‘Lady’? You never call Miss ‘Lady’.” Han Xuan was increasingly suspicious. She did not care that Maid Lotus was the superior martial artist between the two; she just wanted to seek justice for her mistress.
Ha Chilie blushed. Han Xuan did not stop speaking, but this time turned to address Maid Lotus. “Lady Maid Lotus, you won’t have worry about this anymore. I’ll protect him so no sly woman would dare approach him again.”
Han Fen held her breath and looked at her new friend in horror. Words failed her.
Despite being humiliated, Maid Lotus did not kill Han Xuan. Instead, her tone became more gentle as she asked, “You’ll protect him?”
“He’s my mistress’ husband. Of course, I should be the one…”
She could not even finish her sentence because Maid Lotus suddenly used her fingers to lightly flash across her chest. Han Xuan felt as if a large stone was weighing on her chest, preventing her from breathing, let alone speaking.
“Please be merciful!” Ha Chilie shouted. He turned even redder when he realized that Han Xuan appeared fine. He lowered his head and retreated.
Maid Lotus returned to her original spot, but Han Xun was like a drowning person that could not breathe. She became much better after her Internal Breath worked for a while.
Partially due to the suffocation, partially due to the fright, Han Xuan’s face was redder than Ha Chilie. “You…”
“Her martial arts is…” Han Fen was trying to boast about Maid Lotus but immediately closed her mouth when she saw Maid Lotus’ eyes.
“You have good martial arts. Why don’t you stealing another person’s man instead of getting your own?” Though Han Xuan was weaker than Maid Lotus in terms of martial arts, she still had something to say.
“Ha Chilie is your mistress’ husband and has nothing to do with me. I don’t have any need to steal him.”
Han Fen found it surprising that Maid Lotus was willing to explain herself. She secretly shot Han Xuan a warning glance but Han Xuan continued to ask, “Really?”
Maid Lotus nodded.
“Then… I apologize to you. I’m the meddlesome one, but this is all my own idea. It has nothing to do with Han Fen and my mistress.”
Han Fen repeatedly nodded.
Ha Chilie felt the uneasiest despite it being his tent. They were so straightforward that Ha Chilie could not bear it. Besides, Maid Lotus’ words also disappointed him a little.
Her plan failed, leaving only two corpses. Maid Lotus checked for a moment and confirmed that they were not Golden Roc killers. Ha Chilie claimed that they were mine thieves. The Wushan tribe fought with the mine thieves all the year round and could identify each other.
Han Xuan also looked at the corpses but found nothing. She stole glances at Maid Lotus from time to time, gradually feeling relief that Maid Lotus did not seem offended.
The moment dawn arrived, Wu Zongheng led 3,000 veterans to continue on their journey. The four New Moon Hall disciples, including Han Fen, acted as guards. Ming Zhen and Han Xuan were also ready to return to the Gulping Wind Gorge, so they took the same route as the army.
Ha Chilie felt that he was a little unfriendly toward his fiancee yesterday, so he personally saw her off for 5,000 meters. However, they spoke little along the way. When it was time to leave, Ha Chilie calmly said, “Well, goodbye. Please travel safely.”
Before Ming Zhen could reply, Ha Chilie was already returning to the camp on his horse.
It was difficult to find spies among more than remaining 1,000 new recruits. Ha Chilie did not know how to do, so Maid Lotus had to do that in person. However, her commands were made in the name of vice commander of thousands of soldiers.
The most important thing was that they shouldn’t make everyone in the army feel under suspicion, which was untrue and could easily cause a disturbance.
Under the order of Maid Lotus, Ha Chilie secretly summoned the tribesmen with higher status among the soldiers. He revealed to them that spies must be mine thieves and asked them to look for spies.
Meanwhile, Maid Lotus disguised as Dragon King’s messenger and met with several of the respected representatives of the mine thieves. She conveyed Dragon King’s doubts about the tribe.
They hinted that those who provided clues leading to the discovery of the spies would receive a great reward.
With this, the animosity between the two parties who had old grievances deepened even more. They strived to tell Maid Lotus and Ha Chilie the truth.
Once one began giving secret information, the rest would follow him. The tribesmen and mine thieves not only disclosed each other’s secrets but also began distrusting their acquaintances and relatives.
That day, Maid Lotus and Ha Chilie received countless clues, most of which were of no value except for several clues.
Though the two a.s.sa.s.sins died last night, their ident.i.ties were quickly discovered. They were indeed mine thieves. Then, their organizations that contained dozens of people were gradually revealed. By the middle of the night, Maid Lotus had gathered a rough list. The question now was when to catch them.
In order to confirm the evidence, Maid Lotus decided to wait for the right moment. She would start acting after the spies become anxious under pressure.
Even after getting Maid Lotus’ promise, Han Xuan was not completely at ease because Ha Chilie was still indifferent to her mistress. He did not stand and look at her mistress for a while after saying goodbye. Instead, he had rushed to the barracks as if someone was waiting for him.
Ha Chilie was too suspicious. When the army took a nap at noon, Han Xuan asked for Han Fen’s help. “Return to the barracks with me.”
Having learned a lesson last night, Han Fen immediately shook her head. When she saw that Han Xuan was about to speak, she shook her head in advance.
Han Xuan was not completely brain-dead. She knew what could induce Han Fen to take risks. “Your Miss is in danger.”
“Miss? Do you mean the Managing Master?”
“Well, Miss, the Managing Master, and Maid Lotus. Whatever her t.i.tle is, it’s her.”
“Her martial arts is first in the world. There’s no need to fear.”
“What will happen if many people besiege her?”
Han Fen frowned and thought for a while, “What do you want to say?”
Both of them were far away from the soldiers. Han Xuan looked around before saying in a low voice, “Do you know why my mistress and I are looking for Ha Chilie?”
Han Fen shook her head before immediately adding, “To sleep with him?”
“No,” Han Xuan said, but she did not get angry. “Several days ago, my mistress overheard her relatives plotting to do something over in Ha Chilie’s place. She came here to warn her out of worry but couldn’t say anything in front of the stone-faced Ha Chilie. Moreover, I noticed that everyone from the Gulping Wind Gorge stayed behind in the barracks instead of following us.”
“So, Ha Chilie is in danger.”
“No, no. My mistress heard clearly that they would deal with Dragon King… and Maid Lotus.”
Han Xuan seemed to be credible, so Han Fen did not doubt her. She stared at Han Xuan and asked, “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
“I’m giving you a chance to make a contribution. That way, I can make up for the trouble I caused you last night.”
Han Fen decided that she was going to protect the Managing Master. She did not consider the strangeness in Han Xuan’s words.
More than 5,000 meters away, Maid Lotus was ready to catch spies.