In the end, the two groups settled down in a clearing in the woods, to talk about the women"s plans. Just as Lin Liushui had suspected, they were merely heading to support the ones who were being bullied, and did not really have an idea of what was actually going on."The incident was supposed to have taken place about two months ago, shortly after the youngest son of our affiliated Su Family returned from his training in the Red Iron Hills. That was when they received a threatening letter from the Lin Family, claiming that he had stolen away a girl of the same, and killed off some thirty of the servants that were following after her."
Ye Honghua, the leader of the Snow Swallow Mountain Palace girls, explained after they had made their introductions. Of course, Qin Feng didn"t bother with the rest of the girls, since they were clearly there to boost the numbers, and didn"t look as if they had any skills of consequence.
"Naturally, the Su Family had protested that none of that had taken place, but the messenger that was sent by the Lin Family ignored all of their words, and left after scolding the Su Patriarch. This worried our allies, so they sent word to us immediately."
"And you are all that the Snow Swallow Palace is sending to aid them? The seven of you?"
Qin Feng could not help but ask. But he realized just how those words could be taken as an insult after they left his lips. At least, an insult to the girls that were a.s.sembled in front of him. But Ye Honghua and her sisters merely flushed, as they looked away.
Which made it clear that they were aware of their inadequate cultivation.
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Still, Qin Feng could not help but chide himself mentally. He would have to watch himself before he spoke from now on. If he did not wish to give the game away. He had asked to take the lead in this matter, hadn"t he?
Perhaps this was the reason that irritating Lin Liushui fellow made all those pauses in his speech? Perhaps he was trying to form a habit of thinking about how he was going to ask his questions first, before blurting them out? Was that what those infuriating manners were all about?
But Ye Honghua was already speaking again, and he forced himself to push those thoughts aside, as he paid attention to what she had to say:
"By the time we received word of the matter, it was already late. So there would be no time to send word to our Mountain Palace, before the Lin Family arrived at Chestnut Town. That is where our allied Su Family is located. So our Elder Li has asked us to head to Chestnut Town, to lend our support to the Su Family. While another group hurried to bring word to the Place."
"So this Su Family ... They are long time allies of your Snow Swallow Palace? Have they sent any daughters to join your Sect?"
Ye Honghua blinked when she heard Qin Feng"s question. Then her brows tightened as she tossed one back his way.
"What do you mean?"
Qin Feng hid a curse. Admittedly, those questions were a little provocative. Given the circ.u.mstances, he could be taken as hinting that the Su Family was working with the enemy, and luring the Snow Swallow Palace girls into danger. So it was no wonder that this Ye Honghua would be upset.
He glanced at Lin Liushui, who looked as though he was about to burst. From laughter, no doubt, at seeing how Qin Feng was making a mess of everything! But the older man was keeping quiet, and did not step in. Which was enough to make Qin Feng"s anger rise.
He had asked the handsome man to leave him in charge, but he didn"t say that Lin Liushui had to keep completely quiet, did he? And didn"t a strategist have to step in, in circ.u.mstances like this, to help out? Why was he still keeping his mouth shut?
But his interactions with Yuan Qianlei and her girls did allow him to pick up some tricks. And Qin Feng shot a cool glance at Lin Liushui, as he leaned back a little, to give the impression that he was looking down his nose at the woman in front of him.
Wasn"t that how it was described, in all of the Jade-faced, Empty-sleeved Gentleman"s works? Well, if Lin Liushui wasn"t going to help, he would just have to get his inspiration from that author, didn"t he?
To tell the truth, he was already too p.i.s.sed to be bothered with being polite!
"What do I mean? Can it be that you can"t tell? I wish to know if you can rely on the Su Family"s kin at your Snow Swallow Palace to kick up a fuss. If you can rely on them to urge the rest of your Elders and Masters into action.
"Do I really need to reveal the whole painting before you can see what is being depicted? If this the quality of disciples that your idiotic Elder Li is sending to the Su Family, I am almost tempted to presume that she has some hidden grudge against the same."
Then he leaned forward again, to fix the woman with a glare.
"Sending such idiots to this Chestnut Town ... Isn"t this the same as throwing stones down onto a person already stuck in a well*?"
"You!"
"What? You don"t admit it? Look at you lot! How many here are capable of fending off a moderately powerful enemy? Can any of you face off the Second Ducal Prince here? How many of you will die before you can land even a single scratch on his body? If it comes to a real fight?" he sneered, before she could explode.
Ye Honghua seemed to bite down on her tongue when she heard that. But it was clear from the way that the girls were looking at each other that none of them could deny the truth behind his words. They were but weak, Outer Court disciples after all.
But Qin Feng wasn"t finished.
"And here you are, rushing to Chestnut Town as if you were a pack of suicidal idiots! You are just asking to be eliminated on the road, aren"t you?"
* * *
*落井下石