Lin Liushui was first to react, when he heard that. He whirled to stare at the Ducal Prince, folding his fan with a snap as soon as he heard the words. And his criticism of the same was rather harsh:"Are you mad? They are hunting you now, unless you have forgotten! And you wish to present them with a fat, juicy target at a time like this? And on the road? Out where you are next to defenseless? Have you gone insane?"
But the Ducal Prince was adamant. "How can I stand aside at a time like this? Du Yan is clearly the target of some scheme by his enemies. So how can I not take my place at his side. This is a time when he needs me most!"
Lin Liushui pointed his fan at Li Changhai as soon as he heard that. And it was obvious from the expression on his face that he was less than pleased to be faced by the latter"s stubborn behavior at the moment.
"So what am I? Am I not his Sworn Brother as well? Do you see me rushing out to accompany him? Do you think I do not want to? Why can"t you look at the big picture here? This is clearly a trap!
"And what you are suggesting now is as good as reaching for the bait! We cannot let you take this risk! You are the one that they are hunting! Not Du Yan!"
Some things snapped into place, the moment that Li Changhai heard Lin Liushui say that. It was true, wasn"t it? All three of them had sworn Brotherhood to one another, for close to five, six years now. Even if both of them knew that Li Changhai was at risk of being targeted by a.s.sa.s.sins - which he knew that he was not! Even if they knew that, Lin Liushui would have definitely volunteered to go along with Du Yan, to lend him a hand.
With the powerful Lin Family behind him, it should not be too difficult to overawe the forces that have been a.s.sembled against Du Yan. Even in the Shu Kingdom Capital.
But he had not stepped forward to do that. Instead, he had chosen to hold his tongue, and to remain at Yanyun City. At Li Changhai"s side! Because he sensed that the Ducal Prince was in danger!
The Second Ducal Prince gritted his teeth at that. He could not share the fact that he was not the actual target in that glaring last attempt in the City streets. He had promised his mother that he would keep it a secret. But if he did nothing ...
No! He would not let his friends - No! His Brothers! He could not let them suffer because of him! How could he face them afterwards, knowing that they were walking into danger because he was not honest with them? How could he regard himself their Sworn Brother then?
So he stamped his foot down. And regretted the action immediately. Didn"t it make him look like a young child? Throwing a tantrum? Why had he suddenly behaved as though he was a ten, eleven year old boy?
But fortunately for Li Changhai, no one laughed.
And that was enough encouragement for him to continue:
"Enough! Like you had said, we are Sworn Brothers, are we not? Didn"t we swear that we will enjoy any fortune that befalls us, and face all disasters together? Having done that, how can I stand aside and let Du Yan deal with this issue on his own?
"Besides, I might not be able to do very much by myself. But as the Second Ducal Prince of the Westlands Duchy, those Martial Sects and Schools will have to give my father"s good name some face. Won"t that be helpful to Brother Yan? So you should stop trying to convince me."
Lin Liushui gave out an exasperated sound, and turned to the silent Qin Feng, as though seeking aid from that direction. The youngest man was not part of their Oath, for all that he had been sharing their travails recently. And hence, could be considered to be as close as one of the three brothers. Besides, no one in their right mind could deny that he had played a major role in influencing the Ducal Prince of late.
But Qin Feng merely gave a quiet nod, and reached out to tap his tea cup. "This is more complicated than I had first thought. It seems your enemies have taken pains to set this up, so that you are d.a.m.ned if you do, and dishonored if you don"t," he sighed.
"What do you mean?"
Lin Liushui was the one who asked that question. But Li Changhai drew in a hiss of breath, the moment that he heard what Qin Feng had said:
"You think that this is actually aimed at me too? That it might not have anything to do with Du Yan at all? I mean, it involves him but ... I am the actual target here?"
Qin Feng sighed, and did not answer at once. But Lin Liushui had picked up the thread, and so renewed his efforts to keep the Second Ducal Prince from committing to the journey:
"It makes sense, seeing how news of their plans had managed to land in your lap so easily. And in such a timely fashion. I believe that Brother Qin Feng is not exaggerating now. This is clearly a plot that is aimed at you, rather than at Du Yan. They are simply trying to pull you, this little dragon, out of your cave! Once you are away from the Duchy, and from your father"s protection, they will definitely strike again!
"Don"t tell me that you have forgotten what sort of steps they might take? Remember Fatty Zhou! That was only days ago, wasn"t it? And didn"t he almost take all of us by surprise?"
Qin Feng nodded at that too, the moment that the handsome fellow finished. But Li Changhai did not look deterred at all by that argument. It was nothing new, after all. And he quickly threw another back in Lin Liushui"s face:
"Who can say that Du Yan"s enemies might not have a similar ambush waiting for him, the moment that he steps outside Yanyun City? Are you willing to gamble on that? When the stakes here is clearly Brother Yan"s life? Are you willing to take that risk?"
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