Simply Trading

Their first instinct was to reach for the hilts of their swords. But all it took was a single shout from the woman in the lead to make them all put their weapons away again. The hostility in their eyes, however, remained. And Qin Feng was a little shocked to see how they were all glaring at Li Changhai, who had effectively taken on the role of shield in front of him!

Perhaps, that was the greatest surprise of all? This was a Ducal Prince, and Li Changhai had always been the one who was protected, not the protector! While it was true that he didn"t have too many guards around him, thanks to his father"s idiotic orders, it was still extremely unusual for him to play bodyguard now.

Or was this a matter of his getting too immersed in his role?

Lin Liushui, however, was quick to step up, and he gave out a soft laugh as he turned to the a.s.sembled Snow Swallow Palace disciples. "I believe that you had not given me the chance to introduce the last, and most ill.u.s.trious member of our little group. So much so that he has gotten a little impatient.

"May I introduce Li Changhai, the Second Ducal Prince of the Westlands? He has consented to visit the Empire of the Yang with us, and to repay a little favor that he owes to Brother Qin Feng here. So you will forgive him for his slightly rude behavior? He takes being a bodyguard to Brother Qin here rather seriously, you see?"

The girls all backed away when they heard that, after a simple genuflection at the Ducal Prince. But a trio of them remained behind, and seemed genuinely interested in speaking to Li Changhai. That is, if the warmth in their expressions were not faked.

"Wait! Did you say that he is the Second Ducal Prince of the Westlands? And nephew of the Marquis of the South? Who fought in the recent battle there, earlier last Winter? Is he that Li Changhai?"

The Second Ducal Prince looked surprised, but stood out all the same, growling as he slammed the b.u.t.t of his glaive on the ground. "So I am. What of it?"

But the woman continued to press for confirmation:

"Li Changhai? The grandson of the Old Marquis of the South? The one who was involved in the killing of both the Eagle and the Hawk?"

The Second Ducal Prince gave a bark of laughter at that, and bowed again. He puffed out his chest after he was done. Qin Feng scowled when he saw that, while Lin Liushui merely smiled. Hadn"t Xu Yanzhi and Xu Qinghua been there in the South, when all that happened? Hadn"t they already spread the news concerning what took place there? Why did these disciples seem ignorant of Li Changhai"s role?

Having affirmed the Ducal Prince"s ident.i.ty, the trio of women rushed back to their main group in a flurry. Then the handsome fellow leaned over, and whispered, in a not too quiet voice, to the two other men who wore surprised looks on their faces . As if he meant for the women to hear what he was saying:

"They are referring to White Eagle Ye Hongge and Iron Blood Hawk Luo Qingke. They were the ones who were killed when they attacked your Uncle outside of Changqing City. Your maternal grandmother appears to have had released the information that you were responsible for their deaths. It seems the news has made it all the way here, of all things."

Li Changhai turned to eye Lin Liushui with surprise, which only got the gallant to chuckle with amus.e.m.e.nt. But he lowered his voice then, and spoke only loud enough to both his companions ears this time.

"Don"t ask me why she did that. She might be trying to buy you a good name or out to revenge a slight. In any case, the Snow Swallow Mountain Palace seems to be a little more inclined towards you now."

"Inclined towards me? Why?"

"Because they are obviously in conflict with the Purple Serpent Sect and its affiliates. That is the group that Luo Qingke was from, remember? So perhaps it is making trouble now? So the Snow Swallow Palace needs your help?"

The Purple Serpent Sect? Wasn"t that the organization that Luo Qingke belonged to? Were they active again? Didn"t Li Changhai"s grandmother say that they would be in hiding for a while? But it has only been less than half a year since their instigation of the Barbarian in the West! What sort of a retreat was that?

The Second Ducal Prince"s face was also grim. And deliberately kept his voice low as well. After all, the girls from the Snow Swallow Palace were still in the throes of their own discussion. "You are thinking of helping them? But we are supposed to be heading North quietly, aren"t we?"

"Well, your father"s Duchy has been bothered by the Purple Serpent Sect for a while now. And your Marquis Uncle as well. So it would not be a great surprise to have the Snow Swallow Palace girls thinking that you are here to help them out," Lin Liushui told him in a quiet voice.

"Besides, it would make them think a little more highly of us, if we do lend a hand."

Qin Feng made a growling noise at that. While Li Changhai hid a groan. Did the handsome fellow really think that he was fooling anyone? He was just trying to b.u.t.ter the girls up, wasn"t he? So that he would have more people on his side, when he went to s.n.a.t.c.h his woman away from their clutches?

But it would also allow him to play up his relationship with Xu Yanzhi, so lending a hand was definitely something that was worth doing!

The only problem was, they had no idea of just who they would have to deal with. Or if their opponents were as dangerous as they sounded. If they dared to cause problems for the Snow Swallow Palace, they were unlikely to be weak when it came to the martial arts, would they? And Qin Feng had a seriously bad experience dealing with one of the Purple Serpent Sect"s experts in the past!

Not that he had too much time to think about the matter. A quiet cough from Lin Liushui drew his attention to the women again. And this time, he noted that the whole group of them had approached together. The looks on their faces, however, could not be deciphered? At least, they could not be deciphered by Qin Feng.

Lin Liushui"s suddenly grim expression warned him that it would not be anything pleasant. Even so braced, Qin Feng still got a shock when they gave voice to what they wanted of the trio:

"In any case, we beg the Ducal Prince"s favor, and Young Master Qin Feng"s, to help us rescue our sisters!"

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