Bloodkiller - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Reunion

Even though night had fallen, Prince Huai’s palace was ablaze with light. Lin Yi followed Liu Lin into the front hall, quietly marveling at its opulence.

Flanking the hall were two side rooms. As they approached, they saw maids setting out wine and fruit. Lin Yi waited until Liu Lin sat before taking the seat to his left. No sooner had he settled than Liu Lin remarked, “Meicheng has long been known as a hub of scholarly charm and elegance. Its men are renowned, and its beauties celebrated. The emperor himself holds them in high regard.”

Liu Lin raised his glass, casting a subtle glance at Lin Yi. “Meeting you today, Young Hero Lin, it seems even the famed Meicheng men pale in comparison.”

Lin Yi responded with a smile, “Your Highness is the very image of heavenly nobility. Such flattery toward a humble man like me is too generous.”

He lifted his wine cup and added, “Tonight, I’ve come seeking your wisdom, not to ask for a drink, yet I dare not refuse Your Highness’s hospitality.” With that, he drank in one gulp and set the cup back on the table.

Liu Lin eyed him, surprised at his boldness. “So daring—aren’t you afraid I might poison you?”

Lin Yi replied evenly, “Had Your Highness intended to harm me, I’d be dead already. Surely you didn’t go to the trouble of saving me just to kill me yourself?”

Liu Lin leaned forward slightly, his gaze trailing down Lin Yi’s face. With a lazy tone, he said, “Your looks put even palace concubines to shame. If I had a mind to, dragging you to bed would hardly be unpleasant…”

Then he added slyly, “Ah, I forgot—there’s a bed in this room. If you’re tired, feel free to rest.”

Lin Yi could tell Liu Lin was deliberately provoking him, but the lewdness still made him uneasy. Rotten to the core, he cursed internally.

Still, his expression remained calm as he asked, “Your Highness must be joking. I came tonight to discuss serious matters. Neither Yao Chuan nor I have broken any laws—why did you send assassins after us?”

Liu Lin’s smirk faded slightly as he lounged back against the couch, his eyes fixed on Lin Yi.

“I’ll be direct,” Lin Yi continued. “Forgive my bluntness.”

Liu Lin chuckled. “By all means. But I’ve lived in Qingzhou for years—why would I order your assassination?”

Lin Yi’s gaze sharpened. “The ‘Silver Axe Twins’ saw you as their savior, refusing to name their master even at the cost of their lives. Yet when questioned, Your Highness rushed to deny involvement. Can it be the emperor’s brother is less loyal than mere mercenaries?”

The words were so direct that the maids trembled and dropped to their knees in fear. The guards tensed, ready to act—but held back, waiting for Liu Lin’s signal.

To everyone’s surprise, Liu Lin laughed. “What a sharp tongue. As expected of Prime Minister Mei’s son.”

He waved everyone away, leaving just the two of them in the room. This time, when Liu Lin poured wine, his tone softened. “I only spared those men. That doesn’t make me their benefactor.”

He’d admitted his involvement.

Lin Yi’s eyes narrowed. “Then how did you know where to find us? Did Wen Qin tell you?”

Liu Lin gave a small nod. “There’s always someone pulling strings behind the scenes.”

Lin Yi frowned. “You trust him that much? You’re sure he has no hidden agenda?”

Liu Lin smiled thinly. “He wants Yao Chuan dead, and so do I. If he can find your whereabouts, why not use him? If you die, good. If not, no loss.”

Lin Yi didn’t respond right away, but his thoughts were racing. So Bai Yulian used the ‘Mother-Child Gu’ parasite to track them via Qian Qiongli, and then leaked the information to Prince Huai through Wen Qin. Just like how she’d framed Chef Xu before—using others to take the blame.

But what if King Huai had succeeded in killing them? Bai Yulian would have no pawn left to use against him. Unless… unless both Yao Chuan and Liu Lin were obstacles she wanted removed. A game of mutual destruction. Use a tiger to kill a wolf, then shoot the tiger dead.

Lin Yi’s expression shifted as understanding dawned.

Liu Lin saw it and chuckled. “So, Young Hero Lin… realizing you’ve been a pawn? That woman wants Yao Chuan dead. Why should I wait? Whether I kill him or you first—what difference does it make?”

Lin Yi closed his eyes briefly before asking, “You believe Yao Chuan is the last survivor of the former dynasty? But it’s not his life you want—it’s the Bl00d-Drinking Blade. There’s some secret in it, isn’t there? A treasure map, perhaps?”

He spoke slowly and deliberately, no longer asking, but stating.

Liu Lin leaned in, intrigued. “You’re clever. Why help him? Join me instead. I’ll make you the leader of the martial world. The rivers and lakes will bow to you.”

Lin Yi burst out laughing. “Such generosity! You offer me the world in a single sentence. Had you said this to me a month ago in the Nuanxiang Pavilion, I might’ve taken the deal. But now? I’ve changed.”

Liu Lin raised an eyebrow. “So you’ve made up your mind. Very well. Still, you’ve come all this way—I’ll be keeping you here for a few days.”

As he finished speaking, guards stormed into the room, surrounding Lin Yi.

Lin Yi’s expression didn’t waver. “You plan to hold me hostage to lure Yao Chuan here? Too bad he’s far away in Bianjing. He won’t come.”

Liu Lin smirked. “You underestimate him. He’ll come. You risked everything to help him—he won’t abandon you.”

Before Lin Yi could reply, Liu Lin suddenly flung his wine cup toward the ceiling. A crash echoed, followed by a thud from above.

“Assassins!” shouted a guard. “Protect the prince! The rest, follow me!”

Outside, chaos erupted. Screams and fighting rang through the courtyard. Liu Lin cursed, “Useless fools! Can’t even stop one man!”

Lin Yi’s heart leapt. Yao Chuan? He actually came!

Seeing Lin Yi’s growing hope, Liu Lin growled, “Don’t think he’ll escape my palace so easily.”

Lin Yi remained calm on the surface, but he was strategizing. Liu Lin is formidable, but he won’t fight unless forced. In the confusion, there might be a chance to escape.

He shifted slightly, looking for an opening—but Liu Lin had already anticipated him. Grabbing Lin Yi’s wrist with a crushing grip, he warned, “Stay put, unless you want me to act.”

The force in his grasp left Lin Yi powerless. “Your Highness could kill me easily. I don’t intend to test that.”

Liu Lin snorted and let him go. Lin Yi stood still, waiting.

Outside, the fighting intensified. Liu Lin grew more frustrated. He barked, “All of you, out! Go catch him!”

“But we must protect Your Highness,” one guard protested.

“I order you to go! If he gets in, can any of you stop him?”

The guards hesitated no more and rushed out.

Just then, with a thunderous crash, part of the roof gave way. A man in black descended, using the guards’ heads as stepping stones. In an instant, he was beside Lin Yi and reached out to grab him—but Lin Yi shoved him aside.

“Watch out, Brother Yao!”

The man’s hand only caught a piece of Lin Yi’s clothing—because Liu Lin had already struck, shoving Lin Yi away and engaging the intruder in a fierce duel.

Both men unleashed powerful internal strikes. Liu Lin, though strong, was pushed back. His hand trembled from the force.

The guards charged, but Lin Yi leapt forward, kicking two away and drawing his sword to defend the masked man—Yao Chuan.

Yao’s eyes burned with fury as he locked palms with Liu Lin. The battle was fierce, but Liu Lin was forced back again, panting. Yao stood steady.

Realizing Liu Lin had been wounded, the guards rushed to shield him. Yao seized the chance to grab Lin Yi and leap away.

“Idiots! Useless trash!” Liu Lin shouted as they escaped.

But most guards were imperial, tasked with protecting the prince, not pursuing. Only a dozen chased after them, while others summoned doctors for Liu Lin.

Meanwhile, Yao Chuan carried Lin Yi across the rooftops, evading pursuit. They fled to a wooded area on the city’s edge before stopping.

Lin Yi asked, out of breath, “Are you hurt, Brother Yao?”

Yao Chuan shook his head, removed his mask, and whistled. Two horses emerged from the trees.

“You came prepared,” Lin Yi smiled, patting one.

He reached for the saddle, but Yao Chuan had already mounted and pulled Lin Yi up in front of him.

“There are two horses,” Lin Yi protested, “Why share?”

“There’s one more person coming,” Yao replied.

Just then, another black-clad figure arrived, injured and bleeding from the shoulder.

“Xiang Ming, are you alright?” Yao Chuan asked.

The man pulled off his mask, revealing a young, scholarly face—Ye Xiangming, Yao’s junior disciple.

“I’m fine, senior brother. The guards are far behind. Let’s retreat to avoid further trouble.”

Lin Yi’s expression shifted at the name. He didn’t speak, resting quietly against Yao Chuan.

The three rode swiftly back to the Qingzhou outpost. Outside the gate, a woman waved at them.

“Senior brothers! Brother Lin Yi!”

It was Fang Ruyun.

Lin Yi stiffened in Yao Chuan’s arms. The latter turned to Ye Xiangming and frowned, “Why did you bring Ruyun here?”

Yao leaned close to Lin Yi’s ear and whispered, “It’s a long story—I’ll explain everything.”