Ch.34 A Visit To His City, The Drunken Haven

After leaving the court, Luo Yue was immediately greeted by a large flying object.

She glanced at the black eagle resting on her arm and one of her eyebrows raised suspiciously. “What have you been eating recently? You’ve gotten even heavier than I remember.”

Xiao Hei very subtly looked away from her questioning eyes.

“Master,” a voice timely sounded as Shen Tian Ping walked towards her with something in his hands. “A letter from the Lonewolf has arrived. Someone shot an arrow at the carriage while we were waiting outside the palace.”

“That lunatic…” Even among the diversity of unique characters in the Lonewolf, Luo Yue knew of only one who would do something like this in broad daylight. “Is my wine alright?”

“Yes. However, I couldn’t tell the palace guards that he was an acquaintance without revealing your identity. So, they’re in pursuit thinking that he might be an assassin. Some of the soldiers from the Imperial Hound Army have also joined the chase. If you’re worried, should I intercept them from the shadows?”

“Forget it. That lunatic is a perfectionist down to his core. He has probably set up a few dozen traps before he came here. You’ll only set off his traps if you go after them. More importantly, let’s see what he has come all the way here fo-…” Luo Yue stopped. Red lips tightened into a grimace when she noticed the 10-page long letter in Shen Tian Ping’s hands.

“Would you like me to discard it?”

Luo Yue did not look back as she continued walking. “Yes.”

~~

“By the way, Leader, is it true?”

“Qi said his prayers have finally been answered. Your temper didn’t flare up this time.”

“Who exactly is the new strategist to succeed in making you hold back, Leader?”

“We didn’t even know such an amazing person existed in the army!”

Wu Zhe Yan ignored the noisy group of his own people and glanced at Qi who was purposely avoiding his gaze. “Since you like the Gods that much, should I send you to them?”

“Lord, I politely decline…”

The palace gates opened once more as both Luo Yue and Shen Tian Ping walked out. All pairs of eyes immediately turned towards the lady. So, this was the person who had managed to come out alive even after fighting their Leader. They stared at her, trying to visualize the lady behind her white veil, but Luo Yue made her way straight to Wu Zhe Yan without batting an eye. “Crazy dog, you’re sitting on my carriage. Move.”

The Imperial Hounds Army’s jaws fell.

This was not what they had expected. When they had heard of Wu Zhe Yan exercising patience that far exceeded his usual temper, they had imagined her to be sweet and lovely. Someone innocent and endearing enough to be able to awaken their cold-hearted Leader's natural instincts to protect.

‘Where the hell did that bravery come from?!’ they gave a silent gasp. Even the Imperial Hounds known for their ruthlessness and ferocity would never even dare to think about addressing their Leader in such a way. As fearless as they were, they would still like to keep their heads.

They held their breath, knowing that their Leader had never been one to distinguish between gender or age when it came to drawing his sword. They had no doubt that blood would be shed again that day. Then, Wu Zhe Yan’s unbothered response took them by surprise.

“Why are you wearing that?” He unconsciously reached out a hand towards the white veil tied around her face.

“What are you doing?” The lady dodged his hand, thin eyebrows slanting beautifully as she frowned.

Wu Zhe Yan pulled back his hand and leaned back more comfortably on the carriage door as he shrugged, “on second thought, I can see why you’d need that seeing how you’ve already been attacked on the day of your return. Don’t worry, I’ve also sent some men after your assassins. Exactly how many people have you offended that they’re all waiting to take your life?”

Luo Yue gave a truthful answer, “plentiful.”

“What a weird one you are,” Wu Zhe Yan shook his head, eyes glinting with interest.

The few soldiers from the Imperial Hounds silently observed the amicable atmosphere. However, they felt even more uneasy and anxious seeing that their Leader had yet to explode. The impression of a frail and delicate lady they had created upon hearing Qi’s first mention of her had already been completely scattered.

That… was a lady who had come to tame the beast.

Luo Yue turned to Shen Tian Ping. “We’re returning. Where’s Xiao Liu?”

“He said he would go to the market to buy some wool so that he can make something warm for us to wear before winter,” Shen Tian Ping responded.

Catching that she was planning to leave, Wu Zhe Yan’s eyes darkened. The Emperor’s orders came back to his mind: ‘Use whatever means possible to find her weakness. Keep an eye on her and if she ever becomes a threat to our country... erase her existence.’

He glanced at the lady from a corner of his eyes, tapping his fingers against his legs before he made up his mind. It was time to pull out his trump card.

The little lynx’s weakness number 1: Weak to alcohol temptation.

“Hey, kitty,” he called out. “You’re leaving already? And here I was, waiting to invite you to my city.”

She stopped, and he could just see her ears perking up with undisguisable interest.

His smirk widened. The lynx was officially in his palms.

~~

It took some time, but they finally arrived in Wu Zhe Yan’s city before the sun set. The streets were surprisingly crowded, bustling with so many activities that even their City Lord’s arrival went by unnoticed.

Wu Zhe Yan and the Imperial Hounds were already used to this hecticness, but the new visitors were not.

Xiao Liu gawked as he looked around, feeling blinded by the plethora of vendors littered along the streets. Even Luo Yue could not resist pulling aside the curtains to take a peek when the aromatic smell of a few hundred types of alcohol wafted into her nose.

A city basked in the smell of alcohol throughout the daylight and the nightlight. A city whose original name had long been forgotten, buried under another one far more commonly known or uttered by the citizens.

This was ‘The Drunken Haven’, a city of delights.

This, was the city that Wu Zhe Yan had been gifted. A very tasteful gift, Luo Yue must say.

However, in Shen Tian Ping’s eyes as he glanced around the buzzing streets, this was the perfect place for an assassination. He sighed internally, heightening all his senses to protect his master.

Xiao Liu rubbed his nose, the infinitely strong smell overriding everything else. He already felt drunk just taking in the fragrance in the air.

Even in such a place, Wu Zhe Yan was considered one of the best drinkers there. It was no wonder he couldn’t believe nor accept it when he had lost to her.

Screw the past defeat. This time, he would put everything on the line to win back his honour.