Ch6 - The word affection is both medicine and poison

Ye Zhi walked out of the room. The girl stood in the courtyard. From her expression, it seemed she was very angry.

Remembered what Li Suqing said, Ye Zhi stepped forward.

Sensing Ye Zhi’s movements, the girl turned around. The blush on Ye Zhi’s cheeks hadn’t faded yet and caught her eyes very clearly. She stomped her feet and turned back around again. She could never imagine that, after all the troubles trying to find him, she finally found Ye Zhi in bed with another man.

As an assassin from Qijue sect, she always knew how some high-ranking officials and nobles liked to keep boy toys. The matter of relationships between men, she also knew a little about.

However, she didn’t expect Ye Zhi would…would have such a relationship with a man.

“How did you find this place?” Ye Zhi didn’t bother to greet this girl from the same sect.

His cold attitude only made the girl get more irritated. Finally, she sneered, “What? Did I disturb your good time?”

Then, realizing she shouldn’t use this tone to speak with Ye Zhi, she paused for a moment, “You are also someone from Qijue sect, so you should know. If Qijue sect wants to find someone, there are plenty of ways.”

Even without Yan Wan’s reminder, Ye Zhi also knew what kind of methods Qijue sect could use. If he wanted to run away with Li Suqing, would he agree?

“Are you planning to escape?” The girl questioned as though she had seen through his thought.

Ye Zhi was never a person to wear his heart on his sleeve, but for some reason, she felt that the current Ye Zhi was very easy to understand. She wasn’t sure if this what Ye Zhi’s true nature or if he was changed by that man. But whatever it was, the answer wouldn’t be what she wanted.

“You should know very well what Qijue sect does to a traitor.” The girl narrowed her icy eyes, reminding Ye Zhi of facts.

Once entered Qijue sect, they must live and die as Qijue members. If someone wants to leave, the only fate awaiting them is death.

“Besides, do you think you can protect that man?” She continued, “He’s just weak, sickly doctor. I noticed his breathing wasn’t good. His body must have been ruined from being ill for a long time.” Finished speaking, she couldn’t help but scoff, “And you want to run away with such a person?”

Ye Zhi’s martial art indeed ranked first or second in Qijue sect, with few people could compete with him. However, with a burden on his shoulder, the outcome was obvious.

Qijue sect did not have things like chivalry spirit or conscience to avoid involving innocent people. They would certainly use Li Suqing as a weakness to kill him.

Suddenly, a dry cough interrupted their conversation. Li Suqing stood at the door, tilted his head slightly, looking quite relaxed, “It’s cold outside. Come in. I’ll make some tea to warm you up.”

When Li Suqing’s eyes met the girl’s, he nodded gently, “Don’t worry, I’ve already cleaned up everything.” Everyone could guess what “cleaning” here means.

His calm demeanor made the girl even more perplexed. Was she the only one who felt weird or dissatisfied with this kind of relationship?

Watching Ye Zhi obediently enter the house, she felt that if she kept standing out here, it would make her a stupid person. Therefore, unwillingly, she followed Ye Zhi into the room she didn’t want to step into.

Li Suqing thoughtfully brought out a pot of ginger tea and gave it to Ye Zhi and the girl. Ginger tea was most effective in dispelling the cold.

“Then I’ll go sort the medicinal herbs.” Li Suqing couldn’t hold back a few coughs as he spoke. Then, seeing the worried look in Ye Zhi’s eyes, he raised his hand and gently stroked his cheeks, “I’m fine, don’t worry too much.”

“Okay.” Ye Zhi nodded. His eyes followed Li Suqing’s back until it disappeared into the other room.

“Yan Wan, I understand what you’re trying to say. And I also know how the sect master will punish me if I do this. I know it better than anyone.” Ye Zhi spoke indifferently; his voice was cold yet determined.

He continued: “However, I want to be with him, even if I have to be punished for it.”

“You’re crazy!” Yan Wan stood up abruptly, causing the ginger tea in the cup to spill on the table.

Hot tea splashed on her clothes, but she didn’t feel anything. Her eyes revealed a look of disbelief and indignation, “Have you ever…ever thought you were harming him by doing this?”

“I know.” Ye Zhi opened his thin lips, “but I swear I will protect him until my last breath.”

Yan Wan laughed like crazy, “Protect him? Facing against sect master, are you sure you will be able to protect that weak man? Even if you joined hand with another powerful martial artist, you still wouldn’t be able to defeat sect master!”

The laughter suddenly stopped at this point. Yan Wan’s face showed a worried expression, “Senior brother, you should know better than anyone how profound master’s martial arts are. Moreover, Qijue sect member like us was forced to sever all seven emotions and six desire, never to be disturbed by worldly matters. I was certain you would never sink into the quagmire called feelings, but I didn’t expect that….”

Ye Zhi looked at her quietly. He knew what Yan Wan said was not wrong. In front of the sect master, he didn’t have enough ability to protect Li Suqing.

At the same time, he also understood sect master character very well. The moment Yan Wan found him, this information was already in that person’s hand. Even if he returned to Qijue sect right now, the sect master would not let Li Suqing off.

“Yan Wan, I’m sorry.” Ye Zhi spoke softly.

“Hahaha, senior brother, you really have changed.” Yan Wan couldn’t help laughing out loud. Her laughter was like silver bells, carrying an indescribable charm, “In just a short time, he has turned you into this. That man certainly has some abilities.”

The previous Ye Zhi was as cold as ice. Let’s not talk about friends, even apology or thank you were never spoken from his mouth.

However, all of this seemed to change the moment he met Li Suqing.

That man who had nothing but a gentle appearance could change a person who lived as a cold, ruthless, and emotionless puppet for more than twenty years?

“You really…” Yan Wan looked at him with strange eyes, “…like that man that much?”

“I don’t know.” Ye Zhi had never experienced this emotion, so even if Yan Wan asked, he couldn’t answer what his feelings for Li Suqing were. There was only one thing he felt certain of.

“I want to be with him. If possible, I want to stay with him forever.” Ye Zhi replied firmly.

Yan Wan was lost for words.

This kind of emotion could no longer be described simply with the word “like.” Yan Wan realized that among them, Ye Zhi was the one who sank deepest.

Perhaps it was because he never had a taste of affection; when he touched upon it for the first time, he was trapped and couldn’t come out. But, even if he could, he was willing to stay in it.

Yan Wan sat down weakly, “Then, you should just stay by his side.” She paused for a bit, then continued, “You also know, even if I cover for you, sect master will find out your whereabouts sooner or later. You should use this chance when the news hasn’t reached his ears and run away as far as possible.”

Finished speaking, Yan Wan got up and left, not wanting to stay a second longer. When she opened the door, Ye Zhi suddenly stopped her, “Yan Wan.”

She didn’t turn around, but her step halted.

“Thank you,” Ye Zhi said.

“Haha.” Yan Wan’s laughed, voice tinged with sorrow, “If possible, I wished I could have heard those words from you under different circumstances.”

The previous Ye Zhi would have never said sorry or thank you.

The wind was cold, a bone-chilling coldness that felt like invisible blades cutting people’s skin.

Yan Wan’s eyes widened, stared unblinkingly at the sword pierced through her body. Then, perhaps because it was so unbelievable, her eyes couldn’t even blink.

“Sect master…” Yan Wan uttered those words with difficulty.

“Yan Wan, were you planning to turn a blind eye to such an act of betrayal? This sect master has even hoped you would deal with appropriately.”

A man held a long sword stabbed into Yan Wan’s body, his eyes narrowed into a straight line, a dangerous light shone in them.

“Yan Wan, the compassion you have for Ye Zhi is the same as betrayals to this sect master.” He sneered coldly.

“Hmph, sect master…you have no right to criticize me.” Yan Wan raised the corners of her lips sarcastically, “If you didn’t have a special attachment to senior brother, you wouldn’t have come rushing he….”

Before she could finish that sentence, her body was abruptly thrown to the side and slammed defenselessly into the wall.

Yan Wan felt a stream of sweet fishy taste rising, fresh blood from internal organs spilling out from the corner of her mouth, staining her clothes red.

“It’s not your turn to care about this master’s affair.” Qijue’s sect master glanced at the dying Yan Wan, then shifted his gaze toward Ye Zhi.