Fatal to Pretend With a Cheat | Chapter 34 | A Delicate Captive | Novela.app

At noon, I did my level best to eat a meal independently. It was quite a struggle, but I managed to scrape by with a full stomach. Ye Tan watched me from the side in silence, his head slightly turned. Several times, he looked as though he couldn't help but want to come over and assist, only to force the impulse back down. I thought to myself that I really ought to practice more; I couldn't rely on him forever. Now that the Sword Appraisal Meet had concluded and the major affairs of Yanghu were settled, Yang Qingzhou seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He wasn't as tense during meals as he had been in previous days, chatting and laughing with the guests from time to time. Eventually, someone brought up the topic of his marriage. As I listened, I remembered this particular matter. It seemed everyone needed to find someone they liked, to start a family, establish a career, live in intimate affection, and grow old together. I also recalled Ye Tan saying yesterday that once one had a woman they admired, their daily interactions would be different from how they treated others. Since the thought had occurred to me, I asked straightforwardly, "Ah-Tan, do you have someone you want to marry?" Ye Tan looked startled. "Of course not." "What kind of person do you like?" I asked cheerfully. Ye Tan froze for a moment before answering unnaturally, "This subordinate will not like anyone else, will not marry, and has no need for a partner." I stared at him with wide eyes. "How do you know you won't meet a woman you admire?" Ye Tan didn't know how to answer, only repeating foolishly, "This subordinate simply won't." I found this increasingly baffling and couldn't understand his logic. "Yesterday, you were so certain that I would have a woman I admired in the future, yet you say you won't. Why should I have one while you don't? On what basis?" Ye Tan thought for a while, then dropped to one knee. "This subordinate's entire life is dedicated to Master. I will not be moved by emotion, nor do I need a family." This man was truly stubborn. I tried my best to persuade him. "Oh, come now. Being a guard is just a job; why sacrifice your whole self for it? In the future, you can just come to work after breakfast and go home for dinner in the evening. The two don't conflict, do they? There's no need for this." Ye Tan neither raised his head nor answered, his neck stiff as he remained kneeling upright. *Sigh.* This poor kid was still impossible to talk sense into. I could only try to influence him through practical action. In the afternoon, I bid farewell to Yang Qingzhou. For some reason, he repeatedly urged me to be extra careful over the next few days. Not understanding why, I gave him a cursory nod. Once we returned to town, I dragged Ye Tan to an octagonal pavilion overlooking the lake. Several main roads converged here, making it a bustling area. On the lake, fisherwomen used long poles to gather lotus seeds, and by the stream, young maidens washed silk. They were all in the prime of their youth, fresh and lovely. I thought every one of them was quite good. I nudged Ye Tan's arm. "How about that girl in the emerald-green shirt? I think she looks quite nice. Quick, go ask her if she's willing to marry you." "May I ask what Master intends?" Ye Tan couldn't help but ask. "Finding you a wife," I said, blinking. Ye Tan flatly refused me. "This subordinate will not marry." "Oh, how would you know if you don't try?" This fellow was truly the polar opposite of his master when it came to being afraid to try new things. Under my repeated prodding, Ye Tan helplessly stood up. With great reluctance, he paced over and whispered a single sentence to the young girl. After hearing it, the girl picked up her laundry basket and bolted. Ye Tan paced back. "She ran away." "That shouldn't be." I was puzzled. My Ah-Tan was handsome, tall, and dashing—what was there to dislike? Why did she run? I assumed it was an accident and waited patiently for a long time, urging Ye Tan to strike up a conversation every time I saw a pleasant-looking girl. Without exception, every single one of them ran away after listening to him, the only difference being how fast they fled. I was stunned. "Is our method wrong?" I asked Ye Tan while cracking melon seeds. "It's so frustrating. My Ah-Tan is so good; why do they run?" Ye Tan didn't answer me. Instead, he asked with a look of gloom, "Why is Master so insistent on this subordinate starting a family?" "Why not? If others have it, naturally I want Ah-Tan to have it too," I said, shaking the melon seed shells off my clothes. Ye Tan froze upon hearing this, murmuring to himself, "...So that's how it is." I thought it over and felt that such matters might be a stroke of luck that couldn't be forced, certainly not something that could be solved by approaching one or two girls. I said, "Perhaps the time hasn't come yet. No rush, we'll look slowly. Ah-Tan, if you ever find someone you like, you must tell me in advance. I'll definitely find a way to let you marry the best girl." Ye Tan's face flushed as if in deep thought, but he only shook his head. I thought for a moment and added another sentence: "It doesn't have to be a girl. If you ever feel your job isn't satisfying and want to find a different master, I'll help you find a better one." Ye Tan was shocked by my words and fell to his knees with a *thud*. "Master, how can you say such a thing?" He hadn't been this startled in a long time. I hurriedly helped him up. "Ah-Tan is so good; of course he deserves the best." A half-baked person like me could barely protect himself; how could I drag him down? "This subordinate has only you as my master. As long as you do not expel me, I will never have a second thought." Ye Tan gazed at me intently, saying word by word, "...Until death ends it." "Stop talking nonsense," I frowned and scolded him. "If we ever truly encounter villains, you must prioritize your own safety." Ye Tan did not respond with his usual respectful "yes," which meant he refused. Speaking of which, I thought of Yang Qingzhou's warning today. I had a bad premonition, so I handed him a small pouch of gold bars. "Yang Qingzhou said we've been making too much noise these past two days. I'm not sure what he meant... Go buy a few more guards just in case. I'll wait for you here." Only then did Ye Tan comply and leave. I strolled over to the neighboring tea stall to get some sugar-fried chestnuts. I had finished half the bag when my vision suddenly went black—a burlap sack had been thrown over my head. "Is there only this sickly one? Where's the one with the sword?" Several people shoved and pulled me out of the shop, muttering among themselves and discussing giving me a beating first to show me who was boss. I was terrified. "Wait! Don't hit me!" One of them seemed startled and asked, "Why?" I only had ten HP; I was incredibly fragile and would kick the bucket if touched. I said in a panic, "I'm extremely delicate. I'll die if you even touch me slightly. We can discuss whatever you want, but you absolutely must not hit me." "Heh, you brat, how dare you tell your granddaddy what to do..." As he spoke, he grabbed my neck and hoisted me up. Before he even applied pressure, I felt a sweetness in my throat and fainted. I am fragile. I'm not joking. I couldn't have been unconscious for long. Before my mind was fully clear, I heard someone nearby grumbling and cursing. "How did he end up like this? Did you use private torture again?" "Bah, I just picked him up! How was I to know this invalid was so pathetic?" "...Strange, how can a pulse be this weak? Be careful not to let him die. Where's the sword?" "The one with the sword wasn't there; we only caught this one." "Fine. I heard he's quite formidable, having challenged over a hundred people without losing; he's likely a handful. Keep a close eye on this one, don't let anything go wrong. We're counting on using him for the exchange. Have you made contact yet?" "No news yet... Ah, he's awake, he's awake." I had just opened my eyes. The place looked like a woodshed, covered in dust. I was sprawled on the ground, my right hand tied to a pillar, the rope biting painfully into my skin. Three young men were crouching nearby, staring at me: one with a thick beard and a sturdy build, one in a refined long robe, and one who was sallow and thin. Seeing me awake, the bearded man grabbed my shoulder again to pull me up. "Hey, you consumptive ghost, I'm asking you—" With that slight tug, bloody froth seeped from the corner of my mouth again. The young man in the long robe was so startled that he immediately elbowed the man to knock his hand away. The bearded man yelled in frustration, "Are you serious, brother?! I just touched him and he's spitting blood?!" "He might have a pre-existing illness or injury." The refined young man squeezed my wrist, looking somewhat perplexed. He asked, "Brother, do you feel any discomfort?" "My wrist... it hurts so much," I sobbed. The refined young man glanced at it twice, then reached out and untied the hemp rope on my wrist. The other two hesitated, but he said, "Forget it. Someone this weak won't get more than a few steps, let alone escape." He stood up to leave, but before going, he warned them uneasily, "This person's health... is indeed terrible. He could die at any moment even if left alone. You two must be extremely careful not to let him die." After hearing this, the bearded man and the thin man looked at me with even more apprehension, as if facing a formidable enemy. I leaned against the wall, trying to stand up, but I still felt a lack of strength. The two watched me from a distance and asked, "What are you doing?!" "The ground... is too cold. I can't take it," I said, wiping the bloody froth from my mouth. "Damn it, you little brat..." The bearded man gestured as if he wanted to beat me, but seeing my swaying figure, he forced himself to endure. "Fine, what rotten luck." Saying this, he blindfolded me and, with gritted teeth, helped me out of the woodshed. After a few twists and turns, I was pushed onto a bed. When the black cloth was removed, I found myself in a simple small room. I clutched my stomach and slowly sat up, my face full of misery. The bearded man's eyes bulged. "Now what's wrong with you!" "I'm hungry." I clutched my stomach, hanging off the edge of the bed. "I feel... ah... like I can't hold on much longer." "You mother—!!" The bearded man was so angry he kicked a table across the room and slammed a heavy fist into the wall, making the whole place shake. I felt the room vibrate, and another thread of blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. I said weakly, "Don't use your inner energy near me. I'm fragile." "Damn it!! Let me kill him!! I'm done with this!!! Just go die!!!" He lunged at me frantically, wanting to fight me to the death, but fortunately, the thin man grabbed him by the waist and hauled him out the door. A series of crashes and bangs followed outside; I estimated not many trees were left standing in the courtyard. I patted my chest to soothe my startled soul. After a moment of calm, the bearded man came back in with bloodshot eyes, carrying a box of food and a new table. I struggled to move to the dining table and ate a small portion. The food was a bit meager; as a wealthy landlord, I wasn't quite satisfied. I asked, "Is there roast duck?" The bearded man finally reached his breaking point. He roared a curse, channeled his energy, and raised a clenched fist high above his head. Before he could strike, I was already shaken by the internal energy radiating from him, and I let out a small cough of fresh blood. The bearded man froze. He held his fist high, his eyes wide with hatred as he glared at me, his eyes growing redder and redder. As he stared, two lines of hot tears actually flowed from his tiger-like eyes. "You... you little brat... I... I fucking..." His voice grew more and more choked up until he suddenly wailed, "I've never suffered such a grievance in my entire life!! Waaaaah!!!!" The bearded man, driven to a breakdown by anger, ran away crying. I was also stunned. The thin man entered, looking at me with uncertainty. "What happened?" With blood still on the corner of my mouth, I said blankly, "I want to eat roast duck." "..." The thin man looked at my heavily wounded appearance and was also aghast. "So not being able to eat roast duck makes you spit blood too... Fine, alright. Any other requests?" I thought about it. "Also three-delicacy bean skin, with extra chili." "...Fine." I added, "This bed is too hard. I want a softer quilt." "...Okay." I said again, "The trees in the courtyard are bald; it's not pretty. I like courtyards with a pond." "..." He took a deep breath. "Fine." That night, I was inexplicably moved to a very luxurious grand mansion. The bedding was made of the finest brocade; even I had never seen such comfortable material. The interior decor was exquisite, with valuable antiques and paintings, and the courtyard was built with great care, possessing the charm of a forest spring. The koi in the pond were particularly plump. Judging by the location, I had probably been moved to the main quarters. No one was visible in the courtyard, but if I walked a bit further, there were guards stationed everywhere. I couldn't slip out, so I decided to make myself at home. The next day, I slept until the sun was high. The table was laden with delicacies. After picking and choosing my meal, I grabbed a plate of peanuts and wandered to the lotus pond to feed the fish. The scenery was pleasant and very relaxing. I was quite satisfied. I wanted to bring Ye Tan in to live with me. After half an hour of leisurely feeding, a gust of wind passed overhead. That gust drifted into the main house for a circuit before drifting back to stand in front of me. I looked up to see a young man dressed in black martial attire. "Wow, a beauty." He circled me a few times, looking me up and down. "You look a bit like what the Boss described. If I weren't so clever, I definitely would have mistaken you for him." He giggled and swiped a handful of peanuts from me, then added, "Too bad I have things to do. I'll go finish them and come back to see you later." He turned and flew off again. After feeding the fish, I dawdled over to dinner. The maidservants retreated after setting the plates. Before I could pick up my chopsticks, I saw the man from the afternoon peering through the window, waving at me cheerfully. "Hey! Beauty! We meet again." "Have you eaten?" I asked. He said, "What, is the beauty inviting me to dinner?" I nodded. He slid happily to the seat next to me, saying he was overwhelmed by the favor, yet he pulled out a silver needle to test the food. "Professional habit, don't mind me." Once he confirmed it was poison-free, he began to eat and drink heartily without reservation. This person's hand speed was incredible. Before I could even move my chopsticks twice, he had finished the entire table. I didn't have enough to eat, so I deeply regretted inviting him. "I haven't had a chance to eat a full meal in a long time." He cupped his hands to thank me, then looked at the sky. "It's getting dark. I've searched the whole house and couldn't find him. The Boss is going to scold me." "What are you looking for?" I asked curiously. He gave a charming smile. "A beauty like you with a cinnabar mark between his brows. But unlike you, you're the master, and he's a prisoner." I said, "No, I'm not the master here. I'm also a prisoner." "The beauty certainly knows how to joke." He praised my humor and gave me a friendly pat on the shoulder. "I have to go. Until we meet again. Would the beauty mind leaving his name?" I replied, "Jun Xuanheng." He was startled. "Your name is also very similar to what the Boss said. We truly have an affinity. When I find him another day, I'll introduce you two." With that, he leapt from the window and disappeared into the vast moonlight. I thought about it. A person in this house, a prisoner, with a cinnabar mark between his brows, named Jun Xuanheng. Is he really not talking about me??? *** | Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 三鲜豆皮 | Three-delicacy bean skin | A traditional Chinese dish (Sanxian Doupi). | | 织锦缎 | Brocade | A class of richly decorative shuttle-woven fabrics. | | 君璇衡 | Jun Xuanheng | The protagonist's name. | | 朱砂 | Cinnabar / Vermilion | Refers to the red mark between the protagonist's brows. |