After a grueling two-day journey, Wang Jian and his entourage finally arrived at the Royal Palace of the Windhaven Kingdom. With a sense of purpose, Wang Jian strode confidently into the throne room to speak with King Chen.
"I have received the Emperor's summons," Wang Jian said, his tone calm and measured.
King Chen's eyes widened in surprise, but he couldn't detect any hint of urgency or concern on Wang Jian's face.
"What is it about?" King Chen asked, feeling a sense of unease creep up his spine.
"It concerns the recent events that have occurred in your kingdom," Wang Jian replied cryptically.
King Chen's heart raced with anxiousness as he was worried that the Emperor might be displeased with his actions and might be thinking of dealing with him a bit radically. That would be terrible.
But then Wang Jian surprised him further by asking, "I would also like to take Chen Yiyan along to the Aria City."
King Chen was taken aback by the request, but he couldn't deny the excitement that bubbled up inside him at the thought of his daughter exploring the capital of the empire.
However, a tinge of worry crept in as he couldn't help but ask, "It will be safe for her, right?"
With a reassuring smile, Wang Jian replied, "Trust me. I won't let anyone harm her. So, do you have any other concerns?"
Relieved by Wang Jian's assurance, King Chen responded, "Of course not. I would be honored for my daughter to accompany you on this journey. It will be a splendid opportunity for her to witness the marvels of the empire and expand her horizons."
"Excellent," Wang Jian exclaimed before turning on his heel and striding purposefully towards Chen Yiyan's quarters. "I shall go and inform her of this marvellous news."
Wang Jian knocked softly on the door of Chen Yiyan's room.
Chen Yiyan was sitting by a low table, sipping on a cup of hot tea, when she heard the soft knock on her door.
She placed the cup back on the table, setting aside the book she had been reading moments earlier.
As she stood up, her long black hair cascaded down her back in gentle waves, framing her heart-shaped face perfectly.
Her eyes, a deep brown, sparkled with curiosity as she made her way to the door.
When she opened the door, Wang Jian stood before her, his face beaming with excitement.
Chen Yiyan couldn't help but smile at the sight of him. "What is it, Jian?" she asked, her voice soft and melodious.
Wang Jian stepped inside, his smile widening. "Yiyan, I have wonderful news," he said with amusement in his voice.
Chen Yiyan raised her brow in curiosity. "What news?" she asked.
"I'm heading to the Royal Palace of the Empire tomorrow, and your father has agreed to let you accompany me."
Chen Yiyan's eyes widened in surprise. "What? So soon?" she said, her heart beating fast. "I never expected to accompany you to the capital so quickly."
Wang Jian chuckled. "Don't worry, Yiyan. Everything will be fine. Your father has already given his blessing, and I promise to keep you safe."
Chen Yiyan felt her nervousness ease a little at Wang Jian's words. "I'll have to pack my things," she said, still a little apprehensive.
"Good idea," Wang Jian said with a grin. "Order your servants to pack up your most important belongings and join us on this journey. We leave at dawn."
Chen Yiyan nodded slowly, still processing the news. "Okay, I'll do that," she said softly.
Wang Jian put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Yiyan. This will be an adventure, and I'll be with you every step of the way."
Chen Yiyan looked up at him, grateful for his reassurance. "Thank you, Wang Jian. I know I can trust you."
With that, Wang Jian turned and left the room, leaving Chen Yiyan to start her preparations for the journey to the Royal Palace of the Empire.
As she started to pack for the trip, Chen Yiyan called for her maids and gave them specific instructions on what to bring.
"Make sure to pack my silver embroidered silk robe and the jade hairpin that my mother gave me," Chen Yiyan instructed. "And don't forget to bring my favorite fan and the box of perfumed oils."
The maids nodded in acknowledgement and began to gather the requested items. Wang Jian, meanwhile, had returned to the camp where they were staying.
The next day, Chen Yiyan joined Wang Jian's entourage, and they set off on their journey towards Aria City.
However, the journey was not a short one, and it would take them more than a week to reach their destination.
In the meantime, Wang Jian's message reached the Emperor's court, in which he humbly apologized and explained the delay.
The Emperor's vanity was appeased as he perused the humble letter composed by Wang Jian, and he realized that the latter may have had valid motives for his unconventional method of arrival.
During this period, another event occurred.
Xie Zhiwei, Luo Ying, Tang Xiaohui, and Liu Yu gathered for an urgent meeting to discuss the recent series of attacks they had suffered.
Xie Zhiwei had not been targeted yet, and he guessed it was because he had not left the safety of Aria City.
"I propose that we pool our resources to hire a mercenary group to protect me," Xie Zhiwei suggested, his voice determined despite the risk involved.
Luo Ying was quick to agree. "That's a good plan. If we can catch this attacker, we can put an end to all of this."
Tang Xiaohui, on the other hand, had her reservations. "But what if the attacker is too strong? We don't want to put Xie Zhiwei in danger."
Xie Zhiwei replied with conviction. "I'm willing to take that risk. We need to be proactive in catching this attacker before they cause any more harm."
Liu Yu nodded in agreement. "I agree. It's better to take action than to wait for the worst to happen."
The group discussed the details of Xie Zhiwei's plan and eventually agreed to fund the mercenary group.
However, they were all surprised by the fact that Xie Zhiwei and Liu Yu had not been targeted by the attacker.
To be on the safer side, they hired the services of powerful and discreet guards and left Aria City, but nothing happened.
The group held a discussion, trying to make sense of the situation.
Xie Zhiwei spoke first, "Could it be that the assailant is scared to attack us now? He tried three times but succeeded only once."
Tang Xiaohui and Luo Ying shared a skeptical glance before shaking their heads.
Tang Xiaohui replied, "No, I don't think so. Even though the cloth around his face obscured his identity, I could sense the intensity in his eyes. He doesn't seem like someone who would easily give up. Remember, he didn't stop even after we forced him to jump down a cliff!"
Luo Ying nodded in agreement, "I share Xiaohui's opinion. It feels like the assailant has a specific reason for targeting us, the Six Outlaws of Aria City. It could be because we have harmed someone close to him."
Xie Zhiwei looked worried and asked, "But who could it be? We've committed so many heinous crimes, it could be anyone."
Liu Yu spoke up, a sly smirk forming on his face, "Maybe it's someone seeking revenge for the time we burnt down that entire village and killed all its inhabitants."
Tang Xiaohui sneered, "Or perhaps it's the family of that merchant we robbed and left for dead on the roadside."
Luo Ying added, "And let's not forget about that time we kidnapped the mayor's daughter and held her for ransom. We got away with it, but maybe someone is finally coming for us."
Xie Zhiwei suddenly had an idea, "What about the family of that man we framed and executed for a crime he didn't commit? They could be seeking vengeance."
Tang Xiaohui shook his head, "That's a possibility, but we've committed so many atrocities over the years, it's impossible to pinpoint one exact reason."
Liu Yu spoke up again, a twisted grin on his face, "Whatever the reason may be, we can't let our guard down."
"Hmm. He is bound to make a mistake sooner or later. We just need to be prepared and ensure that our security is never lacking," Luo Ying spoke seriously.
"Right," everyone agreed with him.
Then, Tang Xiaohui asked aloud, "Should we tell Jian about this assailant?"
Xie Zhiwei responded, "Nah. Jian is currently in the Windhaven Kingdom and doesn't need to know of such minor matters. In fact, he might look down on us if we can't even deal with such this assailant."
"True."
"Correct."
"Hmm, you are right."
Everyone in the room conveyed their affirmation to Xie Zhiwei's words.
"Let's make sure to find this assassin and deal with him before Jian returns!"
"Yeah!" They all cheered collectively.
