Ink Blade Chapter 20 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver
Proofed by kleio
Chapter 20 Entering the City (part 1)
The next day was another rare sunny day, the two of them rode again early in the morning, and by noon, Changqing City was already within reach.
Chu Yan slowed down the speed of the horse, and drove alongside Mo Ren, the sapphire folding fan was still a long way off from the city wall that had already faintly revealed its outline. He turned sideways to Mo Ren and said, "Ah Ren look, everything of this matter comes from there. Changqing is originally a small border town, and it is not an exaggeration to say that it relies entirely on the support of Shuijing Tower and the forces in the Jianghu. Now that many forces have flooded in, it must be very chaotic. Since we came in casual clothes, we don't need to deal with those annoying factions. Let's take a look at the situation first.”
"Yes." Mo Ren also pulled up the rein and slowly dismounted from the horse. "When this subordinate came down, the black eagle had already been released, Ying Feng and Ying Yu should be waiting for the Master at the city gate by now."
"Ying Feng, Ying Yu..."
When Chu Yan heard the names of the two guardians, a myriad of thoughts suddenly welled up in his heart. "Speaking of which, after your death in the past, Ah Ren, Ying Yu seemed to be in despair, and he didn't say a word to me since then. I thought he would betray me, but this kid never left until the Jiuzhong Palace was destroyed…...but what did you instruct him to do?"
Mo Ren's heart trembled, this was the first time Chu Yan mentioned to him what happened after his death. It turned out that the Jiuzhong Palace was still destroyed in the end….
And thinking of the young man who was both a disciple and a friend, Mo Ren couldn't help but feel sour. "No, this subordinate simply asked him not to be enemies with the Master and Bai Hua, so much so that……so much so that.......the intention of this subordinate was for Xiao Yu to leave the Jiuzhong Palace. "
Chu Yan remained silent, for a while there was only the muffled sound of two horses' hooves stepping on the hard ground, and the gorgeous spring scenery on both sides seemed to be a bit dim.
In his previous life, he was fascinated by Bai Hua, and he did many absurd things in a daze. Later, he became even more violent and unpredictable. Although he didn't make irreparable mistakes to these subordinates like Mo Ren, yet ultimately, he still failed to live up to their absolute loyalty.
In the end, the Jiuzhong Palace was destroyed, and these people either died in battle, were captured, fled, or even surrendered. Chu Yan didn't say anything on the surface, but in his heart he blamed everything on himself. The self-conceited temperament was gradually smoothened by such kind of self-torture. Even if it couldn’t be said to be true enlightenment, it had a somewhat similar meaning.
After a moment of silence, Chu Yan spoke again, "Ying Yu has never spoken out about injustice for you before, but a person came to me and made a big fuss. It was the day after the wedding, and I beat that person hard. Do you know who it was?”
Mo Ren's answer was not slow, he didn't even need to think carefully to guess the only person who might do such a stupid thing. "The……third guardian, Ying Lei?"
Chu Yan nodded, and said with a hint of self-deprecation in his tone, "It seems that you both are the true confidants, I always thought you were at odds. That's right, it was him. After that, he went down the mountain angrily, I didn't know where he went either, but no matter wherever, it was better than accompanying me to death.”
"Guardian Lei is straightforward and bold by nature. Presumably, he can't bear the Master's willingness to fall for a male pet. Also, it is true that he has always looked down upon this subordinate." Mo Ren lowered his eyes and spoke calmly.
He closed his eyes slightly, and Ying Lei's rigid facial features seemed to appear in front of his eyes again.
He and Ying Lei...were really at odds.
In the past when he was the strongest sharp blade under the Master’s command, Ying Lei respected him hundred percent and even threatened to be his apprentice with Xiao Yu; when he was repeatedly harassed and framed by Bai Hua, and while Chu Yan remained indifferent, Ying Lei was even more indignant for him.
But he never cared all the time, instead he coldly warned Guardian Lei not to be disrespectful to the Palace Master, always causing this person to lose face and be embarrassed in front of others.
Later, he was personally abolished by Chu Yan, and was sent to the Side Hall as a servant. He let it be without any resistance, Ying Lei said angrily that he had misjudged him, and started to curse him with degrading words, a coward, and a person deserving to suffer.
But it was also Ying Lei who once broke into the Side Hall and beat the Side Hall servants who bullied him to the ground with his fists.
He was seriously ill at that time, and couldn't even say a word of thanks before he fell flat on Ying Lei and fainted. When he woke up, the man hadn't left, he clumsily held the spoon to feed him the medicine, and even spilled the medicine all over his body.
When Ying Lei saw him wake up, he angrily put the bowl aside and said, "You say it yourself, with your appearance, are you still considered a man?"
Mo Ren said hoarsely, ""What man? I can’t even be considered a man, I am simply the Master’s sword."
Perhaps his tone at that time was too straightforward, that Ying Lei's eyes widened in anger, he dropped the bowl and left with a flushed face. Mo Ren, who was burning and groggy, turned over and continued to sleep.
That was the last time they saw each other.
"Ah, Ying Lei cursed me with bloody red eyes, saying that you have been loyal to me all your life, have humbled yourself into the mud, have shed all your blood and sweat only to end up with such a miserable ending. That my conscience has really been gnawed by wild dogs…..."
"Heh, he was right, hahaha." Chu Yan lowered his head and smiled sullenly, when the past was recalled, he was filled with sadness, "This Master is really a muddle headed, incompetent and cruel master.”
Mo Ren thought for a while, and said, "The past has passed, and the future is foreseeable.”
Chu Yan was slightly stunned, but saw that the guard's face was as indifferent and calm as always, his voice was cold and clear and pleasant to hear as well. "Master has suffered many setbacks since childhood, how could he be someone who can't afford to be wronged or lost. In any case, this subordinate is the sharp blade in the Master's hands, and simply looks at where the Master wants to point it to."
Chu Yan suddenly had mixed feelings.
Bodyguard, that identity of the one serving the master. What should be said and what should not be said, there must be a clear understanding in the heart.
If it were someone else that came, such as that little girl Qiu Jin, what she’d say would definitely be "Master is true, unpretentious and bold, but was just deceived by that villain Bai Hua for a while..." and so on.
However, only Mo Ren could say seriously that he was wronged and lost, with a cold voice, but it sounded inexplicably nice.
When he was young, he really liked Ah Ren's temperament, that’s why he doted on him so much, always wanting to keep him by his side, tease him from time to time, and occasionally bicker with the little guard.....
But later on, how did it become like that?
How could he be so ruthless and determined…
“Master. "
Perhaps because Chu Yan remained silent for a long time, Mo Ren raised his eyes helplessly and was almost unable to resist turning over and knelt down to plead guilty. "This subordinate…..made a slip of the tongue. Please bestow punishment, Master.”
Chu Yan woke up with a start. Intense emotions rose up together, and his heart ached like being cut by a knife. He continuously coaxed saying “it’s not your fault, it’s not your fault”, and it took him a long time to calm down the uneasiness floating between Mo Ren's brows and eyes.
As a result, how ruthless he was in his previous life, yet was grinded and became into a person with such a state at present...
