Chapter 314: Straight Man Ying Xiao’s Love

Chu Fan was glad he had come to Xingyuan City.

Otherwise, Ye Xiaohan and his two companions would have certainly been in danger. And perhaps in a month, the Eastern Domain might have been caught completely off guard by the Northern Domain.

The Great Xia was founded just over four years ago and had only recently established law and order in the Eastern Domain.

He never imagined that so many glory-seeking traitors would emerge at a time like this.

That night, Chu Fan returned to Celestial Heart Hall and summoned Jing’an and the other seven.

“Ji Bufan, how could your Bu Huang Grain Warehouse Trading Company be completely unaware of this matter? It seems your surveillance of the Eastern Domain has grown lax.”

Ji Bufan hurriedly bowed. “This subordinate is guilty. Please punish me, my lord.”

Chu Fan tossed a piece of paper filled with names to Ji Bufan. “What I detest most are those who betray their own for personal gain. According to this list, I want these families uprooted within three days.”

“Yes, sir!”

“You may have started building an intelligence network in the other domains, but the Eastern Domain is our home base. Don’t neglect the fundamentals for trivial matters and allow the Eastern Domain to fall into chaos first.”

“This subordinate obeys!”

“Jing’an!”

“This subordinate is here!”

“Secretly mobilize our forces and station them in the counties bordering the Northern Domain to defend against their invasion. With the exception of Ying Xiao, you, Jing’an, will guard the Capital City, while the rest of you will oversee those border counties. Even if the Northern Domain doesn’t invade within a month, I will personally lead you all on a little trip to the Northern Domain myself.”

“Yes, sir!” Jing’an bowed and accepted his orders.

Chu Fan discussed some of the details with them. An hour later, the group departed.

As the saying goes, it’s rude not to return a favor. Since the Northern Domain was already eyeing the Eastern Domain with predatory intent, taking a beating passively was definitely not in Chu Fan’s character.

As for Ye Xiaohan, he had already gotten his revenge and had no other distractions. He and his companions were naturally overjoyed to learn that Chu Fan was still alive.

Since Chu Fan had to rush back to Shuoyue City to make arrangements, he didn’t chat long with Ye Xiaohan and his companions. He left first, telling the three of them to find him in Shuoyue City.

The three of them, of course, wouldn’t refuse. They had to go level the cenotaph on Yunmeng Mountain—after all, this whole mix-up had gotten out of hand.

After Jing’an and the other seven left Celestial Heart Hall, they began arranging everything for the coming war.

As for Ying Xiao, he was making final preparations to head to the Southern Domain.

However, Ying Xiao didn’t prepare anything himself. Instead, he delegated the tasks and went to the Mixed Element Sect.

「Yandang Mountain, Mixed Element Sect.」

After several years of development, the Mixed Element Sect was now even more prosperous than it had been in its heyday.

When Nan Chuting, a woman, became the Sect Leader with the Supreme Elder’s backing against all opposition, several Elders had initially feigned compliance while secretly disobeying her.

Now, within the Mixed Element Sect, Nan Chuting’s word was law.

On one hand, this was because the old ancestor and the Supreme Elder had gained a great deal of vitality after drinking the Drunken Immortal Brew and no longer needed to confine themselves to the Spirit Vein.

On the other hand, Nan Chuting herself was exceptionally talented. Her Cultivation had already entered the Divine Separation Realm. Moreover, under her leadership these past few years, the Mixed Element Sect had flourished day by day. Those Elders who had initially been insubordinate were now completely convinced of her capabilities.

Ever since Ying Xiao first saw Nan Chuting at the Tengxing Grand Assembly, he had come to the Mixed Element Sect countless times over the past few years.

At first, Nan Chuting would draw her Sword to kill him on sight.

But how could Nan Chuting possibly be a match for Ying Xiao?

Ying Xiao, that straightforward man, was like an iron tree blooming—no one expected him to have a tender side to his tough exterior.

Through their repeated clashes, Ying Xiao was actually helping Nan Chuting improve her combat experience.

With Ying Xiao visiting so often, how could Nan Chuting not understand his feelings?

But Ying Xiao was, after all, the man who had killed her father. Even if Nan Chuting felt a Heartbeat for him, she could not possibly accept his love.

Nan Chuting had made this clear to Ying Xiao, but he remained completely unmoved, continuing to visit the Mixed Element Sect every so often.

He had the unyielding air of someone who wouldn’t turn back until he hit a brick wall.

“Why are you here again? I’ve told you, it’s impossible between us.” Nan Chuting said with a sense of helplessness, looking at Ying Xiao who stood before her, clad in black.

“I came to say goodbye this time,” Ying Xiao said.

“Goodbye? There’s no need. It would be best if we never saw each other again!”

“This time, I’m heading to the Southern Domain on Lord Chu’s orders to infiltrate the God Slaughter Hall. I might be gone for a long time,” Ying Xiao said lightly.

Upon hearing this, Nan Chuting’s heart trembled.

“You don’t need to tell me. Go wherever you want!”

“Besides saying goodbye, there’s one more thing I need to tell you. When I come back, I will marry you. I will ask Lord Chu to be our witness. You must wait for me. If you marry another man before I return, I will kill him, no matter who he is, and then marry you!”

“I’ll say it again: it’s impossible between us! No matter why you killed my father back then, you are still my enemy. How could I ever marry you?”

“I don’t care. Even if you stab me with a Sword while we sleep in the same bed, I will still marry you. I, Ying Xiao, swear that I will marry no one but you in this life,” Ying Xiao declared, his voice firm as steel.

“You… how can you be so shameless?”

Ying Xiao forced a smile that was uglier than a grimace.

His sharp features truly weren’t suited for smiling.

“From the first moment I saw you, you were destined to be my, Ying Xiao’s, wife in this life. If you can’t let go of that hatred, then after our betrothal rites, I, Ying Xiao, will suffer three stabs, right through my body, to end that grudge. But you will still marry me.”

“Then you’d better die in the Southern Domain!”

“The group that was holed up on Three Mountains Island and attacked our Eastern Domain’s Cultivation Sects recently was the vanguard of the God Slaughter Hall. The God Slaughter Hall is far more powerful than the Red Blood Mansion, and their methods are even more cruel and vicious. If I really die in the Southern Domain, the destruction they will cause when they come to the Eastern Domain again will be even greater. For the peace of the Eastern Domain, you’d better pray I stay alive.”

“You’re just an assassin. Don’t make yourself sound so noble and great,” Nan Chuting said with contempt.

“Correct. I’m just an assassin. But I serve Lord Chu. I am a blade in Lord Chu’s hand. Lord Chu wants long-term peace and stability for the Eastern Domain, so I will do whatever it takes to achieve his dream.”

“Are you finished? If you’re finished, then get out!” Nan Chuting said.

“I’m finished. You have to wait for me to come back and marry you!”

“Get out! Get out now!” Nan Chuting waved her hand in disgust.

Ying Xiao gave a sly smile. In a flash, he darted forward and planted a kiss on the birthmark on Nan Chuting’s face.

Before Nan Chuting could draw her Sword in fury, his figure had already vanished.

Nan Chuting stood dumbfounded, her Sword in one hand, while her other hand gently touched the spot on her face where Ying Xiao had kissed her, still slick with a bit of his saliva.

“Lecher!” Nan Chuting spat out softly.

But now, there wasn’t much hatred on her face. Instead, a smile emerged.

If not for the birthmark on her face, that smile would have been one to topple nations.

‘If you return safely, and you truly are willing to suffer three stabs, clear through, to end our grudge… what’s the harm in marrying you?’ Nan Chuting whispered softly toward the doorway.

“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely come back safely.” Ying Xiao’s figure reappeared before Nan Chuting’s eyes.

The smile in Nan Chuting’s eyes instantly sharpened into a fierce glare.

She never, ever imagined that Ying Xiao hadn’t actually left.

Mortified and enraged, she raised her Sword and charged at him.

Ying Xiao’s figure vanished once more.

“I know what’s in your heart now! Wait for me to come back and marry you!” Ying Xiao’s voice gradually faded into the distance…