Chapter 408 - 406: I’m Here to Kill You (Second Update)

Chapter 408: Chapter 406: I’m Here to Kill You (Second Update)

Seeing this, Yangjiao, following alongside him, couldn’t help but tilt his head and ask, "Lord, what’s wrong? Why do you look so upset? Are you still worried about the master of the house?"

However, Zhou Xian’s gaze remained fixed in the direction where his elder brother’s carriage had disappeared, murmuring, "Why did brother bring along that boy Ma Shiming this time? Doesn’t brother usually leave him in the Western Capital?"

Ma Shiming had been a servant by Zhou Qi’s side since childhood. As he grew up, he, along with a few other servants who also grew up with Zhou Qi, became part of the entourage serving Zhou Qi.

However, Zhou Qi disliked ostentation when he went out and usually only brought along his long-term follower, Zhou Jingyi. The other servants were stationed at various residences he frequented. Both the Western Capital and Anping County had several servants stationed long-term, and Ma Shiming was stationed in the Western Capital.

Thus, when Zhou Xian noticed that his brother had taken Ma Shiming along this time, he felt it was strange.

Yangjiao paused slightly, as if noticing this point for the first time, then thought for a moment and said: "Perhaps the master has a different arrangement for him? I don’t intend to speak ill of others behind their backs, but Ma Shiming is not sharp in doing things, often clumsy. When serving the master, if he’s not breaking something, he’s making mistakes. Recently, he almost threw away a letter meant for the master from another manager as waste paper, fortunately, Xun Tao, who was also serving the master, retrieved the letters in time."

Like Ma Shiming, Xun Tao was also a servant Zhou Qi had stationed in the Western Capital.

Yangjiao pursed his lips and continued, "Ma Shiming is only able to serve the master because he grew up by his side, but I can see that the master is increasingly favoring Xun Tao recently. Ma Shiming is given only some trivial tasks. In my opinion, having Xun Tao here in the Western Capital is enough to serve the master."

The master might have taken him back to Anping County to make other arrangements because of this.

Zhou Xian glanced at Yangjiao, not expecting there to be such matters behind the two servants beside his brother.

But is this really the reason why brother took Ma Shiming along?

Because when Zhou Qi left the Western Capital, it was already late, and shortly after they exited the city gate, it became completely dark.

This time, Zhou Qi only took Ma Shiming, Zhou Jingyi, and two guards back to Anping County. They traveled until the moon hung high in the sky when Zhou Qi suddenly said from the carriage, "We have been traveling for quite a while; there’s a pavilion ahead. Let’s stop and rest for a bit."

No one thought anything was wrong, as Zhou Qi usually liked to let everyone rest every one or two hours when he was traveling long distances, to take care of any physiological needs.

However, it was late at night, and although they were on the official road, it was pitch dark all around with not a soul in sight. Zhou Jingyi looked around, walked to the carriage window, and softly suggested, "Master, there is a post station about two quarters of an hour ahead. I suggest we rest there."

Even if there aren’t any people at the post station, there would be a couple of attendants on duty.

That would be safer.

Zhou Qi lifted the curtain, cast a nonchalant glance outside, and said with a slight smile, "Let’s rest here. I noticed Shi Ming doesn’t look well, maybe he’s not feeling great."

Ma Shiming, who was about to step forward and say he wasn’t feeling well and needed to relieve himself: "..."

Seeing Zhou Qi and Zhou Jingyi’s gaze fixed on him, Ma Shiming felt something was amiss but couldn’t pinpoint what it was. He could only nervously say, "Master, I... I might have eaten something bad tonight. I’ve felt uneasy in my stomach all along; I don’t want to disrupt your plans, but I really can’t hold it any longer..."

Zhou Jingyi frowned slightly and cast a cold glance toward Ma Shiming.

For some reason, he could never bring himself to like this boy, who always seemed to hold the master back. Still, the master was sentimental and willing to keep him by his side no matter how many mistakes he made.

But this was the end of the line.

Today, he had heard the master’s plan to take Ma Shiming back to Anping County to serve Third Master, and he felt a sense of relief he couldn’t describe.

Third Master was capable of handling things, but his affairs were numerous, and his home was filled with concubines, often lamenting to the master about the lack of manpower.

The master sending Ma Shiming to Third Master was akin to exiling him. The master finally realized that this boy was inept.

He just said plainly, "Alright, Shi Ming, be quick; we have to continue our journey."

Seemingly fearful of him, Ma Shiming responded submissively and quickly ran toward the woods by the road.

What Zhou Jingyi didn’t know was that as soon as Ma Shiming turned away, the obedience on his face twisted into anger and resentment. He bit his lip fiercely and quickly ran into the woods.

Zhou Qi got off the carriage and entered the old pavilion by the road and sat down, while Zhou Jingyi and the two guards followed closely behind him.

Suddenly, a scream from Ma Shiming came from the woods, and Zhou Jingyi abruptly turned his head, looking at the dark woods in surprise.

The two guards also instantly tensed up, one of them turned to Zhou Qi and said, "Master, we should check what happened."

In the dim night, they couldn’t see Zhou Qi’s expression clearly. After waiting for a moment, they finally heard their master say, "Go ahead."

They immediately didn’t suspect him and turned to quickly enter the forest.

Zhou Jingyi was very tense, carefully watching the surroundings. He was just about to say "Something doesn’t seem right, Master, be careful," when suddenly the sound of weapons clashing erupted from the woods.

Zhou Jingyi’s eyes widened in shock, and before he could react, he saw several figures quickly running out from the forest’s depths. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly drew a dagger he carried, urgently shouting: "Master, run!"

However, it was clear these people were not ordinary. They quickly reached them, masks covering their faces, wielding weapons that glinted menacingly!

They bypassed Zhou Jingyi entirely, heading straight for Zhou Qi!

Their target was Zhou Qi!

"Master!"

In extreme anxiety, Zhou Jingyi quickly dispatched the two masked men entangling him and ran rapidly toward Zhou Qi. One of the masked men, seeing this, said coldly, "You stop him; I’ll deal with the one named Zhou!"

Even under such dire circumstances, Zhou Jingyi couldn’t help but pause.

This voice, why does it sound so familiar?

Nonetheless, upon hearing these words, the other masked men turned their attention toward Zhou Jingyi, who didn’t have time to think deeper as he fell into another fierce battle.

The remaining masked man, sword in hand, ran to Zhou Qi within a few strides, only to find him still sitting nonchalantly in the pavilion, without a hint of panic on his face.

The masked man hesitated but didn’t have time to ponder. With fierce intent, he shouted, "Die!"

The longsword in his hand thrust forward, just about to pierce Zhou Qi’s chest, when suddenly a small stone flew from afar, knocking his sword to the ground!

The masked man froze, quickly turned his head towards the direction the stone flew from, and saw several figures slowly emerging from the woods on the other side of the road. When he saw the clothes they wore, his heart skipped a beat. In disbelief, he turned to look at his companions, only to find in horror that Zhou Jingyi had somehow gained two agile and skilled helpers who had swiftly subdued his companions!

At this point, he realized he had been set up!

Ridgidly, bit by bit, he turned back toward Zhou Qi, who was still sitting with indifference in the pavilion. Biting his teeth hard, with a hoarse voice, he said, "How did you know I was coming to kill you?!"