Chapter 68: Cheng Hai’s Crisis

As the guests invited by the Duke of State’s mansion gradually arrived, Ye Tiance and Ye Feng gave a brief opening speech under everyone’s gaze. Then, all raised their glasses for a toast, and the banquet officially began.

According to seniority, Shen Yian should have been sitting next door with the younger generation.

However, considering his status, he had to sit at the main table with these old generals who had once fought on battlefields.

Despite his reluctance to be separated from Ye Liyan, he had no choice.

Fortunately, after reaching a certain level of strength, one could become immune to the effects of alcohol.

Otherwise, he might have had to be carried back to the prince’s mansion by Cheng Hai both last night and tonight.

After several rounds of drinks, with glasses clinking, the table had become somewhat messy, and everyone’s faces showed varying degrees of intoxication.

Shen Yian felt a weight on his shoulder and turned his head to see Ye Feng staring at him with alcohol on his breath and reddened eyes.

Ye Tiance, sitting next to Ye Feng, put down his glass upon seeing this.

His son hadn’t deliberately suppressed the alcohol in his system and was now in a rather drunken state. 

With Liyan not present, he probably had many things he wanted to say to His Highness. Such is the heart of parents.

After a long while, Ye Feng spoke with a slightly hoarse voice: “Your Highness, I haven’t read many books, though I can recognize a few big characters. To put it bluntly, I’m just a brute. I was fortunate enough to meet Liyan’s mother back then, and even more fortunate that she fell for me…”

Shen Yian listened attentively to Ye Feng’s story. He could feel the pain and torment this man experienced when he lost his loved one, and the guilt and remorse of not being able to accompany his daughter.

This reminded him of another man, Martial Marquis Gu Qing.

Perhaps heaven likes to play jokes. Two fathers who lost their wives, two girls who lost their mothers, became the righteous female lead and the villainous female demon in the original story, respectively. Two girls with similar circumstances ended up with completely different fates.

Unfortunately, Gu Qing disliked attending banquets, which was almost common knowledge. He would send gifts for all banquets, big or small, but never attend in person. To drink with him, one had to either visit him or have an imperial decree from His Majesty.

Otherwise, Ye Feng and Gu Qing could have had a heartfelt chat today.

“Your Highness! I only have this one daughter. I believe Your Highness will surely make Liyan happy and content, and I trust Your Highness will protect her well…”

“But, but I really only have this one daughter! If Your Highness dares to wrong her… mmph!!!”

Before Ye Feng could finish his outburst, a strong arm wrapped around his shoulder, and a large hand firmly covered his mouth.

“You insolent fool, how dare you disrespect His Highness?!” Ye Tiance scolded from behind, irritated. He had been waiting for this moment when Ye Feng would act out of line.

How could such treasonous words be allowed?

Even if His Highness didn’t mind, what about others? Rumors spread quickly.

If this reached His Majesty’s ears, wouldn’t their Ye family be labeled as traitors?

“Duke Ye, General Ye is a man of passion, I understand completely,” Shen Yian stood up and spoke very seriously. 

“Please, Duke Ye and General Ye, rest assured. I can swear a heavenly oath that if I ever wrong… mmph.”

This time, it was Ye Feng’s hand that covered Shen Yian’s mouth.

Hearing the words “heavenly oath,” Ye Feng instantly sobered up.

My Prince, there’s no need to be so serious. How can a heavenly oath be sworn so casually?

He could feel that Shen Yian’s feelings for his daughter were genuine and without any falsehood. With this sincerity, he could die without regrets.

From now on, they would all be one family. He didn’t want his son-in-law to live with his daughter every day with an invisible sword hanging over his head.

The others at the table were momentarily stunned. What were these three doing? An impromptu performance?

After the small drama ended, the lively atmosphere from before resumed.

Shen Yian noticed that Ye Feng’s gaze towards him now held more tenderness, like a father looking at his son.

He felt somewhat amused. This was a form of acceptance, wasn’t it?

As the night deepened, the banquet drew to a close, and guests began to leave.

Because of the elders’ presence, hardly anyone among the younger generation had touched alcohol.

Du Dunming once again carried Du Fang home on his back.

In the end, only the Ye family and Shen Yian remained at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, apart from the staff cleaning up.

It was late, and after brief farewells, both parties headed to their respective homes.

In the carriage, Shen Yian gently caressed the small sachet in his hand, smiling as he recalled the earlier scene.

Ye Liyan had suddenly given this to him when they were about to part at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

Afraid that giving a gift might be abrupt, she had come up with a clumsy excuse, stammering through her explanation, completely unaware that her small face had turned rosy, adorable enough to make one want to commit a crime.

Without much thought, Shen Yian attached his golden “King of Chu” waist token to the small sachet.

On the way back to the prince’s mansion, Shen Yian was surprised by the faint traces of killing intent wafting from afar.

This killing intent wasn’t aimed at him, but at Cheng Hai, who was driving the carriage outside.

What did this mean?

They don’t want to kill him, but Cheng Hai?

Did Cheng Hai have any enemies? Barbarians?

While pondering, Shen Yian’s divine sense quickly spread towards the Duke of State’s mansion. Confirming that all was well there, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Outside, Cheng Hai’s sense of crisis, honed on the battlefield, had already alerted him to this killing intent.

“Your Highness, there are assassins.”

“Be careful, their target is you!” Shen Yian said gravely.

Cheng Hai took a deep breath: “Your Highness, may I face them alone?”

After staying on the battlefield for a long time, he felt like he had lost his soul when peace suddenly came. It took him a long time to gradually adapt.

Now, enveloped by killing intent, the dried blood within him began to boil again.

“Alright, I’ll cover you. You can go all out!”

Tonight would be Cheng Hai’s solo performance.

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

The reins tightened, and the carriage stopped in a deep alley.

Cheng Hai got off the carriage and slowly pulled out a Miao saber from between the carriage boards. He walked forward with the knife in his hand, away from the carriage.

This alley was wide, giving enough room for the Miao saber to be wielded freely.

Shen Yian sat calmly in the carriage and said quietly, “They’re here!”

He had already guessed why these assassins had come and why they were targeting Cheng Hai.

That woman was indeed interesting, after killing one of her palace maids, now she wants to take one of his guards.

Yin Hai and the other two were already in position. None of these assassins would escape.

Several sharp arrows whistled through the air.

Cheng Hai gripped his saber with both hands and struck with full force. The blade energy swept across, engulfing the arrows and continuing towards the assassins on the wall.

“Boom!!!”

Bricks, tiles, and stone fragments flew everywhere, the thunderous sound carrying far.

An assassin held his breath and leaped above Cheng Hai’s head. The blade in his hand was surrounded by blood-colored energy and continuously emitted deathly aura.

Instant kill!

The assassin flashed downward and aimed his blade at Cheng Hai’s head.

“Boom!”

The blade energy was faster than him, and the assassin was torn in half before he could even anticipate it.

Cheng Hai’s saber technique was bold and powerful. After dealing with the assassin above, he quickly retreated several steps, his Miao saber slicing through the air. The blade energy mixed with blade light gave the assassins no chance to get close, though this style of fighting consumed a lot of energy.

Cheng Hai, who had only recently entered the Free Realm, didn’t have the abundant true qi of those in the Heavenly Martial Realm.

The assassins were anxious. Their techniques were all designed for killing, requiring speed, viciousness, and deadliness. Facing an opponent who liked to dominate the battlefield like this, if they couldn’t succeed in one strike, they could easily be put on the defensive.

The lead assassin suddenly pointed towards the nearby carriage. The other assassins immediately understood.

Two assassins quickly circled around Cheng Hai and lunged towards the carriage.

As they leapt into the air, a gust of wind blew past, and a huge black shadow flashed by. The two assassins vanished without a trace.

Cheng Hai was startled. In that moment of distraction, the lead assassin had already landed nearby. His long sword was like winter snow, terrifyingly cold, with a chilling aura enveloping the blade as it swept out. Frost spread wherever the sword energy passed.

Behind the sword energy, several assassins followed closely, intending to completely surround and kill their target.

“Cheng Hai, I’ve dealt with two assassins. You can go all out now.”

As Cheng Hai was still uncertain, Shen Yian’s gentle voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

Yes, Your Highness!

With his heart now steady, a terrifying killing aura emanated from Cheng Hai’s body.

One move to kill the god, Blood Slaughter Thousands of Miles!