Chapter Thirty-Two: The Dagger Revealed

“Once we finish this meal, we can leave. Let’s go.” Yue Qi glanced at Bai Lian, who was still standing there in a daze, and gave a gentle reminder.

“Don’t you think there’s something off about Wang Jian and Liu Caifu?” Bai Lian suddenly looked up, her eyes fixed on Yue Qi, her expression serious.

“Something off? You mean the matter with their young master? We already talked about that. That’s their business. We have the medicine now. Unless something unusual happens, we won’t have to deal with them anymore,” Yue Qi replied after some thought.

“No, that’s not what I meant…” Bai Lian shook her head. “Haven’t you wondered why they insist on keeping us here? Normally, we’d just cost them extra rations, but they’re so persistent. Is it really just to win us over?”

“And you’ve already turned them down, outright and implicitly, several times. I can see Wang Jian is about ready to give up, but then Liu Caifu jumps in, and suddenly Wang Jian is trying again…” Bai Lian paused, glancing at Yue Qi’s impassive face, growing a little anxious.

“Do you think it’s because you’re beautiful, and they want us to stay longer for that reason?” Yue Qi fell silent for a while before suddenly speaking. “But don’t worry. For now, you’re publicly my wife. They won’t dare try anything…” He even smiled as he finished, and, in a gesture of affection, ruffled Bai Lian’s hair.

“Let’s hope so…” Bai Lian sighed. Yet to Yue Qi’s surprise, she didn’t object to the gesture.

The meeting room from earlier that afternoon was the same, though it should have been filled with people. Yue Qi had already learned that everyone in this camp usually gathered for meals, supposedly for easier ration management, according to Wang Jian. But now, as Yue Qi looked in, there was only a long table, with Wang Jian and Liu Caifu seated alongside about a dozen others.

“Brother Yue, come on in! Over here!” The moment Yue Qi and Bai Lian entered, all eyes were on them. Wang Jian even stood up, cheerfully motioning for them to take two seats beside him.

Yue Qi nodded politely and sat down, with Bai Lian pressed closely to his side, looking every bit the bashful new wife.

Liu Caifu glanced at Bai Lian, a flicker of lechery in his eyes that quickly vanished, before turning to Yue Qi. “Looks like you had a good rest this afternoon, Brother Yue. Tonight, you must drink more with us!”

Yue Qi looked at Bai Lian, saw she had no objections, and replied, “Then I’ll follow your lead, but I must warn you, I’m not much of a drinker. Please forgive me if I can’t keep up…”

He made his excuses early, not wanting to give them reason to pick a quarrel later.

“We all came from these troubled times together. Who’s really a drinker or not? Drinking is a matter of practice. Even the greatest drinkers weren’t born that way,” Wang Jian said with a laugh, motioning for someone to fill Yue Qi’s cup.

Yue Qi didn’t refuse again and simply let it happen, so long as Bai Lian didn’t have to drink.

“By the way, Brother Yue, won’t your wife have a cup? This is the finest wine from Qinghe Town’s cellars, said to be brewed with spring water from the very mountain of the Qinghe Sword Sect…” Yue Qi had just hoped Bai Lian could abstain, but Wang Jian, having settled Yue Qi, immediately shifted his attention to Bai Lian.

“I don’t drink!” Bai Lian’s clear voice rang out, and with her temperament, she had no intention of giving Wang Jian any face, refusing him outright.

Most people present were members of the Wang family from Qingzhou, experienced in the world. Even if someone was impolite, they would rarely humiliate a host so bluntly. Bai Lian’s words caused more than a few faces to darken with anger.

“Ah, apologies, Brother Wang. My wife, being a woman, is unfamiliar with such etiquette. Please forgive her. But she truly is allergic to alcohol—even a drop will bring out a rash all over her body.” Sensing danger, Yue Qi quickly interjected, “So allow me to drink in her place…”

“So that’s how it is! I was being thoughtless. Your wife may be fiery, but her straightforwardness is refreshing!” Wang Jian laughed it off. The others also relaxed, though from their earlier looks, they seemed ready to draw their blades at a word.

“Then Brother Yue must drink a few extra cups tonight!” Liu Caifu, a cunning man, pressed on.

Yue Qi nodded, but then remembered to ask, “Why aren’t the others dining with us tonight? Why is it just this table?”

Wang Jian was caught off guard but Liu Caifu was quick to respond, “Tonight’s banquet is in your honor, and rations are tight. If everyone ate like this, we’d have nothing left.”

“Wouldn’t the other survivors resent this?” Yue Qi thought this would easily breed dissatisfaction. If a camp was divided, disaster would follow.

“Hmph, if it weren’t for us, how would they even survive? We feed and shelter them—they’re already grateful. Do they expect us to serve them delicacies too?” grunted Er Gou, a burly bearded man, before Wang Jian shot him an angry look and he fell silent.

“Don’t mind him, Brother Yue. He’s rough, his words harsh, but there’s truth in what he says. We risk our lives outside fighting the dead. Some privileges are expected, and everyone here understands that. So if we eat better, there’s no real resentment,” Wang Jian explained with an apologetic smile.

“A little better, yes…” Yue Qi thought, but only nodded in understanding.

“The food is ready, we can begin…” The idle chatter was interrupted by a young, clean-faced boy who looked a few years younger than Yue Qi. He addressed Wang Jian, who nodded at him. The boy swallowed hard as he gazed at the table’s feast before reluctantly withdrawing, shooting Wang Jian a resentful look as he left.

“Seems the resentment runs deep…” Yue Qi noticed, but said nothing. This was their internal matter, not his concern.

“Very well, since the food is ready, let’s all raise our cups in a toast to our new brother Yue Qi and his wife! Cheers!” Wang Jian stood and called out. The others followed suit, raising their cups to Yue Qi, who stood as well and raised his in return. Bai Lian, for her part, used tea in place of wine.

After several rounds, everyone returned to their seats. Yue Qi began to feel a little dizzy, but assumed it was simply the potency of the wine, since this was his first time drinking.

“Brother Yue, you’re from Yue Manor, and your wife’s surname is Bai. Where does she hail from? I don’t recall any Bai family estates near Qingzhou.” Liu Caifu, his cheeks slightly flushed from drink, pressed on.

“My wife’s background is rather special, so I hope you’ll forgive me for not saying more,” Yue Qi replied, improvising a mysterious origin for Bai Lian.

“Oh, Brother Yue, there’s no need to be so guarded. We’re all brothers here, and in these troubled times, who’s afraid of the authorities?” Wang Jian waved his hand dismissively.

Yue Qi simply smiled and said nothing.

“If you won’t say… then let’s drink. Tonight, we must drink you under the table!” Wang Jian laughed, personally refilling Yue Qi’s cup before downing his own at once.

Yue Qi quickly realized these men were all seasoned drinkers; after all this drinking, not one was flushed or short of breath, while his own head was already spinning. If he drank much more, he might not even be able to stand.

“Madam Yue,” Liu Caifu suddenly approached Bai Lian, his lecherous gaze barely concealed. “Since everyone’s so happy tonight, why not dance for us? I can even accompany you on an instrument…”

“Get lost.” Bai Lian sipped her tea, her tone icy, her eyes full of disdain as she glanced at him.

“You… you wretched woman! Refusing a toast only to court a punishment! I give you face, and you spit on it. Get up!” Liu Caifu roared, reaching out to grab her arm.

“Courting death!” Bai Lian’s eyes flashed. In a blink, she drew her sword from beside her seat. With a resonant hum, the blade flashed, and Liu Caifu’s outstretched arm was severed in an instant.

“Aaahhh…!” It all happened in a heartbeat. No one present had time to react. Yue Qi, dazed by drink, hadn’t even caught Liu Caifu’s words—now, suddenly clear-headed, he saw Liu Caifu’s hand lying on the ground.

“Damn woman!” Liu Caifu gritted his teeth. “Second Young Master, go! She’s already slapped your face in front of everyone—how much longer will you wait?”

Liu Caifu’s shriek snapped Wang Jian out of his drunken stupor. They had indeed planned something for tonight—poison Yue Qi, then force Bai Lian to submit. But now, Yue Qi showed no signs of poisoning, and they never expected a fight to break out. None of them had brought their weapons.

As Liu Caifu called out, Bai Lian ignored the others, advancing on Liu Caifu, her sword gleaming with murderous intent.

“Yue Qi!” Wang Jian, seeing his own man’s hand severed, had no time to stop her. He could only shout at Yue Qi.

But in that instant, Yue Qi suddenly spat out a mouthful of black blood—at last, the poison had taken effect.