Chapter 30: Murderer
Lin Anning’s body had gone cold as she stood there staring at the kneeling maid. She couldn’t even move.
The maid was kneeling in a pool of her own blood, staining the ground and ugly shade of red. The metal of the sword that had been thrusted into her gleamed slightly under the evening sky and standing before her...
Was Gu Wanqing, who wasn’t bothered by what she was seeing.
Anning fingers slowly curled into fists beside her body, she could guess what had happened immediately.
With the crowd that had gone silent, the blood on Wanqing’s cheek and that expression she had on... Wanqing had definitely done this.
She swallowed hard at the mere thought. No matter how arrogant or cold she thought Wanqing was before, Anning had never for once imagined this. Like never!
Fear hit Anning so suddenly that it almost stole air from her lungs. She took in deep breaths, trying to calm her heart that was violently pounded against her ribcage.
She should be annoyed, angry or even irritated by what was happening. Not scared. This was the kind of fear she absolutely detested.
The type that wrapped itself tightly around your neck, squeezing tighter and tighter until it gets difficult to breathe. At that point, it felt as though her body wasn’t even hers anymore.
For the first time in quite a while, regret began finding its way into her heart. A terrifying amount of it, that is. Suddenly, every punishment, every threat, every guard carrying swords around and every strange look she’d received since she came here finally made sense.
This wasn’t 2026 (I thought we knew that already?) where she could curse at people, run her mouth and walk away with nothing more than them giving her a few dirty looks.
Here, people could actually end up dead. People could be killed and everyone would literally ignore it as if it wasn’t a big deal.
"Clear the area!" Han Luo yelled, his voice suddenly cut through the suffocating silence
Several guards standing nearby moved immediately. Servants hurried away with their heads lowered, a few workers rushed over carrying cloth and buckets. A few reluctant ones were shoved back into the house, despite their grumbling.
After a few moments of them moving around, the once crowded courtyard gradually emptied till only a handful of people remained.
Han Luo stood a few steps away from Wanqing with a few other guards while Anning remained rooted in place, looking as though her soul had left her body.
In the center of it all, the maid was still kneeling with Gu Wanqing staring down at her. For a few moments, no one spoke.
Anning could at least sort out her feelings at that moment, but Wanqing decided to let out a cold chuckle. Typical, it was always her playing the god-damned villain.
Still, the sound made goosebumps form on Anning’s skin.
Wanqing tilted her head slightly, her dark eyes fixed solely on the kneeling girl. "A few moments ago, you were still running your mouth like some jì nǚ"
It didn’t sound like she was upset, considering the fact she wasn’t yelling. But Anning, who was used to Wanqing’s character, knew the maid had definitely done something wrong.
Wanqing folded her arms under her large breasts and stared at the girl for a few more seconds before speaking again, "Go on. Defend yourself"
The girl didn’t respond and that had Wanqing’s lips slowly curving upward.
"I dare you." She muttered, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Move, defend yourself and see if I won’t behead you. Right here, right now!"
The kneeling maid suddenly coughed weakly and blood spilled from the corner of her lips, dripping onto her clothes and making the stain larger than it already was. Her body swayed slightly and for a moment, Anning genuinely thought the girl would collapse immediately. Instead, she slowly lowered her gaze toward the sword lodged through her chest before raising her head once more.
First, she turned her gaze back to Wanqing. Then, to Anning’s complete shock...
She looked at her!
Anning froze, a nervous smile making its way to her lips. Why was she looking at her?
But of everyone standing here, why her?!
Slowly, the girl’s lips lifted into a weak smile. It wasn’t one of mockery or hatred. That smile looked beautiful.
Her lips moved softly as though she was whispering something, which of course Anning couldn’t hear. But before she could think any further, the girl’s eyes fluttered shut and her body finally collapsed onto the floor.
Anning flinched at the sight.
Han Luo merely glanced at the body before turning to the workers who stood nearby, "Take care of it."
Take care of it? That’s it?
Not take her to a god-damned hospital? Or at least give her a nice burial?
Just...take care of it.
Anning felt sick, she couldn’t help but wonder what sort of place she landed in. After taking a moment to calm herself, she opened her eyes and turned to where Wanqing stood.
Wanqing’s face had gone slightly pale, her hands hanging beside her body were curled into fists, so tight that veins beneath her skin had become visible.
Whatever that dying girl had whispered before dying... Wanqing had clearly heard it and whatever it affected her more than she was letting anyone see.
Han Luo stepped forward carefully. "Young miss, are we still going to the gathering?"
His voice remained respectful and steady as if the woman standing before him hadn’t just driven a sword through someone’s chest.
Anning still hadn’t moved, her mind was completely blank. She still couldn’t believe Wanqing had killed something... like an actual person.
She had seen Wanqing as everything but not a murderer.
The funny thing was that everyone around her acted as though this was normal. Like someone dying in front of them was no different from having breakfast in the morning
Well, if only Anning knew.
Wanqing took a deep breath, before raising her head. Then her gaze suddenly snapped toward Anning.
And poor Anning stiffened instantly.
Wanqing’s eyes slowly traveled across her face, taking in her pale skin, trembling fingers and the fear she was trying her best to hide. Then slowly, the corners of her lips lifted and her face regained a bit of its color.
"Quit standing around." Wanqing said to Anning, her voice lighter now. "Get into the carriage."
Anning stared at her in disbelief. Why would she get into the carriage with a freaking murderer?
Just the thought had her shivering. Her life couldn’t get any worse at this point, sitting with a murderer? This was just low, even for her.
Without waiting for Anning’s reply, Wanqing turned around and walked toward the extravagant carriage waiting nearby. Han luo immediately stepped forward, helping her inside before shutting the carriage door behind her.
Anning remained standing where she was, unable to move. After a few seconds, Han Luo walked back to her and gently tugged her sleeve.
"Come." He said softly.
Anning bit her lower lip, slowly turning toward him.
Han Luo lowered his voice slightly before saying, "Keep your emotions concealed around the young miss. Showing any fear may upset her or she might simply enjoy making you more afraid."
Anning immediately scoffed. "She doesn’t scare me"
Han Luo looked at her face, then at her trembling hands and finally back at her face once more. But he didn’t say anything, not even a single word.
But somehow that silence made everything so clear. It was obvious he did not believe her.
Han Luo sighed before helping her climb into the carriage and quietly shutting the door behind her
The moment Anning stepped inside, she sat far away from Wanqing. She positioned herself directly across from her before immediately turning her head toward the window. She wasn’t going to look at her.
She refused to!
Silence filled the carriage for a few seconds, then she heard movement beside her. Before she could stop herself, she sighed.
"Tiger." Wanqing drawled out softly but that name only made Anning’s shoulder go stiff.
Then slowly, she turned her head.
Wanqing sat lazily against the seat with one arm resting on the armrest and her jaw supported against her palm. Her black eyes stared directly at Anning before slowly raising a brow.
"I thought you weren’t scared of me."
