Chapter 340: Can’t Sleep at Night (3)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Dongfang Liren had read a lot of records about poor places, but in fact, she had grown up in the capital and had hardly ever gone far. Even when she came out, there would only be echoes around her. The local officials would clear the streets, decorate the buildings, and even drive away the beggars. She had never had the opportunity to see the suffering of the people.
Hearing Ye Jingtang talk about life at the border, Dongfang Liren frowned and deliberated for a moment. “The people in Liang Province are too valiant, and there’s a lack of water sources. Since ancient times, they’ve been poor. In the future, bring me to conduct field investigations. If it’s feasible, when Her Majesty recovers Northern Liang, I’ll see if we can open a large canal in Heavenly Carnelian Lake and send water to Liang Province…”
When Ye Jingtang heard Dumdum talking about this project that would take countless years, his eyes were rather helpless. “Your Highness should leave this kind of thing to the Ministry of Works. It’s not a problem for me to bring Your Highness to the border to take a look. Although Red River Town is a little poor, the people aren’t as valiant as the rumors say. They’re usually quite peaceful. I’ve only killed some horse bandits who burned, killed, and plundered since I was young. It’s not as many as the number of people I’ve killed in the two months since I’ve come to the capital…”
Dongfang Liren didn’t know how to evaluate these words. A young man with an upright character who was 17 or 18 years old had many lives on his hands. If this could be called peaceful, then the Central Plains could be considered a paradise.
Dongfang Liren picked up the wine bottle and took a sip. After some thought, she asked curiously, “Ye Jingtang, when was the first time you killed someone?”
Faced with this question, Ye Jingtang fell silent for a moment before shaking his head. “The purpose of practicing martial arts is to protect your family, not to take people’s lives. Everyone has parents, wives, and children. People only live once. Killing isn’t a good thing. If people aren’t heinous, you should leave a way out for them and persuade them to turn over a new leaf. Only then can you be called chivalrous. It’s not appropriate to discuss how many people I’ve killed and how 1 killed them.”
Dongfang Liren felt that the words ‘kill and punish with caution’ were very in line with the identity of a chief constable of the Black Office, but when it came from Ye Jingtang, she was a little skeptical. “You should leave a way out for people and persuade them to turn over a new leaf? It’s not easy for you to leave corpses intact. Out of the five people who came today, you killed four and a half. One was beheaded, and another exploded. I feel that it’s more suitable for you to say that speaking before taking action is indecisive…”
Ye Jingtang knew that he had always been someone who took action without speaking. If he had to speak, he would only do so after fighting. But he still acted appropriately and responded, “Most of the time, 1 kill people in self-defense. Other than Cheng Shilu’s unexpected death, the others are all people who deserve death for their crimes. I’m quite tolerant of those whose crimes don’t deserve death. For example, Yang Guan of the Blue Lotus Gang, who used to be an arrogant local tyrant, has become much more sensible after being beaten up by me a few times. Now, he’s as cowardly as the bird…”
“Chirp?” The bird raised its claws and kicked Ye Jingtang.
Dongfang Liren listened to Ye Jingtang’s nonsense. She was a little tired from sitting upright, so she slowly relaxed.
After chatting for a while about the fight, Dongfang Liren got up, pondered the nature of martial arts again, and said, “Don’t you want to spar with my master? Do you want me to call her up…”
Ye Jingtang had just been caught riding three ships by Miss Shui’er. He didn’t dare to give her an excuse to beat him up. “Fairy Lu’s attainments in martial arts are too high. If I spar with her now, 1 will be asking for humiliation. Let’s talk about it in the future. Does Your Highness want to exchange martial arts experience? Why don’t I continue to teach Your Highness?”
Dongfang Liren was always dealt a blow when she asked Ye Jingtang to teach her martial arts. She felt that it was better to let her master teach her, so she declined politely, “I know how to practice by myself. You should improve your willpower first. Come, I will continue to test your willpower.”
Ye Jingtang naturally didn’t refuse. “That’s fine too. I’ll definitely be as immovable as a mountain this time.”
Dongfang Liren was quite confident in her ‘technique’. She didn’t say anything else and got Ye Jingtang to sit down. Then she placed her hands on his chest muscles and squeezed.
Ye Jingtang was sitting with his back straight, and his face was like that of an old monk in meditation. He was silently thinking, What should I do if Xue Baijin comes to lull me? If she discovers my affair with Ninger, she’ll definitely beat me to death if 1 don’t join the Pacifying Heaven Cult. If 1 join, Daoist Xuanji will beat me to death. I’ll die either way…
This method was simple and crude. Under the pressure of imminent disaster, it was really not easy for Ye Jingtang to fantasize.
Dongfang Liren touched Ye Jingtang’s chest for a moment and found that he had made some progress. He really didn’t have any reaction. Her desire to win was immediately aroused. She narrowed her eyes slightly and leaned close to his ear to breathe. “Phew-”
Ye Jingtang wanted to suppress his emotions, but Dumdum came over, and the fat-headed dragon leaned on his arm.
In her chest undergarment-less state, it felt like two soft and warm water balls. The touch made his blood boil…
“Hmph-!” A smug look flashed across Dongfang Liren’s eyes. “Is that all you’ve got?”
“Uh…” Having suffered a crushing defeat, Ye Jingtang didn’t quibble anymore. He turned to look at the bright and charming Dumdum beside him. “Why don’t 1 test Your Highness’s composure and see if Your Highness can stay stable longer than me?”
Dongfang Liren blinked. Is there a need to compere? When she heard what he said, her heart started to panic…
But in order to prove herself, Dongfang Liren still stood up, displayed a stance of holding a spear, and warned, “You can’t do it like me. You can only help me correct my posture of exerting strength. As long as you don’t touch me elsewhere, 1 won’t be affected at all.”
Ye Jingtang didn’t believe this at all. He suppressed the distracting thoughts in his mind, got up, and went behind Dumdum. He held her waist with both hands and swayed back and forth.
Whish, whish-
This time, the waves were especially intense and had an astonishing impact.
“Don’t shake me! If I don’t teach you well, how can 1 stand steadily?”
“Okay.”
“Don’t move yet. Wait for me to calm my breath before you take action.”
“Hehe…”
Under the moonlight, a man and a woman in black stood on the roof one after another, practicing their moves, while the bird was eating beside them.
The stormy day came to an end at this moment, and it was completely peaceful…
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