He didn't plan to find any information about the original Jin Qiu now, but he unexpectedly got that information. Whoever this princess is, she might be dead and her body is being used by the original Jin Qiu, and the original is using another person soul to occupy this body to become a sacrifice.
Such a snake.
"What's wrong? Are you so scared that you can't say anything now? The rumors said that you've become quite brave and that you've been getting along with the warlords quite well."
"If you heard the rumors, then I guess you also heard about how much Zhengsheng care for me now."
Instead of an answer, what Jin Qiu get was a laughter instead. Both Zhou Huizhong and the assassins who surrounded him were all laughing, just as if what he said sounds funny. That made Jin Qiu let out a sigh. Back in his own world, he faced a lot of people with this kind of personality.
He know what they're thinking.
"So you think that because the Emperor care about you, then we won't dare to do anything to you?"
"No. It's the other way around." Jin Qiu replied. "Since Zhensheng is care about me, then I'm sure, he will clean up the mess even if I end up killing you all." He unsheathed his sword and stared at the people in front of him.
There are around 14 or maybe 20 people around them. If he has a gun, then this wouldn't be a problem at all, but he has no gun now. At the border, he can fight well just using his skill from his previous world. But how about now? He might need to use his spiritual power. His mind doesn't remember, but he felt like his body remember it because as soon as he think about it, he could feel a surge of power filling up his body and transmitted to his sword.
Zhou Huizhong crossed his arms and smirked. "What's wrong? You said you want to kill us, but it seems like you're still trying to find a way out. Perhaps you don't even know how to use spiritual power? You're not someone from this world after all."
Jin Qiu gripped his sword. His eyes stared to the people surrounding him. The people who wanted to kill him. It's true that he doesn't know how to use the spiritual power, but it's not like he have any time to hesitate now.
It's like he's facing a bunch of gangster now and unconsciously, he smirked. He pointed the sword towards Zhou Huizhong.
"Come here. Attack me all you want and we shall see who will stay alive till the end."
Jin Qiu's provocation made some of the assassin annoyed and jumps to attack him. He could see the movement clearly so with ease, he raised his sword and slashed the two assassin that coming towards him.
Blood dripping down from his sword but strangely enough, he felt quite excited now.
Jin Qiu watched as more assassins coming towards him. He lowered his body for a bit and when the sword came to him, he used his own sword to parry it, his sword is strong enough. The sword of the assassin broke, making the others stopped while looking at Jin Qiu with shocked expression.
"Why are you so surprised?" Jin Qiu asked. "True that I don't know how to fight properly using spiritual power, but it doesn't mean that I don't know how to fight." Using the very same sword, Jin Qiu stabbed another assasin on his chest and kicked him away.
Zhou Huizhong turned pale. He didn't expect that the soul occupying Jin Qiu would know how to fight. He thought that everything would be easy and thought that he would be able to take Jin Qiu easily.
Jin Qiu was getting ready again. "Well...if you don't want to come to me, then I'll come to you."
"Get into formation and kill him!!" Zhou Huizhong ordered in hurry. But like a mad dog, Jin Qiu charge towards them. Fighting the trained assassin without receiving much damage.
More and more assassins died by Jin Qiu's sword. Blood splattering everywhere and it doesn't look like he will stop until he reaches Zhou Huizhong.
"It seems like I have no other choice but to use that…"
Zhou Huizhong took out a small bottle from inside his sleeve and pouring the black liquid inside onto the ground. Just like parasite, the black liquid went to the dead assassin and soon after, the dead assassins got up and fighting with a fiercer power.
"Are you making some kind of zombies?!" Jin Qiu shouted as he slashed the raising assassin, but even after the assassin fall, it got up again.
Jin Qiu noticed that Zhou Huizhong was about to run away, but when he wants to approach the man, the assassins would block his way and there's no end to them. Who knows how long he will be able to last if this continues? He ripped his clothes and tying the sword to his hand. It's been a while since the last time he need to fight this much, but he doesn't hate it. He takes a deep breath and dashed forward once again.
❖
Two hours has been passed ever since he fights the undead assassin. He's confident with his stamina, but this is still too much. He no longer has any energy to spare now. Even breathing felt really heavy. "I wonder…if I would be able to go back if I die here…that should be worth trying." He fell to his knee and closed his eyes, ready to accept the death when all the undead assassin fell to the ground.
"You shouldn't put yourself in trouble if you still end up losing. I will make sure that you obey my every word and lock you up somewhere. I will tell the Emperor that you got kidnapped by robber, or perhaps I should say that you are kidnapped by people from Western Continent. If those two go to war, everything will end more quickly. Your soul might not him, but you have his body. It's enough for me to own his body."
Zhou Huizhong grabbed Jin Qiu's neck, strangled the man to make him pass out more quickly when a sword pierced through his chest. The man looked surprised, but he has no time to see who killed him. His body fell lifeless to the ground.
"What a surprise…" Jin Qiu mumbled.
"I have no need for stupid people who wouldn't even listen to my order properly. I have no choice but to get rid of him…" From behind Zhou Huizhong, stepped a small yet beautiful girl that looks graceful and tender.
She wears a white clothes and her hair adored with pearl hair accecories. "Nice to meet you, Commander Jin. I'm Chen Lihua. Or you can say...the previous owner of that body?"
As Chen Lihua pulled her sword out from Zhou Huizhong's chest, the guards who came with her started to clean up all the mess made from the fight before. Though it doesn't change the fact that Jin Qiu no longer have the energy to move around.
"I was so curious to know what kind of person the original is, I'm so glad that you're the trash kind of person."
"Trash? Well... I won't deny that I'm a trash. I was just an illegitimate son who's born from a mere servant. Despite having the talent and ability, no one will look at me, not even my own father. So I do everything I can to get my own happiness. I married Zhengsheng since he showed me a lot of kindness, but that kindness is also lies. He just want revenge. That's why I choose to get him with another way."
"By stealing someone else's body?"
"Oh? Are you talking about the real Chen Lihua? She is dead. She was so sick and as soon as she breathed her last breath, I finished everything. Summoning your soul to that body and going to this body. Living a new life."
'Fuck.' Jin Qiu cursed inside his mind. If he can move now, then he would really want to punch the girl in front of him. It's a girl, but the soul inside is a man, so it should be fine. He still tried to move, but all he could feel is the pain all over his body. The fight really took a toll on his current body.
"How does it feel to know that you will die in my place?" Chen Lihua asked. She smeared the blood from her sword on Jin Qiu's face.
"What makes you sure that I will die? Like you might already know, at the moment, Zhengsheng is-"
"Care about you?" Chen Lihua chuckled. "True. Zhengsheng gave you the attention that I'm longing for. I even heard that you managed to defeat Xiang Ru, making me curious about what kind of underhanded method you use to seduce Zhengsheng. But it doesn't matter now. After today, you will get a really bad treatment."
Jin Qiu raised an eyebrow. He didn't know what the girl think, but when she grabbed his chin and forced him to drink something, he started to have a really bad hunch.
Chen Lihua was making sure that Jin Qiu swallowed every last drop potion that she made the man to drink and watching as Jin Qiu slowly losing his conciousness. She stared at Jin Qiu and Zhou Huizhong. She only need to bring one more person to stage everything.
"Bring Jin Qiu and Huizhong to the bedroom. Undress both of them and put them on the same bed. It would be good if it look like they're having some intimate act." She ordered. "When you're done, send this letter to where Zhang Ai is staying and inform the palace that someone saw the First Concubine with another man. Zhengsheng will definitely angry and kill him." A smile formed on her face as she walked away.
"We will do it without fail, Your Highness."
❖
Ren Zhengsheng sat behind his working table. One hand holding one of the document while his other hand are tapping the table.
"Your Majesty."
Song Yun was standing in front of the Emperor, but it's almost looked like the Emperor didn't pay attention to whatever he said.
"If you're concerned about Jin Qiu, then why don't you just go to the town, Your Majesty?" Song Yun advised. He knew that the Emperor always spend his time alone, so the man might not notice when he felt concerned about someone. "The sun has already set but he still haven't come back even though I told him to come back before the sun set." He continued. "I just hope that nothing bad happened to him. Ever since he recovered from his illness, a lot of things keep happened around him."
"If you know that I'll be worried, then you should just follow him or drag him back to the palace."
"I doubt I can do that even if I want to, Your Majesty. The current Jin Qiu is very strong willed after all."
Because that is a different Jin Qiu. Jin Qiu who came from another world. Jin Qiu who dare to defy him and say whatever inside his mind. Jin Qiu who has been occupying his mind until he can't really concentrate.
"Song Yun-"
"Your Majesty, it's Pan Zhiqiang. I have something to report."
Ren Zhengsheng looked to his advisor before nodding his head, having the man went to open the door and allowing Pan Zhiqiang to get inside. When the commander stepped inside, he could see anxiety in Pan Zhiqiang's face. "What's wrong? I never really see you making that kind of expression up until now."
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty. Someone came to the guards at the gate and told them that he saw Jin Qiu walking away with another man to a hidden cottage near the mountain. I've detained that person. Do you want to see him?"
"Bring me to him."
Ren Zhengsheng doesn't look angry, but instead, worried. Considering Jin Qiu's personality, he doubt the man will do something like that. But someone came to the palace so it just mean there are people who tried to set Jin Qiu up and Jin Qiu has already fell into the trap.
As they arrived at the guards palace, Ren Zhengsheng could see the person mentioned by Pan Zhiqiang sitting while being served some tea by the servants. Just like a guest, the person seemed to enjoy himself. Even when the guards annoucing his arrival, the person still drinking his tea and just stood up to give him the greeting when he's standing right beside the table.
Treat everyone kindly and equally. That's what Song Yun told him to do, but sometimes, it's annoying.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Enough." Ren Zhengsheng replied as he take a seat in front the man that looked like a peddler. "I heard that you saw First Concubine going with another man. Explain to me clearly about what you see. And you need to know that I don't like lies. You sure know what will happen if you lie, right?"
"Of course! Of course, I know, Your Majesty! I wouldn't dare to do something like that!"
Ren Zhengsheng waved his hand and send all the servants out of the room. The one who stayed there was Song Yun and Pan Zhiqiang. "Start explaining it in a short time. I don't want to waste my time listening to your story."
"Yes, sure. At that time, I was buying some fruit. I saw the First Concubine approached by guards of Zhou Family. I thought something bad would happen, so I choose to follow them, but when I reached there, what I saw was the First Concubine hugging and kissing with the young master of Zhou Family. And then they went into the small cottage."
"Did you see what they do inside that cottage?"
"I didn't dare, Your Majesty. It's wrong for the First Concubine to do something like that, so I choose to come here instead."
The peddler braving himself to look at the Emperor. A smile formed on his face when he saw the the Emperor frowned.
"The way to that cottage, do you remember?" Ren Zhengsheng stood up from his seat. "Show me the way there. I shall see with my own eyes about what my beloved concubine did, right? If he really made a mistake, then I will give him the punishment he deserve and who knows, maybe I will give you some rewards?" The man shrugged his shoulder as a smirk formed on his face. He have something in his mind, though to others, it might look like he will punish Jin Qiu hard.
❖
Meng Chen laughed as he stared at the sight in front of him. Jin Qiu, naked under the blanket, hugged by none other than Zhou Huizhong who seemed to be dead, stabbed by a sword, and the one who hold the bloodied sword is Zhang Ai. He just took his eyes off the fallen princess for a moment and this thing happen. "Whoever planned this is very clever..." He commented, feeling very annoyed that he let the person he protected fell into this kind of trap.
"To keep sleeping even though the person sleeping with him has been murdered, what kind of commander is he..." Qin Jingfei commented with a frown.
"We need to leave this place quickly, Your Majetsy. It would be troublesome if Ren Zhengsheng come here now." Xiao Changming advised.
"It's useless if we leave now."
"Your Majesty!"
"This is a trap, Changming. A trap set for Princess Zhang. Whoever planned this has been counting all the time and surely, now Ren Zhengsheng would have-"
Many footstep could be heard outside the cottage. Ren Zhengsheng and the Imperial Guards has arrived. That was what Meng Chen tried to say to his assassin. He might be not counted in this plan, but since he choose to protect Zhang Ai, he got involved in the matter. Beside, he's more concerned about Jin Qiu.
Ren Zhengsheng is famous as a cruel person who will kill those who betray him, so what will happen when the man see Jin Qiu naked with another man?
If can, he want to protect Jin Qiu.
"What a surprise.." Ren Zhengsheng commented the moment he stepped inside and saw Meng Chen, together with his two subordinates. He then moved his gaze towards Zhang Ai. Even before he said anything, the girl has already approached him with a very complicated expression.
"T-this..Your Majesty... I just... I mean... I feel annoyed because he sleep with another man despite being loved by someone like you! I killed that man, and I planned to kill him too... But...death would be too light for his punishment, right? So he should-"
The words stuck in her throat.
The gaze that Ren Zhengsheng gave towards the girl was even more cold than before. Just as if Zhang Ai is nothing more than enemy. "Protecting a foolish princess? Seems like you become dull from playing around with all those courtesan, Meng Chen." He commented before he walked pass Zhang Ai, towards Jin Qiu.
He doesn't care about Zhou Huizhong. All he care about was Jin Qiu, who looked quite pale with his eyes closed. He placed his fingers on the man's neck, checking the heart pulse and as soon as he made sure that the other is still alive, he used his own robe to cover Jin Qiu's body and lifted the man up to his arms. He turn around and saw all the resentment on Zhang Ai's face.
"Are you going to point that sword on me?" Ren Zhengsheng asked Zhang Ai, who trembled while holding the swords.
"I-"
Meng Chen stepped in front of Zhang Ai. "I can't let you kill her here, Zhengsheng. And the one who killed that trash noble is not her. Surely you know that someone set up this trap, right? Isn't that why you keep Jin Qiu so close to you like that now?"
"Meng Chen." Ren Zhengsheng called the blonde man. "You seem to forget but at the moment, you're within my territory, Eastern Continent. And the reason I came here is only to take my concubine back to the palace with me, so I will let you off. But remember this, if you ever try to get close to Qiu er again, I will get rid of you with my own two hands."
While Ren Zhengsheng leaving the place, Song Yun and Pan Zhiqiang remained there. As the advisor, Song Yun is responsible for taking care of Zhou Huizhong, despite the man being dead. And Pan Zhiqiang is responsible to make sure that nothing will go wrong during the investigation.
"Why..." Zhang Ai dropped the sword. She can no longer holds her tears. "Why did he hold that man so close like that? That man betrayed him! All of this should be proof for that so why...why?! The prophecy said that the one who will stand beside him is me! I was willing to take all the risk just to be with him! So why? Why does he have to fall in love with that man?!"
"Master Meng." Song Yun started. He doesn't feel the need to treat the blonde man as the Emperor. " I suggest that you take the fallen princess away from here. You have nothing to do here."
"Will he be fine?" Meng Chen asked
"Are you perhaps talking about Jin Qiu?"
Meng Chen didn't say anything, but Song Yun knew that the man was asking about Jin Qiu. He noticed that this Emperor of Western Continent is quite caring towards Jin Qiu, just like their Emperor now.
Song Yun just smiled. "I understand your concern, but whatever happens to Jin Qiu is not something that you should worry about. I can assure you that His Majesty won't do anything to him."
"Then I won't bother you in this matter again. Jingfei, Changming, we're leaving. Take the princess with you."
"I'm not going back with you!" Zhang Ai shouted.
Things keep going wrong because of this people, so Pan Zhiqiang started to feel annoyed, so annoyed that he unsheathed his sword and pointed it towards Zhang Ai. Of course, both Qin Jingfei and Xiao Changming also drawing their weapon, thinking that Pan Zhiqiang would harm the person under their protection. The two knew that Meng Chen have some plan with Zhang Ai, that's why the man keep her alive and protecting her.
"You and western people are always getting in my nerves." Pan Zhiqiang admitted. "If it's not because of you who disturbed with our investigation previously, things won't become like this. So leave before I change my mind. I don't want to violate His Majesty's order to not causing a ruckus."
"I-I know who did it." Zhang Ai suddenly said.
Now everyone's attention went towards Zhang Ai, who just said that she knew who planned the trap.
The girl was hopeful, thinking with this little bit information; she will be able to get close to Ren Zhengsheng. But when she was about to tell them about the real culprit, an arrow pierced through her neck. Her eyes filled with fear and shock as her body fell to the ground.
❖❖❖