novelraw Chapter 717 - 421 Specific Distance
Chapter 717 - 421 Specific Distance
Chapter 717: Chapter 421 Specific Distance
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Yan Xiaobao still felt that he was being watched, but he hoped that, whoever it was, they would stay at a specific distance so they could not hear the conversation. Speaking of the Third Prince, he understood what Deng Wu was trying to test and why. If Deng Wu and the two surviving descendants of the Wang Family were deemed traitors, it was highly likely that they would be suddenly declared enemies of the state. The Prince himself wished them dead, and although he had surpassed two cultivators, he would never permit them to gain any significant power.
Eating his porridge, the young man sat silently for a while. He wondered what he should say or do. Finally, after finishing his meal, he decided to talk to Deng Wu about the burden weighing heavily on him.
"I went to see the Third Prince yesterday," he said calmly, so quietly that although Deng Wu’s eyes widened, the old man made no moves. "What happened?" Deng Wu instead asked, his voice choked with emotion. His eyes were slightly red, but he remained seated, taking a deep breath to calm himself. He guessed that something unusual had occurred.
"I spoke with him for a long time about life. About the adventures we all experienced as adventurers and what it felt like to be a prince of a nation. He spoke of how he had no choice but to follow the law and its rules. Therefore, he was compelled to take action against you and the family of Wang Julong. It was inevitable, he said, because traitors must be executed," Yan Xiaobao said quietly, his voice low and his expression serious. From the demeanor of his younger friend, Deng Wu realized something significant had occurred, so he refrained from saying what he initially intended, choosing instead to wait silently for Yan Xiaobao to continue.
"I was invited to meet His Highness again," Yan Xiaobao continued. "I might learn more about the laws of this nation and hear more about his troubling orders—like commanding the execution of those who aren’t even involved in the rebellion." He spoke calmly, but his voice was very low, as if hoping that whatever he sensed was merely paranoia.
"That reminds me, do you know what Sha Yun is up to?" After a long pause, he asked. This time, his voice returned to a normal level. The shift caused Deng Wu to arch a curious eyebrow at him. "No," he replied. "I don’t know where she is. I thought you would. She used to cling to you like a coat, draping herself over you whenever she could," he said thoughtfully before frowning. "Do you think there’s something wrong with her?" he asked, concern coloring his tone. Sha Yun was one of his closest friends. The two of them had traveled together for many years, and even though she wasn’t as significant to him as Yan Xiaobao, he still saw her as a military sister he could trust completely.
"I don’t know," Yan Xiaobao sighed again. "I will look out for her and try to talk to her when I see her, but I have no idea what she’s doing," he shrugged. "I’m sure if she had a real problem, she’d come to us," he continued. "She knows that even if I don’t love her the way I love Wang Julong, I still care about her deeply. I would never let anything happen to her. I trust she knows that." Yan Xiaobao sighed again, and Deng Wu nodded.
"Speaking of you and Wang Julong," Deng Wu asked mischievously. "When are you taking the next step? From her reactions since your return, her feelings are obvious," he said, a faint smile crossing his face. It was something Yan Xiaobao hadn’t seen in a long time. The younger man smiled back as he looked at Deng Wu. "I don’t know," Yan Xiaobao shrugged. "I want to, but I don’t think she’s ready," he sighed. "She still avoids me whenever she can. She lives in this house, but I can count the times I’ve seen her on one hand. Every time she sees me, she takes off like I’m the plague," Yan Xiaobao sighed deeply, and a comfortable silence settled between them for a while. After some time, Yan Xiaobao tapped the table with his thumb, a faint smile once again appearing on his lips. "And you and Rong Xing?" he asked smugly. "If nothing’s happening between you two, you can’t call me slow," he teased, laughing. Deng Wu threw up his hands in exasperation. "That woman is more stubborn than a tree! She rejects every advance I make. She keeps telling me she has no time for anything but study," he said with a heavy sigh. The two men looked at each other and burst into laughter. Neither of them had made any progress in their love lives, but they both remained determined to pursue the women of their dreams.
"Life is never as simple as we hope it to be," Yan Xiaobao sighed, nodding as Deng Wu couldn’t suppress a smile. The two men leaned back in their chairs as a comfortable silence once again enveloped them. A long time later, a maid entered the room to clear the dishes, surprised to find the two lords still sitting and chatting beside each other. She soon left, though the magical atmosphere surrounding the two was somewhat broken. After a while, they finally stirred from their seats, letting out deep sighs as they stood. "What are your plans for today?" Deng Wu asked curiously, looking at the young man in front of him. "I need to go and see Gao Yan," Yan Xiaobao said, scanning his surroundings. The sense of being watched had disappeared while he was speaking with Deng Wu, and the sudden change made him more uneasy than ever. Whatever it was, real or imagined, he was thankful for the reprieve. Now he could gather some information from his friend. "I need to leave as soon as possible. I worry someone will show up and follow me," Yan Xiaobao said with a sigh, nodding to Deng Wu. He left the mansion and headed toward the black lion.