CHAPTER 317: CHAPTER 15 BLUFFING_3

PANT... PANT...

Prince Fu clutched his chest.

Today was really too exciting; my blood pressure can’t handle it.

Prince Fu didn’t know what high blood pressure was, but the doctor had still warned him to avoid extreme joy or anger.

But it couldn’t be helped. How many people in this world could calmly face matters of life and death?

"Lady Daxi has misled me!" Prince Fu sighed.

Initially, this was supposed to be an outright victory. I could have shared in some of the credit and even boosted the morale of the Qian State’s three border regions. Who knew it would end up in this embarrassing situation? Can this still be called a win or a loss?

"Prince, as long as the Yan people didn’t enter the city, it’s our victory," Man Le reminded him.

Prince Fu closed his eyes and nodded. At the same time, he waved towards the first guard who had returned, saying, "Go back to the city gate and keep watch. Report back at any time."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

The guard immediately ran out of the stable.

Man Le looked at the Prince worriedly. "Prince?"

"Help me up."

Prince Fu stood up and walked towards the straw pile.

The danger isn’t over yet. I still have to hide.

Man Le and another guard naturally came over to help. Just then, that guard’s body twisted unnaturally, and with a THUD, he collapsed to the ground.

Prince Fu, who had just settled into the straw pile, trembled again upon seeing this. His mouth fell agape, but he couldn’t utter a word.

Man Le subconsciously retreated a few steps. His hand pressed down, and he actually pulled out a flexible sword from his sash. A red glow shimmered around his body.

He looked nothing like a delicate scholar now!

However, a black dagger suddenly appeared behind him and slit his throat.

SPURT!

Man Le’s eyes widened. He had never imagined the enemy would be lurking right behind him.

THUMP!

Man Le collapsed.

This scholar had always seemed cowardly, always avoiding trouble, and only liking to talk big. He had just revealed his true identity and was on the verge of displaying his martial arts.

Yet, his grand reveal was cut short. He died before he could truly unleash his skills, before he had time to explain anything to Prince Fu, or react to the Prince’s confusion and shock. He never got to present his Silver Armored Guard token, voice his helplessness to Prince Fu, make the Prince face him in terrified awe, or even lament with him the world’s capricious changes and fate’s fickle nature.

In short, with so much of the anticipated plot left unplayed, he was gone.

Xue Three’s figure emerged from behind Man Le’s corpse. "Heh heh," he chuckled, "that man was poisoned by me on his way back. I didn’t stab him."

Prince Fu’s shocked gaze shifted from the first guard who had fallen, to Man Le, and finally landed on Xue Three.

Xue Three toyed with the dagger in his hand, smiling at the Prince sitting in the straw pile. "Prince? What kind of prince are you?"

"I... I am... I..."

"The Qian Emperor’s brother?"

"No... No..."

"His older brother then?"

A bitter smile appeared on Prince Fu’s face. "We’re... distantly related."

"Oh, a descendant of an old vassal king?"

"Yes... Yes..."

"TSK... That’s not worth much." Xue Three scratched his back with the dagger.

"Not... no... not valuable... wait... valuable... valuable..." Prince Fu was so terrified he was half-demented, his words a jumbled mess.

"TSK TSK. Still a prince, though, right? Surely you’re not completely worthless."

"Right... right..."

"Oh, good."

Xue Three walked over to the haystack opposite Prince Fu and, mimicking him, also sat down in it.

CLANG!

Xue Three stuck two daggers into the ground before him.

He looked at Prince Fu, who was already pale with fright, and smiled. "How about we make a deal?"

"Who... who are you?"

"I’m with the people outside."

"Yan... Yan people?"

"Yes, I am one of the Yan people."

A look of utter despair filled Prince Fu’s eyes.

"Come, let’s talk about our deal. We’ll just sit here and chat, how about it?"

"Chat...?"

"Yes. You’re too fat; I can’t carry you. So, let’s just sit here, chat, and shoot the breeze. If our people outside fail to break into the city, I’ll cut off your head and take it with me. If our people do break in, I’ll capture you alive."

"This... this prince..."

"You know, My Lord is also a great actor. Ever since he ’awakened’ in this world, he’s been acting. And the caliber of people he’s acted opposite has only gotten higher.

"A couple of months ago, he even went to Yanjing for some acting showdowns with several top actors; he learned a great deal.

"So, when My Lord returned, he shared some of his insights with us. He said that acting requires a sense of immersion—it can be seven parts falsehood, three parts truth.

"A performance staged this way is more realistic, more persuasive, and harder for people to see through.

"Do you understand what that means?"

"I... I don’t... I... don’t understand..."

Xue Three shook his head. "Stop pretending. You can’t fool me. You know martial arts. Can we talk properly without the deliberate stuttering? It’s quite annoying to listen to. I’m one of the Yan people, and you’re a prince of the Qian State. You ought to put on some airs and show a bit of your princely dignity before me, shouldn’t you?"

The desperate, panic-stricken, and fearful look in Prince Fu’s eyes suddenly calmed. It was as if he had become a different person.

His large hands patted his sides, and a wave of energy surged out, blowing away the surrounding straw fragments.

Prince Fu leaned back slightly, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

He looked at Xue Three and said, "Very well. This prince will chat with you."

Xue Three’s face suddenly showed a look of astonished doubt. Pointing at Prince Fu, he exclaimed, "Heavens! I just saw that Silver Armored Guard operative and decided to try and bluff you. You actually know martial arts?"

"..." Prince Fu.