Chapter 1517 - 1514: The Wave After the Tranquil Night Ends

Fang Wushang's unreasonable request made Ye Qiu couldn't help being shocked, and he tried hard to find a reason to refuse.

"You said you want to team up with me, then what about your family?"

"Our family doesn't have any rule saying we can't team up with people outside the family during a Wave."

Ye Qiu had originally planned to use drinking tea to buy some time, but when he brought the cup to his lips he realized it was already empty. Fang Wushang casually snatched the cup away and poured some hot tea into it from the pot.

Honestly speaking—this was a very tempting request. Because there isn't a single man who wouldn't want to team up with a woman who could be called the number one ice-cold beauty in the world. But even if he really wanted to accept her request, this doubt still came first: could he actually protect her.

"The very front lines are really dangerous."

Fang Wushang once again raised the small knife in her right hand. The moment he saw an even stronger light effect than before, Ye Qiu had no choice but to quickly nod hard. Even though he was still doubtful in his heart,

"O-okay. Then… tomorrow morning at nine, let's meet at the Wave countdown gate."

Only then did Fang Wushang lower her hand, letting out a bold "hehe" laugh as her answer.

This house only had one bedroom, and Ye Qiu unconsciously let his mind wander to some dirty thoughts; any normal man would think like that in this situation. In fact, the fact that Ye Qiu could still calm himself down now was already quite restrained.

"I still have to thank you. Thank you for taking care of me these past few days."

"I-I should be the one thanking you. I still want to ask you for help in the future… if possible…"

"With cooking?"

"If possible, with other things too…"

Hearing Ye Qiu's words, Fang Wushang's face turned as red as a monkey's butt. In order to hide her embarrassment, she grabbed the bowl and plates and ran into the kitchen.

"What's wrong with Wushang?"

This question was half meant for Ye Qiu himself, and also meant for Dong beside him to hear, but neither of them could answer.

And just like that, another day in Aient City came to an end. Which direction would Ye Qiu head toward? What kind of ending was waiting for this world? There were simply too many things they didn't know. The road ahead was so long, and the Light they could see was so sparse. Even so—Ye Qiu still hadn't completely given up hope.

Nine in the morning.

Today's weather was cloudy. The morning mist shrouding the whole street had yet to disperse, and the sunlight streaming in from the outskirts was scattered wildly by the fine particles in the air, dyeing everything around them a lemon-yellow hue.

According to Aient City's seasonal calendar, it was now the Month of the Deep-Autumn Ash Trees. The temperature was just cool enough to feel a slight chill; it should have been the most refreshing season of the year, but Ye Qiu's mood was rather low.

Because the Wave was about to arrive.

Ye Qiu and Fang Wushang left that small house right at nine o'clock, and just in case, Ye Qiu had already had Dong revert to the Profound Celestial Ice Sword form.

The time was already nine ten. The more diligent members of other families kept appearing in front of the countdown gate, and there were quite a few people heading toward the gate.

Ye Qiu stared absentmindedly at those people. "Those people will probably all end up dying." Cruel as it was, that was reality. A Wave would usually claim about one-third of the Resistants; as the Waves grew harder, more and more people would die, but the rewards would also grow richer and richer.

At this moment the light from the countdown gate became even more dazzling.

The person who appeared before Ye Qiu this time was not, like the others, simply waiting for the gate to open.

The man standing there was someone Ye Qiu had seen before. He wore an exaggerated pure black cloak emblazoned with a blue crest. Wearing the Lantian Clan uniform, equipped with overly ornate metal armor and a Two-Handed Sword, this man was probably one of the bodyguards who used to follow Fang Wushang. Ye Qiu remembered Wushang had mentioned his name once, but he'd long since forgotten.

When that man saw Fang Wushang hiding behind Ye Qiu, the wrinkles etched between his brow and the bridge of his nose deepened further. Although he probably wasn't very old, maybe just a bit over twenty, those wrinkles made him look especially aged. He clenched his teeth hard, and with a look full of resentment, he spoke:

"Fa… Fang Wushang, my lady, acting on your own like this puts me in a very difficult position…!"

Hearing his slightly hysterical, sharp voice, Ye Qiu thought with some apprehension that things were about to get troublesome. His three-whites eyes flashing in their sunken sockets, the man continued:

"Come now, Lady Fang Wushang, let's go back to the Lantian Clan."

"No. The Wave doesn't say I have to fight together with the family! …The real question is you, how did you find me?"

From behind Ye Qiu, Fang Wushang shot back with just as much anger:

"Heh, the Clan Leader had already predicted something like this might happen, so a month ago he ordered me to start searching for your whereabouts."

The proud tone in that man's answer left people speechless. Fang Wushang froze on the spot just like Ye Qiu. After a while, she replied in a stiff voice:

"Th-then that probably wasn't the Clan Leader's order… was it?"

"My mission is to serve as Lady Fang Wushang's bodyguard! That of course includes knowing your every move…"

"How could something like that possibly be included!"

By now, the anger and anxiety on the man's face were even more pronounced. He strode over rudely, shoved Ye Qiu aside, and grabbed Fang Wushang by the wrist.

"Please stop being so headstrong… Come, let's go back to the Lantian Clan, the Clan Leader is waiting for you as well."

Hearing the tone of his voice on the verge of exploding, even Fang Wushang felt a moment of fear. She cast a pleading look at Ye Qiu standing beside her.

To be honest, before Fang Wushang looked at him, Ye Qiu's bad habit of hating trouble had already started acting up again; he'd even thought about just walking away. But once he saw Fang Wushang's eyes, his right hand moved on its own. Ye Qiu clasped the bodyguard's right wrist that was holding Asuna's, carefully controlling his strength so as not to draw attention.

"Sorry, but your Lady Fang Wushang already belongs to me now."

Even Ye Qiu himself felt nauseous hearing that line, but there was no other way. The bodyguard, who had been deliberately ignoring Ye Qiu's existence until now, suddenly twisted his whole face and flung Ye Qiu's hand away.

"You bastard…!"

He roared with a voice like a cracked gong. The expression on that bodyguard's face clearly showed he was already a bit unhinged.

"I'll be the one responsible for Fang Wushang's safety. If Wushang stays with you, she'll just get hurt even more!"

"D-don't be ridiculous! A piece of trash like you, how could you possibly be fit to guard Lady Fang Wushang! I—I am a proud member of the Lantian Clan…"

"I'm far more suited to it than you are."

Honestly, that line was Ye Qiu being a little too mouthy.

It looked like things were about to get troublesome.