Ye Tian Yun blocked her vocals.
Even in such a situation, there was not even an ounce of panic on her face.
Ye Tian Yun frowned and tried to regain his composure.
He strengthened the grip on his sword and said, "I am the one who will be asking. Point in the direction where Gao Xuan is, and you will live."
The young woman smiled and pointed at her throat.
Ye Tian Yun frowned, "Don't test me."
The smile on her face spread even more, and she tapped on her throat twice.
Ye Tian Yun gritted his teeth and moved towards her.
Putting his hands on her soft neck, Ye Tian Yun rubbed the meridian, unblocking her vocals.
The young woman smiled, "You acted pretty tough there."
Ye Tian Yun's eyes twitched, "Try to shout, and you will lose your head."
"Why would I bother shouting?" The young woman smiled.
Her height was up to Ye Tian Yun's shoulders.
'She is of my age and doesn't have high cultivation. I guess she's most probably a maid.'
What confused Ye Tian Yun even more, was that there was no prompt on her head!
'Why can't I see any prompts….'
The young woman lowered her gaze, and then, staring at Ye Tian Yun's chest, she said, "Are you going to keep holding my neck?"
Ye Tian Yun frowned and loosened the grip around her neck.
The young woman then stepped back and sat on the bed in front of him.
"Where is Gao Xuan?" Ye Tian Yun asked.
The young woman exhaled and pointed, "He will be here soon. Why don't you take a seat."
Ye Tian Yun frowned, "What's your name?"
The young woman narrowed her eyes, "What kind of assassin are you?"
Ye Tian Yun frowned but didn't say anything.
Just then, faint footsteps were heard, and another person entered the room.
"Let her go."
The person said.
Ye Tian Yun smirked, "I don't have any interest in her."
He was lying.
"Follow me." The person said, and staring at the young woman for a second; he left the room.
Ye Tian Yun turned towards the young woman.
She was no longer smiling; rather, there was a calm and graceful aura around her. Her parted hair spoke volumes of her calmness. Her flower-embroidered red dress added elegance and a noble aura around her.
'She's on par with Ling Feng'er.'
No, there was a small difference.
Ling Feng'er had the gracefulness, and the young woman in front of him had the elegance.
There was no doubt in that.
Her face was extremely beautiful.
It was a face filled with dignity.
'How can a maid have such grace? Is she even a maid?"
Ye Tian Yun doubted his previous assumption.
"Are you not going?" She asked. Her voice was soft and elegant.
Ye Tian Yun pursed his lips and left the room.
Just as he reached the door, he turned around and asked, "What's your name?"
A sweet smile formed on her face, "Gao Suyin."
Ye Tian Yun opened his eyes wide open.
'Isn't she the one…'
Without a word, he left the room.
(Author note: Gao Suyin Character art here.)
…
Crossing the hallway, Ye Tian Yun came to the intersection once again.
At the other end, he saw a faint silhouette of someone gazing at the night sky.
Ye Tian Yun stepped closer and stood a few feet away from the person.
"Why did you come here?" This was a young man's voice.
Ye Tian Yun confirmed his guess.
This person was indeed Gao Xuan, his target.
'But he sounds… a bit different.'
He stared at Gao Xuan and replied, "I wanted to talk to you."
"Oh," Gao Xuan asked, "About what?"
His voice sounded emotionless.
It was hard to judge his thoughts.
Ye Tian Yun went straight to the topic, "Gao Xuan, I am here to make a deal."
"A deal?"
"Yes. And it's pretty simple. You answer one question for me and help me convince your father of something. I will help you help your elder brother regain his cultivation."
Silence once again prevailed through the courtyard.
Ye Tian Yun's lips curled up.
He had noticed Gao Xuan losing his composure for a moment.
'There's a chance he will agree.'
Ye Tian Yun felt quite confident.
"What do you want?" Gao Xuan asked. He had already regained his composure.
Ye Tian Yun smiled, "I want you to convince your father to agree with Fang Chen's demands."
Gao Xuan turned around and stared at Ye Tian Yun.
After a long silence, he asked, "What's the guarantee that you can help my brother? Also, why do you think I will even need your help in that?"
Ye Tian Yun replied, "Gao Xuan, it's either you trust me, or you don't. You might think that you don't need my help, but consider this first: can you heal your brother in four months?"
"Four months…" Gao Xuan frowned.
"You can't." Ye Tian Yun smiled, "You will need at least six years because the solution to his problem is in the Middle Heavens. It will take you six years to have enough capability to make the Supreme Alchemy Hall of the Middle Heavens help you. Imagine the time your brother would have lost by then. Will it all be worth it?"
Gao Xuan pursed his lips, "Thunder Valley is the ancestral land of my clan."
"Six Years." Ye Tian Yun replied, "Give the Thunder Valley to Fang Chen for six years."
Gao Xuan frowned, "I will have to talk to my father."
Ye Tian Yun smiled, "Don't talk. Convince him. If you succeed, I will start my preparation and hand over the pill to Fang Chen in four months."
Gao Xuan nodded, "Alright, and what's the question you wanted to ask?"
Ye Tian Yun smiled, "Actually, there are two of them. First, how did you come to Gao Suyin's room? Did she call you? Or… were you going to visit her anyway?"
Gao Xuan smiled, "She warned me the moment you put your hand around her neck. Next question?"
"Oh," Ye Tian Yun nodded, "Next question… let's leave it for the future."
Gao Xuan shrugged, and then turning his gaze towards the night sky, he asked, "You didn't give me any proof when I asked how can I trust you. How about I ask a simple question, and if you answer it truthfully, I will trust you wholeheartedly."
Ye Tian Yun was taken aback by this. He frowned, "Ask away."
Gao Xuan pursed his lips, and then, staring right into Ye Tian Yun's eyes, he asked, "What is your name?"