In the shadows, two men exchanged glances, "Should we intervene?"
"He’s someone familiar to the Saintess!"
"But what if he means to harm the Saintess?"
The two men were conflicted.
They were the Saintess’s Shadow Guards, and from the moment the Saintess appeared in the Moon Worship Sect, they had to assume their responsibility. Tonight was their first night on duty.
Their group consisted of twenty-four people, each named after one of the twenty-four solar terms, all with the sacred duty of protecting the Saintess’s safety.
Lichun said, and had already thrust his sword into the room, attacking Chu Yu.
Hearing this, Yushui hurried to follow suit.
Chu Yu had intended to complain by Yun Jinnian’s bedside, but before he could get close, a fierce sword energy rapidly assaulted him.
It seemed clear that the intention was to block him from getting near Yun Jinnian.
Chu Yu really had to laugh in anger.
If he didn’t show his power, did they think he was a sick cat?
Feeling sulky, Chu Yu leapt out of the house after a few moves. Lichun immediately followed, joining Yushui who had come to support, both attacking Chu Yu.
The fight quickly spilled out into the courtyard.
Both were highly skilled in martial arts and recognized Chu Yu, so they didn’t use lethal moves.
But Chu Yu showed no mercy and soon had them knocked to the ground, cursing, "Idiots, if I had used the tactic of ’luring the tiger away from the mountain,’ your Saintess would have been taken away by now!"
Lichun and Yushui were somewhat angry, but upon hearing Chu Yu’s words, they exchanged glances again.
They trained in martial arts every day and had no experience with the ways of the world; how could they understand its perils?
Both looking completely lost, Chu Yu really had to laugh in anger, "Idiots will be idiots, what’s the use of being good at martial arts!"
Lacking combat experience and being disastrously stupid yet serving as Shadow Guards was simply disgraceful.
After giving them a piece of his mind, Chu Yu turned and walked away.
Lichun and Yushui quickly got up and chased after him.
"Master Chu!" Lichun called out.
Chu Yu turned his head and looked at them indifferently, "What is it?"
"We are the Saintess’s Hidden Guards, please forgive our offense!" Lichun said, bowing his fist in apology.
They were taught martial arts, the official languages and scripts of various countries, but no one taught them to be cunning.
"Heh!" Chu Yu sneered, clearly uninterested in them.
As they watched Chu Yu stride away, Lichun and Yushui doubted their lives for the first time, questioning their own value.
"Are we really that bad?" Yushui asked.
Lichun thought for a moment, "We probably are!"
If this was truly a ’luring the tiger away from the mountain’ tactic, then wouldn’t the Saintess be in danger...
The two broke out in a cold sweat at the thought.
And decided that from now on they should operate in groups of four, so that if anything happened, two could take action while the other two remained on standby!
That night, Yun Jinnian slept very soundly, and when she awoke in the morning, breakfast was already prepared, and she could eat after washing up.
Han Tianci came happily, followed by Chu Yu, who looked utterly weary with dark circles under his eyes and a face full of grievances.
"What’s the matter?" Yun Jinnian asked Chu Yu.
"I’m homesick for my own bed!"
"..." Yun Jinnian was taken aback.
He never had this issue before, so why was he suddenly finicky about beds now that they arrived at the Moon Worship Sect?
Han Tianci, on the other hand, covered his mouth to snicker.
Is he having trouble sleeping now?
Yun Jinnian, considering Chu Yu’s feelings, didn’t inquire further and invited both to sit as Shi Jiayu arranged the dishes, then went down with Hemei and Henuan for breakfast.
As the three of them sat eating, Yun Jinnian was extremely considerate and attentive to Han Tianci, much to the growing dismay of Chu Yu.
After breakfast, Elder Jin came to escort Yun Jinnian to meet the Sect Leader, and Yun Jinnian insisted on bringing Chu Yu and Han Tianci along.
Elder Jin hesitated for a moment, then agreed.
Yun Jinnian, accompanied by Han Tianci, rode in a palanquin while Chu Yu and the others followed on horseback, heading straight to the rear mountain of the Moon Worship Sect...