Chapter 24 – Rescue Mission (1)

Mo Linyuan, knowing Ye Li’s cruel nature, denied this allegation with a shake of his head. He fervently replied, “I just passed by. I didn’t hear anythi—”

But before he could finish, Ye Li fiercely seized him by the collar. Dragging the scrawny teenager towards his eye level, he threateningly asked in a subdued voice.

“Then explain what you were doing in a place like this late at night?!” Towards the end, his voice reached a low roar, his bell-like eyes glaring at Mo Linyuan ferociously. As if he was about to devour him at any moment.

If it had been an ordinary young boy, he would have already been scared witless and turned pale from fright, but Mo Linyuan was unperturbed. He kept himself from panicking so that Ye Li wouldn’t suspect him further. He answered calmly, slowly.

“I was hungry; there wasn’t enough food given to me…so I came out to find something to eat. There are many edible weeds, fruit trees, small rabbits and the occasional snakes that can be found in this area. That’s why I’m here.”

Ye Li could see that Mo Linyuan’s face as was not only completely serene but did not look the bit least as if he was lying. But so what? He thought.

If he appears in a forbidden place with whatever reason he has—innocent or not, he shouldn’t blame Ye Li for being cruel and merciless!

He scornfully laughed and roughly pushed Mo Linyuan toward his counselor to the side.

As panic began to rush, Mo Linyuan watched as Ye Li slowly unsheathed a small knife.

“Last time, you barely escaped death by the skin of your teeth. But who would have thought that you, boy, is actually doomed to a short life? But rest your worries, it is an honor to die by this general’s hands, and you even obtained this privilege exclusively inside his residence!”

When Ye Mu heard these words, she almost rushed out blindly in fear. But immediately, Mo Linyuan shouted, “Wait!”

These two words were uttered loudly and urgently as if he knew that Ye Mu wouldn’t restrain herself and irrationally show up when she heard this.

Not only did Ye Mu stop in her tracks in surprise, but Ye Li was also stunned at this abrupt uproar.

“What? Do you have anything else left to say?”

Ye Li slightly raised his eyebrows, but the knife in his hand wasn’t lowered the slightest.

“Honestly speaking, I heard the general’s words!” Mo Linyuan wanted to move about, but the counselor’s hold on him was extremely strong. Pain seized him as he was squeezed by the shoulder in warning.

Moreover, it was plausible to conclude that the counselor was also experienced with martials arts and, as with Ye Li, probably knows how to wield internal force. Therefore, he was only weak and powerless while locked in a vice grip.

For his next few words, he had to speak evenly and not show Ye Li even the smallest fear, else Ye Li might kill him for the simple, obstinate reason for wasting his time!

“The general is looking for the absconded Mo crown prince in this country, is that right? When I had been living among the citizens, before I was taken as a slave, I had heard snippets about him; he is about the same age as me. Moreover, I have been living as a recluse for a long time and can, fortunately, speak the official language of the Mo Country. If the general urgently needs the support of the prime minister of the Mo Country, he can send me to make up for it. If I’m about to die anyway, let me experience a worthy death!”

Ye Mu’s fingers unconsciously dug her nails into the wall when she heard this. To be held captive by the Mo prime minister wasn’t a favorable option, nor was it a good thing either. If Ye Li somehow acquired to this, Mo Linyuan could temporarily hold off death.

But this situation was still falling from the jaws of one tiger to another equally ferocious one…

On the good side, it would be a long journey towards Mo Country. With that, she would have abundant time to formulate an escape plan to save him.

When Ye Li heard this offer from Mo Linyuan, his eyes couldn’t help but brighten in greed. Yes! Now seeing that this child up close truly resembles the description provided for the Mo crown prince, he thought it was a clever idea to send a similar looking child to cheat Wen Taiping and obtain the upper hand first!

But…rebellion is not an overnight success. In the event that the boy leaks information ahead of the right time…

Ye Mu, held her breath, nervously awaiting Ye Li’s deliberation in the matter. Ye Li thought hard for a while, trying to consider the pros and cons.

However, in the end, his wariness prevailed!

He finally shook his head and said, “You are a smart kid. Unfortunately…this general doesn’t trust you. And now that you know of this general’s plans, you have to be silenced for a lifetime!”

Mo Linyuan’s heart couldn’t help but tremble in fear as he listened to Ye Li’s sadistic laugh.

“But indeed, you were right in saying you deserve a worthy death! Even to this moment, Official Liu still has an interest in you; he never forgot you. If you were sent to him, you would bring me money and even forge a connection; Isn’t that a worthy death?!”

Send him back to that beast?! When Mo Linyuan suddenly remembered the atrocious assault on him last time when he was pressed on the coffee table, his body tightened up defensively in dread.

Making up his mind, Ye Li hid the knife back and waved a hand towards the counselor behind Mo Linyuan impatiently.

“Let’s not delay, else something comes up**. Zhao He, send people to deliver this boy to Official Liu right now!”

**T/N: An idiom was used here (夜长梦多) – A long night is fraught with dreams which means undue delay may bring trouble, or a long delay may give rise to many hitches.

“Yes!” The counselor complied without commenting further. He grabbed Mo Linyuan and prepared to take him away.

No way! Ye Mu knew the moment he would enter Official Liu’s mansion, he would die a miserable death!

Without waiting for another moment, she immediately decided she would act. It was now or never!