Chapter 211 Challenge
“Protector Shan, he is not an enemy!”
Su Li said. Wen Tingshan contained his rush and felt guilty about the reaction. He apologized, “Sorry for the offence. I am not used to being stared at.”
Ling Qinglan hurriedly responded, “Never mind. My bad.”
He was horrified. The man’s strength was formidable. He had attained the inborn fifth hurdle after his wounds fully healed. In front of this man, he felt pretty desperate as if he could not survive the attack of this man.
Even Ling Li did not impart to him such feeling. But Ling Li had attained the highest level of the inborn hurdle. Then this man…
Ling Qinglan’s pupils narrowed… It was the longevity realm.
The Linli Building was more terrifying than he thought.
After Ling Qinglan left, Su Li smiled helplessly. It was not her arrangement. It was purely a coincidence. She wouldn’t agree to accept the thanks of the Yinmo Cult. It would be futile to frighten Ling Qinglan.
“Why are you here, Protector Shan?”
Su Li asked. But Wen Tingshan was still in the middle of questioning Ling Qinglan’s ident.i.ty, and he could not help but say, “Is he Ling Qinglan, Officer of the Supreme Judiciary?”
Su Li nodded gently, and Wen Tingshan’s face immediately turned gloomy. “The members of the Dongfang Family are not easy to get along with. They had a relations.h.i.+p with the Wanjian Sect in early years. If he had recognized me, I would have been afraid…”
Su Li was slightly surprised that the Dahan Dynasty was actually related to the Wanjian Sect. She heard it for the first time. If Wen Tingshan didn’t mention it today, she might suffer a great loss in the future.
Was the Wanjian Sect the reason why her husband failed in the previous life?
Su Li was brooding. Wen Tingshan misread the information and suggested, “I’d better catch him now… just in case!”
Su Li explained, “Relax. Even if he recognized you, he wouldn’t have said it. The Supreme Judiciary with Ling Qinglan will not be part of the Dongfang Family.”
Wen Tingshan was amazed. He finally understood what Su Li was talking about. It turned out that Ling Qinglan… was not loyal to the Dongfang Family?
“By the way, you haven’t told me why you are here today. You are supposed to stay in bed at this moment. You can’t stand it anymore?”
Wen Tingshan was ashamed. “I am afraid that the medicine you’ve administered these days will be wasted.”
Su Li raised her brows and knew Wen Tingshan was implying something. She suddenly asked, “You are going to the Qinghe Girls’ School?”
Wen Tingshan nodded in silence. Su Li shook her head and felt little disappointed.
“I understand your feelings very well. You are dying to see Ning Qing right now and discuss with her what has happened all these years. But have you ever thought about where the people of the Wanjian Sect are right now?”
Wen Tingshan frowned and said, “I haven’t mentioned Qing since I returned to the sect. Before that I had set up the camouflage near Tianji Country. They should still be there. But it won’t be long before they find the connection to Dahan Country. If the Dongfang Family joins forces with them, then…”
“So you can’t meet her right now.”
Su Li interrupted Wen Tingshan with a cold look. “It is a long way to reach the Qinghe Province. Even if you don’t stop on the road, it will take at least seven days. Moreover, you are seriously injured. You cannot even fight a decent battle when you get there. Do you think you can protect Ning Qing when you meet the enemies of the Wanjian Sect?”
“Well…”
Wen Tingshan was thinking about the a.n.a.lysis of Su Li. His pa.s.sion finally turned into helplessness and thick bitterness. “You’re right. I can’t meet her now; otherwise, she will be in danger. I cannot do that.”
But he missed her so much that he almost lost his reason.
“Have more patience.”
Su Li was expressionless. “Ning Qing has waited for so many years and doesn’t care about waiting for two more months. If you go like this, you won’t meet her forever. Think about it.”
Wen Tingshan took a deep breath. Whenever he thought of the “Wanjian Sect”, he was overwhelmed by a heavy pressure. “How will you deal with the force of the Wanjian Sect?”
“It depends on how well you know about them.” Su Li smiled. “Well, take care of yourself lest you should not deal with even one enemy.”
“OK.” Wen Tingshan looked firm and finally obeyed.
…
It was the day when Su Li attended the appointment.
Going out from the east gate of Yunjing City and walking after dozens of miles outward, one could see a broad lake. Because it looked like a bow, it was named Bow-shaped Lake.
It was winter and was very cold. It was unwise to boat on the lake. However, there was indeed a towered s.h.i.+p drifting slowly on the lake.
Su Li, and Ling Li who was wearing a jade-bone mask, sat facing each other in the heated chamber on the boat. A small tea table was set in the middle. Ling Mo was standing erectly outside the chamber and embracing the cold wind. Below the towered s.h.i.+p underwater, there were the men of Shalou Cult lurking.
After a cup of tea, Ling Li raised the teapot to add another one. A clear and pleasant laugh was heard on the lake. “Mr. Li, you are really brave. You dare to come alone to drink tea with me. Aren’t you afraid that there is an ambush here?”
Su Li smiled slightly and replied softly, “Since we have come, let us stay and enjoy it. Mr. Ling Li, why not take off the mask and tell me your purpose?”
Ling Li gently took off the mask, revealing a young face as Su Li’s. He looked calm but proved otherwise inside.
He was wearing a mask because his disguise skill was not proficient yet. Warriors of the inborn realm could still see through it… However, the person did not show any sign of disguise. Was it the true face?
“What are you thinking, Your Excellency?”
Su Li took a sip of tea, but she was puzzled. She could deduce from the slight changes in Ling Li’s expression that he seemed to be… hostile. But why?
Ling Li was found to be distracted. He smiled to cover it up and shook his head, “Nothing. I invite Mr. Li to thank you for ridding the poison of the Lijue Pill for Qinghu. Plus, I have another question.”
Ling Li apparently got the answer of the Wu Family incident from Ling Qinglan. So he wouldn’t bother Mr. Li with this again.
Su Li had expected it. She put down her cup and nodded, “With pleasure.”
Ling Li slightly closed his lips and appeared a little nervous, “What is the relations.h.i.+p between Mr. Li and Su Li?”
Su Li was slightly astonished. Her ident.i.ty was exposed so quickly?
No!
Not yet.
Su Li realized suddenly why Ling Li became hostile. It became a complicated issue for her.
Su Li was in silence. Ling Li was a little gloomy, but he continued to ask, “Why are you hesitating, Mr. Li? This question should not be difficult.”
“It is definitely not the relations.h.i.+p as I’ve imagined, right?”
Ling Li slowly squeezed his fists on the knees. Just as his patience was about to be consumed again, Su Li finally raised her head and smiled indifferently, “The relations.h.i.+p between Su Li and me? What’s up?”
Ling Li was tense for a moment, and he relaxed and continued to speak. “Nothing. I was rescued by Miss Su Li. I still feel indebted to her. You and Su Li come from the same town. Why did she never mention you when I was receiving medication from her? It is so strange. I want to know.”
Su Li looked a little serious. The Linli Building had not been built then. That was why he did not know of Mr. Li. But obviously this truth should be kept from Ling Li.
“She mentioned you to me once. Since she didn’t tell you about me, she must think that saving you was just a trivial matter, just like saving a cat or a dog on the street. You won’t meet each other again afterwards.”
Then Ling Li’s voice became slightly cold immediately, “Are you challenging me, Mr. Li?”
It became tense in the chamber as if the wind and snow were blowing. The warmth no longer existed.
After taking a sip of tea, Su Li looked up and still smiled, “I’m just telling a truth. Why do you consider it as a challenge?”