Chapter 99 Ginseng

Chapter 99: Ginseng

When Ling Feng and the others heard this, their bodies shook violently, and they were so startled they nearly fell off the wall.

But at that very moment...

Cui Ji's expression turned serious as he glanced in Cheng Ge's direction.

Then, he raised his hand and made a gesture in the air.

In an instant, over a dozen dark figures silently swept in from all directions.

Dahuang barked twice, immediately fetching the red-tasseled spear from beside the wall.

Cheng Ge flicked the spear up with his foot and caught it, his brows suddenly radiating a sharp fierceness.

Cui Ji's eyes shifted slightly, and the shadow guards quickly closed in around them, alert.

In just a moment, the black-clad men surrounded Cui Ji and the others in a semicircular formation.

Cheng Ge swept his gaze over the crowd, stepped forward to shield Cui Ji behind him, and brandished the red-tasseled spear, assuming a defensive stance.

Dahuang growled low at his feet, fur bristling, ready to pounce at any moment.

Ling Feng and the others held their long blades, staring intently at the figures around them.

A cool wind swept through the courtyard, and the copper bell under the eaves chimed softly.

A sudden sharp whistling sound broke the air, and an arrow flew straight toward Cui Ji's face.

Cheng Ge reacted swiftly, dodging sideways while swinging his red-tasseled spear fiercely, knocking the arrow to the ground.

The shadow guards exchanged glances, scanning the nearby shadows where more people were hidden.

"Go!" The black-clad men struck, blades flashing as they surged toward them.

"Protect the Prince!" The shadow guards quickly formed a defensive square, advancing with blades to engage the black-clad men in a tangled fight, the unceasing clang of weapons.

One wave of assassins fell, another surged forward like a tide.

While fending them off, the shadow guards also had to watch for hidden arrows, finding themselves spread thin.

Cheng Ge's spear danced with precision, pushing back the black-clad men who got too close.

Dahuang showed no fear, pouncing on the nearest black-clad man and biting fiercely.

These assassins clearly had Cui Ji as their target, lunging at him whenever an opening appeared.

Cheng Ge swung his red-tasseled spear, the spear shadow weaving like a snake, beating back the assassins who approached.

Cheng Ge glanced back at Cui Ji, his eyes firm: "With your big bro here, nobody’s gonna touch you."

But no sooner had he made that big talk than an assassin spotted a gap in Cheng Ge's defense, bypassing him to go straight for Cui Ji.

Cheng Ge's heart leaped—this was going to slap him in the face! Just as he barely managed to react and was about to swing his spear forward to block,

Cui Ji remained calm. Just as the blade was about to strike him, he sidestepped and reached out, striking at the assassin's wrist.

The steel sword flew from the assassin's hand. Cui Ji snatched it, spun it around, and, turning it into a cold flash, brought it straight down on the black-clad figure.

The strike was as fast as the wind, as fierce as thunder. The black-clad man had no time to dodge.

In an instant, a wet "thwack" sounded. The long blade cut through the black-clad man's body without resistance, splitting him in two.

The black-clad man, still holding his blade aloft, seemed not to have realized what happened. Then his brains and guts splattered all over the ground.

Cheng Ge's jaw dropped slightly. He turned to look at Cui Ji, an unreadable expression in his eyes.

Shit! That bastard showed me up again!

The remaining black-clad men seemed intimidated, their momentum visibly flagged.

Cheng Ge snapped out of it, swinging his red-tasseled spear with fresh aggression, his attacks even fiercer.

The shadow guards' morale soared. Even Dahuang's barks sounded defiant.

Soon, reinforcements arrived, encircling the black-clad men.

Seeing the situation was hopeless, the assassins' attacks lost steam, and the tide of battle gradually turned.

In no time, all the assassins were wiped out. They were all suicidal fighters, making it impossible to take any alive.

Cui Ji said nothing, clearly used to it by now.

Dahuang wagged his tail, circling Cheng Ge and rubbing against his calf.

Cui Ji glanced down at Dahuang, blood still streaming from his blade, forming a small pool on the ground.

"This dog needs to be fixed."

On hearing this, Dahuang froze mid-step. Then, with a loud yelp, he bolted away.

Cheng Ge: "???"

...

"Who the hell were those people?" Cheng Ge, with his long hair loose, reached over and picked up a piece of spare rib, stuffing it into his mouth.

Lü Rou lit the incense in the room, gently covered it, and white smoke curled out of the incense burner shaped like a suanni.

The steward set the freshly braised pork belly down in front of Cheng Ge, an affectionate look on his face. "Young Master Cheng, have some more."

"Mmm... thank you." Cheng Ge flashed a polite smile, then, remembering, he picked up a piece for Cui Ji as well.

"Not sure," Cui Ji replied calmly. Countless people wanted him dead. "But judging by the look of them, they're mostly Beidi people."

Cheng Ge chewed the spare rib and nodded in agreement. As the saying goes, fame is like being a fat pig—both attract trouble.

Cui Ji held half of the Great Zhou kingdom and was the top military general. If something happened to him at this critical juncture, the world would surely fall into chaos.

In times of upheaval, war rages everywhere, and it's easiest to fish in troubled waters. Only the common people at the bottom suffer.

"Then from now on, when I'm not around, you need to be careful."

Tonight's braised pork belly was tender and soft, perfect with rice. Cheng Ge enjoyed it immensely, reaching out with his chopsticks for another piece.

"Mhm." Cui Ji simply grunted in response, glancing at Cheng Ge.

Seeing his lips greasy, Cui Ji couldn't help reaching out and gently wiping away the oil stain at the corner of his lips.

Cheng Ge, not paying attention, opened his mouth and accidentally bit his finger along with the braised pork.

The atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward. The scent of pear incense swirled around his nose, sweet and moist, seeping into his chest.

After coming to his senses, Cheng Ge subconsciously sucked on it.

When he realized what he had done, his face turned red in an instant. He quickly let go and rubbed his cheek. "S-sorry, I wasn't paying attention."

Cui Ji froze for a moment, withdrew his hand, and said nothing more.

Cheng Ge felt strangely flustered, not daring to meet Cui Ji's eyes. He buried his face in his rice bowl.

As he ate, he suddenly seemed to remember something. "Can you teach me that move you just did?"

Cui Ji finished the meat in his bowl without even lifting his head. "Which move?"

"That move!" Cheng Ge immediately sat up straight.

He spun the chopsticks between his fingers a few times, then suddenly split the braised pork on the plate into two halves.

Cui Ji: "..."

"Can you?" Cheng Ge asked with wide eyes, his face full of hope.

Cui Ji looked at Cheng Ge, feeling an inexplicable itch in his fingertips, as if it were seeping into his bones.

After about three seconds.

"Mm, I'll teach you later."

Cheng Ge grinned, put the split braised pork into Cui Ji's bowl, and said, "You're so nice."

Cui Ji: "..." Now his fists were a bit itchy too.

At that moment, Lü Rou walked in quietly, holding a small wooden box in her hands.

"Young master, it's ready," she said, gently handing over the box.

Cheng Ge took it, quickly opened it, and took out the contents, his eyes lit up.

"Not bad, really good."

Cui Ji couldn't help but glance at the item, his eyes stopping on it. "This ginseng... something's off."