IDWBE -Chapter 296 Brothers

The Blind Man shook his head. “I feel your temper isn’t the same as before.”

In his memory, Hong An had always been quiet and reserved, not one to speak much.

He had not expected her now to initiate conversation.

“Of course it’s different. Before, I had quite a bad temper. Now I’m holding it in,” Hong An snorted, folding her arms. “If my kung fu were better, I’d make you find out whether my hands are harder or your mouth is.”

The Blind Man smiled. “Press on, press on. Everyone with a dream is remarkable. I hope one day you’ll brandish a long sword across the nine wilds, your tall crown brushing the vault of heaven. When that day comes, whatever you say shall be so—I wouldn’t dare defy you.”

“The Prince says this kind of talk is called ‘toxic chicken soup,’” Hong An said, rolling her eyes even though she knew he could not see. “The reason you feed people chicken soup is because successful people like you have already eaten all the meat and only leave others the broth.”

“I’m only speaking the truth,” the Blind Man replied. “In ancient times, those who accomplished great things not only possessed extraordinary talent, but also unwavering perseverance. Miss, you still need to be more diligent.”

“You’re saying I’m not diligent enough?” Hong An demanded angrily.

“You misunderstand.” The Blind Man shook his head, then added calmly, “What I mean is—you’re rather lazy.”

“You—!”

Hong An’s small face flushed red with anger.

Most infuriating of all, he couldn’t even see her expression. He had no idea she was angry!

“A horse may have a thousand-li journey ahead, but without a rider it cannot reach it on its own. A person may harbor soaring ambitions, but without fortune they cannot be realized,” the Blind Man continued. “The one thing you and I share is good luck—we met the Chief Steward and the Prince, our true patrons.”

His own parents had perished in a hurricane, and he himself had lost his sight—utterly alone in the world.

Hong An’s circumstances had not been much better. Having parents had been no better than having none.

Fortunately, both of them had been blessed with decent fortune. They had met the Chief Steward and Prince He, who not only lifted them from suffering but bestowed upon them great opportunities.

“My luck has always been good,” Hong An said at last, unable to refute him.

She had to admit he was right.

Without the Chief Steward and the Prince, she would likely have been like many poor girls in Ankang City—married off early, now probably braving the cold wind with a child on her back while fetching water and washing clothes.

She hardly dared imagine such a bleak life now.

“It’s cold. Go inside—don’t freeze,” the Blind Man said with a faint smile, turning and walking away.

“You’re blind, and I’m a fool,” Hong An murmured to herself, watching his figure gradually disappear into the vast curtain of snow.

In front of the Administration Commission stood a tall young man, wearing a white fox-fur cloak. Snow fell and gathered upon him, yet he seemed oblivious. He clasped his hands toward Liu Kan, who guarded the gate.

“Kan-zi, we’re brothers after all. Help me pass on a message. I’ll never forget your great kindness.”

“Ye Chen, didn’t you get beaten enough last time?” Liu Kan said helplessly. “If I call him out again, I’m afraid he might beat you to death.”

This was Ye Qiu’s younger brother, Ye Chen.

The Ye family was wealthy and influential in Baiyun City; the Liu family could not compare. But they were all from the same city and saw each other often. Unlike the arrogant Ye Qiu, Ye Chen was modest and sincere even toward ordinary people like Liu Kan.

Thus, their relationship had always been decent.

At this moment, Liu Kan genuinely wanted to shout: Stop coming here to get beaten! Your brother is no good! He’s inhuman!

Yet Ye Chen insisted. “Kan-zi, I understand all that. I must trouble you.”

“I don’t know what happened between you two brothers, but if you insist on seeing him, there’s nothing I can do,” Liu Kan sighed, brushing snow from his clothes. “I don’t need repayment. Just don’t drag me into it.”

He remembered the last time Jiang Chou had gone to pass along a message. For talking too much, his lips had been swollen for seven or eight days.

Summoning the resolve of a man marching to his death, Liu Kan strode into the yamen. After several turns, he reached the door of Ye Qiu’s side room.

He knocked several times. The door creaked open a crack—it had merely been ajar.

Just as he gathered the courage to push it open and look inside, footsteps sounded behind him.

He stiffened and turned—only to find Hong An. He let out a long breath, patting his chest. “It’s you. You scared me to death.”

Hong An smiled. “If it were Ye Qiu, you wouldn’t have heard him at all. If he doesn’t want you to notice him, you won’t.”

Liu Kan gave an awkward laugh. “Right… I didn’t think of that.”

“What are you sneaking around for?” Hong An asked.

“What do you mean sneaking around?” Liu Kan snapped. “I knocked and no one answered, so I was about to check.”

“If someone were inside, you wouldn’t need to knock,” Hong An said.

“Fine, you’re right.” Liu Kan sighed. With Ye Qiu’s martial skill, the man could sense his every movement from far away. “Do you know where he went?”

Hong An was about to answer when her brows suddenly knit together. Without another word, she turned and left.

Before Liu Kan could wonder what was happening, he suddenly felt the air grow suffocating—colder than before.

Tilting his head, he saw the very person he had been searching for—and now suddenly did not dare face.

“You were looking for me?” Ye Qiu asked calmly, hands clasped behind his back.

“Yes—no! Someone at the gate is looking for you. I was just passing along the message!”

Without waiting for a response, Liu Kan fled at once.

Even lingering a moment longer before such a man was torment. He feared he might go mad.

Panting, he ran back to the gate—only to find Ye Chen gone.

Just moments ago, Ye Chen had sworn he wouldn’t leave without seeing his brother. Now he had vanished?

Was this some kind of joke?

If Ye Qiu came out and found no one, wouldn’t he blame Liu Kan? Wouldn’t that mean his own doom?

The guard beside him, Sun Tai, said quietly, “Ye Qiu already came. He grabbed Ye Chen and carried him off.”

“Oh… I see.”

Thinking of Ye Qiu’s terrifying lightness skill, Liu Kan suddenly understood.

No matter how fast he ran, he couldn’t compare to a single leap from that man.

Since Ye Chen had been taken away, Liu Kan could only offer silent condolences.

There was nothing he could do to help.

Caught off guard, Ye Chen had been seized by the collar from behind by his elder brother. The speed was so great that the previously soft snowflakes now struck his face like knives.

He endured the pain without making a sound.

Soon enough, he felt the wind and snow lessen. With a thud, he was thrown to the ground.

Swaying, he forced himself to stand. Instinctively, he touched his face. There were bits of ice clinging to it.

Carefully peeling them away, he realized they were clots of his own frozen blood.