70 69th Break: Assassination 

Lin Ze was taken aback when his gaze met Meng Xing's gaze. He immediately withdrew his gaze and lowered his head while he picked up his cup and drank his wine. He didn't expect for his gaze to meet Meng Xing's gaze. He still hasn't come up of what words to tell Meng Xing, apologizing to him, since he obviously alienated him the past days despite they were already friends.

Lin Ze sighed. Yes, they are friends but he is aware that he developed affection for Meng Xing, which he feels guilty of. And he feels guiltier towards Meng Xing since he has fallen in love at first sight with 'Meng Ruyan' when he met the other. Even if it just the other's face…

Lin Ze lowered his head even more when he thought of the other's (MRY) face, for it is extremely similar to Meng Xing's face. If he really just doesn't know that Meng Xing is an orphan who is from the countryside and also know his life experiences, to which one of them is greatly linked with Meng Ruyan, he would think that Meng Xing is 'Meng Ruyan'. Though, because of this life experience – that is, Meng Xing was accidentally poisoned instead of Meng Ruyan, it shows how the two has some fate between them. Not to mention that extremely similar faces!

If Lin Ze just not know that Meng Zongqi is loyal to his wife, Ji Suxin, he would think that Meng Zongqi has an illegitimate son – that is, Meng Xing, who looked like Meng Ruyan. But, the Lin family knows the Meng family, and Lin Ze didn't hear that there was any illegitimate children in the Meng family. Thus, Meng Xing couldn't really be from the Meng family.

Lin Ze sighed and continued drinking until the Yang family's celebration ended. Yang Ming, and Yang Ying who appeared again, sent off their guests. Yang Hong has already been taken away by the servant because he was too drunk.

Yang Ming, as well as Yang Ying, thanked the Huichen's 'boss' again for solving the 'ghost' of their inn, as well as for coming today.

"Did they invite an exorcist?" a guest whispered and was immediately covered in the mouth by his friend who incessantly apologized to Qiu Si, Qiu Yi, and Qiu Qi. Seeing that they didn't look angry, he sighed in relief and immediately took his friend who has a loose mouth away.

"Boss." Qiu Ba whispered when he returned after bidding goodbye to the people he befriended earlier. "Qiu Qi said that the people one of the people that he planted in the Yang family confirmed that Xu Ran was really hiding in the Yang family's residence after they snuck inside Xu Ran's room, replacing a maid of the Yang family." He spoke as they watched Qiu Si, Qiu Yi, and Qiu Qi at the front waiting for the carriage of Huichen to arrive.

Meng Xing sighed in relief. "Finally." He muttered under his veil. "How is Xu Ran?" he asked.

"This…" Qiu Ba paused. "She was actually Yang Ying's fiancée." He answered.

"Oh?" Meng Xing's brow raised in surprise when he heard what Qiu Ba said. "This is interesting… he saved a damsel in distress and they fell in love with each other?" he said.

"Yes." Qiu Ba's lip twitched when he heard what Meng Xing said. How did Xu Ran's case become a love story? He thought and sighed.

Meng Xing's expression now turned serious. "Tell them to protect Xu Ran. That elusive practitioner is still out there, and we don't know whether he found out that Xu Ran accidentally saw his letter addressed to her father." He said.

"Yes." Qiu Ba nodded in understanding.

"Also – " Meng Xing spoke. " – ask Qiu Qi to become Xu Ran's confidant. Tell her that we, Huichen, will help her." He said.

"Yes, boss." Qiu Ba nodded and left, acting like the other guests who wanted to approach the Huichen and 'befriend' them.

At this time, the Huichen's carriage has finally arrived. The other guests who wanted to have a connection with Huichen sighed in regret as they gave way to Qiu Si, Qiu Yi, and Qiu Qi, who were walking towards the carriage. But, just as Qiu Si reached for the door, the door opened from the inside and a sword appeared, ominously glistening from the lights around them!

"AHH!!!" someone who was facing the opening of the door screamed and immediately scrambled back to retreat, pushing the other guests who still not noticed what happened, back with them.

The other people started with that scream and they turned to see that someone jumped out of the Huichen's carriage with a sword heading towards at Qiu Si, who was at the front!

"AAAAAHHH!" the other people also screamed as they ran back inside the Yang residence. "Assassin!" they yelled. They are not stupid to not know that this assassin came for the Huichen's boss's head!

Lin Ze's eyes narrowed and he looked around, trying to find Meng Xing as Qiu Si and the assassin started fighting while Qiu Yi ran to protect Yang Ming and Yang Ying, sending them back first inside the residence while Qiu Qi fought another person who appeared! There was another assassin!

"Meng Xing…" Lin Ze muttered as he wildly looked around, looking for Meng Xing's figure, ignoring that he was being pushed by the scrambling guests. "Meng Xing!" he called as he looked for Meng Xing, ignoring the fight behind him.

Qiu Ba, who was actually leisurely walking around, heard Lin Ze called Meng Xing. "Second young master Lin." He called and tapped Lin Ze's shoulder.

Lin Ze turned and recognized that he was sitting with Meng Xing earlier.

Qiu Ba smiled. "I saw sir Meng ran away with the other guests back inside the Yang residence." He told Lin Ze.

Lin Ze sighed in relief when he heard what Qiu Ba said. "… what about you?" he asked since Qiu Ba is still outside.

"I am a lover of gossips, so I will stay here outside and watch." Qiu Ba answered.

Lin Ze frowned.

"Hey. Those assassins are after the Huichen. They won't touch the residents of the capital, or they will offend the emperor." Qiu Ba assured Lin Ze as he sat on the side and ate his melon seeds. He looked confident.

But, is that really the case?