Chai Jing was stunned. The moment Wei Tingyu appeared, she was one hundred percent certain of her guess. Despite the heavy rain affecting her sight and senses, she hadn't detected him until he was right in front of her. This meant his skills were far superior to hers. She could only hope her guess was right, and that he meant them no harm. Otherwise, she and Zhuang Hanyan were done for.
"Since you have revealed yourself, why not show your face?" Chai Jing asked, bowing respectfully.
"Is my face so important?" Wei Tingyu said with a smile, still wearing his Jade Fox mask. He wasn't ready to reveal his identity yet.
"Since you helped us, why hide who you are?" Chai Jing insisted.
"You said it yourself, I helped you," Wei Tingyu replied, nodding. He admired her straightforward nature. "So why not just thank me and leave?"
"Thank you for your kindness, sir," Zhuang Hanyan said, stepping forward and bowing slightly. She could tell he didn't intend to harm them. Wei Tingyu looked at her, covered in blood and rain, her expression unyielding. He was struck by her resemblance to Empress Xiao Yan—they looked like twins. Of course, they were played by the same actress in the original show. Her bow was quite proper, showing that she had secretly practiced to be a noble lady from the capital.
"I, Chai Jing, am not one to forget a favor. If you don't show your face, how can I repay you?" Chai Jing was still fixated on his mask. This man was too mysterious for her liking, and she couldn't let her guard down.
"Haha," Wei Tingyu chuckled. "My favor was to her. What does it have to do with you, young lady? If anyone is to repay me, it should be her."
Chai Jing's face flushed. She was a killer, not a "young lady." But she suppressed her anger, knowing he had saved Zhuang Hanyan's life. "Her business is my business. Since you have been kind to her, I will repay you," she said, her eyes glaring at him.
Ah, so she really did have feelings for Zhuang Hanyan. A nascent lesbian attraction she probably hadn't even recognized yet. "No way," Wei Tingyu thought. "I need to straighten her out before it goes too far. If she's going to go after my future wife, I'll just have to make her my wife, too."
He decided to have a little fun. He took two steps closer to the two women, stopping within three feet of them. Zhuang Hanyan instinctively took a step back, her guard still up against this masked stranger.
"Don't be scared, my lady," Wei Tingyu said to Zhuang Hanyan, smiling. "Your friend here insists on repaying me, so I've decided to accept."
Both women frowned, wondering what he wanted. Zhuang Hanyan had nothing. Chai Jing was a killer and could repay him with a life, but with his skills, he obviously didn't need her.
"I will repay you," Zhuang Hanyan said quickly. "But I have no money now. Please, wait for me to return to the capital. I will give you a generous reward then to thank you for saving me."
Wei Tingyu knew she was stalling. He knew her fate in the capital, and she would be lucky to have a hundred taels to her name. He didn't care about the money anyway. He was more interested in something else.
"I've always considered money to be dirt," he said with a smile. "My only vice is that I am a womanizer."
Chai Jing and Zhuang Hanyan's faces fell. Zhuang Hanyan's eyes flickered to the body of Zhang Youcai. She wondered if she had jumped out of one fire and into another. Chai Jing gripped her sword, ready to fight.
"Since you both insist on repaying me," Wei Tingyu continued, trying not to laugh, "why not give yourselves to me?"
Zhuang Hanyan and Chai Jing were speechless. The man had actually said it. However, he didn't seem to want to force them, which was a small relief. But to give themselves to him? Zhuang Hanyan's plans would be ruined. Chai Jing, a killer, couldn't imagine herself as a wife. The thought of being pregnant with his child made her shudder.
"What, you don't want to?" Wei Tingyu asked, stepping closer to Chai Jing and gently lifting her chin, looking her in the eye. "You were so righteous just now, saying you would repay me. What's wrong now?"
Chai Jing, caught off guard, finally snapped. She drew her sword and lunged at him. But Wei Tingyu didn't move. He simply extended two fingers and easily caught her blade. Both women were shocked. Zhuang Hanyan had always thought of Chai Jing as invincible, a woman who could take down ten men in the blink of an eye. But this man, with just two fingers, had stopped her full-force attack. She now knew the huge gap in their skills. He could crush her with no effort at all.
Chai Jing was even more shocked. She pulled and tugged, but the sword was stuck between his fingers.
"What a fiery temper, my lady. I like it," Wei Tingyu said with a cold laugh. "But it's not acceptable to stab a man for no reason." He relaxed his fingers, and as she pulled her sword back, he playfully patted her behind with his fan.
Smack! The sound echoed in the night. Both women froze. The slap wasn't hard, but it was deeply humiliating. Chai Jing's face turned beet red. It was the first time she had ever shown such a girlishly shy expression.
Zhuang Hanyan, seeing her friend's face, pulled her arm and gave her a look that told her not to do anything rash. Chai Jing realized she was no match for him and that a fight would be pointless. She bit her lip and glared at him, but her anger was now mixed with other emotions that Wei Tingyu easily picked up on.
"You saved my life, sir," Zhuang Hanyan said, taking a breath. "I should repay you by giving myself to you. But I have things to do at home. If you will wait a few months and find me in the capital, I promise to give myself to you then."
Wei Tingyu sneered. She was giving him a promise she might not keep. He knew her life in the capital would be difficult, and he didn't care about the money or the family. He wanted her, and he wasn't going to be so easily fooled.
"What about you?" he asked Chai Jing. "Do you have things to do at home, too?"
Chai Jing was stunned. "What does that have to do with me?" she asked.
"Didn't you say her business was your business? Her debt is your debt," Wei Tingyu said, smiling.
"I..." Chai Jing was speechless. Her own words had been used against her. She was flustered, embarrassed, and angry all at once. Wei Tingyu was amused. He was getting his revenge on her for wanting his wife.
Zhuang Hanyan frowned, seeing Chai Jing's reaction. It was the first time she had seen her fierce friend so flustered. "Sir, we understand your meaning," she said. "But this matter truly has nothing to do with her. If you are interested in both of us, please wait a little while longer. A girl's marriage is a lifelong matter, not something to be rushed."
Wei Tingyu's smile widened. This girl was not only an expert at making promises but also an expert at dating and keeping her options open. He knew he wouldn't get them today. He nodded in agreement and leaped gracefully into the night, his voice echoing back to them: "We will meet again in the capital."
Zhuang Hanyan and Chai Jing looked at each other and sighed. They had been marked by this man, and they didn't know if their futures would be a blessing or a curse. But they had more pressing matters to deal with for now.
Meanwhile, in the capital, Wei Tingyu's wives and concubines were all waiting for him at the front gate of the Marquis's residence. The gate was bustling with activity, a beautiful sight that drew stares from everyone passing by. When his carriage appeared, Dou Zhao and the others all smiled brightly.
"Welcome home, Marquis!" they all greeted him sweetly.
He got out of the carriage, surrounded by his beautiful wives and concubines. The four women who had traveled with him were quickly introduced and welcomed. Yang Ying, Xiao Yan, and Chuyue were a little nervous at first, but they were quickly put at ease by the friendly women. Yang Ying got along well with Dou Ming and Li Sinian; they were all sweet, innocent young women. Chuyue was a perfect match for Zhao Zhangru and Li Wuniang, who were fascinated by her stories of battle and even promised to join her someday. They all shook their heads at the thought. Xiao Yan got along well with Dou Zhao, He Weifang, and Li Dabaoshouhua.
Wei Tingyu was happy to see all the women getting along. However, Ren Ruyi was sitting alone in a corner, chatting with Linglong. As a former assassin, she didn't have much in common with the others, except for Linglong, who was also a former killer. But Wei Tingyu wasn't worried about Ren Ruyi getting lonely. He now had another suitable candidate on his list to keep her company.