Chapter 159
Upon arriving at Zhao Xiang's courtyard, the servant let out a huge sigh of relief. Pan Shulin hurriedly said, "Thank you."
Hearing this, the servant looked at Pan Shulin. There was none of the previous respect and cheerfulness, but he was still reasonably polite. He said to Pan Shulin, "Young Master Pan, please clean yourself here first. I will go and help my young master."
Help? So, does Zhao Xiang now need help just to walk?
That's right, he's blind now.
"Hmm..." Pan Shulin responded and watched as the servant entered the inner room through a side door.
Pan Shulin washed his face and wiped his body using the water basin in the room, then changed into the clothes prepared for him beside it.
The fabric of the clothes was very poor, clearly meant for servants.
But he couldn't afford to be picky now. He had visited Zhao Xiang's place before, the rooms were always lavishly decorated, as if Zhao Xiang was afraid people wouldn't know how wealthy he was. Yet now, everything here was dull and gray. The most valuable items in the room seemed to be a set of white porcelain tea utensils on the table.
In the past, Zhao Xiang wouldn't have spared a look for such common tea ware.
Pan Shulin lowered his eyes. A noise came from the side door. He turned his head and was instantly struck with a chill so deep it felt like his blood had frozen.
Zhao Xiang's eyes were half-closed, revealing hollow sockets. He looked far more haggard than before, his face bare, his hair a tangled mess down his back. The flakes of dandruff on his scalp were more plentiful than ever.
He felt his way forward, supported by the servant at his side, yet he still sometimes knocked against furniture. Each time he stumbled, a soft gasp escaped his slightly parted lips. Through that opening, the sight of his tongue—cut clean in half—was visible.
"..." Pan Shulin's knuckles turned white; his entire body went rigid, as if locked in ice, unable to move.
In his memory, Zhao Xiang was still that plump, round figure, often unkempt yet draped in gold and silver, putting on a showy display. When had Zhao Xiang been reduced to this state?
He was aware of the tragedies Zhao Xiang had suffered, but he was still the deputy city lord's ger. His daily necessities shouldn't have been lacking...
The servant guided Zhao Xiang to sit at a table where white paper and a brush lay ready. The servant placed the brush into Zhao Xiang's hand.
Zhao Xiang groped for a moment, then wrote something shaky and uneven on the paper for the servant to read. The servant looked toward Pan Shulin.
"Young Master Pan, my young master asks me to ask you: did you not expect him to save you?"
Pan Shulin was taken aback. He truly had not expected it.
After all, ever since Zhao Xiang had lost his status, Pan Shulin had not once come to see him.
Pan Shulin remained silent. Zhao Xiang wrote something else. The servant glanced at it and addressed Pan Shulin, "My young master asks, does Young Master Pan hate Xi Yao?"
"Naturally!" Of course he hated Xi Yao.
His primary purpose in escaping was to have Xi Yao sliced into a thousand pieces. Before Xi Yao died, how could Pan Shulin himself die?
At the mention of Xi Yao, his entire demeanor changed. His originally pale face took on a greenish-black hue, as if tainted by something from the underworld, meant for claiming lives. His mouth didn't move, yet the clear, grinding sound of teeth gnashing was audible, sinister in the quiet space.
Seeing this, the servant leaned close to Zhao Xiang's ear and said, "He hates him."
"I hate him, of course! The state I'm in now is entirely thanks to him. My greatest purpose in escaping is to kill him! To slice him into ten thousand pieces!"
Zhao Xiang silently tugged at the corner of his mouth and wrote something on the paper. The servant, looking at it, said, "My young master says, he now shares a common enemy with you."
Zhao Xiang continued writing. The servant read as he wrote and continued, "Apart from Xi Yao, my young master says not a single member of the Xi family can be spared."
Pan Shulin was stunned. He knew Zhao Xiang hated Xi Yao. In fact, from the moment this person rescued him, he had been wondering if Zhao Xiang intended to use him against Xi Yao.
After all, after what happened to Zhao Xiang, Pan Shulin had never once visited. Their previous relationship had been superficial to begin with. When such a calamity struck Zhao Xiang, Pan Shulin had simply turned away, acting as though their friendship had never existed at all.
Pan Shulin knew his actions meant he had forsaken Zhao Xiang as a so-called 'friend.' From that point on, honor or disgrace had no connection to this person. It would be a blessing if Zhao Xiang didn't take the chance to trample on him when he was down.
Yet this time, Zhao Xiang had still stepped in to save him. Pan Shulin certainly didn't foolishly believe it was out of nostalgia for their past bond... The only explanation he could think of was that Zhao Xiang wanted to confront their shared enemy, Xi Yao.
But he never expected Zhao Xiang to say he wanted to deal with the Xi family. Apart from Xi Yao, the Xi family only had Xi Ning left. And Xi Ning was the city lord. Did Zhao Xiang want to deal with the city lord?
___
In the dimly lit hall, Zhao Yu and Zhao Shan had been kneeling on the floor for a long time. The hall itself was empty, but numerous guards were stationed outside. Their knees had long since gone numb, yet City Lord Xi Ning had still not made an appearance.
Zhao Yu's face was full of anger. "That brat Xi Ning is too much, leaving the two of us waiting here like this!"
"Father, this time we've been implicated by Pan Shulin!" Zhao Shan said.
Zhao Yu shook his head. "Xi Ning has long been displeased with us. If it weren't Pan Shulin, it would be someone else!"
"..." Zhao Shan pressed his lips together, his face mournful. "Then, father, what should we do now?"
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