Chapter 287 – Unkind Intentions
Ye Beizhi had known that two people were hiding on the rooftop all along.
Initially, he thought the two were Golden Stinger's accomplices who planned on ambushing Dan Qinghe from the shadows. However, he grew suspicious upon noticing the gap in skill between Golden Stinger and Dan Qinghe. With Golden Stinger's abilities, dealing with Dan Qinghe alone should have been a sure thing. Additional schemes were unnecessary.
Next, Ye Beizhi considered the possibility that the two were Dan Qinghe's allies, but their expressions didn’t suggest that either. Regardless, Ye Beizhi had no intention of getting involved at first. The jianghu had its own rules; no one wanted to create enemies for no reason. It was unwise to stir up trouble, especially since he had to protect Chi Nanwei as well.
Thus, Ye Beizhi chose to watch, until the moment the two on the rooftop seized their chance to strike.
The pair, a burly man and a lean, tall woman, leapt down from the rooftop simultaneously, launching lethal strikes. The woman gripped a dagger in each hand, aiming directly at Golden Stinger’s back. The man, wearing spiked knuckle dusters, descended straight toward Dan Qinghe’s head with both fists clenched together, ready to split his skull.
As soon as the pair revealed themselves, Ye Beizhi acted without hesitation. With a single step forward, he positioned himself between Golden Stinger and Dan Qinghe. Golden Stinger, thinking Ye Beizhi had finally decided to attack him, was already prepared.
He immediately shifted his move to kick Ye Beizhi, but before his foot could fully rise, Ye Beizhi struck his right rib with the hilt of his blade, sending him flying. In the same instant, Ye Beizhi shoved Dan Qinghe aside, just as the pair's attacks arrived in a flash.
The pair of ambushers were no ordinary fighters. Though their plans were disrupted by Ye Beizhi, they didn’t falter in their attack. Without hesitation, they shifted their focus to Ye Beizhi, and adjusted their strikes at him.
Ye Beizhi’s right hand had long been resting on his Tang blade. With spiked knuckles above and dual daggers ahead, he crouched slightly, bracing his left fingers against the blade's edge and drew the blade from its sheath with his right hand.
The slash swept upward, and Ye Beizhi in place with its momentum. The brilliant arc of the blade etched a perfect circle, as though a full moon had risen in the courtyard.
The shocking exchange occurred in an instant. Golden Stinger, still mid-air from being shoved, was nearly blinded by the dazzling brilliance of the blade.