Chapter 16: The Lecher

The gray-robed man's chest was pierced through by the long sword, but he did not die immediately. Instead, he grabbed Gu Xingwen's hand to prevent him from pulling out the sword, turned his head and spat out a mouthful of blood, and roared at the other man: "Go, go quickly!"

The other gray-robed man, seeing this, was so furious that his eyes nearly split, but he did not rush forward to die. Instead, he obeyed the other man's intent, turned and fled, and in the blink of an eye had escaped several dozen meters away.

Gu Xingwen's face was cold. He wanted to chase the fleeing man, but his hand was held, so he raised his other hand and struck the man's head fiercely.

Bang!

The gray-clad man's head was split open and bleeding from the chop, but his eyes were wide open as he clung tightly to Gu Xingwen's hand, unwilling to let go, and he never did.

Gu Xingwen, his face cold, struck out with another palm strike!

Bang!

The man's head snapped back, spraying a mist of blood, but he still refused to let go.

Gu Xingwen channeled his inner force and struck out with a third palm!

Bang!

This palm strike directly shattered the man's skull, killing him, but the man's right hand clutched Gu Xingwen's hand tightly, and even in death, it did not let go.

Gu Xingwen spent quite some effort before he broke free from the man's grip. When he looked up, the man who had just fled had already vanished without a trace.

However, he was not in a hurry; instead, he carefully observed the ground, displaying the experience of an old hand in the jianghu, or martial arts world. Following the footprints and the blood left by the fleeing man, he pursued all the way.

Yet what made Wang Bo feel helpless was that these two, one after the other, were heading straight toward Wang Bo and Hanyue.

Wang Bo couldn't help but feel speechless. He turned to Hanyue and said, "Let's move somewhere else. Those jianghu wanderers are heading this way."

Hanyue started, then nodded.

The two of them promptly moved to another spot, and before long, they brushed past the gray-robed man and Gu Xingwen.

After that, Wang Bo quickly put this jianghu slaughter out of his mind and roamed the Luo River with Hanyue.

Interestingly, when the two of them arrived at a new scenic spot, they encountered a few libertines.

These few were also regulars at Shuyu Pavilion, and upon seeing Hanyue, they immediately crowded around.

"Just now I saw a familiar figure from afar and wondered who it was—turns out it's Miss Hanyue. We few are here sightseeing today, never thought we'd run into you; it must be fate."

"Yes, yes, Young Master Zhang, Young Master Li, and I are just composing poetry and matching couplets. If Miss Hanyue is willing, why not join us?"

I...

These few people surrounded Hanyue, chattering noisily. When Wang Bo saw this, he thought, how dare they covet the meat in his own bowl—this was utterly intolerable.

But Wang Bo, after all, was not a Teddy dog that humps everything in sight, ready to start a fight at the drop of a hat.

Besides, these guys couldn't even take their own punches.

What if I misjudge the force and end up killing someone?

So Wang Bo didn't use his fists either; he just stepped forward and lightly bumped them, knocking them to the ground. With a look of surprise, he said, "Oh my, why are you gentlemen lying on the ground? Please, get up quickly."

Then, just as the few of them got up, Wang Bo stepped forward and gently bumped into them, knocking them to the ground again.

At this, the few of them finally understood, each staring at Wang Bo with pale faces.

Wang Bo said with an anxious look, "How come you brothers have fallen again? Are you all right? Get up quickly."

None of them were willing to get up, no matter what was said, and they pleaded, 'We were blind and offended you, brother. Please forgive us and spare us.'

"Yes, yes, spare us, we won't dare do it again."

Hanyue watched from the side, barely able to suppress her laughter.

Wang Bo sighed and said, "My good sirs, why go to such lengths? Since you gentlemen enjoy rolling on the ground, I shall not disturb you further. Farewell."

"Goodbye, goodbye."

The few of them, as if sending off a plague god, lay on the ground and saw Wang Bo off.

After the two had left, Hanyue finally could not hold back and let out a laugh as pleasant as silver bells.

After laughing, Hanyue bowed to Wang Bo and said, "Those gentlemen just now are also regular patrons of the Shuyu Pavilion, and I have met them a few times before. I did not expect to encounter them here, and they came up to harass us, disturbing your enjoyment of today's outing. Please do not take offense, Master Wang."

Wang Bo naturally wouldn't take offense at Hanyue over such a trifle. He said calmly, "It's all right, Miss Hanyue, there's no need to take it so to heart. With a voice as lovely as yours and a face so beautiful, it's only natural that some lecherous rogues would come and pester you."

After a pause, Wang Bo added, “If Miss Hanyue does not mind, should any more lecherous scoundrels appear in the future, I can send them all packing on her behalf.”

Today, roaming the outskirts of the Luo River with Hanyue, Wang Bo felt rather pleased.

This woman is not only beautiful, intelligent, and astonishingly talented, but also has a good personality, speaking gently and pleasingly. Taking her home as a concubine would be more than enough, and Wang Bo is unwilling to let such a woman slip away.

So he simply laid it out plainly.

If she were willing, Wang Bo wouldn't mind buying her freedom.

Hanyue was no fool, and after hearing Wang Bo's words, she immediately understood his meaning.

She had originally wanted to agree, after all she had had that intention from the start, but on second thought, her contact with Wang Bo had been too brief—who knew if this face was his true one?

If all this were merely a disguise, then agreeing rashly would be no different from a lamb entering a tiger's mouth.

If I end up like those other sisters, deceived and then toyed with at will, and after being toyed with, casually given away, passed around among others, wouldn't that be a life of desolation for half a lifetime?

No, I cannot agree right now.

Hanyue's eyes then grew resolute, and she said softly, "Hanyue thanks Young Master Wang for his kind intentions, but we have known each other for only a short time; I dare not harbor such extravagant hopes. Moreover, Shuyu Pavilion has treated me well, and I am unwilling to leave it just like that. I beg your understanding. However, if you come to Shuyu Pavilion to seek me, I will certainly sweep the couch and await you."

She did not explicitly reject Wang Bo; instead, she left him with a thought, telling him that her current refusal was because their relationship was still shallow.

If you wish to win me, you must interact with me more often.

Wang Bo nodded, understanding Hanyue's concerns, and said bluntly, "Fine, those are your words."

Hanyue declared resolutely, 'Though I am no gentleman, my word, once spoken, cannot be taken back even by a team of four horses.'

After saying this, the two couldn't help but smile at each other.

The two strolled around once more, and only when the sky was nearing dusk did they board the carriage and head back. By the time they returned to the prince's mansion, the sky was already pitch black.

At the main gate of the prince's mansion.

After alighting from the carriage, Wang Bo glanced inside the prince's mansion and couldn't help but chuckle. He said to Hanyue, who was still in the carriage, "Miss Hanyue, it's getting late. You should head back first."