Chapter 398: Timid as a Mouse

"Saving someone—does one have to know the person in order to save them?"

Yu Die sneered.

From Tang Anzhi's tone and attitude, she could roughly guess that his reason for asking about Li Fugui's identity was that he was still unwilling to give up, still hoping to use Li Fugui as a stepping stone to climb into Wang Ruhai's connections.

Even if Li Fugui owed her a life‑saving debt, even if Li Fugui were her enemy, she would not give Tang Anzhi any information about Li Fugui.

Tang Anzhi stared coldly at Yu Die, wanting to say something, but the words never left his mouth; he turned his head toward Wei Yuan, as if urging him to step forward.

"You damned dog, now you finally recognize me. When I needed you to save my life just now, why didn't you know how to save me? If that Evil Cultivator didn't have the guts to clash with the court, I'd probably have had my head fall to the ground long ago!"

Wei Yuan muttered under his breath; though he wanted to ignore Tang Anzhi's stare, he stepped forward and said:

"Yu Baihu, don't compare yourself with Tang the Imperial Attendant. He's just taken a bit of Qi from you, so his attitude toward you is sour. Why don't you at least tell me something about that Evil Cultivator, even if it's just a fragment!"

When he saw the horrifying wound on Tang Anzhi's body, he jumped in shock, yet a hidden sense of pride swelled within him.

He was both shocked by Yu Die's prowess and aware of Tang Anzhi's capabilities; if Tang Anzhi lacked skill, he wouldn't have spent a fortune to hire him as an Imperial Attendant to guard his life. Yet Yu Die, in a full‑strength clash with Tang Anzhi, managed to leave that terrifying wound on him, which alone proves Yu Die's strength.

He also regretted that Yu Die, clearly capable of gravely injuring Tang Anzhi, didn't press harder to take Tang Anzhi's life outright!

He could not forgive Tang Anzhi for standing by as he died, and was planning to use him as a stepping stone, making it easier for that dog to climb into Wang Ruhai's connections.

"That mysterious person—I don't know who it is!"

Yu Die replied offhandedly, not taking Wei Yuan's words seriously.

Even though Wei Yuan's words sounded pleasant, she wasn't blind—how could she not see that Wei Yuan was colluding with Tang Anzhi, that Tang Anzhi was still unwilling to give up and was trying to uncover Li Fugui's identity to use Li Fugui as a stepping stone into Wang Ruhai's connections? Didn't Wei Yuan think the same?

She didn't know Li Fugui, but from brief contact she knew some things; if she wished, she could arrange a deadly trap for Li Fugui through certain means.

She believed that Tang Anzhi and Wei Yuan were not foolish; if they learned the information about Li Fugui from her, they could likewise set a lethal trap.

"Yu Baihu, I know you don't know that mysterious person!"

Facing Yu Die's perfunctory reply, Wei Yuan didn't get angry; instead he tried to flatter: "All you need to do is tell me everything you know about that Evil Cultivator, and I'll be immensely grateful to you, Yu Baihu!"

"County Magistrate Wei, you're not a foolish person; my words just now were clear enough, and I'm sure you can't fail to understand!"

Yu Die stared coldly at Wei Yuan; she gave him face without being too harsh, yet Wei Yuan seemed unable to comprehend human speech, repeatedly pressing on. Since Wei Yuan was giving face while taking it away, there was no need to be courteous—she rebuked:

"What scheme are you and Tang the Imperial Attendant cooking up? Not even I— even a three‑year‑old could see it."

"Don't say I don't understand my life‑saving benefactor; even if I knew him exceptionally well, he saved my life—do you think I'd hand over his information to you?"

"It wasn't in vain that I saved her life!"

Wang Ping'an lay in his mother's embrace, and upon hearing Yu Die's words, nodded with satisfaction.

When he saved Yu Die's life, it wasn't that he didn't think a beautiful girl dying under the cruel claws of a Tiger Demon was a pity.

Beauties are countless as cattle hair, and he could not possibly save them all; everyone has their own fate, and he cannot be the savior of every beauty. He saved Yu Die without much thought, not expecting any reward—only because Yu Die's danger stemmed from his uncle's affairs, which prompted him to act.

However.

Yu Die's conduct left him especially satisfied, feeling no guilt over his life‑saving favor.

But on second thought, he realized Yu Die was exactly that kind of person; had she not been so, she wouldn't have risked offending Luo Liang, voluntarily helping his uncle, and thus wouldn't have encountered danger, meaning he wouldn't need to rescue Yu Die again.

Later.

Wang Ping'an's gaze swept over Wei Yuan and Tang Anzhi; deep within his eyes a flash of murderous intent flickered, and he thought silently:

"I've already given you both a chance; if you don't cherish it, don't blame me for sending you off. It would be a perfect chance for me to perform Soul Salvation and lessen the sins on your bodies—perhaps you'll even thank me later!"

"Yu Baihu…"

Wei Yuan was about to say something, the words hanging on his lips, when he again felt a primeval beast watching him, a chill coursing through his body, as if he'd plunged into a millennial ice vault; his complexion changed dramatically, and he trembled as he spoke:

"Bad news, Tang the Imperial Attendant—the Evil Cultivator—is still lying in ambush nearby!"

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He had felt this sensation not long ago; back then he suspected that a extremely fierce person was lying in ambush nearby, so he had Tang Anzhi and Yu Die scour the surroundings. According to their accounts, they turned over the ground three feet deep everywhere and found nothing, leaving him to doubt whether his words were true.

Although.

At that time he believed his talent would not deceive him; it was quite possible that Tang Anzhi and Yu Die failed to locate the hideout because the extremely fierce one employed a concealment method deeper than they imagined, yet a trace of doubt lingered in his heart.

He doubted whether he was being overly cautious, to the point that any slight rustle would scare himself.

Until Wang Ping'an appeared, he realized it wasn't self‑scare; rather, Tang Anzhi and Yu Die's searching skills were lacking, failing to locate Wang Ping'an's hiding place.

At this moment.

When the feeling resurfaced, how could he not know that the Wang Ping'an who had just fled must be hiding nearby, and that the extremely fierce person he suspected was precisely the Wang Ping'an who had just emerged, seized him, and nearly cost him his life?

"What did you say?"

Tang Anzhi's face was all ecstatic joy, eager to move, searching the surroundings, even if it meant turning over the ground three feet, to locate Wang Ping'an. Wei Yuan hurriedly spoke: "Tang the Imperial Attendant, don't go!"

Just now.

Being seized by Wang Ping'an was his first ever direct encounter with mortal danger, a lifelong nightmare. He didn't want to experience it again; even though he knew Wang Ping'an still lacked the courage to kill a court official, he wouldn't gamble— even with a hundred percent certainty, he wouldn't stake his own life.

(End of Chapter)