MLIAM Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Encountering Bandits – Let Me Handle This, I’m Very Professional…

“That’s good then, I’m very capable, I’ll protect you.” Yu Shuli familiarly put his arm around Wei Yan’s shoulders, “Tell me, what’s the matter? Maybe I can help you.”

He said, “I just arrived in The Capital City and don’t have any friends yet. I’m looking to make some.”

Wei Yan’s fingers twitched. He seemed uncomfortable with Yu Shuli’s closeness, pushed him away, and walked faster. “I don’t make friends.”

“Why?” Yu Shuli was bewildered. “Everyone needs friends.”

“I don’t.” Wei Yan’s tone was even colder.

Yu Shuli sensitively noticed that something was wrong with him. He caught up and tentatively asked, “Did your friends treat you badly?”

“No. They just did what they had to do.” Wei Yan’s words were clear and calm.

Weighing the pros and cons, if it were him, he would do the same.

But he suddenly turned his head and met Yu Shuli’s scrutinizing and curious gaze, he also naively thought, if his friend were Yu Shuli, would he be able to help him?

After all, he was willing to share half a cake with a stranger, and willing to accompany a stranger on an errand late at night.

He was just too kind.

But he shouldn’t abuse this kindness.

“Yu Shuli, it’s getting late, go back. I can manage alone.”

Wei Yan’s emotions were obviously off. After being rejected twice, Yu Shuli thought for a moment and still chased after him.

Seeing him following again, Wei Yan frowned. “Why are you still following me?”

Yu Shuli raised an eyebrow. “You said you don’t need friends. Do you mind having an older brother?” He sized up Wei Yan. “I think you should be younger than me?”

The exaggerations about General Yu in The Capital City had led to everyone knowing about the General’s deeds, naturally including the important event of his precious son’s birth.

Wei Yan said in a low voice, “I’m three years older than you.”

Yu Shuli widened his eyes in surprise. “You don’t look it at all!” He grabbed Wei Yan. “You don’t look fifteen at all! So thin.”

Being told so directly that he was thin, Wei Yan’s face darkened. “It’s because of illness.” He added, trying to cover it up, “I will become tall and strong.”

“Ah! You’re actually sick? Are you getting proper treatment?” Yu Shuli was somewhat concerned. “Being sick is so uncomfortable. Are you feeling better now?”

“Much better.” After years of living as a dependent, and now his life, which should have been a new beginning, was being dragged down by his mother’s illness, Wei Yan was actually not doing well, but he was used to putting on a brave face.

“That’s good.” Yu Shuli breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s a good thing I’m with you. Otherwise, if you ran into robbers late at night and they bullied you, what would you do?”

“There won’t be any robbers.” There weren’t that many robbers in The Capital City. Besides, why would they rob a poor person like him?

Yu Shuli shook his head. “You’re not vigilant enough. It’s easy to be ambushed.” He put on a helpless look. “It’s a good thing you have me.”

The night breeze was a little cool, and there was a naive maturity on Yu Shuli’s small face.

Wei Yan’s heart stirred slightly. His fingers rubbed the hem of his clothes, and he said as if possessed, “Then let’s not be friends… Can you call me ‘brother’?”

Yu Shuli was stunned. Just as Wei Yan thought he would be disgusted, he saw him smile brightly. “Okay.”

“Brother.” Yu Shuli’s bright eyes sparkled like stars, crashing straight into Wei Yan’s eyes.

Yu Shuli was a warm-hearted and straightforward person, but all his gentleness was just right.

Wei Yan only felt his chest filled with warmth. He felt that Heaven’s arrangement for him to meet Yu Shuli was not a coincidence.

It was fate. It was Heaven telling him to cheer up and get out of this haze.

He smiled. “Mm.”

“Now that I’ve called you brother, can you tell me what exactly you’re doing?” Yu Shuli’s clear eyes looked over.

Wei Yan pursed his lips, unwilling to disappoint Yu Shuli’s concerned gaze, and actually told him all the things he originally thought were shameful and embarrassing.

After speaking, he cautiously looked at Yu Shuli. “I know your family’s status. If you think it’s too troublesome to be friends with someone like me, we can…”

“Tsk… you…” Yu Shuli reached out with one hand to grab him, and pressed the other hand on his lips. “Didn’t I say, we’re not friends, just brothers?”

Wei Yan only felt a burning sensation on his lips. He subconsciously dodged, taking quick steps to cover up his strange and erratic heartbeat.

“Stop! Are you Wei Yan?”

Yu Shuli saw Wei Yan running away inexplicably and hadn’t caught up with him yet, when he saw two masked, tall adult men suddenly emerge from the alley beside him.

Wei Yan’s eyes swept over these two uninvited guests, a flash of murderous intent passed through his eyes. Just as he was about to act, he saw Yu Shuli angrily stride forward.

One person, one punch, then a quick backhand, and he had already pinned the two robbers to the ground.

Wei Yan stared blankly, as Yu Shuli grabbed his hand with a warm grip. “Are you okay?”

Wei Yan shook his head, chuckled for a moment. With this little ruffian here, how could he have a chance to get hurt?

Yu Shuli held down the two robbers and beat them, while watching Wei Yan, still shaken. “See, Wei Yan, I told you, these streets aren’t safe!”

Wei Yan shook his head, pointing in the direction of the Imperial Palace. “Under the Emperor’s rule, I’ve never encountered this kind of situation before.”

These two people didn’t look like robbers.

What robber asks for someone’s name right away? Robbers should accept anyone, why would they ask for a name before robbing?

Yu Shuli pondered, thinking of something, and kicked the two masked men on the ground. “Hey, who sent you?”

“No… nobody…” The two men on the ground covered their heads, taking the beating, but were very stubborn.

Wei Yan ripped off the two men’s masks, and narrowed his eyes.

“What’s wrong? Do you know them? Enemies?” Yu Shuli saw that Wei Yan’s expression was off, and quickly asked.

“If they’re enemies, I’ll help you get rid of them!” Yu Shuli made a throat-slitting gesture, making Wei Yan’s lips curve into a smile.

Wei Yan relaxed his clenched knuckles and smiled. “They’re not enemies, I don’t recognize them.”

“Then… how should we handle this?” Yu Shuli hesitated.

Wei Yan’s eyes swept over the two disheveled faces below, his expression somewhat cold. “They’re not important people, it wouldn’t matter if they were killed.”

Yu Shuli nodded, not objecting to his decision. “Okay, I’ll do it, I’m very professional.”

Hearing this, the two men on the ground began to struggle in fear.

“Don’t kill me! Don’t kill me! I’ll tell you everything!”

“Are you stupid? Can’t you tell they’re testing us?!”

The two robbers even started fighting among themselves.

“Oh? So there’s more to this?” Yu Shuli smiled. “Our interrogation methods on the border are not like those in The Capital City, where you talk about propriety and restraint. We put you on the tiger bench, stick dozens of rusty iron needles into your fingernails, and oh my, the pain is so exquisite you wish you could die… and then, there’s a tetanus infection, and finally, you convulse all over, foam at the mouth, and die in a state of powerless suffocation. Ah… the key thing is, you’ll be conscious the whole time.”

After he finished speaking, even the one who had been stubborn stopped being stubborn.

The two men looked at Yu Shuli tremblingly and pleaded, “We’ll tell you everything… can you… let us go?”

Yu Shuli raised an eyebrow and looked at Wei Yan, signaling him to make the decision.

Wei Yan’s expression was cold. “Speak.”

The two men immediately kowtowed and confessed, “It was… it was Marquis Xuyang who sent us to kill Young Master Wei… we really had no choice.”

Yu Shuli frowned. “Marquis Xuyang?” He looked at Wei Yan. “Did you offend Marquis Xuyang?”

So they weren’t robbers, but assassins.

Yu Shuli was thoughtful.

Wei Yan was about to explain, but the assassin spoke faster than him. “It’s because of Princess Jiangning… Princess Jiangning expressed her love for Young Master Wei the other day. Marquis Xuyang was furious when he found out, so he sent people to deal with the aftermath.” After speaking, he flattered Yu Shuli with a smile. “Now that we’ve confessed everything, can you let us go since we haven’t had a chance to act yet?”