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Lin Liushui laughed, and even Li Changhai, who had been trying hard not to show his amusement, could not help but wear a grin on his lips. Only Qin Feng managed to keep a stern expression on his face, as he nodded in appreciation. That was a smart move by the young woman. He made it a point to use that term to describe Yuan Qianlei, rather than calling her a girl. It was rather clear from the way that she had played Du Yan that she was not a young, innocent child by that time.

"So you basically had no choice but to play along with her, hmmm?" teased Lin Liushui as he pointed a finger right at Du Yan's nose. "From what I had heard, you had broken down and supported her skipping her martial arts lessons against her parents, and so won her approval. As well as theirs! It seemed they were more than willing to listen to their intended son-in-law. Something that you said, maybe?"

Du Yan's face went a little red when he heard that. "What nonsense are you spewing now? I merely said that she didn't need to worry about her martial arts because I would be there to help her if anyone dares to bully her. That's the sort of thing that proper manly men should do!"

"Except everyone took it to mean that you were accepting her as a bride, and that you would take responsibility for her," Qin Feng shook his head at the much larger man, although he was not too surprised that Du Yan got played like that. After all, he was a little weaker than everyone else, when it came to such trickery. Still, it did not seem as though the big fellow minded it in the least.

His words, however, caused Du Yan look away. Although it was a little obvious what he was thinking, as he stared into the fire. He was biting at his lower lip to keep from grinning away. Which was enough to start Lin Liushui sniggering again, and Qin Feng thought that the handsome scholar was going to start teasing the brawny fellow once more.

Then the Second Ducal Prince cut in, with a question of his own:

"But I hear that you had brought her around Chuanshui Town happily, showing her all the sights. And that you were less than pleased when she, and her parents, finally departed. As though you could not bear to be parted from her. You two spent almost the whole night together. 'Watching the moon, and baring your hearts', or so they say."

Du Yan's blush deepened, but he nodded his head at Li Changhai. "Yes, we did. And yes, I wasn't ready to let her go. She was more fun to be with than any of my stupid cousins. And she didn't treat me as if I was a statue made of pure gold, like the rest of my family did. So yes, she was a whole lot more fun to be with, than any of them.

"Not to mention the fact that she wasn't obsessed with weapon-smithing, and that sort of thing! Naturally I preferred staying at her side. Can you blame me?"

"So, one might say that you would not have minded too much, if you had to spend the rest of your life with her, hmmm? After you met her that time?"

Qin Feng was quick to pick up on what had not been said, and he stepped in quickly, when he saw Lin Liushui open his mouth. His words, and what he had just pointed out with them, were definitely less biting than what the good-looking fellow would say, given the opportunity.

Du Yan grinned back at him. "I had come to that conclusion myself. Which was why I had taken pains to visit her, when I was finally done with all that Weaponsmithing, and had made plans to run away from my family. And the way that everyone was merely treating me as another resource. That was just how they saw me, I thought, as someone who could craft more powerful weapons, and so bring in more money, and more power, for the Du Family."

He turned to the other two men, and shrugged at Li Changhai. "I told you that I wanted to spend my time learning alchemy instead, and you were the first to support me. Well, that isn't altogether true. I had spoken to Yuan Qianlei first, although I was not so blatant about escaping the fate that my family had planned for me. Although I didn't tell her exactly what I intended.

"And to my surprise, I didn't have to. She had agreed with my plans before I could get started. And told me that she would wait for me to gain some accomplishment in whatever I wanted, before I went to claim her as my bride. And she was only fourteen at the time!"

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All of them nodded when they heard that. It could be said that they were envious of the big, brawny fellow. After all, how many could claim to have won such support from their beloved?

But Qin Feng thought the strangest reaction came from Lin Liushui . Who had sighed, bitterly. And his hands had dropped down to grip at his knees. From the way that his knuckles whitened, it was rather obvious that he was caught in the throes of some strong emotion. Qin Feng was about to ask him what was wrong when the Second Ducal Prince spoke again. But to Du Yan, rather than the handsome man.

"That is why you are rushing back to her then? To claim her for your bride? To protect her from those who wish to use the rumors involving you against her and her family?"

"Exactly!"

Du Yan gave off an aura of determination then, which surprised Qin Feng somewhat. He had never before seen such a side to the quiet, brawny fellow. Was this what was meant when people talked about how a man could change once he has experienced love?

"Whoever these people are, they are clearing targeting me! That means that they are only using the situation within the Yuan Family, whatever it may be, to draw me out. Well, if that is what they are after, I am more than happy to fulfill their wishes!"

There was a finality in the way that he spoke, and Qin Feng did not doubt that the tall, muscular man in front of him was going to exact a price from those fools who dared to touch his bride-to-be's, and her immediate family's, good name. Something, he was certain, they were going to regret, as soon as Du Yan arrived at the Capital City.

"Well, that might be the case. But if does not mean that we should not be cautious, when we get there. There should be a warm welcome for us, when we get there."

Everyone turned to Lin Liushui then, to see the gentlemanly fellow looking a little sad, but with a determined smile on his lips. Qin Feng wanted to ask him what he meant, and if it had anything to do with the melancholy that seemed to wash over him earlier. But he didn't get a chance.

The Second Ducal Prince got there in front of him:

"What do you mean by that? Do you believe that they have set a trap for us? At the Shu Capital?"

"At the Shu Capital? Why bother to wait until we get to the Capital? The distance between where we are and the Capital City is still long. And there are plenty of sites along this narrow road that is suitable for ambushes.

"If you really wished to get rid of an enemy, what better place would be best to set up an attack on the same? Especially if you did not wish their bodies to be discovered for some time?"

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