Chapter - 402 Being Driven Mad By Unredressed Mongol Injustice (2)

Zhang Wuji sighed and said, "Miss Zhao, I beseech you, please leave now."

Zhao Min shook her head and said, "I definitely must see Xie Daxia."

Since she was adamant, Zhang Wuji had no choice but entered the inn and went to Xie Xun's room. He knocked twice on the door and called out, "Yifu!" while he positioned himself in front of Zhao Min.

He called out twice without receiving any answer from inside the room. Zhang Wuji tried to push the door open, but it was actually locked. He felt strange; his Yifu possessed a very keen pair of ears, as soon as he arrived at the door, his Yifu would most certainly be awakened. If he was somewhere else, why was the door bolted from the inside? He pushed the door exerting a little bit more force and 'crack!' the latch broke. The door swung wide open but Xie Xun was not inside. He saw that one of the window panes was half open; he thought his Yifu must have left from the window.

He went to Zhou Zhiruo's room and called out, "Zhiruo!" two times without receiving any answer. Pushing the door open, he also did not see Zhou Zhiruo inside, but her clothes were folded neatly on the 'kang' [heatable brick bed of northern China].

Zhang Wuji was alarmed, "Could it be that they met some enemies?" he mused. He called the innkeeper to inquire, but the innkeeper said he did not see those two people go out, he also did not hear any noise which would suggest there was some dispute or even fighting.

Zhang Wuji was somewhat relieved; he thought, "Most likely they heard some suspicious noise and went out to track down the enemy." He also thought that although Xie Xun's eyes were blind, his martial art skill was strong; it was a rarity to find someone who could be his match in the present age. Besides, he had the cautious and prudent Zhou Zhiruo as his company, so it was unlikely for them to meet any mishap. Leaping out from Xie Xun's window, he looked to all directions without seeing anything unusual, thereupon he returned to the room.

Zhao Min said, "Why do you look relieved to see that Xie Daxia is not here?"

"Still talking nonsense," Zhang Wuji said, "When did I look relieved?"

Zhao Min smiled, "Can't I see it on your face?" she said, "As you open the door, you were tense, but now the skin on your face is relaxed."

Ignoring her, Zhang Wuji leaned against the 'kang'. With a chuckle Zhao Min sat on a chair and said, "I know you were afraid Xie Daxia might kill me, luckily he is not here so you are saved from a difficult situation. I know you really cannot bear to lose me."

"What if I really cannot bear to lose you?" Zhang Wuji angrily said.

"I am very happy," Zhao Min replied.

Zhang Wuji bitterly said, "Then why are you repeatedly trying to harm me? Can you bear to lose me?"

Suddenly Zhao Min blushed, "You are right," she said quietly, "Previously I was determined to kill you, but after the Green Willow Manor incident, if I ever have the intention to harm you, let the Heaven punish and the Earth destroy me, Minmin Timur. After I die, let me perish forever in the eighteenth level of hell, never to be reincarnated for tens of thousands of years."

Listening to her speaking very seriously, Zhang Wuji interrupted, "Then why did you abandon me on that deserted island for the sake of a sword and a saber?"

"Since you said so, I can't dispute it even if I have a hundred mouths," Zhao Min said, "Let us wait for Xie Daxia and Miss Zhou to come back, so that the four of us can sort things out clearly."

Zhang Wuji said, "Your mouth is full of sweet but insincere words. You have deceived me one person, must you also deceive my Yifu and Miss Zhou?"

Zhao Min laughed and said, "Why are you resigned on being deceived by me? Because in your heart you like me, do you not?"

"What if I do?" Zhang Wuji vehemently said.

"I am very happy," Zhao Min replied.

Zhang Wuji saw her talking and laughing as sweet as a flower, moving the hearts of those who watch her. Noticing that her cheeks were still red and swollen from his four heavy slaps earlier, he could not restrain from feeling regret and pity; therefore, he turned his head around to avoid looking at her.

Zhao Min said, "We were delayed in the temple for half a day, I am starving." She called for the innkeeper. Producing a small ingot of gold, she told him to quickly prepare a set of the highest quality dish and wine. The innkeeper repeatedly obeyed, and in an instant he had some fruits and light appetizers delivered to their room, followed by the wine and the main course.

Zhang Wuji said, "Let's wait for Yifu to come back, then we'll eat together."

"My life might be gone as soon as Xia Daxia is back," Zhao Min said, "I'd rather be a ghost with a full stomach." Zhang Wuji noticed that although she said such a thing, her manner and her face showed confidence. Zhao Min continued, "I still have plenty of gold here, we can always tell the innkeeper to prepare another set of banquet."

Zhang Wuji coldly said, "I do not dare to eat and drink together with you. Who knows when you are going to apply the 'shi xiang ruan jin san'."

Zhao Min's face sank as she heard that, "You don't want to eat, then don't eat," she said, "Otherwise you will be killed by my poison." Without waiting for an answer, she started to eat.

Zhang Wuji called for the kitchen to deliver some flatbread, and then staying as far as possible from her, he sat on the 'kang' to gobble his food.

There was a very sumptuous dish of broiled lamb and roasted chicken, fried beef and chopped fish, on Zhao Min's table. She ate for a while before tears starting to drip on her rice bowl. She managed to control herself and ate some more before she finally put the chopsticks down and she dropped her head on the table, sobbing.

After crying for half a day, she wiped off her tears, apparently she felt better. Looking out the window, she said to herself, "It will be dark in a couple of hours. I wonder how that Han Lin'er is. Once we lost his track, it would not be easy to rescue him."

Zhang Wuji's heart turned cold. "That's right," he said while standing up, "I need to rescue Han Xiongdi first, and then I'll come back."

"Shameless," Zhao Min said, "Nobody speaks to you, who wants you to interfere?"

Seeing her angry at one time and bashful at another, happy at one time and anxious at another, Zhang Wuji could not help to feel both hatred and affection toward her at the same time; truly he did not know how to deal with her. Hastily he finished the half flatbread in his hand in three mouthfuls, and then went out the door.

"I'll go with you," Zhao Min said.

"I don't want to take you," Zhang Wuji replied.

"Why?" Zhao Min asked.

"You are the murderer of my Biaomei," Zhang Wuji replied, "How can I be together with an enemy?"

"All right," Zhao Min said, "Go alone, then!"

Zhang Wuji went out the door, but suddenly he turned around and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I am going to wait for your Yifu to come back," Zhao Min said, "I'll tell him that you are going out to rescue Han Lin'er."