The Double
Chapter 298 - 115: Mine

Chapter 298: Chapter 115: Mine

"Duke, after watching the play for so long, might you care to come out for a gathering?"

The clear voice echoed through the forest at night, with the moon hanging low, almost resting on the treetops, illuminating Jiang Li’s delicate face.

Her eyes were clear and distinct, showing not the slightest hint of panic that one might expect in a desperate situation. Instead, she appeared relaxed and transparent, as if holding all the cards.

The men in black looked at her, and the leader chuckled, "Second Miss, why bother with such mystique..."

Before he could finish, laughter came from deep within the woods; a figure in crimson gradually emerged from the darkness. Under the moonlight, the darker the surroundings, the more resplendent his red attire became. The moonlight shone on the butterflies embroidered on the hem of his robe, making them seem as though they might take flight at any moment, lending an extreme seductive quality to that instant.

Jih Heng strolled out slowly from the night, a golden silk folding fan in hand, the corners of his mouth curved in a smile, "You cannot hide anything from me."

Jiang Li looked at him, and a breath of relief escaped her heart.

Jih Heng often liked to have people watch her, and in Tongxiang, there was nothing he didn’t know. She believed that the men from Feng Yutang and Ji Shuran who came to kill her were also within Jih Heng’s grasp. He loved to watch the drama, so he wouldn’t miss such a splendid show.

Whether it was Jih Heng himself watching her or his subordinates, Jiang Li believed that they would never allow her to leave their sight. When Ji Shuran’s men appeared and she was out of options with no escape, she suddenly thought that the person who had been silently trailing behind her might protect her life in this moment.

Even if he couldn’t protect her, staying to divert the enemy’s attention would be good.

Fortunately, someone indeed followed behind her, and even more fortuitously, it was Jih Heng himself.

With Jih Heng there, Jiang Li felt much more at ease. This was an odd thought since Jih Heng was not her friend. To this point, he was a mysterious and unpredictable man. Yet, after several encounters with him, Jih Heng had shown no intention to harm her. Jiang Li certainly didn’t think it was because Jih Heng had a soft spot for women; perhaps there was something about her that was of use to him.

Being of use was certainly better than not. As long as Jih Heng was there, she was fully confident in today’s battle that the one to die would not be her. Not to mention Jih Heng’s highly skilled guards, even that beautiful golden silk folding fan in his hand—Jiang Li had witnessed its power.

He was not a man to sit and await his demise. His entire being was made of lethal moves. Anyone who underestimated him because of his looks would be maliciously proven wrong.

The appearance of Jih Heng immediately caught the attention of the assassins hired by Ji Shuran. Some of them pointed their swords towards Jih Heng.

Jiang Li’s utterance of "Duke" had not been missed by the assassins. Jih Heng, with his stunning beauty and seductive allure, appeared in the pitch-black forest like a Spirit Demon, radiating a dangerous charm. Perhaps due to their killer instincts, the leader among them in black asked Jih Heng, "And who might you be?"

However, Jih Heng did not pay them any attention, smiling at Jiang Li instead, "Second Miss, your acting skills are becoming more and more spectacular."

"If the play isn’t spectacular, how could it attract Your Excellency to watch?" Jiang Li glanced at the black-clad leader, her smile growing wider, "Your Excellency, they are pointing swords at you."

A man like Jih Heng, who wore a smiling face yet was extremely ruthless and proud at heart, might consider it an insult to have swords pointed at him.

The leader in black caught Jih Heng’s gaze and inexplicably wanted to take a step back, his fingers gripping the sword started to curl involuntarily, feeling very uneasy.

Jih Heng paid them no mind, only smiling at Jiang Li, "Second Miss, why lead disaster towards me? As I’ve said, I don’t participate in the drama."

"Could it be that after watching so many of my performances, you have watched in vain, Your Excellency? If I were to die here today, wouldn’t you feel a tinge of regret at not being able to watch my performances anymore?" she asked, tilting her head back.

The girl’s face was clean and tender, her eyes lively and beautiful, brimming with infinite pleading. When she spoke in a soft, pitiful tone, even immortals might find themselves moved with compassion.

Yet Jih Heng was no immortal; he was a devil colder than any deity.

He just looked at Jiang Li with a smile, "I would regret it, but I don’t participate in the drama."

In an instant, the pleading in Jiang Li’s face disappeared. It was hard to imagine how she could so swiftly withdraw from the moving state of vulnerability she had just displayed.