Chapter 9: The Identities Revealed Unexpectedly

Ying Zhao scurried away at high speed. Once she was certain no one was chasing her, she specifically sought out a deserted alley and leaped down lightly.

To her dismay, the moment she landed, she saw someone standing silently in the corner!

It was a blind spot in her field of vision; when Ying Zhao was standing on the roof, she hadn't seen him at all. Who could have known someone was hiding down there? Her jump had caught the person red-handed.

Ying Zhao instantly grew tense. After casting a wary glance at the man, she realized he was dressed in rags and appeared to be a beggar.

She couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, intending to act as if she hadn't seen him and simply walk away.

However, just two steps into her departure, she suddenly caught a familiar scent—the smell of medicine mixed with the scent of blood, a bitterness accompanied by a metallic sweetness, lingering faintly at the tip of her nose.

Not long ago, she had smelled this exact scent.

Ying Zhao couldn't resist looking back at the man once more. To her surprise, the man had also raised his head, his gaze staring straight at her.

Ying Zhao nearly cried out: "!!!" It really was him!

Although his face was smeared with dust and looked somewhat dirty, she recognized those piercing, phoenix-like eyes that possessed an extraordinary presence at a single glance!

In an instant, Ying Zhao felt completely overwhelmed; she wished she could simply vanish on the spot!

Damn it, what kind of luck did she have? First, she ran into Zhou Fang and her brother Su Qi, who were always at odds with her, and now she had run into the future tyrant, Ji Ye!

What kind of cursed fate was this!

Even if she wanted to fleece Ji Ye for his resources, she didn't need to bump into him everywhere she went, did she?

Most importantly, she had just told Ji Ye not long ago that she was merely an ordinary farm youth out hunting rabbits. Now, Ji Ye had actually seen her jumping down from a roof!

Unless this man had water in his brain, he wouldn't fail to suspect her!

What should she do now?

Once Ji Ye suspected her identity, how could she stop him from continuing his descent into darkness, earn merit points, and fleece him in the future?

As her mind raced, Ying Zhao decisively decided to pretend she didn't know him!

Since Ji Ye was currently dressed like a beggar, it would be normal if she didn't recognize him.

Thus, she withdrew her gaze indifferently and turned to leave.

Unexpectedly, just as she took a step, Ji Ye's smiling voice came from behind her: "Little brother, we meet again."

Ying Zhao: "!!!"

She froze mid-step. Just as she was about to pretend she didn't know him, she heard Ji Ye say again, "I didn't expect that entering this county would allow me to encounter you again. Could it be, little brother, that you knew I was in trouble and came specifically to help me?"

Ying Zhao desperately wanted to say no.

She was now highly suspicious that this was a trap set by Ji Ye!

If she answered yes, it would prove she was secretly monitoring him and that her previous assistance was intentional rather than a coincidence.

If she answered no, the fact that she had suddenly appeared before him twice would not only be suspicious, but it would also mean she hadn't told a single truth!

No matter which answer she chose, it was a pitfall!

Her mind whirled, and she decisively decided to take a different path.

Having lived as a hostage for many years, Ji Ye had always lived with extreme caution. Having encountered an assassination upon returning to his country, his heart was undoubtedly highly vigilant, harboring suspicion toward everyone.

Once she was branded an enemy, it would not be easy to fleece him again. Therefore, this time, she had to find a way to gain his trust.

Even if it wasn't one hundred percent trust, she couldn't let Ji Ye view her as an enemy.

So, she turned around, lifted her chin slightly, and smiled with an air of profound mystery: "As expected of one destined by heaven, you were able to recognize me at a single glance."

Ji Ye: "..." Even if you changed your clothes, your features haven't changed. I'm not blind; how could I not recognize you?

But... are you not planning to pretend anymore?

"One destined by heaven"... what did that mean?

Ji Ye's thoughts raced, and he quickly asked tentatively, "What do you mean by 'one destined by heaven'?"

Ying Zhao kept one hand behind her back, continuing to play the part of a master: "You are the Emperor of Destiny, yet currently, the dragon is trapped in shallows and the tiger has fallen to the plains. I have come by the command of my Master specifically to help you soar to the heavens!"

"Oh?" Ji Ye was young after all; even though he knew deep down that she was likely lying, his heart couldn't help but race a little. He struggled to control the upward curve of his lips and said with feigned composure, "The Emperor of Destiny? Might you have mistaken me for someone else?"

Ying Zhao maintained her persona of a master, smiling with confidence and ease: "You are shrouded in golden light, your aura piercing the nine heavens; how could I possibly mistake you?"

After saying this, she pulled a small white porcelain bottle from her sleeve and handed it to Ji Ye with a smile: "You are currently heavily injured; why not try this Rejuvenation Pill?"

Looking at the small bottle she handed him, Ji Ye was inwardly shocked!

Regarding Ying Zhao's words, he actually didn't want to believe a single syllable. However, this person had approached him twice; she must have an objective!

Coincidentally, he was currently quite injured and at a disadvantage, making it unwise to fall out with her. He could only test her for the time being to see if he could gauge her depth and purpose.

To his surprise, this person could actually produce such an extraordinarily high-quality and exquisitely crafted small bottle.

Judging by its texture, the bottle was as fine as jade and as white as fat, yet it was entirely different from any jade he had seen before. Such a bottle alone was not something an ordinary person could produce.

Even in the treasury of the King of Yan, such a delicate object might not be found.

Yet this person produced it so casually. What exactly was her identity?

And what was her purpose?

Although he was a prince of Yan, he was not favored by the King, and his future was uncertain. This person was actually willing to part with such a treasure. Could it be that he really was some Emperor of Destiny?

Aside from that possibility, Ji Ye truly could not think of anything about himself worth such a heavy investment from her.

After hesitating for a moment, he decided to take a risk.

He took the porcelain bottle nonchalantly, feeling its fine texture and a slight coolness against his skin. Upon opening the stopper, a refreshing medicinal fragrance drifted out from the small mouth of the bottle, startling his senses.

Ji Ye struggled to maintain a calm appearance, testing her as discreetly as possible: "Is this the Rejuvenation Pill?"

Ying Zhao also smelled that medicinal fragrance.

Her heart was bleeding, but on the surface, she had to maintain her composure as a master: "Indeed. This medicine was personally gathered by my Master, who collected one hundred and eight types of immortal herbs and spent nine years refining it. It has the effect of bringing spring back to withered wood; once consumed, it can restore one to health instantly."

Hearing this, Ji Ye's eyes widened in shock: "Is this true?!" *I don't believe you!*

Ying Zhao said cryptically, "If you do not believe me, you may return the medicine to me. Although I descended the mountain by my Master's command, my Master strictly forbade me from interfering if you were unwilling."

This medicine was something she had won from a lucky draw! It was worth a thousand merit points, something she couldn't even bear to buy, and now she only had this one!

If Ji Ye refused to believe her, she had to take the medicine back; she couldn't let it go to waste.

At worst, she would just find another sheep to fleece later.

Ji Ye originally didn't believe her, but seeing the look of reluctance in Ying Zhao's eyes, he found himself feeling somewhat amused for some reason.

"I naturally believe you," he chuckled softly and quickly swallowed the medicine.

Ying Zhao was dumbfounded: "!!!"

Zhao Zhao: MY MEDICINE!!!!!!!!!!!!

(End of Chapter)