Madam, don't do this!

Chapter 594 This King Likes Married Women, Especially Widows (11,000 words)

Song Yan could see the expression on the young man's face, and he could even clearly see the intense killing intent deep in his eyes.

She blinked, her face showing a hint of innocence.

Huh?
Am I the man Yu Shuang has chosen? When did this happen? How come I don't know?

Where did this kid come from? His pretentious air about him is really annoying.

Song Yan did not know the identities of the three people, but Song Yan was smart enough to guess something from Yu Shuang's previous reaction, the two old men's scrutiny of him, and the young man's words. It was probably another melodramatic forced marriage drama.

No wonder Yu Shuang left Yunhai Mountain again; no wonder Yu Shuang was unwilling to mention Yunhai Mountain.

Ah.

Song Yan let out a soft laugh.

Yu Shuang's face was somewhat gloomy, and she was irritated. The young man who spoke was naturally Chen Mingzhe, who had been pestering her for some time. As for the two old men behind Chen Mingzhe, the one who looked to be in his sixties, with white hair and beard, dressed in military uniform and with a long sword at his waist, was Chen Mingzhe's father, Chen Yuntian. The other man, dressed in a Taoist robe and holding a whisk, though with white hair, had a ruddy complexion and looked like a man in his thirties. He was naturally her master, Master Yunhai.

The moment the young man appeared, Yu Shuang felt a little flustered. She hadn't had a chance to explain to Song Yan about Yun Haishan's forced marriage and her plea for Song Yan to shield her from the arrow. After all, there were many people around, and as a woman, she didn't want too many people to hear such things.

It's too late to talk about these things now. Moreover, Yu Shuang is worried that using Song Yan as a shield might cause him some unnecessary trouble. After all, most people in the martial arts world are brave and ruthless. With such hatred for having his wife stolen, even if they know Song Yan's identity as the Prince of Yan, they might do something unethical, such as assassination or other nefarious things. Wouldn't that just drag Song Yan into danger for no reason?

For a moment, Yu Shuang was quite conflicted.

Of course, Chen Yuntian and Chen Mingzhe were unaware of Song Yan's true identity.

People in the martial arts world are actually quite proud, which is easy to understand. After all, they possess strength that most ordinary people don't have. They can shatter stone tablets, kill tigers and leopards, and scale walls. Such power naturally breeds arrogance deep within the hearts of powerful martial artists. In addition, their daily lives in the martial arts world, occasionally killing wealthy gentry or punishing corrupt officials, often earn them the praise of ordinary people, which only intensifies their arrogance.

They looked down on officials in the imperial court; in the eyes of江湖人 (jianghu people), officials were like insatiable gluttons.

They looked down on soldiers who marched and fought, considering them to be peasants, a bunch of reckless brutes who only knew how to charge forward blindly.

They also looked down on their colleagues who served the imperial court, regarding them as the court's lackeys.

Chen Mingzhe and Chen Yuntian had never met the Prince of Yan. In their eyes, Song Yan was just a minor soldier, so they didn't take him seriously. Chen Mingzhe was furious that Yu Shuang would rather befriend a peasant than choose him.

Even Chen Yuntian's expression looked extremely unpleasant.

What a sly thing to Yu Shuang is; she's looking down on the Chen family.

Only Master Yunhai, perhaps having often heard the name of the Prince of Yan from Yu Shuang, frowned deeply, clearly thinking of something, his expression more solemn than ever before... If the person in front of him was indeed the Prince of Yan, then he was definitely not someone that a mere Sword Sect could afford to offend. Not to mention the Chen family father and son, even he, a Grandmaster, would probably be in trouble.

For a moment, everyone had their own thoughts, and an eerie silence fell over the scene.

Seeing that no one was responding to his questions, even though Chen Mingzhe came from a prominent family and usually maintained a good level of composure, he couldn't help but twitch his face slightly... That bitch Yu Shuang, and that damned peasant, those two scoundrels, how dare they ignore him.

Chen Mingzhe, the young master of the Sword Sect, had already reached the ninth rank at a young age. His talent was so great that few could rival him in the entire martial arts world. Even when he visited the Buddhist and Taoist sects, he was usually treated with respect. Yet now, he had lost face in front of a lowly peasant.

In Chen Mingzhe's eyes, this was an unbearable humiliation.

His fingers clenched unconsciously, his knuckles making a crisp sound. His usual gentle and refined demeanor had become a habit, so Chen Mingzhe didn't lose his temper. He just took a deep breath, desperately maintaining his last bit of composure, and spoke again: "Yu Shuang, why don't you introduce this young master's identity?"

"Is this the man you've chosen?"

"To be honest, Yu Shuang, your taste is truly beyond my ability to judge."

Chen Mingzhe was never a magnanimous person. Although he tried his best to maintain his composure, his words were still inevitably laced with barbs.

These words startled Yu Shuang, who instinctively looked at Song Yan. She knew that when she refused the marriage proposal, her reason was that she already had someone she liked. She hadn't discussed it with Song Yan yet, and if she was found out... Just as this thought crossed her mind, she saw a slight smile appear on Song Yan's face. Then, he reached out with his right hand and wrapped his arm around Yu Shuang's slender waist.

Huh?
huh huh?
What... what is Song Yan trying to do?
The sudden movement startled Yu Shuang, her eyes widening and her body instantly stiffening. In her surprise, she even forgot to resist. Then, she felt a sudden burst of force on Song Yan's fingers, and her entire beautiful and voluptuous body was pulled into Song Yan's arms.

Even though Song Yan was wearing thick cotton clothes and even metal armor, Yu Shuang could vaguely feel the scorching heat seeping into her body, making her feel hot all over, and her fair face was already flushed.

Song Yan's lips slowly curled up. He tightened his arm around Yu Shuang's slender waist, while raising his eyes to look at the young man opposite him. Unlike Chen Mingzhe's burning anger, Song Yan's expression remained calm as always, without a trace of anger on his face. He simply looked directly into those fiery eyes and spoke with a somewhat indifferent expression. His tone was not loud, nor did he have any inflection, as if he were simply stating a fact in a simple and peaceful manner:
"May I ask, sir, what brings you to stop my woman like this?"

Song Yan was a clever man. Although he didn't quite understand some of the details, he had a rough idea of ​​what was going on in the current situation. Yu Shuang had taken care of Luo Tianxuan before. Without Yu Shuang, Luo Tianxuan might not have been able to survive until his marriage to bring good luck. He might not have had the chance to break free from the Song family. In a way, Yu Shuang was his benefactor, so he was naturally willing to help with this little thing.

Moreover, Song Yan was displeased with the young man's manner of speaking.

However, to be fair, Yu Shuang's figure was undeniably alluring. Despite being a ninth-rank martial artist, she wasn't wearing thick cotton clothes. Song Yan could only feel the soft, bouncy, smooth, and warm sensation beneath his palms.

Chen Mingzhe was almost driven mad by Song Yan. He tried his best to control his temper, but his trembling lips were enough to prove that he was about to lose control. Especially when he saw Song Yan's fingers around Yu Shuang's waist and Yu Shuang leaning against Song Yan's chest with a blushing and charming face, the anger in his chest was about to explode.

Even his breathing became a little more rapid.

Damn bitch.

On that cloud-covered mountain, he had said all the nice things and acted extremely humble, yet he couldn't even touch Yu Shuang's fingertips. Now, he was being casually embraced by a peasant.

Bitch, bitch, bitch!

How could she be so shameless?
Years ago, when he first saw Yu Shuang at the Chen family home, he was captivated by her. From that moment on, he was convinced that Yu Shuang was his woman and his wife. He loved her so much, how could she go to find another man?
Perhaps it was because in the Sword Sect, from his parents and brothers to his servants and maids, everyone doted on and spoiled Chen Mingzhe, which fostered his extremely self-centered and distorted personality. In Chen Mingzhe's mind, since he liked Yu Shuang, Yu Shuang should also like him. Now that he had found another man, it was a shameful betrayal, and he was a shameless harlot.

How long have Yu Shuang and this peasant been together?
I'm afraid this country bumpkin has already played with every part of his body.
For a moment, Chen Mingzhe's face contorted, and in a daze, he felt as if his entire head was covered in a bright green color.

After an unknown amount of time, Chen Mingzhe seemed to have controlled the violence in his heart. His expression gradually returned to calm, and even his lips slowly parted to reveal a slightly eerie smile: "Brother, I am Chen Mingzhe, the young master of the Sword Sect. I have known Yu Shuang for several years."

"Oh," Song Yan replied somewhat boredly.

Chen Mingzhe's lips twitched again. Could this guy be stupid? Why was his reaction so cold when he heard "Sword Sect"? Didn't he know what the words "Sword Sect" represented? It was one of the largest sects in the martial arts world.

Feeling like he'd be driven mad talking to this person, Chen Mingzhe gritted his teeth and spoke again: "Back then, I had already pledged my life to Miss Yushuang, and she was my fiancée. Isn't it inappropriate for you to be embracing my fiancée like this?"

Yu Shuang's expression changed. Before returning to Yunhai Mountain, she had only met Chen Mingzhe once, and their conversation was limited to greetings upon their first meeting. How could there be such a thing as a private engagement? Just as Yu Shuang was about to retort, she felt Song Yan's hand gently pinch her waist. Her face flushed, and she felt her body go limp. She immediately fell silent, her eyes filled with a layer of mist, and she gave Song Yan a charming sidelong glance.

That gaze truly illustrated what it means to have a seductive, alluring look.

Song Yan chuckled and said, "It's alright, I don't care about these things. They all say I have a thing for married women, especially widows."

"My fiancée... she's a little lacking."

"But it's barely acceptable."

"Young Master Chen can find another woman to marry. Just remember to send me an invitation. I will definitely come to congratulate you on your wedding and will certainly give you a gift."

What the hell!

Chen Mingzhe was stunned by Song Yan's words. He had deliberately said that he and Yu Shuang had already secretly pledged their lives to each other, just to ruin the relationship between Yu Shuang and this man. Even if Yu Shuang could not marry him, he would never let Yu Shuang have a smooth life in the future. Who would have thought that he would get such an answer?

They've met their match.

Who in this world would openly admit to having a fondness for married women, especially widows? Even if I were to marry without a wedding ceremony, I would absolutely not invite such a pervert.

Even Master Yunhai and Chen Yuntian were dumbfounded. The world has changed. These old men are a bit out of touch with the times.

Chen Mingzhe steadied himself again. This time, instead of getting angry, he cupped his hands in a respectful bow to Song Yan: "I see that you are also a martial artist. Would you dare to have a duel with me? If so..."

Song Yan couldn't help but roll her eyes: "I bet your next sentence is that the loser gives up on Yu Shuang?"

Startled by being interrupted, Chen Mingzhe paused for a moment, then nodded subconsciously. He did intend to kill Song Yan in the fight, but there was no need to admit it.

Song Yan curled her lip, her disdain even more pronounced: "Where did this lunatic come from? Yu Shuang is mine to begin with, why should I compare myself to you? What good would it do me?" Then she looked down at Yu Shuang: "In the future, avoid associating with people like this who are not thinking straight, or you'll easily become stupid."

Yu Shuang didn't know what she was feeling right now. She was being held by Song Yan, and he was handling everything. She didn't dislike being protected like this. When she heard this, her little ears twitched slightly, and she replied in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "This concubine...this concubine understands."

Song Yan nodded with satisfaction, then put his arm around Yu Shuang and prepared to walk past the three people in front of him and leave.

Just as Song Yan and Chen Mingzhe were about to pass each other, Chen Mingzhe's carefully maintained image as a refined gentleman crumbled. His eyelids drooped, and his face turned ashen. Without any visible movement from Chen Mingzhe, the long sword at his waist seemed to be pulled by some force and sprang from its sheath with a whoosh.

The sword hilt was already in Chen Mingzhe's palm.

hum.

The longsword instantly appeared in front of Song Yan's chest, its blade sharp and its cold light gleaming like autumn water.

Chen Mingzhe's voice was cold: "Brother, you are also a martial artist. Don't you even have the courage to have a duel?"

Seeing Chen Mingzhe draw his sword, Yu Shuang and Luo Tianyi's expressions changed instantly. As if by instinct, the two women were about to attack. However, Song Yan gently patted Yu Shuang's small hand and gave Luo Tianyi a reassuring look, temporarily calming the two women down. Then, she looked at Chen Mingzhe, her smile growing even wider.

"Brother Chen."

You're in trouble.

Just as Chen Mingzhe was about to speak, his expression suddenly changed. In an instant, Chen Mingzhe felt as if thousands of eyes were falling on him at the same time. Those gazes were like sharp steel needles, making Chen Mingzhe feel as if his body was riddled with holes.

For a moment, Chen Mingzhe didn't know what had happened. He just subconsciously looked up and his heart skipped a beat.

What did he see?

He saw a row of large ships along the Cangshui River. The soldiers who had been resting on the decks by the river had somehow stood up, and all their eyes were fixed on him, almost every one of them filled with intense killing intent.

Their hands slowly landed on the hilts of their knives, and with a hissing sound of the blades rubbing against the scabbards, one after another, sharp steel knives were drawn, gleaming with a cold, menacing light in the sunlight.

They leaped off the deck, forming a somewhat disorderly formation, but moving in unison towards this side.

They were like evil spirits emerging from hell to claim souls, exuding murderous intent.

How many people are there exactly?

Countless, absolutely countless.

Chen Mingzhe suddenly realized that the entire Cangshui Riverbank was densely packed with people, with heads moving everywhere, and gleaming armor and swords everywhere. Just how many people were there?

Five thousand? Or ten thousand?
They appeared to have just been through a fierce battle, with dark red, dried blood still clinging to their armor.

They made no sound, only their eyes were red like those of a ferocious beast. This silence made Chen Mingzhe's scalp tingle.

Not to mention Chen Mingzhe, even Chen Yuntian and Master Yunhai behind Chen Mingzhe changed their expressions.

Looking at the densely packed elite soldiers, Chen Mingzhe and Chen Yuntian finally understood that Song Yan was not just a minor soldier; he was at least a general commanding ten thousand troops.

Tens of thousands of elite soldiers! Let alone Chen Mingzhe and Chen Yuntian, two ninth-rank martial artists, even a grandmaster like Master Yunhai would likely struggle to survive a direct confrontation with so many elite soldiers. Chen Mingzhe's face began to turn pale, and panic started to grip him. He frantically moved his neck, swallowing hard. At this moment, he finally understood what Song Yan meant by "you're in trouble."

boom!
boom!
boom!
Thousands of soldiers, their heavy boots pounding the ground, made a sound like the earth turning over. Each footstep felt like a heavy blow to Chen Mingzhe's chest, causing him to tremble and a chill to run through his body from the soles of his feet.

That's not all. Right on the deck, some soldiers were adjusting the angle of the Hongyi cannons, and the dark cannon barrels were already pointed in this direction.

Chen Mingzhe wanted to escape, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Chen Yuntian reacted the fastest, grabbing his son's shoulder and trying to leave.

Are you kidding me? These are tens of thousands of soldiers.

Elite soldiers.

Once these soldiers form an encirclement, are we really going to die under their chaotic blades?

A martial artist may seem powerful, but when faced with a hundred or so seasoned veterans, they can easily overwhelm a martial artist. A thousand or so would be enough to kill them. And now, there are tens of thousands of them.

But, you want to run away?
Damn it, do they really think the Yan army is made of mud?

What is this thing that dares to draw its sword against the prince?

Shi Lei made a gesture, and on the large ship behind him, the most elite gunners had already adjusted their angles, their faces bearing a chilling grin, and the torches had already lit the fuses.

sizzle sizzle...

Rumble, rumble!

A deafening roar, like thunder descending upon the world.

The next instant, a perfectly round iron ball was seen drawing a white arc in mid-air at an incredibly fast speed.

That speed was far beyond what a martial artist's lightness skill could achieve.

In the blink of an eye, the shell had passed over Chen Yuntian and Chen Mingzhe's heads and fell about 30 meters in front of them.

Then... boom.

The shell exploded.

The devastating impact sent shrapnel flying in all directions.

(End of this chapter)