Chapter 156: Close Quarters, Closer Blades

"Let me be clear, I’m doing this because of Ru Yi." She watched Yexue’s hands turn into fists by her side with a strange satisfaction. "I’ll take you to the fortress, but I can’t guarantee your safety afterwards."

"This is not going to work," Lieyin grumbled, turning to Yexue. "There has to be another way."

A predatory look flashed in Han Shuying’s face. "Fortunately for you all...this is the only way. I know a way we can get past the mountains without encountering bandits and such. We just need to travel light."

Ru Yi turned to the sisters. "The more time we waste, the higher chance of Qingyue encountering trouble. We need to find her before they enter the mountains. She has the boy to guide her, but he can’t exactly be trusted."

The two sisters couldn’t argue that fact and they hated it.

"Fine," Lieyin said. "But how are we sure she’s not going to run back and tell her little master what we’re up to?" She raised a mocking brow, "we all know how eager she is to please the Empress and eat out of her palm."

The space between them charged dangerously, a standoff that didn’t rely on movement or raised voices. Both Han Shuying and Lieyin stood their ground.

Han Shuying’s glare melted easily, almost amused. It was pointless getting angry, not when she had more to gain from the journey.

"Thinking she doesn’t know already will be your first mistake. I know Qingyue is not here, but surely you two can use your brains." Han Shuying turned to Ru Yi like she hadn’t just called them stupid to their face. "What’s the sleeping arrangement?"

Yexue’s eyes narrowed on her. "You can go back to wherever you’ve been staying all this time. There’s no need to stay here."

Han Shuying’s smile did not falter, if anything it deepened. "We need to leave before dawn," she replied, her tone almost pleasant like she was discussing something mundane. "It’ll be more efficient to stay together."

"No," Yexue said immediately. "The inn is full, there’s no spare room for you to rent. Leaving before dawn is not an excuse, we’ll be up and ready early."

"I know you don’t trust me—"

"I wonder why," Yexue cut her off.

Han Shuying sighed like she was exhausted from the conversation. "My inn is on the other side of Emberfall, it’s a long distance. There’s no need to trouble ourselves when we have a simple solution."

Yexue knew where she was going with this. "And please tell...what is this solution you speak of?"

"I’ll share a room with Ru Yi, while the two of you stay together." Han Shuying seemed rather pleased with herself. "Sounds like a beautiful arrangement to me."

The reaction was immediate.

"NO!"

This time it came from both sisters at once. Sharp and unquestioning, leaving no room for argument.

Han Shuying raised a brow, her expression flickering with mild interest at the unified response. "No?"

"I would rather drop dead right now than let you sleep on the same bed with her," Yexue snapped. "That is never going to happen. Absolutely not."

Han Shuying took a couple steps closer to Yexue, which had Ru Yi on the edge of panic. She leaned in, her mouth right next to Yexue’s ear.

"Why?" Han Shuying asked in a low voice so only Yexue would hear. "It will be like old times."

Yexue raised her hand and pushed Han Shuying away. "If you really want it to be like old times then we can stay together. Right? It’s not like we haven’t slept on the same bed many times in the past."

Han Shuying clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. "Considering the fact I only feel hate and anger towards you...that wouldn’t be the best idea."

Ru Yi intervened. "Han Shuying and Lieyin can stay together."

"Not if she wants to wake up with her head still attached to her neck," Lieyin sneered. "One of us will not be walking out of the door in the morning."

There was no exaggeration in her statement. Even now she stared daggers at Han Shuying who was still totally at ease.

"Don’t worry, the feeling is mutual." Han Shuying looked at Ru Yi. "The only reasonable solution where we all survive in the near future is to sleep with you."

Yexue glared at Han Shuying who coughed lightly.

"Let me reword that...I’ll share a bed with Ru Yi. But I can’t promise the only thing we’ll be doing is—"

"Alright!"

All eyes turned to Ru Yi.

"What?" Yexue asked, disbelief cutting through her voice. Her expression did not change but the tension in her gaze deepened, her focus locking onto Ru Yi with quiet intensity. "You’re agreeing to this?"

Ru Yi didn’t look away, even though she wished the ground would open up and swallow her. "It’s the only practical choice."

"Pratical?" Lieyin barked in disbelief. "You just heard us say we don’t trust her."

"Not trusting her is fine, but we’re going to depend on her for the next couple days," Ru Yi reasoned. "This is our only option."

Shen Yexue shook her head in disappointment. "I don’t know what lies Shuying fed you, but this is the most horrible option ever. I’m only going along with her nonsense because of Qingyue."

"Exactly." Ru Yi was exhausted. "We’re all doing this for Qingyue."

"Looks like the problem is solved." Han Shuying was triumphant. "Which of the rooms is ours?"

Yexue didn’t take her eyes off Ru Yi. "I don’t think you have any idea what kind of person Han Shuying is..."

"I’m still here," Han Shuying said in a fake high-pitched voice.

"Everything will be fine," was the only reply Ru Yi could come up with. "Let’s go downstairs and eat. After that we can come up with a proper plan on how to deal with the supplies we have left."

Lieyin was already moving to the door, her anger close to bursting at the seams. "Do whatever you want."

Yexue followed her out without another word.

Han Shuying moved to the window. "I told you it would all work out fine."

Ru Yi stared at the back of the woman who only a couple hours ago had threatened to skin her alive.

Yexue was wrong— she knew exactly the kind of woman Han Shuying was.