THE HUNTER OF DARKNESS

Suspicious Sound

"Are you certain that the young man has killed Lung Wei?" asked Prime Minister Shen Wei, his gaze shifting toward Commander Lu Han after Fang An and Princess Xian Lie disappeared behind the palace gates.

"Honestly, I’m not sure, My Lord. It could very well be one of Tang Fei's tricks. He might have ordered his men to lie and say that Lung Wei was killed by that young man," answered Commander Lu Han.

"In that case, we must eliminate him as soon as possible. Judging by how close he is to Her Highness, I fear His Majesty may be swayed by Tang Fei’s words."

"What is your next move, Prime Minister?" asked Commander Lu Han.

Prime Minister Shen Wei looked around before replying. "We’d better talk in my quarters. Not here."

Commander Lu Han nodded and walked beside the prime minister.

Meanwhile, the curious gazes of the capital’s citizens seemed to strip Fang An and Princess Xian Lie bare as they walked side by side without any soldier escort.

It was unheard of to see Princess Xian Lie out of the palace without strict protection. Normally, dozens of soldiers would flank the carriage carrying Emperor Li Wei's only daughter on both sides.

"Who’s that scruffy young man? Why would Her Highness walk with someone like him? Doesn’t she feel ashamed?"

Various disdainful thoughts ran wild through the minds of the citizens witnessing what they considered a bizarre sight.

Fang An was aware of all the eyes fixed on him. He knew his appearance was far from appropriate to be accompanying a princess. Yet, he didn’t care. He wore what felt comfortable to him, and that was enough.

The son of the Legend never cared what people thought of him. A thousand insults could be hurled his way, and he still wouldn't retaliate—unless he was forced to. But if anyone insulted those he cared about, he wouldn’t stay silent. He’d even be willing to stake his life.

"Fang An, I once ate at that place, and the food was absolutely delicious. How about we eat there? After all, we haven’t had breakfast, have we?" Princess Xian Lie pointed.

"It’s up to Your Highness. I’ll go wherever you go," replied Fang An, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.

Even though they were in the capital where security was tight, Fang An never lowered his guard. To him, Princess Xian Lie’s safety came first—even though it wasn’t his idea to take the beautiful young lady out of the palace.

Fang An was worried that someone who disliked him might target the princess to ruin his reputation in front of Emperor Li Wei. Even the slightest scratch on the young woman’s skin could be used as ammunition to disgrace him.

When they reached the eatery Princess Xian Lie had mentioned, she suddenly grabbed Fang An’s hand and gently tugged him inside. Embarrassed by the stares around him, Fang An tried to free himself from her grasp, but she held onto him tightly, unwilling to let go.

"What are you all staring at!? Mind your eyes unless you wish to see the sun for the last time!" Princess Xian Lie snapped at the diners whose eyes were locked on her and Fang An.

Immediately, the diners’ gazes dropped to the tables in front of them, focusing on their meals.

"You shouldn’t be so harsh with them," Fang An whispered softly, disapproving of her overly reactive behavior. As the emperor’s daughter, she should treat the people with kindness.

"Didn’t you see how they looked at you with such contempt?" Princess Xian Lie defended herself.

Fang An smiled at the beautiful girl seated across from him. "Their stares don’t offend me, Your Highness. To me, it’s just one of life’s arts. When we’re down, people mock and scorn us. But when the wheel turns and we’re on top, they’ll flock to praise us."

"You’re strange, Fang An. Doesn’t their behavior hurt your feelings?" Princess Xian Lie looked at him with disbelief.

"Mental stress is one of the greatest triggers of illness, Your Highness. Instead of wasting time dwelling on those who insult me, I’d rather do something beneficial for others. Besides, ailments of the heart are far harder—if not impossible—to cure than physical ones. So, please, get used to being kind to others. It keeps our minds at peace," Fang An explained calmly.

Princess Xian Lie sat silently, listening to Fang An’s wisdom. Secretly, she was impressed by the mindset of a young man her own age.

Suddenly, Fang An stood and clapped his hands twice to get the attention of the other patrons. "Please forgive Her Highness for her behavior. She’s dealing with some personal issues, and her emotions are a bit unsettled. So I hope no one here takes it to heart or feels afraid."

The patrons finally breathed a sigh of relief. Those who had been too scared to even speak now began to act more naturally.

Princess Xian Lie glared at Fang An. "Since when do I have problems?" she muttered.

Fang An gestured for her to stay quiet. He was trying to soften the public’s impression of her.

After finishing their meal, Princess Xian Lie invited Fang An to return to the palace. She was still curious about what he meant when he said she had "problems."

"Why did you say I was dealing with problems earlier?" she asked once they were back inside Fang An’s room. Her face pouted, clearly displeased with the accusation.

Fang An sighed deeply. He was a bit unsure how to start explaining what he had meant. "Well, Your Highness—"

"Xian Lie... Just call me Xian Lie when it’s just the two of us."

Fang An raised both eyebrows. "Very well, if that’s what you want. So, Xian Lie... What I said earlier was just a cover. I didn’t want the people of the capital to think you were an arrogant princess. Do you want to be known as a tyrant with an iron fist?"

Princess Xian Lie slowly shook her head.

"Earn the people's respect through your kindness and character. Don’t make them respect you out of fear. A kingdom only exists because it has a people. They play a major role in its progress. How would a kingdom’s economy function without the taxes collected from its citizens?" Fang An elaborated.

"I understand now, Fang An. Thank you for all the advice you’ve given me. Don’t hesitate to scold me if I ever make a mistake," the beautiful young woman said softly.

Time moved forward, unimpeded. Before they knew it, night had arrived on Earth.

As he lay on his bed, Fang An tried to memorize the second technique from the Flaming Whip Manual.

But a sound from the rooftop shattered his concentration. Fang An sharpened his ears. He could hear footsteps—slow and silent—like the movement of a tiger stalking its prey.