Disguised as a Man: A Guide to Taming the Tyrant - Chapter 5

Su Yi urged her horse deeper into the hunting grounds once more, her outward calm belying the tension coiled tightly within her. She was acutely aware that those scheming young nobles could strike again at any moment, and she had no doubt that Xuan Yuan Lie’s watchful gaze was fixed upon her from some unseen vantage point.

As she reached a dense thicket, Su Yi deliberately slowed her pace. She activated her mind-reading ability, probing for any signs of unusual movement or ill intent in her surroundings. Yet, apart from the occasional chirping of birds, the area was eerily silent.

Just as she began to let her guard down, several cold arrows suddenly shot out from the undergrowth, aimed straight at her. Su Yi’s heart lurched in alarm. Instinctively, she twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding the projectiles, though one grazed her arm, leaving a shallow cut.

“Hmph, let’s see you dodge this time!” The smug laughter of the young nobles rang out from nearby.

Anger flared within Su Yi. She swiftly drew her sword, her eyes scanning the area warily. She knew she couldn’t afford to panic, she had to think fast. But before she could act, another volley of arrows rained down upon her.

At that critical moment, a shadowy figure darted out from the trees. Moving with astonishing speed, the figure weaved through the arrows like a phantom, his longsword flashing as he deflected every projectile aimed at Su Yi.

Su Yi stared in astonishment, her mind racing. Who is this? Why is he helping me?

The young nobles, equally stunned by the sudden intervention, shouted, “Who are you? How dare you interfere!”

The shadowy figure ignored them, continuing to shield Su Yi while murmuring urgently, “Don’t just stand there, follow me!” Without hesitation, Su Yi spurred her horse after him.

Dodging and weaving through the hunting grounds, the two finally shook off their pursuers and arrived at a secluded valley. Only then did the figure stop and turn. Su Yi finally got a clear look at him, a young man clad in black martial attire, his expression stern, his eyes carrying an air of mystery.

“Thank you for your timely assistance, sir,” Su Yi said quickly. “Might I ask your name? And why did you help me?”

The young man studied her, a flicker of something unreadable in his gaze. “My name is Ye Ying,” he replied slowly. “I helped you because I despise their underhanded tactics. This hunting banquet may seem lively, but beneath the surface, factions are vying for power. You’d do well to be careful.”

Su Yi’s pulse quickened. Ye Ying? The name was familiar. Suddenly, she recalled, one of the targets listed in the system’s mission bore the same name. Could this mysterious man be him?

“Sir Ye, your kindness today will not be forgotten,” Su Yi said earnestly. “If there’s ever anything I can do to repay you, I will not hesitate.”

Ye Ying gave a slight nod. “Don’t let your guard down yet. Those men won’t give up so easily, you’ll need to stay vigilant. Moreover, the Emperor’s motives for hosting this hunt may run deeper than they appear.”

Su Yi frowned. “Sir Ye, you seem to know much about these matters. Could you share some insight with me?”

Nightshadow hesitated for a moment before speaking, “To be honest, I’m also investigating certain matters related to the power struggles within the palace. This hunting banquet might serve as a test for various factions. The Emperor may be using this opportunity to gauge the true intentions and capabilities of the nobility. If you wish to survive in this palace, you must tread carefully and avoid getting entangled in these conflicts.”

Su Yi pondered silently. Nightshadow’s words gave her a clearer understanding of the current situation. However, with her mission to win over both Xuan Yuan Lie and Nightshadow, staying out of the fray would be no easy task.

Just then, the distant sound of a horn signaled the end of the hunt. Su Yi was startled, time had passed so quickly. She hadn’t managed to hunt much game, and she wondered how Xuan Yuan Lie would react.

Su Yi and Nightshadow hurried back to the gathering area of the hunting grounds. By then, the nobles had already returned with their prey. All eyes turned to Su Yi, some gloating, others filled with curiosity.

Seated on the high platform, Xuan Yuan Lie watched the returning crowd, his gaze lingering on Su Yi for a moment before he asked, “Su Yi, where is your game?”

Su Yi’s heart tightened. She wasn’t sure how to respond. During the hunt, she had faced numerous dangers, leaving her little time to focus on hunting. Nightshadow’s sudden appearance had further complicated matters. Under the scrutiny of so many eyes, how should she answer Xuan Yuan Lie’s question? And how should she handle the potential variables that Nightshadow’s involvement might bring? Though the hunting banquet was nearing its end, Su Yi’s true challenges had only just begun.