The Bodyguard King’s CEO Wife Chapter 1502: Black Inn

"So that's it, it really is just an inn. We were overthinking it," He Linghan observed, nodding her head. Their group had been dining for some time without any issues, and the wine seemed perfectly normal. Nevertheless, Ye Shikai still advised everyone to drink sparingly, as they needed to resume their journey the following day.

"Gentlemen, here’s your chicken soup. Our humble establishment’s skills are not the best, please forgive us," the waiter said courteously. Having received Ye Shikai’s silver taels, he naturally remained polite.

"Alright, innkeeper, just bring us some fresh vegetables," Ye Shikai gestured.

"Got it, sir, please wait a moment."

"Ling’er, it’s been a long journey, eat a bit more." Ye Shikai spoke with care. He Linghan wasn’t accustomed to riding a warhorse for extended periods; the constant jostling alone was uncomfortable. Man Cang and Xue San, sensing the situation, led their close guards to a nearby table, leaving the couple to their privacy.

"I... I’m not that hungry. You go ahead and eat," He Linghan replied with the demeanor of a virtuous wife, waiting for Ye Shikai to take a bite before she ate.

"Sir, we’re full. We’ll wait at the door. If there’s anything you need, just call us," Man Cang and the guards quickly finished their meals and departed, understanding they were not the primary focus and not wishing to disturb the newlyweds.

"Ling’er, once we reach East County, if there’s anything you’re not accustomed to, just inform the servants. If you wish to visit your grandfather in the village, let me know, and I’ll have Man Cang take you back," Ye Shikai said thoughtfully, offering her a piece of food and placing his left hand gently on her arm.

"Alright," He Linghan said after a few bites, putting down her chopsticks. "I’m full, I’ll go up and rest."

"Go ahead, be careful."

Ye Shikai remained alone at the table, sipping a few glasses of wine, feeling a bit tipsy. When no one was around, he took out his phone. When he first arrived in the Qin Dynasty, he felt nothing, but as days passed, his memories began to fade, especially those of his past. Sometimes, he would even forget the phone’s unlock password. Eventually, he removed the password altogether. By now, he had forgotten many things, and even the life-and-death missions within Dragon Teeth began to disappear from his recollection. At times, when alone in his room, he would anxiously knock his head. Initially, he had wanted to record all his memories on the phone, but when the device ran out of battery, he now had to resort to using a brush to write on hemp cloth.

At this rate, there would come a day when he would forget everything – forget where he came from, forget his past. By then, he would completely transform into someone of the Qin Dynasty.

"Husband, aren’t you coming up yet?" After some time, He Linghan’s voice echoed from upstairs. Ye Shikai looked up to see her leaning against the railing. Without realizing it, he had been sitting there for two hours, and it was now deep into the night. In the stillness, He Linghan, noticing he still hadn’t come up, had come out to check on him.

"Oh, I’m coming right up." Ye Shikai snapped out of his reverie, put the phone back into his pocket, and headed upstairs.

"Ling’er, it’s so late. If you’re tired, sleep first." He Linghan helped Ye Shikai remove his armor, warming his heart. From the situation, it was clear that if he had stayed downstairs all night, He Linghan wasn’t planning on sleeping.

"If you don’t come back, how can I sleep peacefully? Come on, we have to continue our journey tomorrow. Husband, sleep early," she said. The two lay in bed in silence. Although they had been married for a few days and had talked through the night previously, now they were tired and quickly drifted off to sleep.

...............

Thud, thud, thud.

"Who is it?"

In the darkness, Ye Shikai’s eyes suddenly snapped open, his clothes soaked in cold sweat. He heard footsteps echoing in the corridor outside. Instantly, he got out of bed. Awakened by the commotion, He Linghan also got up, though unlike Ye Shikai, she lacked the innate sense to detect unknown threats.

"What’s wrong? What happened?"

"Someone’s outside. Be careful," Ye Shikai shouted. At that very moment, several arrows shot through the window paper, flying directly towards the bed. Ye Shikai quickly pulled He Linghan into his arms and rolled to the other side, vigorously using the quilt to deflect the incoming arrows.

"Ah!" They tumbled together onto the floor. He Linghan let out a scream. Ye Shikai realized she was only clad in a thin silk garment. Suddenly having the quilt pulled away naturally startled her, but in this life-or-death moment, they couldn’t spare a thought for such matters. The assassins outside were clearly acting with premeditation, and Ye Shikai’s utmost priority was to ensure He Linghan’s safety.

"Ling’er, stay here and don’t move," Ye Shikai instructed, wrapping He Linghan defensively in the quilt before standing back up.

Bam.

"Kill that army leader!"

"Kill!"

Three assassins clad in black burst into the chamber. Drawing his sword, Ye Shikai lunged like a ferocious tiger, dispatching one of them in the blink of an eye. Before the remaining two could even register what happened, Ye Shikai delivered a swift kick to one's chest, sending him hurtling away. He then pivoted with astonishing speed and slit the last assailant's throat, ensuring their immediate demise.

"Sir, are you unharmed?" Xue San's voice suddenly cut through the air from the corridor. He and the loyal guards, who had been stationed in the adjacent room, must have been alerted by the sounds of struggle. As he reached the doorway, Xue San observed the assassin Ye Shikai had kicked beginning to rise. Without a second's hesitation, Xue San drew a crossbow and fired, his bolts finding their mark in the assassin's chest, ending the threat.

"What is transpiring outside? Why were there assassins?" Ye Shikai inquired, his tone icy.

"Sir, we are uncertain ourselves. It does not appear these assassins infiltrated from the exterior," Xue San responded, a note of bewilderment in his voice. He had been awakened by the initial sounds, yet it was evident that these attackers had specifically targeted Ye Shikai and He Linghan.

Ye Shikai lit a candle and, holding his light, approached one of the fallen assassins. He removed the mask, and gazing upon the face, he was visibly taken aback.

"Is that not the waiter?" He Linghan exclaimed, a tremor of horror in her voice.

"Sir, this individual is the cook from the inn, and this one here is the odd-job man," Xue San stated, uncovering the faces of the other two fallen assailants and confirming their identities.

"It appears this establishment is indeed a dubious place. We must depart without delay and rendezvous with our main contingent outside," Ye Shikai declared. With only Xue San, four guards, and He Linghan to protect, remaining in this precarious location was no longer an option.

Bam.

A violent crash erupted from the floor below. The inn's doors and windows were violently shattered, and a host of figures, clad in black, surged into the building from the outside.