Chapter 28 – A Chunk of Flesh (1)
With that, she turned to Mo Linyuan.
When Ye Li heard she had said, he grinned and started to brush his beard in amusement while the counselor had finally released Mo Linyuan before retreating behind Ye Li.
In the darkness, only one torch remained lit. The flickering of the flames made Ye Mu’s shadow dance around them. Because both Ye Li and the counselor stood behind Ye Mu, they had not seen what she was doing.
Mo Linyuan looked at her in a quiet manner, his heart swirling with countless emotions, as his chest ached with an impending sense of panic. But he wouldn’t resist, not at this very moment. He knew that if he would resist, all her sacrifices, made for his sake, would be all in vain.
It didn’t matter what the consequences of losing his tongue would be. He dared not move a muscle.
Ye Mu approached him with measured steps. Her eyes bore countless of emotions as well, but she only gave him a smile.
“You’d fare better to not resist.” She murmured to him, “I’m saving your life.” She urged, hoping he understood, “Father doesn’t say things without deep meaning**. Just as long as you would allow me to cut out your tongue, you won’t die.” She promised, “As long as you follow me, even if you’re mute, with me your future is endless!”
**T/N: An idiom was used here: one word worth nine sacred tripods which means words of enormous weight.
Mo Linyuan tried to look at her clearly—at her shivering body as if she doesn’t think she could bear harming him; that she doesn’t believe she could do it.
He thought about how she always looked after his wellbeing, cared for him. He thought of when she saw him in trouble and had not hesitated to run out. He thought of how she saved his life, even with the risk of losing the treasure…
Despite knowing what was about to happen, he forced himself to be at ease… because it was her… for her. He wouldn’t wish to make things all the more difficult than it already was. He’d let her cut his tongue out, and with that in mind, he felt himself ease into relaxation.
However, there was one thing he wanted to say. Should he remain silent, he would forever bear the regret of never saying it at this very moment.
“I know you’re doing this for my sake.” He finally said, locking eyes with her, trying to tell her, he knew very well why. “However, I do wish to say one last thing to you.” He swallowed his saliva and continued, wanting to make it count. He let out a slight chuckle, “In fact, when I had been caught by that animal, I swore something.”
She looked at him, her eyes telling him she was scared for his sake…
“I swore that if I ever get saved this time around, I’d be good to that person for the rest of my life.” Holding her shoulders in a comforting manner, he let out a shaky smile as a tear slipped through his eyes, “So don’t say it’s just a tongue. Tongue, feet, even if it’s my life, I’d let you take it.” He nodded at her, the genuine truth touching their very hearts, “You can take it.”
When Ye Li saw how Mo Linyuan can remain so loyal to Ye Mu, he felt himself ease up a bit. As long as his tongue is removed, he can let Mo Linyuan go, and leave him to his daughter’s capable hands. He may yet have use of him in the future. After all, his daughter held exquisite beauty.
There would be plenty of great opportunities coming in the horizon!
But Ye Mu hadn’t been listening to the heartfelt confession of Mo Linyuan. Her hands shook and trembled, on her forehead a thin shin of sweat forming in trepidation as she clenched her teeth.
“Open your mouth!” she demanded. And without any hesitation, he opened his mouth, offering up his tongue, but something was wrong. And he couldn’t tell what it was.
Ye Mu, her face was contorted in pain, almost as if…
And with a downward glance, his eyes widened in realization…
Without waiting for him to say anything else, Ye Mu did what she had to do in a swift manner and cut the inside of his lips with expert dexterity!
Letting out a blood-curdling scream, Mo Linyuan spat out a bloody lump of flesh! Falling, he landed seated on the ground as he stared in shock at the lump of flesh that came out of his mouth. Clamping his hand over his mouth, he was unaware of the blood trickling down his hands as he stared at the lump of meat…
“Excellent!” Ye Li exclaimed and laughed in glee.
The lighting was poor, with the sky turned to night and lone torch lighting over them. Ye Mu faced away from them, her sleeves covered and wide that Ye Li had not seen what exactly it was Ye Mu had done.
But the flesh and blood that lay on the ground wouldn’t have been able to deceive people.
Ye Mu picked it up and threw away the dagger she held. Wiping off the sweat on her forehead, she held the piece of meat in front of Ye Li, her face twisted in an expression of crazed excitement.
“Look, father! I did it!” she exclaimed, “It was so simple! I had thought it was a little complicated at first, so I was nervous! But I had more fun than I thought!”
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