Chapter 28: The Wretched Zhao Yan
Zhao Yan looked awkwardly at Wang Kui, clearly hoping he would offer an explanation.
Wang Kui saw Zhao Yan’s embarrassed and pleading gaze and could only explain, “Our sparring might involve big movements. It’s impossible to really let loose in the room.”
Nian Yu understood perfectly the meaning behind Wang Kui’s words; she shot a glare at Zhao Yan and said, “So what should we do then?”
Wang Kui replied, “Don’t worry, this rain is nothing. Besides, it’s much lighter than the day we first arrived. Let’s just head outside.”
Zhao Yan looked troubled as he addressed Wang Kui, “Hey, you just woke up not long ago. For your own health, you shouldn’t get soaked. And even if you don’t care about yourself, think about me for a second. I haven’t fully recovered since getting caught in the rain a couple of days ago.”
Before Wang Kui could respond, Nian Yu cut in, “When you were sparring with me, I didn’t hear you complain about not being fully recovered.”
Zhao Yan muttered quietly, “That’s only because you’re no match for me. Even with both hands tied, you still couldn’t beat me; being off my game doesn’t make much difference.”
Nian Yu couldn’t make out what Zhao Yan said. “Hey, what did you say? Speak up.”
Zhao Yan quickly waved his hands, “No, nothing. Didn’t say anything.”
Wang Kui, with a straight face, declared, “He said you’re not good enough, that even if you got both his hands, you still couldn’t beat him. Even when he’s not at his best, taking you down isn’t a problem.”
Nian Yu was immediately displeased. “Zhao Yan, what’s that supposed to mean? You’re saying I’m not good enough?”
Zhao Yan hurriedly explained, “No, no, Nian Yu, it’s nonsense, Wang Kui’s just making things up. Don’t believe him.”
Nian Yu, her expression twisted into a sinister smile, stared at Zhao Yan, “So, I should trust you instead of Wang Kui, huh?”
Zhao Yan quickly turned to Wang Kui, “Hurry up and explain yourself, are you trying to get me killed?”
Wang Kui remained calm, “Explain what? Isn’t that what you said?”
Zhao Yan cursed at Wang Kui’s calm demeanor, “Nonsense! You damn blockhead, now you’ve learned to frame me. When did I ever say it’d be no problem for me to handle Nian Yu even in bad shape? What I said was, being off my game doesn’t make much difference.”
As soon as he finished, Zhao Yan knew he’d messed up; his excitement had made him blurt out exactly what he shouldn’t have.
Nian Yu, wearing a sly smile, walked toward Zhao Yan and said, “Zhao Yan, explain to me: what’s the difference between ‘being off my game doesn’t make much difference’ and ‘even when I’m not at my best, taking you down isn’t a problem’?”
Watching Nian Yu approach, Zhao Yan felt a chill run down his spine and quickly said, “Uh, Wang Kui, you damn blockhead, I’ll be waiting for you outside. Watch how I deal with you!” With that, Zhao Yan dashed out the door.
He hadn’t run more than a few steps before he felt someone grab his collar. Thinking it was Wang Kui, he said, “Let go of me, you blockhead. You’re going to get me killed.”
“Oh, so now I’m the blockhead, am I?” came Nian Yu’s chilling voice.
Hearing her, Zhao Yan quickly pleaded, “Nian Yu, I was wrong. Please, magnanimous as you are, forgive a fool like me. As the saying goes, saving a life is more virtuous than building a seven-story pagoda. If you let me go, you’ll build a seventy-story one!”
Nian Yu answered, “Letting you off isn’t impossible, but I’ll need you to agree to three conditions.”
Hearing this, Zhao Yan saw hope and quickly said, “Nian Yu, forget three, I’d agree to a hundred.”
Nian Yu chuckled, “That’s what you said. A hundred, huh. The first is, when you spar with Wang Kui later, I want you to go all out; I want to see your full strength. The second, when Zhou Yu wakes up, you’ll fight him, so I can see whether he’s tougher or the special forces are. The third, I haven’t thought of yet. The remaining ninety-eight, I’ll decide when the time comes.”