Chapter 90: Rather Unattractive, But with Good Taste

“Bah! You monkeys from the Dragon Nation are not even worthy!” Miyu Ito, her face set in resolute defiance, shouted at Ye Tian, “All you know are underhanded tricks and ambushes! If you’ve got any guts, fight me one on one!”

“Let me make this clear—even if you kill me, I will never reveal a single secret of my family!”

Ye Tian couldn’t help but laugh at her outburst.

“First of all, I didn’t use any underhanded tricks. Secondly, even in a fair fight, you’d still lose to me.”

He shrugged, feigning disappointment. “Since you’re so eager to die heroically, I’ll grant your wish.” As his words faded, his large hand pressed down on her crown.

“Wait!” Miyu Ito trembled all over, screaming to interrupt him. “Hey, are you even a man? Can’t you show a little mercy for a beauty?”

She stared at him in disbelief. She was, after all, one of the famed beauties of Hokkaido. Even if her temperament was unremarkable, her looks and figure alone had driven countless men to mad pursuit. But this man before her seemed blind to her charms, his gaze as indifferent as if he were looking at a plump pig—one he could slaughter at any moment.

Fear crept into Miyu Ito’s heart. They say the most terrifying men are those immune to a woman’s charms, for they show no mercy and act without hesitation. Miyu Ito had met two such men in her life. One was the current head of the Ito family, Junjin Ito; the other was Ye Tian standing before her.

The mere memory of Junjin Ito’s torments made her hair stand on end and her body shiver uncontrollably.

“A beauty? You?” Ye Tian looked genuinely puzzled, leaning in to scrutinize her face for a long moment, then finally frowning. “I don’t see what’s so beautiful about you. At best, you’re average.”

“But you’d do well enough as a maid.”

Indeed, Ye Tian had seen plenty of beautiful women. Even the Zhou sisters, with their more modest bearing, could be considered true beauties—well-educated, dignified, and elegant. Not to mention the gentle and sweet-mannered Muqing Li. Then there was Senior Sister Gu, with her wild temperament, stunning figure, and breathtaking face; or the valiant, lithe Tang Wanyue, and the spirited Gu Qing’er, among others.

Compared to the women Ye Tian knew, Miyu Ito was attractive enough, but hardly exceptional.

“Do you just enjoy humiliating others?” Miyu Ito was on the verge of madness. His words, though seemingly casual, cut straight to her heart every single time.

He’d even compared her to a maid! Unforgivable!

“Enough. It’s useless to resist. One question—will you obediently do as I say, or do you want to meet your ancestors right now?” Time was running short, and Ye Tian’s patience had run thin. As he spoke, his hand pressed firmly atop Miyu Ito’s head.

“You have to keep your word!” Miyu Ito instantly relented, a forced smile on her face. After all, what’s the first lesson of Eastern Ninjutsu? Endure! If you can’t win, run. If you can’t outrun, endure!

Since she was no match for Ye Tian, Miyu Ito stopped resisting. Now she had only two choices: comply, or go straight to meet her maker—or rather, the Emperor.

“If you’d just listened earlier, this would be over. Why make things difficult?” Ye Tian withdrew his hand, giving Miyu Ito a sidelong glance. “Now, tell me everything about the Ito family’s plans.”

“Yes, master!” Miyu Ito slipped easily into her role, acting the obedient servant. She revealed the entire plot behind Junjin Ito’s order to assassinate Tang Zhenguo, leaving nothing out.

Then she disclosed the true purpose of the Ito Trading Company—that tonight’s real target for investigation was Tang Wanyue.

“Well, that’s bold!” Ye Tian whistled in surprise at her confession. Junjin Ito was either fearless or outright reckless, daring to attempt the abduction of the Dragon Nation’s great Northern Marshal. Even if they succeeded tonight, how did they expect to escape the country safely?

“What’s so bold about abducting a woman?” Miyu Ito was confused. She didn’t know Ye Tian’s identity and couldn’t understand his reaction.

“There are deeper currents here than you realize. Don’t ask,” Ye Tian replied with a wave, silencing her again.

She seethed inwardly, cursing Ye Tian to an early grave.

“All right, it’s almost time. Go back to Junjin Ito and act natural. When I need you, you’ll know what to do.” With those instructions, Ye Tian finally released all control over Miyu Ito.

She was an important piece for Junjin Ito, and her sudden disappearance would arouse suspicion. Before the confrontation began, she needed to be by Junjin Ito’s side.

“Yes, master, everything as you command~” Miyu Ito replied with a sweet smile, though she cursed him inwardly, then vanished into the night.

Once she was gone, Ye Tian called Tang Wanyue.

“Meet me at the entrance.”

……

It was exactly ten o’clock at night.

Tang Wanyue arrived, dressed in sleek black attire that accentuated her sharp, commanding presence. Behind her were the siblings Gu Qing’er and Gu Tianzhen.

As the three entered, they spotted Ye Tian sitting alone at the edge of the exhibition, enjoying sushi and sake.

“Unbelievable—you’re actually relaxing?” Tang Wanyue scolded, giving Ye Tian a playful flick on the forehead.

“Careful, don’t get too friendly. I don’t want Senior Sister to get the wrong idea,” he coughed.

“Oh please, you’re my fiancé—what’s there to be afraid of?” Tang Wanyue laughed boldly, taking a seat beside him. In a low voice, she teased, “Husband, did you miss me?”

Ye Tian shot her an exasperated look. “Stop trying to take advantage. You’ll have to pay the price sooner or later.”

She grinned, undaunted. “There’s no price I can’t afford. Worst case, we’ll just get married for real. I don’t care who my man is.”

Left speechless by her brazenness, Ye Tian ignored her and continued eating.

As they spoke, a young man in a samurai outfit approached. With what he thought was a gentle tone, he leaned toward Tang Wanyue.

“You are so valiant and beautiful, so generous and charming—you are the most beautiful woman from the Dragon Nation I have ever seen!”

Ito Shin’s eyes were full of infatuation, never leaving her face. For reasons unknown, at first glance he was completely captivated by Tang Wanyue, his heart instantly lost. Even his father Junjin Ito’s orders were forgotten; all he wanted now was to confess his true feelings.

“Thank you, I think so too.” Tang Wanyue nodded without hesitation. “You may not be much to look at, but at least you have good taste.”