Chapter 137: Disturbances at the Ball

Han Shuo felt a mix of amusement and helplessness, but ultimately yielded to Phoebe’s tugging and followed her onto the dance floor.

Once there, Han Shuo saw merchants and nobles dancing gracefully, their arms wrapped around the waists of young ladies and noblewomen. When Phoebe brought him to the edge of the floor, he stood frozen, squinting his eyes as he observed their footwork, desperate to avoid making a fool of himself.

"Come on, put your arm around my waist," Phoebe said. She twisted her body to stand face-to-face with him, lifting her slender, jade-like hand. Her left hand slipped into his right, and with her right hand, she guided his left hand to rest upon her waist.

As Phoebe’s small hand nestled into his, a strange ripple stirred in Han Shuo’s heart. Her skin was smooth, warm, and delicate. He couldn't help but give her palm a gentle squeeze, which caused Phoebe to shiver, a flush creeping up her cheeks before she even realized it.

Glaring at him, Phoebe whispered, "No funny business!"

As his hand settled on her waist, their bodies drew close enough that they could smell each other's scent. Even when they spoke, their breath mingled.

"Let’s go. I’ll lead, and you just follow my rhythm," Phoebe said, looking down, unable to meet his gaze. She took a deep breath, placed her free hand on his shoulder, and began to move slowly onto the dance floor.

Accompanied by the melodic, enchanting music, Phoebe seemed to open up. She stopped feeling self-conscious and began to gaze deeply into Han Shuo’s eyes with an unusual intensity, whispering instructions on the nuances of the steps.

With Han Shuo’s keen insight and intelligence, the brief observation had already helped him grasp the rhythm. After Phoebe’s careful guidance and a few steps under her lead, he quickly mastered the essentials, his initial stiffness melting away into fluid grace.

Phoebe was a Sword Master, possessing incredible physical strength, flexibility, and agility. Han Shuo, tempered by his demonic arts, had physical capabilities that far exceeded ordinary men. Once their movements synchronized, their dance became harmonious and captivating.

As they moved, their bodies pressed together and their hands clasped firmly. They were perfectly in sync; a single glance from Phoebe was enough for Han Shuo to understand her intent, his feet pivoting and gliding in perfect harmony with her own. This wonderful sensation sent ripples of an unfamiliar feeling through them both.

When the song ended, neither felt ready to stop. As the next piece began, Phoebe pulled him into the dance once more. Their seamless coordination, a handsome man and a beautiful woman dancing in perfect rhythm, drew the eyes of many in the hall.

In his relaxed state, Han Shuo’s gaze wandered and suddenly landed on Emily, who was dancing with Old Hahn not far away. A look of intense jealousy burned in her eyes, directed squarely at him. Han Shuo felt a jolt in his heart and offered her a wry, distant smile.

Seeing that he had only just noticed her, Emily felt a surge of indignation. She shot him a fierce look, making it clear she was truly jealous.

Han Shuo had no way to explain himself, so he could only offer another pained smile from afar. Just then, several waiters appeared from three different directions. Their eyes flickered, and their footsteps were light and cautious, as if they were hiding something.

At first, Han Shuo hadn't paid them much mind, but his sharp ears filtered out the music, catching a faint "clink"—the sound of jade or jewelry striking metal.

His heart tightened, and his instincts flared. He began to observe the waiters closely. In a room where everyone was lost in the romance of the dance, the arrival of these waiters felt jarring. Furthermore, though their expressions remained calm, their eyes kept drifting toward Old Hahn, occasionally flashing with cold intent.

As Han Shuo watched, the waiters began to converge from different angles. Judging by the paths of Emily and Old Hahn, they would reach the waiters' position in just a few heartbeats. From the look in the waiters' eyes, Han Shuo sensed impending danger.

Acting on impulse, Han Shuo leaned forward, bringing his lips close to Phoebe’s ear. Phoebe, lost in the dance, was startled, her heart fluttering as a blush spread from her cheeks down to her neck.

She initially pulled her neck back slightly, as if to distance herself, but then she glanced up at Han Shuo and saw his furrowed brow. This only added to her agitation. After a moment of hesitation, she seemed to make up her mind; she shot him a secret glare, kept her neck still, and waited, blushing, for what was to come.

"Those waiters seem to be targeting Old Hahn and Lady Emily. I was just joking around with Old Hahn earlier; follow me over there now, and I’ll use this chance to return the favor," Han Shuo whispered into her ear.

Phoebe’s body shivered with expectation, but as the words sank in, her softness turned to sudden rigidity. A flicker of disappointment crossed her heart before she pulled back and signaled with her eyes that she understood.

Seeing her acknowledgment, Han Shuo—who shared a deep rapport with her—said no more. They subtly shifted their dance steps, changing positions with someone else without drawing attention, and moved rapidly toward Old Hahn and Emily.

For Han Shuo, this wasn't really about returning a favor to Old Hahn—it was entirely for Emily’s sake. Emily, dancing with Old Hahn, saw Han Shuo winking at her and assumed he was feeling guilty and trying to explain himself. She glared at him angrily and turned her head away, clearly still in a foul mood.

As the danger drew closer, Han Shuo’s heart grew increasingly calm. He kept his eyes on the waiters, mentally calculating their routes and the timing of their strike.

When Emily and Old Hahn finally reached the edge of the floor, Han Shuo tightened his grip on Phoebe’s waist, and they accelerated toward them.

Simultaneously, the disguised waiters’ calm demeanor vanished, replaced by a cold, murderous aura. They threw their trays with force toward Emily and Old Hahn, and their bodies lunged forward. Daggers glinted in the light as they struck out like lightning.

Emily and Old Hahn, still lost in the rhythm, were shocked, but by the time they reacted, the lethal attack was already upon them. One dagger was aimed at Emily, four at Old Hahn. The five assassins were agile and precise—clearly seasoned veterans.

A sharp whistle pierced the air, cutting through the melodic music. The Demonic Blade surged from Han Shuo’s sleeve like a bolt of lightning, aimed directly at the dagger targeting Emily.

Han Shuo and Phoebe arrived at Old Hahn’s side during their rapid rotation. Before the assassins could react, they dove into the fray, intercepting the four men surrounding Old Hahn.

Prepared for this, Han Shuo and Phoebe defended simultaneously. Han Shuo used a dagger forged by dwarves to parry a strike, while Phoebe swung her longsword with force, sending two enemy daggers flying into the air. Seizing the moment, Han Shuo slammed his shoulder into Old Hahn, trying to push him out of the danger zone.

To his surprise, the force of the collision didn't budge the old man much. Old Hahn’s upper body swayed slightly, his large hand snapping up to catch a flying tray. With a powerful backhand strike, he deflected the final incoming dagger with a loud "clang."

The sudden intervention of Han Shuo and Phoebe, blocking the three daggers aimed at Old Hahn, completely disrupted the assassins' plan. The five waiters exchanged a glance and, seeing the chaos erupting in the hall as guests scrambled to flee, abandoned the attempt and retreated toward the exits.

Old Hahn and Phoebe each pursued one of the attackers. As they took off, Han Shuo sprinted to Emily’s side, grabbed her hand, and whispered, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine! Go, chase them!" Emily, true to her high rank in Dark Curtain, showed no sign of panic and immediately urged him on.

"That's none of my business. As long as you're safe, the rest doesn't concern me," Han Shuo replied, shaking his head. He casually grabbed a glass of wine, filled it, and stood there drinking, showing no intention of joining the chase.

"You—you annoying little brat!" Emily was torn between anger at his disobedience and being moved by his concern for her safety. She scolded him with a pout.

By now, the dance floor was in total disarray. The merchants were fleeing toward the plaza in a panic, and no one noticed the conversation between Han Shuo and Emily.

As the crowd thinned, Han Shuo and Emily finally headed for the exit. Near the door, a sharp whistle sounded; the Demonic Blade flew over the heads of the fleeing crowd, landed in Han Shuo’s palm, and vanished in the blink of an eye.

"The one who tried to kill you is dead," Han Shuo said calmly to Emily after tucking the blade away.

The return of the Demonic Blade had been low to the ground, invisible to others in the chaos, but Emily had seen it fly back on its own and disappear into his sleeve. She stood there, dumbstruck in shock.

"What exactly is the weapon you use?" she asked, her voice trembling as she looked at him in disbelief.

A weapon that could fly at his command was, in this world, nothing short of supernatural. Her reaction was only natural.

Han Shuo offered a mysterious smile. "It’s related to the martial arts I practice. It’s hard to explain, but you just need to know my weapon is a bit unique. That should be enough."

"You brat, just how many secrets are you hiding?" Emily’s eyes sparkled as she stared at him, consumed by curiosity.

Han Shuo shrugged, smiling silently with an inscrutable look. Emily was so frustrated she could have bitten him.

As they whispered, the chaos began to subside. Shortly after, Phoebe and Old Hahn returned from different directions, accompanied by the flustered Minister of Finance, Yibu, and the grim-faced Lawrence.

"One escaped, the others committed suicide. We couldn't find any clues on them," Phoebe said, looking curiously at Han Shuo and Emily before speaking to him in a low voice.

Before they had returned, Han Shuo and Emily had created some distance and regained their composure, so Phoebe didn't press him on why he hadn't helped with the chase.

"Young man, thank you for stepping in to save Emily and me," Old Hahn said, smiling approvingly at Han Shuo.

"Don't mention it. Just consider it a return of the favor for me messing with you earlier," Han Shuo winked at him, teasingly adding, "Now, even if you were narrow-minded, you shouldn't be embarrassed to cause me trouble anymore."

Old Hahn burst into hearty laughter. "Interesting. You really are an interesting young man!"