Ning Chen's face was expressionless. "If you dared to try to assassinate this prince, you must have put life and death out of your mind long ago. (TL Note: 置之度外, "to set outside one's reckoning.")

This prince knows you're not afraid to die. But are you afraid of finding out what it is to want to be dead?

If you're smart, you'll answer whatever this prince asks. Then at least you'll get a quick death at the end."

The man with the face thick with meat was twitching all over with pain.

Ning Chen slowly drew out his sword and set the point against the man's other thigh. "Answer this prince's question from before."

The man shook all over. His voice trembled. "Yes. His Highness the Crown Prince sent word that you'd very likely come to Chongzhou and told us to wait for our chance."

Ning Chen laughed coldly. "How many men did Kang Luo leave ready for this prince?"

"I—I don't know. All my men were here."

"Doesn't look like you're being straight with me!"

Before the words were out, the sword in Ning Chen's hand went through his other leg.

"Aaagh..."

The man screamed like a pig on the block.

"It—it's true... All my men were here. Whether His Highness the Crown Prince left anyone else behind, I don't know!"

Ning Chen narrowed his eyes slightly. "Then how did you know this prince was coming to the Rare Flavors Tower tonight?"

The man said, trembling, "You came to Chongzhou with all the fanfare in the world... My men spotted you the moment you entered the city.

Tonight they saw you leave the Governor's residence and come to the Rare Flavors Tower. I knew my chance had come. I just didn't expect..."

Ning Chen sneered. "You just didn't expect that even though this prince only brought a few people, every one of them would be a fighter who could hold off a hundred, is that it?"

The man nodded, trembling.

Ning Chen snorted coldly and slit his throat with one clean stroke.

Pan Yucheng blinked. "That's... We're not questioning…