Perfect Match – CH 083

Chapter 83

North of Xi’an, in Tongguan County.

The summer breeze blew across the sun-baked stone slabs, its heat caressing the skin. Fireflies flickered and floated in the corners of the walls, like stars in the night sky.

Deng Ruyun walked through the courtyard carrying a stack of medical records, then stood quietly for a few moments in the warm night breeze under the starry sky.

Tongguan County was remote. Even though the officer under Kong Hui went to the teahouse in front of the city gate every morning and evening to discuss news from the outside world, the capital was a vast distance away. No matter what news came, it would always take six or seven days to arrive.

The officer under Kong Hui said that General Kong and the other Shaanxi generals, as well as Minister Huang in the capital, had gathered many people to speak on behalf of General Teng, who was imprisoned.

They said that once the label of “loyalty turned to treachery” was established, there would be no dawn in the world. Therefore, more and more civil and military officials, whether they knew him or not, were speaking up for General Teng. But whether the Chief Eunuch would succumb to public opinion and release the prisoner or be angered and act unilaterally to make an example of him, no one knew.

This evening, after the officer uttered the words “make an example of him,” the entire teahouse fell silent, the lanterns under the tea stalls swaying as if about to go out.

Deng Ruyun hid in a deserted, dark alley. She did not know how she got back.

Fortunately, she met Inspector Sun when she reached her doorstep. Inspector Sun immediately said that he had heard news from the capital. It was said that the Chief Eunuch had delayed moving the person he had imprisoned and forbade arbitrary torture. Under pressure from the court officials, the person should be released soon.

If it were not for the news brought by Inspector Sun, she did not know if she would still be standing steadily in the night breeze of the courtyard. Deng Ruyun could not help but look up at the northern night sky.

The Milky Way swirled, countless stars surging within it, except for one bright star in the north, initially obscured by clouds, but then, as the clouds passed, it shone brightly in the dark night sky.

For no reason, Deng Ruyun’s eyes welled up with tears.

Linglang and Dafu ran out of the side room.

The little girl, with the big dog, jumped up at Deng Ruyun’s feet.

“What is Auntie looking at?”

Little Linglang clutched her clothes, and Dafu wagged its tail and circled her legs. Deng Ruyun looked away from the stars and moon.

She said, “I am seeing if it will rain tomorrow.”

“Will it rain tomorrow? Linglang wants to take Dafu to bathe in the river outside the city!”

Deng Ruyun smiled and patted the little girl’s and the big dog’s heads.

“It’s sunny every day as long as it does not rain.”

Both the person and the dog were overjoyed, following Deng Ruyun as she carried a stack of medical records into the room.

Deng Ruyun placed the medical records on the table under the window, along with another stack.

These were all medical records left to her by Bai Chunfu.

That day, he told her to carefully adjust the prescription for her Lingqiao Detoxifying Pill. If the pill proved remarkably effective against the current epidemic in Shaanxi, and if it became widely available, it would not only save more patients but also earn the court’s commendation, providing Yuyun Hall with a golden opportunity to establish itself.

At the time, Deng Ruyun nodded in agreement, never imagining that these were his final instructions. The next day, he left Shaanxi and returned to the capital.

She asked Zhu Huang, “Now that he’s gone, will the Grand Princess let him out again?”

Zhu Huang lowered his head and said, “Perhaps.”

Perhaps she would, which was tantamount to perhaps she would not.

Deng Ruyun did not know what she could do. She wrote a letter and had Zhu Huang deliver it to Bai Chunfu in the capital. But the most important thing was not the letter, nor Bai Chunfu’s current condition, but his instruction to her to prepare a medicine specifically for this epidemic. She had to make it exactly as he instructed.

For several days, she meticulously reviewed the medical records he had left behind. Shopkeeper Qin told her that Yanchun Hall had already produced a highly effective medicine for this epidemic, with remarkable efficacy, but the ingredients used were all rare and precious, making the price exorbitant—five taels per pill, sold in packs of five.

Such a price was beyond the reach of ordinary people. High-ranking officials might be able to buy ten or eight pills, two a day for a few days, to improve their condition, but for ordinary people, five taels of silver was half a month’s worth of food. How could they possibly sacrifice their entire family’s food supply to buy medicine, even a life-saving one?

For most people in this world, medicine was more expensive than life, and life was cheaper than medicine.

Deng Ruyun’s Yuyun Hall pharmacy was located at the entrance of a commoner’s alley. She could not sell such expensive medicine, and Yanchun Hall would not tell her the prescription. But could she not make affordable medicine that was as effective?

At this moment, Deng Ruyun lit both candles on her desk.

Linglang and Dafu, seeing that she was still studying late into the night, only circled her feet twice before obediently leaving.

Deng Ruyun sat by the window, flipping through her medical records. Before she knew it, night had deepened.

The summer heat dissipated, and a cool breeze, carrying a hint of coolness, slipped in from under the curtains. The sound of the night watchman’s drum echoed through the city streets.

Deng Ruyun finally looked up from her desk. She gazed at the night sky; the bright moon was high in the heavens.

But then, in a moment of distraction, she saw that star in the northern sky again.

The clouds had long since dispersed, leaving it shining brightly in the deep night sky.

*

In the capital city.

Teng Yue stood beneath the starry sky, gazing at the small blue star to the west for a long time, until finally, from the room where they had been having their secret meeting, there was a rustling sound of someone getting up and leaving.

The door opened, and the important official, wearing a cloak, left from the corridor. Huang Xiqing personally saw him off, turning back every now and then. Kong Hui could not help but ask.

“Uncle, did you manage to persuade this important official?”

Huang Xiqing did not rush to answer but instead called Teng Yue and the others to a more open area to talk.

The moonlight bathed them, and only a few figures remained closely together.

Huang Xiqing said it was not that easy, “but there are already signs of this.”

The important person he had invited to the Emperor’s court was neither a court official nor a noble relative, but another eunuch who, like the Chief Eunuch Hong Jin, had served the Emperor since childhood.

In the past, court officials called the eight eunuchs surrounding the Emperor the “Eight Tigers.” They lured the young Emperor away from state affairs, indulging in pleasure and amusement. These “Eight Tigers” were completely at odds with the court officials.

However, as the Chief Eunuch Hong Jin rose through the ranks and gradually seized power, he controlled both the court and the palace, eliminating dissidents in court and suppressing the other “Tigers” in the palace.

Now, he controlled both inside and outside the court. The young Emperor only listened to him; no one else was trusted. Only one of the “Tigers,” Tang Yong, a eunuch who had served the Emperor since his early years, still dared to speak a word to him.

Tang Yong and Hong Jin had long been at odds, their rivalry open and covert. Even the young Emperor was aware of their relationship and had tried to mediate several times without success.

However, this time, with Prince Enhua’s rebellion, the Emperor did not use Hong Jin’s men again. Instead, he appointed Tang Yong and Huang Xiqing to quell the rebellion in Ningxia.

Although the two did not personally participate in the suppression, they held a deeper connection in this matter than others.

In the past, court officials had united, sacrificing countless lives, yet failing to bring down Hong Jin. This time, it was better to contact this eunuch, who was at odds with Hong Jin but whom Hong Jin could not bring down. They could use the infighting among the eunuchs to deal with Hong Jin, leveraging their strength against him.

Tang Yong had naturally seen Prince Enhua’s lengthy proclamation denouncing the rebel. Huang Xiqing had hoped that he could bypass Hong Jin and present the proclamation to the Emperor.

However, Tang Yong had many concerns. Other eunuchs had previously been suppressed by Hong Jin, and the young Emperor clearly favored Hong Jin, trusting him implicitly. He could not always trust the opinions of others, which was why he had indulged Hong Jin to this extent.

Tang Yong feared he would not succeed and would instead suffer a miserable end, so he remained hesitant.

Huang Xiqing led several young nephews and nieces to the lotus pond under the moonlight.

He said this time was different. “The Hong family arrested Yu Chuan, intending to completely suppress the matter of Prince Enhua, yet so many people have jumped out to speak for Yu Chuan. To be honest, I did not expect so many people. And this Eunuch Tang also saw the ripples Yu Chuan had caused and, with some interest, came to my secret mansion today.”

He recounted the past, and his nephew Kong Hui asked, “If that’s the case, why does Uncle say he has not been completely persuaded?”

Huang Xiqing lowered his head and smiled. “In matters of life and death, if I could convince him with a few words, then entrusting the task to him would likely be impossible.”

The court had long suffered under Hong Jin, but for four or five years, countless people had tried their best but failed to bring him down.

“It’s simply that His Majesty has not yet been threatened by Hong Jin. His Majesty is young and was designated Crown Prince by the late Emperor long ago; he never believed the throne was unstable or threatened. This rebellion by Prince Enhua is a major event, frightening His Majesty, but Ningxia is too far, and the war has been quelled. This alone is not enough to awaken His Majesty.”

After saying this, he looked at the young men one by one.

“Regarding Prince Enhua’s proclamation, I will unite with the civil officials to enumerate Hong Jin’s crimes. What we need to do now, and what Eunuch Tang still doubts, is to find evidence of Hong Jin’s treasonous plot and present it directly to His Majesty!”

They only needed to collect evidence; once Tang Yong saw the incriminating evidence, he would not hesitate and would bypass Hong Jin’s eavesdropping to present it directly to the Emperor.

This was the result of today’s secret meeting.

Huang Xiqing lowered his voice even further. “Eunuch Tang just told me that the Hong Jin uncle and nephew have a place in the capital region that forges weapons and firearms. If we can obtain evidence of their crimes from there, everything will be clear.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Teng Yue, Kong Hui, and Shen Yanxing exchanged glances.

Huang Xiqing, seeing this, asked, “You three know?”

Shen Yanxing spoke directly, “Sir, have you forgotten about General Wu? General Wu came from the Firearms Battalion, serving diligently there for decades, only to be suppressed by the Hong family, forced to leave the capital, and relentlessly pursued, nearly losing his entire family along the way.”

He continued, “The reason the Hong family pursued General Wu and his family was not just because General Wu refused to bow and kneel before them, but also because he inadvertently learned the address of the Firearms Battalion and its inner workings!”

General Wu dared not tell anyone else, fearing it would bring them death, but only after Teng Yue rescued and settled his family did he tell the three.

Upon hearing Shen Yanxing’s words, Huang Xiqing suddenly laughed.

“Truly, truly heaven is helping us!”

They had thought finding this firearms camp would be a huge undertaking, but it turned out that the Hong uncle and nephew had planted this ticking time bomb themselves months ago when they relentlessly hunted down the entire Wu family.

Under the bright moonlight, Teng Yue suddenly stepped forward.

He cupped his hands and looked at Huang Xiqing.

“Sir, leave this matter entirely to me. Infiltrate the secret camp, obtain evidence, and Teng Yue will not fail you.”

He spoke each word clearly.

Huang Xiqing turned to look at the young general’s face. There were still unhealed bloodstains on his face, but his bright eyes shone like sword light in the moonlight.

Huang Xiqing took a deep breath, grasped Teng Yue’s arm, and slowly nodded.

“Alright, go ahead, and make sure you return safely.”

*

A sudden downpour fell in the capital region that evening, but it stopped almost immediately, leaving only puddles in the ground. Black boots splashed water as they stepped through them.

Kong Hui was, after all, Huang Xiqing’s nephew, so Teng Yue did not let him come, but Shen Yanxing insisted on going with him.

During their secret meeting that day, they dared not let Wang Fuxiang in. He was furious when he found out, saying that no one trusted him and that he wanted to sever all ties with them.

However, this time, with all the officials in the capital under the watchful eye of the Chief Eunuch, the Chief Eunuch did not seem to care much about them, the newly arrived Ningxia garrison commander. Therefore, Teng Yue and Shen Yanxing needed manpower, so they called Wang Fuxiang to accompany them.

Upon hearing that they were to infiltrate the Chief Eunuch’s armored and firearms camp, this brute’s energy surged.

However, Teng Yue and Shen Yanxing were genuinely worried that his recklessness would lead to discovery, so they only had him stand guard outside.

This fellow was inevitably annoyed again, but with Teng Yue keeping him in check, his anger could not escalate.

… …

When General Wu discussed the Chief Eunuch’s armory and firearms camp with the others, he even drew a rough sketch.

The camp was divided into two parts: the entrance was in the front, and the forging area was in the back. The two areas were far apart to prevent the sounds of forging from getting out. The entire armory and firearms camp was quite large, with the front and back sections forming a single unit.

Teng Yue and his group only needed to obtain a few pieces of armor and firearms forged by the Hong family. Once the Emperor saw these privately made armors and weapons, different from those of the official army, he would naturally understand Hong Jin’s ambition.

Therefore, they did not need to go to the forging area in the back; they could simply obtain samples from the front and return.

With a sketch drawn by General Wu and having secretly scouted the terrain and passageways a couple of days prior, Teng Yue and Shen Yanxing, working in tandem, successfully infiltrated the camp.

Just a quarter of an hour earlier, the camp had served its meal, and the soldiers, having eaten, were understandably somewhat relaxed.

Teng Yue had expected the camp to be highly vigilant, but to his surprise, perhaps due to the Chief Eunuch’s immense power, few dared to challenge him. The soldiers were quite lax after eating, and Teng Yue effortlessly infiltrated the armory tent.

Eunuch Hong’s ambition was indeed not something that had been brewing for a day. Teng Yue sneered as he looked at the armory and various firearms crammed into the storeroom.

He immediately ordered several pieces of each to be taken down, which he then donned without a care in the world.

He also weighed a finely crafted musket and kept it by his side.

In less than fifteen minutes, he returned to meet with Shen Yanxing.

Having successfully obtained everything, the next step was to determine how to return.

However, the defenses had been changed after nightfall, and the soldiers in the firearms battalion were much more vigilant. The group waited briefly near a secluded tent while Shen Yanxing sent one of his men to scout ahead.

The scout quickly returned, accompanied by one of Wang Fuxiang’s soldiers.

Teng Yue raised an eyebrow upon seeing Wang Fuxiang’s soldier enter.

“What is it, General?”

Wang Fuxiang’s soldier immediately replied, “General Teng, General Shen, Hong Jin’s men have arrived at the camp. The scouts you sent out gathered information and rushed back to report, but by then, Hong Jin’s men should already be at the gate.”

There was no time to hastily retreat now, so he could only say, “My general has ordered you two to hold your positions and observe the men’s movements.”

Hong Jin’s men had indeed arrived at the camp again; this theft was proving to be less than smooth.

Teng Yue and Shen Yanxing remained calm. With Wang Fuxiang’s report, they had a better understanding of the situation. Shen Yanxing then sent his men to investigate who the intruders were and whether they had noticed anything amiss.

He sent men out again, but this time it took quite a while for them to return.

The men returned after their investigation, their collars soaked with sweat, their expressions extremely tense.

“Generals, the one who just arrived outside is also a general, accompanied by some personal guards. I only glimpsed him from behind a tree, but I heard the soldiers in the camp call him General Shi.”

Upon hearing this, Teng Yue raised an eyebrow and asked.

“General Shi? Is that the thin, hunched figure you are referring to, as if he has an unhealed shoulder injury?”

He asked, and the Shen family soldier exclaimed in surprise, “Yes, yes, that’s him!”

He replied, and this time, without Teng Yue needing to speak again, Shen Yanxing took a deep breath.

“It’s that Shi Zeyou. He’s actually frequenting the Hong family’s secret camp.”

But this was not really surprising. After all, Hong Jin’s nephew, Hong Gui, valued him highly. In the end, it was Shi Zeyou who was sent to hunt down General Wu. After Shi Zeyou’s failure, Hong Gui did not punish him; instead, he arranged for him to join the Imperial Guards and later accompany Hong Gui to Ningxia to handle the matter of Prince Enhua.

Shen Yanxing rubbed his temples, while Teng Yue scoffed.

“Shi Zeyou is known for his ability to curry favor with superiors; it seems he’s already a confidant of the Hong uncle and nephew.”

As they spoke, another soldier whom Shen Yanxing had sent out returned.

The newcomer also saw Shi Zeyou appear. He said, “With Shi Zeyou’s arrival, the soldiers in the camp dare not slack off anymore; they are all on high alert. We probably will not be able to leave now. Shi Zeyou is here on Hong Gui’s orders to guard the camp and will stay for three days.”

If it were three hours, they could wait.

But three days, even if they were not discovered, they would be trapped here to die.

Shen Yanxing could not help but look at Teng Yue, the man lowering his eyes slightly.

Today was a day of espionage; he did not want to face Shi Zeyou with weapons.

He said in a low voice, “If he does not discover us, we can leave after nightfall, and I will remain at peace with him for now. But if he discovers something amiss in the camp, then tonight, only one of us will leave this camp alive.”

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.

But then, another messenger arrived.

“Generals, the camp has suddenly started a troop roll call and inventory!”

In other words, Shi Zeyou had noticed something was wrong!

Shen Yanxing frowned deeply, while Teng Yue closed his eyes.

After a few breaths with his eyes closed, he slowly spoke.

“It seems fate has decreed that I must settle things with this man tonight.”

Upon finishing speaking, he called on Shen Yanxing, and they began to discuss the matter in hushed tones.

*

Meanwhile, Shi Zeyou sensed something was amiss as soon as he entered the camp.

Having served in the military for many years, even though he had been transferred to a position where he did not have to deploy troops, he could still sense any disturbance in the camp.

He then asked the commanding officer in charge of the camp, “Have the troop counts been completed? Is anything amiss?”

The commanding officer seemed hesitant. “Everyone seems normal, except perhaps three men have gone to the restroom and have not returned yet.”

Upon hearing this, Shi Zeyou’s face turned cold.

“You think no one will dare come in just because you have the Ninth Prince’s backing? ‘Perhaps’? Is this how you guard the camp?!”

He immediately ordered an inventory of the storerooms while he led his men towards the main tent where the blueprints and other items were stored.

However, Shi Zeyou remained cautious and did not immediately enter the tent. Although the soldiers gathered at the tents appeared to be standing at the door as usual, he still took a few steps around and walked back a bit.

Unexpectedly, as he walked back, he saw a faint light emanating from a corner of the main tent.

He immediately became serious, then looked more closely at the ground. In the muddy soil, still wet from the recent rain, were footprints leading towards the side of the main tent.

He immediately raised his hand, ordering everyone to stay away from the main tent.

Footprints and lights meant there might be people inside. Why not trap them like turtles in a jar?

Shi Zeyou then ordered the soldiers to guard the outer perimeter of the artillery camp and then concentrated their forces around the main tent, forming two large circles that completely surrounded it.

However, unseen by Shi Zeyou, Teng Yue had already secretly sent someone to deliver a message to Wang Fuxiang in the gap between the two encirclements. He also sent someone to sneak in while Shi Zeyou was mobilizing his troops.

Shi Zeyou was completely unaware of his actions.

He had heard that the people who had inventoried the armor and weapons in the tents had returned, saying that some areas had indeed been disturbed and some items were missing.

But the missing persons were still nowhere to be found.

Upon hearing this, Shi Zeyou looked directly towards the main tent, and his men followed suit.

Seeing his men gathered there, Shi Zeyou felt reassured. He ordered his men to surround the tent, then strode to the entrance.

He called out, “Thieves, you dare trespass? Do you really think no one will notice? Come out, and you might still have your life!”

But when he called out, there was no response from inside.

Shi Zeyou assumed the thieves inside would put up a fight. Instead, he had someone lift the curtain and enter, then went straight in himself. He found the tent empty, except for a small lamp lying beside it.

Shi Zeyou paused, then sensed something was wrong.

Just then, the sounds of people falling to the ground suddenly arose outside, followed by shouts of battle, then vanished within moments.

Shi Zeyou rushed out of the tent, only to find his men, whom he had gathered around the main tent, either hacked to death or with knives held to their throats.

He had initially thought it was just a few petty thieves who had broken in, but a glance at the scene sent chills down his spine.

He had not expected these so-called “petty thieves” to be so numerous. After he had divided his forces at the gate and outside the tent, they had suddenly appeared from the shadows and subdued everyone around him.

Although Shi Zeyou was subdued and surrounded, he did not immediately panic.

He spoke to his opponents, who were barely visible in the darkness.

“This is the territory of the Ninth Prince of the capital. I do not know what business you have here, but you should consider the power the Ninth Prince wields in this world. Do not act impulsively and ruin the lives of your entire family.”

The Chief Eunuch was second only to the Emperor; few dared to oppose him.

But as soon as he spoke, he saw that his men, who were under the opponents’ control, remained completely still.

Shi Zeyou currently only had five or six soldiers surrounding him. He still could not make out who the enemy was, so he could only squint and chuckle.

“You may have some of my men under control now, but there are many more in this camp. I already had my men surround the camp gates. Did you really think you could defeat me by surprise?”

He expected his words to cause panic on the other side.

However, the enemy’s men outside the tent remained completely still, except for one person who slowly emerged from the darkness.

That person smiled and asked him the same question.

“Then guess, are there also my men surrounding your firearms camp?”

Is this a case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind?

Shi Zeyou’s heart skipped a beat.

His men had just started shouting, but no one had come to his rescue in time.

The camp was far apart from the outside to prevent the sound of forging from being discovered and to avoid detection of the illegal manufacture of weapons and armor. Even if any soldiers noticed, they would have been dealt with by the enemy’s men.

Regardless of whether there were any reinforcements outside, he was already left without men in front of his main tent.

Shi Zeyou was terrified. Looking at the man approaching, he saw a tall, imposing figure with a long sword at his waist. The man walked slowly forward, and the voice he had just heard sent a chill down Shi Zeyou’s spine.

The lamplight in the main tent illuminated his face. At that moment, Shi Zeyou seemed to see a “brother” and “old friend” who had fought alongside him many years ago.

But Teng Wenli was long dead. Standing before him was the young upstart he had failed to eliminate a few days ago—

Teng Yue.

If it were anyone else, Shi Zeyou could have maintained his composure, but the moment he saw Teng Yue, the words he had spoken when leaving the Imperial Guard prison suddenly echoed in his ears.

“Today I live, but one day you will die!”

Die…

Shi Zeyou’s body tensed, and he gripped the sword at his waist.

But Teng Yue continued to smile.

“I did not intend to settle things with you today, but fate has decreed it, and I cannot defy it.”

The man stepped forward, emerging from the darkness into the torchlight.

Shi Zeyou’s soldiers rushed forward to cover him, but were quickly cut down.

“We border guards have never lived a life of luxury. Every one of us who survives is a demon, a monster forged in countless battles. Which group do you think will die sooner, you or us?”

Upon hearing this, the two soldiers in front of Shi Zeyou, who had initially drawn their swords to fight, dropped their weapons. Two more, hesitant, seeing the blood still dripping from Teng Yue’s blade, also abandoned Shi Zeyou and fled.

Before the imposing main tent, only Shi Zeyou remained standing at the entrance.

He looked at Teng Yue, wanting to say something, but Teng Yue spoke first.

“Back then, my father nearly lost an arm while suppressing those bandits disguised as Tartars. For a general, an arm represents the entirety of his career’s potential. Yet you claimed my father’s military merit, trying to buy his greatest achievement with just a few hundred taels of silver.”

As he spoke, Shi Zeyou’s heart pounded with increasing alarm.

He continued, “My mother could not bear to see my father in this state, and she could not stand your usurpation of merit. In a fit of anger, she reported you to the army. After verifying the facts, the army immediately released you, but you showed no remorse; instead, you harbored resentment towards the Teng family.”

“Later, you curried favor with powerful figures and rose to a high position, and the first family you targeted was the Teng family. That year, you bullied my father, preventing anyone from delivering the mountain map to him. General Teng and dozens of his men were trapped in the mountains, awaiting their deaths. My elder brother, for the sake of that map, infiltrated the garrison and stole it. To ensure it could be delivered to my father, he risked his life in a torrential downpour to lure away pursuers, ultimately losing his horse and falling into the rocks. He was still a young man, not yet fully capable, not yet the general he aspired to be, leading troops to defend the border, when he died in the mountains.”

Teng Yue spoke, still laughing, but his laughter trembled, and tears welled in his eyes.

He said he, too, had been tormented by him, but that did not matter.

“What matters,” Shi Zeyou saw his handsome eyes fixed on him and heard him speak slowly, “is that the feud between you and the Teng family has never been resolved, never truly forgotten. But today, I will not wait any longer.”

He repeated each word deliberately.

“Shi Zeyou, draw your sword.”

He even allowed him to draw his sword.

Shi Zeyou’s hand trembled. He knew that no matter what he said, Teng Wenli’s son would not let him go.

But he forced his way forward with his sword, and in just one exchange, a single exchange, the sword in his hand was knocked straight away by Teng Yue and embedded in the mud.

Even Teng Yue was incredulous.

“So, the person who has caused my mother sleepless nights and years of fear is only capable of this much?”

He shook his head incredulously.

“Since that’s the case…”

His words were cut short, but the longsword in his hand plunged straight into the wound below Shi Zeyou’s shoulder.

He heard Shi Zeyou cry out in pain and only said, “This sword is for myself.”

He pulled it out, blood spurting, and then pierced his abdomen like an arrow.

“This sword is for my mother’s years of sleepless nights.”

Shi Zeyou was covered in blood, and Teng Yue raised his hand and sliced ​​off Shi Zeyou’s ear.

“This sword is for my elder brother!”

His ear fell to the ground, and Shi Zeyou cried out in pain, collapsing to his knees.

Teng Yue slowly closed his eyes, raised his sword, and slit his throat.

“This sword…is for my father.”

In the darkness, Shi Zeyou’s blood spurted, like a ghostly black poison.

The blood stained the person in front of him, and Teng Yue severed his head.

The pain in his heart erupted forth. Holding his enemy’s head, the man looked up at the starry sky, as if the gazes of his father and elder brother were always watching him, never leaving him.

He gritted his teeth and cried out in anguish.

“Father! Brother! Teng Yue has ended our blood feud!”

… …

Half an hour later.

A group of men returned from their night raid, carrying irrefutable evidence, and headed straight for the capital.