After a short while, they arrived at their destination. The place Song Ting had brought Chu Huaixu to was actually the back mountain.

It was quite late, night had fallen, and everything was quiet except for the chirping of insects coming from the woods and bushes.

"It's a dark and windy night, and I'm all alone with my husband. What brings you here, sir?"

Chu Huaixu crossed his arms and deliberately said, "My lord, you're not tired of the proper ways and want to try something wild, are you? What are you going to do to me here?"

"..." Some erotic images involuntarily surfaced in Song Ting's mind, and even her ears turned red for a moment.

But of course he didn't intend to do anything to Huai Xu; he couldn't bear to bully Huai Xu in such a place.

However, he was never one to explain, so he didn't say anything, but just stuffed a few candies into Huaixu's hand, "...Wait for me, don't go away, I'll be back in a bit."

Chu Huaixu was even more confused by his meaning: "Huh?"

"Just wait for me."

Before Chu Huaixu could react, Song Ting had already disappeared into the dark woods in the blink of an eye. Chu Huaixu raised an eyebrow, found a rock to sit on, unwrapped a piece of candy, and ate it.

Tsk, they're using a child to coax him, telling him not to leave and even offering him a piece of candy.

He hadn't eaten much that evening, and suddenly consuming something sweet made his stomach feel uneasy. Surrounded by darkness, Chu Huaixu gently twirled the candy wrapper, staring at the spot where Song Ting's figure had disappeared.

Suddenly, a dark figure appeared out of thin air in front of Chu Huaixu and knelt down on one knee in a gesture of submission.

Chu Huaixu did not react much to this, as if he already knew who the other party was.

“Song Ting is right here. Aren’t you afraid he’ll find out?” He lowered his voice, and a clear hint of anger was visible on his face.

The man in black also whispered, "That scoundrel is keeping a close eye on the young master. This is the only time we have a chance to get close to him."

Chu Huaixu ate another piece of candy, his naturally smiling eyes slowly scrutinizing the man kneeling before him, his gaze gradually tightening: "Those people down the mountain, did you do it?"

The man readily admitted, "Yes."

Chu Huaixu's gaze suddenly turned cold. He grabbed the man in black by the collar and questioned him sharply:

"They are all innocent. How are you any different from Zhang Bingzhi and his gang in doing this?!"

"Why did you kill so many innocent people? How could you do this?! How could you, how dare you do this?!"

The man in black, however, did not believe he had done anything wrong. He was completely shrouded in black cloaks, and most of his face was also covered, making it impossible to discern his emotions. Only his eyes were cold and resolute.

“Young master, those who achieve great things must make sacrifices. I died the day the Xuanjia Army was destroyed. The people standing here today are evil spirits who have crawled up from hell. Their only purpose in this world is revenge.”

Those dark eyes stared intently at Chu Huaixu, cruelly reminding him: "Young master, think of the 100,000 innocent Xuanjia soldiers who died tragically, think of the prince and princess and the two heirs, think of the Duan Prince's mansion, aren't they innocent too?"

"This world is inherently unfair. Good people don't get good rewards, while those with malicious intentions can sit in high positions and enjoy wealth and honor. Since that's the case, we can only take revenge in our own way."

“Young master, I know the people of the town are innocent, so after we take revenge, we will definitely atone for our sins with our lives and be your slaves in the next life to make up for this crime.”

After saying this, the man lowered his head, seemingly accepting Chu Huaixu's scolding.

“You…” Chu Huaixu suddenly let go, exhaled heavily, and his eyes stung. “Don’t do such a thing again, or don’t come to see me again. This is an order.”

The man in black looked resentful, but Chu Huaixu glared at him, and he lowered his head and said, "Yes."

Chu Huaixu's chest was still heaving violently, and his fists were clenched tightly.

How could he not understand what the man was saying? Yet he could never ignore the lives of innocent people. His father and brothers had taught him from a young age that a real man should stand between heaven and earth, be loyal to the emperor, love his country, and cherish the people.

They guarded the border and died on the battlefield, all so that the people could live in peace and prosperity, free from the ravages of war and displacement.

Now, in his quest for revenge, is he really going to let innocent civilians lose their lives? Is this the outcome his father and brother would have wanted?

The child named Chen Xiaobao was so young and kind. She held the candy he gave her with great joy, reluctant to eat it, but she never had the chance to eat it again.

Chu Huaixu still remembered that day, on the way back after buying watermelons, Chen Xiaobao asked him, "Handsome brother, is Chang'an fun?"

Chu Huaixu told her, "It's fun. Chang'an is very big, with wide and clean roads. There are all kinds of shops along the streets, selling food and drinks, as well as many strange little trinkets and beautiful jewelry and treasures."

"Along Chang'an Avenue, you can buy anything as long as you have enough money."

Chen Xiaobao listened intently, but when Huaiyue said the last sentence, he showed a distressed expression: "But we have no money."

Chu Huaixu didn't know how to comfort her, so he could only pat her head and say, "There will be more in the future."

"Yes!" The little girl's sadness came quickly, and her joy came just as quickly. Hearing this, she nodded heavily. "When I grow up, I will earn lots and lots of money, and then go to Chang'an to buy my mother a box of rouge. My mother has been using her rouge for many, many years. Father said that she should still use it."

But she could never grow up again, never go to Chang'an again, never witness the prosperity and cruelty of that imperial city, and never have the chance to buy her mother a box of rouge.

She died at the hands of a vengeful force that had nothing to do with her.

She's still so young.

And that Mr. Wang who sells fruits, he's such a kind person, and the watermelons he grows are exceptionally sweet. From now on, he'll never be able to eat such sweet watermelons again at this time of year.

There were many, many more people; in the pitch-black night, Chu Huaixu could remember the faces of every single person who came to collect porridge that day.

They were all innocent; why should they lose their lives because of Chu Huaixu's resentment and anger?

He wasn't afraid of getting his hands dirty, but it was this kind of blood he didn't want to shed. He had no face to see his father, brothers, and mother.

"Third Young Master, if I may be so bold as to ask, when do you plan to kill Song Ting?" The voice of the man in black interrupted Chu Huaixu's thoughts.

"It's not the right time yet," Chu Huaixu said calmly, regaining his composure.

"Is it simply not the right time, or are you, young master, reluctant to kill him?" the man pressed him. "Young master, do not forget that this man has the lives of sixty-five people from the Duan Prince's mansion on his hands. The blood feud is irreconcilable."

"Young master feels guilty towards the townspeople, but can you forget the blood feud of so many people in the Prince's mansion?"

Chu Huaixu's cold gaze pierced through him: "Are you questioning me?"

The man in black said, "I wouldn't dare."