Chapter 181 The Evil God's Next Step is a Fight to the Death

Cui Jin strolled a few steps unhurriedly, watching Guan Ye and A Jiu's retreating figures thoughtfully. Suddenly, he raised his wide sleeves, signaling the Eagle Guards not to pursue them any further.

She didn't know how long she had been running, or where she was running in the first place. She stumbled and fell. "Mu Chenbi," she gasped for breath, unable to even form a coherent sentence, "Mu Chenbi…"

Mu Chenbi turned around and caught Guan Ye, who was already unsteady on her feet. Feng Lingjie looked around alertly, then opened her arms and hugged Guan Ye tightly.

Seeing that the Eagle Guards hadn't followed, Mu Chenbi found a place to rest with Guan Ye, stroking her back with his palm as he waited for her to calm down. Guan Ye caught her breath, swallowed the blood that welled up in her throat, leaned back against the cold stone wall, and two lines of tears streamed down her face.

Mu Chenbi pressed down on the corner of her eye, watching Guan Ye's grief-stricken expression. He guessed that Guan Ye probably knew why Xingguo Fang had suddenly suffered a disaster. Mu Chenbi did not ask. Seeing that Guan Ye's tears were welling up in her eyes and could not be stopped, Mu Chenbi gently touched her forehead, caught Guan Ye's tears with his lips, and savored them deeply.

"Why..." Guan Ye sobbed.

Mu Chenbi repeated softly, "Why..."

The Blood Crossbow Injustice: Father swore to the heavens that it wasn't Tianhu Workshop's doing. The Counterfeit Coin Case: The Ma Lin Family Was Ruined and Killed—How could the Ma family have allowed themselves to be destroyed for a single batch of counterfeit coins? The missing brass was hidden within the thousand swords of the Tomb Guards, and then forged by Xingguo Workshop… Why? Why is all this happening… The injustice suffered by Tianhu Workshop and Father has now fallen on Xingguo Workshop's shoulders. Why? Why is this happening…?

Guan Ye heard Pei Chu's ghostly voice echoing in her ears—"I'll make a bet with you for the rest of my life. I bet you'll definitely come back here...you definitely will..."

There's no going back... No one can return to Canglang Island. Rongdu is everyone's final destination; everyone will die here.

Guan Ye recalled the day they first arrived in Rongdu. The oil lamps on the dock lit up little by little, and the mist shrouded the distant city walls in a hazy smoky gray. The colors of the lamps became even more dazzling, making Rongdu look like an inverted sea, with the deep blue sea hanging upside down in the air. She followed behind everyone and stepped onto the land of Rongdu, as if she had trampled the world under her feet.

On the dock, Guan Ye saw Cui Jin, the one-eyed man in a black robe, again. The night concealed the runes on his face, but he smiled, revealing his white teeth, and opened his robe to welcome the guests from Canglang. Cui Jin said, "I have no way to visit the Heavenly Steps, yet I wish to return to Canglang. Xingguofang will be embarking on the road to the Heavenly Steps."

The Path to Heaven? Guan Ye remembered looking down at the sand beneath her feet, which was no different from that of Canglang Island. She deeply inhaled the scent of her homeland, which her parents longed for day and night. The scent of Rongdu lacked the smoky smell of Canglang Island, but it was not refreshing either. At that time, Guan Ye did not know how to describe this scent, until today... she finally found the words to describe it.

—The overwhelming smell of death enveloped Guan Ye, casting a shadow of annihilation over her. She tried to mask the putrid stench with the scorching smoke and the pungent smell of the sea, but to no avail. Until today, seeing the old blacksmith die a gruesome death before her very eyes, Guan Ye finally realized that she was powerless to resist.

The commotion in Xingguo Ward was so great that all the government offices in Rongdu were mobilized. Within moments, torches flickered in the deserted streets, and hurried footsteps echoed through the alleys. Guan Ye was nearly exhausted and didn't know how much longer she could hold on. Hiding here until dawn, she would be discovered by the early risers without needing any arrest from the soldiers. Judging from the demeanor of Cui Jin and the Eagle Guards, the charges against Xingguo Ward would be extremely serious. Once Guan Ye was imprisoned, she would likely have no chance of escape…

Mu Chenbi helped Guan Ye up, "Are you still able to walk?"

Guan Ye nodded. Mu Chenbi brushed the hair that was stuck to her cheeks, cupped her pale face and stared at her intently. "You have to hold on, you know? You must hold on."

Guan Ye burst into tears as soon as she opened her mouth. In Mu Chenbi's heart, Guan Ye was a woman of steel and iron. She was even more resilient than the twin swords that Mu Chenbi had given him. Even if the sky collapsed, it would only be a loud crash for her. She possessed extraordinary skills and had the world in her heart. She had ambitions comparable to a swan and a grand and magnificent path. Mu Chenbi had secretly vowed to clear the way for her and walk alongside her no matter how difficult the road was, to help her achieve her wishes.

Even the usually tough Guan Ye cried like a child at this moment. Mu Chenbi felt as if his heart was being torn apart. He pressed Guan Ye tightly to his chest, lowered his head, and touched her forehead. "The soldiers will be here soon. We can't stay here. Let me think... Where should we go... Let me think..."

“Go…to the Mei family.” Guan Ye stopped crying. Her eyes were wet, but a undying light shone in them.

Mei Shiyu, Mu Chenbi seemed to suddenly understand—

"Your Majesty, it seems your words and actions do not match."

"What exactly is Young Master Mei trying to say?"

"If Your Highness has failed those who entrusted you with something, who will dare to entrust you with something in the future?"

"Young Master Mei, you have too many worries. It's best not to think about things you shouldn't."

"It is precisely because we do not know how much longer we can live that we cannot let go of the things that have not been finished."

Mu Chenbi remembered saying, "It's not even known if anyone in the Ma family is still alive, so why are you so insistent? What does this have to do with you?"

Mei Shiyu forced himself to stay strong and said, "As long as I, Mei Shiyu, feel that there is something strange about it, I will pursue it to the end, until I die."

—To pursue it to the very end, until death do us part.

Mu Chenbi's phoenix-feather eyelashes fluttered in surprise as he gazed into Guan Ye's eyes, "Going to the Mei family? What for?"

Guan Ye wiped away her tears, and suddenly a smile bloomed in her eyes. This was Mu Chenbi's deepest longing. Mu Chenbi had never imagined that, nearing the end of his life, he would still see the dimples he had always dreamed of on Guan Ye's face.

"Next... it's a fight to the death." Guan Ye, dressed in red, was like an inextinguishable flame.

What follows is a fight to the death.

Neifang

As dusk settled, Lou Cangyu picked up his sword and stood up. He had been self-disciplined and self-reliant since he started practicing swordsmanship, diligently practicing every day before dawn. Today was the first day of the new year, and Lou Cangyu had drunk a few extra cups the night before, but as usual, he was splashed with cold water. Lou Cangyu shook himself up, glanced back at the closed door of the Jingwu Pavilion, and a look of satisfaction appeared on his face.

"Miss Wushuang... Miss Wushuang..." The steward of the inner quarters shouted as he ran in, "Something has happened, something has happened."

Lou Cangyu frowned and said unhappily, "It's not even dawn yet, what are you shouting for? Don't disturb Miss Wushuang's rest."

"Something's happened!" the steward exclaimed in alarm. "I need to inform Miss Wushuang."

The neighborhood was peaceful and quiet. Lou Cangyu calmly stroked the sword in his hand and said, "What could possibly happen on the first day of the Lunar New Year? Tell me. If you make a big deal out of nothing, you'll be in for a world of hurt."

The steward tiptoed over the Jingwu Pavilion and said, "Last night, Xingguo Ward... Xingguo Ward was raided!"

"Say it again." Lou Cangyu abruptly stopped his sword-wielding motion.

"Xingguo Ward was raided last night."

"Who copied this?" Lou Cangyu's face turned pale with shock.

The steward took a half-step closer. Although this matter was unrelated to the inner workshops, all weapons were of the same kind; who knew if someone else's yesterday wouldn't be their own tomorrow? Speaking of last night, the steward was also somewhat frightened. "Grand Preceptor Cui personally went, leading the Eagle Guards... I heard... there was bloodshed, people died..."

"Who died?" Lou Cangyu lowered his sword. "Who died...?"

The steward shook his head. "I don't know, but there must have been bloodshed. I heard from people who passed by Xingguo Ward early this morning that there was blood all over the ground at the entrance. It was terrifying." The steward pondered for a moment and then said, "There are swordsmen in Xingguo Ward. It seems... they resisted yesterday. They dared to fight against the Eagle Guards. Tsk tsk... they must be dead."

The door of Jingwu Pavilion opened, and Wushuang, dressed in a white fur coat, walked closer step by step. Lou Cangyu did not notice for a moment and remained frozen in disbelief.

“Miss Wushuang,” the steward bowed respectfully, “if it weren’t for an emergency, I wouldn’t dare disturb you. Something has happened in Xingguo Ward.”

Wushuang looked at Lou Cangyu, "I heard it, the people of Xingguo Ward... have all been arrested?"

Guan nodded first, then shook his head and said, "We've arrested quite a few people, but I'm not sure if they've all been arrested."

"Who died? Is he really dead?" Wushuang asked again.

Lou Cangyu suddenly looked up, as if he too longed for a definite answer.

The steward looked troubled. "I really don't know the answer to this. There was blood, that's for sure. The large pool of blood at the entrance of the ward hasn't been cleaned up yet. So much blood was shed, and they were fighting against the Eagle Guards. How could the Eagle Guards possibly survive?"

"Why..." Lou Cangyu couldn't help but ask, "Why is it that fighting the Eagle Guards means certain death?"

Wushuang said, "The Eagle Guards are the imperial guards, and they only obey the orders of the Mu royal family. Only the royal family can mobilize the Eagle Guards. If the Eagle Guards take action, it means the emperor's will. To resist the Eagle Guards is to resist the imperial edict. Not only will one person die, but I'm afraid... none of them will survive."

"Ah..." Lou Cangyu took a few steps back.

Wushuang glanced sideways at Lou Cangyu's pale face, "Are you scared?"

"I didn't," Lou Cangyu said, forcing a smile. "What do I have to be afraid of?"

Wushuang smiled and said, "You're very lucky. Pei Yuan allowed you to break the blood oath in front of Cui Jin. You left Xingguo Fang at the cost of your life. Everyone knows that you have no connection with Xingguo Fang or the Pei family anymore. Lou Cangyu, what happens to Xingguo Fang is none of your business. You're going to have a great time."

Lou Cangyu let out a sigh of relief, her large eyes slowly regaining their luster. Just as she was about to say something, her heart skipped a beat. Confiscating her family and exterminating her clan... Xingguo Ward brought Rongdu not only the entire clan, but also Pei Chu... and many others were still on Canglang Island. If the clan were truly exterminated, what about those left on the island... her mother and eldest brother... they were still on Canglang Island... Lou Cangyu's lips parted slightly, then closed in a conflicted manner.

Seeing the steward turn to leave, Lou Cangyu called out to him, "Could you please find out who died...?"

The steward glanced at Wushuang, nodded slightly to Lou Cangyu, and turned to leave.

Wushuang pulled her white fur coat tighter around her neck. "Who do you think died? Or do you have someone you want dead?"

"We're from the same sect, how could I really want anyone to die?" Lou Cangyu said bitterly. "To fight against the Eagle Guard... only a young swordsman who doesn't know his own strength could do that. Who else could it be... overestimating themselves and really... courting death?"

Wushuang asked again in a deep voice, "If you were still in Xingguofang, would you draw your sword?"

Lou Cangyu looked down at the falling sword. He didn't know what had happened last night. The Eagle Guards suddenly broke in, pulling everyone out of their sleep. In the east wing, Feng Shisan and the others thought there were thieves. Feng Shisan was reckless and heartless; he must have been the one who struck first. Ji Fang was timid; he might not have dared to move even with a knife to his throat. And what about Ajiu… Guan Ye… Pei Bi… what happened to Pei Bi?

“You will also draw your sword.” Wushuang provided the answer for Lou Cangyu. “With your family and clan wiped out, whether you draw your sword or not, the outcome is already decided. Drawing your sword and fighting might offer a way out, while surrendering means certain death. If it were me…” Wushuang looked at the sword in Lou Cangyu’s hand, “I would never sit idly by and wait to die.”

Seeing Wushuang turn to leave, Lou Cangyu could not help but shout, "You hate Xingguofang to the bone, do you want them all to die?"

Wushuang stopped and remained silent for a moment before saying, "I hate Xingguo Ward, but I never wanted them all to die. I only want them to return to where they came from, to be trapped there for all eternity."

Gazing at the snow-white figure, Lou Cangyu leaned against the tree trunk, picked up his sword, and then slowly put it down.

"Cangyu...Cangyu..." A low, tearful cry came from somewhere.

Lou Cangyu thought he was experiencing tinnitus, rubbed his ears, and then heard someone calling his name, "Cangyu... Cangyu..."

"Who..." Lou Cangyu was certain that someone was calling him. Judging from the voice... it seemed to be... Lou Cangyu unconsciously drew his sword and looked around to find the source of the voice.

“Cangyu…” From the woodshed in the corner, a familiar hand reached out, its palm slowly opening towards Lou Cangyu, revealing a deep scar shaped like a centipede. “Cangyu… save me.”