Chapter Forty-Eight

Nineteen-year-old Jiang Manyan, having glimpsed the darkest rules of this world, carries a heavy burden of guilt towards her brother and faces the livelihoods of the entire city's residents.

After endless worry about the safety of Jiang Zhong, Qin Lingfeng, and others, he clearly realized that he had nowhere else to go.

Since there is no way out, then become that way out yourself!

When Song Guansui stepped into the camp again, this was the scene he saw.

Jiang Manyan sat there quietly. Upon hearing the sound, she slowly raised her head. Her honey-brown eyes were clear and bright, as if washed by autumn water, carrying an almost sorrowful gentleness, beautiful as if in a dream.

He did not cower like a frightened bird, nor did he raise a sharp hostility.

"elder brother."

He called softly, his voice still a little hoarse, but he had returned to his previous obedient demeanor.

Song Guansui paused slightly, scrutinizing him.

The Jiang Manyan before him seemed to have had all her edges smoothed out overnight; it was a kind of resigned docility that was more real than any of his previous pretenses.

But can he believe it?

He moved closer aggressively, sat on the side of the bed, and his sinister gaze fell on the clear teeth marks around Jiang Manyan's neck.

"Does it still hurt?"

Jiang Manyan shook her head slightly and pulled the fur blanket down a little to reveal the scar, as if to show that she didn't care.

"It doesn't hurt anymore."

He lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes trembling slightly.

"Last night... I was being foolish and said a lot of things that hurt my brother."

He raised his hand and gently tugged at Song Guansui's sleeve, which was resting on his knees—a small gesture that conveyed a sense of dependence.

"elder brother,"

Jiang Manyan raised her eyes, only to meet a pair of eyes that seemed to hold a storm within them. That look made Jiang Manyan's heart jump. Suppressing her panic, she pleaded earnestly.

"I know I was wrong. I promise I'll never run away again, and I'll never make you angry again, okay?"

Song Guansui did not move, his dark, unfathomable eyes fixed on Jiang Manyan, exuding an aura of impending storm. He lowered his head, getting closer to that stunningly beautiful face.

"Do you think I'm still so stupid that I'll believe you just because you subtly show weakness?"

Song Guansui grabbed his slightly cool wrist with his other hand, gripping it tightly, with a force that seemed to want to crush it, and continued speaking through gritted teeth.

"Didn't you say I was utterly defeated and couldn't compare to Qin Lingfeng?"

"Ha! Now you're pretending to be well-behaved again."

Jiang Manyan groaned in pain from the force, and cold sweat immediately broke out on her forehead. At this moment, Song Guansui filled her with deep fear.

"Brother, I really know I was wrong... um..."

Song Guansui pinched his chin, forcefully blocked his mouth, rudely and urgently interrupting his words, and brutally ravaging those full lips.

Jiang Manyan was unable to break free. Song Guansui's kiss was extremely domineering. He was forced to open his mouth until his brain was oxygen-deprived by the kiss, at which point Song Guansui ended the punishing kiss.

"Yan'er, you're mine!"

Song Guansui gently stroked the unhealed teeth marks on Jiang Manyan's neck with his fingertips, his words chilling.

"Jincheng needs to be punished, and Qin Lingfeng... must die."

Jiang Manyan's eyes widened suddenly, fear gripping her heart like vines, her voice hoarse with extreme terror.

"Brother, I really know I was wrong, please... don't do this."

"Yan'er,"

Song Guansui chuckled softly, a chilling laugh carrying a twisted sense of pleasure.

"Anyone who tries to take you away from me must die."

The shadows of those childhood memories of being absolutely controlled and unable to move instantly gripped Jiang Manyan.

It made his body tremble uncontrollably. He knew all too well that Song Guansui truly didn't care about human life; to him, the common people were nothing but ants.

"If you harm them."

Jiang Manyan mustered her last bit of strength, her voice trembling but filled with determination.

"I will never forgive you! All you'll get in the end is a cold corpse!"

Upon hearing this, Song Guansui first chuckled softly, then his laughter gradually rose in pitch, like a sharp wind blowing through the forest on a cold night, making one's eardrums ache.

His eyes blazed with overwhelming rage, yet a wildly beautiful smile curved his lips, both manic and terrifying.

"Okay, okay..."

He stopped laughing and fixed his cold gaze on Jiang Manyan.

"Then let everyone die together, including Yancheng and Yancheng, how about that? Let the three cities be buried with you, that scene would be quite spectacular."

Jiang Manyan bit her lower lip hard until she tasted the metallic sweetness of rust, her eyes bloodshot as she stared at the completely insane man in front of her.

Song Guansui admired his pained expression, his fingertips gently tracing the bleeding lips, his words sharp as knives.

“Yan’er, threats won’t work on me. You might as well… beg me. But you’ll have to show enough… sincerity.”

That's his real purpose!

Jiang Manyan took a deep breath, forcing herself to suppress her almost collapsing emotions, and her rationality struggled to return from the brink of collapse.

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes were calm again.

"elder brother"

His voice was hoarse, filled with a resigned weariness.

What do you want me to do?

Song Guansui drew closer, their noses almost touching, his warm breath carrying an irresistible, predatory aura.

"I want you to swear an oath."

Jiang Manyan felt a chill run down her spine.

“I want you to swear on the lives of all the people in Jincheng, Yancheng, and Yancheng.”

He spoke each word slowly and deliberately, ensuring that every word was like a red-hot branding iron, deeply imprinted on Jiang Manyan's soul.

"I swear that in this life, you belong to me, Song Guansui, whether you live or die. You will never leave my side, and I will never betray you!"

He paused slightly, a cruel smile curving his lips, before adding the most vicious curse.

"Otherwise—if you break your oath, these three cities will be plunged into carnage and rivers of blood will flow! Every person you cherish will suffer terribly and die a horrible death because of your betrayal today!"

The air froze, and a chill instantly spread from the soles of my feet throughout my body.

Jiang Manyan remained silent, as if even her breathing had stopped…

Finally, Jiang Manyan slowly bent down and gently rested her forehead on Song Guansui's knee. This was a gesture that completely crushed her dignity and showed her weakness to the extreme.

After a long while, he raised his head, his face as pale as paper, but his eyes were unusually clear, like a lamb before a sacrifice, pure and desperate.

"Okay. I agree."

His voice was soft, yet it carried a resolute determination to cut off all escape routes.

"Brother, I'll use myself to exchange for two paths."

"First, I want the people of the three cities to live."

"You may take the city and its wealth, but you must allow all the people to leave safely, taking with them the means to make a living, and go wherever they want. You cannot pursue or stop them for any reason."

"Second, release Jiang Zhong and stop targeting Qin Lingfeng. Let them leave safely and live out their remaining years in peace."

He stared intently into Song Guansui's eyes, completing the transaction word by word.

“If my brother agrees, I, Jiang Manyan, will swear on the lives of the three cities that I will stay by your side for the rest of my life, until death do us part.”

A deathly silence fell over the tent, broken only by the crackling of the candlelight. Song Guansui looked at the person kneeling before him, at the extinguished light in his eyes, at how he had offered himself as a sacrifice to ensure the safety of everything he cared about.

He won, and won decisively.

He slowly reached out and touched Jiang Manyan's cool, delicate cheek, his fingertips trembling almost imperceptibly, his voice low and hoarse.

"As you wish."

“My… Yan’er.”

...

On the other side

On a deserted path in the eastern district, Liu Jin, carrying the injured Yu Mobai in his arms, galloped on horseback, only to be stopped by a group of elite soldiers.

The leader was none other than his father, Liu Zhao.

Liu Zhao sat upright on his horse, his eyes like those of a hawk. He first swept his gaze over Yu Mobai, who was unconscious in his son's arms, and a cold sneer appeared on his lips.

"Huai'er, you're really growing up to be quite something. For something like this, you've even thrown your family responsibilities and your own future to the back of your mind?"

Liu Jinhuai hugged Yu Mobai tightly, his fingertips turning white from the force. He straightened his back, trying to win him over.

“Father, he is already seriously injured and will not affect the overall situation, why bother…”

"No problem?"

Liu Zhao interrupted sharply, his tone filled with undisguised sarcasm and anger.

"You defied military orders and even fought with Song Guansui's men for this toy! And you still dare to say he's unharmed?! Where is your reason? Where is your responsibility as the heir of the Liu family?!"

A barrage of questions rained down on him like hail. Liu Jinhuai's face turned ashen, but his father's constant talk of "interests" and "responsibility" ignited the pent-up rebellious fire within him.

He suddenly chuckled softly, a laugh filled with sorrow and mockery.

"Responsibility? Reason?"

He raised his head, his gaze like a poisoned needle piercing straight at his father.

"Just like you were back then, with the same 'responsibility' and 'rationality' towards Shen Qingyuan, whom you fell in love with at first sight?"

Liu Zhao's pupils suddenly contracted, and his hand gripping the reins tightened sharply.

Liu Jinhuai gave him no chance to breathe, his words like the sharpest blade, ruthlessly dissecting that long-buried, shameful past.

"You coveted her stunning beauty and her immense wealth, hoping to gain both her and your fortune. And what was the result?" His voice suddenly rose, filled with endless sarcasm.

"You've traveled thousands of miles to the southeast under the guise of supervising the war, but what you're really planning is to take advantage of the chaos of war to recapture that old friend you've been longing for but can't have?"

Liu Jinhuai's words were like daggers to the heart. Looking at his father's ashen and distorted face, he felt both pleasure and sorrow.

"You've spent your whole life scheming and plotting, but what have you gained in the end? Besides power, all you're left with is gazing at your portrait and longing for it in vain! Isn't that a good feeling, Father?"

"You unfilial son! Shut your mouth!"

Liu Zhao suddenly drew his riding whip from his waist, trembling with extreme rage and shame. His face was no longer ashen, but had turned a deep liver color.

All his dignity and pretense were shattered in public by his own son.

He pointed his whip at Yu Mobai, almost roaring as he gave the order.

"Take him down! With him, Yancheng will be under our control! That's the most practical thing to do!"

"Don't even think about it!"

With a clang, Liu Jin drew his sword, its cold light flashing, the tip pointing directly at his father.

His arms trembled slightly with excitement, but his eyes were unusually firm, burning with a near-destructive resolve.

“Father, you lost the most important person in your life because of your greed. Today,”

He spoke each word clearly and deliberately, his voice resolute.

"I will never repeat your mistakes! Anyone who tries to harm him will have to ask the sword in my hand first!"

The scene was deathly silent; the air seemed to freeze.

Liu Zhao stared in disbelief at his son, who was facing him with weapons. In those eyes, which resembled his mother's, burned a flame he had never seen before—a flame that could overturn everything for one person.