Chapter 310 The Death of Sun Jing
In the blink of an eye.
January has passed, and heavy snow is falling.
Lu Zhaoruo returned from Gu Xian's place, her steps unsteady.
Gu Xian's faint words kept echoing in my ears.
"Back then... he had rendered meritorious service in suppressing the Japanese pirates and could have been promoted... but he requested to be transferred to Linhai, content to serve as a minor commander..."
Gu Xian coughed violently and said intermittently, "It's all for you... He only wanted to protect you silently, but you started plotting to sue Shen Rongzhi."
"He paved the way for your business... He made me lie in the mountains in the dead of winter, pretending to be sick and dying, just so that you could 'save' me, so that you could help me legitimately in the future."
A bleak self-mockery appeared on Gu Xian's withered face: "What kindness do I have? It's just that he's been tormented by guilt day and night, trying his best to make amends to you."
Just then.
Ban Ling also came through the snow. This honest and straightforward man rubbed his hands together and confirmed in a deep voice, "I...I went to your shop to order clothes, also on the general's orders."
"Going overseas to investigate Shen Rongzhi... was also someone sent by the general..."
"There are many things I can't remember, but they were all arranged by the general."
With Erzhong's help, Gu Xian struggled to his feet, his body, already weakened by illness, bowing deeply to Lu Zhaoruo: "Please, Madam Lu... don't blame him anymore. Every day he has lived these years has been a day of repentance for you."
He paused to catch his breath, then said, "Besides... back then, he killed the bandits to save you, but he was accidentally poisoned by the potent aphrodisiac they released before they died, which is why he lost control like that."
Aphrodisiac?
Lu Zhaoruo trembled all over, as if struck by lightning.
So that's where his violence that night came from?
The bandit killed by Sun Jing deliberately concealed this crucial point!
However, even if the truth comes out, how can the deep humiliation and years of torment be erased by a simple "poisoning and loss of control"?
She is still heartbroken and unable to let go.
She turned around abruptly and staggered into the swirling snow.
Gu Xian gazed at her resolute and lonely back, and with his last breath, he hissed, "Madam Lu, in the past... I only wished to see you and A-Ming put aside your grudges and grow old together..."
Lu Zhaoruo paused slightly, but did not turn around and continued walking.
Gu Xian gazed at the endless snow falling outside the window, a bitter smile on his face, as if talking to himself, as if making a prayer:
"Now... I have another wish..."
May you be blessed with eternal happiness and joy in this life...
The howling wind and snow swallowed his last sigh.
I pulled myself back to reality.
Lu Zhaoruo decided to visit Xiao Yeming at the Xiao residence.
Suddenly, a figure rushed out from the street corner, grabbed her sleeve tightly, and then cried out, "You heartless, unfilial daughter!"
Upon closer inspection, Lu Zhaoruo realized that it was her mother, Madam Tu, who should have been far away in her hometown of Jizhou!
Tu Shi, dressed in rough, dusty clothes and with disheveled hair, clung tightly to Lu Zhaoruo, her voice loud and clear, drawing the attention of passersby: "You were a royal merchant and a noble lady in the capital, adorned in gold and silver, enjoying all the riches and honors! Yet you left your father and me to suffer in that poor, remote place in Jizhou! Have you lost your conscience?"
Lu Zhaoruo's heart tightened, and she stared sharply at her: "Why did you come to the capital? Where is my father?"
Madam Tu was momentarily stunned by her icy gaze, her eyes instinctively darting away. Her voice weakened, and she squeezed out a few tears: "It's all...it's all because of you! After you left, your father...his health collapsed, and then he insisted on coming to the capital to find you and Bo Hong...We begged our way here, and your father...he couldn't walk any further at the Ten Mile Pavilion outside the city, so he told me to come into the city first to find you..."
Lu Zhaoruo took Tu Shi back to the Lu residence to settle her in.
As soon as she entered the house, Madam Tu's eyes darted around like hooks, taking in everything from the rosewood tables and chairs in the hall to the jade ornaments displayed in the curio cabinet. Her eyes revealed undisguised greed and envy, and she kept clicking her tongue in praise: "Oh my, this house is really grand... how much silver must it be worth..."
Lu Zhaoruo was extremely anxious at the moment and had no time to pay attention to her embarrassing behavior.
She immediately summoned Sun Jing and selected ten capable guards, ordering them to prepare a car immediately.
She dared not disturb her elder brother, Lu Bohong.
Because of the death of Zhanfu's younger brother, Lu Bohong went there early this morning.
Lu Zhaoruo, Sun Jing, and a group of guards boarded the carriage and, braving the biting cold wind, sped straight towards Shili Pavilion outside the capital.
The night was as dark as ink, and the heavy snow blanketed the sky, turning Shili Pavilion into a desolate and pale world.
When Lu Zhaoruo and Sun Jing arrived, the pavilion was empty, with only the cold wind whistling past carrying snowflakes.
Lu's father had vanished without a trace, but a chilling killing intent permeated the air.
"Oh no! An ambush!"
Before Sun Jing could finish speaking, dozens of dark figures suddenly sprang up from the snow and behind the trees like ghosts!
The glint of the blade reflected in the snow, chilling to the bone.
It's the "Dark Slash" assassin!
In an instant, blood splattered everywhere.
Despite their desperate resistance, the ten guards were no match for the overwhelming numbers of the enemy and fell one after another into pools of blood, their warm bodies quickly covered by the snow.
Lu Zhaoruo grabbed the scattered longswords from the ground and fought back with all her might.
However, the attackers were all carefully trained assassins from "Dark Slash," whose moves were ruthless and whose teamwork was seamless.
Although she was skilled in martial arts, she was no match for the many opponents, and in the blink of an eye, she found herself in grave danger.
A poisoned dagger swept past, slashing her right leg viciously!
The excruciating pain caused her to freeze in place.
"My wife...!"
Just as another blade of light was about to strike Lu Zhaoruo's head, Sun Jing disregarded everything and lunged forward, managing to block the fatal blow!
"puff……"
The blade embedded itself deeply into his flesh and bone, and blood instantly soaked through his thick cotton robe, spreading a large, glaring dark red stain on his back.
Sun Jing coughed up a mouthful of blood, but gritted his teeth and, using the momentum of his forward charge, pulled up the nearly exhausted Lu Zhaoruo and hoisted her onto his back: "Let's go..."
He completely ignored the excruciating pain in his back that was almost tearing him apart, and carrying her on his back, he plunged into the depths of the dense forest, one foot deep and one foot shallow.
With each step, the wound was violently pulled, and warm blood continued to gush out.
Lu Zhaoruo lay on his back, able to clearly feel the blood seeping through her clothes, and the strong smell of blood filled her nostrils. Her eyes instantly reddened, and her voice choked with sobs: "Sun Jing... put me down... your injuries are too severe..."
Sun Jing didn't stop; instead, he walked even faster: "Wife... don't speak... there's a river ahead... leading directly to the capital..."
The assassins were in hot pursuit.
Blood gushed from his back, dripping onto the pristine white snow in a glaring red streak.
finally.
A river that was not yet completely frozen came into view, with a lone, dilapidated boat moored on the bank.
Sun Jing carefully placed Lu Zhaoruo into the boat.
He looked at her deeply, his gaze complex, filled with concern, resolve, worry, and unspeakable emotions.
He said in a hoarse voice, "My wife... take care."
After saying that.
He forcefully pushed the small boat towards the center of the river, then resolutely turned around, stood on the bank with his sword drawn, blocking the path of all the pursuers.
The small boat drifted downstream. Lu Zhaoruo lay on the side of the boat, her vision blurred by the deadly poison in her feet and the grief in her heart. She could only watch helplessly as the loyal person who had silently protected her was surrounded on the shore.
Amidst the flashing swords and clashing blades, Sun Jing fought valiantly, sustaining multiple wounds and staggering, yet he fought on relentlessly.
As an assassin raised his crossbow and aimed it at the small boat, he roared and lunged forward, shielding the boat from the fatal blow with his body!
"Sun Jing!"
Lu Zhaoruo let out a heart-wrenching cry.
More crossbow bolts came flying in like locusts!
Sun Jing spread his arms wide, using his flesh and blood to block it!
Puff! Puff! Puff!
More than a dozen sharp arrows pierced his chest in an instant... He shuddered violently, but still managed to stay upright and slowly, facing Lu Zhaoruo's direction, finally knelt down on the cold snow.
Blood stained the large patch of white snow beneath him.
He raised his blood-stained face, looked at the small boat drifting further and further away in the river, and managed a weak, relieved smile.
Before his consciousness completely faded, he seemed to see himself again two years ago...
Lu Zhaoruo noticed his fondness for Lu Bohong's wristbands, so she stepped forward and said gently, "If Lord Sun doesn't mind, I can have a new pair custom-made for you. You protect the peace of this region, so this small token of my appreciation is only right."
His bronze face flushed crimson as he rubbed the hilt of the knife, waving his hands repeatedly, "This...this is unacceptable..."
She smiled faintly, noted down the unusual size of his right wrist, which was half an inch thick, and said softly, "Sir, there's no need to refuse. It can be made in two days."
At that moment, his ears burned, and he awkwardly replied, "I will remember Madam Lu's kindness."
today.
He used his flesh and blood to repay the kindness he had shown him back then.
It would be wonderful if I could repay this kindness in my lifetime.
He slowly closed his eyes, remaining kneeling...
The wind and snow quickly covered him in white, but then stained him red with blood.
Lu Zhaoruo knelt on the small boat drifting downstream, watching helplessly as the blood-red figure kneeling in the snow grew smaller and smaller, more and more blurred, amidst the swirling snowflakes.
She eventually succumbed to blood loss, poisoning, and immense grief, and collapsed on the small boat.
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