The flickering firelight illuminated a wrinkled face, dark and rough from years of working with the furnace. It was Ruger, a craftsman from the workshop!
At this moment, he was no longer the honest and enthusiastic old craftsman who marveled at Su Nian's novel ideas. His eyes were sharp as a hawk's, his hand holding the blueprints was steady and strong, and he exuded a cold and stern aura that was completely different from his usual self, belonging to a warrior.
"Luger...it's you?" Su Nian could hardly believe her eyes. This old craftsman who had personally taught the artisans how to forge curved plows, who had treated her with utmost respect, and who had even risen to a higher position in the royal court because of her patronage, was actually Modo's most deeply hidden pawn!
Ruger looked at Su Nian, his face showing no panic at being exposed, but rather a complex, slightly regretful smile: "Councilor Su, are you surprised?"
He brandished the siege crossbow blueprints in his hand: "You are indeed a genius. If this is completed, the fortified passes of the Wind Owl tribe will be rendered useless. It's a pity... it cannot belong to the royal court."
The lieutenant who had fought so hard to protect the blueprints clutched his wounded arm and shouted sternly, "Luger! The King has treated you well, and Councilor Su has trusted you implicitly. Why did you betray the Royal Court and side with that traitor Modo!"
"You've treated me well? You've trusted me implicitly?" Luger seemed to have heard something amusing, but his laughter carried a desolate tone. "I, Luger, was originally the best weapon maker in the White Mountain tribe! My wife and children all died in the massacre ten years ago when Helian Jue razed White Mountain! I endured humiliation and disguised myself as a mediocre craftsman, living in this royal court for ten years, all for this day!"
His gaze suddenly shot towards Su Nian, filled with deep-seated hatred: "Helian Jue is a butcher, the mortal enemy of all the Baishan people! And you, Su Nian, you helped him improve farm tools, helped him win people's hearts, and helped him consolidate his rule. You are an accomplice! I approached you and flattered you just to wait for an opportunity to get something that could deliver a fatal blow to him!"
Su Nian's heart sank completely. So that's how it is! The root of the problem lies here! Ten years ago, Helian Jue's war to unify the various tribes was filled with bloodshed and slaughter. Luger was a victim of that war, and also the most deeply buried avenger. Modo found him, or rather, they were the same kind of people—people who harbored a deep-seated hatred for Helian Jue.
"My God! It's a revenge story full of bitterness and hatred! Host, this old man is hiding something too well!" 088 exclaimed. "No wonder he was able to access the core and mobilize people to create chaos!"
"So, the granary fire was also your doing? To lure the enemy away so you could steal the blueprints?" Su Nian asked calmly, while secretly signaling to her guards to block all escape routes.
“Not bad,” Ruger readily admitted. “Unfortunately, we were a step too late, and you discovered us. But…” A sly smile appeared on his face, “Getting this is enough.”
He made a gesture as if to stuff the blueprints into his pocket.
"Take him down! Death or life!" Su Nian gave the order without hesitation.
The guards swarmed forward. Although Ruger was old, he was surprisingly agile and extremely familiar with the terrain of the workshop. He did not fight head-on, but used various tools and obstacles to fight and retreat, clearly having prepared in advance.
The sounds of fighting outside mingled with the distant clamor of firefighting. The cramped space inside the stone house was unfavorable for an encirclement, but it gave Luger room to maneuver. He suddenly overturned a burning brazier, and the scorching embers and thick smoke temporarily blocked the pursuers. Taking advantage of the situation, he smashed open the back window of the stone house and leaped out.
"Chase him! We can't let him get away!" Su Nian covered her mouth and nose and led her guards in hot pursuit.
Ruger knew the artisans' workshop inside and out, weaving through the intricate sheds and warehouses like an eel. He had clearly planned his escape route, heading straight for an abandoned drainage tunnel on the edge of the royal court.
However, just as he was about to reach the entrance of the secret passage, a sharp blade of light pierced through the air and slashed straight at his face!
It was that wounded lieutenant! He disregarded his injuries and took a detour to intercept us here!
Caught off guard, Ruger hastily raised a roll of hard drawings in his hand to block.
"Clang!" Metal struck hardwood, and the blueprint flew out of his hand!
Luger's expression changed drastically. He tried to grab it, but the lieutenant's sword was like a shadow, forcing him to retreat repeatedly. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Su Nian and the guards arrived and surrounded him.
The blueprints fluttered to the ground and rolled to Su Nian's feet.
Luger stared at the blueprints so close to his face, then at the gleaming weapons around him. A flicker of despair crossed his eyes, quickly transforming into a frenzied resolve. He abruptly pulled a dark object from his robes and lit it with a tinderbox—
"Watch out! It's a fire mine!" The lieutenant, with his extensive knowledge, immediately changed his expression and lunged at Su Nian, shielding her behind him.
"boom!"
A not-too-loud but still deafening explosion rang out, sending thick smoke and dust billowing into the air. Several guards closest to the target were thrown back by the blast wave, their screams echoing through the air.
When the smoke and dust cleared, a shallow crater was seen where Luger had been standing, and he himself was charred black and on the verge of death, still tightly clutching a half-extinguished tinderbox in his hand.
He was carrying such a dangerous item with him, clearly indicating that he was prepared to die with someone else.
Under the protection of the deputy general, Su Nian was unharmed. She pushed the deputy general aside, walked quickly to Lu Ge's side, and squatted down.
Luger's eyes widened as he stared at the sky above the royal court, blood continuously spilling from his mouth. He stared intently at Su Nian, and with his last breath, he hoarsely uttered, "Helian Jue... tyrant... will not die a good death... and you... will suffer the same fate..."
His voice abruptly stopped, his head lolled to one side, and he died. Even in death, his eyes burned with an undying hatred.
Su Nian stared at Luger's corpse, her emotions a complex mix of emotions. Once the seeds of hatred are sown, they will blossom into destructive flowers. Luger was a tragedy of the era, and also the backlash from Helian Jue's bloody past.
She picked up the blueprints at her feet, unfolded them, and confirmed that they were indeed drawings of siege crossbows, which relieved her slightly.
The rebellion at the artisans' workshop was quickly quelled, and several artisans and guards who had been bribed or coerced by Luger were captured. The fire in the granary was also extinguished thanks to everyone's efforts; although some of the stored grain was lost, the damage was not severe.
Wang Ting underwent a thrilling test from within, but ultimately escaped unscathed.
Su Nian immediately wrote a detailed secret letter detailing Luger's betrayal, the near theft of the blueprints, and the arson attack on the granary, and sent it urgently to the northwest front via a messenger hawk. She had to let Helian Jue know everything that was happening in the rear, especially about deep-seated threats like Luger, as there might be similar threats within the frontline army.
By the time she finished dealing with all this, dawn was breaking. Su Nian was exhausted, but her mind was on edge. Luger's dying words, full of curses, still seemed to echo in her ears.
She sat at her desk, gazing at the recovered blueprints for the siege crossbows. There was no joy in her heart, only a heavy sense of oppression. Implementing benevolent governance and improving people's lives might win over some hearts, but Helian Jue's past blood debts were like a volcano hidden underground, ready to erupt at any moment. Luger was not the first, and certainly would not be the last.
"Host, don't overthink it." 088 sensed her low spirits and tried to comfort her. "Every Xie Chen in every world has his own obsessions and problems, but in this world, he carries an especially heavy burden of blood debts. Our mission is to 'end the tyranny,' not to atone for every single blood debt he committed in the past."
“I know.” Su Nian rubbed her temples. “It’s just… it’s not a pleasant feeling to witness firsthand how hatred can twist a person into a vengeful ghost.”
She recalled Helian Jue's eyes, sometimes tyrannical, sometimes lost, and sometimes filled with dependence. He was a king who had fought his way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood; his brutality was his law of survival, and also his indelible original sin. How could she "end" such tyranny? Would simply implementing some benevolent policies suffice?
Just as she was in turmoil, a report came from outside the palace that a new secret letter had been delivered from the front lines!
"A reply so soon?" Su Nian's spirits lifted, and she immediately took the small bamboo tube from the hawk's leg.
She took out the animal hide scroll and unfolded it. The handwriting was still in Helian Jue's style, messy and sharp, as if carrying the smell of gunpowder from the battlefield, but the content made Su Nian's pupils shrink sharply.
"The blueprints are intact, very good. I am aware of Luger's matter. Such remnants should be killed without mercy."
"Internal strife is brewing in Fengxiao. Arslen suspects that his son is colluding with Modo to seize his position, and infighting is about to break out."
"Within three days, I will launch a general offensive. I will return in triumph with Modo's head."
"Su Nian, guard the royal court well and wait for my return."
The information is overwhelming! The Wind Owl Tribe has actually experienced internal strife at this crucial moment! This is a golden opportunity for Helian Jue! He has indeed seized the opportunity and is about to launch a general offensive!
The final phrase, "Wait for my return," was no longer a cold command, but carried a hint of... indescribable, almost affirmative, entrustment.
Helian Jue is launching a final assault. The outcome hinges on this.
Su Nian gripped the letter tightly, walked to the window, and looked northwest. The sky was just beginning to lighten, heralding the arrival of a new day.
The internal crisis within the royal court has been temporarily averted, but the decisive battle on the front lines is about to begin. Will Helian Jue succeed? Can he break the stalemate, defeat Feng Xiao, and capture or kill Mo Duo?
Luge's death revealed the deep-seated contradictions and hidden dangers under Helian Jue's rule. Even with the pacification of the Northwest this time, the road ahead remains fraught with difficulties. How can she help him truly "end tyranny" and not merely cover up the problems?
She recalled Luger's hateful gaze, and also the focused, even inquisitive look in Helian Jue's eyes when they discussed agriculture and water conservancy with her.
The end of tyranny may not just be about stopping the killing, but more about... finding a path that allows everyone, including those former "Rugers," to see hope and a reason to live.
This path is destined to be difficult.
But she knew that the day Helian Jue returned would be the beginning of them having to face everything together.
She carefully put the secret letter away, her eyes regaining their resolve.
“088,” she whispered to herself, “get ready. When he comes back, the real test may have just begun.”
[Understood, Host!] 088's voice also turned serious. [Whether the future holds bloodshed or glory, this system will accompany you... uh, and incidentally, earn some points to redeem for snacks!]
Su Nian's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile.
She turned and walked towards the council hall. Before Helian Jue returned, she had to ensure that the royal court, her rear base, was impregnable.
The first rays of dawn illuminated her path, and also the impending, fateful battle that was about to begin.
(End of Chapter 122)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com