Chapter 198 I'd Rather Die Than Lose You
On the high platform, Cui Jin silently observed the battle on the execution ground. Feng Shisan was reckless and brainless; as long as he wasn't dead, he would crawl to save people, even if it meant bloodshed on the spot. A man in black descended from the sky… The man's face was covered with a black cloth, revealing only a pair of piercing black eyes that seemed familiar. He was… Cui Jin stared intently with one eye, then suddenly stood up. Ma Lin! The tattoo on Cui Jin's face twitched with joy. It was Ma Lin.
The appearance of one person was unexpected by Cui Jin: Ajiu, that troublesome Ajiu. Why would she choose to wade into this mess instead of taking the right path? Thinking that he would have to cover for Ajiu afterward, Cui Jin's single eye gleamed with anger. Seeing more and more of his guards dying, Cui Jin pushed with his palm, and the Eagle Guards behind him pounced towards the execution ground like hunting eagles.
The Eagle Guards dispersed, revealing Lou Cangyu all alone, watching his former comrades fighting bloody battles on the execution ground. Lou Cangyu's lips were slightly parted, his pupils filled with shock and deep fear.
"You saw everything?" Cui Jin asked in a low voice. "If you hadn't broken the Blood Alliance, would you be here?"
Lou Cangyu swayed precariously, but after a moment he regained his senses, he knelt on one knee and bowed his head, saying, "Cangyu dares not, Cangyu would never do such a treasonous thing, not even if it means death."
Cui Jin smirked, "Don't be afraid, and don't rush to die to prove your innocence. Let's see what happens first." Lou Cangyu agreed, but his body felt as if it were being crushed by a boulder. He tried to stand up several times but couldn't. Cui Jin watched with his one eye, his smirk filled with disdain.
"Cang Yu? Is it Lou Cang Yu?" Lou Cang Yu's profile flashed before Xiao Ma's eyes. "He... what about him?"
“Lou Cangyu has defected; he is no longer a member of Xingguo Ward. Ji Fang is in my hands.” Feng Shisan and Xiao Ma pressed their backs together. “In the south alley, there are seventeen houses with green tiles facing north. Each of them should commit suicide and go there to reunite.”
Xiao Ma, no longer able to question Lou Cangyu, calmly watched the golden-armored eagle guards swarming in like locusts, and said in a low breath, "If we're going to leave, we'll leave together. What's the point of playing the hero now? Ajiu, Ajiu?"
Ajiu paused for a moment, then stepped back to get closer to Xiaoma. Xiaoma laughed loudly, "We're brothers, if we're going to die, it's not today. Let's fight our way out and turn the world upside down. If we survive, we'll live the high life with you."
"Hahahaha." Feng Shisan charged out with his sword drawn, engaging the Eagle Guard in a fierce battle. "If I don't cause a huge uproar, I'm not the Thirteenth Young Master."
Swords have no eyes, and the surrounding people scattered and fled. Even the well-trained horses of the Mei family were frightened and reared up and neighed. The carriage wheels creaked a few times before coming to a stop. The curtain was lifted, revealing Mei Shiyu's bloodless face.
"Cousin, they..." Mei Xiaojing's voice trembled, "Are they out of their minds?"
"Young Master," Qian Rong, the driver, gripped the reins tightly, "Are we going or not?"
"Stay here." Mei Shiyu said without hesitation. "Stay here."
Qian Rong put down the reins, his face full of worry. "Young Master, if we get involved... it'll be like falling into an abyss."
Mei Shiyu bit his lower lip, drawing blood from his pale lips. "Things have come to this point, it's a fight to the death. The Mei family can't stay out of it, and we can't just sit idly by."
Mei Shiyu was young, but he was always a man of his word. He was physically weak but had a strong will. Once he made up his mind, no one could change it. Qian Rong had followed the Mei family father and son for many years and had long regarded Mei Shiyu as his son. After listening to Mei Shiyu's words, Qian Rong showed a relieved expression, turned his head to look at the execution ground where the fighting was still going on, and clearly made up his mind.
The Golden-Armored Eagle Guards were elite Imperial Guards, each capable of taking on ten men. No matter how valiant the swordsman, he couldn't kill the endless stream of Eagle Guards, and the enemy was clearly losing ground. Ji Fang gripped Feng Shisan's wrist tightly, his voice strained, "Don't worry about me, you all go..."
"Bullshit." Feng Shisan raised Ji Fang up. "Even if we die together today, I will never abandon you."
“Yes.” Xiao Ma swung his sword and slashed at an Eagle Guard, wiping the blood from his face. “We don’t ask to be born on the same day, month, and year, but we ask to die on the same day, month, and year. It is my blessing to be able to die together with you today.”
"—Ma Lin." Ji Fang remembered the name. "They said your name is Ma Lin. I... I was thinking, isn't Xiao Ma just called Xiao Ma... He actually has a proper name."
“You have a name, and so do I.” Little Horse laughed heartily, having forgotten about life and death. “The rush is as resilient as silk, and I am that rush.”
In the midst of their conversation, Feng Shisan was stabbed in the left arm. Feng Shisan bared his teeth and plunged his sword into the man's heart, as if remembering something, and said, "I have a name too, I do!"
"Oh?" Xiao Ma slid in front of Feng Shisan, glancing at his wound. "May I ask your name, Young Master Shisan?"
Feng Shisan flipped over to shield Ji Fang behind him, then glanced at Xiao Ma provocatively, "Your grandpa Feng is not going to change my name, I am Feng Xiang, remember that, I am Feng Xiang."
Xiao Ma secretly memorized it, raised his eyebrows and said, "Good name." Then he looked at A Jiu, who was fighting relentlessly and not retreating an inch, "A Jiu, everyone has a name, what about you, what's your name?"
Seeing that Ajiu did not respond, Feng Shisanhu shouted, "Yeah, Ajiu, what's your name? When we die, we need to have a name on our tombstones too."
Ah Jiu leaned on her sword, panting, and said to the side, "What's the point of erecting a monument if everyone dies today? They're only destined to be thrown into a mass grave to feed the dogs. Speak less and save your energy. Think about how to get out of here alive."
"I'm afraid... I won't make it." Feng Shisan looked down at the large amount of blood gushing from his wound. He was already seriously injured, and after resting for less than two days, he had to take up his sword and go back into battle. He was already exhausted and was only holding on by his last breath. The knife wound broke his strength, and Feng Shisan was almost completely exhausted. His wrist holding the sword trembled incessantly, and his knees buckled as he knelt on the ground, bowing his head and spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Feng Shisan!" "Young Master Shisan!"
"Remember, my name is... Feng Xiang." Feng Shisan stood up, supporting himself on his sword. His hands gripped the hilt tightly, his large, copper-bell-shaped eyes blazing like fire. Gathering his last bit of strength, he swung the sword like a blade, shouting, "Remember this, everyone! My name is Feng Xiang!"
Lou Cangyu's eardrums were buzzing—Feng Xiang… Feng Xiang… Who is Feng Xiang? Lou Cangyu turned around blankly, the bloodstains blurring his vision. He tried to see something clearly, but he couldn't see anything at all.
"Thirteenth Young Master..." Guan Ye whispered as she ran towards the execution ground. Suddenly, she saw another figure wielding a sword charge into the melee. The man's face was covered by a black cloth, obscuring his features. His swordsmanship was so superb it was dazzling. With a flick of his sword hilt, he pushed Feng Shisan to Xiao Ma's side, then swiftly thrust his sword several times in quick succession. His movements were swift and each strike drew blood. He single-handedly forced more than ten Eagle Guards to retreat, and for a moment, no one dared to step forward to fight him. Guan Ye slowed her pace. His figure and gait... were all too familiar to Guan Ye.
Ajiu… he is Ajiu. Guan Ye felt relieved; Ajiu had come. But this relief quickly turned to heaviness. Everyone was gathered here; it meant they would truly die together. That was fine too. Guan Ye smiled. On the road to the underworld, these were the same people; they would chat and laugh and not be lonely.
“He is…” Cui Jin leaned forward, squinting his single eye to try and see the person clearly.
“It’s Ajiu.” Lou Cangyu stroked his sword.
He's Ajiu? Then who was the Ajiu who appeared at the execution ground earlier? Cui Jin gasped. It was Mu Chenbi. He couldn't believe Mu Chenbi would impersonate Ajiu to kidnap Ji Fang! If Mu You knew his most valued son had committed such a treasonous act… Cui Jin felt a surge of pleasure. Mu Chenbi's disobedience to the emperor was a fact; even if the Eagle Guards killed Mu Chenbi in the chaos, he deserved to die.
"Lou Cangyu," Cui Jin called softly, "your chance to make a name for yourself is right in front of you, it just depends on... whether you can seize it."
"Cang Yu obeys."
“Kill…that Ah Jiu.”
Which one? Lou Cangyu's knuckles twitched. The A-Jiu that Cui Jin mentioned... was... him...
"Lou Cangyu," Cui Jin's voice was sinister, like a ghost's whisper, "Go and kill him. Liu Jin has been killed, the Blood Alliance has been broken, this is your only chance."
"Lou Cangyu...accepts the order."
On the execution ground, Xiao Ma looked suspiciously at the mysterious man in black who had suddenly appeared. His sword moves were familiar, his attacks were ruthless, and his sharp eyes and piercing gaze... Ah Jiu, who else could it be but Ah Jiu? But if he was Ah Jiu... Xiao Ma glanced at the man out of the corner of his eye, and wondered, who was that person?
Before Xiao Ma could think further, a figure leaped out from behind Cui Jin on the high platform, wielding a sword and charging straight toward the execution ground. Cang Yu… Xiao Ma spread his arms to protect Ji Fang, holding his sword horizontally in a defensive stance. Feng Shisan could barely stand, and upon hearing the noise, he struggled to raise his head, facing Lou Cang Yu’s increasingly approaching murderous aura. His slightly closed eyes slowly opened, the calluses on his palms rubbing against the hilt of his sword, and he spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground.
Ajiu vaguely sensed something was wrong. He forcefully pushed the Eagle Guard back several meters, his brows furrowing as he discerned Lou Cangyu's target. It wasn't Xiao Ma, Feng Shisan, or the dying Ji Fang, but... Mu Chenbi.
Ajiu slid forward to block the group, using her lower body to catch Lou Cangyu's sword strike with her sword. Lou Cangyu was aiming to take lives, and the force was so great that Ajiu's hands trembled. Before Ajiu could gather her strength, Lou Cangyu did a somersault, and the sword tip went straight for Mu Chenbi, who had his back turned.
Ajiu saw through his thoughts, bent her knees and went straight under Lou Cangyu's armpits, reaching out to snatch his sword hilt. "Lou Cangyu, look carefully." Ajiu pulled down half of her black cloth. "I am Ajiu."
Lou Cangyu didn't even blink, and stabbed Ajiu's wrist with his backhand. Ajiu suddenly let go, and his left fist went straight for Lou Cangyu's jaw. Lou Cangyu tilted his head to dodge. "I know who you are, and I know who I want to kill. Get out of my way." Lou Cangyu's killing intent was exposed. "Those who block my way will die."
Ajiu looked up at Cui Jin, who was sitting calmly in the center of the high platform watching the battle. Their eyes met and everything was understood without words. Cui Jin smiled and nodded at Ajiu, glancing at Mu Chenbi's figure with one eye, and scratched his neck with one hand.
"Are you crazy?" Ajiu slashed at Lou Cangyu's aggressive sword, the blades clashing and sparks flying. "Do you know who he is? He's the Crown Prince. How dare he kill the heir apparent? You wouldn't have enough lives to kill him."
Lou Cangyu had become a mad beast. Ever since he broke the blood alliance with Xingguo Fang, he had no way out. Rather than being a despised traitor in the inner workshop, he wanted to carve out a path with his own sword. Right in front of him was the Qingyun Path he had always dreamed of.
"You think you can stop me?" Lou Cangyu sneered.
Ajiu's brow twitched, the scar on her left eyebrow glaringly obvious. "You don't actually think you can hurt me, do you?"
Lou Cangyu took a deep breath. The scene of testing swords on Canglang Island seemed like yesterday. Who could have imagined that in just half a year, he and Ajiu would be facing each other again? That day it was a test of swordsmanship, but today... it's a fight to the death.
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