Chapter 129 Cause and Effect
Seeing that Xiao Qing was still sitting there elegantly without speaking or panicking, Jiang Tianba couldn't help but admire her composure and refinement. However, his kindness wouldn't increase much because of these things.
The person next to him had easily subdued Qiao Bai, using one hand to hold his shoulder and the other to wrap around his head on the other side.
With just a little force, Xiao Qing had no doubt that Qiao Bai's neck would be snapped.
Jiang Tianba likely already knew her identity, yet he still did it.
They were indeed after her.
"Make your move," Jiang Tianba said calmly.
Qiao Bai turned pale with fright and didn't even have a chance to scream before feeling his neck being twisted quickly.
The shadow of death loomed before him, more suffocating than the darkness he had felt in the carriage.
"Wait a minute!" Xiao Qing finally couldn't stay silent any longer.
Jiang Tianba was satisfied. He narrowed his eyes, like an old cat watching mice scurrying around in front of its paws.
That look made Xiao Qing extremely uncomfortable.
She steadied herself, got off the carriage, and quickly sorted out the various thoughts in her mind.
"It seems you're looking for me, senior."
Jiang Tianba casually raised his eyes, but answered without haste.
Xiao Qing smiled.
Qiao Bai was terrified.
Although the books he read contained many examples of historical figures who were fearless in the face of death, he was still afraid when his life was in the hands of others, and his fate hung in the balance.
He still had so much to do. He had only just unraveled some doubts, only just begun to understand some things about the present and the future, only just met someone younger than him who could guide him, only just…
Is his life about to end at this moment, in this place?
He also has his elderly mother waiting for him at home.
Qiao Bai shed tears.
But he refrained from shouting.
He noticed that Xiao Qing liked to laugh a lot, but her laughter was often inappropriate.
But Jiang Tianba became curious.
"Senior, you have long been renowned and are a prominent figure in the martial world, while I am but a nobody, a caged bird. Senior has gone to such lengths to find me and lead me here, so I suppose you cannot leave me alive. But even as a ghost, I wish to die knowing the truth. I do not recall ever having any contact with you, Senior?"
Jiang Tianba snorted.
"Alright, since you called me 'senior,' I'll let you die knowing the truth."
At this moment, a gentle mountain breeze is blowing, and the sky is bright; it is a clear, bright day.
Jiang Tianba's voice, however, seemed to come from a dark valley.
He waved his hand, and someone immediately brought him a scroll tied with a rope.
The scroll was slowly unfurled, gradually revealing a simple painting.
It is a meticulous brushwork technique, using only one type of ink, yet the painting is incredibly lifelike.
Xiao Qing had a general idea of what was going on.
The painting depicts the scene three years ago when Zhao Youchen saved Ziye on the street.
The only difference was that the person inside the carriage had parted the curtain a crack, revealing a glimpse of their profile.
Even from the side profile, Xiao Qing knew it was her because the eyes were very similar.
But she remembered that she hadn't done such a thing on the street, nor had she looked out.
The person who painted this had ulterior motives.
Just as Xiao Qing was about to believe that he really knew her identity, she heard Jiang Tianba say, "Your surname is not Xiao, your surname is Zhao."
Xiao Qing's heart skipped a beat.
Many thoughts flashed through her mind.
Why is the surname Zhao?
Do you remember what happened three years ago?
Xiao Qing cautiously looked at the painting. "I remember what's in the painting, but..." She was choosing the right words.
Jiang Tianba did not give him a chance to think.
"Very well, then you should understand the principle of exchanging life for life, and paying for blood debts with blood!" His voice was filled with ruthless hatred.
Xiao Qing frowned. "No one was killed at the time."
Jiang Tianba sneered, "I'm not afraid to tell you. I, Jiang Tianba, know all about your government's tricks. You killed my son, so I'll make that Zhao fellow taste the pain of losing a loved one! As for that kid, he's lucky to have been hiding for so many years. Don't worry, you won't be alone in a little while."
He pointed at Qiao Bai, "Right now, this one and that kid will both be there to keep you company."
"We did not kill anyone."
Jiang Tianba sneered. "Just because you don't, doesn't mean the Zhao family doesn't. You're from the Zhao family, so naturally you'll side with them. But this matter..."
He paused, his hand on his chest, as if he couldn't bear the weight of those words, or as if he had suddenly pushed away a boulder that had been pressing firmly on his heart.
"I have been waiting for this day for a long time."
Xiao Qing felt that she probably couldn't persuade the stubborn Jiang Tianba under these circumstances.
Moreover, she felt that Jiang Tianba's thinking must be due to someone misleading him over a long period of time.
"Alright, I've made you understand what happened. Now, I'll send this kid to the underworld to keep you company. As for you, I've found you a decent burial place." He glanced at the green hills behind Xiao Qing.
The person holding Qiao Bai's head was about to make another move.
"Wait a minute!" Xiao Qing quickly called out.
Jiang Tianba sneered, "Don't worry, it'll be your turn soon. No need to be in such a hurry to die."
“Senior, as you know, this child is innocent.”
When reasoning fails, the only option is to try to create as many opportunities as possible for survival.
"He was implicated because of me, and I can't bear to see him killed like this. How about this, I have a small request, senior, is that alright?"
Jiang Tianba snorted coldly, only looking at her without saying anything.
Big shots are all aloof like that.
Xiao Qing said, "We're all going to die anyway, so it doesn't matter how we die. I won't trouble you with this child; I'll kill him myself. Or, let's die together, so you don't have to fight twice, how about that?"
If it weren't for the current situation, Jiang Tianba would have liked to cut open Xiao Qing's head to see what was inside.
The "child" she was talking about looked much older than her.
Moreover, what does "saves you from having to do it twice" mean?
What trick are you playing?
Xiao Qing spread his hands, "Senior, look at the two of us, we are both weak scholars. Look at me, I can only run a little faster. Even if I tried to use tricks, how could I escape your eyes? Besides, I was just telling the truth and I didn't use any tricks."
Jiang Tianba sneered, "If that's really the case, then it's clear that your Zhao family are all heartless and ruthless people."
"To be honest, if you would truly be willing to let him go home, I would be eternally grateful. If not, since we are all going to die anyway, let us die together, and I will remember your mercy. Although I do not believe I have harmed your son, if it was indeed Zhao... Brother's doing, I can understand why you would do this..."
Jiang Tianba roared, “You’ve gone too far! It’s true that Zhao Youchen is the commander of the Imperial Guard and has a noble status, but my son didn’t intentionally charge forward. Yet you’ve done such a cruel thing, dismembering him and throwing his body away. To this day, I, as his father, haven’t even been able to find his complete remains! You deserve to die!”
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