However, facing Huangfu Ning's kindness, Huangfu Zhong chose to refuse: "...Thank you for your help, uncle, but I can't leave."
Huangfu Ning's face tilted slightly, and murderous intent suddenly filled his eyes. Huangfu Zhong was genuinely worried that Huangfu Ning would kill him right now, so he quickly explained, "Uncle, don't misunderstand me. It's not that I don't know what I've done, but I can't leave. If I leave now, they'll discover I've swapped the Shengxi Gu before Xiahou Qing even returns. Also, I found some interesting things in Tianshu Tower. If I can destroy them, those martial artists who are secretly aiding Tianshu Tower will quickly withdraw from this matter."
"...Okay, I can leave without you. Eat this." As he spoke, he threw a small porcelain bottle over.
Huangfu Zhong took the porcelain bottle and poured all the pills in it into his mouth without saying a word, without any hesitation.
Huangfu Ning felt a little sorry when he saw how straightforward he was. "Aren't you afraid that I might poison you?"
Huangfu Zhong threw the porcelain bottle in his hand away and said with a smile, "I am a man who deserves to die. Wouldn't poison be better?"
Huangfu Zhong's heroic act of accepting death was a source of great relief to Huangfu Ning. At the very least, as a member of the Huangfu family, he still possessed the courage to act and take responsibility. It was worth his time and effort to negotiate with those stubborn old men to find him a way out. Death was the end of the matter, and considering Huangfu Zhong's crimes, this was probably a light punishment.
Huangfu Ning was too lazy to try to trick him. Since he'd already taken the medicine, he might as well prepare himself mentally. "Haha, this is poison, for sure. I can honestly tell you that the full effect of this poison will take effect in a month, and the symptoms during that time will be very obvious. Of course, when the time comes, the pain you'll feel will be a hundred times more than usual. Although it sounds a bit cruel, this is the punishment you deserve."
It was just poison. During his time in Qinghe County, Huangfu Zhong had seen too many people suffer because of him and eventually become the living dead, unable to live or die. "For me, this should be considered light. It just makes my uncle's efforts these days go to waste."
When Xiahou Chun quickly ordered the city gates sealed, Huangfu Ning knew he couldn't take Huangfu Zhong away on his own. Furthermore, if he took Huangfu Zhong away at this point, Xiahou Qing might immediately dispatch troops if he discovered the Shengxi Gu in Qinghe County was fake. Some things had to be put aside until the Shengxi Gu was eliminated.
"As long as it's for the Huangfu family, nothing we do will be in vain. If you've made up your mind, I'll knock you out and pretend to hold you hostage, and then have the people from Tianshu Tower rescue you."
Being knocked unconscious or poisoned wasn't what Huangfu Zhong worried about. If he had any selfish motive, it was to hope that Huangfu Xiong, who had been implicated by his own slip of the wrist, could survive the ordeal safely. He also hoped that with his talent, he could put an end to this nightmare. "...Uncle, Huangfu Xiong, are you okay now?"
Huangfu Ning nodded and said, "It should be good to be with his father."
Huangfu Zhong took a deep breath, then knelt down in front of Huangfu Ning and said, "I coerced him into doing the Shengxi Gu thing. He has nothing to do with this matter. I tricked him into giving me the Shengxi Gu."
Huangfu Ning looked at him helplessly and shook his head. The Huangfu family had indeed existed for too long, and some of its rules should change accordingly. Huangfu Zhong had only committed such a mistake because he could not stand those decadent dogmas. If fundamental changes were not made, with this beginning, there would be a second and third Huangfu Zhong.
Huangfu Ning only dared to think about these words in his mind. After a light sigh, he helped Huangfu Zhong up from the ground and said, "His father told him the same thing at the time, but he was also obsessed with the same thing as you. He said that he stole the Shengxi Gu, and happened to meet you on the road, so he persuaded you to leave with him. Therefore, before I came, the clan leaders unanimously agreed that you were the one who was most at fault."
The second half of the sentence made Huangfu Zhong feel relieved, but the first half suddenly made Huangfu Zhong's heart ache: "...That fool, he was cheated, and he actually counted money for others."
If he hadn't lied to Huangfu Xiong, perhaps the Huangfu family would have announced that the Shengxi Gu would be passed to him, and he wouldn't have to experience these things that he shouldn't have experienced.
Huangfu Ning said, "If the Shengxi Gu issue can be resolved, at least he won't have to die, and he won't have to go through the pain you've endured. Of course, the death penalty can be avoided, but the living punishment is not. After returning to the Huangfu family, the patriarch will determine what punishment he will receive."
"I'm glad to be alive, uncle. I don't know when I can see you again, so I always carry this with me." After saying that, Huangfu Zhong handed a letter he had written long ago to Huangfu Ning.
Huangfu Ning took the envelope and felt it lightly, realizing that there was more than just a letter inside: "This is..."
Huangfu Zhong saw that Huangfu Ning had doubts in his heart, so he quickly explained: "Don't worry, uncle, it's not something important inside. But I dare to ask you to help me deliver it to Ah Xiong. When he sees it, he will understand what I mean."
Huangfu Ning glanced at the item in his hand and said, "...If I haven't forgotten, I'll just deliver it to you."
Huangfu Zhong heard this and slowly closed his eyes contentedly. He said, "Thank you, uncle. Now, let's get started."
"You, take care of yourself." Just as Huangfu Ning was about to strike Huangfu Zhong with his knife, he suddenly stopped. After thinking for a moment, he took out the dagger from his waist and stabbed Huangfu Zhong in the back without any warning. "I suddenly remembered that I still have three monkey cubs to take care of. It's still a bit risky to hold you hostage, so just pray to God for good luck."
As soon as he said the word "OK", Huangfu Zhong felt a sharp pain, and then his eyes went dark and he lost all feeling.
Just before he was knocked down by Huangfu Ning, Xiahou Jun's men noticed that Huangfu Ning and his men hadn't arrived yet, so they went to check in person out of some worry. They found the secret room empty, but no one showed up. "Sir, the person who was responsible for escorting Huangfu Zhong has disappeared along with Huangfu Zhong!"
After hearing the news that Huangfu Zhong was missing, Xiahou Jun clutched the bone flute in his hand and said angrily, "What? I was wondering why this bone flute suddenly stopped working. There must be something wrong with Huangfu Zhong. What are you still standing there for? Send someone to find him!"
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