Chapter 52: Chapter 52: This Half-Life of Love, Resentment, Anger, and Foolishness

Outside Yu State City, at dusk.

The setting sun was like blood, and on the broken remnants of branches, a few crows were cawing.

An Jing had changed into a dark cyan hooded cloak, flitting through the woods, feeling the faint glow from the Earth Book.

“Never thought that one day this Earth Book would not only help me find opportunities but also help me locate people.”

At this moment, he was using the Earth Book’s sensations to search for Mu Xiaoyun and Jiang Sanjia.

According to the Earth Book’s guidance, the two had fled from within Yu State City and come to its outskirts. At this moment, both inside and outside Yu State City were filled with the Cao Gang’s men, as well as the Court’s constables. The two must have hidden themselves.

“They should be in the temple ruins ahead.”

An Jing raised his eyebrows slightly and walked slowly into the temple ruins ahead.

The temple was in a state of disrepair, with broken porcelain fragments and ashes on the ground, and piles of grass accumulated in the corners.

As soon as he stepped inside, the Earth Book in his mind emitted intense bursts of light.

“Come out.”

An Jing said faintly.

There was silence all around, only the empty echo of his voice.

“Brother Sanjia, I said before, finding you would be a matter of anytime,” An Jing continued.

“It seems it’s indeed you, Brother Zhou.”

Jiang Sanjia then emerged from behind the dilapidated Buddha statue, his face as pale as paper, walking with a limp.

Following Jiang Sanjia, Mu Xiaoyun also walked out slowly. Compared to Jiang Sanjia, her complexion was even more pallid, without a trace of color.

“Where’s Xue Chen?” That was the first thing she asked An Jing, her voice somewhat hoarse and dry.

“Dead,” An Jing replied.

The news of Xue Chen’s death had already spread throughout the entirety of Yu State City and was likely radiating toward Jiangnan Dao.

“Dead?”

Mu Xiaoyun was stunned. Although she had guessed this outcome, the news felt like a heavy hammer striking fiercely on her chest when she heard it, making it hard for her to breathe and stifling her breath.

Jiang Sanjia sighed softly, without a word.

He had had a premonition about Xue Chen’s death; fighting Guo Yuchun and Ouyang Yu alone while covering their retreat, he was sure to be no match for them. Had he managed to escape by some fluke, he certainly would have come to find them.

An Jing nodded, “The Cao Gang plans to behead and display the body during the Ullambana Festival to serve as an example to others.”

“It seems the Cao Gang truly believed that they had killed you, Brother Zhou,” Jiang Sanjia said with a strange expression.

Clearly, by killing Xue Chen, the Cao Gang intended to establish authority. Wasn’t that mysterious swordsman a big deal a while ago? Wasn’t he causing a storm in Yu State City? Challenging the might of the Cao Gang? Well, now we’ve killed that mysterious swordsman, and you’ll know the cost of defying the Cao Gang.

“That’s fine with me.”

An Jing shrugged his shoulders and then took out a packet of Hemostatic Powder and handed it to Jiang Sanjia, “This is Hemostatic Powder, stop the bleeding first.”

He didn’t care about these false reputations anyway; now that the Cao Gang believed he was dead, it actually worked out better for him.

“Thank you.”

Jiang Sanjia took the Hemostatic Powder and then sat on the steps, carefully sprinkling the powder onto his shin, “Brother Zhou, you should have brought some food and drink. My stomach has been singing the Empty Fort Strategy since midnight.”

An Jing raised his eyebrow, “The Cao Gang is hunting you all over the city, and you’re still thinking about eating?”

Jiang Sanjia grinned, “I’d rather be caught by the Cao Gang than die of hunger… Hiss–!”

As the Hemostatic Powder scattered on the wound, Jiang Sanjia couldn’t help but inhale sharply from the pain, as if the wound was being torn open again.

Mu Xiaoyun stood there stunned, seemingly lost in a daze, as if she hadn’t snapped back to reality from what An Jing said.

In a trance, she was transported back twenty years.

Within the backyard of the Mu Family, the young Xue Chen was being surrounded by several boys his own age.

“The son of the gatekeeper? That’s also a servant.”

“What is this place, and who allowed you to come in?”

“You’ve really got guts, even daring to enter the backyard.”

……..

Several people started coldly sneering at Xue Chen.

“Young Master, I didn’t know where this was and mistakenly trespassed, please don’t blame me,” Xue Chen said through clenched teeth.

Within the Mu Family, there was an extremely harsh class system; not all servants could enter the inner courtyard, and once discovered, they would face severe punishment.

“Didn’t know? It’s already too late to know now.”

One of the youths pushed Xue Chen to the ground and sneered, “Teach him a harsh lesson for me, let him understand the rules of my Mu Family.”

Hearing this, several youths stepped forward and started punching and kicking Xue Chen, their fists and feet striking mercilessly.

As Xue Chen lay on the ground, he bit down on his teeth hard, and even as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, he didn’t utter a single plea for mercy.

Several maids in the distance saw this and hid behind wooden pillars.

“This will kill someone… ”

“Hurry, go call someone.”

“I… I don’t dare.”

The maids looked at each other helplessly as they watched Xue Chen lying on the ground, beaten until he was bloodied and battered, appearing as if he could be beaten to death right there and then.

“Good lad, this kid’s bones are indeed tough,” the lead youth said with a hint of anger in his eyes, “Beat him hard. I refuse to believe it today.”

“Stop, what are you doing?”

Just then, a commanding voice rang out.

Upon hearing this voice, the youths halted their actions.

“Sister, why have you come?” The young man immediately laughed awkwardly upon seeing the arrival.

The newcomer was none other than Mu Xiaoyun, the little overlord of Yu State City from the Mu Family, feared by all children among the local gentry in Yu State City.

Even her own father had to treat her carefully, coaxing her lest she decided to complain to the old ancestors one day.

“Mu Jinglun, is bullying servants all you’re capable of?” Mu Xiaoyun said coldly, “Just a few days ago when the chief disciple of the Five Poison Sect, Dai Danshu, was traveling through Yu State, you were beaten and scattered like a rat. I don’t recall seeing you this arrogant.”

“Sister, I…”

“Aren’t you going to scram?”

“Yes, yes, yes, I’ll scram right now, this instance.”

Mu Jinglun, along with several youths, scurried away as if granted amnesty, afraid of even being half a step slow and displeasing Mu Xiaoyun.

“Kid, are you alright?” Mu Xiaoyun asked, looking at Xue Chen, who laid on the ground.

“Thank you, Miss. I shall repay this kindness in the future.”

Xue Chen struggled to get up and gave a bow to Mu Xiaoyun.

“You seem to have quite a backbone. However, there’s no need to think about repaying me. I simply didn’t want to see an innocent person die innocently,” Mu Xiaoyun said after sizing up Xue Chen.

She had clearly seen that even though Mu Jinglun and the others had been beating Xue Chen ruthlessly, he had not cried out even once, something not many young men could endure.

But she, Mu Xiaoyun, a young miss of the Mu Family, needed a servant to repay her?

The youth Xue Chen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and earnestly said, “My father told me since I was young to remember kindness as deeply as blood.”

“No need for that. This is the inner courtyard, you should be more careful in the future.”

Mu Xiaoyun waved her hand and then instructed, “Xiao Huan, tell Uncle Liu to let him rest for a few days.”

“Yes, Miss,” the maid beside her nodded.

Having said that, Mu Xiaoyun prepared to leave with her maid.

“Miss.”

Xue Chen suddenly called out.

“What is it?”

“I will never forget the kindness you showed me today!”

“Your intention is appreciated.”

Under the sunlight, the young man wore a serious expression, his eyes filled with resolve, while the radiant young miss had a light smile on her lips.

The lamp glowed like a bean, yet it illuminated a lifetime of love, anger, obsession, and foolishness.

…….