Destined

Shen Ming was dazed.

He had never been slapped in his life. He had been stabbed, shot with arrows, beaten and kicked, but never had a man slapped him across the face.

By the time Shen Ming regained his senses, he had already been pressed down onto a chair and restrained. Brother Xiong was on the other side, receiving special treatment due to his injuries.

Gu Jiusi sat by the table, having someone serve tea while holding the membership roster seized from Black Wind Fortress. With a leisurely demeanor, he said, "It seems you two only appeared at Black Wind Fortress three months ago?"

Shen Ming remained silent. Gu Jiusi turned to the physician bandaging Brother Xiong and said, "Physician, stop the treatment. Let him bleed out and die."

"Exactly!"

Hearing this, Shen Ming immediately became compliant. Gnashing his teeth, he said, "We arrived three months ago."

Gu Jiusi nodded and began taking notes. "Where did you come from?"

"Cangzhou."

Gu Jiusi's brush paused briefly before he responded, "Previous occupation?"

"Street ruffian."

"Wandering hero!" Brother Xiong couldn't help interjecting. "Sir, Shen Ming is a good man. He formally trained in martial arts at a renowned orthodox school. After returning to his hometown, he killed a local tyrant who had violated a young girl and had to flee. He's just impulsive—he's never committed evil deeds! I'm the one who led him astray..." Brother Xiong struggled forward trying to kneel, but the physician calmly held him back, soothing, "Don't agitate yourself."

Ignoring the others, Brother Xiong continued, "Sir, there's no food left in Cangzhou—people have resorted to cannibalism. We had no choice but to come to Youzhou. But there were no means to make a living here either, so I thought of joining Black Wind Fortress. Shen Ming has never killed anyone—he only stole some silver..."

"Never killed anyone?" Gu Jiusi mocked. Shen Ming raised an eyebrow and declared boldly, "Of course I have. Corrupt officials like you—I'd kill every single one I meet."

"Xiao Shen!" Brother Xiong cried anxiously, "Speak less! Sir, Shen Ming always shows restraint. He follows the code of honor!"

Scolded by Brother Xiong, Shen Ming turned away and said no more. Gu Jiusi looked at Brother Xiong and asked, "In the past three months, Black Wind Fortress committed two crimes. One was robbing a shipment of goods from the Zhao family—was that you?"

Both remained silent. Gu Jiusi understood. Then he said, "I heard Young Master Shen doesn't kill women, children, or the elderly. May I ask why you made an exception regarding my wife?"

"Your wife is beautiful."

Shen Ming blurted out without thinking. Gu Jiusi's recording brush halted. He looked up at Shen Ming, his eyes filled with coldness.

"No, Lord Gu, it's all a misunderstanding," Brother Xiong hurriedly explained. "My brother would never normally condone such things, but Master Ying gave the order. If my brother didn't do it, someone else would have. If it were anyone else, your wife might have been half-dead by now! My brother was thinking of her, wanting to save her if possible. He didn't lay a finger on your wife! Look, we fled early in the end. My brother only stayed behind to fight with the fortress members to warn you—that's why he descended the mountain late."

Gu Jiusi looked up at Shen Ming. "Is that true?"

"False," Shen Ming sneered. "Just kill me or cut me to pieces—get it over with."

"Are your parents still alive?"Gu Jiusi's voice was calm, and Shen Ming fell silent. Gu Jiusi set down the brush, picked up the recorded confession, blew on it to dry the ink, and placed it aside.

He looked at Shen Ming before him, their eyes meeting. Gu Jiusi hesitated for a moment.

Killing such a person went against his nature. No matter what, Shen Ming had saved Liu Yu Ru and him—that was an undeniable fact. If Shen Ming hadn't intervened back then, the people outside would have set the place on fire, forcing him out of the room. Whether he could have protected Liu Yu Ru then would have been uncertain. He was never a ruthless schemer like Cao Cao, nor could he ever embrace the mindset of "rather I betray the world than let the world betray me."

But if he let Shen Ming live, and the man went around spouting nonsense, it would damage Liu Yu Ru's reputation.

As Gu Jiusi pondered, Shen Ming waited quietly for his final decision.

After a long while, Gu Jiusi finally spoke: "How old is your mother?"

"None of your damn business."

"You may not care about living, but your mother surely does," Gu Jiusi said. Shen Ming stiffened. Gu Jiusi tilted his chin toward Brother Xiong: "He wants to live, too."

"Just say what you have to say," Shen Ming urged stiffly, sensing that Gu Jiusi had something else in mind. After another long hesitation, Gu Jiusi finally said, "You're skilled. You can stay and work under me. Two taels of silver a month, three days off. How about it?"

Shen Ming was stunned. Brother Xiong, after a moment of surprise, quickly said, "Hurry and thank the master!"

"You came from Cangzhou to seek a way out for your family," Gu Jiusi leaned back in his chair, twirling his brush and lowering his gaze. "If you want a chance to live, you must rein in your temper, endure what you couldn't before, and tolerate what you once found intolerable. You can't go through life like a child, shouting about how a chopped-off head is just a scar the size of a bowl. Your head may be worthless, but what about your mother's?"

Shen Ming pressed his lips together tightly. Seeing that he was tempted, Gu Jiusi didn't press further. He stood up and said calmly, "Only the two of you are left from Black Wind Fortress. If you stay, you and this man must swear to take the secret of Yu Ru's visit to Black Wind Fortress to your graves. If my wife's reputation is tarnished," Gu Jiusi's eyes turned cold as he looked at Shen Ming, his voice icy, "I will take the lives of your entire family."

"I wouldn't speak of it even if you didn't tell me to," Shen Ming replied stiffly.

Gu Jiusi nodded and stood to leave. "I'll give you a day to think it over—pride or your life. If you choose pride, it's simple: I'll send you to reunite with your brothers from Black Wind Fortress immediately. If you choose life, send someone to tell me, and I'll assign you tasks."

With that, Gu Jiusi walked out.

As soon as he stepped outside, he saw Liu Yu Ru standing at the door. She seemed worried. When she saw him come out, she glanced inside and said, "I heard you brought Shen Ming back."

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi looked back at the door, feeling somewhat uncomfortable inside.

But he showed no expression on his face, his hands tucked into his sleeves, and nodded in acknowledgment.

"How did the interrogation go?" Liu Yu Ru asked hesitantly. Gu Jiusi looked at her and said bluntly, "You mean to ask how I plan to deal with him, don't you?"

"That's part of it."

"Kill him."

"Ah?" Liu Yu Ru was taken aback. Gu Jiusi raised an eyebrow, a faint, ambiguous smile on his lips. "What, is that inappropriate?"

"Well... not exactly," Liu Yu Ru stammered. "You must have your reasons for handling it this way. But... I... I just think he... doesn't seem like a completely bad person... does he?"The moment that "ba" slipped out, Liu Yuru herself seemed uncertain. She stole a glance at him, trying to read his expression and gauge whether her words had been appropriate.

Gu Jiusi watched her furtive, almost thief-like demeanor, unsure whether to be annoyed or amused. After a long pause, he sighed and said, "Forget it."

"Huh?" Liu Yuru looked bewildered. Gu Jiusi leaned slightly forward, bringing his face closer to hers, and pointed to his cheek. "One kiss, and we'll call it even."

Liu Yuru was stunned by the request. She stared blankly at Gu Jiusi, who frowned when she didn't move. "Unwilling?"

With that, he straightened up, tucked his hands into his sleeves, turned away, and said coldly, "Then forget it."

"Hey, hey, hey!" Seeing his displeasure—though she had no idea what "forgetting it" even meant—Liu Yuru grabbed his sleeve. Gu Jiusi halted and glanced back at her. She looked around, seemingly embarrassed, and when she saw no one nearby, she beckoned to him. "Your face, come closer."

Gu Jiusi hadn't actually expected Liu Yuru to agree. He'd only said it offhandedly, to vent his frustration. To his surprise, the girl before him tugged at his sleeve, nervously scanning their surroundings like a thief, and whispered, "Hurry up."

Hearing this, all of Gu Jiusi's earlier irritation vanished. For some reason, his own heart tightened with nervousness, but he maintained a calm facade, bending down slightly to bring his face closer.

Liu Yuru rose on her toes and gently kissed his cheek, then lowered her head and murmured, "Not angry anymore, right?"

Gu Jiusi looked at her, pressing his lips together. His heart felt as if it were blooming, and he couldn't suppress the smile tugging at his lips. He took her hand and said with a laugh, "Fine, let's spare his life."

"That's not necessary," Liu Yuru quickly replied. "If he was truly wicked in the past, you don't have to spare him. Just ensure the punishment fits the crime. What matters most is what you think."

"What I think?" Gu Jiusi rolled his eyes. "I think he should die."

Liu Yuru sighed regretfully. "Then kill him."

Amused by her tone, Gu Jiusi raised an eyebrow and couldn't help asking, "Do you really think it's okay to kill him, or are you just saying that to make me happy?"

"To make you happy, killing him is fine too."

Liu Yuru said this with utter seriousness.

Hearing her words, Gu Jiusi finally felt completely at ease, his joy overflowing. Suddenly, he felt that holding a grudge against Shen Ming was beneath him. After all, Liu Yuru was already his wife—he could hug and kiss her whenever he wanted. Shen Ming was, at best, an admirer waiting in line. With someone as wonderful as Liu Yuru, it was only natural that a few people would fancy her.

With that thought, the last of Gu Jiusi's discomfort faded away. He cleared his throat lightly and said, "Let it go. He's not entirely bad, just a bit foolish. He can still be useful."

This response was within Liu Yuru's expectations. She linked her arm with his and leaned against him. "Don't worry, I won't run off with him."

"That thought never even crossed my mind," Gu Jiusi retorted immediately. "Someone like him, snatching you from me?! I could lend him a hundred brains and he still couldn't manage it!""So confident, are you?" Liu Yuru suppressed a laugh. "That young Shen may not be the brightest, but he's quite handsome."

"Have you lost your mind or your eyesight?" Gu Jiusi shot her a glance. "If you're sick, get treatment—I'll cover the costs. Don't delay. If we're talking about looks, how could he possibly compare to me?"

"Hmm," Liu Yuru pondered seriously before replying, "Each has their own merits. That scar of his is quite distinctive."

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi stopped walking. He cupped her face in both hands, gazing at her with genuine pity in his eyes, and sighed, "You had such good judgment when you chose to marry me before. How did you become so blind at such a young age?"

Liu Yuru laughed until her whole body went soft, raising her hand to brush his away with her round fan.

Seeing her shaking with laughter, Gu Jiusi wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her.

His joy rose with hers as he watched her laugh, feeling as if the entire autumn had grown tender and lingering.

He felt that this person was like his lifelong destination, the path leading him home through all his days.

No matter how fierce the world's conflicts might be, there would always remain this sanctuary, peaceful and unchanged.