Hearing this, Shen You lifted his eyelids. Without a word, he spurred his horse forward, brandishing his broadsword in a fierce charge. Chu Yu raised her sword and met him head-on. As their blades clashed, Chu Yu felt the sheer brute force behind his strike—just one blow sent tremors through her arms.
Horses neighed as Chu Yu laughed aloud, "Shen You, you disloyal, unrighteous, heartless, and unfilial scoundrel—your martial skills are still impressive!"
Shen You remained silent, launching a second strike. This time, Chu Yu dared not block it directly. Her swordplay wasn’t suited for such heavy weapons, while Shen You’s broadsword was overwhelmingly forceful. Moreover, mounted combat naturally favored longer weapons. Chu Yu had no intention of engaging Shen You in prolonged combat, dodging his relentless attacks as she taunted, "Shen You, do you truly intend to serve a treacherous dog like Zhao Yue? Does your conscience not trouble you?!"
"His Majesty saved me from dire straits," Shen You replied calmly. "What wrong is there in repaying his kindness?"
"To forsake the world for the sake of one man’s favor—is that right?"
Shen You didn’t answer, but his strikes grew fiercer. Beads of cold sweat formed on Chu Yu’s forehead. Shen You was no ordinary opponent—in a one-on-one duel at full strength, she might have stood a chance. But she had already fought a round earlier and was nearing exhaustion. Above them, Wei Yun watched silently before suddenly turning back. "Has the Sixth Lady been summoned?"
"She’s on her way."
Wei Xia hesitated, glancing at the battlefield before pursing his lips. "Your Highness, the First Lady—"
Before he could finish, Wei Yun stood and descended the city wall, ordering, "Sound the retreat."
Wei Xia had been waiting for this command. The moment Wei Yun spoke, he immediately shouted, "Sound the retreat! Quickly, recall the First Lady!"
Meanwhile, inside a swaying carriage, Wang Lan sat with lingering hesitation.
"His Highness said you must do your utmost to persuade Lord Shen to surrender. But don’t force yourself—just do what you can."
Wang Lan remained silent, watching as the towering city gates drew nearer. Her heartbeat quickened—she had never been this close to a battlefield before. Clutching the carriage curtain, she forced out, "I’ll try my best."
After a pause, she couldn’t help but ask, "And if persuasion fails?"
"Fails?" Wei Qian frowned, speaking slowly. "Then he’ll likely be killed. Shen You is a talent—if he can’t serve His Highness, it’s best to eliminate him."
Wang Lan froze. Her mind flashed back to a month ago, when he had escorted her out of the city and lifted the carriage curtain for her.
Her heart sank as if submerged in water, drowning out all sound.
On the battlefield, Chu Yu suddenly heard the retreat signal. She hastily withdrew, fleeing toward the city gates. But the blood of the generals she had slain earlier still stained her, and letting her escape unscathed would be unacceptable. Shen You gave chase, closing in as Chu Yu raced for the gates. Wei Qingping and Qin Shiyue rushed forward to intercept, only for two Zhao generals to emerge and engage them in combat.At that moment, the war drums suddenly thundered, and the city gates swung wide open. Amidst the battle cries, a general clad in silver armor and wielding a red-tasseled silver spear charged out on a chestnut steed, leading his troops. The drums of the Zhao army echoed in response, and the two forces clashed under the command of their respective leaders.
On the battlefield between the armies, Shen You was on the verge of catching up to Chu Yu. Abandoning his horse, he leaped forward with a fierce slash aimed downward. The startled horse reared, forcing Chu Yu to roll to the ground. As the second strike followed, a red-tasseled spear shot through the air with chilling precision, forcing Shen You to retreat hastily. The spear embedded itself firmly into the ground, standing between them.
In that brief hesitation, the young man in white and silver armor swiftly closed the distance to Shen You. With a fluid motion, he drew his spear and launched a relentless assault, his movements seamless and deadly.
Shen You was forced into continuous retreat, overwhelmed by the speed and ferocity of the attacks. Struggling to block, he felt as though he could barely breathe.
"Twenty-nine years ago," Wei Yun's voice was calm, as if the fierce battle had no effect on him, "your mother was captured and suffered unspeakable horrors at the hands of the Northern Di. She later gave birth to you."
"Shut up…"
Shen You's expression flickered, his blade strikes growing more aggressive. Wei Yun sidestepped, evading the attack, and continued, "At ten, you and your mother were ambushed by bandits. Zhao Yue saved you both. To repay him, you followed his orders and joined Yao Yong as a dead soldier. Do you still remember what you sought back then?"
Shen You remained silent, his greatsword slashing down with force. Wei Yun's spear tangled with the blade, pressing down firmly as he locked eyes with him. "Zhao Yue once promised you a prosperous era for Great Chu, free from Northern Di invasions."
"Fight if you must! Why waste words?!"
Shen You panted heavily, his agitation evident. Wei Yun remained composed, dodging a kick as he pressed on. "You've spent half your life striving for this. Yet, at White Emperor Valley, you relayed false intelligence for Zhao Yue, leading to the deaths of seventy thousand soldiers and the fall of Great Chu's territory. Hua Jing nearly fell. Shen You, don't you find it laughable?"
"Silence!"
"You dedicated your life to peace, only to push Great Chu into ruin. You watched as its lands were ravaged, its people displaced, and women suffered the same fate as your mother. Meanwhile, your master Zhao Yue ascended the throne. Do you still feel no regret?"
"I didn’t!" Shen You gritted his teeth. "I didn’t deliberately relay false information."
"Do you still believe the Northern Di deceived you?" Wei Yun scoffed. "Then how did they know you were a spy? How did they predict the situation so precisely? Why am I rebelling now? Why is the entire nation rising against him? Will you keep lying to yourself?!"
"The ruler you serve allied with the very Northern Di who tormented your mother, using you to slaughter Great Chu's soldiers and harm its people! Shen You, you are guilty! You owe a debt to those seventy thousand souls, to my Wei family, to Great Chu, and to yourself!"
Shen You said nothing, clenching his jaw as he launched another desperate attack. But he was already at his limit. Wei Yun kicked him hard, sending him sprawling. Amidst the clashing soldiers around them, Shen You staggered to his feet and charged again. Wei Yun spoke calmly, "Was I wrong? You spent your life destroying Great Chu. Are you satisfied?""Even more laughable," Wei Yun gripped Shen You's hair and slammed him violently into the dirt. Pressing him down, he said calmly, "Zhao Yue saving you back then was also a lie. Those bandits were his men all along."
Hearing this, Shen You's eyes slowly widened.
"Impossible..."
With sudden strength from nowhere, Shen You gripped his blade and swung it fiercely, howling, "Impossible! Impossible!"
At twenty-eight, his greatest dream had once been to spare Chu from the flames of war, to ensure no one would suffer like his mother again.
Yet it was he who had buried Chu's most elite troops, he who had pushed the nation into irredeemable ruin. Walking that path, he could only tell himself it was to repay a debt, to remain loyal.
A man must have loyalty and righteousness. Though he lacked benevolence and justice, he could at least be a loyal subject. But how could they tell him now that everything was false?
The so-called debt was a lie. Everything that had sustained him was a lie.
Swinging his great blade with ferocious momentum, he barely noticed Wei Yun's long spear slicing past his body.
Kicked away by Wei Yun, he stood again. Slammed into the dirt, he rose once more.
Blood blurred his vision, his surroundings growing hazy, yet still he staggered up, voice hoarse: "Impossible..."
Knocked down once more, he vomited blood but still forced himself upright, gasping, "Impossible..."
Battle cries surrounded him as bodies fell. He felt something draining from him, yet he had to stand. He had to endure.
"Shen You," Wei Yun's voice was flat. "You were wrong. If you won't repent, must you compound your errors?"
With that, he raised his spear, pointing it at Shen You's chest. "Surrender."
Shen You opened his eyes, blood obscuring his vision, and laughed painfully. "Just kill me."
Wei Yun's expression didn't change, spear steady. "So eager to die?"
"I won't surrender."
Shen You coughed up more blood, his body riddled with wounds, clearly unable to lift his blade anymore. Breathing raggedly, he lowered his gaze. Wei Yun pressed his lips together and finally raised his spear—but at that moment, a woman's scream pierced the air:
"Shen You!"
Shen You's head jerked up to see a woman in goose-yellow robes standing out starkly on the battlefield like a delicate flower among blades. Surrounded by armored soldiers, she ran toward him unarmed, desperation in her every step.
She seemed frantic, hiking her skirts as she charged heedlessly in his direction. Shen You's eyes widened as realization struck. He grabbed his sword and rushed toward Wang Lan.
Why was she here?
How could she come here!
Didn't she know how dangerous the battlefield was?
Panic surged through him as he cut down soldiers in his path, racing toward Wang Lan, who had never witnessed such carnage before.
Blood and corpses surrounded her. Death could strike at any moment. Yet precisely because of this, when she saw that battered figure, an immense courage welled up, driving her toward him.Amidst the chaos of battle, the guards following Wang Lan struggled to provide adequate protection. Seeing a blade descending toward her from behind, Shen You's heart clenched in urgency. He lunged forward, shielding her and taking the blow himself. Blood splattered across Wang Lan's vision as Shen You gripped her shoulders, steadying himself through gritted teeth. "I'll take you back," he muttered.
No sooner had he spoken than Wei Yun's long spear thrust from behind. Shen You barely managed to dodge before a kick sent him sprawling to the ground. As the silver spear tip aimed straight for him, Wang Lan suddenly stepped in front of Shen You.
Wei Yun halted, his brow furrowing. "Sixth Sister-in-law..."
"Don't kill him..." Wang Lan's voice trembled, tears welling in her eyes as she pleaded hoarsely, "Xiao Qi, don't kill him..."
Wei Yun's expression remained impassive. He lowered his gaze. "Sixth Sister-in-law, he is a criminal."
"What crime cannot be atoned for? If he truly intended to kill, then let me pay with my life. But he was merely a pawn—no matter how grave his sins, can he not spend his lifetime making amends?!"
"Even if he cannot, I will repay them in his stead. Spare his life."
"Sixth Sister-in-law!" Wei Yun raised his voice. "Step aside!"
Wang Lan said nothing. She stood before Shen You, her body trembling, yet she did not retreat an inch. This woman, who had always been meek, seemed to summon strength far beyond her nature in this moment. Facing Wei Yun's blade, she quavered, "If you insist on killing him... then kill me first."
"Sixth Madam..." Shen You rasped, "You should—"
"Shut up!" Wang Lan snapped abruptly, her back still turned to him. Her voice was raw. "You guarded the gates of Wei Manor for five years—why did you stop? Year after year, you came and stood watch... Now you come and go as you please? How could you be like this?"
"Sixth Madam..." Shen You clenched his fists. "Shen is a criminal."
"Then atone for your crimes!" Wang Lan turned to glare at him, teeth gritted. "Do you think death alone will earn forgiveness? Shen You, your life has value only if you live—to repay me, to repay those who died. What use is a corpse to us?"
"Are you so afraid to admit your wrongs?" Tears streamed down her face. "You fear neither death nor atonement—yet you fear admitting you were wrong? If you're afraid, then live. I'll atone for you. I'll die in your place. Will that do?"
Shen You remained silent. Wang Lan turned away, spreading her sleeves as she knelt and bowed deeply. "Your Highness," she said hoarsely, "Wang Lan is willing to die in Shen You's stead."
"Sixth Sister-in-law, don't be absurd."
"I am not absurd." Wang Lan lifted her head, meeting Wei Yun's gaze. "I have been weak and foolish all my life, but never have I been clearer than I am now."
Behind her, Shen You shuddered slightly. He felt a cold hand grasp his own as she pulled him, her voice icy. "Kneel."
His lashes trembled faintly. Wang Lan looked up at him. "Do you truly mean to drive me to my death?!" Never before had she been so unyielding. She stood, hauling Shen You up with effort before kicking his legs out from under him, forcing him to kneel before Wei Yun.
Shen You bowed his head, silent. Wang Lan snatched a sword from Wei Qian's grasp behind her and pressed it to her own throat. "Shen You," she said, tears in her eyes, "Surrender, and I will marry you. Refuse, and I will die in your place. Will you surrender or not?!"
At these words, Shen You closed his eyes.Countless images flashed through his mind. It seemed he had walked a long path in life, yet one wrong step led to another. The peaceful era he desired, he had personally destroyed; the loyalty and gratitude he sought to repay turned out to be someone else's carefully laid scheme.
In this lifetime, what was real?
He recalled those tear-filled eyes behind the rockery—the first time he had truly appreciated the delicate beauty of southern flowers.
He chuckled softly to himself. Moments later, he heard the woman ask again, "Shen You, I'll ask you one last time—will you surrender..."
"I surrender."
Before she could finish, the man interrupted her. Wang Lan froze slightly in surprise. Shen You opened his eyes, glistening with unshed tears, then lowered his head in a deep bow, his voice hoarse as he declared, "Left Vanguard Shen You, surrenders!"
Author's Note: The final phase begins now. Each character's fate will gradually unfold—please bear with me and stay patient, everyone~
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