The soldiers holding high torches around them all showed expressions of astonishment, and even the Liang brothers couldn't help but share similar sentiments. Although they were Ling Buyi's private troops, they hadn't known the full details beforehand. In contrast, Shao Shang had pieced everything together. She slowly took a step back, reaching out to steady herself against a nearby tree trunk, as if her entire being had been drained of hope.
Ling Buyi looked at her sorrowfully. "How did you figure it out?"
Shao Shang pressed her palm against the rough bark, speaking numbly, "No wonder you were unwilling to marry. I finally understand—I’ve only been by your side for a year, yet I noticed several inconsistencies. If you had married years earlier, everything would have been exposed."
Ling Buyi murmured, "I didn’t want to drag others down. I thought there might be another way, but there were no leads—until a year ago, when I found news of the Huo family’s old retainers. I was overjoyed. But in the end, it was still for nothing."
"And what about the multiple military orders tonight? Surely those have nothing to do with the feud between the Huo and Ling families! Hah, the things you’ve done... your blood must truly be ice-cold. Ling Buyi, have you ever spoken a single truthful word to me?" Shao Shang dug her fingertips into the tree bark until the pain pierced her heart.
Ling Yi, pinned to the ground, trembled uncontrollably, his eyes wide with terror as he stared at Ling Buyi. "You... you actually... Jun Hua, she..." It seemed he had realized something, and he began to weep bitterly. "A-Li, my A-Li... my poor A-Li...!"
Shao Shang watched him coldly, thinking that at least the Ling family hadn’t lied about this—Ling Yi might have truly loved his eldest son, that unfortunate 'real' A-Li who had died young.
Ling Buyi said, "Uncle, you haven’t changed at all. The moment you sensed danger, your first thought was to save yourself. You deliberately arranged the defenses loosely on the east and tightly on the west, making it seem as though the Ling family’s main household was in the western mansion, while you hid in a secret chamber on the eastern side, planning to escape through the underground passage later—truly, Uncle, you spare no effort in scheming."
Ling Yi spat venomously, "You’re no better... After Jun Hua died, you pretended to be filial, tricking me into believing you wanted to celebrate my birthday to fulfill your duty as a son. You even said that with Your Majesty watching in the Capital City, it wouldn’t be appropriate to hold a grand celebration, so we should go to the Secluded Residence outside the city!" His voice rose in fury. "All these years, you’ve had countless chances to kill me. Why go to such lengths?"
Ling Buyi replied icily, "Uncle, you still don’t understand. Your wretched life alone means nothing. I want your entire family. How could I accomplish that in the Capital City?"
Ling Yi, both shocked and terrified, cried out, "What have they done to deserve this? Why must you exterminate us all?"
Ling Buyi said, "What happened back then wasn’t your doing alone. You and your two brothers worked together, each playing your part. One led the enemy into the city, another slaughtered women and children to silence them—and you, you took advantage of my father’s unpreparedness to murder him! You probably didn’t know, but I was hiding in the secret compartment of my father’s study at the time!"
Ling Yi gasped. He had thought Ling Buyi was too young to know the full truth and had hoped to beg for mercy. He never imagined that his actions had been witnessed by a child. If that was the case, then pleading was useless.
"Ling Yi, will you still not bow your head and confess your crimes?" Ling Buyi took a step forward, his voice sharp with condemnation.Ling Yi was sharp-witted. In that fleeting moment, a thought flashed through his mind and he blurted out, "Does His Majesty know about tonight's events?"
Shao Shang was taken aback. She had only been worried about the troop mobilization, but now she realized there was an even greater hidden concern.
Ling Buyi stopped in his tracks. "I must observe three years of mourning. I cannot wait any longer."
Ling Yi burst into laughter. "That's not it, is it? His Majesty knows nothing about tonight's affairs!"
"Three years of mourning? Can't wait? Hahaha, right and wrong—I once said that once Lady Cheng and Princess Yuchang bear children, I would take the entire clan back to our ancestral home to pay respects and console my long-departed parents. If you wish to annihilate my family, you could have struck on the journey! Then you could have covered your tracks, claiming it was bandits, rather than stirring up such a commotion so close to the Capital City tonight!"
Under the firelight, the middle-aged man seemed to have figured everything out, laughing wildly and triumphantly.
"You truly cannot wait—but not for the three years of mourning. You cannot bear to watch the Ling family flourish, with descendants multiplying! The new brides of your second and third brothers are either pregnant or have already given birth. Once Princess Yuchang enters our household, the Ling descendants will carry royal blood... With more and more children and grandchildren, and marital ties growing ever wider, it becomes harder for you to act! So you had to strike before the mourning period, fearing the Ling family's backing would grow even stronger! Isn't that right?"
Ling Buyi sighed inwardly. Closing his eyes briefly before opening them again, he saw the girl beside him looking utterly bewildered, and his heart ached violently—his last hope had been shattered.
Ling Yi had already changed his demeanor, his eyes cunning and malicious, yet his face wore the pained expression of a grieving father. He lamented, "A-Li, back then you were only five or six years old. How could you have known anything? Naturally, you believed whatever your mother told you! But your mother hated me to the core—hated me for being fickle, hated me for marrying Chunyu Shi—so she fabricated vicious stories to make you hate me! A-Li, I don’t blame you, but you must not be foolish. Don’t let your mother deceive you into committing the grave sin of patricide!"
Shao Shang's mind was in turmoil, unable to understand why Ling Yi was putting on such an act. But Ling Buyi saw through it clearly. He gestured behind him, and Liang Qiuqi immediately untied the White Rainbow Sword from his back and presented it to Ling Buyi with both hands.
With a flick of his wrist, a silver flash streaked through the air as Ling Buyi drew the sword and severed the ropes binding Ling Yi. He said coolly, "No need for this charade anymore. A-Fei, give him a sword... Ling Yi, let us settle this today."
Ling Yi refused to pick up the sword Liang Qiu Fei had thrown on the ground, continuing his heartbroken weeping.
Liang Qiu Fei stepped forward impatiently. "Pick up the sword already. Stop dawdling..."
The brothers were descendants of the private army lost in the Huo family's successive campaigns, always under the Huo family's care. When Ling Buyi first entered the palace, he had requested the Emperor to summon them as his personal guards, so they obeyed his every word without question.
Just as Ling Yi was weeping, he suddenly leaped up, twisted his arm, and pressed the sword against Liang Qiu Fei's neck. He sneered, "Though you, my unfilial son, have committed grave offenses, as your father, I cannot stoop to your level. Step aside quickly. I must leave—"
Before he could finish, Ling Buyi's wrist flicked lightly. The silver light of his sword danced in a dazzling flourish, the blade shooting toward Ling Yi like a startled swan, piercing his throat. Blood gushed from the wound as Ling Yi stared in horror, as if unable to believe what had just happened. Then his body slowly collapsed, falling lifeless to the ground.A lifetime of scheming and cunning, a life of deceit and treachery, all reduced to a lifeless pile of flesh and blood.
Shao Shang covered her mouth with her hands, unable to suppress her horror as she staggered back several steps.
Ling Buyi slowly walked to her side, his eyes glistening as if with unshed tears. "Shao Shang, I have no way back now."
Filled with hatred, Shao Shang shouted, "You could have had a way back! You could have chosen so many paths!"
Ling Buyi replied, "The slaughter of my entire clan—this vengeance must be repaid. No matter how many paths there are, I can only walk this one!"
Shao Shang couldn't hold back her sobs. "And what about me? Did you ever think of me? If you were going to throw your life away for revenge, why did you ever involve me? What does any of this have to do with me? You damned bastard... Ling Buyi, have you ever spoken a single truthful word to me?"
Ling Buyi said nothing, his eyes filled with sorrow.
Shao Shang wiped the tears from her face and turned to leave, but Ling Buyi seized her arm, panting. "Where are you going?"
She turned her head and sneered. "You want to emulate the Orphan of Zhao, devoting yourself solely to revenge? I won’t accompany you in this madness. Lord Ling—no, I mean Lord Huo—let us part ways here. No need to see me off!"
Ling Buyi gripped her arm tightly, his beautiful eyes pleading. Shao Shang knew he was begging her not to leave him—but it was a shame, for she was the coldest, most heartless person in the world.
She wrenched her arm free and mocked, "You'd better hurry and hunt down the remaining members of the Ling family. Before I came here, I already sent someone to report your misdeeds to the palace. His Majesty’s army will be here soon. By then, forget about wiping out the entire Ling clan—you might not even be able to kill Ling Yi’s second and third brothers!"
As if to confirm her words, a soldier rushed over in a panic. "Young Master, a large force is approaching from the direction of the Capital City!"
Before Ling Buyi could react, another soldier hurried in from the side. "Young Master, the western residences have been cleared. The women and children are under guard, and the remaining men have either been killed or surrendered. However, the Marquis of Chengyang’s two younger brothers took advantage of the darkness and led a group of Death Squad members to break through. They’re fleeing toward the cliffs!"
Liang Qiuqi knelt on one knee and said gravely, "Young Master, we cannot linger here. As for the women and children—shall we proceed as previously instructed?"
Shao Shang gasped. "What? You’re going to kill the Ling family’s women and children too?"
"Why not?" Ling Buyi’s face was suffused with murderous intent. "The Huo clan was exterminated to the last. An eye for an eye, blood for blood! They lived off the flesh and blood of the Huo family—they deserve the same fate!"
Shao Shang grabbed his arm, her voice trembling. "Don’t do this. You’re not this kind of person. Ling Yi is a beast, a monster—but you’re not."
Ling Buyi stared at her for a long moment, the killing aura around him gradually fading.
"Young Master..." Liang Qiu Fei urged anxiously, "Please decide quickly."
In the distance, the clashing of weapons and the pounding of hooves grew louder, the sounds of battle drawing nearer.
Ling Buyi’s demeanor suddenly shifted. The sorrow, grief, reluctance—all the softness and tenderness from before—vanished, replaced by the ruthless determination of a man with nothing left to lose.
He smiled at Shao Shang. "Shao Shang, are you afraid? You once promised to be good to me. Tonight, let’s leave together."
Shao Shang stared at him in disbelief, then shrieked, "What are you saying... No, no! Let me go! I won’t go to my death with you! Let me go!"But how could she be a match for Ling Buyi? With just a slight exertion of his hands, he restrained her in his embrace. Shao Shang felt as though iron hoops were binding her, rendering her immobile. Then, in a dizzying whirl, he effortlessly lifted her onto his shoulder with one arm.
The four Martial Maids rushed to intervene but were swiftly knocked to the ground by Liang Qiuqi and his men.
Shao Shang shrieked, pounding Ling Buyi’s back relentlessly. He pulled a hemp rope from his saddlebag and bound her wrists together before lifting the girl onto his steed. Ling Buyi’s horse was a peerless stallion—its belly like a qilin’s, its chest like a tiger’s, its head held high like a dragon’s. Compared to it, Shao Shang’s dappled mare seemed like a docile household pet.
Clutching Shao Shang tightly against his chest with his right arm, Ling Buyi tugged the reins with his left. The horse reared with a piercing neigh, its hooves kicking up snow as it surged forward like a streak of dust. Shao Shang felt the wind roar in her ears, her body soaring as if riding clouds, swift as a shooting star.
Outside, the biting wind cut like blades against her skin. With nowhere to hide, she could only bury herself in his embrace.
She wanted to slash open his chest with a dagger—to see what kind of heart lay beneath his flesh. He claimed to cherish her like a treasure, so how could he deceive and hurt her like this?
She also longed to flee barefoot to the highest peaks or the farthest shores, to weep alone in solitude, pouring out her grievances, never to see or trust another soul again.
She hated, raged, despised everything—yet all she had were icy tears streaming down her face, utterly powerless.
As they neared the cliff, a group of fierce Death Squad warriors, illuminated by blazing torches, shielded Second Uncle Ling and Third Uncle Ling while clashing with Ling Buyi’s soldiers, fighting as they retreated.
Ling Buyi wound the remaining hemp rope around Shao Shang, securing her firmly against his chest, then freed his right hand to draw the radiant Crimson Phoenix Golden Halberd from his saddle. With a battle cry, he charged forward.
Shao Shang squeezed her eyes shut, the air thick with curses, screams, and the terrifying clang of weapons.
The horse jolted violently. She opened her eyes and looked up to see his godlike, fair face splattered with blood under the crimson moonlight, his expression as ferocious as an ancient demonic beast. Trembling like a child, she curled into a tiny ball, enveloped by his towering, overpowering frame.
The halberd swung—Third Uncle Ling was cleaved in two before he could even scream, blood spraying everywhere. Second Uncle Ling frantically whipped his horse, fleeing blindly toward the cliff, the remaining Death Squad warriors scrambling after him.
Ling Buyi retracted his halberd and spurred his horse in pursuit—just as reinforcements arrived from behind.
At the forefront was a golden-armored general Shao Shang recognized—the Tiger Brave Army’s Lieutenant General. He shouted urgently at Ling Buyi, “General Wei, don’t act rashly! Whatever the matter, speak calmly—Your Majesty will stand by you!... Someone, stop them!”
But another general in blue armor sneered coldly, “Enough nonsense! Ling Buyi has committed patricide and raised arms—a crime beyond pardon! No one can save him now! Men, heed my order: if Ling Buyi refuses to surrender, shoot to kill!”
The golden-armored general roared in fury, “Have you lost your mind?! When did His Majesty ever say Ling Buyi was to be executed?”The Blue Armor General said, "But Your Majesty never said we couldn't take his life! Tonight, all six camps are in chaos. The generals from Panqing Military Camp and Dongtai Camp even thought enemy invaders had arrived and nearly mobilized all their troops! At this point, Ling Buyi still refuses to surrender. Are the laws of the nation and military just for show?!" Despite his words, he ultimately didn’t order the archers to shoot.
Shao Shang, her hair disheveled, shouted hoarsely toward the figure above, "Please stop this! Explain things properly to His Majesty. He is a kind and merciful man—he will surely show leniency!"
"Indeed, His Majesty is kind and merciful," Ling Buyi murmured softly. "Even for crimes as grave as Peng Zhen’s, he spared the entire clan... So I had to take matters into my own hands."
At this point, his voice suddenly rose in anger as he roared, "You heartless, cruel woman! Since you refuse to live or die with me, what use are you to keep?!"
Shao Shang froze.
Ling Buyi drew a dagger and severed the hemp rope binding them together—like cutting through an umbilical cord of shared flesh and blood. Then he wrapped his own fur cloak around the girl.
Before Shao Shang could grasp what was happening, she felt a gentle kiss on her forehead and heard his whisper in her ear—"Farewell forever."
She was flung high into the air, a dizzying rush of wind whipping past her before her body crashed heavily onto the ground.
The area was strewn with jagged rocks, yet she landed on a soft pile of withered grass. She tumbled several times from the momentum before finally stopping. Pain wracked her entire body, her bones and muscles screaming as if about to shatter. But she had no time to assess her injuries. Gritting through the agony, she pushed herself up and looked toward the light.
Ling Buyi sat rigidly upright on his horse, solitary and resolute.
He seemed to say something to the two pursuing generals before gesturing for Liang Qiu and his men to lay down their weapons and surrender. Just as everyone thought the matter was settled, Ling Buyi suddenly yanked his horse’s reins high, turning its head to continue his pursuit of Liang the Second.
The golden-armored general stood stunned for a moment, while the Blue Armor General immediately barked orders for his men to surge forward like a tide.
Liang the Second, seeing no escape, ordered his last six or seven death squad members to encircle him. Ling Buyi, alone on horseback, charged forward, striking left and right, swiftly clearing the death squad. Just as he raised his weapon to strike Liang the Second’s head, the Blue Armor General and his lieutenant caught up.
The Blue Armor General wielded a pair of Iron Melon Hammers, while his lieutenant brandished a long-handled broadsword. Ling Buyi clearly sensed the rush of wind from their weapons behind him—a simple turn could have blocked them. Yet he ignored it entirely and continued his downward strike at Liang the Second.
The scene was heart-stopping. Layer upon layer of soldiers and officers all fixed their gazes on the cliffside—
First, Liang the Second was cleaved diagonally across the neck by a flash of golden light, his head instantly separating from his body and tumbling down the slope. Then, the Blue Armor General and his lieutenant’s hammer and blade struck Ling Buyi’s back simultaneously!
A collective gasp rose from the surrounding soldiers, with Liang Qiu and his brother’s cries particularly piercing.
The Blue Armor General, well aware of Ling Buyi’s skill, had never expected to land a hit so easily and stood frozen in shock.
Shao Shang’s vision blurred—whether from tears or the blood streaming down her forehead, she couldn’t tell. Her palms had already been torn open during the tumble, yet she barely registered the pain as she braced herself against the rough, gravel-strewn ground.
She lifted the back of her hand to wipe her eyes forcefully. When she lowered it, she watched helplessly as that figure clad in deep crimson and dark gold toppled from his horse and rolled down the cliff.
The Vermilion Phoenix Heaven-Spear skewered the ground at an angle as it fell, its golden wings shimmering faintly in the cold wind.Her thoughts suddenly returned to this time last year—also a chilly spring, also a field strewn with corpses. In the hunting lodge, she had pulled the broken arrow from his back, and he had turned to smile at her, asking if her hand hurt.
His smile at that time had been gentle and profound, as if a single glance could span eternity.
Shao Shang collapsed headlong, knowing nothing more.
Author's Note: As I've said before, this story is character-driven—
Also, repeating once more, the ending is HE (Happy Ending).
OpenNovel