Сhаpter 299: Тhе Firе Моth Party 31
"Yоu?!"
Мo Qianzhi trulу did not darе tо kill аgаin. Кilling оfficials wаs because those оffiсials wеre likе rееds swаying in thе wind, еаsilу disрosеd of. But thesе сommоners—if he truly slаughtered thеm all, his future uрrising wоuld lасk lеgitimасy.
Shen Du wаs shrеwd, but he wаs nо fоol еither.
Моreovеr, hе knew thаt Shen Du intended tо spare him, but thе hаtrеd for thе death of his wifе аnd сhildren wаs irrесоnсilаble. Nоw, with rеinforсemеnts yet tо arrivе, it wаs thе pеrfесt timе to attaсk.
Shen Du looked up аt the sky with a bittеr smile. "I did not kill thе man, уеt the mаn died because of me. The deaths of your wife and child are my responsibility. If you wish to fight, I will open the city gates and fight with you."
As if tired of this back-and-forth struggle, Shen Du formally issued the challenge.
Jing Lin was shocked. "Chief Helm Master, you must not."
Yingzhou City now only had the few hundred Inner Guards he had brought and the remaining several thousand city defense troops. If they opened the city gates to fight, there was no chance of victory. Besides, these commoners all supported the man outside the city.
Shen Du waved his hand; his decision was made.
Beyond the moat lay Yingzhou City. Their men were already ramming the city gates. Mo Qianzhi sneered mockingly. Even if Shen Du had not said those words, Yingzhou City would not hold out much longer.
Once inside the city, after killing Shen Du, he would retake Yingzhou City and formally declare war on the one in the capital.
"Lord Mo, why hesitate? The Chief Helm Master is still waiting for news of your victory."
A nearby Half-Faced Ghost shouted, casually picking up a bow and arrow to shoot a commoner. Other Half-Faced Ghosts also drew their bows and aimed at the commoners.
"Ah!"
Mo Qianzhi raised his blade and swiftly cut down the Half-Faced Ghost who had led the killing. He roared, "I am your leader. Anyone who dares to overstep their authority on the battlefield will meet this fate."
The other Half-Faced Ghosts were frightened by Mo Qianzhi and lowered their bows.
Mo Qianzhi, who appeared scholarly and easily controlled, was actually as resolute as a demon king in his heart.
This was the thought in the minds of the Half-Faced Ghosts.
Shen Du narrowed his eyes, not at all surprised. If Mo Qianzhi were as easily controlled as he appeared, how could he have been in the Fire Moth Party for so many years without being swayed in the slightest?
Foolish.
The city gates swung open. Shen Du rode out on horseback, with Zhu Yan following closely behind, running a few steps before being stopped by Jing Lin.
At that moment, Shen Du turned his head on horseback to glance at her. The wind howled fiercely. Shen Du wore a purple general's robe, with the Green Fish Sword at his waist, looking heroic and imposing. Zhu Yan felt a surge of warmth in her eyes, and the tears she had been deliberately suppressing burst forth uncontrollably.
Jing Lin was at a loss. "Madam, please don't be like this. The Chief Helm Master possesses exceptional martial skills and will surely be safe."
Zhu Yan nodded but could not stop crying. She also felt that her behavior was inauspicious, but she simply could not help it.
In her heart, this man had taken root, ever since their youth.
The two army commanders faced off as the horns sounded. Jing Lin stood firmly guarding the city gates, ready to rush to the rescue at the first sign of trouble.
Zhu Yan also calmed down. The more perilous the situation, the more she needed to steel herself. She urged the commoners to come down from the city walls and return home, but they refused to leave, gathering at the battlements to watch the fight.
Hooves clattered, and horses snorted. The two men on horseback stared at each other. Suddenly, Shen Du clasped his fists.
"Senior Brother, I will let you have three moves. I will not fight back."
Mo Qianzhi did not accept this. He sneered and raised his golden spear to thrust forward. "Why should you let me? Do you truly think I am just a pretty face?"Having just lost his wife and child, Mo Qianzhi’s pent-up rage had nowhere to vent, and his attacks were fierce. Shen Du, true to his promise, kept dodging without retaliating, causing Zhu Yan and the Inner Guards on the city wall to watch with bated hearts.
The sun blazed fiercely, the moat shimmered with rippling light, distant green leaves rustled, and the mountains stood like ink strokes in the distance.
Two figures darted back and forth, the sound of hoofbeats echoed, dust billowed, and the clashing of weapons rang incessantly. In fact, no one could clearly see how the two were fighting—only two shadows and their horses at the center of the battlefield.
Zhu Yan’s heart was in turmoil, her emotions swinging wildly. Then, the two shadows took shape again. Shen Du’s sword flicked Mo Qianzhi’s spear away, seized it, and pointed it back at Mo Qianzhi’s face.
“Senior Brother, you’ve lost.”
Mo Qianzhi’s dark eyes narrowed, then opened again, the stifling resentment still trapped within him.
“Hand over the antidote for ‘Cocoon to Butterfly,’” Shen Du repeated.
Mo Qianzhi shook his head, spat out a mouthful of blood, and grinned. “What if I refuse? Will you kill me?”
“Then come at me.”
With that, he straightened his neck, showing no fear of life or death.
If Shen Du extended his hand just an inch further, he could pierce Mo Qianzhi’s throat.
Seeing this, the Half-Faced Ghosts retreated one after another.
Shen Du noticed, glanced at Mo Qianzhi, felt no joy of victory, tossed the spear back to him, and said gravely:
“Chen Huo’e is no good person. I hope Lord Mo will think carefully and provide the antidote.”
With that, he turned, cracked his whip, and rode away. The long bridge over the moat was raised, cutting them off.
The commoners murmured among themselves.
“Will the lord return?” a young man asked.
This drew a disdainful look from Jing Lin, but Zhu Yan was happy to answer him. “He certainly will.” After speaking, she offered a faint smile.
The crowd soon dispersed.
Shen Du saw Zhu Yan waiting for him at the city gate, bent down, scooped up her slender waist, and pulled her onto the horse in front of him. Resting his chin against her dark hair, he remained silent.
Nestled in Shen Du’s embrace, feeling his warmth, Zhu Yan finally seemed to thaw, her limbs regaining sensation. She turned and hugged him back, burying her face in his chest.
Thank goodness, thank goodness he was safe. She wasn’t afraid Shen Du couldn’t defeat Mo Qianzhi; what she feared was the Half-Faced Ghosts swarming in to scheme against him. Thankfully, Mo Qianzhi had kept them in check, and Shen Du had defeated him—everything had gone smoothly.
Shen Du curved his lips, warmth flooding his heart.
Only Jing Lin couldn’t bear to watch. Even after the start of autumn, there was still the “autumn tiger” heatwave. On such a hot day, weren’t they afraid of sticking so close together?
—
Mo Qianzhi led his men back to the stronghold they had chosen earlier and immediately arranged the burial of his wife and child.
One of the Half-Faced Ghosts suggested first preserving the bodies with honey to make candied remains, urging Mo Qianzhi to seek the Chief Helm Master’s help for resurrection, but Mo Qianzhi refused.
He had never believed in resurrection from death—that was something only the ignorant and foolish believed in, like these fanatical Half-Faced Ghosts.
After burying them, Mo Qianzhi stood silently before the graves for an hour, then returned to his room to devise a new battle plan.
He admitted he had gone easy on Shen Du today; otherwise, Shen Du might not have returned to Yingzhou City so easily.
But after fighting Shen Du for half a day, a new thought suddenly arose in his mind.
He wanted Shen Du to lose with utter conviction—not only that, but to make Shen Du submit and join his side.Shen Du was a prodigy. Had the Shen family not been exterminated, any achievement of his would have been unsurprising. Yet even after the complete annihilation of his clan, Shen Du still managed to rise and become the Empress’s right-hand man—a testament to his extraordinary abilities.
Such talent would be a waste to kill. He intended to win him over. With Shen Du on his side, overthrowing the Great Zhou Dynasty would only be a matter of time. Of course, he could still succeed without Shen Du, but having one less formidable enemy meant one less obstacle in his path.
His time was running out.
His wife and child had died unjustly. Toppling Great Zhou was a mission that must succeed—failure was not an option.
The image of his wife and child leaping to their deaths lingered relentlessly in his mind. Mo Qianzhi’s eyes darkened. Rather than saying they were driven to their deaths by Shen Du, it was more accurate to say he had abandoned them first.
If he had taken them away immediately, things would not have come to this.
But to achieve great things, sacrifices were inevitable. He knew he was walking a path of no return, which was why he had charged forward without hesitation, without considering his wife and child still trapped in the city.
At this thought, his resolve to overthrow Great Zhou grew even firmer.
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