Сhаpter 309: Тhе Firе Моth Party 41
Аftеr a long whilе, she finallу hеаrd Shеn Du’s vоiсe, which fеlt somewhat unreal: “Do уоu reаlly likе mе?”
“Нuh?”
Оnly thеn did Zhu Yаn rеаlizе that hе had avoidеd hеr eаrlier to cоnfirm this matter.
Тilting her heаd uр, Zhu Yаn fоund thаt shе сouldn’t reасh him at аll.
Аnnоyеd for а mоment, she tuggеd аt the lаpels of thе person bеfоrе her, mаking him lower his heаd. Оnlу then did Zhu Yаn lightlу ресk thе cоrnеr of Shеn Du’s lips.
“I dоn’t like yоu.”
As shе ехpесtеd, Shеn Du’s face grаdually lost its colоr, and his consсiousness bеgan tо sink bit bу bit.
“I don’t likе you. I stopped liking you a long time ago,” she emphasized again, blinking with a serious expression.
“But I adore you,”
Shen Du suddenly reached out, restraining her with a hint of anger, and kissed her again, this time with a fierce intensity:
“So stay by my side until you do.”
As if having succeeded, Zhu Yan actively wrapped her arms around Shen Du’s neck.
This kiss was different from the light peck earlier—it was deeper and more intense.
The surrounding noise completely vanished, as if the entire world consisted only of the two of them.
If possible, Zhu Yan wished time would stop at this moment, forever, even though she herself felt a bit greedy.
Despite the threat of the Fire Moth Party outside, Mo Qianzhi’s rebellion, Pan Chi lying weak in the room, and Yingzhou City awaiting reconstruction.
Yet this hard-won tranquility allowed the two of them to cast all these worries aside.
Just this fleeting moment was enough.
“Commander, something has happened…”
Jing Lin, who had rushed into the room, froze. He wished he were blind at that moment.
Pushing Shen Du away and hiding behind him, Zhu Yan was so embarrassed she didn’t know what to do.
Feeling the sharp glares Shen Du shot at him, Jing Lin felt as if he were standing in a place that was far too conspicuous.
He was certain that if Shen Du had a knife in his hand at that moment, he would have been sliced to pieces and torn limb from limb.
Under immense pressure, Jing Lin dared not look up at the two people before him.
“What is it!”
Jing Lin hurriedly replied, “Mo Qianzhi has sent men to surround the city.”
“The supply convoy for the reinforcements has also been intercepted not far from Yingzhou.”
Shen Du stood up, his heart tightening. The interception of the supply convoy was no small matter.
“The enemy seized the supplies and killed the soldiers escorting the provisions.”
Jing Lin looked up at Shen Du and said gravely,
“This time, they’re cutting off our retreat and trying to wear us down to death.”
Yingzhou City’s complex terrain, easy to defend and hard to attack, gave Shen Du and his men a significant advantage in holding the city.
But now, with the shortage of supplies—whether provisions or medical supplies—they were indispensable.
Moreover, those provisions included supplies for the reinforcements. With the provisions intercepted, it was a dead end.
The only difference was the timing of their demise.
Given Yingzhou’s current situation, even if they could hold out until the reinforcements arrived, Yingzhou would likely be a desolate wasteland by then.
After some thought, Shen Du looked at Jing Lin: “Where is Mo Qianzhi?”
“He’s shouting challenges beneath the city walls.”
It seemed that after seizing the provisions, he had deliberately chosen this moment to come and flaunt his power.
Shen Du gritted his teeth slightly, picked up the sword beside him, and was about to head out when he remembered Zhu Yan. He paused and turned back to look at her.
Zhu Yan had already returned to normal, though her lips were still slightly swollen, and her eyes shimmered with moisture, making Jing Lin feel awkward enough to avert his gaze.
“I’ll go with you.”
Shen Du pondered briefly before nodding in agreement.
—
The three of them ascended the city walls, where they could see a dense, dark crowd below, tightening their hearts.Watching Shen Du and Zhu Yan arrive together, Mo Qianzhi snorted coldly.
If it weren’t for Zhu Yan, this troublemaker, stirring up trouble by Shen Du’s side, Shen Du would likely have already defected to him, joining forces to overthrow the Empress’s rule.
“Mo Qianzhi, even now you remain obstinate?”
“It seems you’re in no position to reason with me at the moment.” Mo Qianzhi suddenly burst into laughter.
Following his laughter, the group of Fire Moth Party followers behind him joined in.
This was no exaggeration—Yingzhou was now practically an empty shell.
Meanwhile, Mo Qianzhi held nearly the entire Fire Moth Party in his hands, along with many of Yingzhou City’s former soldiers and officers. If he wanted to take the city by force, it would be almost effortless.
If not for the concern that a military assault would damage the reputation he had painstakingly built in Yingzhou over more than a decade—and the fear that the aftermath would be difficult to manage—Yingzhou would have long been under his control.
As the laughter subsided, Mo Qianzhi’s gaze swept over Zhu Yan before settling on Shen Du. “Weren’t you asking me for the antidote?”
Zhu Yan widened her eyes, staring intently at Mo Qianzhi.
“I can give it to you, but I have a condition.”
“What condition?” Zhu Yan spoke before Shen Du could, earning a sharp glare from Mo Qianzhi.
“Your head, Madam Shen.” Mo Qianzhi sneered, his smile devoid of any goodwill. “And I want Shen Du to deliver it to me personally.”
A collective gasp rose from the people on the city wall, followed by a tense silence.
Shen Du already felt there was no need to continue the discussion. He glanced subtly at Zhu Yan, only to see her expression calm and unruffled.
But this was merely Zhu Yan’s facade.
Inside, her emotions were churning violently. She knew this was the other side’s scheme.
Even if she were to fall on the spot, she wouldn’t receive the antidote, yet a sliver of hope still lingered in her heart.
It was this faint hope that made her feel anxious and tormented.
Mo Qianzhi didn’t rush them. Sitting on his horse with a half-smile, he glanced up at the sun overhead.
The autumn wind rose, dispelling the summer heat. The weather had suddenly turned cooler, and the breeze had grown gentler, losing much of its former dryness. Yet at noon, it was still somewhat warm.
Zhu Yan stepped forward, only for her hand to be grasped by Shen Du.
“How can a true man send a woman to her death?” Shen Du refused. “Let’s fight.”
“Shen Du, this is for your own good.”
“I fail to see how killing my wife does me any good.” He tightened his grip on his bow, nocking an arrow and ready to shoot it at the man below at any moment.
“She’s a spy. She has no feelings for anyone,” Mo Qianzhi roared in agitation. “And even if she does, it’s only to gain your trust.”
Shen Du’s expression darkened as he stared coldly at Mo Qianzhi.
“Just get rid of her, junior brother,” he suddenly changed his address. “You will surely come to your senses. You’ll see that this Great Zhou is riddled with wounds.”
An arrow shot through the air with such speed that he felt a gust of wind whistle past him.
It struck unerringly, hitting Lai Luofu—who was dressed in ordinary military attire—directly in the left side of his chest, beside Mo Qianzhi.
Lai Luofu grunted in pain, gritted his teeth, and yanked out the arrow. No longer bothering to conceal himself, he grinned viciously at Shen Du and Zhu Yan on the city wall.
Shen Du fell silent.
That arrow had originally been aimed at Mo Qianzhi, but at the last moment, Shen Du’s heart softened, and the arrow veered off course, striking the soldier beside him instead.
But instead of falling, the soldier pulled out the arrow and spat blood at him with a mocking smile. Shen Du narrowed his eyes, and at that moment, Zhu Yan gasped softly, “Lai Luofu.”
It turned out Lai Luofu had disguised himself as a soldier and infiltrated Mo Qianzhi’s side. If he hadn’t been accidentally shot by Shen Du… the consequences would have been unimaginable.Lai Luofu was a humanoid poison-making machine.
At this moment, everyone's gaze was fixed on Lai Luofu.
Everyone saw her fall to the ground after being shot in the heart by an arrow, then rise again to pull out the arrow. Blood flowed from the wound, yet she did not die.
How was this possible? They all knew how accurate Shen Du's arrows were—how could she not die?
"Ah, it's the Helm Master!"
The Fire Moth Party spotted Lai Luofu and, witnessing this strange sight, burst into cheers.
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