Сhаpter 311: Тhе Firе Моth Party 43
Shеn Du wаs secrеtly frustratеd. Nоt оnlу hаd hе failed tо find the antidote todaу, but hе had аlso еndеd uр trаpреd. Не hаd long sеnsed something аmiss in this сamр, yet his cоncern fоr the antidоtе hаd drivеn him tо tаkе the risk and еntеr—a misсаlсulatiоn on his раrt.
Meаnwhilе, Mо Qianzhi had not уet given up оn реrsuading Shеn Du to "abandоn thе dаrkness fоr thе light."
"Dо уоu knоw? Thе Grеat Zhоu is sick, grаvely siсk," Mо Qiаnzhi stаted соldlу. "Тhe Great Zhоu is beyond saving now. Тhat woman must bе overthrоwn."
"Thе Grеat Zhоu must be rebuilt."
Shen Du calculated the likelihood of breaking out alone.
"What you are doing now is aiding the tyrant!" At this point, Mo Qianzhi grew agitated. "Zhou Zhao is merely a woman. Her ascension to that lofty position was unreasonable from the start. Unable to command respect, she could only indulge scoundrels like Lai Luozhi to frame loyal officials. The Shen family case from years ago is a prime example. Shen Du, when will you wake up?"
Though the wrongful case of the Shen family had occurred years ago, its influence lingered to this day, never forgotten.
"She spared your life not entirely because of my kneeling plea, but to demonstrate to the world that the Empress is not one to kill indiscriminately, thereby pacifying those with rebellious intentions."
Killing one to warn a hundred.
Mo Qianzhi had thought mentioning the Shen family would jolt Shen Du awake, but it did not elicit the expected reaction.
"You are the one aiding the tyrant," Shen Du spun the dagger in his hand, his gaze resolute. "The Fire Moth Party commits countless atrocities and slaughters the innocent. By indulging their rampage and shielding their murders, you are gravely mistaken."
Without giving Mo Qianzhi a chance to retort, he continued, "Moreover, the mastermind behind the Fire Moth Party is Lai Luozhi."
"Silence!"
Mo Qianzhi felt that listening to Shen Du's nonsense was a waste of time—better to simply kill him and be done with it.
"Chen Huo'e is clearly a man. Besides, Lai Luozhi relies entirely on the Empress for his survival. Others may dare to rebel, but he would never dare betray the Empress."
The Fire Moth Party was a malignant tumor of the Great Zhou dynasty; it could not possibly be Lai Luozhi.
"You have been blinded by the Empress, intoxicated by power. You have long forgotten the unjust souls of the Shen family. You have betrayed virtue and forsaken righteousness. You deserve to die."
Mo Qianzhi stepped back and said coldly, "Kill him." With that, he turned away, refusing to look at Shen Du.
Seeing that he could no longer delay, Shen Du steeled himself, preparing to find a way to break through the encirclement.
He took down several Half-Faced Ghosts, but more surged forward. Shen Du dared not let his guard down, gathering his focus to fight on.
Just then, the sound of war drums echoed from not far away.
The crowd surrounding Shen Du grew restless but was immediately suppressed by Mo Qianzhi.
"This is nothing but their petty trick. Their reinforcements haven't arrived—where would they get more troops?"
Mo Qianzhi sneered coldly. This was clearly a deceptive tactic meant to confuse. He had used this strategy himself when leading troops against the barbarians years ago and saw through it at once.
"Right, there are no reinforcements. They are merely setting up a decoy."
Lai Luofu, fully concealed and nearly invisible in the darkness, had arrived at some unknown time and only now revealed himself.
Mo Qianzhi snorted coldly, paying him no heed.
Lai Luofu stepped forward, a smug expression on his face. "Shen Du, you will surely die today."
This move earned a scornful glance from Mo Qianzhi—truly adept at stealing credit, yet nothing more than a coward.
The sound of horns echoed, grand and imposing. Shen Du was filled with suspicion—this was not part of the plan he had discussed with Jing Lin. Yet, he showed no sign of it on his face, seizing the moment to catch his breath while still finding ways to provoke his opponents:"This pavilion is certain to die? Yet I always feel you are the one courting death."
A man on the brink of death dared to be so arrogant, stirring the Half-Faced Ghosts into restless agitation.
"A half-dead man, still daring to stir up trouble everywhere," Shen Du glanced at Lai Luofu, finding great satisfaction in seeing her gloomy expression. "Aren't you afraid you'll die out there one day with no one to collect your corpse?"
As soon as the words fell, Lai Luofu clutched her wound. Though the arrow had not struck her heart, it had pierced her lungs. The residual force churned her flesh, damaging her organs and severely depleting her vitality. It was only after self-adjustment that she had arrived late.
Shen Du seemed to find it insufficient: "Wearing another's skin, you cannot live long in the end."
Beneath her mask, Lai Luofu's face turned deathly pale. Fearing Shen Du might reveal more secrets, she endured the pain and retorted viciously: "A turtle in a jar, cease your futile struggles."
Shen Du's sword-like brows lifted slightly, his deep pupils dark and profound. Facing the Half-Faced Ghosts who wished to tear him apart, he showed no fear:
"Rest assured, you will die before this pavilion, because..." He pointed to his own face. "Haven't you already died once?"
"Cease your nonsense here," she took a step forward but was blocked by Mo Qianzhi, forcing her to retreat. "I am one who has died and returned to life, the Chosen One. What are you?"
The Half-Faced Ghosts cheered: "Died and returned to life!"
Their cries drowned out all other sounds, and only then did the crowd realize the earth-shaking horn blasts had vanished.
Instantly, the Half-Faced Ghosts cheered even louder, surrounding Shen Du.
"Kill him!"
"Kill him!"
"..."
Seeing these people so foolishly swearing loyalty unto death, Shen Du shook his head and sighed. Those who are asleep cannot be awakened; let it be.
Lai Luofu raised her hand and directly ordered Shen Du's execution by arrows.
All the Half-Faced Ghosts raised their bows, aiming at Shen Du, while the officers and soldiers led by Mo Qianzhi remained motionless without orders.
This angered Lai Luofu: "Lord Mo, this is the best opportunity. Do not be foolishly kind (indulge in womanly mercy)."
Mo Qianzhi, equally displeased, issued a warning: "It was agreed all would follow my commands. What, do you wish to break your word?"
At that moment, Lai Luofu felt murderous intent toward Mo Qianzhi. To avoid internal conflict, she turned and raised her hand:
"Kill!"
"Wait!" Mo Qianzhi tried to stop her, but it was too late. All arrows flew toward Shen Du at the center of the encirclement.
Shen Du drew the soft sword from his waist to parry. Under the torchlight, silver light flashed as the blade clashed with the arrows, creating a dazzling spectacle of sparks like fiery trees and silver flowers.
One arrow grazed Shen Du's arm, tearing flesh and causing searing pain.
"Everyone, attack together.regardless of life or death"
The Half-Faced Ghosts surged forward, determined to slay Shen Du there.
Beneath his sleeves, Mo Qianzhi's fingers trembled slightly, his fingertips tightening. His heart pounded rapidly. Though he believed himself resolute and had anticipated this moment, now that it had arrived, seeing Shen Du surrounded by the swarming Half-Faced Ghosts, an inexplicable panic washed over him, suffocating and overwhelming.
Raising his hand, Mo Qianzhi gazed into the night, still hesitating.
Before anyone could speak, the war drums sounded again.
This time was different from before—the sound was more real, closer, and more resounding.
Everyone was thrown into disarray.
Impossible. Reinforcements couldn't arrive this quickly. Lai Luofu listened in disbelief to the increasingly heavy beat of the war drums.Suddenly, a large group of Great Zhou soldiers waving flags and shouting battle cries appeared all around them. The clamor of killing shook the heavens and earth. Under the cover of night, ghostly shadows loomed, while mist rose from the mountains, creating the illusion of an approaching army of thousands.
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