FIMA Ch117: Debt of Life

Xie Family Manor was situated just twenty miles outside of Jinling City.

Leaving the imperial palace, the four of them, on three horses, galloped along the quiet official road outside the city.

After about two quarters of an hour, they could see the faint glow of firelight in the distance, along with the faint outline of the manor.

Xie Chenyun sniffed the air, his expression changing slightly. “The smell of blood…”

The group immediately quickened their pace.

Sure enough, as they approached the main gate of the manor, Xie Chenyun saw that the usually tightly closed red-lacquered gate with copper rings was now wide open.

On either side of the gate eaves, two large lanterns had originally hung, but now one had fallen to the ground, burning without any wind.

Around the main gate and on the threshold, several guards wearing Xie family uniforms lay permanently in pools of blood.

Xie Chenyun’s face instantly turned pale. He jumped off the horse and rushed into the manor. “Mingkong…”

“Miss Shen!” Tang Sheng and Situ Feng exchanged a glance and also ran inside quickly.

Gu Siyuan sat alone on the high horse, staying at the pitch-black entrance of the manor with the corpses on the ground.

This scene could almost be used for a horror film.

However…

He slightly raised his eyes and clapped his hands lightly.

Several black shadows instantly and silently jumped down from the dense treetops around, kneeling straight at Gu Siyuan’s feet like ghosts.

These people, all dressed in black, were the shadow guards of the Great Zhou Dynasty’s royal family.

From the original body’s memories, it was known that although he was a muddleheaded emperor, his ancestors had left him a considerable legacy, among which these shadow guards were one.

Shadow guards were specially trained and selected, each capable of fighting ten, even a hundred men, and they only followed the orders of the Great Zhou Emperor.

Since he left the palace alone tonight, these shadow guards naturally followed to protect him.

Gu Siyuan ordered the few men in a calm voice, “Hide around the courtyard first. Wait for my signal to either rescue or… kill.”

“Yes,” the shadow guards responded in unison.

As for Xie Chenyun, after leaping over the manor gate, he saw the courtyard was brightly lit, crowded with nearly a hundred people.

A grand armchair was placed right in the middle of the path, and a beautiful, wicked-looking young girl sat on it.

On either side stood several warriors wearing the uniforms of the Qingli Sect, and there were also a young man and woman tied up, with sharp swords pressed against their necks—Xie Mingkong and Shen Luoshuang, who had been left at the Xie family manor.

Seeing his older brother, Xie Mingkong immediately called out with a distressed face, “Brother, it’s my fault for bringing trouble to our family…”

If he hadn’t brought these friends, the Xie family manor would never have gotten involved in such chaos.

Xie Chenyun didn’t speak; his eyes narrowed as he scanned the courtyard, focusing on the obvious instigator.

Although he had no personal dealings with Sun Yanyan, she was, after all, a friend brought back by his younger brother and had stayed at the Xie family manor for a few days, so he easily recognized her.

He said coldly, “Miss Sun, what is the meaning of this? Why are you causing trouble at my Xie Family Manor?”

Sun Yanyan glanced at him and said, “This has nothing to do with your Xie family.”

Tang Sheng, who followed them inside, saw Sun Yanyan, and his face changed, “Yanyan?”

Sun Yanyan immediately stood up from the chair, smiling brightly, “Brother Tang, you’re back?”

Facing her cheerful smile, Tang Sheng’s initial shock and anger unconsciously dissipated a lot, and he helplessly asked, “Yanyan, what are you trying to do?”

Sun Yanyan played with a strand of black hair draped over her chest and complained angrily to Tang Sheng, “I came to find you, but these people insisted on stopping me, so I had no choice but to kill them.”

“Yanyan…” Tang Sheng sighed helplessly, and after a moment of concentration, he added, “Then why did you capture Brother Xie and Miss Shen? Let them go quickly.”

“If I let them go, Brother Tang, would you still listen to me?” Sun Yanyan shook her head, her eyes glistening with light as she looked deeply at him, “Brother Tang, I admit I was wrong to deceive you before, but I know my mistake now. If we truly love each other, why must we torment each other like this?”

Looking at her beautiful, pale face, Tang Sheng noticed that after just a day apart, Sun Yanyan had become noticeably more haggard.

For a moment, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of pity, thinking to himself: Yanyan may have many faults, but her feelings for me are genuine. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come back to the Xie Family Manor and spared the lives of Miss Shen and Brother Xie.

Sun Yanyan called out again, “Brother Tang…”

Tang Sheng instinctively took a few steps forward, reaching out as if to embrace her, “Yanyan.”

Xie Chenyun, witnessing this scene, turned extremely cold, “So, you two are treating my Xie Family Manor as a place for your flirtations? Talking of love amidst a pile of corpses, your taste is truly admirable.”

At this moment, Shen Luoshuang, who was being held hostage, urgently called out to Tang Sheng, “Brother Tang, don’t believe a word this witch says.”

Tang Sheng’s mind buzzed, and his steps halted, realizing the seriousness of the situation. He looked around awkwardly at everyone.

Seeing Tang Sheng’s reaction, Sun Yanyan’s expression turned sinister. She coldly instructed her subordinates, “Cut out that woman’s tongue.”

Upon hearing this, Tang Sheng’s face changed instantly.

Although he had lingering feelings for Sun Yanyan, Shen Luoshuang was also a woman he cared about. He quickly stopped her, “Stop, Yanyan, don’t.”

Sun Yanyan became increasingly displeased.

She glared at Tang Sheng with her beautiful eyes, “Brother Tang, if you are willing to come with me today and personally disfigure that woman, I’ll let this matter rest.”

Tang Sheng’s eyes widened in disbelief, “Yanyan, Miss Shen has done nothing. Why do you want to harm her?”

Sun Yanyan stomped her foot, pouting, “She likes you, and I don’t like that.”

Tang Sheng let out a breath, half-laughing and half-crying as he tried to persuade her, “Yanyan, don’t be willful. Let your people release Miss Shen and Brother Xie. Let’s sit down and talk this out.”

Sun Yanyan shook her head resolutely and said, “No way.”

Xie Chenyun had seen enough of their flirtatious exchanges.

He had hoped that Tang Sheng’s affection for this witch might persuade her to release his younger brother, avoiding any further incidents or unnecessary casualties.

But now it seemed it was all in vain, and he had just watched a free performance by a pair of brainless lovers.

He raised his sword, pointing it at Sun Yanyan, and coldly said, “Just as well, I don’t want to talk either. How could today’s events be taken lightly?”

“Good, very good, so you all have such backbone?” Sun Yanyan, furious that Tang Sheng wouldn’t listen to her, became even angrier seeing Xie Chenyun refuse to be threatened. She immediately ordered her subordinates, “Listen to my command, and in a moment, kill those two.”

After speaking, she laughed triumphantly, as if she could already see Xie Chenyun and Tang Sheng in unbearable pain.

“Life and death are such casual matters to you.”

A cold male voice echoed from the courtyard entrance.

Xie Chenyun looked up.

He saw Gu Siyuan standing tall and elegant, a large lantern above his head casting light upon him, making him appear like the bright sun illuminating the night, dazzling everyone.

He then remembered that he had just left this noble emperor outside.

“Who are you? Why should I care about what you do?” Sun Yanyan, seeing Gu Siyuan’s refined appearance, for once had the interest to say more, pointing at the corpses of the Xie family guards and sneering, “They tried to interfere with my affairs, so I killed them all. You don’t look like an ordinary person, so your life must be more precious than these guards. You should cherish it and mind your own business.”

Gu Siyuan stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent, “In this world, there is nothing that I cannot meddle in.”

As soon as he finished speaking, there were two soft sounds in quick succession.

The two Qingli  warriors holding Xie Mingkong and Shen Luoshuang simultaneously let out a cry and then collapsed, revealing two arrows that had pierced through their backs.

A shout of alarm arose from those nearby.

They then noticed that, without anyone realizing it, several black-clad figures were standing silently on the walls of the Xie Family Manor, each holding a long bow.

Xie Mingkong and Shen Luoshuang, being smart, immediately ran towards Xie Chenyun upon losing their captors.

Xie Chenyun’s long sword flickered, sending a silver-white streak through the night, slashing towards the remaining Qingli warriors who tried to pursue.

Tang Sheng and Situ Feng also stopped talking, each using their inner strength to launch attacks.

The Qingli warriors were naturally not as skilled as Xie Chenyun and the others. With the hostages no longer a threat, Xie Chenyun and his companions fought without any restraint.

Moreover, they had the assistance of the black-clad figures on the walls with their long-range arrows.

In no time, the battle was decided.

The dozens of Qingli warriors were either captured or killed outright.

Sun Yanyan stood there, her face deathly pale, her slender body trembling slightly.

Tang Sheng, seeing her in such a state, felt a bit of pity. He gently touched her hair and sighed, “Now that the hostages are no longer in your hands and your people have been captured, don’t be so willful anymore. Leave here.”

Sun Yanyan’s eyes glistened with tears as she looked deeply at Tang Sheng. She then lowered her head like a child who had made a mistake and turned to walk out of the manor.

Everyone watched her back with subtle expressions.

Shen Luoshuang hesitated to speak.

Situ Feng closed his eyes.

“Wait!” A voice filled with boundless coldness rang out.

Xie Chenyun stared straight at Sun Yanyan, “Do you think you can just leave?”

“Brother Xie…” Tang Sheng frowned, looking at Xie Chenyun, “This time, Yanyan acted out of a moment of confusion, and it was ultimately because of me. Brother Xie, for my sake, let this matter go.”

“Your face is worth saving, but the lives of others are not?” Xie Chenyun’s face was extremely cold, “She tried to harm my brother, killed so many people in my Xie Family Manor, and now she wants to leave as if nothing happened. Do you take my Xie family as a joke, do you take me, Xie Chenyun, as a joke?”

Hearing these uncompromising words, Tang Sheng’s face turned a bit unpleasant.

He took a deep breath and turned to look at Xie Mingkong, who had just taken the antidote and was now recovering in a chair, “Brother Mingkong, for the sake of our friendship, forgive Yanyan this time. She’s just a girl with a child’s temperament and won’t do this again.”

Xie Mingkong raised his head and looked calmly at Tang Sheng, “Brother Tang, before you said that, we indeed had a friendship.”

Tang Sheng’s eyes flickered, “Brother Mingkong, what do you mean?”

Xie Mingkong softly said, “Because we were friends, even though I knew that Sun Yanyan did evil in the Xie Family Manor because of you, I never blamed you. I only hated myself for not being more forceful in stopping you from letting her go yesterday, which led to today’s disaster.”

“Brother Tang, before, you were deceived and pestered by Sun Yanyan. Even yesterday, when you let her go out of old feelings, I didn’t think you were wrong. Being soft-hearted isn’t a big fault, and it’s not your fault to be unlucky enough to encounter such a wicked person. Since I truly considered you a friend, I shouldn’t have blamed you casually but should have actively supported you.”

These words moved everyone present. The world is full of people who shirk responsibility, looking for others’ faults when problems arise.

In times of danger, even husbands and wives may flee separately, let alone friends of just two months.

For Xie Mingkong, a young man of only seventeen or eighteen, to say such things was indeed impressive.

“Brother Mingkong…” Tang Sheng’s expression became quite complicated.

He never realized that Xie Mingkong, who he always thought of as someone who only spent money carelessly, could speak so eloquently.

He felt as if he had been elevated, and if he said or did anything wrong next, he might be despised by everyone present.

“But now, seeing Brother Tang’s reaction and response, I realize I was wrong. Sun Yanyan wasn’t just pestering you; you enjoyed her pestering. Otherwise, why would you tolerate her again and again, even after she killed so many people, poisoned me and Miss Shen, and just now ordered her men to kill us? You still think she acted on impulse and believe she doesn’t need to face any consequences, letting her go easily again.”

Xie Mingkong stared directly at him, his tone suddenly becoming icy cold: “You and her are truly a perfect match, a pair of natural-born scumbags.”

The scene grew even quieter, like a theater after a play had ended.

“Clap… clap…” A clear applause broke the silence.

Gu Siyuan stood by the door, hands behind his back, nodding slightly at Xie Mingkong, “You, young one, have some wisdom. Well said.”

“…” Xie Mingkong.

What kind of praise is that?

“…” Xie Chenyun.

You’re only twenty, calling my twin brother a child, what’s the meaning of that?

Tang Sheng’s face turned extremely ugly, his fists clenched tightly.

Xie Mingkong’s earlier heartfelt words now seemed like a setup to elevate himself while degrading and insulting Tang Sheng. Tang Sheng had even felt touched a moment ago.

But now, this made things easier, removing any moral dilemma he might have had.

Sun Yanyan snorted, tugging at Tang Sheng’s sleeve and pouting, “See? In the end, only I am truly devoted to you. These so-called friends turn their backs when their own interests are at stake.”

She was beautiful, and even in such a situation, her act of pouting and saying such things didn’t annoy Tang Sheng but instead felt soothing.

Tang Sheng held her small hand, gently comforting her, “Don’t worry, as long as I’m here today, no one can harm you.”

He had the confidence to say this.

Although he had only obtained half of the “Xiantian Qiankun Gong” manual a few months ago, his internal energy had increased unimaginably.

Among those present, only Xie Chenyun could match him in combat.

But since Xie Chenyun was heavily injured by Wei Feng earlier when leaving Jinling Palace, Tang Sheng had no concerns now.

One could say he was the strongest martial artist present.

Tang Sheng took a deep breath and looked at Xie Mingkong, “Brother Mingkong, since you’re forcing me like this, I have nothing more to explain. I do feel deeply sorry for what happened at the Xie Family Manor, but Yanyan is the woman I love, and I can’t just watch her get hurt.”

“Can’t just watch? Are the bodies lying in front of you not once vibrant lives?”

Gu Siyuan stepped out from the light, walking into the courtyard, his gaze deep as he looked at Tang Sheng, “For the lives taken by your lover, your tone and actions should be more sincere and solemn. A mere apology, without any sincere remorse, is absolutely insufficient.”

“Since it’s blood, it must be washed with blood; since it’s a life, it must be repaid with a life.”

With these words, silence fell over the scene.

But Xie Chenyun had already raised his sword.

Xie Mingkong, pale-faced, also stood up from his chair.

“Today, my brother and I will test Brother Tang’s skills.”