Chapter 49: At Death’s Door

Yue Ji pressed Xu Jin forward, step by step, toward the soldiers. Xu Jin furrowed his brow, hesitating whether to order the soldiers to stop; after all, entering Peach Blossom Valley was no easy task. Before Xu Jin could think further, Yue Ji tightened her grip on the sword, and blood already traced a line across Xu Jin’s neck. The guards, seeing Xu Jin held hostage, instinctively halted. Yue Ji commanded again, “Drop all your weapons!”

The guards exchanged uncertain glances, unsure whether to obey. Yue Ji gripped her sword even more fiercely, causing Xu Jin pain; he had no choice but to gesture for the guards to lay down their blades. Reluctantly, they complied, fearing Yue Ji might truly end Xu Jin’s life, and slowly edged closer to her. Yue Ji sneered at the guards, then mocked Xu Jin coldly, “Where is that old man? I want to see him!”

“My father is not someone you can see at whim. Look at your own status—a band of fugitive thieves. Even if I cannot destroy your lair today, my father will someday sweep you all away!” Xu Jin retorted.

Yue Ji slapped Xu Jin sharply. Suddenly, Xu Jin twisted aside, seizing Du Juan by the throat. The guards immediately snatched up their swords, charging into the crowd to battle the villagers of Peach Blossom Valley.

“You mustn’t hurt Du Juan. You promised me!” Chen Yage tried to rescue Du Juan from Xu Jin’s grasp, but Xu Jin retreated several meters with Du Juan in tow.

Tension filled the air. At that moment, a mass of villagers surged from every direction. Xu Jin’s expression changed dramatically; just when victory seemed within reach, more villagers appeared, encircling his men—a blow as unexpected as it was crushing.

He watched as one guard after another fell, blood spraying, cries of agony echoing everywhere. Xu Jin’s eyes reddened. “Stop! Stop! If you don’t stop, I’ll kill her!”

He tightened his grasp, frightening Du Juan. She cast desperate, pleading glances at Yue Ji, crying out, “Mother, mother, help me, mother…”

“So you’re her daughter. Hmph! Old thief, order your people to halt, or aren’t you afraid I’ll kill her?” Xu Jin exclaimed, eyes alight with hope.

“No, you can’t kill her. You must keep your word!” Chen Yage pleaded, stepping toward Xu Jin. He barked at her not to approach, forcing her to halt.

Yue Ji snorted coldly, “Do you really dare kill her? If you don’t fear regret, then go ahead and do it.”

“Mother, don’t!” Shui Niu, seeing Du Juan held hostage, darted to Yue Ji’s side, ready to fight, eyes fixed warily on Xu Jin.

“Why wouldn’t I dare? If you don’t tell your people to stop, I guarantee she’ll die with my brothers!”

“Xu Jin, are you planning to break your promise?” Chen Yage shouted at him.

“I don’t want to, but I can’t let my brothers die in vain…” Xu Jin’s agitation grew. Fearing he might harm Du Juan in his frenzy, Chen Yage compromised, “Release Du Juan, and I guarantee your men will leave here unharmed, all right?”

As she finished speaking, she was suddenly seized by Ziye, who gripped her neck tightly, eyes brimming with disdain.

“You really think you’re the young mistress? Peach Blossom Valley isn’t a place for people like you to come and go as you please.”

Chen Yage had never intended to impose, but since she had brought Xu Jin here, she bore responsibility for everything that had happened. Not killing Bozhong, yet Bozhong died because of her! She could only pray for Du Juan and Li Bai’s safety, hoping no more innocent lives would be lost.

“Let her go!” Li Bai, worried that Chen Yage might be injured, snatched a guard’s sword and pressed it against Ziye’s throat. His face was cold, his white robe emanating an icy aura. Though he disapproved of Chen Yage’s actions, all he could do now was minimize casualties.

“Brother Bai, don’t do this, don’t worry about me!” Chen Yage’s pleading gaze made Li Bai’s hand falter, but then he pressed the sword to Ziye’s throat again, “Release her!”

Seeing their stalemate, Chen Yage’s anger flared. With Du Juan in danger, neither of them acted to save her, instead quarreling among themselves. She shouted, “Are you both going to ignore Du Juan’s safety?”

Suddenly, Ziyu darted forward, throwing a dart at Xu Jin. Distracted by Chen Yage and the others, Xu Jin failed to notice Ziyu at his side, giving her a chance. The dart grazed Xu Jin’s hand, forcing him to release Du Juan, who seized the moment to escape his grasp.

Xu Jin’s eyes blazed with fury. He roared, “Seize these bandits!” At his command, the guards and villagers resumed their brutal fight.

Ziyu and Yue Ji attacked Xu Jin together. He barely fended off their initial assault, retreating defensively step by step until he could no longer withstand their blows. Yue Ji finally captured him.

Without mercy, Yue Ji kicked him in the chest; blood spurted from Xu Jin’s mouth, but he stubbornly tried to rise, only to be kicked down again by Yue Ji. Blood poured from his lips until, at last, he could not rise. He lay prone, staring at Chen Yage.

“You bandits, your crimes are countless. Sooner or later, the imperial court will wipe you all out! Ha ha, ha ha…” Xu Jin laughed wildly.

Ziyu kicked him again, mocking, “You’re still so useless. You couldn’t catch us before, and you never will. You’ll always be the court’s lapdog and our defeated foe!”

Chen Yage had felt deep remorse for bringing Xu Jin into Peach Blossom Valley, but upon hearing Ziyu’s biting words, she began to question whether she had truly erred. She looked at Ziye and asked softly, “Are you really…?”

“Bandits?” Ziye interrupted her.

Li Bai was stunned, suddenly understanding why Chen Yage had brought Xu Jin here, and feeling ashamed for having misunderstood her.

Xu Jin shouted again, “Chen Yage, you fool! They show you a bit of favor and blind your eyes. Do you know how much official silver they’ve robbed, how many people have gone without the court’s grain and money because of them? You think you’re a great person, but you women are nothing but cowards who cling to life!”

“I’ll kill you!” Xu Jin’s insults were aimed at Chen Yage, but Ziyu’s eyes blazed with rage. Raised as a martial artist and often bullied for being a girl, she despised those who looked down on women. With a swift, fierce motion, she snatched a sword and stabbed fiercely at Xu Jin.

Her swordsmanship was fast, precise, and driven by anger. The blade was only a hair’s breadth from Xu Jin’s heart when Yue Ji deflected it. Ziyu lost her balance and fell to the ground.