Chapter 926: Public Beheading

Editor: Henyee Translations

Lou Ze swiftly blocked an attack with his hand while simultaneously pushing Tang Jinghong and “Chu Qingzhi” to the side.

Tang Jinghong drew his sword and lunged at Hong Feiyun, who dodged the thrust, missing the strike. Lou Ze then slapped Hong Feiyun, causing her to inadvertently lunge toward Tang Jinghong’s sword.

“Thwack—” the sound of the weapon piercing flesh was unsettlingly crisp.

Hong Feiyun looked at the sword impaled through her abdomen in disbelief. Why couldn’t she resist when she was pushed just moments ago?

Tang Jinghong withdrew his sword. “Chu Qingzhi,” standing at a distance, rushed forward in excitement, pulled out a dagger, and slit Hong Feiyun’s throat. Blood splattered over her. “I have finally killed you, avenging my family. I have done it at last!”

Hong Feiyun’s expression was one of shock and realization, succumbing to her wounds in resentment.

Lou Ze, utterly confused, remarked, “What’s going on? Is this some kind of internal conflict?”

Tang Jinghong whispered to Lou Ze, “I’m not sure either. When I went to the room to see her, she asked me to save her, even writing the message in her palm.”

Lou Ze thought to himself that something was amiss, “Let’s deal with these assassins first.”

They then split up to counterattack.

Just then, “Chu Qingzhi” shouted, “Your leader has been killed by us, any resistance will be met with death!”

Lou Ze and Tang Jinghong ignored her and continued fighting. At such a critical moment, her cries were ineffective.

With the military pressing in and the formidable combat skills of Lou Ze and Tang Jinghong, it wasn’t long before they had eliminated all the assassins. The theater was soon filled with the stench of blood.

Lou Ze and Tang Jinghong descended to the ground floor.

Tang Jinghong ordered, “Check for survivors and secure the finances.”

This was everyone’s favorite moment, gathering the spoils after annihilating the enemy. Meng Shengdong responded, “Yes, General.”

Others took over the responsibility, leaving nothing for Lou Ze and Tang Jinghong to do. They stepped out onto the street.

Zeng Huo approached them with a bow, “I didn’t expect Hong Feiyun to personally engage and still be defeated by you two.”

Lou Ze looked at Zeng Huo, “When they deliver themselves to our doorstep, how can we refuse?”

“Hundreds of people, Hong Feiyun had indeed gambled everything,” Zeng Huo remarked, awestruck, “What’s next?”

Lou Ze proposed, “I’ll impersonate Hong Feiyun, and you’ll assist me in meeting this Left Emissary.”

Zeng Huo expressed concern, “The Left Emissary is one of Lord Yun’s ten close attendants, highly skilled and extremely sharp. He won’t be easy to handle.”

Lou Ze bluntly stated, “If that’s the case, then we’ll just have to eliminate him.”

Zeng Huo was nervous, “Be careful. If something goes wrong, and Lord Yun finds out, you might never see him again.”

Lou Ze secretly resolved to uncover exactly who Lord Yun was first, “I understand. I won’t act rashly.”

At least before killing the Left Emissary, he would need to master his mannerisms and tone.

Zeng Huo nodded.

Lou Ze then turned to Tang Jinghong, “I’m off. Take care of yourself and keep in touch.”

Tang Jinghong squeezed Chu Qingzhi’s hand reassuringly, “Be careful. Let me know in advance the next time you return; I’ll prepare a meal.”

Lou Ze smiled, “Sure.”

The two parted ways. “Chu Qingzhi” ran out from the theater, looking around, “Jinghong, where did that young man go?”

Tang Jinghong, with a stern voice and commanding presence, replied, “The name of this general is not for you to use casually. Mind your words!”

“Chu Qingzhi” shuddered with a chill, stammering, “Ge-General, have you recognized me?”

Tang Jinghong gave her a look that said ‘are you an idiot’, “I knew from the beginning you were not her. Now, who are you?”

“Chu Qingzhi” knelt down, “Forgive me, General. My name is Lan Qiongzhen, daughter of a theater troupe leader in the city. A year ago, a group of men in black raided our home, killed the entire troupe, and kidnapped me.”

“I was taken to a mysterious place where they forced me to learn everything about Chu Qingzhi.”

“I never wanted to learn about Chu Qingzhi, but if I refused, they beat me and threatened to sell me into a brothel. I had no choice but to comply.”

“I’ve been trying to find a way to escape, but the security was too tight, and I couldn’t get away.”

“It was only two days ago that I was brought to this theater. They instructed me to lure you in and then take the opportunity to kill you. However, I did not follow through with their plan.”

Lan Qiongzhen spoke earnestly, “General, every word I say is true. If you don’t believe me, you can verify my story in the city. Can you let me go?”

Tang Jinghong looked at Lan Qiongzhen intently, “If I let you go now, you’d be killed the moment you step out. Do you still want to leave?”

Lan Qiongzhen, confused, asked, “Why?”

“Because you look like her!” Tang Jinghong scrutinized Lan Qiongzhen, searching for any differences between her and Chu Qingzhi. He finally noticed a small mole at the tip of her eyebrow.

Lan Qiongzhen pleaded urgently, “It’s not my fault I look like her. I can’t help it.”

“That’s something you might want to explain to the assassins, though they might not listen,” Tang Jinghong remarked coldly. Someone with Chu Qingzhi’s face could easily be used by malevolent forces to wreak havoc, potentially ruining Chu Qingzhi’s reputation in the army or among the public.

Lan Qiongzhen’s expression stiffened, realizing the gravity of her situation, “General, please save me.”

Tang Jinghong instructed, “Wear a veil. Come with me to the military camp. Without my order, you must not remove the veil in public, you cannot leave the camp, you must not meet anyone, and you must behave. Once the matters in the eastern border are settled, you will be free. If you disobey, you will be dealt with according to military law.”

Lan Qiongzhen, somewhat frightened, asked, “What is military law?”

Tang Jinghong spoke slowly, “Public beheading.”

Lan Qiongzhen was taken aback, “…”

She didn’t want to die. She still wanted to find her brother, see the destruction of the Yun Organization, and witness the end of all this before she could consider death.

Lan Qiongzhen solemnly vowed, “I will follow your orders precisely.”

Tang Jinghong no longer engaged with her. After the army looted the spoils of war, he returned to the military camp.

He took Lan Qiongzhen to Chu Qingning’s tent and stood at the entrance, “Qingning, come out for a moment.”

Chu Qingning immediately emerged from the tent. Her gaze briefly flitted over Lan Qiongzhen, who was veiled, then settled on Tang Jinghong, “Jinghong, what happened?”

Tang Jinghong, with one hand behind his back, explained, “This person will be under your care from now on. She will serve as your maid and assistant.”

Chu Qingning looked puzzled, “Who is she?”

Tang Jinghong instructed Lan Qiongzhen, “Remove your veil and show her. From now on, she is your mistress. Besides keeping your identity hidden, you have an additional duty to protect her.”

“Yes, General,” Lan Qiongzhen said as she removed her veil.