Chapter 252 - 261: Ruthless and Merciless

When Han Yu reached this point, his heart skipped a beat as he suddenly made the connection with the last name. The Zhai Family in Guanzhong, could it be? If that was indeed the case, he had hit the jackpot. Accused and sent to the mountains to suppress bandits, he instead netted the allegiance of the Zhai family heir. Even someone as composed as Han Yu felt a flutter of excitement in his heart, akin to finding a treasured bounty.

Han Yu had always kept a close eye on the Imperial Court’s affairs. When he was back in his hometown, farming and hunting with no other sources of information, he would visit the teahouse during his free time to listen to storytellers and even made some friends. Once he joined the military camp, he had access to better resources, and his understanding of the court’s affairs deepened. Although he couldn’t know the court’s top-secret matters due to his limited abilities, he was well aware of other events and trends, such as the dissolution of the major martial arts families by the court. Some had surrendered to the Imperial Court, while a few ‘hard bones’ were ‘gnawed’ by the court and annihilated—the Zhai Family, the head of the martial arts families, was the most uproarious case in recent days.

Hearing Han Yu speak of the Zhai Family’s past glories and pride, Zhai Li couldn’t contain his emotions any longer. His face was filled with reminiscence and hatred, his eyes blood-red. After all, he was only sixteen, and to have experienced such a catastrophe at such a young age, even the toughest of minds couldn’t remain impassive while mentioning it. After all, it had not been long since the event. Such profound scars were not to be forgotten in such a short time or even a lifetime.

“You are a descendant of the Zhai Family? Seeing your martial arts style, and your performance in all aspects, possessing such skills at such a young age must be the result of your family’s full support. If I’m not mistaken, you must be a direct descendant of the Zhai Family. Judging by your age, your father is the family head Zhai Qinghan, right?” Han Yu’s words were filled with conviction. At the time, he felt sorry for the Zhai family, with their iron bones and unyielding spirit, truly admirable yet a pity to be wiped out, leaving no heir to continue the lineage. He had thought no descendant of the Zhai Family had survived that massacre.

But it made sense after some thought. Such a martial arts family with a long heritage and deep roots couldn’t be as straightforward and blunt as they appeared on the surface. They must have realized the Imperial Court’s determination to eradicate them, and they could not forsake the pride in their bones and violate the ancestors’ rules by submitting to the Imperial Court—or rather, submitting to the treacherous minister Wang Mang. It’s understandable to seek survival through twists and turns, but there is a line that cannot be crossed. Left with no choice, they resorted to such a desperate measure, sacrificing the entire clan in exchange for a glimmer of survival and hope for the Zhai Family. Thinking about it, the burden on Zhai Li’s shoulders was immense.

“Lord Han’s speculation is correct. I am the only legitimate son of the head of the Zhai Family, Zhai Qinghan; my original name is Zhai Mo, but after escaping, I changed my name to Zhai Li, which is this alias I am using now.” Zhai Li, having decided to reveal his identity to Han Yu, didn’t hide it and promptly admitted his status, briefly describing his experiences after escaping from the Zhai Family.

It turned out that on that day, Zhai Li was sent away by the elders of his family along with his mother and his ten-year-old cousin. Accompanying him were several young members from other martial arts families who were also persecuted by the Imperial Court and sent out by their families as hopes for the future, escaping together. Despite their families’ meticulous arrangements, betrayal led the Imperial Court to learn about their departure, prompting agents to hunt them down.

In a dire situation, Zhai Li and three other young masters from various families decided to let women and children escape first while they delayed the enemy. The plan was to shake off the pursuers and follow the markers to rejoin them, unaware that their relatives would encounter bandits. These bandits were extremely brutal, not only robbing them but also slaughtering all their kin.

After the family’s demise, these were the only relatives they had left in the world. The youths, having just escaped a great peril, were faced with such devastating news. They yearned to storm the stronghold and annihilate the bandits. But at the crucial moment, Zhai Li regained his senses and stopped the others.

Though skilled in martial arts, they were no match for a group of bandits, powerful in number. It would have been different if they were ordinary people—they could just fight to the death. But they were different; they bore the heavy responsibility of their families’ survival. From the moment their families expended all efforts to grant them this slim chance at life, their lives no longer belonged to themselves.

Unable to risk their lives in a fight but with deep-seated vengeance that could not go unavenged, the youths decided to disguise themselves as refugees and join the bandits, infiltrating the stronghold.

After Zhai Li finished, the other three young masters also recounted their experiences, similar in essence. Zhang Xing came from the Big Sword Zhang Family, and the Qi brothers, Qi Yun and Qi Shen, were from the Qi family of Muay Thai.

Looking at Qi Shen, the youngest, not yet thirteen, even someone as stoic as Han Yu couldn’t help but feel for the unfortunate lives of the youths, who had endured great hardships and disasters. Fortunately, they had survived, proving all four to be of firm and resolute temperament. No wonder they were chosen by their elders. Even though some of their ideas were simplistic due to their family’s protection, their potential was greater. With time and hardship, they were all bound to grow and reach heights unreachable to others.

“That is the journey we’ve been through. I won’t hide it from you, Master. The one we have a grievance with is Prime Minister Wang Mang, the most powerful man in the Imperial Court who currently controls the court politics. We’ve been pursued by Mang’s men all the way here, and if you were to shelter us, Master, it could bring you trouble,” Zhai Li said, bracing himself. Before, he didn’t want to reveal their identities to Han Yu partly because he feared Han Yu would refuse to shelter them due to the potential complications. Now, having laid out their entire background, they awaited Han Yu’s reaction.

“Being pursued by Prime Minister Wang’s men is indeed troublesome. With his high position and great power, his influence permeates the court and the fields. Even martial arts aristocratic families like yours have fallen to him, and I’m even less capable of contending with Lord Wang,” Han Yu said. Upon hearing these words, Zhai Li and the others’ hearts sank. Did this mean he did not wish to take them in? It was understandable after all; with Mang the villain’s ruthless nature, knowing about them might implicate Lord Han.

“If Lord Han does not wish to take us in, then please let us leave. At least provide us a chance for life. Otherwise, falling into Imperial Court’s hands, we face only death,” Zhai Li thought Han Yu was only concerned about the risk of being implicated and hadn’t considered at all that Han Yu might hand them over to seek favor with Wang Mang after learning their identities.