Chapter 52

Qian Zeliang had sent Feng Zhang to retrieve the ransom. One hundred thousand taels was no small sum. Helian Qiufeng had packed the silver into chests and loaded them onto five carriages.

Wary of any tricks, Feng Zhang had his scouts keep constant watch on the exchange site. Only after everyone had withdrawn, leaving behind just the boxes, did his men move in.

Feng Zhang opened one of the chests and was nearly blinded by the gleam of the neatly stacked silver ingots. In his entire life, he had never seen so much money. He could not help himself. He picked up one ingot and bit it lightly, leaving a clear mark.

He stared at the bite mark and let out a smile.

“So this is how easy it can be to make money.”

He had spent years training in martial arts and following rebel causes. In the end, wasn’t it all for wealth and power? Whether rebel or bandit, there was little difference. If living as a mountain bandit could bring him fortune, why should he not choose that path?

Feng Zhang ordered the chests loaded onto their own carts and began the journey back up the mountain.

To avoid leaving obvious tracks, two men were assigned to sweep away the wheel marks with branches and dry leaves as they traveled. In this way, the group moved steadily, pushing their carts back to Fenglei Fort.

Qian Zeliang had been waiting for some time. As soon as the chests were lowered to the ground, he rushed forward, unable to contain himself.

“This silver is excellent in quality.” His eyes did not move from the gleam. “I almost wish I could keep that Helian brat around, just to have Helian Qiufeng keep sending me money.”

Feng Zhang had been smiling but the moment he heard that, his face darkened.

“Leader, you gave me your word. Once we had the one hundred thousand taels, you would kill that filthy bastard.”

The silver was tempting, but if that man was not killed, how could he face the countless disciples of the Zuo family who had died? How could he face Zuo Luan, the man who had treated him like a son?

Qian Zeliang had only said it in jest. Seeing that Feng Zhang took it seriously, he patted him on the shoulder in reassurance.

“I was only joking. But really, what’s the fun in just killing him like this? Bu Nian is right at the foot of the mountain. Wouldn’t it be far more satisfying to kill him in front of his eyes?”

His martial skill and talent were unremarkable, but he was brimming with schemes and wicked thoughts.

Feng Zhang fell into thought. His hatred for Lian Ai was real, but his hatred for Bu Nian ran even deeper. As long as it could hurt Bu Nian, he was willing to try anything.

“You’re right. We’ll do as you say.” He gave a slight bow, his tone settled.

Qian Zeliang smiled, then ordered his men to carry the chests into storage. Afterward, he slung an arm over Feng Zhang’s shoulder in a brotherly manner, saying they should go share a few drinks.

No one noticed that from the bottom of one of those silver-filled chests, a thick, syrupy liquid was slowly dripping. Its color was brown, its texture sticky, like honey.

Although Bu Nian had formed an alliance with Zuo Lingyu, he was far from placing complete trust in him. In war, deception was a given. Oaths made in blood could be broken the moment they dried. Bu Nian was cautious by nature and slow to trust.

Fortunately, Qian Zeliang’s greed played in their favor. After learning from Helian Qiufeng about the ransom of one hundred thousand taels, Bu Nian arranged for a special floral nectar to be smeared on the base of one of the chests. This nectar had a unique property. It attracted a certain species of blue-violet guide butterfly. Within a hundred miles, any nearby butterflies would be drawn to its scent.

Once the path leading to Fenglei Fort was revealed, and with the layout of the mechanisms Zuo Lingyu had provided, taking the fortress would be all too easy.

Lian Ai knew nothing of any of this. These past days had not been kind to him. Feng Zhang would come by every so often just to beat or curse him, leaving his body covered in bruises and cuts. Even when Feng Zhang wasn’t around, the others treated him coldly. Some days he would go without even a drop of water, let alone a full meal. Food that wasn’t spoiled was already considered a luxury.

Dragging his aching body, he tried to pour some water from a teapot into a bowl. It took a long while before a single, pitiful drop came out.

He pressed his cracked, bleeding lips together, then stuck out his tongue to collect that single drop as though it were precious.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching from outside, growing clearer with each step. Lian Ai immediately tensed. Silently, he reached toward the sleeve dart on his arm and fixed his gaze on the door, alert and ready.

A moment later, Zuo Lingyu appeared at the door. His expression was a little tense. He opened the door and walked directly toward Lian Ai.

“Can you still walk?” he asked, studying him with a slight frown.

Lian Ai propped himself up. He could tell from the question that something was happening. Instead of answering blindly, he took a moment to assess his strength. At last, he gave a nod.

“I can walk.”

Zuo Lingyu glanced around as he spoke in a low voice. “In a moment, follow behind me. We’ll use the chaos to escape.”

“Chaos?” Lian Ai looked at him in surprise. “Is the General attacking the fort?”

Zuo Lingyu met his gaze. “Something like that.”

To stir up even more confusion, Zuo Lingyu had already set fires in several places around Fenglei Fort. By now, the flames would have spread enough to draw attention.

Not long after, sounds of alarm rose from outside. Gongs pounded through the air as panicked voices shouted across the fort.

“Fire! There’s a fire!”

“Come help put it out! The stables are burning too!”

“It’s bad. Bu Nian’s forces are advancing up the mountain!”

Timing it precisely, Zuo Lingyu grabbed Lian Ai’s arm and pulled him forward. Fortunately, the guards outside the holding room had scattered. Some ran off to fight the flames, others to reinforce defenses. No one paid attention to them.

Once they reached the open air, Zuo Lingyu released Lian Ai’s arm and whispered, “Stay close. I’ll lead you out.”

Lian Ai lowered his head and let his hair fall across his face, hiding his features. Step by step, he followed Zuo Lingyu through the chaos of the mountain stronghold. His pace was steady and controlled, but his heart pounded so hard it felt as though it might burst through his chest.

Zuo Lingyu led Lian Ai toward the quieter parts of the stronghold. The main gate was no longer an option, and the rear gate was surely guarded as well. The only path left was a narrow hole he had discovered some time ago, hidden beneath the outer wall. It was barely large enough to crawl through, but it should still be usable.

Though the idea of crawling through a doghole might sound undignified, at a moment where life and death were at stake, he did not care. Nor did he believe Lian Ai would mind.

They moved cautiously through the flow of people, appearing to blend into the chaos but keeping their guard up at every step. In this way, they reached the place without drawing attention.

Zuo Lingyu pushed aside the grass that concealed the hole and spoke quietly. “You go first.”

The final word had barely left his lips when a sharp gust of wind surged toward them from behind.

His expression changed instantly. He shoved Lian Ai aside, drew the curved blade at his waist, and turned to face the attack.

One blade against two. It was the worst situation he could face.

Feng Zhang looked as if he had been struck by lightning. He had never imagined that Zuo Lingyu would choose this moment to betray them, to help Helian Ai escape.

“This is the second time. Have you lost your mind?” he shouted. His breath reeked of wine, his eyes were bloodshot, and there was no trace of reason in his voice. “Are you mad, Zuo Lingyu? How could you betray Master? How could you betray A’Xue?”

His roar filled the air as he charged forward. The twin blades in his hands swept in like a storm.

The Zuo family had been famed for their mastery of dual blades. But Zuo Lingyu, having lost four fingers, could no longer fight in that style. With just a single blade, he struggled to meet each strike, his stance unsteady and his arms straining under the pressure.

Lian Ai had meant to take this opportunity to crawl through the wall and flee. But seeing Zuo Lingyu already injured and clearly overwhelmed, he hesitated.

Feng Zhang attacked with fury, each strike aimed to kill. The bond of brotherhood was long gone. What he wanted now was to send Zuo Lingyu to his grave.

Zuo Lingyu had already taken several wounds. His strength was fading. His knee gave out beneath him, and he dropped down on one leg. But Feng Zhang’s twin blades did not pause. One more strike, and it would all be over.

Lian Ai did not have time to think. He raised his arm and released the sleeve bolt toward Feng Zhang’s face. Feng Zhang heard the sharp whistle of the dart behind him. He turned instinctively, but it still grazed his cheek, leaving a shallow cut.

Blinded by rage, he turned his blades toward Lian Ai. The blow he aimed now would be fatal. Lian Ai backed into the wall, eyes wide, as the twin blades closed in on him from both sides.

In that moment, countless images flashed through his mind. He thought of Master and Lady Helian. He thought of Helian Qiufeng. And most of all, he thought of Bu Nian. His only regret was not being able to see him one last time. After surviving so many trials and enduring so much pain, was this truly the end?

There were many he could not bear to leave behind. But the one he clung to most was still Bu Nian.

Just as he braced himself for the final blow, a sharp blade thrust into Feng Zhang’s back and pierced straight through, its tip stained with blood.

Feng Zhang stared blankly at the blood spreading across his chest. The blade was all too familiar. He turned with difficulty and saw Zuo Lingyu standing behind him, eyes wet, watching him without looking away.

“You…” Feng Zhang’s voice was faint, but he could not speak another word.

From the direction of the fort’s main gate came the sounds of battle. Zuo Lingyu glanced that way, then looked down. He pulled the blade from Feng Zhang’s body. Blood splattered outward, covering half his robes.

He looked down at his bloodstained hands. With a dazed expression, he wiped them against his sleeve. Then, with those same hands, he rubbed his face.

“Xiaoyu…” Lian Ai called his name softly, afraid he could not bear the weight of having killed Feng Zhang.

He reached out, took hold of Zuo Lingyu’s shoulders, and gave him a small shake.

“Xiaoyu, are you alright?”

Zuo Lingyu seemed to come back to himself. At last, he remembered who he was, where he was, and what mattered most.

“Come. I’ll take you to Bu Nian.”

He did not look back at Feng Zhang’s body. Perhaps it was because there was nothing left to hold on to. Or perhaps, he simply did not dare.