Chapter 57 All Settled

Chapter 57: The Dust Settles

Upon hearing Wu Peng's words, Xue Hu shot to his feet and tried to back away, repeatedly exclaiming, "You're out of your mind, completely out of your mind." Before he could take two steps, Wu Peng grabbed his wrist and dragged him back. Xue Hu grew even more terrified, struggling fiercely to break free, and shouted, "Don't keep saying 'we' this and 'we' that. It's you who wants to die, to perish together with him. Why drag me into it? I may be a country bumpkin, but even I know that murder and arson are crimes that get your head chopped off. I haven't lived enough yet. If you want to do it, go ahead yourself."

All trace of humor left Wu Peng's face, replaced by naked malice. "You agreed just moments ago. Why are you backing out now? Do you think you can desert at the last moment? Do you believe Lei Ding will spare you if you don't go today? Let me tell you, you bullied his husband in the past, helped me find those two local ruffians from Dayou Village to cause trouble at the clinic, stirred up trouble at the clinic when Liu Yu had his leg injury, tried to kill him by drugging his horse, and there's the matter of drugging the wine. Every single one of these acts—if I die, you're the next one he'll deal with. At least I have Liu Yu who can protect me to some extent. What protection do *you* have?"

Xue Hu cursed, "Which of these things wasn't you behind the scenes, pushing me to do it? Now you want to wash your hands of it?"

Wu Peng sneered coldly. "But you're the one who actually did everything. The Lei family has seen all your actions. It's fine if you refuse to help me. But if I die—I'm already a cripple—if I fail in this or if they capture me, Lei Ding will definitely come to settle accounts with you. To be honest with you, I've already written a letter and given it to Liu Yu. I told him that if I don't return to the residence tomorrow, he should open and read it. That letter doesn't protect you at all. It clearly details all your crimes and advises Liu Yu to prioritize his own safety and quickly kick you out. When that happens, you'll truly face a great calamity."

He then changed his expression, his voice and demeanor softening considerably. "However, if the two of us go together, supporting each other, this matter will be almost certain to succeed. Even if we can't guarantee they'll perish in the flames, at least we can set the fire and then hide, avoiding capture. Even if they survive by sheer luck, the Lei family will be severely weakened, suffering financial loss and distress. They probably won't return to this place again. Wouldn't that allow us to get some of our own back? After we finish, we'll come back. I'll retrieve the letter from Liu Yu and burn it right in front of you. We'll act as if those past events never happened. How about that?"

Under this combination of threats and inducements, Xue Hu was indeed swayed by his few words, showing signs of hesitation. Wu Peng quickly pressed on, persuading him, "If things go well, perhaps Liu Yu will be pleased and even reward us with some silver. Once the Lei family is eliminated, I'll resume practicing medicine as before. Without him obstructing me, won't the money come rolling in? I'll give you twenty percent of the silver then. How about that?"

Xue Hu looked at him. "Make it forty percent, at least. Otherwise, I won't go with you today."

Wu Peng cursed inwardly, but then reconsidered. After all, once Lei Ding was dead, he wouldn't let Xue Hu enjoy freedom for long. If this matter became known, their lives would be forfeit. Wu Peng wouldn't allow such a leverage to remain in the hands of a gambler and scoundrel like Xue Hu. However, since Xue Hu had no roots here, dealing with him wouldn't be difficult. So, he suppressed his anger for now, forcing a smile. "Naturally, naturally, we can discuss it. If the money ends up being more than I can spend, giving you fifty or sixty percent would be appropriate. So, it's settled then? You can't change your mind again."

Xue Hu nodded. "Naturally. If I dare not go through with it, then I'm not a man. Hmph, the lives of the entire Lei family aren't as important as this silver. For the sake of this money, I'll do it."

Seizing the opportunity, Wu Peng urged him on further. "Exactly. If you have silver, wouldn't Rong Jun from the brothel district look upon you favorably from then on? This matter should be done sooner rather than later. If they leave Yongning City, it will be harder to handle. Go quickly and prepare the oil and fire starters. We'll go tonight to avoid complications from delay."

Before nightfall, still uneasy, Wu Peng sent two young servants from the residence, disguised as ordinary patients, to infiltrate the clinic and investigate. Both returned to report that the Lei family was treating patients as usual. However, there were many more people in the house—some seemed like brokers, likely there to buy and sell household items; others looked like porters, apparently there for manual labor. The clinic courtyard also seemed to have many items sorted out, all piled up there. One servant secretly inquired and was told that Lord Lei seemed to be planning to take his family south to visit relatives and might be away for some time.

Xue Hu repeatedly praised Wu Peng for his foresight, as the Lei family was indeed planning to flee. Feeling more confident, the two waited quietly in the residence until midnight before slipping out through a side gate. The residence was tightly managed, but fortunately, Wu Peng had recently become a favorite of Liu Yu. He often told fortunes, read faces, and handed out medicinal pills to the servants, earning considerable goodwill. He had previously bribed the woman in charge of the keys with ten taels of silver. Thus, the two left the residence unnoticed, sticking to secluded alleys to avoid the night watchmen and patrols on the streets, and approached the clinic.

In the past, the son of Madam Liu slept at the front of the clinic at night to guard the main gate. Last year, he returned to his hometown to visit relatives but was stranded by flooding from the Tuo River, unable to return. He found work at a grain shop in his hometown. This year, when the roads reopened, he originally planned to return. However, the grain shop owner was renovating the store and asked him to help finish the work before leaving, so he hadn't returned yet. At night, if there were patients with emergencies, they would knock loudly, and Madam Liu would come out to open the door. Wu Peng had long since investigated these details. Today, bringing Xue Hu along, they naturally couldn't knock. However, Wu Peng had hurriedly arranged for someone to prepare grappling hooks and ropes. After tossing the grappling hook, the two tried several times and finally managed to pull each other up onto the courtyard wall. They crouched on the roof of the main hall's central room, scanning the courtyard.

The main house, side rooms, and east-west wings were all pitch dark. By the light of the stars and moon, they could see the courtyard indeed neatly piled with what looked like boxes, apparently already packed and ready. Once dawn broke the next day, they could be carried out of the city.

Xue Hu whispered, "Where should we throw the fire? Their courtyard is large. I'm afraid it might be difficult to set both sides ablaze at once."

The weather had been gradually warming recently, with no sign of rain for several days. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky. Under the moonlight, Xue Hu saw Wu Peng's eyes almost gleaming, his face a mix of urgency and excitement, smiling in a way that sent chills down one's spine. Wu Peng's eyes shifted, and he made a decision. "The courtyard walls are connected. We'll first throw the oil jars onto the boxes in the courtyard, then drop the fire down. After that, we'll follow the wall and set fire to the main house. That main house is where Lei Xun and Cui Nanshan live. Lei Ding is extremely filial. I'm afraid he'll risk his life to go in and rescue them later. Then we can sit back and watch the show."

Xue Hu chuckled a few times. "Even if we can't burn him to death, we'll make him witness his parents' deaths. If he rushes over, he'll surely be too preoccupied to care about Wu Qiu. Then we'll go set fire to the east wing courtyard, leaving him unable to attend to both ends, ultimately failing to protect anyone."

The two were in perfect agreement. They poured the oil from the jars into the courtyard. The clinic's central courtyard wasn't large, and now it was piled with many items. Some of the oil splashed directly onto the boxes and trunks. Xue Hu struck a fire starter. One after the other, the two threw two torches down into the courtyard.

The boxes were made of wood and, doused with oil, initially burned slowly, with only some flames spreading on the ground. Wu Peng and Xue Hu took advantage of this time, crouching as they made their way toward the main house. By then, several boxes in the courtyard were already crackling. Suddenly, with a roar, flames shot into the air, illuminating the courtyard as bright as day. This being their first time, the sudden blaze terrified them, and they nearly toppled from the roof. Although Xue Hu was still clinging to the roof tiles, lying flat, he was already petrified with fear, unable to move. Wu Peng repeatedly urged, "Hurry, light the fire!" He snatched the fire starter from Xue Hu's hand and was about to throw it toward the main house beneath them.

Someone grabbed his wrist from behind.

Wu Peng and Xue Hu turned their heads together, but before they could see who it was, they were lifted up and thrown directly off the wall.

Pinned to the ground on his knees, Wu Peng stole a glance around. Many patrol officers and yamen runners stood surrounding them. The leader was someone he recognized—Li Gan, the one who had administered the fifty strokes of the cane to Lei Ding at the prefectural yamen that day.

What was going on? Shouldn't Lei Ding also have a grudge against him? How could he have joined forces with him to deal with them?

Lei Ding stepped out from behind, looking at them coldly with a faint smile. He didn't question or mock them, showing complete indifference. He merely nodded to Li Gan in acknowledgment. "Thank you for your trouble, Lord Li. Please take them away and deal with them impartially."

Li Gan replied, "They intentionally committed arson with murderous intent. Now we've caught them red-handed. We will definitely not be lenient. Take them away!"

At his command, a crowd of yamen runners swarmed forward, tying the two up tightly and shoving them forward. Wu Peng's eyes seemed to spit fire, wishing he could devour Lei Ding alive. He struggled fiercely, twisting his head, shouting curses—one moment cursing Lei Ding to die a horrible death, the next saying he had merely escaped by luck and that one day he would return for revenge; even if he became a vengeful ghost, he would never let him go.

Xue Hu couldn't utter a single sound. Only two words echoed in his mind: It's over.

By the time Lei Ding returned to the courtyard, Yu Yuan and the others had already extinguished the fire using the water they had prepared in advance. Seeing Lei Ding return, Yu Yuan stepped forward with a smile. "Fortunately, they were just a few empty boxes. That meant less loss and less to burn. Although the fire was fierce, it couldn't spread, so it didn't reach the adjacent buildings. But a large patch of the ground is blackened from the smoke. We'll need to wash it thoroughly once it's light tomorrow."

Lei Ding looked up. The smoke and dust in the courtyard didn't block the starlight in the sky, but they obscured a small patch of sky above the clinic. Only the light of the bright moon managed to penetrate through, shining hazily. This matter was finally concluded. A weight lifted from his shoulders, and only then did he feel a wave of exhaustion. He couldn't tell if it was sorrow for himself or for someone else. The events of the past year flashed before his eyes—every arduous struggle, every narrow escape. In the end, it all stemmed from Wu Peng's personal vendetta, originating from those five taels of silver.

If back then... he hadn't "meddled in others' business," hadn't casually cured that old man's illness, perhaps everything would be different today.

Seeing him silent, the smile faded from Yu Yuan's face. He understood the hardship Lei Ding had endured being harassed by Wu Peng for a year. Now that this tension in his heart had snapped, he probably didn't have time for the wild joy of vengeance fulfilled; he would only feel tired. Yu Yuan walked over and patted his shoulder. "Your family members are all settled at my place. Anyway, the matter is concluded. Leave this place to Sun Xun and me to handle. Go back and see Qiu Geer. I imagine he's very worried about you."

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Author's Note: Tingting Zi: So mentally exhausted.

Me: So mentally exhausted. Finally over.

It feels like me and the Lei family—there's no sense of exhilarating vengeance fulfilled, just the fatigue of being entangled for a year and finally being done with it. Feels like Tingting Zi's current mental state is like after fighting a long, drawn-out lawsuit. Even though the other side was convicted in the end, the exhaustion from the ordeal is overwhelming.