Chapter 45 The Blade

Chapter 45: Blade

Jiang Yanzhou recognized that face—one of the officials accompanying the transport.

When the man had bowed to him, he had seemed respectful, but there was a restrained coldness and aloofness. Jiang Yanzhou, sensitive to such emotions, had sensed that this official did not like him.

But he had performed all his duties well.

Jiang Yanzhou had never imagined their next meeting would be like this.

The thick, metallic scent of blood hit him. Jiang Yanzhou's face turned as pale as paper. He had never seen so much blood, never faced such a tragic death so directly.

The official's face was covered in bloodstains, his eyes wide open, staring sightlessly in death.

Jiang Yanzhou's limbs trembled. He heard a shrill scream inside his head, yet the whole world seemed to have fallen into a dead silence. His stomach churned violently, and his legs nearly gave way.

But somehow, his entire body stiffened, and he remained standing.

What did 'the entire convoy annihilated' mean? Where were the others? All those he'd been laughing and talking with just days before? And Liu Hexuan—Liu Hexuan, who according to history could not possibly have died at such a time!

Jiang Yanzhou opened his mouth, but no words came out at first. Fortunately, the stationmaster seized the soldier's shoulders: "Annihilated? Explain clearly! You must explain clearly!"

The soldier was lost in immense grief. Upon seeing everyone, he had been unable to contain his emotions initially. But the stationmaster's shout jolted him back to his senses, reminding him of his duty as a survivor. Sobbing, his voice hoarse, he pieced together the truth for everyone.

After being ambushed last night, they fought desperately. The convoy had too many support personnel, and in a fight, they were no match for the fierce mounted bandits. It was too dark; they couldn't even see how many enemies there were, only feeling that they were swarming all around.

They wanted to retreat, but there was no escape, no way out. With each volley of arrows raining down, the curved blades of the Western Regions swept through, cutting down men as easily as mowing grass—so effortlessly, they fell in waves.

Seeing no hope of breaking through, Liu Hexuan made a decisive call: he ordered the supplies to be burned, to prevent them from falling into enemy hands.

The stationmaster said, "If there was really such a big fire, it should have been visible for miles around! We wouldn't have been completely unaware!"

So, they hadn't managed it.

In the chaos of the battle, the grain carts were scattered. There simply wasn't enough time. They could only set fire to a portion. They cut open the grain sacks, spilling the grain onto the ground to be trampled into the dirt, while panicked horses dragged some of the burning carts around wildly.

Keeping the bandits from getting all the provisions cheaply was already the result of Liu Hexuan's resolute order.

After the fierce battle, they suffered countless casualties. In the end, some dozen soldiers and five civil and military officials were captured.

Liu Hexuan was among them.

With so few survivors, it truly counted as almost the entire force being wiped out.

When Jiang Yanzhou heard that some were still alive, he stirred slightly.

"They... they let me and another brother go. They wanted us to deliver a message to Wangyue Pass: to send out twenty thousand *dan* of grain. Otherwise, at intervals, they would kill one official."

The reason they released two men was that all the captured soldiers were wounded. Fearing they might die on the way and fail to deliver the message properly, they let two go.

As this soldier who had narrowly escaped death spoke, a physician was bandaging his wounds.

From the start, however agitated or panicked others were, Jiang Yanzhou had not uttered a single word.

His chest and head felt as if they were being torn apart. His entire body was icy cold. His hands, hidden beneath his sleeves, kept trembling. He wanted to curl up, to wrap himself tightly, but he didn't. He didn't make even the slightest extra movement.

Not a trace of his terror showed on his face to anyone.

In moments of crisis and despair, everyone needs a backbone—a stabilizing pillar, not a fragile bone that only trembles and rattles.

Hearing this, Jiang Yanzhou asked his first question in a tight, strained voice: "...How long... between killing each person?"

The soldier's eyes were red, bloodshot. The bandits had said—

Whenever they felt like it.

Among the five captured officials with ranks, one head was already here. Four remained.

Jiang Yanzhou's head throbbed with splitting pain. He knew it wasn't due to illness, but because the overwhelming emotions were threatening to crush him.

The official's head had been wrapped up again, but Jiang Yanzhou's eyes still saw those furious, unyielding pupils, glaring even in death.

But Jiang Yanzhou's thoughts did not stop.

He couldn't stop. He had to analyze the situation immediately, find a way, because people were still alive! They could still be saved!

Saying 'whenever they feel like it' was actually a further act of coercion and threat. Before Feng Lan left, he said Xiao Yunlang might return to Wangyue Pass around the fourth day—roughly two days from now.

To avoid being pincered, these mounted bandits would definitely not stay long.

Although the troops currently garrisoning Wangyue Pass were few, its walls were solid, easy to defend and hard to attack. The bandits had taken hostages. They hadn't chosen to demand the city's surrender directly but wanted to seize the grain and leave.

If they wanted to enter the pass, the defending soldiers would never agree. But if they only wanted to exchange the hostages for grain, logically, it was worth considering.

But there was also a trap here. Twenty thousand *dan* of grain was no small amount. The grain destined for Wangyue Pass had already been plundered. If they really gave more, what would they inside the pass do for supplies next? And furthermore—

To transport the grain out, they would still have to open the gates. Even if they only opened them briefly, even if they had cavalry ready to charge at any moment, who would dare take the risk?

The bandits' main target was the convoy from the capital; they had already seized that batch of grain. Taking hostages was just a secondary gamble.

They wouldn't stay long. So within two days—no, even within one day—if they didn't get the grain, they would likely kill all the hostages and retreat.

Time. There was simply no time to hesitate.

Jiang Yanzhou bit his lip hard, tasting blood in his mouth.

Waiting for reinforcements was too late. Think fast, what other methods were there? What else could he do? He—

Jiang Yanzhou's tense pupils suddenly froze.

...He had thought of something.

A soldier couldn't help but cry out in pain as the physician applied medicine to his wound.

Of the two soldiers released, one had gone to Wangyue Pass to deliver the message, knowing there were people at the relay station. The other had come here.

The head should have been taken to Wangyue Pass, but in their extreme panic, just dragging their wounded, bleeding bodies out had used up all their strength.

This soldier had been found and brought back by the relay station's patrol scouts.

The stationmaster slammed a fist on the table, rattling the teapot and porcelain bowls. "For them to bypass Wangyue Pass and the relay station's scattered sentries, ambushing directly on Tasha Road—someone must have leaked the information!"

At these words, everyone in the relay station fell silent. In this suffocating quiet, they slowly turned their gazes toward Jiang Yanzhou.

Jiang Yanzhou was originally supposed to go with the convoy. But he had stayed behind at the relay station, avoiding this disaster.

And he was a member of the Jiang family.

What reputation the Jiang family held nowadays needed no further explanation.

What a coincidence. How come Jiang Yanzhou is the only one unharmed?

Two bodyguards from the Crown Prince's estate had already stepped forward, unable to tolerate the suspicion directed at Jiang Yanzhou: "Stop staring at him, this is—"

"Ah Shi, Ah Qing," Jiang Yanzhou said softly.

Ah Qing bit back his words and reluctantly took a step back.

At the moment of making his decision, the pain in Jiang Yanzhou's head oddly subsided. Facing the crowd, he forced his voice steady: "I understand your doubts. In that case, we won't travel together anymore. Since the mounted bandits have set up camp outside Wangyue Pass, this place is no longer safe. Postmaster, get the others out of here."

When Jiang Yanzhou arrived, the station also housed several family members of frontier officials. They were all defenseless people who needed protection.

"Go to Ganquan Pass and deliver the message to the Marquis of Zhenxi. I won't know which route you take, so you can rest assured."

The leak might not have come from someone in our group heading to Wangyue Pass. When the Marquis of Zhenxi and Feng Lan receive the news, they will inevitably investigate the transport team at Ganquan Pass just in case.

They will also redeploy troops.

Facing a life-and-death crisis, the Postmaster no longer cared about status or rank, still looking at Jiang Yanzhou suspiciously.

But because of Jiang Yanzhou's earlier words, his shoulders relaxed slightly.

At that moment, the soldier who had recovered from the worst of the pain gritted his teeth, drenched in cold sweat, and said, "I... I also suspected it was you. Anyone would think that, but..."

But when he was chosen as the messenger, dragged out by the bandits, and stumbled past Liu Hexuan, leaning close to him, Liu Hexuan whispered in his ear:

"Tell His Highness to go."

Jiang Yanzhou, who had barely managed to steady his voice, nearly faltered. He clenched his palm tightly, taking an almost imperceptible sharp breath.

Even in his own captivity, Liu Hexuan still remembered to help him.

With Liu Hexuan's words, people would suspect him a lot less.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, the Postmaster and the others were taken aback, looking surprised.

To hide his reaction, Jiang Yanzhou had to lower his voice: "Ah Shi, Ah Qing, you go with them."

The two bodyguards turned back in astonishment: "Your Highness?"

Ah Qing grew anxious: "Then what about you!?"

"There's something only I can do. I need to go somewhere," he said. "I have a plan to rescue them."

Upon hearing this, the injured soldier tried to struggle up, excited, but was held down by the doctor. The Postmaster felt he couldn't make sense of this Jiang family member anymore but couldn't help asking, "What way?"

"It's too complicated to explain in a short time. There's no time left," Jiang Yanzhou avoided his question. "Leave first. We can talk once we're away from here."

"Your Highness," Ah Shi said, "We, as bodyguards, are sworn to protect our master. At such a critical moment, we absolutely cannot leave you alone!"

Jiang Yanzhou: "I have to go there alone."

"But—"

Jiang Yanzhou's chest trembled, but he could not yield. For the first time, he spoke to those around him with a truly commanding tone: "This... this is an order!"

Ah Shi and Ah Qing immediately fell silent.

Jiang Yanzhou clenched his hand tightly inside his sleeve, turning his head away, unable to bear looking at their expressions. His softened voice carried a hint of barely concealed hoarseness: "...Having too many people could get in the way. Please go quickly."

Everyone in the Crown Prince's estate knew just how capable Jiang Yanzhou was in critical matters. Though they racked their brains and couldn't figure out what one person could do alone, Jiang Yanzhou was different.

If he said he had a way, then he certainly did. The bodyguards trusted him implicitly.

With things having reached this point, the bodyguards had no choice but to obey, but Ah Qing remained uneasy for some reason.

Everyone at the station quickly grabbed their things and prepared to evacuate. Jiang Yanzhou requested a horse, a map, and a short knife for self-defense.

As Ah Qing helped him onto the horse, he couldn't help but whisper, "Young Master."

Jiang Yanzhou sat on the horse, looking down at him.

Ah Qing: "His Highness is still waiting for you."

Jiang Yanzhou tightened the reins: "...Mm."

Hooves kicked up dust, startling crows along the way. The group parted ways, with the people from the station heading to Ganquan Pass. However, after carefully studying the map, Jiang Yanzhou turned his horse around and galloped toward Wangyue Pass.

—He was going to the bandits' camp.

The journey from the station to Wangyue Pass took the transport team a day because of the heavy cargo, slow pace, and having to take the main road. But riding light and fast and taking shortcuts could cut the travel time to a fraction.

Moreover, the bandits' camp was still forty li from Wangyue Pass. There was still time.

This was the first time Jiang Yanzhou had ridden a horse like this. The reins cut into his palms. Now that there was no one else around, his eyes finally reddened, unable to conceal his grief any longer.

Could his method really save Liu Hexuan and the others?

The answer was uncertain.

This plan might work, or it might be utterly futile.

But even if there was only the slightest possibility, Jiang Yanzhou had to go.

This tragedy wasn't in the history he knew. So many lives—they didn't have to die.

It was all his fault.

Since receiving the news, too many thoughts had flashed through Jiang Yanzhou's mind.

If the ambush wasn't a coincidence but truly due to a leak, no official in the group would dare authorize such a major leak on their own. There must be someone behind it.

The most likely candidate was the Prince of Jin.

Everyone in the capital had their spies. The Crown Prince's estate had never caught the Prince of Jin colluding with foreign enemies.

The historical records he knew only mentioned the Prince of Jin colluding with northern tribes. If he had now switched to colluding with the Western Regions, was it because of changes in the situation?

The Prince of Jin deserved to die, but whenever Jiang Yanzhou thought of this possibility, he couldn't forgive himself either.

Overwhelmed by despair, he couldn't recall the people he had saved, nor the people in many regions he'd saved from future suffering. He could only remember his own failings.

He could only remember the officials' bloodied heads.

Branches along the narrow path tore his clothes. The steed carried Jiang Yanzhou forward at full speed, yet he felt trapped in quicksand, unable to breathe in the wind, nearly drowning.

His own wretched life was of little consequence, but the others were innocent, especially Liu Hexuan among them.

Liu Hexuan, who taught him chess and calligraphy, the future Grand Secretary Liu of extraordinary talent.

If Liu Hexuan came to harm here, how could he face Liu Hexuan, Xiao Yunlang, or the countless future generations who would revere him?

So even without certainty, Jiang Yanzhou had to gamble.

His robes fluttered wildly, and the pearl in his hair was tossed by the wind, like suddenly scattered tears.

*

In the camp, the mounted bandits had a pot going.

Among the captives from Daqi, aside from the four officials kept for their usefulness, the remaining soldiers had just been tortured to death for sport.

Someone held a curved knife still wet with blood: "How boring, they died so quickly?"

Dusk had fallen. The bandit leader sat at the center of the camp, burly, dressed in a mix of garb from two Western Regions countries, drinking by the pot.

A subordinate poured him more wine and stirred the iron pot: "What a shame we lost so much grain this time—otherwise we could’ve lasted longer."

Since the bandits frequently raided Daqi and the leader wanted to conceal his origins, those in charge had grown used to communicating in the official language of Daqi.

The subordinate said, "That official who ordered the grain burned—should we kill him next?"

But the leader shook his head: "According to the travel passes we found, he’s Liu Hexuan. The emperor values him highly. He’s important—save him for last."

The leader downed a bowl of wine and wiped his mouth: "I'm more concerned about the tip-off mentioning a Crown Princess as supervisor. Where is she? Did she change plans at the last minute and go to Ganquan?"

How would the subordinate know? He could only offer a fawning smile and say perhaps, while ladling a bowl of mutton soup for the leader: "Boss, please—"

Just as the leader raised the bowl to drink, a lookout came running over: "Boss!"

The scout rushed over, saying urgently: "Someone’s heading toward us alone on horseback—a Daqi person!"

The bandit leader paused, confirming: "Alone?"

"Yes," the young bandit said, "dressed like one of those Qi Dynasty noble young masters. Doesn’t look like a fighter, seems to be struggling even to ride."

The subordinate glanced at the leader: "Could it be someone Daqi sent to negotiate? But just one?"

The young bandit thought for a moment, then grinned and added: "Oh, and he’s as beautiful as a celestial being. This is the first time in my life I’ve ever seen a man who’s so damn good-looking!"

A man beautiful as a celestial being?

The leader immediately recalled the rumors about the Crown Princess. He set down his bowl and stood up: "Let’s go take a look."

Jiang Yanzhou had spent half a day on back paths, nearly falling off his horse several times. Fortunately, the horse was sensible and helped him along. Stumbling and staggering, he finally reached the bandits’ camp.

He only slowed his pace slightly when he saw the camp.

He knew the bandits’ scouts must have already spotted him. He stopped and dismounted about a hundred meters away.

Jiang Yanzhou’s breath was ragged, and he coughed incessantly, the taste of iron filling his mouth.

He looked utterly disheveled. His heart and lungs ached from the grueling ride, his palms were raw and bleeding, and his legs felt weak, but leaning against the horse, he refused to bend over even slightly.

His body might be weak, but his spirit must not falter.

Jiang Yanzhou had expected underlings to approach first, but instead, a group emerged from the camp.

Perhaps seeing him alone, they felt no need for caution.

The leader actually stopped in his tracks.

It wasn’t fear of that dagger—he was merely curious.

The leader looked him up and down, raising an eyebrow: "An envoy from Daqi?"

Jiang Yanzhou coughed lightly: "Ahem, yes."

"Warriors of the Western Regions do not fear your tiny dagger. State your purpose."

"You are not warriors, merely despicable bandits in the yellow sands. Bandits only care about profit. So, I wish to see your leader, to make a deal with you."

Upon hearing his words, the subordinate’s face darkened, but before his taunts could leave his mouth, the leader raised a hand to silence him, looking intrigued: "That would be me. Daqi man, wanting to make a deal—and who are you?"

Jiang Yanzhou produced an identity plaque.

"I am the Crown Princess of Daqi, personally appointed by His Majesty as supervisor of the northwest," Jiang Yanzhou said, tossing the plaque before them, the corners of his eyes reddened by the wind. "I wish to see my comrades."

*

Liu Hexuan sat with his hands bound, head bowed wearily.

They had initially been confined in a tent, then dragged out to an open area. The border winds, sharp as knives, swept through intermittently, making it uncomfortable.

Because he had ordered the grain burned, the bandits had given him "special treatment"—he had been kicked twice, and his abdomen throbbed with pain.

But likely no bones were broken.

Among the four of them remaining, one from the Censorate had been weeping incessantly. When the bandits entered and hauled them up, the crying instantly grew louder.

"I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die! Let me go, please let me go!"

Liu Hexuan felt even more exhausted, but he never imagined that after being dragged out of the camp, he would see someone who absolutely should not have been there.

Liu Hexuan’s eyes widened in disbelief—

Jiang Yanzhou!

The Censor, upon seeing Jiang Yanzhou, forgot all else and struggled violently: "Your Highness, save us, Your Highness—!"

Seeing them all unharmed, Jiang Yanzhou’s fingers relaxed slightly. But weren’t there over a dozen soldiers as well?

The leader spoke up just then: "The living are all here. You’ve seen them. Now speak—what is this deal?"

The living... all here?

A sudden chill pierced through him—like a winter night’s wind carrying snowflakes seeping through thin clothing, instantly numbing his hands and feet, his blood seeming to freeze into frost.

Jiang Yanzhou mustered all his strength just to barely steady himself.

Tasting blood, his usually limpid, shimmering eyes turned into cold, deep pools. He loathed these people before him.

But at the very least, he had to rescue Liu Hexuan and the others.

Swallowing the metallic taste, Jiang Yanzhou spoke with difficulty: "The deal is: I will be the hostage. Let them go."

The leader was taken aback, then burst into laughter as if hearing a great joke.

"I thought you came to negotiate about the grain, but you want to exchange hostages? I could simply capture you—why would I need to exchange? Daqi man, are you naive or foolish? Don’t you know—"

Amidst the leader’s scornful expression, Jiang Yanzhou slowly pressed the self-defense dagger against his own neck.

The bandit leader’s laughter abruptly ceased.

Jiang Yanzhou's hands had gone limp from riding for so long, but the knife he held to his own neck remained exceptionally steady.

The gleaming blade rested against that fragile, snow-white neck, unnervingly making the chieftain narrow his eyes, wondering what Jiang Yanzhou intended—until the Crown Princess spoke.

“I know you’re from Fengjia.”

The chieftain’s face changed in an instant.

“I’ve already told the courier to bring this news to Daqi.”

Of course, this was fabricated—Jiang Yanzhou hadn’t known who he was until now.

He had only guessed the man's nationality upon seeing him, comparing his habits, appearance, and manner with historical records and intelligence from the Crown Prince’s residence.

The more critical the situation, the more Jiang Yanzhou’s emotions and heartbeat came under control—even his breath seemed to vanish, leaving an eerie calm. “You’re disguised as mounted bandits. Daqi is reinforcing troops to alter the situation in the Western Regions. If the Crown Princess dies here, for the sake of face, after dealing with Yarong, the Emperor will turn to your Fengjia next.”

Emperor Yonghe’s notorious concern for his reputation was known throughout the world. The chieftain was torn between doubt and alarm: the Qi Dynasty’s Emperor might indeed do just that.

How on earth did Jiang Yanzhou figure out his identity? Damn it!

The chieftain’s face darkened. “So if I take you hostage, I can't just kill you like the others? What benefit do I get then?”

“Exactly. With them, you can only threaten Wangyue Pass. With me, you can coerce all of Daqi. Announce it far and wide—demand that Emperor Yonghe exchange gold, silver, grain, and supplies for me. For the sake of face, he will.”

The Censor hastily cried out, “Yes, yes! And perhaps the Crown Prince will even withdraw his troops directly, truly!”

The chieftain shot him a glance. “Leaving the Emperor aside, I’ve heard the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Daqi are at odds?”

To save his own skin, the Censor dared spin any lie: “False, all false! In truth, they are profoundly devoted!”

Even someone as gentle as Liu Hexuan couldn’t help but weakly rebuke, “…Shut up.”

He raised his grief-stricken gaze toward Jiang Yanzhou but could say nothing.

From the moment Jiang Yanzhou arrived here alone, there was no chance of an easy escape. Now, whether he claimed good or bad relations with the Crown Prince—or even denied being the Crown Princess—was meaningless.

Liu Hexuan’s eyes were filled with sorrow, yet he saw Jiang Yanzhou give him a faint smile.

Liu Hexuan’s heart ached terribly.

For he clearly saw that those smiling eyes were brimming with tears.

The chieftain looked from one to the other, twirling his knife. “You came here willingly—there must be someone among them you desperately want to save, right?”

Suddenly, Jiang Yanzhou gripped his knife and retreated several steps, putting distance between them. “Tell your archers to stand down.”

He had chosen a spot some distance from the camp precisely to guard against arrows.

The chieftain’s eyes turned sinister, but he said nothing. Farther behind him, someone was quietly drawing a bow.

“I have poison hidden in my mouth. If you try to shoot my hand with an arrow, the moment you draw your bows, I’ll take the poison and end my life.” Jiang Yanzhou said, “Do you dare gamble your entire country on that?”

The veins in the chieftain’s knife-hand bulged. He remained silent, as if ready to spring at any moment, but in the end, he abruptly released his hold, gritting his teeth. “You win.”

“Release them. They go, you stay.”

The bandits untied the ropes binding Liu Hexuan and the others. The Censor, overjoyed, scrambled forward eagerly. Jiang Yanzhou kept his distance, standing perfectly still. “Give them three horses as well.”

The bandits brought three horses. Liu Hexuan and another Hanlin scholar supported each other as they stumbled over. Liu Hexuan tried to reach for Jiang Yanzhou, but Jiang Yanzhou gently avoided him.

“Go, Ziyu. There’s no better way. My horse has a map—take the small paths.”

“I’ll stay with you. With your words, they won’t kill me either.” Liu Hexuan said, “Using your status, the two of us might still think of something.”

“No,” Jiang Yanzhou insisted firmly. “The Crown Prince cannot be without you. Even if they don’t kill you, you must not stay.”

Liu Hexuan wanted to say, but the Crown Prince cannot be without you either.

Liu Hexuan’s lips trembled. The Censor, unfamiliar with the route, already yanked Liu Hexuan over. “Official Liu, let’s go quickly! Don’t waste His Highness’s efforts! The bandits won’t dare harm him. We’ll return for reinforcements—hurry!”

Liu Hexuan’s waist and abdomen hurt too much to exert strength. Half-dragged onto a horse, he pressed against his injury, nearly begging as he strained to say, “Wait for us.”

Jiang Yanzhou did not look back. The sound of hoofbeats faded into the distance, carrying away the shackles around Jiang Yanzhou’s heart. His eyes flickered slightly, still struggling to keep his arm steady.

The chieftain also knew Jiang Yanzhou would only surrender willingly once his companions had been gone for some time, so he wasn’t in a hurry. He simply sat down and began drinking to pass the time.

Meanwhile, after riding some distance, the Hanlin scholar who had remained silent until now, eyes reddened, whispered, “…I’m sorry.”

Liu Hexuan, urging his horse on despite the pain and sweat, wondered if he’d misheard. “What did you say?”

“I’m sorry… I said, I’m sorry!”

The Hanlin scholar suddenly yanked his horse’s reins harshly. The horse reared in pain. The other two, like startled birds, thought enemies were attacking again and halted their horses in terror. “What’s wrong? Where are the enemies? Where!?”

The moment Liu Hexuan met the Hanlin scholar’s eyes, he suddenly understood. Bending over his wound in agony, he said, “…It was you?”

The Hanlin scholar was in even greater pain. “I didn’t mean to betray my country, truly. I didn’t know… I didn’t know they could be so ruthless… My family is in their hands. I can’t go back. I have no face to go back. You go on. I’m sorry, truly sorry!”

As he spoke, he suddenly wheeled his horse around, muttering “I’m sorry” like a madman, deaf to Liu Hexuan’s calls, and resolutely charged back the way they had come.

Outside the bandit camp, Jiang Yanzhou stood with difficulty, his vision already blurring. The pearl in his hair seemed dust-covered, dimming along with everything else.

Though the distance between Jiang Yanzhou and the bandits wasn’t far, the Crown Princess couldn’t possibly escape. The chieftain drank leisurely, more refined than ever while downing two jugs of wine. Then he said, “Even if we chased them now, we couldn’t catch up. Are you satisfied?”

Jiang Yanzhou said nothing, only steadied himself and glanced at him.

“You can barely stand,” the chieftain remarked. “Let’s go. Once we have you tied up, we won’t need to linger outside Wangyue Pass anymore. We’ll trade you to the Daqi Emperor for silver.”

He lifted the jug to drain the last dregs. As his neck tilted back, Jiang Yanzhou watched—if they had been closer, Jiang Yanzhou would have driven the dagger into that throat.

But it was impossible.

They were too far apart, and he… no longer had the strength to kill anyone else.

The last bit of energy he had left was only enough to kill himself.

The grain and silver in the national treasury belonged to the people of the realm. Finally replenished a little, they could be used by Xiao Yunlang to benefit Daqi in the future. Jiang Yanzhou wasn’t willing to give even a sliver to these bandits.

At least he had saved Liu Hexuan.

Thankfully, it wasn’t all in vain.

Jiang Yanzhou smiled, closed his eyes, gripped the dagger with both hands, and drew it forcefully across his neck.

He truly held nothing back with this strike, though his remaining strength was limited and his body stiff. The pain in his neck grew so numb his nerves couldn’t register it in time.

To die without pain wasn’t so bad.

He seemed to hear chaotic noises—unclear, somewhat like thunder. He disliked it. He didn’t even realize he had been knocked aside by a tremendous force, catching only a vague glimpse of a horse’s shadow rushing past before his eyes.

Someone seemed to be apologizing.

Was it his own voice?

—An illusion?

Otherwise, how could he hear a roar—familiar yet strange—mixed with the thunder.

"—Jiang Yanzhou!"