Chapter 232: Unable To Repay

Outside the city of Runiang Prefecture, Lu Xian stood with Yan Lin by the roadside, gazing at the distant city, waiting for the scouts to return with news. Compared to before, this man—who, despite his scholar-official background, had ventured into commerce—seemed noticeably thinner. His shrewd, calculating merchant’s demeanor now carried an odd trace of desolation. He appeared unaffected, but he was not.

Yan Lin knew Lu Xian was still recovering from the recent death of You Fangyin and would need time to heal. He didn’t pry, only saying, “The Heavenly Sect has raised its banner of rebellion, and though it’s gained some momentum in the south, it’s unlikely to rival us. We need only feign cooperation, pretend to ally with them, and negotiate. It may take some effort, but they wouldn’t dare harm Ningning. Yet Master Xie insists on putting himself in danger, going to such lengths. I don’t understand.”

Lu Xian felt a wave of lethargy. Others might not see through Xie Ju’an, but to him, everything was crystal clear. He initially had no intention of explaining, but since it was Yan Lin asking, and he wanted to shake off the gloom of recent days, he exhaled and said, “To catch the thief, first catch the kingpin.”

Yan Lin turned to him.

Lu Xian asked, “In today’s world, we, the court, and the Heavenly Sect form a three-way stalemate. If it were you, how would you secure victory?”

Yan Lin thought briefly and replied, “Form alliances to unite the weak against the strong. The court is the first target, so we could work with the Heavenly Sect. Even if it’s like scheming with a tiger, we take the capital first, then settle the rest.”

Lu Xian chuckled. “That’s why you’re normal.”

Yan Lin frowned slightly.

Lu Xian took a sip of wine from his water skin, then said, “Normal people think of two against one, but, Heir, is your elder brother normal?”

Yan Lin recalled and said slowly, “He isn’t.”

Lu Xian sighed. “Exactly.”

He wasn’t. He was mad. Beneath Xie Ju’an’s calm and rational plotting lay a near-extreme madness. He thought what others dared not think, did what others dared not do. If the court and the Heavenly Sect failed to see who he truly was, misled by his polished exterior, and harbored even the slightest hope that he could be swayed to their side, they were gravely mistaken.

Unfortunately, neither the Heavenly Sect nor the court had realized this. Even Wan Xiuzi was just a normal man. They might still distrust Xie Wei, but Xie Wei would show them no mercy. Both the Heavenly Sect and the court were targets he aimed to crush. After enduring for over twenty years, now that the opportunity had arisen, he would use the swiftest, most ruthless methods to wipe them out, avenging the blood feud of yesteryear!

Yan Lin fell silent for a long time. He asked no more, and Lu Xian said no more. After enduring twenty years, what was a moment more? Risking himself might serve a purpose, but Lu Xian believed that if the one held by the Heavenly Sect weren’t Jiang Xuening, Xie Ju’an would never have made this choice.

A rider galloped back, the soldier dismounting with an excited expression, speaking rapidly: “General, our scouts report that the Heavenly Sect’s leaders entered the city half an hour ago!”

Yan Lin and Lü Xian exchanged a glance. With a wave of his hand, the twenty thousand troops stationed outside the city swiftly assembled, moving like a dark cloud toward Runiang City!

—

Atop the high platform, Lu Tai’s face had turned nearly ashen with rage. Jiang Xuening’s poise and grace made him look like a vulgar upstart. Worse, the crowd of sect followers below, clueless and rowdy, jeered and cheered, adding to his humiliation. Though Jiang Xuening was beautiful and even bowed to him, to Lu Tai, she grew more loathsome, stirring in him a desire to tear her apart.

He refused to return her courtesy, standing with a cold smirk. The crowd below erupted in boos. Xie Wei had expected Jiang Xuening to be frightened or flustered, but as she ascended the platform and deftly turned the tables on Lu Tai with such simplicity, he couldn’t help but smile. The little girl had grown up, capable of holding her own.

If Jiang Xuening’s composure was partly fueled by anger, Xie Wei’s calm was absolute. He said little, soon stepping onto the platform to stand beside her, facing Lu Tai. A striking pair, they glowed under the firelight like a perfect match, almost pleasing to the eye if not for the tense atmosphere.

The clamor below grew louder. Wan Xiuzi, seated above, frowned and stood, casting a glance over the crowd. The sect followers noticed and fell silent. Wan Xiuzi then spoke: “Du Jun has served our sect tirelessly for years. Why is Rudder Master Lu so certain he harmed Gongyi Cheng and our brothers, and how is this connected to Miss Jiang?”

Lu Tai’s expression eased, knowing the sect leader was on his side. Emboldened, he bowed and said, “I wouldn’t dare speak without evidence. The court’s lackeys may think their plans are flawless, but no wall is impervious. If you don’t want others to know, don’t do it!”

He turned to Xie Wei, then raised his arm, signaling his men to bring forth two people. “I have two individuals here. I’d like Master Du Jun and his companion to identify them!”

His words were crude, constantly demeaning. Jiang Xuening’s anger flared, but under their roof, she held back, only looking toward the direction Lu Tai indicated. Her eyes widened, and she instinctively glanced at Xie Wei.

A man and a woman, one young, one older, were brought up, both covered in wounds. The woman, with disheveled hair and tearful eyes, looked to be in her late thirties, dressed as a commoner. Her simple features and rough hands suggested a life of hard labor. But what shocked Jiang Xuening most was the young boy pushed forward—Xiao Bao.

He was the child who had saved her during the Tongzhou incident, later seen with Xie Wei, clever and dutiful, often running errands. She hadn’t seen him in two years; he had grown taller, older. His injuries were even worse than the woman’s, his face smeared with dirt. As he was shoved onto the platform, his expression was ashen, tinged with guilt. He glanced at Jiang Xuening and Xie Wei, his eyes brimming with tears, unable to meet their gaze.

Xie Wei understood instantly. Xiao Bao had been part of the sect, noticed by Xie Wei and briefly trained in literacy and martial arts. His skills and youth made him useful for tasks others couldn’t do. But he hadn’t joined the sect by choice—his brother and sister-in-law had brought him in. Xie Wei had never met them but knew Xiao Bao valued his family deeply, always saving the best for them.

He might withstand torture and keep silent, but his family likely wouldn’t. With the sect holding them all, the tactic was clear: beat his sister-in-law before his eyes, and even the toughest heart would break seeing a loved one suffer.

Sure enough, Lu Tai pointed at Xie Wei and Jiang Xuening, asking Xiao Bao, “Boy, do you know these two?”

Xiao Bao clenched his jaw, silent.

Lu Tai kicked him, then approached the weeping woman, grabbing her hair and lifting her face, pointing at Jiang Xuening and Xie Wei. “Do you know them?”

Her face became clearer, and Jiang Xuening remembered. She had seen this woman during the Tongzhou incident, when she and Zhang Zhe were captured by bandits and rested at a dilapidated temple with Heavenly Sect rebels. This woman, one of the sect’s contacts, had brought them food and water, even smiling as she handed Jiang Xuening a flatbread.

A farmer’s wife, she had joined the sect with her husband, helping with meals but staying out of sect affairs. She couldn’t fathom how such a calamity had befallen her. Her eyes, red from crying, followed Lu Tai’s gesture. She didn’t recognize Xie Wei, but seeing Jiang Xuening, her gaze locked on, as if grasping a lifeline. “I know her, I know her! This girl, I know her!”

Jiang Xuening’s heart sank.

Lu Tai burst into triumphant laughter, pressing, “When and where did you see her?”

Sobbing, the woman said, “Two—no, nearly three years ago, during the Tongzhou incident, when so many died. I went with Xiao Bao to deliver fresh flatbreads. It was all men there, but this girl wore men’s clothes. I could tell she was disguised, but it wasn’t my place to say anything. Later, I heard about the trouble in Tongzhou…”

The crowd below erupted in shock.

Lu Tai seized the moment, shouting at Jiang Xuening, “You’ve been recognized! What do you have to say?”

The situation was turning against them, but Jiang Xuening’s gaze settled on Xiao Bao. After a moment’s thought, she remained calm and countered, “I don’t deny meeting her, Rudder Master Lu, but it was only once, in that temple, with no further contact. Does sharing a temple prove I or Master Du Jun were involved in Tongzhou?”

“Fine, if you insist on resisting, I’ll make it clear!” Lu Tai shoved the woman to the ground and approached Xiao Bao again, sneering, “Your turn. What did you say when I questioned you before? Speak the truth now!”

Xie Wei stood calmly, hands behind his back.

Xiao Bao looked at him, then slowly at Jiang Xuening. A flicker of suppressed defiance flashed in his dark eyes as he said, “I worked for Master, so I’ve seen both him and the lady. But Tongzhou and Master Gongyi’s death have nothing to do with them! I know nothing!”

“Nonsense!”

Lu Tai’s rage exploded. He grabbed Xiao Bao’s throat, his face contorted with fury. “You confessed everything before, and now, in front of our sect brothers and the leader, you dare lie? Speak, or I’ll cut off your hands and feet!”

Xie Wei remained composed, lifting his gaze as if Xiao Bao weren’t his subordinate, and said lightly, “Rudder Master Lu, he’s young. Why torment him? I didn’t know our sect resorted to forced confessions.”

The Heavenly Sect prided itself on its “Great Unity” ideals, despising the court’s brutal methods. When Lu Tai brought out the battered pair, some had already noticed their wounds and felt uneasy watching him threaten Xiao Bao. After all, most sect members weren’t high-ranking. Lu Tai, once a minor figure under Gongyi Cheng, had risen to power, ascended to heaven. He had long forgotten his humble beginnings, surrounded by wealth and influence.

Xie Wei’s words sparked murmurs and whispers below. Even Lu Tai, slow as he was, realized he’d gone too far. His face flushed, caught in a bind.

But his fury surged as Xiao Bao, who had confessed earlier, now denied everything, even risking his sister-in-law’s life, putting Lu Tai at a disadvantage. Xie Wei’s remark had also cut off the possibility of using the woman to pressure him—at least for now.

The scene grew tense.

Wan Xiuzi coughed from above, casually asking, “Isn’t Tongzhou close to the capital? Was this lady there at the time?”

Lu Tai’s eyes lit up, realizing he didn’t need Xiao Bao’s testimony. He stepped forward, pointing at Jiang Xuening. “You said you knew this woman because you worked with Du Jun. So tell me, what’s her name, where’s she from, her background, and her relationship with Du Jun?”

Xiao Bao’s face paled, and Xie Wei’s expression darkened.

Jiang Xuening, though unsure why Lu Tai asked, sensed from their reactions that her identity could spell trouble in the sect. How would a group opposing the court view a noblewoman?

Lu Tai smirked as Xiao Bao hesitated. “Speak! Don’t you know her?”

Xiao Bao’s throat was dry. “Her surname is Jiang, she’s…”

He couldn’t continue.

Lu Tai scoffed, triumphant, addressing the crowd: “You won’t say, but I will! This woman, Jiang Xuening, is the daughter of Jiang Boyou, a court official, the emperor’s lapdog. Her sister married into a princely house, and she herself was a princess’s companion and Du Jun’s student! Such a woman, and our esteemed Master Du Jun disregards ethics to be with her, even risking himself for her! Brothers, remember our sect’s rules—”

A noblewoman! The revelation sent shockwaves through the crowd, igniting outrage.

“Royal kin?”

“Disgusting! No wonder she carries herself like that!”

“The Ministry of Revenue, taxing us to death every year?”

“How could Master Du Jun be with such a woman…”

“Teacher and student—where’s the propriety?”

The crowd’s mood shifted from amusement to fury. These were poor folk, burdened by taxes and corvée labor, harboring deep resentment against the court and royals. Why else would they fight for the sect, dreaming of “Great Unity”? But this privileged girl, standing high with their revered Master Du Jun, was a glaring affront, giving their anger a target.

The sect’s rules were clear: members must sever ties with the elite, abandon family and property, and avoid such women. Someone shouted, “Punish by the rules!” Others joined, chanting, “Three knives, six holes—start with one!”

Jiang Xuening’s scalp tingled, feeling Lu Tai’s gaze like a venomous snake, a chill creeping up her spine. “Three knives, six holes” was a martial world custom: one stab through a body part left two holes, and those leaving the sect had to inflict three such wounds to prove their resolve.

Lu Tai’s voice grew colder: “Our rules forbid ties with the elite. Master Du Jun, a model for our brothers, knowingly broke them. If you weren’t one of us, fine. But you are, and you haven’t left. This can’t be overlooked lightly, can it?”

Xie Wei stared silently.

The crowd chanted “Three knives, six holes.”

Jiang Xuening paled, her mind racing but helpless.

Wan Xiuzi watched coolly, beginning to grasp the situation. He’d wanted to use Lu Tai to restrain Xie Ju’an without entangling himself, leaving room to maneuver. Xie Wei was here, but Yan Lin, his cousin, held a hundred thousand troops at the border—formidable. An alliance against the court, like with Prince Pingnan years ago, would be ideal. Killing Xie Wei required caution, lest the border allied with the court.

But he hadn’t expected Lu Tai’s deep hatred for Xie Wei. Gongyi Cheng hadn’t raised a loyal dog in vain.

Wan Xiuzi smiled, feigning kindness. “Master Du Jun has immense merit in our sect. His relationship with this girl is merely for cultivation and marriage. Civil ethics aside, it’s a minor breach of our rules. I see it as a moment of folly, a lapse in judgment.”

The crowd fell silent.

He glanced at Jiang Xuening, then fixed on Xie Wei, as if considering his welfare. “Three knives, six holes is too harsh for a man of merit. Since it’s your first offense, and our sect isn’t unreasonable, I’ll give you a chance to make amends. Cut ties with this woman, and it’s as if it never happened, your merits offsetting your fault.”

The sect leader’s word was law; none dared object.

But Xie Wei knew Wan Xiuzi wouldn’t let it end so easily. Breaking ties was simple; proving it was not.

Sure enough, Wan Xiuzi signaled a disciple, who unsheathed a sword and tossed it to the ground, pointing at it. “No need for three knives, six holes, but something must be done to satisfy the crowd. One stab will do. A leg wound is hard to heal, a body wound fatal—so pierce her hand. If you refuse, the blade falls on you.”

His tone turned menacing. Wan Xiuzi aimed to test Xie Wei, probing the value of Jiang Xuening as a bargaining chip. A lone rescue mission for love seemed far-fetched, almost too simple, raising suspicions of a deeper plot. What if their bond was a ruse? Perhaps Xie Wei had let Wan Xiuzi think he held the upper hand, only to use Jiang Xuening as a shield, catching him off guard.

This was Wan Xiuzi’s chance to see: would Xie Wei stab Jiang Xuening or himself?

Jiang Xuening instinctively looked at Xie Wei. The sword lay at his feet. He met her gaze. A dark premonition surged within her. She lunged toward him, crying, “No!”

But a disciple restrained her, her struggles futile.

All eyes watched.

Xie Wei bent and picked up the short sword, its blade gleaming, reflecting his calm, deep eyes. The firelight danced on the tip, exuding a lethal aura. His hand, made for playing the qin, was long-fingered, with joints like jade, as if sculpted by heaven, or like bamboo standing firm in a mountain breeze, imbued with scholarly grace.

Jiang Xuening’s mind flashed to their first meeting: his pale, sickly face, clad in white, cradling a qin, his fingers coaxing music that evoked towering mountains and flowing streams. Even in peril, barely able to walk, he insisted on carrying that qin. She’d never forget his look when she smashed it in anger…

She couldn’t repay that debt.

Terror gripped her, consuming her. She tried to stop him, her voice breaking with sobs. “No, Xie Ju’an, don’t! I can’t repay it…”

Tears streamed down her face.

Xie Wei looked at her, a faint, strange smile crossing his pale face. He gripped the sword tightly, saying softly, “If you can’t repay it, then from now on, you owe me. How’s that?”

Jiang Xuening couldn’t name the feeling—a piercing pain, as if something dragged her into an inescapable abyss.

Lu Tai, impatient, pointed to the execution platform nearby. “The sect leader’s mercy is rare. Who’s it for? I’ll count to three—”

Xie Wei lowered his gaze. “No need to count. I’ve chosen.”

Before anyone could react, he gripped the sword in his right hand, calmly placing his left on the scarred execution platform. The blade’s tip pressed against his hand, breaking the skin, blood beading. He paused, as if casting something aside, then pursed his lips, closed his eyes, and, with a gritted resolve, drove the blade downward.

A faint “shink” seemed to echo in the mind, though it was silent.

The sharp blade pierced clean through his hand.

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