AUBTN -Chapter 388 Swear to Follow Him to the Death

Lu Yan tightened his grip around the warm jade pendant.

“Father, your son will always remember your teachings.”

“Go.” Lu Zhixing turned around and waved his hand, refusing to look at them anymore. His voice was slightly hoarse as he instructed, “Protect yourself, and protect Qingqing as well.”

“Take care of yourself, Father!”

Lu Yan pulled Yu Qing into another deep bow toward his father’s back. Then, without looking back, the two disappeared into the darkness of the night.

After leaving the Lu residence, Lu Yan and Yu Qing hurried back to Yuyuan through the night.

Although the lamps in Yuyuan had been extinguished, murderous intent lurked everywhere in the shadows.

The doors to the main hall were left ajar, and Su He’wan and Zhao Zhou were waiting anxiously.

The moment they saw them return—

“How did it go?” Su He’wan hurried forward, her usually cool eyes filled with worry.

“Everything is settled. Father will set off for Jinling tomorrow.” Lu Yan’s expression was stern and decisive as he swiftly removed his cloak.

“Zhao Zhou, immediately summon your prince’s secret guards.”

“Yes!”

Zhao Zhou’s figure flickered, and he vanished into the darkness.

In barely any time at all, the hidden underground chamber beneath Yuyuan was silently filled with people.

There were no torches in the underground passage. Only a few faintly glowing stones had been embedded in the walls.

Under the dim, eerie light stood a full fifty men dressed in black, all silent and motionless.

Twenty men stood on the left. Dressed in fitted combat attire, their eyes were sharp and alert. They were Lu Yan’s personal guards, whom he had secretly trained over the years.

The thirty men on the right were elite death warriors from the Eastern Depot, loyal to Shen Jue.

Lu Yan stood on the stone platform with his hands behind his back, while Yu Qing and Su He’wan stood behind him on either side.

Looking at this group of brothers who had followed him through life and death, Lu Yan’s hand hidden inside his sleeve slowly tightened.

“I summoned all of you tonight for one reason only.”

Lu Yan’s gaze slowly swept across every face below.

“Starting tomorrow, I will no longer be the Prince of Jing of Great Wei. You all know what I intend to do. I am going to rescue Shen Jue, and in doing so, I will commit the grave crime of rebellion against the imperial court.”

The moment those words fell, the underground passage became utterly silent.

Lu Yan let out a self-deprecating laugh before continuing.

“Breaking into the prison is a capital offense punishable by the extermination of one’s entire clan. From this point onward, the road ahead is a mountain of blades and a sea of flames. There will be no escape from ruin.”

“I do not wish to force any of you.”

“Your indenture contracts and household registrations, as well as the money I prepared for each of you, have already been taken care of. After tonight, you may all go your separate ways. Change your names, conceal your identities, and live however you wish. You can become wealthy landowners or ordinary commoners. The imperial court will never trace this matter back to you.”

He paused and took a deep breath before cupping his fists and bowing deeply toward them.

“Everyone, the mountains are high and the rivers long. Let us part ways here.”

Suddenly, a soft sound broke the deathly silence.

Chang Lin abruptly dropped to one knee.

“Master!”

Chang Lin’s eyes were slightly reddened, but his voice rang out with unwavering conviction.

“I have had neither father nor mother since I was a child. I began following you when I was eight. In my heart, you are not merely my master—you are my family!”

“Now that my family is in trouble, if I were to abandon you and flee simply to preserve my own life, then what use would there be in keeping this life?”

“I, your subordinate, will never live on alone!”

“Master, I swear to follow you to the death!”

“I swear to follow Master to the death!”

The twenty personal guards dropped to one knee in perfect unison. Their voices echoed through the secret chamber, deafening in their intensity.

On the other side, the thirty Eastern Depot death warriors, silent as shadows, exchanged glances.

The leader of the death warriors said nothing. He merely stepped forward and dropped to one knee.

Then all thirty men simultaneously cupped their fists, their voices low yet filled with a chilling determination.

“We of the Eastern Depot have entrusted our lives to the Director. Where the Director lives, we live. Where the Director dies, we die.”

“We swear to follow the Prince to the death and rescue the Director!”

“Swear to follow you to the death!”

Fifty iron-willed men, each possessing an unyielding spirit, fused together at that moment into an indestructible force.

Seeing this scene, tears immediately streamed down Yu Qing’s face.

She sniffed and leaned against Su He’wan’s shoulder, choking back sobs as she whispered in an extremely low voice, “Wanwan… I finally understand what it means when they say, ‘A scholar dies for the one who truly recognizes his worth.’ If they made this into a TV drama in modern times, the ratings would absolutely explode… This is so freaking epic.”

Su He’wan gently patted her shoulder. There were tears glistening in her eyes as well, but her expression remained incomparably calm.

As a top student of history, she had seen far too many records of loyalty and righteousness in the historical texts.

Yet no amount of cold, written words could compare to the living, breathing people standing before her now—flesh and blood willing to die generously for their beliefs and their master.

Lu Yan looked at the people kneeling all around him.

He let out a silent sigh.

He closed his eyes for a moment, forcing back the moisture in them.

“Good!” Lu Yan exhaled deeply and spoke in a low voice.

“Since none of you brothers are willing to abandon me, then today, we will rescue Shen Jue together!”

He walked over to the stone table and spread out the defense map of the Great Wei capital. His gaze was as sharp as a blade.

“Chang Lin!”

“Your subordinate is here!” Chang Lin rose to his full height.

“You take twenty brothers. Break into small groups and leave the city in batches. Lie in wait and stand by for us in the woods at Shili Slope, ten li outside the city. Once we succeed in getting out of the city, you will be responsible for intercepting the pursuers. Remember, do not get entangled in battle. Escaping safely is the priority!”

“Yes!”

“As for our brothers from the Eastern Depot, Zhao Zhou will lead them and disperse them throughout the major roads and routes of the capital. Set up supply points and contact stations along the way, and prepare fast horses, dry rations, and medicine. In addition, spread the word that Shen Jue’s remaining followers are planning to cause trouble in the southern part of the city. Use this to divert the attention of the city defense troops and clear the obstacles from our escape route!”

“This subordinate obeys!”

At this moment, Su He’wan stepped forward and pointed to several inconspicuous streets on the map. She analyzed the situation calmly.

“Lu Yan, after the city gates are closed, the soldiers conducting the search will spread outward in a radial pattern. Once we leave the city, whatever you do, don’t take the official roads. Go this way, along the old post road at the foot of Lingshan Mountain. Although the terrain there is rugged and difficult to travel, it’s very easy to hide there, and it leads directly to the Grand Canal. As long as we get onto a boat, we can simply follow the current downstream.”

Lu Yan glanced at Su He’wan. “Good. We’ll do as you say. Tonight’s preparations must be flawless. No one is allowed to make a single mistake. The night before the execution will be when we make our move!”

“Yes!”

Everyone answered in low voices.

Time flew by amid their taut nerves.

In the blink of an eye, the night before the execution arrived.

That night, a light drizzle fell over the capital.

Fine strands of rain carried with them the chill of early autumn.

Outside the Ministry of Justice prison.

Lu Yan was carrying a vermilion-lacquered food box in his hand.

“Stop! Who goes there?”

The prison warden guarding the entrance rested a hand on the hilt of his sword and blocked their path, his face filled with vigilance.

Lu Yan raised his head slightly.

“His Highness Prince Jing?” The jailer was startled and immediately bowed in greeting.

Zhao Zhou deftly reached into his sleeve, took out a gold ingot, and discreetly slipped it into the warden’s palm.

“Brother Jailer, our prince wishes to send some food and wine to the man inside.”

The warden squeezed the gold ingot in his hand. It weighed a full ten taels. His eyes immediately lit up, and the folds of flesh on his face piled into a smile.

But after glancing toward the depths of the prison, he still hesitated. “This… We were given strict orders from above. Tonight is a critical moment, and Lord Wen Xianzhong’s most loyal men are keeping watch inside. No one is allowed to visit.”

Lu Yan snorted coldly. “What? He’ll be on the execution platform first thing tomorrow morning. Are you still afraid he’ll escape?”