FBC – Chapter 103 A Blade to the Heart

Ji Xuanyu knew exactly where they were headed and took a shortcut through the mountain trails, racing forward at full speed.

He had been the one to give the order to harm her last night. If he couldn’t save Ah-Hua now, he would carry this guilt for a lifetime!

Lu Laosan and his men headed straight for the forested hills west of the city. As long as they made it into the treacherous terrain they knew like the back of their hands, there was a chance to shake off Mu Junyan and the others.

But they never expected Mu Junyan and the Black Armored Guards to stick so closely to them, completely impossible to shake.

“Third Boss, what do we do? If we keep running with this burden, they’re going to catch up to us!”

The man holding Gu Hua was drenched in sweat, panicking.

Lu Laosan looked at Gu Hua.

Just then, the sharp whistle of an arrow cut through the air, startling them into ducking. The arrow struck deep into the shaft of the cart.

Mu Junyan’s voice boomed from behind, full of commanding presence: “Let her go! If you don’t, none of you will live!”

“Third Boss, that Mu guy is a killing god…”

Lu Laosan knew they couldn’t stall any longer. If they kept running, even their hideout outside the city would be discovered—at that point, the losses would be catastrophic.

There was no time to care about any Young Lord or Commandery Princess. Keeping his brothers alive was more important.

Lu Laosan hated this woman to the bone. She had fooled them at every turn and caused Huang Laosan to lose his manhood.

Letting her go just like that—none of the brothers could accept it.

“Tie her inside the cart,” Lu Laosan ordered, pulling a man close and whispering something in his ear.

Gu Hua noticed his malicious expression and questioned warily, “What are you trying to do?”

“Letting you go,” Lu Laosan replied, standing atop the cart and shouting toward Mu Junyan’s group.

“Stay where you are! Or I’ll kill her right now!”

Mu Junyan reined in his horse, eyes locked tightly on them.

Soon, a few of Lu Laosan’s men dismounted and turned the cart Gu Hua was in around, facing toward Mu Junyan.

Then they climbed onto another carriage.

Lu Laosan shouted, “Hey, Mu! Your daughter-in-law is on this cart—I’m sending her your way now!”

With that, they cracked their whips, and the cart sped forward.

Chi Yu was about to move when Mu Junyan raised a hand to stop him. “Be careful.”

Mu Junyan’s gaze stayed wary as he alternated between watching the fleeing criminals and the cart Gu Hua was in.

Suddenly, a string of firecrackers exploded behind Gu Hua’s cart.

Startled by the noise, the horse bolted, galloping wildly toward Mu Junyan and his men.

Mu Junyan’s eyes darkened. He waved his hand, and the troops quickly parted to clear a path, just in case.

Mu Junyan, Chi Yu, Chi Yan, and the others urged their horses forward, surrounding the carriage, attempting to intercept it.

But just as they were about to get close, something yanked violently at the horse’s harness. The horse neighed in agony, reared up, and collapsed to the ground. The cart was flipped over, rolling straight toward the edge of the cliff.

It turned out that Lu Laosan, in an effort to hinder Mu Junyan’s pursuit, had tied a long rope—one end to a tree, the other to the horse’s harness. The firecrackers had startled the horse into a frenzied sprint. When it reached top speed, the rope yanked the horse’s head back harshly. The cart frame caught on the horse’s head, and the animal fell in pain.

The cliff was right beside the road. The cart, with Gu Hua still inside, was now rolling toward it.

While Mu Junyan’s team had to stop and rescue her, Lu Laosan and his men had already vanished.

Gu Hua’s hands were tied to the cart frame. She couldn’t free herself and was being violently jostled, tumbling inside as the cart rolled.

In a brief flash of vision through the flapping curtain, she caught sight of the vast cliff ahead. Only then did she understand the villains’ ruthless intent.

At the same time, Mu Junyan drew his dagger and stabbed the horse’s rear hard. The pain made the horse charge forward like lightning, reaching the cart in the blink of an eye.

“Don’t panic! Steady yourself—I’m coming!”

Hearing his voice, Gu Hua burst into tears.

In this life, someone was actually risking everything for her.

The agonized horse flipped the cart once again. It dangled over the cliff, and Gu Hua was flung from the window, hanging in mid-air by the ropes tied to the frame.

Below her feet was a bottomless abyss.

Mu Junyan’s gaze turned icy. “Don’t move!” he shouted.

Gu Hua squeezed her eyes shut in fear, not daring to twitch.

But the horse was still thrashing, and the cart inched closer to the cliff edge.

Mu Junyan leapt from his horse with all his strength, grabbing the falling cart.

At that moment, from the dense forest above, a horse suddenly burst out, galloping straight over the overturned cart. With a tragic whinny, it plunged off the cliff.

But the rider, wearing a silver half-mask, landed steadily on the cart’s front end. The sudden added weight caused Gu Hua’s side to lift.

Simultaneously, the newcomer flicked out a long whip, hooking it around Gu Hua’s waist, trying to pull her back.

Unfortunately, Gu Hua’s hands were still tied—he couldn’t lift her up.

He quickly tied one end of the rope to a tree and then leapt to Gu Hua’s end of the cart, risking everything. He pulled out a dagger and began cutting the ropes binding her.

Mu Junyan used all his strength to hold down the other end of the cart. Chi Yu and the others arrived and joined him in pulling it back.

But the wheels were stuck against the cliff’s edge, and the axle creaked ominously.

The cart was about to break.

Gu Hua felt someone grabbing her hand. Thinking it was Mu Junyan, she gathered her courage and opened her eyes—only to meet the silver half-masked man’s gaze.

She was shocked.

It was him—the one who had ordered her humiliation last night. He was the leader of the thugs!

Gu Hua’s heart filled with terror, her mind buzzing.

Why was he saving her?

No—it had to be to hand her back over, to continue using her as a hostage!

Ji Xuanyu was drenched in sweat, focused solely on cutting the rope. He didn’t notice the look in her eyes.

Because of their combined weight, the cart was already falling apart.

With a final slash, Ji Xuanyu cut through the last rope. He reached out, wrapped an arm around her waist, and jumped toward a rock ledge away from Mu Junyan.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, his legs gave out slightly. Worried about hurting Gu Hua, he tightened his grip and let himself cushion the fall, slamming into the ground with her on top.

“Cough, cough, cough…” Ji Xuanyu gasped violently.

He had used every ounce of strength. Now, he was utterly spent.

He had finally saved her.

Ji Xuanyu had just lifted his head to ask if Gu Hua was hurt when a cold glint flashed before his eyes.

Thud!

A dagger stabbed hard into his chest—blood sprayed.

While he had carried her over, Gu Hua had quietly drawn the dagger at his waist and now thrust it into him.

She was terrified that he had only saved her to use her again as leverage.

After all, those who wanted to kill and humiliate her hadn’t gotten their way yet.

Ji Xuanyu stared blankly at the girl he had just protected, now scrambling away from him, eyes full of fear and confusion.

He was a cruel, ruthless villain in her eyes.

“I… I—You… You’re a bad man! Let me go!”

Ji Xuanyu was in too much pain to speak.

Gu Hua was panicking. Even though he had saved her, he was still the young master of that vicious gang—the one who ordered her capture and violation.

But why did his gaze seem so sorrowful, as if he wanted to say something?

Gu Hua didn’t have time to think. As soon as she felt his grip loosen slightly, she scrambled up and lifted her skirt, running toward Mu Junyan, who was sprinting toward her.

“Lord Guo!”

Ji Xuanyu felt his arms empty. Despite the pain, a mix of joy and desolation filled him.

The little girl he once wanted to protect now had the courage to kill in order to protect herself. Even though her aim was poor and the wound wasn’t deep…

Still—how wonderful.

Even if she killed him, he’d accept it gladly.

But… why?

Clutching his bleeding chest, Ji Xuanyu watched through bloodshot eyes as his little girl leapt into Mu Junyan’s arms and burst into sobs.

Mu Junyan caught her in a full embrace, the void in his chest instantly filled.

He had saved countless civilians and killed countless enemies—but only now did he truly feel what it meant to be needed, to be relied upon.