FBC – Chapter 180 Siege

Gu Hua was burning with anxiety.

What happened to her didn’t matter—what mattered was how to get the antidote.

…

Ji Xuanyu walked out of the room, his chest tightening with pangs of pain.

Never in his life had he imagined that he and Hua’er would end up standing on opposite sides.

He had thought that once he possessed the power for revenge, he could destroy the Pei clan, find Gu Hua, and then think of a way to escape from Yifeng Hall.

Yet he hadn’t expected that step by step he would sink deeper, until he could no longer extricate himself.

Lu Laosan came running in a rush. Seeing Ji Xuanyu standing dazed at the doorway, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

At least he hadn’t stayed inside to mess around with that woman. If he got tangled in feelings and ruined the Hall Master’s grand plan, the Hall Master would never spare him.

“Young Master, the Hall Master has arrived.”

Ji Xuanyu was startled. “Didn’t they say he would come tomorrow? How is he here so quickly?”

“The Hall Master is calling for you. You must hurry.”

“Alright.”

Just as Ji Xuanyu lifted his foot, he suddenly stopped. He turned back to glance at the room, then pulled Lu Laosan a few steps further away to make sure Gu Hua couldn’t hear. His gaze grew heavier.

Lu Laosan felt a chill under his stare and cupped his fists respectfully.

“Young Master, just speak your mind. My life was saved by you. Back then when I failed my mission, if not for you pleading for me, the Hall Master would have taken my head. Later, you promoted me again. I, Lu Laosan, know how to repay grace.”

Eyes rimmed red, Ji Xuanyu grabbed his wrist and whispered, “I acknowledge you as my brother! I’ll risk my life to carry out the Hall Master’s orders, but Gu Hua is the woman I love. I owe her too much… I want to let her go.”

Lu Laosan had suspected as much.

Speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear, he said, “If you want to release her, you must think carefully. The Hall Master already knows you captured her. Him rushing here so fast must be because of her.”

Ji Xuanyu frowned. “Then I’ll first see what Adoptive Father intends, and then decide.”

“That’s best.”

The two of them entered the main hall. The Hall Master was speaking with several leaders. As soon as he saw Ji Xuanyu, he broke into a smile.

“Yan Yu, finally, I get to see you.”

Ji Xuanyu quickly stepped forward, bowing. “Yan Yu greets Adoptive Father.”

“No need for all that formality. Come, let me take a good look at you.”

Ji Xuanyu sat on the chair beside him and smiled. “Didn’t Adoptive Father say you would arrive tomorrow?”

“You accomplished a great feat, capturing Mu Junyan’s favored concubine. I was so elated I spurred my horse straight here.” The Hall Master clapped him on the shoulder.

Ji Xuanyu’s heart skipped a beat.

“Adoptive Father, I’ve already spread the Gu poison into Ju Prefecture. Soon it will reach the army camp. Besides, this concubine of Mu Junyan’s doesn’t hold a high status. She may not be of much use.”

The Hall Master chuckled. “Ah, you. I urged you to marry for so many years, but you always refused—no wonder you don’t understand a man’s heart.

“That Gu woman may be a concubine, but she was married to Mu Junyan by the Emperor of Great Liang himself, with the rites of a principal wife. That shows her place in his heart. Love, at times, can outweigh kingdoms.”

Ji Xuanyu’s heart grew heavier. Testing the waters, he asked, “What does Adoptive Father plan to do?”

The Hall Master’s smile chilled. “Mu Junyan has already reached Shicheng County. His forces have the city completely surrounded.”

“So soon? Didn’t they just set out today?”

The Hall Master’s face turned grim. “That crafty Mu Junyan. Three days ago, he secretly dispatched his elite Black-Armored Guards to wipe out my scouts in Dali County, cutting off our intelligence. Today he personally led five thousand elites in a surprise strike, and now they are at our gates. His other hundred thousand troops will arrive at dawn. When that happens, we’ll truly be powerless.”

Ji Xuanyu was stunned. “Impossible! Didn’t Yuan Zhongyong block him? I negotiated with him—he only needed to stall for two days. By then the Gu poison epidemic in Ju Prefecture would spread into the army, and Mu Junyan wouldn’t be able to advance.”

The Hall Master sneered. “That idiot Yuan Zhongyong? He barely entered the camp before being crushed—he had no chance to stop Mu Junyan.”

Ji Xuanyu’s face darkened. “Then what does Adoptive Father intend?”

“We’ll send that woman into Shicheng and tie her to the city walls. Let’s see if he dares to attack then.”

Ji Xuanyu shot to his feet. “No! You cannot!”

The Hall Master narrowed his eyes. “And why not?”

Frowning tightly, Ji Xuanyu finally gritted his teeth, dropped to his knees, and said, “Adoptive Father, forgive me. Gu Hua is the woman I love. I beg Adoptive Father to spare her life.”

The Hall Master’s gaze grew frosty. “I knew of this long ago. If not for her, you would have already succeeded in Bianjing. Do you know why I supported you?”

Ji Xuanyu shook his head.

“It was because you wanted to eliminate the Pei clan, while I wanted to use the Pei clan’s control of supplies to throw Mu’s army into chaos. Yet you not only failed to swap out the winter gear, you let the Pei clan deliver rations to them instead. Do you realize how furious these two blunders made the King? The King has ordered me to bring back your head.”

A chill raced down Ji Xuanyu’s spine.

He didn’t fear death—his life should have ended long ago.

But what about Gu Hua?

The Hall Master came over and lifted him up. “Silly child. If you help me win this battle, how many beauties will you not be able to have? Why cling to this woman who is no longer untouched?”

Ji Xuanyu clenched his teeth, not daring to show a trace of his feelings.

He knew all too well—this adoptive father of his, outwardly kind and smiling, was actually ruthless and cruel.

Once, when a brother of Yifeng Hall betrayed them and tried to escape, he was captured alive. The Hall Master ordered his eyes gouged out and ears cut off in public, then had his skin peeled and bones broken. Everyone in Yifeng Hall had watched him suffer until death.

For days afterward, many brothers were haunted by nightmares, and no one dared harbor thoughts of escape again.

If he insisted on protecting Gu Hua, Adoptive Father might instead have her killed.

The Hall Master clasped his wrist. “We’ll set off at once. We’ll enter Shicheng from the back mountain path.”

He turned to Lu Laosan. “Go drug the woman unconscious and bring her.”

Ji Xuanyu’s hands shook with tension. The Hall Master, of course, noticed, and looked back at him.

“Yan Yu, all these years of my teaching—you must display them today. Once this battle is won, I’ll recommend you as the King’s foremost strategist. Endless glory and riches will be yours.”

“Thank you, Adoptive Father.” Ji Xuanyu forced himself to remain calm.

Gu Hua was drugged unconscious, stuffed into a sack, and carried as Yifeng Hall’s men slipped quietly into Shicheng by the back mountain path.

No sooner had they entered the city than a thunderous roar of killing erupted outside the walls.

Ji Xuanyu’s expression changed. “They’ve begun the siege?”

The Hall Master nodded. “Don’t worry, they won’t break through. In my hands I hold not only his beloved concubine, but also his most loyal bodyguard.”

Ji Xuanyu’s eyes lit up. “Chi Yu? He was captured?”

“Indeed. That brat had the gall to track me all the way to the main hall.”

The Hall Master patted Ji Xuanyu’s shoulder. “We still have a grand gift to deliver to Mu Junyan. By now, surely his army is already seeing men fall to the poison, isn’t it?”

Ji Xuanyu nodded. “By the timing of Yuan Zhongyong’s entry, the infected should be breaking out by now.”

But the Gu poison placed on Yuan Zhongyong—though it should erupt—he had been left inside the camp.

He didn’t know how many among Mu’s army had been infected, or if any were showing symptoms yet.

But there was no time to think further—the Hall Master had already ordered Lu Laosan to bring Gu Hua forward.