TNIBFT -Chapter 235 Zhu Zhongyi’s Choice

Nanfeng let out a loud shout and, following closely behind Qin Fengyi, drew his paired sword and sprinted toward the valley floor.

“Commander!”

A voice came from behind. Nanfeng frowned and turned to see a few subordinates clad in black armor, looking confused: “His Majesty said to flank from the right, but now…?”

“Yes, how are we supposed to fight now?”

“Should I still lure away the cavalry?”

They looked toward the valley floor, which had already descended into chaos, speaking in bewilderment.

Nanfeng snapped, “How are we supposed to fight?”

“How do you think we fight? Protect Ye Tian, kill Zhao Boping, and what are you standing there for? Haven’t you seen His Majesty has already gone to rescue?”

After speaking, Nanfeng spread his arms, lightly tapped the ground, and, as light as a swallow, darted toward the valley floor.

“Kill Zhao Boping!”

“Protect His Majesty!”

Dozens of Da Zhou soldiers drew their weapons and shouted. The black-armored warriors ambushing from above descended like divine soldiers from nowhere, joining the battlefield.

At this moment…

At the valley floor.

Fang Shenghu and the others were surrounded by the Da Liang troops, trapped like prey. The encirclement tightened with each passing moment.

Everyone knew that today was their death day.

Looking at the approaching Da Liang forces, Fang Shenghu’s bloodied face showed no fear. His eyes shone brightly, and a resolute smile graced his face as he fixed his gaze on the nearby ornate carriage.

He was not afraid of death.

He was filled with hatred—hatred for being too weak, hatred that his enemies were right in front of him and he could not personally avenge them or repay the general.

He could not eliminate future threats for his three children.

In his mind, he recalled his three lovely children, Xiao Jiang… and this time, he still hadn’t even seen Xiao Jiang once.

Regret swelled in his heart, and Fang Shenghu’s eyes stung.

For the sake of the words “Uncle Fang,” he had done everything possible to protect the children.

He could die with no regrets.

“Brothers, are you afraid?”

Zhu Heyu laughed heartily.

Dozens of Ye family bodyguards, swords and long knives in hand, stood back-to-back. Their faces were bloodied, bodies battered, and the ground around them littered with fallen comrades—some pierced by arrows, others hacked beyond recognition.

“I’m afraid that old Zhao won’t die and will continue to harm the loyal and righteous!” someone said.

“Hahaha…”

They all laughed loudly.

Immediately, someone began singing:

“The wind is bleak, the Yi River cold, a hero departs and returns no more…”

The song was sorrowful yet heroic, resonant and loud.

With the singing, the Ye family bodyguards joined in. After every major battle, Ye Zhengyang would sing this, and all Ye family bodyguards knew it by heart.

They exchanged glances and laughed toward the sky.

No fear, only resolute determination. Fang Shenghu raised his long knife and shouted, charging first toward the silver-armored Da Liang troops.

“Kill!”

“By the order of the Imperial Uncle, annihilate these traitors!”

The Da Liang silver-armored army was well-equipped and numerous. Even if the Ye family bodyguards could fight a hundred against one, there came a moment of exhaustion. Comrades fell one after another. Fang Shenghu was covered in blood, everything around him a sea of red, his head ringing.

He was unconscious of it all, dazed.

A blade came swinging toward him. His eyes widened; by the time he realized it, the sword was almost upon him.

He thought death was inevitable.

“Whoosh!”

In the next second, blood gushed from the neck of the silver-armored soldier before him. Fang Shenghu turned and saw a wave of black-armored troops emerging behind him. His pupils constricted. Before he could react, the black-armored soldiers replaced the Ye family troops and charged into the battlefield.

“Them?”

Fang Shenghu wiped the blood from his eyes and looked at the comrades behind him.

Zhu Heyu’s weathered face was full of astonishment. He shook his head and said, “Who has come to save us?”

“It must be the general’s spirit watching over us…”

After saying this, tears streamed down his face, his hands trembling with emotion.

With Qin Fengyi’s troops joining in, Fang Shenghu and the others could finally catch their breath for a moment.

“Where’s Zhongyi?”

Someone asked.

Zhu Heyu’s eyes darted around in panic. Zhu Zhongyi had ridden out, leading a large contingent of silver-armored soldiers and archers. He was alone—death was inevitable!

A sharp pain pierced Zhu Heyu’s heart as he lifted his gaze forward.

His son’s figure was growing smaller and smaller, riding alone across the snow-white expanse. Behind him, a massive pursuit force closed in—escape was impossible.

Zhu Heyu shook his head and closed his eyes tightly. “To die for the heir is also Zhongyi’s honor!”

“Once Zhao Boping is dead, my father and I will be reunited soon!”

Everyone’s faces were filled with grief, yet they gritted their teeth and continued to fight.

…

Elsewhere.

Zhu Zhongyi rode his chestnut-red steed at full speed. The scenery on both sides of the path blurred into streaks of white. The farther he could lead the pursuers, the safer his father and the others would be.

“Giddy-up!”

Zhu Zhongyi kicked the horse’s flanks with both feet. The horse brayed in pain, exhaling misty puffs of breath.

The pursuers behind him were closing in rapidly.

“Ye Tian, I advise you to surrender! You think a rabble like you can take down the National Uncle?”

“You’re cowardly and selfish, abandoning your men. Ye Tian, you truly shame your father!”

“Hahaha…”

“If you don’t stop, the arrows will greet you. Think you can outrun us?”

Mocking voices rang out behind him.

Zhu Zhongyi didn’t look back. Ahead, there was no path—just the raging river, its torrents crashing against massive rocks, deafening in their fury.

There was nowhere left to run.

Zhu Zhongyi pulled on the reins. The horse brayed, circling in place as it came to a halt.

Among the pursuers, some had seen Ye Tian before. Even if Zhu Zhongyi threw himself to his death in the gorge, if anyone fished him out, they would realize it wasn’t Ye Tian who had died.

Though he hated Ye Tian, ever since he was eleven, his life had been uprooted because of Ye Tian and his father.

But today, everything his uncles and father had done was to protect Ye Tian. If his death were discovered, their sacrifices would have been in vain.

With that thought, Zhu Zhongyi drew a short blade from his sleeve. His eyes darkened as he glanced at himself in the reflection, then mercilessly slashed his own face a few times.

Instantly, flesh split open, blood gushing forth.

Gritting his teeth through the pain, his hand trembled as he wiped at the blood, and he turned his head.

The pursuers were now only three meters away.

Zhu Zhongyi laughed. “Aiding the tyrant, Zhao Boping cruelly oppressing the loyal, you’ll all meet a terrible end as well!”

“Come on, kill me!”

“Even if I, Ye Tian, die today, countless citizens of Daliang will cry out for justice. I will die righteously. Even as a vengeful spirit, I will not let you go!”

The pursuers fell silent for a moment.

One said, “By order of the National Uncle: alive, he must be seen; dead, his body must be seen!”

“Archers, prepare!”

“Prevent him from jumping off the cliff!”

Before the words could even fully sink in, Zhu Zhongyi hadn’t yet reacted:

“Whoosh!”

“Whoosh, whoosh!”

A rain of arrows descended upon him. His pupils contracted. Just as he prepared to leap off the cliff, something wrapped around his wrist with immense force, lifting him entirely off the ground.

A faint, delicate fragrance filled the air.

So sweet and ingrained that it seemed etched into his bones. Zhu Zhongyi’s eyes focused, and he saw a woman clad in black iron armor descending from the sky like a deity. She held a silver spear, shielding him in front of her. Her skin was flawless, her gaze icy and commanding, exuding the aura of one who looked down on the world. Behind her, a dark red cloak fluttered violently in the wind.