Translator: Ink Hub

Editor: Yoog

“Everyone, hold your heads and squat in the corner!”

“Keep it clean, you lot! If anyone dares to move, I’ll slaughter you!”

The moonlight was hazy, the evening breeze brushed past, and the air was thick with the scent of blood.

It was a battle without suspense. The bandits of Luan Shi Ling were utterly defeated. After losing dozens of men, they all knelt to beg for mercy. On Luo Yu’s side, not a single soul was harmed.

Aside from Yu Hangong, the other bandits were, in their eyes, nothing more than a rabble, unable to withstand a single blow.

Liu Ban’er and Yu Hangong, the two leaders, were also bound tightly and forced to their knees.

In the pitch-black night, several bonfires were lit, the dancing flames illuminating their faces.

Compared to the panicked, shivering Liu Ban’er, Yu Hangong appeared much calmer, though he glared viciously at Luo Yu.

“City Lord Luo, using such underhanded tactics to defeat us—is that the act of a hero?”

Luo Yu used iron tongs to poke at the flames, looking indifferent.

“Tricking us into leaving the city to deliver wine, spreading our forces thin, and then playing a game of pulling the firewood from under the cauldron to raid Cangqi at night. You even intended to target the old, the weak, the women, and the children.

“Are you the heroes, then?

“This is the battlefield. Victory is what matters; the process is irrelevant.”

Yu Hangong was speechless, yet deeply resentful. He hadn’t even had the chance to display his archery skills before Meng Hu had closed the distance and taken him down with a back throw.

Luo Yu stared at Liu Ban’er.

“It was Yao Ling who gave you the idea, wasn’t it? He told you we would split our forces tonight, prompting you to raid Cangqi and steal the secret recipe for the wine?”

“You… how did you know?”

Liu Ban’er’s mind was still reeling. How could such a brilliant plan be so easily seen through by Luo Yu?

“Hmph, bring him up!”

Jin Bao, a clerk from Tingyu Restaurant, was dragged over by Han Shuo and tossed onto the ground. He had long since turned pale with terror, his entire body trembling.

“City Lord Luo, wh-why did you capture me?”

Jiang Shu emerged from the shadows, looking at Jin Bao with a blank expression.

“You are from Dingxiang Residence, aren’t you?”

Jin Bao’s pupils constricted, his fear deepening.

Jiang Shu spoke methodically.

“Having fought with Dingxiang Residence for so many years, I always felt there were people planted by Du Gang around me, though I was never certain.

“It wasn’t until the last time City Lord Luo came to Tingyu Restaurant and his whereabouts were leaked that I became certain! My trusted aides must have someone from Du Gang among them!

“I put in quite a bit of effort to investigate, and in the end, I confirmed it was you!”

Jin Bao was devastated, finally understanding everything.

“So, you letting me scout the path was intentional? You deliberately used my hands to pass the information to Dingxiang Residence.”

“Smart.”

Jiang Shu’s gaze turned cold.

“You ungrateful traitor. Take him away and deal with him later!”

“Spare me! Manager, please spare me!”

Two fierce-looking soldiers dragged Jin Bao away. Only then did Luo Yu turn his gaze toward Liu Ban’er and Yu Hangong.

“Now, it is time to settle our accounts. Cangqi and Luan Shi Ling have had no grievances in the past, nor any enmity in the present. Why did you involve yourselves in the conflict between the Yao family and me?

“You should know that I have killed many Qiang people, even Qiang generals. Killing a few bandits is something I wouldn’t even blink at.”

The incredibly flat tone made Liu Ban’er’s face turn ashen, and he stammered as he begged for mercy.

“It was this lowly one who had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai and offended you. I deserve to die, I am guilty.

“I beg City Lord Luo to be magnanimous and spare my life.”

The imposing mountain king was, in reality, no different from an ordinary lackey; when the blade pressed against his throat, he was just as afraid of death.

Liu Ban’er wept and pleaded, but Yu Hangong remained motionless, his icy face showing not a shred of fear.

Luo Yu asked curiously, “Why don’t you beg for mercy? Perhaps I really would spare your lives.”

“Death is death. What is there to fear?”

Although Yu Hangong was kneeling, his upper body was held straight. “Defeat is defeat. Whether you want to kill or butcher me, City Lord Luo, do as you please!”

“Tsk tsk, how tough.”

Luo Yu raised an eyebrow.

“Your archery is good. I am a man who appreciates talent. Why not follow me? I can spare your life.”

Luo Yu didn’t just value his archery; he valued his character. During the several times he had intercepted the wine shipments, he hadn’t hurt a single person, leaving as soon as his goal was achieved, never slaughtering the innocent.

“Follow you?”

The sudden poaching left both men stunned. Yu Hangong refused almost without hesitation.

“City Lord Luo still underestimates me. When I, Yu Hangong, was wandering the wilderness and nearly starved to death on the streets, it was my Big Brother who took me in and gave me a way to live.

“My Big Brother’s kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain. How could I be treacherous and unfaithful? Just kill me!”

“No wonder.”

Luo Yu finally understood why Yu Hangong would follow a piece of trash like Liu Ban’er; it turned out to be a debt of life-saving gratitude.

“Brotherly love, is it? Heh.”

Luo Yu’s lips curled upward. “Untie them!”

Little Wu immediately stepped forward and cut the hemp ropes binding the two. Both men looked confused. What was the meaning of this?

Luo Yu casually tossed a scimitar in front of them.

“Let’s play a game. Only one of you can live. As for who survives, you decide for yourselves.”

“You—you are despicable!”

Yu Hangong instantly understood Luo Yu’s intention, his face turning livid with anger.

“You are prisoners, so you can only be at my mercy.”

Luo Yu crossed his arms, looking on with interest. “I want to see just how deep your brotherly love really is!”

“I thought City Lord Luo was a hero of his generation, but I didn’t expect you to be so base!”

Yu Hangong clenched his fists, blocking in front of Liu Ban’er and staring viciously at Luo Yu.

“Big Brother, don’t be afraid. The two of us brothers will head out together today. On the road to the Yellow Springs, we can at least…”

Puchi!

Before he could finish, the scimitar struck his shoulder from behind, blood instantly staining his clothes.

The sudden turn of events caused the corners of everyone present to curl into expressions of amusement and disdain.

Enduring the pain that surged through his body, Yu Hangong turned his head in disbelief.

“Why… why?”

“I, I’m sorry! I want to live!”

Liu Ban’er, holding the scimitar, was trembling all over, his fear mixed with a touch of madness.

“I really don’t want to die!”

Originally, this strike should have been fatal, but because Liu Ban’er was too panicked, he had only struck the shoulder, allowing Yu Hangong to escape death by sheer luck.

“Why?”

Yu Hangong stepped toward Liu Ban’er, questioning him in anger.

“Didn’t we agree to live and die together! Didn’t we agree to share in good fortune and face adversity together! Could it be that you have been lying to me all this time!”

“Don’t come over here!”

Facing the enraged Yu Hangong, Liu Ban’er was nearly scared witless. He stumbled and fell to the ground. In a one-on-one fight, he was far inferior to Yu Hangong.

Yu Hangong picked up the scimitar, filled with grief and indignation.

“We are brothers! You actually, you actually wanted to kill me!”

The blade terrified Liu Ban’er, who collapsed at Yu Hangong’s feet, weeping and pleading.

“It’s Big Brother’s fault for being useless, Big Brother is afraid of death. Please, just spare my life. I saved your life once; you owe me. Consider this as you repaying your debt, alright?

“Since City Lord Luo thinks highly of you, just follow him. Go and plead for me, let me go.

“I really don’t want to die!”

Tears and snot flowed down together. That phrase—“you owe me”—finally caused Yu Hangong to lower the scimitar. After a long silence, he turned around.

“City Lord Luo, if I follow you, can you let him go?”

Luo Yu’s gaze narrowed.

“You better think this through. Once you follow me, it won’t be as simple as just walking away when you want to.”

“Rest assured. I, Yu Hangong, am a man of my word. I will never be treacherous or unfaithful.

“Please, let my Big Brother go.”

Even now, Yu Hangong still referred to Liu Ban’er as Big Brother.

Under Liu Ban’er’s ecstatic gaze, Luo Yu waved his hand.

“Get lost. Don’t let me see you again.”

He was truly too lazy to look at this petty man for even a second longer.

“Thank, thank you, City Lord Luo!

“Second Brother, from now on, we are even!”

Having survived the ordeal, Liu Ban’er wept with joy, scrambling away into the distance.

“City Lord Luo, from now on, this life of mine belongs to you.”

Yu Hangong knelt down respectfully, his face filled with an indescribable desolation and sorrow as if his heart had been shattered.

“Get up. In front of me, there is no need to kneel.”

In truth, Luo Yu had been quite satisfied with Yu Hangong at the start, but this series of events made him feel that this man was too soft-hearted. Even after being stabbed, he still wanted to save Liu Ban’er’s life.

A heart that is too soft is no good thing.

“City Lord, please grant me a bow. I would like to offer you a greeting gift.”

“Oh?”

Luo Yu raised an eyebrow. “Give it to him.”

Little Wu returned the captured bow and crossbow to Yu Hangong.

He drew the bow and notched an arrow, aiming in the direction Liu Ban’er had fled. He was nearly out of range, and in the darkness of the night, he was almost nothing more than a black speck.

The flames danced, illuminating Yu Hangong’s face.

The sorrow and loss vanished completely, replaced by a chilling coldness.

Whoosh!

The arrow carved an arc through the night sky, cold light radiating from it. The sharp whistling sound made the hair on Liu Ban’er’s body stand on end.

“You said we were even. Consider this arrow my farewell gift to you.”

The arrow fell from the sky, striking him square in the forehead!

NOTES

“Pulling the firewood from under the cauldron” (釜底抽薪): A classic strategy of removing the source of an opponent’s power or support. 

“Eyes fail to recognize Mount Tai” (有眼不识泰山): An idiom for failing to recognize a person of great importance or ability. 

Translator’s Note: Man, Yu Hangong is such a tragic character! He’s got that classic “loyal to a fault” energy that makes you want to root for him, even if his taste in “Big Brothers” is absolutely terrible. Watching him get stabbed by the guy he was trying to protect was brutal, but that final shot? Chef’s kiss. Luo Yu definitely got a bargain with that recruitment. What do you guys think, is Yu Hangong going to be a loyal subordinate, or is he going to be haunted by this for a long time?

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