Chapter 153: Pei Zhi and Xie Yan

After being reborn, Pei Zhi originally did not intend to kill himself so quickly.

Because Xie Yan's life still had great use.

He was well aware that Xie Yan's existence largely determined the political changes of his previous life. He understood him, understood his later trajectory, so everything remained under his control.

But if Xie Yan died, his later trajectory would undergo great change. The unknown has always been terrifying.

Most importantly, keeping Xie Yan meant holding a blade that could strike at both the Empress's faction and the rebels at once. After all, overthrowing the Empress and Prince Rui, as well as the Holy Sect behind them, was no easy task.

In his previous life, Xie Yan harbored enormous ambition; he planned to use the rebels to topple the imperial family, weaken both sides, then wipe out the rebels in one fell swoop, purify the court, and crown himself emperor.

Only in his previous life did an unexpected variable appear.

After the incident at the Yongning Marquis Manor, the Empress suspected Xie Yan of harboring dissent and thus sent assassins to kill him.

While fleeing, Xie Yan suffered severe injuries and was unfortunately bitten by a snake; in his delirium he could only lie in the grass awaiting death, but fortunately a woman rescued him.

The woman who saved him was then implicated by him; assassins came to her door, yet she naïvely thought she had encountered mountain bandits.

Later, to escape pursuit, she became separated from her own people and wandered the wilderness with him, relying solely on each other—one could say they depended on each other for survival.

She never told him she was the legitimate daughter of the Rongguo Duke Manor; he could see she was either rich or noble, yet he did not expose her, instead calling her 'Miss Ning'.

For a young lady of an aristocratic family accustomed to comfort, such an experience was too cruel.

Largely due to the remnants of Xie Yan's conscience, after being rescued he personally fed her medicine, letting her gradually forget that ordeal—and him as well.

But what happened afterward?

Later he watched her marry Xiao Jingyuan in great pomp, becoming the consort of the Prince Yan Manor—the wife of his mortal enemy.

At that moment he seemed to go mad with regret, regretting that he had personally erased that memory.

Xie Yan craved the throne, and even more craved Shen Shuangning; his obsession grew mad, one misstep leading to another.

In the end, he gained nothing.

Thus, after his rebirth, Pei Zhi proceeded step by step.

He had constantly deliberately avoided the trajectory of his past life, deliberately steering clear of any path that might cause Xie Yan and Shen Shuangning to repeat their mistakes.

Only thus would Xie Yan not notice her, allowing him to single-mindedly plot for the throne, enabling Pei Zhi to make good use of that blade and achieve his ultimate goal.

Yet Pei Zhi, despite all his calculations, never expected that in this life Xie Yan would develop murderous intent toward Shen Shuangning and actually strike her so ruthlessly!

How much must Shen Shuangning hate him?

Pei Zhi couldn't help but wonder: if one day Shen Shuangning learned her true identity, how would she view him?

Pei Zhi clenched his fingers, daring not to think further.

At the moment the government troops appeared, the assassins beside Xie Yan reacted instantly, drawing their blades and shielding him in the center.

The blades faced the troops' long swords across a distance, and instantly the air filled with tense killing intent.

A bloody head was thrown to the ground by Yan Zhen.

Upon closer look, it was none other than the mad monk Huang Fei!

Yan Zhen snarled: 'Xie Yan, you have no way to escape—surrender quickly!'

Xie Yan gave a cold laugh, roughly pulling Shen Shuangning before him—she was his only hostage.

Upon seeing Xie Yan lay a dagger across Shen Shuangning's neck, Pei Zhi's breath halted for half a second.

"Release her!"

Pei Zhi's voice was low and icy, each word laden with repressed fury to the extreme.

Xie Yan, perceptive of human hearts, instantly saw Pei Zhi's concern for Shen Shuangning; he was not afraid, but instead let out a low laugh.

He ignored Pei Zhi's rage, glanced down at the woman, and coolly remarked: 'Fourth Miss Shen, you're quite capable.'

Shen Shuangning felt her heart sink.

She gazed at Pei Zhi standing among the troops; he was somewhat distant, wind and sand blurred her vision, making his expression hard to discern, yet she could sense his anger.

Xie Yan stared at Pei Zhi and felt a flicker of familiarity, causing him to narrow his eyes.

"Who exactly are you?" Xie Yan probed with his gaze.

Pei Zhi did not answer; he glanced at Shen Shuangning, his voice calm to the point of indifference: 'Do not harm her, I will let you go.'

"Grand Tutor, absolutely not!!"

Yan Zhen beside him immediately grew agitated, stepping forward to dissuade: 'Xie Yan is a court-designated criminal, his hands stained with blood! After all our effort to track him here, how can we release a tiger back to the hills for the sake of a woman?'

"Even if Shen Shuangning is the duke manor's young lady, Yan Zhen couldn't care less about her life or death!"

His words were all reasonable; the troops behind him also showed anxious faces, clearly opposing the decision.

Pei Zhi merely gave Yan Zhen a faint glance; it held no anger, yet carried an indisputable authority.

Yan Zhen instantly felt a chill run through him, ultimately only able to grudgingly fall silent, though his reluctance lingered in his eyes.

Xie Yan looked at Pei Zhi and said: 'I don't trust you—have your people lay down their weapons and retreat where I cannot see them, otherwise... behind me is a cliff, and I won't hesitate to drag a shield with me!'

He pulled Shen Shuangning back another two steps.

His heels already rested on the scree at the cliff's edge; mist surged beneath his feet, and a moment's carelessness would send him plunging into the abyss.

Shen Shuangning said: 'Pei Zhi, kill him—I don't need your concern!'

Xie Yan exerted a little force, and Shen Shuangning let out a muffled groan as a blood line appeared on her neck.

"Stop!" Pei Zhi immediately ordered the nearby troops: 'Drop your weapons and fall back!'

Yan Zhen could not help but urge: 'Xie Yan is exceedingly cunning; if we let them go, catching him again will be difficult!'

Pei Zhi, however, did not even glance at him.

Yan Zhen knew persuasion was futile, so he said nothing more and reluctantly laid down his arms.

Seeing the troops retreat far off, Xie Yan remained motionless, raised his chin, and told Pei Zhi: 'Grand Tutor, you are quite perceptive of the times, but I still have one condition.'

Yan Zhen snapped: 'Don't push your luck!'

Pei Zhi replied calmly: 'What condition?'

Xie Yan said: "You come exchange her."

Shen Shuangning, upon hearing, instinctively felt that Xie Yan definitely had a scheme.

However, Pei Zhi agreed without hesitation: "Good."

Shen Shuangning wanted to stop Pei Zhi, but Pei Zhi glanced at her, although he said nothing, Shen Shuangning seemed to understand his intention, so she closed her mouth.

Pei Zhi lifted his foot and walked over.

A dark glint flashed in Xie Yan's eyes; he signaled the assassin beside him without changing expression.

The two immediately understood, quietly gripping the short daggers at their waists, moving their steps to the sides, faintly forming a pincer.

Pei Zhi walked to a point three steps from Xie Yan and stopped, calmly saying: "I've come, release her."

Xie Yan then shoved Shen Shuangning.

Shen Shuangning staggered forward two steps from the push, almost falling, but Pei Zhi caught her.

Pei Zhi gripped her arm with great force, as if wanting to pull her into his embrace, but he forcibly restrained himself.

After steadying herself, Shen Shuangning lifted her eyes to meet his gaze, deep and tranquil, distant.

His lips moved slightly, his voice extremely soft, yet carrying a somewhat calming power.

"Let's go, don't look back."