Chapter 3281: Ruthless and Cruel

Wu Shuhang, weak at this time, still did not know where his fate would lead him next.

The intense pain in his hand made his mind sometimes extremely clear, sometimes extremely blurred.

In his anxiety, he suddenly heard someone knocking on the door, and Yuan Chengze's voice came from outside, respectfully saying: "Grand Commander, the Patriarch orders his subordinate to come and discuss relevant matters with you; he is still waiting on the other end of the phone."

Wu Shuhang couldn't help but frown; the "Patriarch" Yuan Chengze referred to was his own grandfather Wu Tianlin, but he did not understand why, if his grandfather had something to say, he did not contact him directly but instead sought out Yuan Chengze.

In his doubt, he only felt his right eyelid twitching nonstop, as if it were not a good omen.

However, he also dared not delay too long, after all Yuan Chengze had said the Patriarch was waiting on the phone, presumably there was something to instruct the two of them.

So he struggled to get up, opened the door, and Yuan Chengze stepped in holding a phone, saying to him: "Grand Commander, the Patriarch's video call."

Having said that, he handed the phone screen to Wu Shuhang.

Wu Shuhang saw Wu Tianlin on the screen and immediately said: "Come in quickly and speak."

Yuan Chengze brought the phone in and then said into the phone: "Patriarch, your subordinate has already arrived at the Grand Commander's place."

Wu Tianlin on the other end of the phone said: "Put it on speaker."

"Yes, Patriarch." Yuan Chengze turned on the speakerphone and then said into the phone: "Patriarch, the speakerphone is now on."

"Good." Wu Tianlin in the video hummed and then said: "Shuhang, can you hear me?"

Wu Shuhang hurriedly said: "I can hear you, Grandfather; what are your orders?"

Wu Tianlin said: "I called to convey the orders of the Ying Lord to the two of you."

Wu Shuhang's expression immediately tightened, and he blurted out: "Grandfather, please speak; your grandson listens respectfully!"

Wu Tianlin paused for a moment, then slowly said: "Shuhang, previously the Ying Lord ordered the Three Great Elders to cut off your left hand as punishment for your inefficiency and losing the Moroccan garrison; the Ying Lord, considering you had no subjective intent, spared you and did not order the Three Great Elders to execute you—do you understand this favor?"

Wu Shuhang dared not hesitate and immediately said: "Grandfather, the Ying Lord's favor, your grandson knows it well; in the future, I will spare no effort to serve the Ying Lord and be loyal to him!"

Wu Tianlin sighed lightly and said: "Shuhang, the Ying Lord has ordered that since your left hand was cut off by the Three Great Elders at his behest, now the villains have deliberately used the Remolding Pill to regrow your left hand and then cruelly cut off your right hand, intending to deliberately sow internal strife in the Wu family and plant hidden dangers for its stability; therefore, the Ying Lord specially orders Yuan Chengze, the Deputy Commander, to immediately cut off your left hand; the matter of the Remolding Pill began with you two and must end with you two; it must not be leaked to anyone else, otherwise you will be severely punished for the crime of rebellion and treason!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Shuhang instantly collapsed, crying out to the video of Wu Tianlin: "Grandfather, your grandson only has this one left hand left; if this left hand is also cut off, what meaning is there for your grandson to continue living?"

Yuan Chengze beside him was also shocked beyond belief, never expecting that Wu Shuhang had already lost his right hand, yet the Ying Lord still wanted to cut off his left hand again; if this order had no room for reversal, then he alone would have to lose three hands, an experience probably only Wu Shuhang in the world could endure.

Wu Tianlin in the video at this moment wore a helpless expression and said: "Shuhang, this is the Ying Lord's order; I too have no way."

Wu Shuhang cried and begged: "Grandfather, please speak a few good words for your grandson before the Ying Lord; if your grandson loses both hands and returns to the Right Army Commander's Mansion, he will surely be gossiped and mocked, and at that time also unable to command the Right Army Commander's Mansion, which would be detrimental to it!"

Wu Tianlin pursed his lips and said: "Shuhang, regarding the personnel arrangements of the Right Army Commander's Mansion, the Ying Lord has other orders; after your left hand is cut off, I will then issue orders to the Right Army Commander's Mansion, effective immediately, to have your younger brother Wu Shuhan succeed you; and you, the Ying Lord is also showing mercy beyond the law, will no longer pursue your other responsibilities, will spare your life, and let you return home to reunite with your family; at that time, he will also order your younger brother Wu Shuhan to take extra care of you and your family, letting you and your family enjoy lifelong glory and wealth, with no worries about food and clothing."

Saying this, Wu Tianlin added: "Shuhang, this is already the best outcome for you; do not forget your brother, whose fate is much worse than yours."

Wu Shuhang was now completely desperate.

His eyes were vacant, his expression wooden, and he remained silent for at least half a minute.

After half a minute, he lowered his head, wiped the tears from the corner of his eye with his left hand, then looked at his left hand and murmured: "Although the Ying Lord spared my life, from now on I am a completely useless person, unable to feed myself, dress myself, even wipe away my tears when I cry, not to mention wiping myself after using the toilet... I, a seven-foot-tall man, living like this, might as well be dead..."

Wu Tianlin advised: "Shuhang, people say it is better to live poorly than to die well; this is an eternal truth, so do not think death is better; besides, I also want to remind you: what if you die? Dead, your left hand still cannot be saved; its existence remains the greatest hidden danger for the Broken Qing Society and the Wu family at present!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Shuhang knew that wallowing in self-pity and begging for mercy were useless; even if a god came, this left hand of his could not be saved.

Even if that mysterious person gave him another Remolding Pill, it would be useless; if Wu Feiyan knew, she would cut off both his hands again.

Thinking of this, Wu Shuhang shuddered instantly.

He thought: "What if that bastard comes again and forces another Remolding Pill into my mouth—what should I do?"

At this moment, Wu Tianlin had no more patience to wait for his response, so he spoke to Yuan Chengze: "Deputy Commander Yuan, the Ying Lord orders you to cut off the Grand Commander's left hand; you must do it immediately; I am here to witness the whole process!"

Yuan Chengze at this time also did not know what to do, and hurriedly looked at Wu Shuhang, instinctively saying: "Grand Commander... subordinate... subordinate..."

Wu Shuhang knew he could not escape this calamity, so he sighed and said to him: "Since the Ying Lord ordered you to cut it, then cut it!"

Yuan Chengze was momentarily flustered, stammering: "Grand Commander... subordinate... subordinate has no suitable knife... moreover... moreover subordinate also lacks the ability of the Three Great Elders to transform qi into a sword..."

Wu Shuhang got up and walked to the cabinet, opened the door, took out Ru Yu's sword from inside, and handed it to Yuan Chengze, gritting his teeth: "Just use this sword; it is a magical artifact bestowed by the Ying Lord upon Official Song, it cuts iron like mud; use it to cut, and be swift."

Yuan Chengze was truly helpless; he also did not know whether Wu Shuhang would resent him for this in the future; even if he knew he was merely following orders and bore no grudge, but a normal person seeing someone chop off their own left hand would find it hard not to feel psychological discomfort.

However, he now had no choice, so he could only take the sword and say: "Grand Commander, should I first tie your wrist tightly to stop the bleeding?"

"Good." Wu Shuhang drew his belt with one hand and handed it to him: "Tie it, tie it tight."

Yuan Chengze placed the long sword and phone aside, used the belt to tightly bind Wu Shuhang's wrist, then picked up the long sword and said to Wu Shuhang: "Grand Commander, forgive me..."

Wu Shuhang nodded, placed his hand on the table, turned his face to one side, and tears streamed down uncontrollably.

When he personally chopped off his own elder brother's hand, he still thought his opportunity had finally come, and in the future he would surely rise smoothly and achieve great success.

But he never imagined that after sitting in the Grand Commander's seat for only a few months, he would have to lose both hands as the price and tumble down from that position.

He felt unwilling, and at the same time a sense of shame arose.

Just then, a sound of breaking wind came from beside his ear; Yuan Chengze raised his hand and brought down the sword, directly chopping off Wu Shuhang's left hand at the root; the intense pain made Wu Shuhang jump up, shaking his wrist and wailing incessantly.

On the other end of the video, Wu Tianlin also could not help but sigh repeatedly.

Yuan Chengze carefully wrapped Wu Shuhang's left hand and asked him: "Grand Commander, how should your left hand be handled?"

Wu Shuhang said with a painful expression: "Keeping it is a burden; burn it!"

Yuan Chengze hurriedly said: "Then I will go take care of it now."

Having said that, he prepared to leave.

At this moment, Wu Tianlin on the other end of the video spoke: "Wait."

Yuan Chengze hurriedly asked: "Patriarch, what are your orders?"

Wu Tianlin said: "Deputy Commander Yuan, the Ying Lord has ordered that to protect the secret of the Broken Qing Society from being leaked, you need to sacrifice yourself for the society."

Yuan Chengze's expression instantly turned deathly pale; in his panic, Wu Shuhang's bloody left hand also slipped from between his fingers.

He, face full of collapse, begged toward the video: "Patriarch! Please inform the Ying Lord that your subordinate will absolutely not utter half a word to the outside; I only beg the Ying Lord, in consideration of your subordinate's lifelong dedicated service to the Broken Qing Society, to spare your subordinate's life, so that your subordinate may continue to serve the Broken Qing Society with the labor of dogs and horses!"

Wu Tianlin said expressionlessly: "The Ying Lord's order, especially something I can influence? Rest assured, the Ying Lord said that after you depart, he will posthumously confer upon you the title of Grand General of the Cavalry, and your family shall enjoy the treatment of a Grand General of the Cavalry."

Saying this, Wu Tianlin earnestly reminded: "Deputy Commander Yuan, if the Ying Lord posthumously confers upon you the title of Grand General of the Cavalry, then your family can enjoy this life in peace, no longer needing to follow in your footsteps; sacrificing one person to bless your descendants—is this not also a rare good opportunity?"

Yuan Chengze at this time was also already in tears.

I never expected that after cutting off Wu Shu-hang's left hand, the next thing to be severed would be my own life.

Moreover, I know in my heart that although Wu Tian-lin's words sound pleasant, letting my family enjoy this life, there is naturally another layer of meaning in his words: if I do not honestly comply, my family will not be able to enjoy this life.

Furthermore, I also know that, like Wu Shu-hang, I have no choice.

Now Wu Shu-hang has both hands severed, and the three great elders are far away in Nigeria; I could escape in the short term.

But what of it?

If I escape, my family will inevitably be implicated and certainly exterminated.

And if I escape, I cannot survive either—without the antidote, I will soon drop dead.

Therefore, today I am destined not to live!

Upon this thought, all my hopes turned to ash; I looked at Wu Shu-hang and choked out: "I still beg the Grand Commander to take care of my subordinates' wives and children..."

At this moment, Wu Shu-hang is also utterly helpless; he had thought being severed of three hands was the worst fate, but he never imagined that Yuan Cheng-ze before him, though blameless, would be silenced by the Pure Cleansing Society merely for being involved.

He could not help but sigh, then said to Yuan Cheng-ze: "Captain Yuan, rest assured on your journey; I will do my utmost to care for your family."

Yuan Cheng-ze gave a bitter laugh and murmured: "Even if hatred pierces the bone, one cannot utter half a word of complaint; a lifetime of living, suffocated! Suffocated!"

Having spoken, he suddenly bled from the seven orifices and collapsed rigidly to the ground.

Wu Shu-hang knew that Yuan Cheng-ze had already crushed his poison tooth while speaking, dying instantly.