Chapter 154: Between Life and Death in a Single Blade Strike

Wang Zhe heard the sound, raised his head, and asked with a furrowed brow.

"What has happened? Speak. We have reached this point; what could possibly be worse?"

The Yamen Runner swallowed hard and spoke with trembling.

"My lord, Lin Lin Xijie, the Governor of Cangzhou, has already led men into the provincial capital and will be at the gate of the residence any moment."

"He declared he would first seize you, my lord the Inspector, then go to Shangmu to arrest Lord Jiang, and besides that there is..." Before he could finish, Wang Zhe cut him off.

"What else? Speak quickly."

Wang Zhe's voice was sharp and grating, like a blade slicing through the Yamen Runner's heart.

He lowered his head and said dejectedly.

Wang Zhe's face had already turned as pale as paper, his lips trembling slightly.

His eyes were filled with despair, as if he saw the terrifying image of meeting again on the road to the Yellow Springs.

His throat emitted a trembling sound, like a trapped beast about to be driven into a desperate situation.

"How could this be so fast? Are we to meet again on the road to the Yellow Springs?" Wang Zhe asked in a trembling voice, his tone full of helplessness and sighs.

His fingers trembled slightly, unable to conceal the fear in his heart.

"My lord, do not rush. Listen to him finish speaking first; it is not too late for us to make our response."

The Yamen Runner answered breathlessly: "Besides, Tang Tang Sima, whom you exiled a few days ago, has also arrived!"

A trace of awe leaked from his tone, as if Tang Tang Sima were some kind of insurmountable deity.

The Yamen Runner spoke in a low voice: "My lord, we can no longer stay here. Lin Lin Xijie has brought over a thousand elite soldiers, while our residence has only a few dozen Yamen Runners and Retainers. We must flee immediately."

Wang Zhe seemed to hear the voice of a straw of salvation; he slowly came to his senses.

Looking at the Yamen Runner's loyal eyes, a wave of emotion moved within him.

He nodded and said: "You are right; we must flee immediately. Lord Jiang, let us leave the city together and go to Shangmu. You have fifty thousand elite soldiers; we still have a chance."

Just then, a rough, bold voice came from outside the door, like a violent storm, carrying mockery and threat.

The door was pushed open roughly, and Tang Tang Sima, dressed in a majestic outfit, walked into the hall shoulder to shoulder with a strange man.

A ferocious smile hung on his face, and malice flickered in his eyes.

"Wang Zhe, why do you not come out quickly? I never thought you would have such a day!" Tang Tang Sima's voice was mocking and malicious.

In less than Zha Yan De Gong, the imposing figures of Tang Cheng and that strange man appeared before Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu could feel their threat, yet he still stood there firmly, his gaze resolute and sharp.

At the same time, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's gaze met Tu Tu Kesiluo at the doorway. Tu Tu Kesiluo had remained silent the whole time, but those deep eyes revealed a trace of unusual light, as if transmitting some kind of message.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu understood the meaning, realizing this was a tacit understanding, an indescribable connection.

Wang Zhe stood aside, his expression pale, as if already surrounded by despair.

His breathing was rapid, and a trace of helplessness and fear hung on his face.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's appearance seemed to become his last reliance, but at this moment, they were all trapped in a desperate situation.

Tang Cheng sneered, and a mocking smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He glanced disdainfully at Jiang Jiang Mingyu, as if viewing an ant.

"This truly comes without any effort. Since you, Lord Jiang, are also here, it saves this official from making another trip to Shangmu."

Tang Cheng's voice was full of triumph and insult. His words stabbed into Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart like a knife.

"Come, seize these two people for this official."

"It is over."

Wang Zhe's face was like dead ash; his eyes revealed endless desolation and helplessness.

He knew he had nowhere left to turn; no matter how he struggled, he could not change the situation before him.

He could only watch helplessly as a group of guards surged into the barracks, holding thick ropes in their hands, walking fiercely toward him and Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

Tang Cheng wore an air of extreme arrogance; a sinister smile hung on his face, and his eyes flickered with the light of arrogance and cruelty.

He watched the miserable state of Wang Zhe and Jiang Jiang Mingyu with delight, his heart filled with revenge and pleasure.

He still remembered the scene in Shangmu where Jiang Jiang Mingyu made him kneel and beg for mercy, and Wang Zhe's decision to exile him to Jingcheng. He wished to flay the two of them with a thousand cuts to vent the hatred in his heart.

Now that the Prince of Qi has ascended the throne as Emperor, he has become one of the Prince of Qi's trusted confidants; he finally has the chance to put the two to death.

"Never thought you would have such a day," Tang Cheng said in a sarcastic tone.

"Back then in Shangmu, you actually made this official kneel! Today, you have become a prisoner."

As he spoke, he extended his finger and poked at Jiang Jiang Mingyu's chest, attempting to humiliate him.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, however, wore an expression of utter disdain; his brows and eyes were unruly, and a trace of contempt curved at the corner of his mouth.

He looked coldly at Tang Cheng and said without fear: "The Prince of Qi values you? He has not even granted you an official title; you are nothing but his dog."

Hearing these words, Tang Cheng immediately became so angry his face turned green, and a muffled groan came from his throat.

He knew Jiang Jiang Mingyu spoke the truth; although the Prince of Qi let him be responsible for capturing Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Wang Zhe, he had not given him any official post or title.

He was merely an unknown nobody, not worth mentioning in the eyes of the Prince of Qi.

But he was unwilling to be looked down upon by Jiang Jiang Mingyu like this; he wanted to prove how important he was in the Prince of Qi's heart.

"Do not talk nonsense here!"

Tang Cheng shouted harshly, "Your Majesty trusts this official greatly; it is simply that there is no time to confer a title at the moment. Once this official brings the two of you before Your Majesty to beg for punishment, Your Majesty will surely employ this official in an important capacity!"

Hearing these words, Jiang Jiang Mingyu found it only amusing.

He knew Tang Cheng was deceiving himself; the Prince of Qi would not care about his life or death at all, but was merely using him.

He sneered: "Do you think the Prince of Qi cares about your merit? You are nothing but his dog; once used, you are discarded."

"Do you think I fear the Prince of Qi? Do you think you can return to Jingcheng alive?"

Tang Cheng, provoked by Jiang Jiang Mingyu's words, turned pale; a sense of ominous foreboding surged in his heart.

Thinking of the Prince of Qi's cruelty and cunning, he could not help but shiver.

As soon as the words fell, the barracks instantly fell into silence.

Everyone stared at him in shock, unable to believe he dared to resist arrest and even oppose the Prince of Qi.

Tang Cheng was so furious his face turned purple; sparks of hatred shot from his eyes, his mouth twitched as he tried to speak, but Jiang Jiang Mingyu's gaze froze him.

He could only feign composure, gritting his teeth and saying, "Do not try to intimidate this official here; I will not fall for your trick! Just wait to be executed by Your Majesty!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's gaze was like a sharp blade, keen and cold. Unyielding pride radiated between his brows and eyes, and a hint of cold mockery curled his lips.

He looked at Tang Cheng as if viewing a lamb awaiting slaughter, his voice rising, cold and clear.

"Tu Tu Kesiluo, act."

As these words fell, a figure suddenly flashed out, a long sword in hand gleaming with cold light, heading straight for Lin Lin Xijie.

That person was tall and dark-skinned; it was Tu Tu Kesiluo.

Lin Lin Xijie had already been dissatisfied with Jiang Jiang Mingyu; seeing him so arrogant only made his anger burn hotter.

He intended to draw his waist sword to confront him, but never expected the other side to have an ambush.

He felt a chill wind sweep over and instinctively shrank back, but it was already too late.

Tu Tu Kesiluo's blade had already sliced across his neck, blood gushing out like a spring.

Lin Lin Xijie terrifiedly clutched his wound, trying to speak, but could only make a gurgling sound.

His eyes were filled with unwillingness and fear; he could not believe he had died just like that.

He was the Grand Envoy and Grand Commander appointed by the Prince of Qi; how could he be killed by a rebel?

He still had many things left to do; he still wanted to return to Jingcheng to see the Prince of Qi.

Lin Lin Xijie's body fell softly to the ground, blood staining the surrounding earth red.

Everyone stared dumbfounded at this scene, unable to believe the reality before their eyes.

Tang Cheng was so terrified his soul nearly left his body; his face was as pale as paper, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Looking at Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Tu Tu Kesiluo, an endless fear surged in his heart; he knew he was finished.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu paid no attention to the reactions of those around him; he merely glanced indifferently at Lin Lin Xijie's corpse, then turned his head to speak to Tang Cheng.

"My lord Tang, it is your turn."

After saying these words, Jiang Jiang Mingyu walked toward Tang Cheng.

Tu Tu Kesiluo followed closely behind, the sword in his hand still dripping with fresh blood.

Their steps were steady and firm, their expressions calm and resolute; they were like two fierce beasts pouncing on a helpless lamb.

Watching them draw nearer, Tang Cheng's heart was filled with extreme terror.

He wanted to flee, but found his legs locked as if by iron chains, unable to move.

He wanted to cry for help, but found his throat as if strangled, unable to make a sound.

He could only watch helplessly as they walked to his front and then stopped.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu looked down at Tang Cheng, not a shred of pity or sympathy in his eyes.

His voice rose, cold and merciless.

"My lord Tang, do you still remember the words you spoke?"

Tang Cheng wanted to answer, but could only make a whimpering sound; his eyes were filled with fear and regret.

He had once made Jiang Jiang Mingyu kneel and beg for mercy, once mocked Jiang Jiang Mingyu's incompetence and ignorance, and once threatened Jiang Jiang Mingyu's life and future.

Looking at his expression, Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt not a ripple in his heart; he continued speaking.

"You spoke so many words; did you ever think today would be such an ending?"

Hearing these words, Tang Cheng's heart felt as if cut by a knife.

He knew he was wrong; he knew he had been too arrogant and self-confident; he knew he had offended someone he should not have offended.

He knew he would surely die today.

Watching his panic and despair, a cold smirk curled Jiang Jiang Mingyu's lips.

After speaking his final words, he waved his hand to signal Tu Tu Kesiluo to act.

"My lord Tang, today is your day of death; seize him."

Tu Tu Kesiluo raised his sword without hesitation and struck at Tang Cheng's neck.

Tang Cheng wanted to struggle, but it was already too late; he could only let out a piercing scream, then knew nothing more.

Tu Tu Kesiluo kicked Tang Cheng's corpse aside, then stood beside Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu looked at the two corpses and nodded indifferently.