Chapter 610: Silenced! The Alliance Marriage Princess Harmed?

The village's water source was scarce, so the way to wake Batu'er was to lash him hard with a whip.

With one whip strike, Batu'er's clothes ripped open, and a stripe of blood seeped out.

"Ah——"

Batu'er let out a miserable cry, then was tied to the wooden post in the courtyard.

The scorching sun beat down on his head.

Batu'er trembled all over, and opened his eyes in fear.

"Young master……you——"

Seeing Li Qingluo, Batu'er could hardly hide his shock.

Li Qingluo: "Seeing me safe and sound, are you surprised?"

"Batu'er, you are indeed a traitor."

A flash of panic crossed Batu'er's face.

But after decades of wandering this desert, he would not easily admit defeat and bow his head.

He quickly steadied his inner panic and shouted: "Young master, I… I am wronged!"

"It was your guard who suddenly went mad and killed Master Arikun! I couldn't stop him in time."

"He even accused me of being an insider traitor, but I couldn't stop those who suddenly appeared and kidnapped you—how can you conclude I betrayed you?"

"Fortunately, you are safe, young master, so even if I suffer some hardship, it doesn't matter."

Hearing him still making excuses, Zhui Yu calmly drew her sword.

That sword light was icy and sharp, making Batu'er shudder all over.

"You… what do you still want to do?"

"In front of the young master, do you still intend to commit violence?"

"What a bastard!"

Li Qingluo: "Shut up! You're the bastard!"

"You still dare to make excuses."

"I heard with my own ears your accomplices say you wanted to offer me to that Baza; Batu'er, you deserve to die!"

"If I can kill your accomplices, I can also kill you."

"Liu Li, come out!"

The Han who had surrendered then lowered his head and walked in.

Seeing Liu Li, and noticing that this courtyard was his home, Batu'er's expression changed instantly.

He almost burst out cursing, but managed to hold it in.

Batu'er cried pitifully: "Young master, I have been loyal and diligent for the firm these years… I may have no merit, but I have suffered hardship, right?"

"Yet you listened to slander and easily slapped this huge charge on me!"

"Have you forgotten how I wholeheartedly brought you into the desert, avoided the sandstorm, and entered Eagle City?"

"If I wanted to betray you, I would have already sold you to the city lord or let you die in the desert—why go through all this trouble, only to implicate myself in the end?"

"If you treat me this way, does the old master know? Heaven sees all—aren't you afraid of divine punishment?"

"The old master handed the firm to you, such an indiscriminate, clueless young master; I see our Tianfeng Firm will not last long, and will surely be ruined in your hands, you foolish girl!"

Li Qingluo listened to his twisting of truth without speaking, but Liu Li could no longer bear it.

"Batu'er, shut up quickly!"

"I have told the young master everything."

"You want to make the Western Regions' Tianfeng Firm independent, and you want to grip all the shops and business there in your own hands."

"These years you have clearly amassed and swallowed much of the firm's property, yet you are still not satisfied."

"Back then, the old master not only saved your life, but also saved mine."

"So I cannot be ungrateful."

"I have merely been waiting for the right moment to expose you, and I have had to submit to your intimidation, daring not to speak."

"But seeing a future master like the young master, I dare to lay it all out—I will not fear you!"

"You brought the young master's party safely to Eagle City not because you lacked his seal and token? Once you obtain those, you intend to offer the young master to the Baza lord."

"As for whether the young master lives or dies, you no longer care."

"Anyway, you got what you wanted."

"Batu'er, your ambition is fully exposed; the young master, a discerning person, has long known your wolfish ambition."

"You still want to make excuses—you're just a clown!"

Batu'er's mask was completely torn off.

He no longer pretended.

With a ferocious, angry roar across his face, he bellowed: "I will kill you——"

"Liu Li, as a Han settled in Eagle City, these years, without my care, could you still have married and had children, and lived peacefully here?"

"Now you actually betray me!"

"You, a cowardly traitor who fears death, what good are you?"

"Having killed people in the Central Plains before fleeing to the Western Regions, hiding east and west these years, can you really wash away the blood on your hands?"

"You are inherently a heinous criminal; even if she believes you today, she will never trust someone like you who bears original sin."

"Ha ha ha, ha ha ha, ha ha ha——"

Liu Li's face turned green then white.

He hardly dared to lift his head to look at the young master, merely trembling his shoulders, desperately suppressing his burning anger.

Taking care?

Your so-called care is nothing but suppressing me with all your might, leaving me merely a steward all these years?

I clearly revived a shop, and you immediately sent me to a birdless place! Over the years, you've done this at least once.

The woman I like, you immediately took her as your concubine.

Even if I married my current wife, she's a mute who can't speak or shout; would you dare take liberties with her in my absence?

You beast!

My whole family moved to the outskirts, yet you still come to my house every few days, forcing my wife and her family to serve you like servants.

This is your idea of taking care of me?

Damn your mother—

Liu Li could no longer contain the hatred in his heart, rose, grabbed the saber nearby, and charged.

A single stab pierced Batu'er's abdomen.

Seeing Batu'er continuously vomit blood, Liu Li finally showed a relaxed smile.

You...

You too... will not die a good death...

Batu'er closed his eyes and bowed his head.

Liu Li also turned and knelt on the ground.

He threw down the knife, lay on the ground, and cried, 'Young Master, please spare my family.'

I am willing to pay with my life for the killing, only asking that my family live out their remaining days in safety.

I have made my preparations.

Having said that, Liu Li tightly closed his eyes, waiting for the blade to fall.

But after waiting a long time, he felt no pain, only hearing a sigh.

When did I say I wanted to kill you?

Batu'er has driven you to this point; killing him is what he deserves.

You have done nothing wrong.

Liu Li stared up in shock at Li Qingluo.

Young Master, you won't kill me?

But I, I'm not exactly a good person either...

Li Qingluo: 'But my grandmother saved you.'

Her saving you shows you're not exactly a wicked person.

Speak, why did you kill people in the Central Plains before?

Speaking of the past, Liu Li's face showed a hint of pain.

I married young, but after just a year of marriage I was conscripted into the army.

While I was away, my wife, because of her beauty, was abused by the local tyrant.

My parents tried to stop it, and were constantly beaten and scolded by the tyrant; my wife, to protect their lives, endured the humiliation in silence.

Once I secretly returned home to visit family and happened upon this, my wife, unable to bear the humiliation and unable to face me, died on the spot by striking a pillar.

My parents accompanied me to the government office to sue the tyrant, but unknown to them the officials were in league with the tyrant, and in the end they tortured my parents to death.

Unable to contain my anger, I took advantage of the dark, windy night to slaughter the tyrant's whole family and the corrupt officials.

I could not return to the army, so I fled all the way to the Western Regions.

About ten or more years ago, I fainted on the Gobi beach; if not for the Old Master's help, I would have long been devoured by poisonous snakes and feral beasts.

The Old Master knew of my plight, did not despise me, and even said I was forced into this.

The Old Master's great kindness to me is unforgettable for the rest of my life.

She also took me in, letting me work at the Heavenly Wind Firm in Eagle City.

But I have let down the Old Master. Over the years, seeing Batu'er grow ever more greedy, even harboring ill intentions toward you, Young Master, I did not dare to step forward to stop this.

I truly deserve death ten thousand times!

Liu Li lay on the ground, crying until his face was covered in dirt and sand.

Li Qingluo looked toward Sha Yi, who stepped forward and helped him up.

Li Qingluo then said slowly: 'You have endured humiliation for your family's safety for years, and at the critical moment you could step forward to tell right from wrong.'

Moreover, you're not a coward.

Being willing to risk your life to kill Batu'er, facing death calmly without implicating your family—you're also a man of flesh and blood.

Grandmother's judgment has indeed never been wrong.

Liu Li, from now on I'll entrust you with the business of Eagle City and even the Western Regions; can you bear such a great responsibility?

Liu Li stared at the Young Master, his face full of disbelief.

He killed someone, yet the Young Master still wishes to reuse him?

In this world, does anyone truly still believe in themselves like this?

Is this really not him dreaming?

Young Master, have you affirmed yourself?

Liu Li feared that any hesitation would make this vanish like smoke, so he quickly nodded his agreement.

Of course I'm willing!

Young Master, I, I will henceforth devote my life to you! I am willing to lay down my liver and brains to repay you and the Old Lady, and will surely make the Heavenly Wind Firm's business in the Western Regions ever more prosperous.

I will absolutely have no second thoughts from now on.

I, I am willing to serve you and the old master for generations to come—

Li Qingluo smiled and nodded: "Good, I'll temporarily believe you."

"But for now, I need you to first help me do another thing."

Liu Li knew what she was going to ask.

Not waiting for Li Qingluo to speak, he said: "Young master, the princess who was married off to DaLiang was harmed by Lord Baza!"