Chapter 595

First Volume, Chapter 595: The Worst Outcome

Ning Hu spoke lightly, but to abandon the honor accumulated over generations was no easy thing.

To support Qin Feng, Ning Hu and his entire family had broken the cauldrons and sunk the boats.

This sincere brotherly bond moved Qin Feng deeply.

Though men needed no many words, Qin Feng still rose and gave Ning Hu a tight bear hug.

"Good comrade! My life, Qin Feng's, is worth it."

"Today I swear, as long as I Qin Feng have a bite of meat, I won't let you drink broth."

Ning Hu raised his hand and punched Qin Feng squarely in the chest, laughing and scolding: "Nonsense."

"We brothers have shared life and death."

"Even without saying it, you'd never let my Ning family suffer."

Feeling Ning Hu's absolute trust, Qin Feng was even more moved—but right now, something more urgent needed doing.

Time was tight; Qin Feng dared not hesitate further.

"Today, Uncle Xie's execution is a carefully laid trap by the Li Imperial Clan."

"With the Sage's cunning, he surely anticipated our actions today."

"The execution ground must be heavily guarded, with a heavenly net spread wide, waiting for us to walk into it."

"Outside the city, there are surely ambush troops cutting off our retreat."

"Once fighting begins, we must achieve one-strike victory; otherwise, the second effort weakens, the third exhausts—there will be no room for maneuver."

"Ning Hu, lead thirty Tianji Camp Guards and twenty Beixi Soldiers as vanguard—you'll charge the execution ground with me."

"The remaining Beixi Soldiers will fully protect our families as they flee the city, waiting outside."

"Remember: abandon all trivial belongings, lightly equipped, and move as fast as possible toward the Northern Border."

"Even if we can't outpace the imperial messengers, our escape speed must exceed troop movements—otherwise, we'll face layer upon layer of blockades."

"Returning to the Northern Border is as hard as climbing to heaven."

After giving his orders, Ning Hu did not hesitate—he immediately set about arranging them.

Qin Feng turned and knelt before Qin Tianhu, bowing three hard head-bangs on the ground.

"Father, I've brought shame upon you."

"My Qin family has been loyal through generations, yet in this life, I, your son, have become a traitor."

"The Qin family's clean reputation is ruined."

These words struck deep into Qin Tianhu's heart.

Once fighting begins, the honor accumulated by Qin family over generations will vanish.

Worse still, we'll become eternal criminals, forever nailed to the pillar of shame.

As Patriarch of the Qin family, Qin Tianhu's heart bore a weight of ten thousand catties.

Yet Qin Tianhu knew clearly: to save Xie Bi, there was only this one path left.

Before this, Qin Tianhu had even considered abandoning Xie Bi.

But each time, he crushed the thought in its cradle.

Xie Bi must not die—not alone. Otherwise, Qin Feng's foundation for establishing a foothold would be shaken.

If today we abandon Xie Bi, who in the Northern Border will still trust Qin Feng?

The loyalty—or lack thereof—of the Northern Border directly determines whether the Qin family's lifeline can endure.

Qin Tianhu reached out, pulled Qin Feng up from the ground, took a deep breath, and his complex gaze gradually hardened.

"Feng'er, you did right."

"If the Sage only wants my Qin family destroyed, then I, Qin Tianhu, have no second thought—I'll immediately lead my wife, children, and elders to slit our throats and offer our lives to repay the state's grace."

"But now, the entanglement runs too deep—if my Qin family falls, how many others will die with us?"

"Feng'er, go ahead and act as you must—your father will support you fully."

Qin Tianhu's voice rang strong and clear as he turned and walked toward the mansion's gate.

As Minister of War, Qin Tianhu's authority could still lend Qin Feng a helping hand.

At least, any troop movements within Jingdu would alarm the garrisoned units—and only Qin Tianhu could stabilize the situation and buy Qin Feng time.

Precisely at this deadline, Qin Xiaofu ran from the Back Courtyard, his expression frantic.

"Master, something's wrong!"

"Miss Xie is gone!"

Hearing this, Qin Feng's eyelids twitched violently.

Recalling Xie Yun'er's strange behavior last night, Qin Feng finally realized.

Xie Yun'er had already prepared for the jailbreak; knowing this was a death path, she came to see Qin Feng one last time before willingly walking to her death.

The panic in Qin Feng's eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by unprecedented resolve.

"No matter! Yun'er must have gone to the execution ground—we'll go aid her."

Meanwhile, in the Dali Temple Prison.

Under the escort of jailers, Xie Bi, hands and feet chained in iron, walked slowly out the prison door.

For days, Xie Bi had been locked in the dark, damp Si Kou Lao; though he'd suffered no further torture, his face remained pale.

The warm sunlight fell on his face, as if dispelling the chill from his body, bringing unmatched comfort.

Xie Bi tilted his head toward the sun, closed his eyes, and exhaled deeply.

Before him stood a guard detail of one hundred Imperial Guards and ten Palace Guards.

The Imperial Guards, clad in ShanZiWenPenLingArmor, were armed to the teeth.

On ordinary days, the Imperial Guard carried Zhan Dao, but now they had all been replaced with NineChiStepSpears, signaling that the Imperial Guard had completed their Battle Preparation.

The Palace Guards accompanying them were even more formidable.

YuLinJinGuangArmor covered their tiger-and-wolf-like massive frames; LionHelmet opened its mouth as if swallowing the sky, while TigerHelmet clamped over their shoulders.

At their waists hung MeiZhenArrows; in their hands they held NineChiStepSpears.

Merely standing there sent a chill down one's spine.

Since the founding of this dynasty, the Palace Guards had never before been fully armed!

The man in charge of this escort mission was none other than the Minister of Justice, who feigned respect by bowing to Xie Bi.

"Lord Ning, we've been old friends for years. Today, escorting you to the execution ground is not what I wish for."

"But the Xie Family has come to this pass—blame can only fall on Lord Ning for associating with the wrong people."

"If Qin Feng had been more cautious, diligent in serving the Emperor, how could Lord Ning have been implicated?"

"Ah, what a pity for Xie Yun'er—so young..."

Before the Minister of Justice could finish, Lord Ning cut him off with a cold voice.

"More words are useless. Let's go."

The Minister of Justice narrowed his eyes, a flash of cruelty passing through them, yet he couldn't help bursting into loud laughter.

"Hahaha! No wonder you're Lord Ning—so forthright!"

"After you."

Xie Bi was dragged onto the execution cart and, under the escort of the Imperial Guard and Palace Guards, set off in a grand procession toward the execution ground...