Chapter 1377

"Are you going to Duan Yu's place?" Yuan Ji asked, looking at Yuan Shao in shock.

Yuan Shao nodded. "I won't hide it from you, elder brother, yes."

Seeing Yuan Shao nod, Yuan Ji slowly withdrew the arm he had been pressing down on Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao raised his arm and drained his cup in one gulp again.

Just as Yuan Shao set down his wine cup, the waiter who had just retreated suddenly rushed out from the tavern stairs with a short blade, his eyes ferocious as he stared at Yuan Shao.

"Yuan Benchu, you slaughtered my entire family! Today is your death day—pay with your life!"

The waiter raised his head; it was none other than Zhen Ji, the son of Zhen Jian.

Hearing the sudden roar, Yuan Shao was stunned. He turned to look at the ferocious-looking Zhen Ji, his eyes filled with bewilderment.

"Who are you!"

Yuan Shao let out a sharp shout and stood up, pressing his hand to the sword at his waist.

"Yuan Benchu, you slaughtered my entire family—have you forgotten so soon?" Zhen Ji roared madly. "I am Zhen Ji, son of Zhen Jian! Today I have come to claim your life!"

"Pay with your life!"

After the roar, Zhen Ji charged at Yuan Shao with the short blade.

Yuan Shao stepped forward and drew his sword with a *shing*: "Do you think my sword isn't sharp? Elder brother, be careful, stand behind me!"

With his sword drawn, Yuan Shao blocked Yuan Ji and pointed his blade at the charging Zhen Ji.

Downstairs, the guards stationed by Yuan Shao's carriage heard the shouting from above and roared as they charged into the tavern.

The sons of noble clans were required to be proficient not only in poetry, music, chess, and calligraphy, but also in horsemanship and archery.

Yuan Shao might not have been a veteran of a hundred battles, but he was certainly not someone without the strength to truss a chicken.

A merchant's son with a short blade was not enough to make Yuan Shao retreat.

Seeing his elder brother unarmed, Yuan Shao stood firmly in front of him.

However, just as Yuan Shao prepared to swing his sword and engage in combat,

a sudden wave of dizziness struck him, nearly causing him to collapse. His sword clattered to the ground.

Taking this opportunity, Zhen Ji stepped forward, grabbed the shoulder of the swaying Yuan Shao with one hand, and plunged the short blade into Yuan Shao's chest.

The blade tore through the brocade robe on Yuan Shao's chest, the broken threads looking like traces connecting every memory in this world.

One stab.

Two stabs.

Another stab.

Fresh blood sprayed from Yuan Shao's chest, landing on the floor like blooming blood-red lotuses.

Yuan Shao stumbled backward, knocking over the table behind him.

"Yuan Benchu, you colluded with the imperial traitor Duan Yu, privately released the court's wanted criminals, the He sisters, and slaughtered my father who tipped you off—you slaughtered my whole family! Did you ever think this day would come?"

Zhen Ji's loud, hoarse roar reached the floor below.

The commoners walking along the tavern street looked up at the scene on the second floor, listening to Zhen Ji's roaring.

*Thump, thump, thump! *

*Thump, thump, thump! *

Hurried footsteps sounded on the stairs leading to the second floor.

Four guards with blades rushed toward Zhen Ji like madmen.

Zhen Ji fixed his gaze on Yuan Ji.

"Keep him alive!" Yuan Ji shouted at the charging guards.

The guards, who had already raised their blades to hack Zhen Ji to death on the spot, hesitated immediately.

Zhen Ji stopped resisting, dropped his blade, and knelt on the ground.

Yuan Ji glanced at Zhen Ji, then at Yuan Shao, who lay in a pool of blood. He took two steps forward to Yuan Shao's side and lifted him up.

"Quick, go find a physician!"

"Benchu... Benchu..."

Yuan Shao vomited mouthfuls of blood.

Suddenly, a hand gripped Yuan Ji's collar tightly. The light in those eyes made Yuan Ji's gaze flicker for a moment.

"Cough... *hehh*..."

The blood spraying from his mouth clogged his windpipe, choking Yuan Shao so that he could only cough violently, unable to speak a word.

Yet that hand gripped Yuan Ji's collar tightly, refusing to let go.

Zhen Ji had been pressed to the ground and bound by the swarming guards, but a triumphant, ferocious grin was clearly visible on his face.

Chengdong.

Xu You's residence.

"Throw away everything useless, keep only the gold, silver, and valuables. Don't take anything else; we can buy new things once we reach Chang'an. I assume Ziyi won't be too stingy and will arrange a place for me to stay."

Xu You said to his wife beside him.

Xu You's wife was directing the maids to pack the family's gold, silver, and soft goods into crates.

"The books—don't forget the books."

"And..."

"Disaster!"

"Master, it's bad! Disaster has struck!"

A servant ran hurriedly into the inner courtyard, shouting in panic, "Master, the Inspector has just been assassinated at the Wufang Tavern!"

*Clatter. *

A priceless jade disc in Xu You's hand fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.

"What did you say? Say it again!" Xu You looked at the servant in disbelief.

The servant threw himself onto the ground, pointed toward the direction of Wufang Tavern, and said, "Master, the Inspector has been assassinated! Just now, at Wufang Tavern!" ===== CHAPTER 1379 =====