Chapter 98: The One Who Must Die

The County Magistrate shifted his gaze again, seeing Mu Nan Zhao had already put down his book, looking at him with a half‑smile.

He Jinghui, how do you plan to arrange the County Magistrate?

Sir He, that is He Jinghui, he drew a booklet from his lap, opened it, still wearing a friendly smile.

One, Magistrate Ma in Qing Tian County embezzled and accepted bribes totaling eight thousand taels of silver, plus some calligraphy and antiques; he also seized and embezzled provisions of the Northwest Army, the exact amount pending further investigation.

Two, as an appointed official of the Imperial Court, he harbored deserters as personal henchmen, truly a sinister intent.

Three, to gain personal profit he deceived Grand Secretary Zhao, falsely reporting and impersonating the deceased criminal official Mu Nan Zhao.

These three crimes alone—never mind how the Ministry of Punishments and the Dali Court would sentence him—just on Grand Secretary Zhao's side...

That would be enough for the County Magistrate to die several times over.

The County Magistrate finally understood; he pointed at He Jinghui, then trembling, pointed at Mu Nan Zhao.

You, you! You were all in cahoots!

You are Mu Nan Zhao, aren't you? You really aren't dead!

Mu Nan Zhao said coldly, "I am Chen Fang; Magistrate Ma, are you trying to call a deer a horse?"

The County Magistrate trembled all over, not knowing whether from anger or fear.

Nonsense! What do you think I am?!

Even Grand Secretary Zhao has been kept in the dark by you! What audacity!

He Jinghui's fox‑like eyes narrowed in a smile, "The County Magistrate's private troops have long resented him due to uneven distribution of profits."

When I arrived, I happened upon the riot. I could only suppress those eight bandits. In the end, I suffered minor wounds while trying to save the Magistrate, but the poor Magistrate sustained severe injuries and died on the spot.

Hearing this, the County Magistrate's expression changed drastically.

Outside it was eerily quiet; it seems his men have been taken care of.

Then only one last move remains.

The County Magistrate furtively reached to his belt, yanked off a pendant, and slammed it hard onto the ground.

The small jade vial hanging from the pendant shattered on impact, and the hidden alarm inside emitted a piercing shriek.

Miss He was shaken by the sound and momentarily lost her composure.

Mu Nan Zhao sprang up, "Not good—besides those eight, there are ambushes outside."

Dense footsteps rushed in quickly.

He Jinghui also changed color, "That old coot Zhao Quan never really trusted me!"

Grand Secretary Zhao previously said he had sent no one else to the Northwest.

But in fact he had secretly sent out elite assassins, aiming to rather kill by mistake than let any escape.

If the suspect discovered in the Northwest really is Mu Nan Zhao, then Mu Nan Zhao must die again, utterly and completely!

Miss He recovered, pressed down hard on the dagger in her hand, and a string of blood beads instantly welled up from the blade.

Better to just kill him now and be done with it!

The County Magistrate, gripped by the fear of death, struggled and shouted, "Come! The jade vial bestowed by Lord Zhao is shattered—why aren't you coming to save me!"

Mu Nan Zhao listened intently, estimating at least thirty assassins outside.

With just the three of them, even exerting their utmost, they could not hope to break out of the encirclement from this courtyard.

Mu Nan Zhao said in a low voice, "The Ma fellow is useless now; kill him, then quickly leave through the back window."

With my alone holding them off for a moment, that will be enough for you to escape.

Before He Jinghui could speak, Miss He swiftly slit the County Magistrate's throat.

She flung the corpse aside without mercy and hastily shut the doors and windows.

Immediately, feathered arrows began piercing the doors and windows and flying inside.

He Jinghui, Miss He, and Mu Nan Zhao had to draw their weapons, dodging while knocking down the arrows.

Miss He pulled Mu Nan Zhao back to the side of the carved bed, "I won't go; big brother, you go."

This time, I want to stay here with Ah Zhao!

"Oh dear!" He Jinghui stamped his foot anxiously, "Is this the time for you to play heroes? If you're leaving, go together!"

Mu Nan Zhao said calmly, "Today's failure is entirely due to my faulty intelligence and mistaken judgment."

Even if I managed to escape, my identity is exposed; I would hardly evade pursuit, and there would be no second chance.

His body still harbored unresolved poison, long since sunk into a grave illness.

Dying here might be the last thing he could do for Gu Xixi.

Mu Nan Zhao shielded the He siblings as they retreated to the back window, saying, "After you leave, go to the Northwest Army camp; I will kill as many of these people as I can, and you must not let any of them leave the Northwest alive."

Then return to collect my corpse, be sure to chop off my hands and feet, destroy my face, so that no one can recognize who I was.

Miss He's pupils contracted, "If we are to kill them all, we need not fear the news leaking."

Why must you go to the extent of leaving no corpse intact!

Mu Nan Zhao's lips curled with a meaning others could not fathom.

Dead is dead; why worry about those things? Not leaving even a trace of trouble for the living lets me rest easy.

Outside the arrow fire paused; the front doors and windows thumped, as if someone were about to break in.

Mu Nan Zhao, without hesitation, struck with a palm, sending the He siblings flying out the back window.

At the same time, several assassins burst into the house, surrounding Mu Nan Zhao to attack.

Mu Nan Zhao's soft sword also lashed out in midair; in an instant, blood sprayed.

When a man resolves to die, how many can stop him?

When Gu Xixi followed a detachment of the Northwest Army charging in from behind...

All that could be seen was Mu Nan Zhao covered in filthy blood, his eyes fierce and mad.

Every time he brandished his soft sword, blood light appeared, as if an asura had just crawled out of hell.

Meng Chengping pierced the assassin before Mu Nan Zhao with his spear, shouting, "Brother, I'm late, you can rest now!"

Gu Xixi also ran to Mu Nan Zhao's side, grabbing his arm with both hands.

The Northwest Army has arrived; you can stop fighting.

Mu Nan Zhao's eyeballs slowly turned to look at Gu Xixi.

As if his heart and soul were gradually returning to his body, his eyes gained the vitality of a living person.

"Gu Xixi, it's you."

Gu Xixi nodded with red-rimmed eyes, "Mm, it's me; Meng Chengping also came, we are safe now."

Fortunately we made it in time.

Mu Nan Zhao, for her and his family, hastily changed his plan, putting himself in danger.

And she finally did not let him down.

Mu Nan Zhao looked at Gu Xixi, the corner of his mouth twitched as if he wanted to smile, but his head suddenly drooped and he fell onto her.

……

The oil lamp's light flickered.

Mu Nan Zhao lay on the bed, already wiped clean and changed into fresh clothes.

Fortunately he was merely exhausted and unconscious, not seriously injured.

Miss He sat beside the bed, unblinkingly guarding Mu Nan Zhao, while others had no chance to approach.

Meng Chengping and He Jinghui sat in the outer room, speaking softly.

Gu Xixi set the tea tray on the table, "Tonight everyone has worked hard; let's have some sweet tea first."

The two men hurriedly thanked her.

The troops Meng Chengping brought were all stationed outside.

In this farmstead, aside from the few of them, there were no living people left; even to get a drink they had to do it themselves.

Gu Xixi also sat down at the table, her gaze involuntarily drifting toward the inner room.

Miss He, whose personal name is Jing Lan, indeed existed in the original book; she is considered Mu Nan Zhao's childhood sweetheart.