aircannonsinc Chapter 406 I'll spare your family, but you'll have to put on an act for me.
Chapter 406 I'll spare your family, but you'll have to put on an act for me.
Han Zhong's head exploded with a "boom"!
The sound was so loud, like a thunderclap striking his mind, making him feel like his soul had been shattered and his liver and gallbladder had been torn apart!
Han Zhong's pupils suddenly contracted, reaching their limit, and then suddenly dilated to their maximum size.
Images flashed through his mind rapidly.
There are scenes of him having a secret talk with Xu Longxiang in the woods, scenes of him agreeing to let the Moon Goddess Sect off the hook, and scenes of Zhou Cheng advising him to ask the Emperor for help.
There are also scenes of Fan Li appearing in his tent, and scenes of him conspiring with Fan Li to poison him.
Your Majesty knows everything, knows everything.
What he thought was a flawless plan was nothing more than a ridiculous, self-directed farce in His Majesty's eyes.
He thought he was the one in control, able to please both sides and win favor with everyone.
But it turns out that he was always just a pawn, a big fish that His Majesty placed on the chessboard to lure out Xu Longxiang and the Moon Goddess.
Han Zhong's body began to tremble violently.
His face changed color from white to red to green, like a spilled palette.
Han Zhong's tears finally welled up, and he sobbed uncontrollably, his voice hoarse as he said:
"His Majesty--!!!"
His forehead slammed against the ground repeatedly, the muffled thuds echoing in the silent tent, tearing his skin and splattering blood everywhere.
He couldn't care about anything else.
He didn't want the general's dignity, the Han family's reputation, human relationships, or morality.
He just wanted to live, he just wanted His Majesty to spare his life.
Qin Mu looked at Han Zhong's appearance with a blank expression and a calm voice.
"What are you trying to do? I was just asking out of curiosity. Just answer truthfully."
Han Zhong was completely terrified.
He knelt before Qin Mu, his forehead pressed against the cold gold brick, his face streaked with tears and snot.
At this moment, where was even a trace of the dignity of a general?
His voice trembled so badly it was like it was being squeezed out of his throat, each word sounding like it was being forced out.
"Your Majesty! I was bewitched! I am guilty! I deserve to die!"
He was filled with regret.
He regretted agreeing to Xu Longxiang's request, regretted being greedy for favors, regretted listening to Zhou Cheng's advice to ask the Emperor for help, and regretted getting involved in this conflict.
If he had flatly refused Xu Longxiang back then, if he had directly reported Xu Longxiang's whereabouts to the court, if he hadn't sent Zhou Cheng to seek help, none of this would have happened.
He was still the General Who Guarded the South, still Han Zhong who commanded 50,000 elite troops, still Han Zhong whose family was safe and sound and who had a clear conscience.
But there are no "what ifs" in this world.
He can't go back, he can never go back.
Qin Mu smiled faintly, with a hint of something indescribable.
"Is it too late to realize your mistake now?"
Han Zhong suddenly raised his head, his forehead already a bloody mess, blood flowing down his nose and covering half his face.
His eyes were bloodshot and filled with extreme fear and pleading.
"Your Majesty! I know I was wrong! I am ready to commit suicide before you right now! I beg you, Your Majesty, to spare my family in consideration of the many years I, Han Zhong, have served the Great Qin!"
His voice was hoarse and broken as his forehead slammed down hard again with a thud, splattering blood everywhere.
Qin Mu leaned back in his chair, his gaze calm and his voice indifferent.
"I can spare your family. But you have to put on a show for me."
Han Zhong suddenly raised his head, a look of disbelief flashing in his eyes.
He nodded frantically, as if pounding garlic, blood splattering from his forehead onto the gold bricks in a shocking sight.
"Your humble servant is willing! Your humble servant is willing!"
Qin Mu smiled, beckoned, and gestured for him to come closer.
Han Zhong crawled forward on his knees and knelt beside Qin Mu's legs.
Qin Mu bent down and whispered a few words in his ear.
The voice was very soft, as soft as the wind blowing past his ear, but every word was like a nail driven into Han Zhong's mind.
Han Zhong was stunned after hearing this.
He stared wide-eyed at Qin Mu, then lowered his head, then raised it again.
A deep sorrow welled up in his heart.
It turns out that he had been under His Majesty's control all along. He thought he was very clever, that he could play both sides, and that he could walk a tightrope between His Majesty and the Northern Border.
The Moon Goddess Cult and Xu Longxiang are not even a hair on His Majesty's head.
His Majesty's influence has long since extended to every corner of the southwestern border.
His Majesty's eyes have long been fixed on each and every one of them.
He was merely a pawn, a pawn placed on the chessboard by His Majesty to lure out Xu Longxiang and the Moon Goddess.
Han Zhong kowtowed deeply, his forehead touching the ground.
"Your Majesty is wise and powerful, I understand. I will certainly comply!"
Qin Mu nodded, his gaze as calm as a still pond.
"Go and calm yourself down. If you ruin my whole show because of you, I will exterminate your entire family."
Han Zhong's body jerked violently.
He nodded frantically, his voice hoarse.
"Yes! Yes! Your Majesty understands! Your Majesty will certainly not disappoint you!"
He got up from the ground, his knees were weak, and he staggered, only managing to steady himself by holding onto the edge of the table.
He turned around, walked to the copper basin in the corner of the tent, scooped up some cold water and splashed it on his face, over and over again.
The cool water washed away the tears, the bloodstains, and the fear and despair on his face, but it couldn't wash away the deep weariness in the depths of his eyes.
He took a deep breath and gradually suppressed his surging emotions.
He took the black iron armor from the clothes rack, put it on piece by piece, fastened his belt, and buckled his breastplate.
He picked up the helmet from the table, put it on, and pulled his headband down to cover the bloody wound on his forehead.
He turned around and faced Qin Mu.
Qin Mu has transformed back into Liu Bai's appearance.
He leaned back in his chair, his face ashen, his lips purple, his brows furrowed, looking like he was deeply poisoned but stubbornly refusing to collapse.
His gaze fell on Han Zhong's face, a gaze as cold as a knife, carrying a chilling scrutiny.
Han Zhongxin felt a chill run down his spine, but dared not look at it a second time.
He turned around, walked to the center of the tent, and picked up the teacup from the table.
His hands were trembling, and the teacup swayed gently in his hands, spilling a few drops of tea.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, there was no longer any fear or hesitation in his eyes, only a resolute determination to burn his bridges.
He let go.
"Smack—!!!"
The teacup fell to the ground and shattered.
A crisp cracking sound exploded in the deathly silent tent, like a thunderclap tearing through the stagnant air.
The tea in the cup splashed all over the floor, spreading a small, dark stain on the blue bricks.
Outside the tent, Fan Li was lying in the shadows on the side of the tent, listening intently to the sounds coming from inside.
He held a short knife in his hand, the blade gleaming coldly in the moonlight, and the edge was coated with deadly poison.
He was breathing heavily, but his heart was pounding so fast it felt like it was going to jump out of his chest.
He heard it.
That crisp, piercing, long-awaited shattering sound.
His eyes suddenly lit up.
Fan Li had only one thought in his mind.
Become!
The cup broke, the poison took effect, Liu Bai was dying, and their plan succeeded.
Fan Li's lips slowly curled upwards, the curve widening until it became an almost maniacal grin.
next moment,
He suddenly burst out of the shadows.
Fan Li took out a copper whistle from his sleeve, put it in his mouth, and blew it with all his might.
"Ugh—!!!"
A sharp whistle tore through the night sky, echoing among the mountains, like an invisible hand peeling away the layers of darkness outside the camp.
The moon goddess emerged from the shadows on the right side of the tent.
Dressed in white like snow, with long hair like a waterfall, her white jade mask gleamed with a cold light under the moonlight.
Her steps were light, as light as if she were walking on clouds, without a speck of dust on her feet.
Behind him followed several high-ranking members of the Moon Goddess Cult, dressed in greyish-white robes, with long swords at their waists, their faces solemn and their eyes sharp as knives.
Xu Longxiang emerged from the shadows on the left side of the tent.
His dark python robe fluttered in the night wind. He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the direction of the camp, his eyes burning with a scorching, excited flame.
"It's done! It's a success!"
He turned his head and looked at the Moon Goddess, his face slightly flushed with excitement, and he couldn't suppress the smile on his lips.
His heart was pounding like a drum, and even his breathing became rapid.
The moon goddess smiled and nodded. Her smile was faint, yet it carried a hint of relief.
"Very good."
A strange, complex look flashed in her eyes, as if she couldn't quite believe it.
I can't believe it was so easy to succeed.
Her gaze fell on the tightly closed curtain, a complex emotion flashing across her eyes before being swallowed up by a deeper smile.
Xu Longxiang didn't notice the complex emotion in Yue Shen's eyes. He was filled with excitement and ecstasy, wishing he could rush forward immediately, personally cut off Liu Bai's head, and hang it on the flagpole so that everyone could see the consequences of being an enemy of the Northern Border!
Fan Li had already rushed into the camp.
The dagger in his hand gleamed coldly in the candlelight, and the deadly poison coated on the blade emitted an ominous, dark green glow.
His movements were as fast as lightning, and he stabbed Qin Mu in the chest with a knife.
Qin Mu, in his transformed form as Liu Bai, had a deathly pale face, purple lips, and fine beads of sweat on his forehead.
He staggered back a step, barely avoiding the fatal blow. His sleeve was torn by the blade, and shreds of cloth fell to the ground.
His breathing was rapid and erratic, his chest heaving violently, as if he might collapse at any moment.
"Han Zhong, you traitor—!!!"
Liu Bai's voice was hoarse and angry, each word sounding as if it had been dug out from the depths of his throat, carrying a deep-seated hatred.
"How dare you scheme against me! Once I escape, I will report this to His Majesty!!"
He then turned around abruptly and rushed toward the side wall of the tent.
His body staggered, his steps unsteady, as if he were walking on cotton, yet he was surprisingly fast.
In the blink of an eye, he broke through the side wall of the tent and disappeared into the night.
The tent flap was torn with a loud "rip," and the night wind rushed in through the gap, causing the candlelight inside to flicker violently.
Upon seeing this, Xu Longxiang suddenly shouted, his voice as loud as a bell.
"Don't let him escape!!!"
He blurred into a black afterimage, chasing after Liu Bai in the direction he had fled. His dark python robe fluttered in the night wind like a torn flag.
Fan Li followed closely behind.
Han Zhong also drew his sword and charged out.
His face was ashen, and a complex, indescribable light flashed in his eyes.
His hand gripping the sword hilt trembled slightly, but he gritted his teeth and strode into the night.
Inside the tent, the candlelight was still burning quietly.
The shattered teacup shards were scattered all over the floor, gleaming dimly in the candlelight.
A large hole was torn in the tent wall, and the night wind rushed in through the hole, making the documents on the table rustle as if mocking something.