novelAbuy Chapter 62 Farmhouse
Chapter 62 Farmhouse
Chapter 62 Farmhouse
Upon hearing this, Tian Guang's eyes gleamed with a sharp light.
His eyes suddenly lit up in the dim light, like two solidified bolts of cold lightning, scanning the boy who had revealed his identity from head to toe once again.
Wu Ji was already terrified with a sword to her neck, but when she heard the name "Tian Guang," her body trembled violently.
She tried desperately to turn her head to look at Zhao Heng behind her, but the moment she moved her neck, the cold blade pressed even closer, so she had no choice but to give up in despair. She slumped to the ground, staring blankly at the bearded man, momentarily lost in thought.
How did Zhao recognize him?
His weathered face and disheveled hair revealed a past that even she had to painstakingly trace from the contours of his brows—this reclusive young prince—
Meng Ben and Luan Ding, who had just been knocked back to the muddy ground under the corridor, were struggling to get up when they heard this and were both stunned.
Tian Guang?
Tian Guang, the chivalrous hero of the peasant family?
This name has been circulating among the lower echelons of the underworld for decades. They mingled in the streets and heard countless embellished rumors in teahouses and taverns.
However, they could not reconcile the legendary hero who could rally thousands with a single call with the bearded, tattered man before them.
Tian Guang suddenly smiled, scratching his messy stubble back and forth with his hand, making a soft rustling sound. He then paced back and forth for a couple of steps, and when he reached the wall, he put one hand on his hip and turned to look at Zhao Heng.
"You're quite an interesting fellow. How can you be so sure I came here for this woman? And how can you be so sure I'm that Tian Guang? Could it be—you've seen me before?"
Zhao Heng's sword remained firmly pressed against Wu Ji's neck, without the slightest loosening of his grip. He merely adjusted his position slightly, placing Tian Guang directly opposite him.
"Hero, there's no need to deceive me. I have my reasons for recognizing you. As for who you've come for, I don't really care. But what you need to be careful about is that if things can't end peacefully here today, then before I fall, I'll need someone to accompany me on my journey to the underworld."
Tian Guang's burly figure froze for a moment.
As Zhao Heng spoke, he merely pressed down slightly on the tip of his sword.
Wu Ji trembled, her neck instinctively tilting back, only to bump into Zhao Heng's hand gripping her shoulder, rendering her unable to move.
"Mrs. Wu," Zhao Heng's voice rang out above her head, "If I'm not mistaken, this man is the same husband you were willing to give up marrying into a wealthy family and risk your reputation to elope with, isn't he?"
Wu Ji's breathing suddenly became rapid.
"Even your current subjugation to the Snow Maiden's birth mother, being driven and coerced by her, is probably also related to him?" Zhao Heng continued, "Just now you were even hiding his existence from me, insisting that the Snow Maiden's surname was Zhu instead of Tian. Were you afraid that I would follow the 'Tian' surname line and find something I shouldn't have?"
Wu Ji trembled violently.
Tears welled up again, mingling with cold sweat, streaming down her cheeks. She bit her lower lip tightly until she tasted the metallic sweetness, then turned her head away, saying only, "Young master, if you wish to kill me, then kill me. Why bother with further words?"
As she spoke, her eyes involuntarily glanced at Tian Guang, but upon that brief contact, she quickly looked away as if scorched by flames, tightly closing her eyelids.
Tian Guang fell silent for a moment.
He looked at this woman who had once been as radiant as a spring flower, now with fine lines around her eyes, wearing a worn-out dress, sitting shivering in the dust. Seeing her willingness to die rather than implicate him, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he finally let out a deep sigh.
"Wu Niang, don't try to hide it from him anymore. It's too late to hide it now."
Wu Ji opened her eyes in a daze, and was about to speak when Tian Guang waved his hand and looked at Zhao, saying, "That's right, I am Tian Guang. There were hidden reasons for what happened back then, so don't make things difficult for a woman like her."
Upon hearing this, Wu Ji burst into tears, but could only shake her head repeatedly, her throat choked with sobs, unable to utter a single word.
Tian Guang stood there, his guilt deepening. He instinctively wanted to step forward, but Zhao Heng's sword pressed down slightly again, its cold light gleaming.
The boy kept his eyes fixed on Tian Guang, and said in a deep voice to the outside room, "Meng Ben, Luan Ding, come in and stabilize Ji Cheng's injuries first."
Meng Ben and Luan Ding exchanged a glance, both seeing the determination in each other's eyes. At this moment, they couldn't care less about anything else. They tensed their muscles and moved into the house as if facing a formidable enemy, while simultaneously locking down Tian Guang's aura to prevent him from suddenly launching an attack.
Tian Guang simply stroked his beard, squinted at Zhao Heng, and after a moment, finally stepped aside to make way for Ji Cheng's location without blocking him.
Meng Ben and his companion quickly rushed to Ji Cheng's side.
Ji Cheng was lying on the ground, his face pale, blood foam still hanging from the corner of his mouth, his eyes half open, and he was still relatively conscious, but he was in so much pain that the veins on his forehead were bulging, and he could only let out heavy, labored breathing, unable to speak.
They quickly tore off clean strips of cloth from their undergarments and tightly bandaged the wound on his chest to stop the bleeding. They also each transferred a portion of their internal energy to protect his heart and keep it flowing.
Zhao then said to Tian Guang, "I've roughly sorted out about 70-80% of the misunderstanding surrounding the leader's actions today. But to be on the safe side, please allow me to leave this place with them first. Once we return to the city, I will ensure Madam Wu's safe return to Zuiyue Tower. We can both pretend today's events never happened, shall we?"
Tian Guang put one hand on his hip and chuckled.
"Kid, don't push your luck and forget your own limitations."
He reverted to his rough, boisterous tone, but his eyes were sharp as knives: "Once we return to the city, it will be your territory, surrounded by soldiers. How can you expect me to trust you then? What if you turn your back on me then? Wouldn't I be filled with regret?"
Zhao Heng's expression remained unchanged: "Then, according to the leader of the chivalrous sects, what should be done?"
Tian Guang took two steps inside the house.
He walked to the window and looked out at the rain. The rain had lessened a bit, but the sky was darker, with low-hanging clouds that seemed about to collapse. The wild grass in the yard swayed in the wind and rain, and the muddy ground reflected a faint light.
"I can let you go. But before that, you must release Wu Niang. After that, how you mobilize troops back in the city is your business. I just want to take her away."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Heng couldn't help but chuckle.
"Who is the leader of the heroes now? Your attack just now was powerful and full of killing intent, showing no mercy whatsoever."
Now that I know your identity, what if you intend to silence me and eliminate any future trouble? If I hand you over, how can I trust you? At that point, I'll have no leverage left, and my life will depend entirely on the leader's whim.
Tian Guang suddenly turned around, his thick eyebrows furrowing.
"Kid, you're thinking too much. What exactly do you want? Tell me your reasons."
Zhao Heng hesitated for a moment, then loosened his grip on Wu Ji's shoulders slightly to allow her to catch her breath. He then said, "In that case, let's each compromise. You allow my disciples to leave first. I'll stay here with you. How about that?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Ben and Luan Ding, who were carefully tending to Ji Cheng's injuries, changed their expressions drastically.
Meng Ben suddenly looked up and said urgently, "Young Master, you mustn't! How can we abandon you!"
Luan Ding gripped his sword hilt tightly, the tip pointing at Tian Guang, and roared, "If we live, we live together! If we die..."
"Shut up," Zhao Heng snapped, then shook his head slightly at the two of them.
He knew this clearly. Tian Guang, as a top-tier master at the sect leader level, even if he hadn't reached the later stages, his martial arts had probably already reached a state of perfection, and he could control his internal energy at will, having already reached the threshold of a grandmaster.
If the sword in his hand were to leave Wu Ji's neck even slightly, and if there were even the slightest opening in her breath, she might suddenly strike like a lurking tiger, delivering a thunderous blow.
The variables at that time are too great, and we will probably all perish in this desolate village and shabby house.
Sending Meng Ben and the others first would not only protect the seriously injured Ji Cheng but also reduce the constraints on their own forces, allowing them to focus on their own endeavors. More importantly—
Before Tian Guang could answer, Zhao Heng added, "Chief, there's no need for hesitation or deliberation. To be honest, I made arrangements before leaving the city. If I haven't returned by noon, a large number of troops will follow the trail and surround this place. Letting them go first will only bring this process forward a little."
He met Tian Guang's gaze calmly and continued, "The world is full of turmoil. If we can leave some room for maneuver, we can discuss our friendship again when we meet again in the future."
Tian Guang stroked his beard and began to scrutinize Zhao Heng again. This time, he looked at him more carefully, as if trying to see through him inside and out. The boy's face was still quite immature, but there was a composure beyond his years in his eyes. His hand holding the sword was steady, showing neither fear nor bluff.
After a while, Tian Guang slapped his hands together with a crisp sound and finally grinned.
"What a cunning lad, but he's loyal and has some guts. Alright, I agree. Let your men go first."
Luan Ding was about to speak again, but Zhao Heng didn't give him a chance and directly ordered, "No need to say anything more. Ji Cheng's injuries are serious, take him back to the city for treatment immediately."
As he spoke, his eyes remained fixed on Tian Guang, and he solemnly instructed Meng Ben and the other man, "Remember, the leader of the chivalrous sect is trustworthy. When you return, don't disturb too many people and cause unnecessary trouble. This will be better for everyone."
Meng Ben, having followed Zhao Heng for a long time, immediately understood. The young lord was implying that upon returning to the city, he should not make a large-scale troop deployment, but instead follow the contingency plan given before departure and consult with the young lady, Zi Nu, to make a decision.
He nodded emphatically and said in a hoarse voice, "I understand. Take care, young master."
Meng Ben and Luan Ding helped Ji Cheng up. Ji Cheng was in a daze, barely opening his eyes. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came out.
The three cautiously left the house and quickly boarded the simple carriage that had not yet left.
Tian Guang stood by the window the whole time, without stopping the carriage, but just looked in the direction the carriage had gone, as if he was calculating something.
Once the sound of the carriage had completely faded into the distance, Tian Guang turned around and said to Zhao, who was still holding Wu Ji hostage, "Now it's all right. Your people are gone, and whether I kill you or not, my identity has been exposed. Boy, you should release her. I, Tian Guang, keep my word; since I promised to let them go, I won't harm you again."
Zhao Heng did not move his sword away, nor did he loosen his grip on Wu Ji's shoulder. He simply said, "The Heroic Leader has been missing for years, and many in the martial world assumed you had met with misfortune. Now, you suddenly appear in Handan. Is it truly only for Madam Wu? In my opinion, given the Heroic Leader's martial arts skills, when my two disciples brought Madam Wu here, you could have easily infiltrated and taken her away unnoticed. Why wait until now, insisting on waiting for me to show myself, even resorting to violence?"
Tian Guang chuckled.
He stroked his unkempt beard, pointed at Zhao from afar, and said, "You cunning little rascal, you're overly cautious and have too many schemes. But this time, you're overthinking it. I came here solely for Wu Niang. The reason I waited for you to show yourself was simply to see who was behind all this and what they planned to do to Wu Niang."
He spread his hands, looking completely at ease.
"We need to know who our opponent is and what their plans are in order to deal with them, right?"
Zhao Heng remained noncommittal, but after a moment's thought, he suddenly said, "The leader of the chivalrous sect is not someone who can be seen in the light of day, is he? Or rather, he cannot let certain people know that you are still alive and that you are in Handan."
1
A glint of light flashed in Tian Guang's eyes: "Oh? What makes you say that?"
Zhao Heng slowly said, "If the leader of the knights did all this simply to take Madam Wu away, then there's nothing wrong with that. But to complicate a simple matter, to observe from the shadows, and even to risk conflict with us—can I interpret this as the leader of the knights intending to eliminate any future troubles from the very beginning? After all, the fewer people who know about Madam Wu's connection to you, the safer you will be in the future."
Tian Guang crossed his arms.
His arms were thick and muscular, the rough cloth sleeves stretched taut. This posture made him look even more imposing and intimidating. He neither admitted nor denied it, but simply said, "So what if it is? So what if it isn't? Doesn't this just prove that my agreement to let your retainers leave showed my sincerity? Otherwise, I could have simply kept them all while they were distracted treating that man."
Zhao Heng shook his head: "That's not what I meant. What I meant was that the leader of the chivalrous sect might not need to be so extreme. There might be a possibility of cooperation between us."
Tian Guang raised an eyebrow, a look of considerable interest on his face, and began pacing again: "Cooperation? Tell me. What could a young nobleman from Zhao possibly have to do with a nobody like me?"
Zhao Heng then said, "The leader of the chivalrous sect has been missing for many years, and his actions this time are so discreet, he must be hiding from certain people, or rather, he doesn't want those people's attention to be drawn to Madam Wu. But the leader of the chivalrous sect has inadvertently exposed his whereabouts to me and let me know about your relationship with Madam Wu. So, if something happens to me today, regardless of whether it was the leader of the chivalrous sect or not, it will be easy for outsiders to trace it back to Madam Wu."
Wu Ji's face turned pale, clearly understanding the meaning behind those words.
"At that time, Xia Kui and Madam Wu will probably find it difficult to establish themselves in the State of Zhao."
Zhao Heng continued, "This is just a minor matter. If those who are investigating the leader of the Xia clan get wind of Madam Wu's existence—I'm afraid that not only in Zhao, but the leader of the Xia clan will become very troublesome anywhere in the future, and it may even implicate the entire Nongjia."
After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.
The rain pattered against the tiles, dripping through the holes, one drop after another.
Seeing Tian Guang cross his arms and remain silent, Zhao Heng did not rush him. Instead, he spoke gently to Wu Ji, who had a sorrowful expression, "Madam Wu, it seems that there was indeed a reason why Master Tian left without saying goodbye, leaving you to wait for so many years."
The reason is probably much more serious than you imagine.
Wu Ji's body trembled violently. She suddenly looked up, her eyes blurry with tears, and gazed at the familiar yet unfamiliar burly figure a few steps away.
Tian Guang stood silently for a moment, then finally took half a step forward, his gaze fixed on Zhao: "What else do you know?"
Zhao Heng shook his head.
"What I know is nothing more than speculation based on clues. But since there are only the three of us here, and Madam Wu is also here, why don't you, Chief Hero, explain these things clearly? This will not only resolve Madam Wu's long-standing concerns, but also give us a clear understanding of each other, so that we can discuss future cooperation."
Tian Guang pondered for a moment.
He rested his chin on his hand, his rough fingers rubbing together among the beard on his jaw. This gesture made him look like he was deep in thought, rather than a reckless brute who only knew how to fight.
"I will explain the ins and outs of my past with Wu Niang to her myself," he finally spoke, his voice calmer. "Just tell me your 'guess,' and I want to hear how accurate your guesses are."
Zhao Heng then said, "Then I will speak frankly."
He said, "After the Battle of Changping, when the Qin army besieged Handan, at the most critical moment of the battle, Lord Wu'an, Bai Qi, was suddenly ordered to commit suicide by the King of Qin at Duyou. The official reason given was that he had repeatedly disobeyed the king's orders and angered the king. But as far as I know, Bai Qi's death was not a simple execution; there was an assassination attempt involved, but it was suppressed and kept secret."
He paused for a moment, looking at Tian Guang.
"This breathtaking assassination attempt, which nearly changed the course of the world, was probably orchestrated by you, the leader of the Xia clan, and even the entire Farmer's Clan, wasn't it?"
Tian Guang's face suddenly darkened.
But it wasn't anger or panic; rather, it was a profound sense of dread.
A chilling aura emanated from him, making the temperature in the room seem to drop several degrees. His gaze changed; it was no longer casual or inquisitive, but sharp as a knife, piercing Zhao Heng.
Wu Ji's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Tian Guang.
Even if she knew nothing of the martial world, the name "Bai Qi" was known throughout the land. Assassinating Lord Wu'an?
this----
Unmoved by the palpable killing intent, Zhao Heng continued, "Whether the Farmer's Clan planned or participated in the assassination of the Qin Emperor, regardless of success or failure, it would inevitably anger Xianyang, attracting the relentless and insidious retaliation and pursuit of the Luo Wang, a weapon that penetrates every nook and cranny. Moreover, Bai Qi is indeed dead, and the King of Qin is furious. He has dispatched the elite of the Luo Wang to secretly hunt you down and has offered a huge reward for your head, Xia Kui. In order to avoid implicating the Farmer's Clan's 100,000 disciples and to evade this endless pursuit, Xia Kui has simply faked his death or gone into complete hiding, diving underwater and waiting for the right moment."
As he spoke, he became even more vigilant, focusing his mind to observe the subtle changes in Tian Guang's body and the flow of his aura, wary of a sudden attack. At the same time, he kept sorting through the myriad of thoughts: "But the Net of Law is a deadly weapon of the Qin state, infiltrating everywhere, and investigating it will be like a festering sore. Perhaps the Heroic Leader is also afraid that Madam Wu will be targeted by them and suffer collateral damage because of you, so he has hesitated to contact her, even hesitant to let ordinary disciples of the Farmer's Clan contact her, lest he expose himself. Until Madam Wu, by chance, returned to Handan and established herself. The Heroic Leader secretly monitored her, knowing she was temporarily safe, and thus waited for the opportunity until today—"
Wu Ji trembled all over.
She finally understood. All those years of waiting, all those nights of tears that dried up, all that resentment of being abandoned—it turned out to be like this. She looked at Tian Guang, and tears welled up again.
Tian Guang squinted and stared at Zhao for a long time.
"If Bai Qi had been the commander-in-chief in the Battle of Handan, the outcome might have been different."
Zhao Heng's tone softened somewhat: "In truth, the entire Zhao Kingdom owes the Farmer a great debt of gratitude. Therefore, what I really want to say is that the Hero King doesn't need to worry too much about me exposing your whereabouts. Not only will I not, but I am even willing to use my status as a prince of Zhao to provide cover for the Hero King and Lady Wu, helping you conceal your tracks, evade the Net's pursuit, and clarify the past."
"Is this the cooperation you've been talking about?"
Tian Guang's voice was unreadable: "How will you cover for me? How can you guarantee anything? And what—what do you want from a down-on-his-luck person like me?"
Zhao Heng nodded.
"Cooperation is naturally mutually beneficial. Because I have just come to a complete understanding of something: the reason why Madam Wu is controlled by the birth mother of the Snow Maiden and forced to let the Snow Maiden get close to me is probably not only because that woman has done Madam Wu a so-called favor of taking her in, but also because—she may still have some fatal weakness of Madam Wu in her hands."
He looked at Tian Guang and said slowly, "And as things stand now, this weakness may be related to you, Xia Kui."
Therefore, I need to know what leverage Xue Nu's birth mother has over Madam Wu, that she is being manipulated by her. This concerns my own safety, as well as whether the leader of the knights and Madam Wu can truly extricate themselves from this situation in the future.
Wu Ji's thin shoulders trembled violently again. She lowered her head, not daring to look at Tian Guang.
Tian Guang's expression shifted slightly, his eyes flickering uncertainly. He twirled his beard in silence for a moment before turning to Wu Ji, his tone softening: "Wu Niang, is the 'handle' he mentioned really true?"
Under Tian Guang's questioning, Wu Ji's psychological defenses seemed to finally collapse completely.
As if she had committed a terrible crime, she avoided Tian Guang's burning gaze with tears streaming down her face, lowered her head deeply, and choked out, "After she helped me return to Zuiyue Tower and settle down, she repeatedly tried to find out your whereabouts. I was heartbroken and grateful to her, and one time when I was drunk, I accidentally let slip that you were mentioned. It's possible."
She was extremely clever, and later, using persuasive language and some rumors, she almost managed to extract your true identity. Afterwards, she used this to blackmail me, saying that if I didn't obey her, she would leak the information, which would likely get you into huge trouble—I, I dare not take the risk—”
She finally broke down at this point.
"Tianlang, I'm so sorry—I shouldn't have said it, I was so foolish—I shouldn't have—"
After listening, Tian Guang remained silent for a long time, only letting out a long sigh.
"It's not your fault, Wu Niang. I'm the one who dragged you into this."
He stepped forward, wanting to pat her trembling shoulder to offer some comfort, but stopped halfway through his outstretched hand. He turned to look at Zhao Heng, his eyes filled with complex emotions, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
Zhao Heng remained silent for a moment, and finally, with a slight turn of his wrist, slowly moved away the chilling longsword that had been resting against Wu Ji's neck.
>