Qin Yining was nearly driven to laughter by his righteous tone.

“Your young master? Now you’ve become a loyal servant protecting your master again? But you disregarded your young master’s wishes and forcibly kidnapped him, planning to use him to secure your own futures. What face do you have now to speak such words?

“Speaking of serving His Majesty with a clear conscience? Who do you take for fools? It’s nothing but self-interest, yet you still have the audacity to gild your own faces!”

Qin Yining paced slowly before the two men, her gaze unwavering as she looked at them. “If we’re talking about thick skin, if you two claim second place, I’m afraid no one could claim first. You’ve truly opened this young lady’s eyes! Admirable, admirable!”

Fei Lian and Fei Ying were flushed red with anger at Qin Yining’s words. They hadn’t expected that someone who appeared so gentle and weak could mock people like an awl piercing flesh, stabbing until bloody and raw without mercy.

Fei Lian, being hot-tempered, cursed angrily: “You woman, instead of staying home and being well-behaved, you spend all day causing trouble outside! Now you’re all surrounded by Tatar pursuers. If you don’t find a way out, everyone will die in this foreign land! You’re a person of Great Zhou – you should find a way back to Great Zhou! I advise you to hand over Second Master Lu to us now. Perhaps our Second Master might put in a good word for you considering your contribution, and you could live peacefully in Great Zhou afterward! You’re just a woman after all – surely His Majesty wouldn’t stoop to arguing with a mere woman?”

Though Fei Ying’s words were harsh, his reasoning was clear.

The two clansmen from the Minuo tribe who came with Uncle A’er Khan couldn’t understand what they were saying, but Uncle A’er Khan could!

The current situation was indeed as Fei Ying described. The Minuo tribe had angered Utekin Khan by raiding grain supplies, and now they were being pursued everywhere while carrying heavy baggage.

Their predicament was inescapable because this was Tatar territory, and they were ultimately Tatar subjects.

But Qin Yining and Lu Heng were not! They could actually leave right now!

However, in this most difficult time, neither Lu Heng nor Qin Yining showed any intention of retreating. Both were willing to share the fate of the Minuo tribe members.

Uncle A’er Khan was deeply moved, his face even flushed red with emotion.

Qin Yining didn’t notice Uncle A’er Khan’s thoughts. She only felt that these two men could betray their old master yet still speak so righteously – truly detestable. She immediately said: “Take them down.”

Fei Ying and Fei Lian hastily retreated. Fei Lian didn’t forget to threaten: “Miss Qin, I advise you to be more sensible and think about your family! If you release us now, we can truly put in good words for you! You’re mixing with the Minuo tribe people now – are you planning never to return to Great Zhou for the rest of your life?”

Qin Yining frowned, too lazy to argue with them, only maintaining a stern expression without answering.

Cao Yuqing immediately unleashed her martial arts, effortlessly knocking them to the ground. She took the rope Zhao Yinuo handed her and tied their arms behind their backs, binding them tightly.

Lu Heng looked at Cao Yuqing in surprise.

These had been his bodyguards before, yet now they were subdued in just two or three moves, as easily as catching two chicks. This made him doubt the abilities of his former guards.

Liao Zhibing looked at Lu Heng’s pained expression, then at these two men, and asked: “What do we do next? How should these two be dealt with?”

Qin Yining turned to look at Lu Heng.

She saw Lu Heng’s heavy expression, his brows tightly furrowed, as if caught in a dilemma. She couldn’t help but sigh.

Lu Heng pressed his lips together and said: “Let them go.”

These two had clearly betrayed Lu Heng. That Lu Heng could still be merciful at this time made Qin Yining wonder if she herself was too ruthless.

Hearing him say this, Uncle A’er Khan disagreed: “If we let them leave, they’ll immediately report to the pursuers and reveal our whereabouts. What will we do then?”

The Liao Zhibing and Zhao Yinuo brothers also nodded in agreement.

Fei Lian and Fei Ying panicked now, struggling violently like two writhing worms. They managed to stand up with difficulty, only to fall back down.

Cao Yuqing crossed her arms and sneered: “Fine, Second Master Lu is kind-hearted and wants to spare you. But you don’t know what’s good for you – not only did you betray your old master, you’ve lost all face. I think people like you have no need to live in this world.”

Fei Lian and Fei Ying were terrified, looking pleadingly at Lu Heng: “Second Master! For the sake of us brothers once serving you loyally and risking our lives for you, please spare us this once!”

Lu Heng looked at their miserable state, thinking about what would happen to those around him after the family headship changed hands, and couldn’t help but hesitate.

People aren’t grass or trees, and he wasn’t a heartless person after all.

Seeing that Lu Heng seemed to be softening again, Liao Zhibing spoke first: “You said you sold your lives. Since it was selling, it was a transaction. Even if you died, Second Master Lu would properly provide for your families and give you full payment for your lives. Your transaction with him ended long ago. And what about you? Not only did you contribute nothing to Second Master Lu, you even wanted to betray your old master for personal gain, planning to hand him over for advancement. At this point, you still have the nerve to beg for mercy with such words – what fine men you are! You’ve really opened all our eyes!”

Liao Zhibing’s sarcasm was too pointed, making both men’s faces turn from red to purple.

Lu Heng became even more conflicted.

Rationally, he knew he shouldn’t let them leave, but emotionally, he couldn’t bear to kill those who had once served by his side.

Everyone saw Lu Heng’s dilemma and felt somewhat helpless.

Cao Yuqing laughed lightly, her voice soft, clear, and melodious: “If we let such scoundrels go, wouldn’t even Heaven punish us?”

“Second Master, please spare us! We know we were wrong! Second Master!”

Seeing their lives in danger, Fei Ying and Fei Lian hastily began kowtowing to Lu Heng. With their hands bound, only their legs could move freely. In their desperation, they knocked their foreheads bloody within two or three strikes. Even in the night light of moon and snow, they looked quite pitiful and miserable.

After all, these were people who had served by his side for so long. Even raising cats or dogs would create feelings, let alone living people.

At this moment, emotion overcame reason, and Lu Heng said softly: “You may go.”

Lu Heng now felt only despair. His family had decided to sacrifice him, and his formerly trusted subordinates had come to betray him. This made Lu Heng feel his future was utterly bleak, uncertain whether he should even continue.

Everyone looked at each other, but seeing Lu Heng’s determined expression, none spoke up.

Fei Ying and Fei Lian’s faces lit up with joy as they quickly jumped up and ran toward the forest edge, not even bothering with the ropes binding their arms.

Lu Heng turned and walked toward where the horses were tethered.

“Let’s go back.”

Qin Yining looked at Lu Heng’s retreating figure, shook her head helplessly, and followed with Uncle A’er Khan and the others.

Cao Yuqing raised her eyebrows and exchanged a glance with Liao Zhibing. Liao Zhibing nodded, and both quietly stepped back two paces, then used their lightness skills to leave like lightning.

In just a moment, both returned using their lightness skills, following at the very back of the group as if nothing had happened.

Qin Yining shared a horse with Cao Yuqing, giving her original mount to Lu Heng.

Except for the despondent Lu Heng, everyone noticed that Liao Zhibing and Cao Yuqing had left for a while. Qin Yining especially, with her always sharp senses, had detected something was wrong even before they used their lightness skills to leave.

Qin Yining didn’t dwell on Fei Lian and Fei Ying’s fate, because such matters needed no detailed consideration – Cao Yuqing and Liao Zhibing would never allow any possibility of exposing their whereabouts.

Everyone hurried back to the camp, anxious throughout the journey, fearing that something might have happened at the camp during their absence.

When they reached the camp’s perimeter, they indeed saw hoofprints in the snow. They weren’t chaotic, but looked like tracks left by scouts exploring the area.

The group returned to the camp and went directly to find the Ha’er Bala and Chagan Bala brothers.

The brothers hadn’t dared sleep too deeply. Hearing footsteps, they immediately awakened alertly. Seeing the group had returned, they both breathed sighs of relief.

“How is the situation outside?”

Qin Yining said: “The situation isn’t optimistic. We discovered scout tracks on our way back. We’d better leave here quickly.”

Everyone’s expressions were quite grave, making the Ha’er Bala brothers nervous as well.

“Then I’ll go notify the clansmen to prepare to break camp.”

“Good.”

While Ha’er Bala led people to wake the clansmen and prepare to leave, Qin Yining discussed with Uncle A’er Khan about which route to take next.

Cao Yuqing looked back at Lu Heng, seeing him still lost in thought at this critical moment. Unable to help feeling frustrated with him, she frowned and approached him, saying quietly: “Is Master Lu still thinking about those two traitors?”

Lu Heng seemed startled by the sudden voice, looking up sharply to meet Cao Yuqing’s gaze. His lips moved but he said nothing.

Cao Yuqing sneered: “You know I killed them both, don’t you?”

Lu Heng’s expression became even more unsightly in an instant. “You really killed them.” His tone wasn’t surprised – clearly he already knew.

“I always knew Second Master Lu was an exceptional figure, able to start from nothing at such a young age. Your talent surely matches any successful person. Now I see you also have moments of indecision. You must understand – once they left and exposed our whereabouts, all the Minuo tribe members would pay with their lives for your momentary softness! Now is the critical moment, with Tatar pursuers about to catch up again. Do you still have time for self-pity and self-blame? Think it over yourself.”

After delivering this harsh rebuke, Cao Yuqing turned and walked away.

Lu Heng stood stunned in place from the scolding. After a long while, he took a deep breath, adjusted his mood, and walked over to join Qin Yining and the others in discussing strategies.