That night, the western frontier camp stayed lively until midnight. Aside from the soldiers left on watch, most everyone returned utterly drunk.
Yelu Qianqian was the first to pass out, snuggled up against Situ Haonan and already snoring soundly, while Ziqing hadn’t touched a drop of wine and no one knew where she’d gone.
Situ Haonan searched around for a while without finding her, called for Yingzi too, but Yingzi didn’t appear either, so he gave up.
Situ Haonan appeared drunk, but was in fact perfectly clear-headed. He carried Yelu Qianqian onto his horse and rode back to camp that very night!
Who would have thought that upon reaching camp, General Dugu had already been waiting there for quite some time!
Situ Haonan dismounted, settled Yelu Qianqian in, then stepped back outside, looked General Dugu over, and said flatly, “Pretending to be drunk?”
If he remembered correctly, General Dugu had been the very first one sent back drunk earlier!
“Future son-in-law, this way please.” General Dugu smiled mysteriously, gesturing to the right.
“What is it?” Situ Haonan asked coldly. He knew perfectly well what schemes General Dugu was turning over in his mind.
“Future son-in-law, could it be that one small kindness from Han Ziqing has made you forget the grudge against Nangong City? Just yesterday you told me…”
Before General Dugu could finish, Situ Haonan cut him off coldly, “I’ll say this to you one last time—that’s my own business, and it has nothing to do with you, or with Xijing!”
Yesterday, he had indeed said he wouldn’t forget this debt, but he’d also made clear to General Dugu that it had nothing to do with Xijing—don’t even think about using it.
“Future son-in-law, this debt indeed has nothing to do with me. But it has a great deal to do with someone else, who’s been wanting to see you all along—come with me.”
General Dugu smiled and turned to walk away, confident Situ Haonan would follow.
Sure enough, Situ Haonan immediately caught up, his voice dropping to something chilling, “What person?”
General Dugu still wouldn’t say, leading Situ Haonan all the way to a remote tent, lifting the door flap and gesturing with feigned respect, “Future son-in-law, please.”
A complicated look flashed through Situ Haonan’s eyes as he strode in, only to be met the instant he stepped through the door with a sharp slap across the face!
“Situ Haonan, you heartless, ungrateful traitor! Have you no shame before my father?”
That voice!
It was Nangong Ye—his one and only close friend from Nangong City, Nangong Ye!
Not only his closest friend, but by generational rank, Nangong Ye was actually his uncle!
How had he come to be here?
Before Situ Haonan could even collect himself, Nangong Ye swung another slap, striking hard against his forehead, with such force that it sent this grown man crashing to the ground.
“Situ Haonan, if your grandfather knew what you’ve done, he would never forgive you!”
“You scoundrel, today I’ll teach you a proper lesson on my father’s behalf, you unworthy descendant!”
…
In the dim light, Nangong Ye’s eyes glowed a bloodshot red as he furiously seized Situ Haonan’s collar and yanked him up, giving him no chance to explain, before delivering another vicious slap!
“Answer me! Wasn’t your grandfather the one who doted on you most, who loved you most! Answer me!”
“Your grandfather was killed by Han Ziqing, and it was all because of you! Shouldn’t you be avenging your grandfather!”
“Not only have you not avenged him, you’ve treated your enemy as a friend—are you even human? Have you no shame before your grandfather! You scoundrel!”
With the word “scoundrel,” Nangong Ye clenched his fist and, without another word, swung it hard at the side of Situ Haonan’s face!
BOOM!
The force of the blow spoke volumes of the depth of his hatred.
Situ Haonan still hadn’t raised a hand to defend himself, hadn’t offered a word of explanation, collapsed on the ground, blood at the corner of his lips, his eye socket swollen dark purple.
Nangong Ye, panting hard, wasn’t finished yet—he kicked him viciously. “Speak! What are you playing dumb for, speak!”
In the dim light, Situ Haonan’s eyes had dimmed into a pool of dead, stagnant black.
In truth, he had already made up his mind about avenging his grandfather, about atoning to Nangong City—he’d decided days ago.
And he’d already told his grandmother as much.
He hadn’t expected Nangong Ye would come rushing here—clearly, Nangong Ye didn’t know about the letter he’d sent his grandmother.
Well, no matter—he’d have to go back eventually anyway. Might as well go back with Nangong Ye now!
Situ Haonan braced himself and got up, wiping the blood from his lips, and said flatly, “You snuck out on your own, didn’t you?”
“Never mind that. I’m telling you, I’ve come for revenge. Tonight, either you come with me to find Han Ziqing, or I kill you first!”
With that, Nangong Ye immediately drew his sword, pointing it straight at Situ Haonan. “I’ll give you the time it takes half an incense stick to burn to think this over carefully—otherwise, don’t blame my blade for having no eyes, and don’t blame me for disowning you as my nephew!”
Situ Haonan looked at the blade hovering less than three inches from his chest, his dark pupils holding nothing but stillness, dead as a stagnant pool—as if even if that blade plunged straight into his heart, it wouldn’t stir the faintest ripple in his eyes.
Such eyes left Nangong Ye inexplicably aching, softening despite himself, feeling that the Situ Haonan before him was utterly unlike the one he’d once known—this fellow seemed lifeless, like a walking corpse!
But Nangong Ye, blinded by hatred, gave it no further thought, shouting angrily, “Are you coming with me or not!”
At this, Situ Haonan finally spoke, his voice hollow, “Are you certain you can kill me?”
“You! What do you mean by that! Situ Haonan, the gods are watching from three feet above your head—you’ll answer for everything you’ve done!”
Nangong Ye’s hands trembled with fury—how could Situ Haonan be like this, truly taking the enemy as his own father?
“What have I done?” Situ Haonan suddenly laughed.
“You! For a woman, you turned your back on your own parents, dragged your grandfather into it, dragged all of Nangong City into it—who gave birth to you, who raised you? Is this how you repay your elders for raising you? You heartless wretch, you’re not even human!”
Situ Haonan stared blankly at Nangong Ye, then suddenly burst out laughing. “What did I do—was it wrong of me to want to marry the woman I love? They were the ones who stood in my way first. I originally thought… I originally thought…”
“Thought what?”
He’d originally thought his grandfather would support him; he’d originally thought that if his grandfather didn’t support him, he would at least remain neutral. But instead…
Situ Haonan didn’t finish, only waved his hand. “Forget it, forget it. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. There’s no point.”
“No point? Fine, so you won’t avenge him? Then I will!”
Nangong Ye said this and turned to leave, but Situ Haonan grabbed hold of him. “I’ve already discussed this matter with grandmother. I’ll give Nangong City an answer.”
“An answer? What kind of answer!” Nangong Ye demanded sharply.
But the moment the words left his mouth, Situ Haonan struck him hard on the back of the head with his palm.
“Situ Haonan, you—” Nangong Ye’s vision went dark, and he immediately collapsed unconscious.
Situ Haonan set him aside and didn’t leave, standing there silently, watching him for a long while…