No one had expected it.

Including Wan Xiuzi.

No one expected that between himself and another person, someone could make such a swift choice without even a moment’s hesitation, so resolutely striking his own hand…

With one strike of the blade, fresh blood almost immediately gushed out along the knife’s edge.

The blade’s tip pressed against the execution platform.

In the channels below that had already flowed with countless people’s blood, a swath of crimson spread out. Under the illumination of flames on all four sides of the high platform, it was shocking to behold.

The sudden assault of pain made Xie Wei’s brows furrow tightly, fine cold sweat seeping from his forehead.

However, he clenched his teeth without making a single sound.

His fingers pressed against the execution platform curled with such force that several prominent veins suddenly appeared on the back of the hand gripping the blade handle!

Jiang Xuening suddenly lost all her strength, collapsing dejectedly.

The acolytes released her at this moment.

She stared blankly at that pool of blood, as if that crimson color flowed through the depths of her eyes, making her feel a stinging pain that projected straight into her heart.

After his initial shock, Wan Xiuzi suddenly felt immense delight welling up from the bottom of his heart. He couldn’t even suppress his laughter: “Actually for a woman! For a woman! This seat thought you, Xie Ju’an, had been under my nose all these days. I never imagined your feelings were truly sincere, your love deeply rooted! You’re even willing to sacrifice this hand—that means she surpasses even the qin you’ve cherished for many years. There truly are such devoted lovers in this world! Ha ha ha, excellent! Excellent indeed!”

Back then in Fengchen Palace learning the qin, when she and the instrument fell together, Xie Ju’an instinctively saved the qin, letting her fall to the ground instead.

Later at the Bidutang farewell, she gifted him a qin. Xie Ju’an reached out to pull her back, but the qin fell and was damaged.

Today, when Wan Xiuzi pressured him to choose between himself and her, Xie Ju’an drove a blade through his own qin-playing hand.

…

Jiang Xuening didn’t know why, but watching Xie Ju’an’s figure standing beside the execution platform, grief welled up from within. She suddenly burst into tears, her vision already a complete blur.

Seeing Xie Wei strike without hesitation, Lu Tai felt momentary horror—solely because of this man’s composure and terrifying nature.

However, this horror was only temporary.

He quickly recalled the grievance of Gongyi Cheng’s death. His gaze traveled back and forth between Jiang Xuening and Xie Wei. Suddenly, as if discovering something, his eyes blazed with insight as he shouted loudly: “The Sect Leader is truly wise! I originally thought Gentleman Du Jun had temporarily lost his wits, becoming entangled with this demonic woman from the imperial court’s official families. Now, making you choose between yourself and this demonic woman, you’re actually willing to sacrifice your own hand for her! How can this be called having no attachment to this demonic woman? You’re clearly deeply in love with her, showing no true remorse whatsoever! This demonic woman has such a precious identity—why would she have appeared in the temple where our Heavenly Doctrine people gathered, and even accepted food offered by our sect members? Gentleman Gongyi’s death, the countless brothers in the Battle of Tongzhou—absolutely cannot be unrelated to you two!”

The sect members below, hearing these words, finally reacted from their shock.

Though Xie Wei’s action was shocking, it couldn’t salvage anything.

Since Jiang Xuening’s identity had already been exposed, and the Heavenly Doctrine people came from impoverished backgrounds, how could they have half a shred of sympathy?

Some even shouted loudly: “Let that demonic woman be punished!”

Lu Tai was naturally greatly invigorated.

However, just as he stepped forward, about to do more and conduct severe interrogation, a young sect member, body stained with blood, stumbled and crawled into the crowd gathered below the high platform, shouting with utmost panic: “They’ve broken in! There’s an army outside that’s broken in!!!”

What?!

In that instant, the thousand-plus people gathered below the entire platform were shocked as one.

Wan Xiuzi’s scalp exploded with shock, his heart jolting as he rose from his seat in alarm!

Outside came a thunderous crash, as if the main gate had been rammed open.

Immediately after came screams and urgent cries.

The sounds of clashing weapons arose from all four directions—front and back—completely surrounded!

How could this be?

This was Runing Prefecture—where could an army have come from to attack?

Wan Xiuzi simply couldn’t understand.

He had constantly guarded against Xie Wei, guarded against the imperial court. With war breaking out in the east, Runing had already become almost an empty city. And the border army was stationed at Xinzhou—if they marched in this direction, not to mention the distance, the movement of troops couldn’t possibly be concealed. They would have known early on. Since deciding to move against Xie Wei, he had constantly sent people to monitor news from Xinzhou. The hundred thousand troops—not a single soldier had moved!

Where had this army come from?!

Where had these reinforcements come from?!

His mind in complete chaos, Wan Xiuzi shouted: “Quickly organize resistance! Someone, protect me first!”

The acolytes on both sides immediately drew their swords to shield him.

Immediately after, his gaze shifted, catching sight of Xie Wei nearby. Almost instantly inspired, he raised his hand pointing at him, saying viciously: “It’s you, you’re the one scheming against me! Quick, don’t let him escape! Seize him! Seize him!”

However, this sudden turn of events, while unexpected for Wan Xiuzi, had been anticipated by Xie Wei all along.

Upon hearing the chaos outside, he had already gritted his teeth through the pain and pulled out the short blade piercing his left palm, gripping it tightly—

The blade that had just pierced through his palm instantly became his new weapon!

When two acolytes lunged at him together, Xie Wei unhesitatingly turned his hand to block. The blade followed along their sword edge downward, and in a flash had severed three of the opponent’s fingers. His other hand, already injured and still bleeding profusely, slapped against the execution platform behind him, using the momentum to spin his body and evade another incoming sword strike!

But this slap also intensified the pain of his wound.

His brow furrowed into a vertical line. He looked toward Jiang Xuening, collapsed on the other side, but didn’t call out to remind her—only cast this heart-stopping glance!

When Wan Xiuzi encountered danger, his first reaction was self-preservation, so he called all the sword-bearing acolytes on the platform to gather around himself. His second reaction was to have people capture Xie Wei, because the forces attacking from outside were absolutely related to Xie Wei. Capturing him first might give them a chance to turn things around. So at this moment, his own safety actually entirely depended on Xie Wei. Subduing Xie Wei, the true mastermind behind this, was the only path to survival. Thus those acolytes all changed direction, raising their swords and rushing toward Xie Wei.

But this meant no one was watching Jiang Xuening.

She still sat collapsed on the ground. When she saw that glance he cast her way, she needed no words to fully understand—

Xie Ju’an wanted her to escape in the chaos, following what he had arranged with her previously.

Almost everyone was in front of her.

She was behind them all.

Jiang Xuening’s jaw trembled, yet she numbly climbed up from the ground. After judging the direction, she stumbled toward the eastern stairs and descended.

She still remembered what he’d told her.

Due east, then twenty steps north, there was a secret chamber.

Just hide inside and wait for someone to find her.

The entire branch had completely descended into chaos.

They didn’t even know who their opponents were.

Everyone fought desperately with blades and swords toward the outside. Xie Ju’an, holding his sharp blade, held back Wan Xiuzi and his people. Almost no one noticed that atop this high platform, a fragile woman was descending in the chaos.

Jiang Xuening could hear angry rebukes, could hear screams, could hear panic, could also hear despair…

Yet her heart felt empty.

As if a fierce wind had blown through her heart, sweeping away all these sounds, leaving only that one sentence: “From now on, let me owe you instead. Is that acceptable?”

Clearly it was Xie Ju’an himself who was mad, placing himself in danger, drawing the blade for her—she hadn’t forced him.

She knew that previously in Xinzhou, when she hadn’t left and stayed behind, it was only because “one must bow one’s head under others’ eaves.”

At this moment he fought behind her, holding back those people, securing a thread of survival for her.

…

But what did any of this have to do with her?

She wanted to break free.

If Xie Ju’an didn’t die, that was his good fortune. If he died, wouldn’t that be perfect? Regardless of who owed whom, who bound whom—once someone died, everything would be settled. No need to quibble over every detail.

But why did each step feel heavier than the last?

That was someone she had saved twice.

His life belonged to her, not to the King of Hell!

Jiang Xuening seemed finally convinced by herself. At this moment when she should leave without looking back, she actually stopped and looked toward him.

Xie Ju’an’s shoulder now bore an additional sword wound.

On his robe, it was unclear whether there was more of his own blood or his opponents’ blood. That blade seemed to have grown into his hand—he hadn’t loosened his grip one bit, parrying those swords that gained advantage from their length. Unexpectedly, a sword attacked from the side. Though he avoided it quickly, his arm was still slashed, leaving a bloody mark!

He was already struggling on both sides, his declining momentum gradually showing.

In this instant, Jiang Xuening’s eyes grew hot with tears.

She gently touched her left wrist.

Where Xie Wei’s blade was bound.

Perhaps spending too long with a mad person, one would catch a few parts of madness that seemed not to belong to oneself.

She raised her eyes and looked toward Wan Xiuzi.

This Heavenly Doctrine Sect Leader fundamentally didn’t believe anyone in the world would willingly abandon everything for “love.” In ordinary times perhaps he might think about it, but when truly in crisis, he subconsciously ignored what might originally have been most crucial—Jiang Xuening. At this moment, watching the chaotic battle scene, he had long since become exasperated, cursing loudly.

But the acolytes were all dealing with Xie Wei.

Jiang Xuening walked toward him.

She thought her heart should be surging like tidal waves, but in fact, inside there was only profound calm, like mountain ridges after heavy snow, covering all traces, the world utterly silent.

No one realized what she intended to do.

Even a nearby Heavenly Doctrine member who saw her walking toward the high platform only cast her a strange glance while rushing past with his blade raised, without attempting to stop her.

After all, she was just a young lady without the strength to truss a chicken.

At this critical juncture, what struck them as strange wasn’t even that she walked toward Wan Xiuzi, but that her face showed no panic, no fear.

Even Wan Xiuzi himself, catching a glimpse of her approaching, paid no attention.

An acolyte ahead had already forced Xie Wei back with one sword strike!

Immediately after, several swords surrounded him!

Seeing this, Wan Xiuzi immediately shouted: “Good!”

However, it was at this moment that Jiang Xuening had already reached his vicinity.

Wan Xiuzi glanced at her casually, preparing to continue ordering the acolytes to quickly subdue Xie Wei. However, before he could speak, recalling the expression on Jiang Xuening’s face from that earlier glimpse and her right hand hidden in her sleeve where it couldn’t be seen, his entire body suddenly shuddered: “Stop her!”

A sense of danger suddenly assailed him.

But by this time it was already too late—

Before the nearest acolyte could even react, Jiang Xuening’s right hand hidden in her sleeve had already emerged. A thin blade was tightly clasped at her fingertips, swiftly pressed against Wan Xiuzi’s throat!

The sharp blade drew blood at the slightest touch!

For a moment, Wan Xiuzi didn’t even dare move, his eyes wide, his voice trembling: “Such audacity you have!”

The acolytes were all stunned in unison.

Though their blades and swords had already surrounded Xie Wei, his entire Daoist robe stained with blood, at this moment they likewise dared not act rashly.

Who could have imagined it?!

Not only did this weak woman carry a concealed blade, she also possessed such courage!

However, Jiang Xuening only gripped Wan Xiuzi tightly, taking her hostage as she retreated up the higher stairs. Once she stood far from those acolytes, only then did she turn her eyes to look at them, coldly commanding: “Release him.”

The acolytes held their swords pointed straight ahead, standing without moving.

Xie Wei was already somewhat exhausted. He blinked, raised his head, and through the crowd looked toward her.

Wan Xiuzi could hardly believe he would capsize in the gutter one day, suddenly falling without any defense into the hands of such a woman. Hearing her threaten the acolytes like this, he shook with fury: “You dare—”

Before his words finished, they came to an abrupt halt.

What answered him was only Jiang Xuening’s blade suddenly pressing inward!

Nearly an entire blade tip had already pierced into his neck!

Warm fresh blood instantly gushed down!

Wan Xiuzi cried out in terror.

The acolytes’ entire bodies tensed even more, their hands gripping swords and blades showing prominent veins!

Yet Jiang Xuening’s eyes were three parts more ruthless than anyone else’s. She had just cried, her eye sockets red, as if a murderous aura invaded upward, adding several parts cruelty. Originally someone who feared even seeing blood, at this moment she showed none of her usual gentleness, only gazed down below with exceptional coldness: “Even if Xie Ju’an’s life is to be claimed, it’s not your turn! Don’t make me repeat myself a third time—release him!”