With the last word, Yunyi gripped the dagger with both hands and stabbed down viciously at Feng Li. At the same time, the latter suddenly hugged her legs tightly and roared at the Fang family mother and son: “Run! Tell the Governor about what happened here! Remember, her name is Wu Meixue! Go quickly!”

The next moment, the sharp dagger had already pierced through Feng Li’s spine. This was the first time Ajin had seen such a thing, and he was so frightened that he was completely stunned. It wasn’t until Feng Li roared again that he came to his senses and hurriedly helped Auntie Fang flee outside. He desperately wanted to save Feng Li, but he clearly understood that he simply couldn’t save him. The only thing he could do was take his mother and escape from this place – the farther the better!

Seeing the Fang family mother and son escaping, Yunyi became extremely anxious and quickly tried to break free from Feng Li. However, the latter was holding too tightly, and she couldn’t break free no matter what. Blood kept flowing from his mouth, but he laughed, saying with difficulty through the blood: “I don’t care whether you’re called Shen Yunyi or Wu Meixue – in any case, the Governor will definitely kill you, definitely… will!” After speaking the last word, he stopped breathing, but his hands holding Yunyi’s legs still didn’t loosen. Yunyi struggled greatly before finally breaking free and quickly chased outside the house. She saw that the Fang family mother and son had already run far away, so she hurriedly pursued them.

Ajin looked back and saw Yunyi catching up, quickly saying: “Mother, let’s walk faster – she’s chasing us!”

Auntie Fang quickly agreed, but she was old after all, and with her blindness, she fell to the ground after just a few steps. Although Ajin quickly helped her up, this delay undoubtedly brought them closer to Yunyi.

Ajin gritted his teeth and carried Auntie Fang on his back, running forward quickly. Auntie Fang said worriedly: “Ajin, don’t worry about mother – you go by yourself.”

Ajin flatly refused: “I will never abandon mother. Don’t worry – once we get on the boat, she won’t be able to catch up.”

Ajin was still clear-headed, knowing that running toward the city gate like this would certainly not allow them to escape, so he was now running toward the Qingshui River, where his family’s small boat was permanently moored. As long as they got on the boat, they could escape from Yunyi.

In this flight, they finally saw the Qingshui River and that small boat. Ajin said joyfully: “Mother, we’ve arrived – the Qingshui River is right ahead!”

Yunyi, who was chasing behind, also noticed Ajin’s intention and quickened her pace. She didn’t want to kill the Ajin mother and son, but… she had no choice – she could only kill!

Ajin was running breathlessly, his legs heavy as if filled with lead. Running with a person on his back for so long was almost at his limit, but he dared not stop and could only desperately drive his nearly numb legs.

Just when they were about ten steps away from the boat, Ajin stepped on a protruding stone and lost his balance, falling to the ground. Ajin didn’t care about where he was hurt and quickly got up to help Auntie Fang: “Mother, get up quickly!”

Before he could carry Auntie Fang on his back again, his vision blurred, and Yunyi was already standing in front of him, saying with a trace of sadness that Ajin couldn’t understand: “You can’t escape. Give up!”

Ajin dared not look at the blood-stained dagger in her hand and knelt down to plead: “I don’t know anything – please spare my mother and me.”

Before Yunyi could speak, Auntie Fang also knelt down. She couldn’t see Yunyi and could only cry out: “Ajin saved Feng Li out of kindness. Please spare him. If you must kill someone, take this old woman’s life instead, please!”

Upon hearing this, Ajin quickly said: “No, don’t kill my mother – I’m willing to die in her place!”

Auntie Fang shed tears: “Mother is old and blind – it doesn’t matter if I die. You’re different – you haven’t married or had children yet. How can you die!”

Ajin cried: “I don’t care. In any case, I won’t allow anyone to harm mother.”

Yunyi stared at them silently, her hands hidden in her sleeves trembling slightly. She wasn’t a cruel, murder-loving person. Whether it was Li Xuanba or Feng Li, both were killed out of necessity, and the former’s death was more of an accident. Compared to them, the Fang family mother and son had brought this deadly disaster upon themselves through their kindness – they were truly innocent. But… if she didn’t kill them, she would die instead. She could only choose one of the two.

Auntie Fang groped her way forward and grasped Yunyi’s skirt, sobbing: “Miss, please have mercy – don’t kill Ajin. The Fang family only has this one remaining descendant – he cannot die!”

Yunyi knew that soft-heartedness was the greatest enemy of those who accomplish great things, but seeing Auntie Fang like this, she really couldn’t bring herself to be ruthless. But… sigh, what should she do?

Just when Yunyi was hesitating, Auntie Fang suddenly hugged her legs tightly like Feng Li had done before, shouting to Ajin: “Go! Get on the boat quickly!”

How could Ajin not understand her meaning? She clearly wanted to hold back Yunyi so he could escape. How could he agree? He said stubbornly: “No, if mother doesn’t leave, I won’t leave either. Let’s fight her together!”

Auntie Fang said sternly: “If you don’t leave, I’ll immediately bite my tongue and die right in front of you. Go!”

“Mother…” Before Ajin could speak, Auntie Fang said again: “Are you really going to force your mother to death?”

Seeing her say this, Ajin had to grit his teeth and run toward the small boat with tears in his eyes. Yunyi said harshly: “Let go of me!” Once Ajin jumped on the boat, she really wouldn’t be able to catch up!

Auntie Fang gritted her teeth: “Even if I die, I will never let go – don’t think about harming Ajin!”

Yunyi’s expression changed repeatedly. The dagger that had already claimed two lives was raised high, but she couldn’t bring herself to stab down. She had come to prevent the Li family from causing chaos and endangering the stability of the Great Sui, not to thrust knives into the backs of common people who had already suffered from war and harsh governance.

In this moment of hesitation, Ajin had already jumped onto that small boat, but he only controlled the boat to circle on the river surface without sailing away.

Yunyi’s heart stirred. She crouched down and placed the dagger across Auntie Fang’s neck, saying coldly: “Ajin, if you don’t want your mother to die, come down immediately.”

Auntie Fang said urgently: “Ajin, don’t listen to her! Remember, you are the only descendant of the Fang family, mother’s only son – you absolutely cannot die!”

“Ajin, are you really planning to use your mother to exchange for your own survival? Filial piety comes first among all virtues – if you can’t even achieve the word ‘filial,’ what face do you have to live in this world?”

Ajin’s heart was torn between conflicting emotions. He had never thought of abandoning his old mother to live alone, but… mother was threatening him with death, insisting that he leave. What should he do?

After a long while, Ajin gritted his teeth and said: “As long as you don’t harm my mother, even if you want my life, that’s fine!”

Before Yunyi could speak, Auntie Fang had already shouted angrily: “You rebellious son! Your wings have grown hard – you won’t even listen to your mother’s words anymore, is that it?”