Chapter 71: Encirclement and Execution
"She's gone mad."
"What a pity, such a genius."
"Lu Wangji had been loyal to the nation all his life, who would’ve thought he’d fall here."
No one responded to Jiang Ten's words. Lu Wangji’s death didn’t earn her respect—rather, it made the others lose the will to even speak with her. After all, communication was a privilege reserved for people. In their eyes, Jiang Ten was no longer human, just a rabid dog that had gone on a rampage.
And what rabid dogs deserved were not words, but clubs and butcher knives.
"Jie Zilong, Shang Yue, are your two families still going to shield this lunatic?" Chen Linchuan’s voice was full of ridicule. "If you two really plan to help her escape, there’s truly nothing we can do."
Jie Zilong shot a cold glance at Chen Linchuan. When Jiang Ten had hunted down Lu Wangji just moments ago, only he, Shang Yue, and Zhou Ye had truly made an effort. Qun Yushu pretended to lag a step behind and did nothing. Chen Linchuan, however, had deliberately sabotaged their actions, rushing to the front to block their attacks, giving Jiang Ten ample time to deal damage.
He had to admit, he had underestimated Chen Linchuan. This coarse and reckless soldier, always obscure in the Chen Family's Messenger ranks, actually harbored a deep and calculating mind. The moment Jiang Ten assassinated Lu Wangji, Chen Linchuan had immediately recognized it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. While everyone else tried to stop Jiang Ten, he had earnestly ‘offered her a helping hand’.
Not all malice looked like a gleaming blade—it could come cloaked as encouragement in your final moments.
From the moment Jiang Ten killed Lu Wangji, she ceased to be a worthwhile investment.
"Old Lu was my friend." Zhou Ye no longer wore his usual friendly smile. With a blank expression, he took out a wine gourd and poured liquor over his long blade, as if offering a tribute to a fallen comrade. "Even if you all refuse to act, I hope you won’t get in my way. Unless—"
With a fierce swing, his long blade ignited like a firestarter, turning into a blazing Inferno Blade!
"You want to end up like her? Taste the wrath of the Flame Blade!" His voice was icy, yet his rage flared like fire!
The Flame Blade might sound unremarkable at first, but everyone near Zhou Ye instinctively stepped back. The searing heat from the blade scorched the wild grass beneath their feet, turning it yellow and withered. It left them stunned—how was Zhou Ye able to control such violent flames?
"The Eleventh of the Twelve Jade Laws states: aiding or harboring one of the Ten Heinous Crimes warrants the same charge. And the Third Law declares: any who murder a Court official shall be charged with treason. Treason is one of the Ten Heinous Crimes—an unforgivable offense." Shang Yue spoke calmly. "As one of the highest-ranking and strongest in this camp, I cannot stand aside. Besides, the situation has reached a point where I must take responsibility."
He coughed once, took a plain-looking canteen from his waist, and poured water onto the grass. "I, Shang Yue, shall apprehend Jiang Ten and answer to the Court!"
Jie Zilong removed his outer robe, revealing the Heartguard Mirror and golden-braced armguards beneath. He glanced at the nearby Jie Yuanshao and shook his head slowly.
"Jiang Ten, I once thought you were a talent. Turns out you're a fool who doesn’t even understand human speech." Jie Zilong said calmly, "The Liang Kingdom is vast—it has room for prodigies, talents, even mediocrities, but no room for fools. I can tell you still believe you did nothing wrong, still think you’re justified to speak arrogantly. That’s what makes your stupidity laughable. The only thing I’m glad about is that you didn’t join the Jie Family, or else you would’ve brought disaster upon us."
"Jie Zilong, Spear Instructor of the Guangbei Garrison's Imperial Guards, pledges to capture Jiang Ten and seek atonement before the Court!"
Chen Linchuan sneered. He spun his finger, and a massive sword materialized in his hand out of thin air. "Lu Xiaoqi was assassinated in public. I, Chen Linchuan, cannot escape blame. I pledge to capture Jiang Ten and answer to the Court!"
Of the Five Great Clans in the camp, only Qun Yushu had yet to make his stance known. Noticing the stares from all around, Qun Yushu shrugged helplessly. "I’m only Second Job Change… Even if I don’t help, you can’t blame me, right? …Fine. Qun Yushu, like the rest of you, pledges to capture Jiang Ten and seek forgiveness before the Court!"
It was over.
Jiang Ten was completely finished.
Shang Xinlei felt her left hand tightly grasped. She turned to see Qian Gongyu’s tear- and snot-smeared face. The latter could no longer find words, and like a little tiger, shook Shang Xinlei’s arm with pleading eyes.
“There’s no way now.” Shang Xinlei shook her head. “Truly, no way left. She killed Lu Wangji in broad daylight—that's declaring war on the Court.”
“To defy the Court is to defy the Liang Kingdom, the royal family, and the noble clans. Back when the Founding Emperor of Liang established the Twelve Jade Laws, none dared defy them. Do you know why? Because the Founding Emperor was a Sixth-Stage Messenger who swept across his era, and the royal Shao Clan of Liang has always had Foundation realm protectors in every generation. That’s why the Seven Great Clans vowed to uphold the Twelve Jade Laws. The law of the strong is the fate of the weak.”
“There’s no place left in the Liang Kingdom for Jiang Ten.”
Qian Gongyu’s body trembled. Who knew what thoughts ran through her mind—she suddenly wiped her tears, stood up, and just as she did, Jie Yuanshao suddenly tackled her to the ground, choking her before she could react, muffling her with an arm.
“Tie her up, quickly,” Jie Yuanshao ordered.
Once Shang Xinlei had firmly bound Qian Gongyu, Jie Yuanshao withdrew her arm and looked down to find deep bloody bite marks. She gasped, “You’ve got quite the bite after transformation.”
“Let go of me!” Qian Gongyu squirmed on the ground like a caterpillar, crying out, “Why are you tying me up!”
“To stop you from doing something stupid,” Jie Yuanshao replied. “This… is the only thing we can do for Jiang Ten now.”
“Xiaoyu, even if you don’t think of yourself, you must think of the Qian Family.” Shang Xinlei asked solemnly, “Are you going to drag the Qian Family to hell with you?”
Qian Gongyu’s sobs gradually softened. Just when everyone thought she had calmed down, she suddenly began to struggle violently again—trying to transform once more! Jie Yuanshao and Shang Xinlei had to press her down together to barely hold her.
“Qian Gongyu, have you gone mad too!? Do you really want to destroy the Qian Family!? You’ll die!”
“I’m not mad!” Qian Gongyu sniffled hard, her voice hoarse. “Of course I don’t want to drag the Qian Family down. I dream of restoring the family’s glory. I fear death. Just thinking about the Qian Family falling into obscurity breaks my heart—I don’t even know how I’ll face my father after death. How could I be happy…”
“But still…”
“Even so, I don’t care!” The tiger girl screamed at the top of her lungs, “I won’t let her fight alone! Even if it’s just me—I’ll stand with her! Let me go—”
Shang Xinlei stuffed a handkerchief into Qian Gongyu’s mouth, preventing her from saying anything more reckless. But as she looked at Qian Gongyu’s tear-covered face, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. At least Qian Gongyu could bare her feelings without restraint—but she could not.
Though she pitied Jiang Ten, she had to protect the interests of the Shang Family. Children of noble families were born into luxury, and naturally, they must bear the corresponding responsibilities. Her eldest brother did, her third brother did—and so did she.
Jiang Ten was beyond saving. The assassination of Lu Wangji had taken them by surprise, but now, with four Third-Stage Messengers encircling her—all noble scions with plenty of Tokens and unending Spirit Jade—there was no one below Foundation level in Liang Kingdom who could resist. Not to mention over thirty soldiers armed with Divine Crossbows.
If anyone in the world could help Jiang Ten now, perhaps it would be… A shadow passed through Shang Xinlei’s mind. She laughed bitterly to herself—someone like that scoundrel would never risk his life for others.
“Ah!”
Suddenly, a scream split the camp. They turned to look, and their pupils shrank in disbelief as they witnessed something unimaginable.