Chapter 45: Maple Frost Burns to Ashes

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Luo Shaofeng was trying to save... himself? Hearing this, Cheng Ruyi was momentarily stunned.

Unaware of the full story, Lin Jiangyue and Yan Kuang were even more bewildered by these words.

Shuang Ling explained, “When Cheng Ruyi was still the deputy magistrate of Fengzhou, the Governor Jia, lusting after him, attempted to do something indecent! Once, just as he was about to succeed, Lord Luo disregarded all consequences and rushed in to save him!”

That was it. Cheng Ruyi thought to himself, everyone now knew about his disgraceful secret—he had completely lost all dignity.

Perhaps the complexity was beyond comprehension; Lin Jiangyue stood dumbfounded, unable to speak, while Yan Kuang unconsciously clenched his fist tightly.

Shuang Ling glanced at Cheng Ruyi and continued, “Do you know that Lord Luo was retaliated against by the governor for this? At that time, I wasn’t by his side, but those people... broke several of his ribs. He coughed blood relentlessly...”

Her expression was torn and agonized, as if unwilling to admit, “The doctor diagnosed Lord Luo... his days were numbered!”

Luo Shaofeng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth but mustered his strength to loudly deny, “A frozen river three feet thick does not form in a single day... I only blame myself for being blind to have saved such a sycophantic, heartless scoundrel—truly a disgrace to the reputation and integrity of a scholar!”

Cheng Ruyi’s heart resonated with those words. Upon learning the truth here, his emotions were mixed and complex.

Perhaps Luo Shaofeng had once been sincere... wanting to help him, while he himself had lived so poorly that even Luo Shaofeng regretted saving him.

Yet this “ruthless” government lackey was willing to save such a heinous criminal at all costs.

Hearing Luo Shaofeng’s words, Yan Kuang was clearly displeased and retorted, “You say he disgraced the scholar’s integrity, yet you extract marrow from living humans to concoct medicine—do you think that grants you a spotless reputation?”

“What?!” Lin Jiangyue’s understanding was repeatedly shattered. Gazing at the boiling cauldron, she suddenly came to her senses and her stomach churned violently, making her stoop over to retch.

Cheng Ruyi thought to himself that the King of Hell was truly “erudite” and well aware of the other’s weaknesses—few words, a mix of flattery and threats... it was no wonder he once held the position of Commandant of the Pacification Bureau.

Luo Shaofeng was also taken aback and said, “How do you know...”

“This method is not what Lord Luo thought!” Shuang Ling shook her head repeatedly. “At first, Lord Luo was unaware...”

“Shuang Ling!” Luo Shaofeng looked at her, his madness slightly abating, and pondered, “It was... when I was gravely ill that someone told me about this method...”

His eyes held a trace of bitterness as he sighed, “I am not a great villain... yet fate has decreed this destiny for me... Very well... then I shall follow the will of heaven and be a villain!”

“To become a living ghost... a fiend among men!”

The person locked in the cage stirred again. Lin Jiangyue quickly said, “Wait a moment! Just a moment longer...”

“Junior Sister.” Yan Kuang interrupted Lin Jiangyue, then raised his head and shouted, “If you keep making noise, once I kill him, I’ll kill all of you too.”

At these words, the room fell completely silent. Everyone was frozen with fear, unwilling to test him further.

Cheng Ruyi struggled to stay conscious but had no strength left to speak. Lin Jiangyue frowned, about to speak, but fell silent upon noticing something.

Luo Shaofeng laughed heartily, “The living King of Hell is indeed the living King of Hell—what spirit!”

Yan Kuang noticed the abnormality as well and calmly said, “You and your servant alone cannot accomplish such a grand scheme. Who is behind you, pulling your strings?”

Shuang Ling was about to speak, but Luo Shaofeng held her arm firmly and shook his head resolutely, “What’s the difference between this world and hell? The world also needs ghosts... If not me, someone else will come...”

Then, with a faint expression, he looked at Lin Jiangyue and said, “Knife Sister, you must spare Shuang Ling, for this is your debt to her.”

At this, Lin Jiangyue frowned in confusion, and Shuang Ling was also stunned.

“Aren’t you curious about that mysterious member of the Tang Sect?”

Luo Shaofeng looked at Shuang Ling with a reluctant expression, “Her real name is Tang Shuangling, a legitimate disciple of the Tang Sect!”

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Upon hearing the word “Tang Sect” again, Cheng Ruyi, Yan Kuang, and Lin Jiangyue each displayed different expressions.

Luo Shaofeng continued, “Ten years ago, she traveled out, but just then encountered remnants of rebels from the Cangshan Muxue Valley being hunted by the court...”

As he spoke, he looked up at Lin Jiangyue and asked, “Knife Sister, if I’m not mistaken, you come from Cangshan Muxue Valley, don’t you?”

Yan Kuang frowned, and Lin Jiangyue was puzzled. Only Tang Shuangling’s face was full of pain and embarrassment as she repeatedly said, “My lord, please don’t say anymore...”

“How can I not? Why shouldn’t I? Look at her, then look at you—is this... fair?”

Luo Shaofeng smiled bitterly at Lin Jiangyue, “Knife Sister, when you fled through Fengzhou, the former governor didn’t want to miss the chance to curry favor. Every woman capable of martial arts on the street was captured and tortured in prison, forced to confess and take the blame...”

“Some died, some were crippled. Shuang Ling survived, but her legs were ruined... Knife Sister, you live, you live pure and free, carefree and happy!”

How could Lin Jiangyue have known the cause and effect here? Her lips parted, but no words came out. She furrowed her brows so tightly she couldn’t even cry. Her heart was filled with sorrow and confusion. She stepped back repeatedly, even doubting whether she deserved to stand here.

“How can killing be wrong? Eating people... so what!? You, you... you! None of you have the right to judge me!”

As if having said everything, Luo Shaofeng glared with bloodshot eyes and shouted. His thin arms tightly held Cheng Ruyi as they retreated, the dagger in his hand showing no sign of retreat.

“Cheng Ruyi... I saved you too. It’s only right you accompany me in death... isn’t it?”

Cheng Ruyi, half-conscious, listened and opened his eyes wide upon hearing this. His expression toward Yan Kuang was complicated, but then he resolutely closed his eyes.

A bitter smile twisted Luo Shaofeng’s lips, “Next life... no, people like me probably have no next life...”

“Are you not going to act?”

Suddenly, Yan Kuang shouted sharply!

At the same time, a long blade pierced Luo Shaofeng’s heart!

“Cheng Ruyi!” Yan Kuang immediately leapt forward, knocking Luo Shaofeng aside and pulling Cheng Ruyi into his arms to shield him.

Lin Jiangyue gritted her teeth and closed her eyes, tears finally streaming down her face like a broken dam.

The steel blade was abruptly pulled from Luo Shaofeng’s chest—

As he fell heavily, Lin Jiangyue, through tear-blurred eyes, saw the terrified and resentful face of Han Yanei.

He had been trailing behind Lin Jiangyue and Yan Kuang, hiding and lurking, and finally found an opportunity to sneak behind Luo Shaofeng.

This unremarkable person, almost forgotten by them, became the decisive blade at the crucial moment.

Han Ning tightly gripped the bloodied steel blade and retreated, chanting repeatedly, “Xiao Le... I have avenged you... I have avenged you... I am not useless, I am not a coward...”

Coming to her senses, Tang Shuangling cried out and rushed over to tightly embrace Luo Shaofeng.

Blood gushed ceaselessly from Luo Shaofeng’s throat, choking him so he couldn’t speak, but he reached out, gently stroking Shuangling’s cheek.

“My lord... Lord Luo...” Tang Shuangling reached to cover his bleeding heart, shaking her head repeatedly, “No... don’t...”

Luo Shaofeng coughed blood, speaking brokenly, “Shuang... I really don’t know if I saved you... or...”

“Harmed you...”

Tang Shuangling was stunned for a moment. The person in her arms had lost his breath, yet a smile still lingered on his face. She forced a smile too, but it was more painful than tears.

Raising her head, she saw Yan Kuang holding Cheng Ruyi anxiously, grinding his teeth while giving him medicine. Han Yanei stood dazed nearby, and Lin Jiangyue approached her with a knife in hand.

Lin Jiangyue, tears streaming, choked out three words, “...Sorry.”

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Hearing this, Tang Shuangling only shook her head and smiled at her.

“It’s not your fault; it’s fate.” With that, she took the dagger from Luo Shaofeng’s hand and plunged it fiercely into her own chest.

She shifted slightly and fell to the side as she wished, not pressing down on Luo Shaofeng at all.

“My lord... why plead for me and trouble Miss Lin? Shuangling’s only reason for clinging to life...”

“Was clearly you...”

In that instant, her thoughts flashed back ten years—

Calamity descended from the sky, from a bustling, clean noodle shop to a dark, damp dungeon; endless days and nights of torment and humiliation. The once gallant heroine had her tendons severed and became a plaything for the prison guards.

Such days were without light, severing all hope. Until one day, a fiery red maple leaf drifted into her scarred palm.

It was a divine intervention.

He saved her recklessly, cared for her alongside his wife, comforting and encouraging her, allowing her to be reborn.

But that kind woman, his gentle and considerate wife, suffered retaliation from the former governor because of this. On the day of childbirth, no midwife could be found, and she died painfully on the bed.

From that moment, Shuangling vowed to live only for him. It was a debt she owed him, and the kind-hearted Mrs. Luo.

For ten years, she accompanied him, watching him tirelessly and unrepentantly save others, using his salary to aid the poor. In floods and plagues, he threw himself into the front lines, unwilling to give up a single life.

Yet heaven resolutely abandoned his life, repaying his kindness with such a cruel fate.

“My lord...”

Tang Shuangling called out again. Blood loss brought strong dizziness; she seemed to see the towering, scattered Tang Family Fortress and the unfinished bowl of chili oil noodles from the day of her capture.

She closed her eyes and finally smiled. Their blood mingled in one place, flowing past Lin Jiangyue’s red boots, winding to the edge of the boiling cauldron.

Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed from the dark tunnel, growing closer and closer, and a familiar voice rang through the cavern—

“Kuang’er! Kuang...”

Han Shaozhen rushed in wielding a sword but was stunned by the scene before him.

Yan Kuang quickly removed his outer garment, wrapping Cheng Ruyi in his arms, thinking he hadn’t expected Han Shaozhen to arrive so soon; it would have been troublesome if he had seen Cheng Ruyi like this.

“Father... father!?”

Seeing Han Shaozhen, Han Ning, like a wounded child, immediately dropped her blade and ran to her father, full of grievance.

Han Shaozhen frowned but quickly regained his composure, saying, “Are you hurt?”

At the same time, a large number of Pacification Bureau personnel and Han family guards rushed in, frozen in shock at the sight before them.

Hearing his father’s voice, Han Ning’s eyes instantly reddened, “Not hurt... Father, I...”

“Pathetic fool, why are you standing there like a statue? Get out now...”

Han Shaozhen scolded Han Ning in a low, displeased voice, then bypassed Han Yanei and went straight to Yan Kuang, his expression earnest, “Kuang’er, what happened? No further injuries, right? I came as soon as I got your message—didn’t stop for a moment...”