Chapter 53

Chapter 53: Killing—Do You Dare?

Even Ye Rong, who had always feared neither heaven nor earth, was shaken by what had just happened. “There are more bandits here than before! Shang Second, what rotten idea have you cooked up? We couldn’t beat them earlier—how can we possibly defeat them now?”

Just by a quick glance, there were nearly a hundred men visible. How was this different from walking straight into a trap?

“Yu Zheng is right. Maybe we should just leave!” Chen Bao Jing nervously rubbed his arms.

Shang Hang Yu raised an eyebrow, speaking calmly, “I originally thought these bandits were so arrogant that they even dared kidnap the Princess. Perhaps Han Ming Rui and his mother have been captured as well. True men know when to yield and when to act. We pretend to give in, then quietly find a chance to rescue them.”

“Han Ming Rui is the only son of the Grand General Who Pacifies the Nation, and Princess Ning Qing… She was taken because of us. Can you really stand by and watch her fall into the hands of these thugs?”

“Moreover,” Shang Hang Yu continued, “Don’t forget those Duke’s guards who survived. If they report back, and Princess Ning Qing is harmed, do you think the Emperor or the Duke’s family will spare us? Being labeled cowards would be the least of our worries—we would even bring ruin upon our families.”

His words stopped everyone in their tracks. The idea of a grand achievement was so close; if they ran away now, wouldn’t they be throwing away their glory?

More importantly, they recalled the brave young woman who held a dagger to her own throat, demanding the bandits release the captives.

Their pride wouldn’t allow them to be outdone by a girl!

“Hey, look at that man over there—doesn’t he look drunk?” Shang Hang Yu suddenly pointed out.

“That one, too! They’re stumbling all over!” Ye Rong slapped his thigh excitedly.

Shang Hang Yu quickly grabbed his wrist. “Quiet!”

Ye Rong grinned sheepishly, whispering, “I forgot. Shang Second, you’re right! This Young Master can’t be a coward! Now’s clearly our chance. While they’re drunk, let’s rescue Princess Ning Qing, Han Ming Rui, and his mother!”

“Yes! My father always says you should strike your enemy when they’re weak. This is the perfect opportunity,” Chen Bao Jing chimed in.

Shang Hang Yu stared silently at them.

“Then let’s do it!” Ye Rong eagerly looked to Shang Hang Yu for approval. Among them, their fathers held the highest ranks, so the others usually followed their lead.

“Let’s go!” Shang Hang Yu said, finally hearing the words he had waited for.

But then, his tone abruptly shifted. He glanced around at his friends, who were now itching to fight, and challenged them, “But—do you dare to kill?”

“K-Kill someone?” Zhou Yu Zheng stammered, startled.

The others exchanged uneasy glances. Though they’d fought crickets, frequented brothels, and done many reckless things, the worst had been harassing a few young ladies or ambushing rivals for fun.

But killing someone? They had never done it before.

They stood frozen, staring blankly at Shang Hang Yu.

Shang Hang Yu sneered coldly, “These people are bandits. If Princess Ning Qing hadn’t sacrificed herself earlier, none of us would have survived. Let me make it clear: when the fight begins, it’s either them or us!”

“If you have the guts, follow me. If not, go home and cry to your parents! Besides, killing bandits earns merit—whoever kills the most, earns the greatest glory.”

“Today, I, Shang Hang Yu, will claim that merit!” With these words, he was the first to rush out.

Ye Rong stood stunned, still absorbing Shang Hang Yu’s words. He watched, eyes wide, as Shang Hang Yu stealthily approached a lone bandit and swiftly plunged a blade into the man’s back.

“Ah!” Zhou Yu Zheng gasped, covering his eyes in horror.

Ye Rong swallowed nervously. [Heavens… Shang Second really is a true man!]

“Young Master won’t be a coward—I have to rescue Princess Ning Qing! I’m going!” Ye Rong declared, waving his own guards forward and stepping boldly after Shang Hang Yu.

Soon he was right behind his friend, sneaking through the darkness until he was close enough to grab a bandit’s neck from behind. But his knife trembled uncontrollably in his grip.

[Curses, why won’t my hand obey me?!]

As the bandit began to turn, Ye Rong felt his heart leap into his throat.

“Thunk!”

“Young Master, are you alright?” came his guard’s anxious voice.

The blade sliced through flesh. Warm, salty blood splattered onto Ye Rong’s face. Instinctively, he squeezed his eyes shut.

In that moment, another bandit, reeking strongly of liquor, stumbled toward him from behind. Almost without thinking, Ye Rong drove his knife forward, eyes tightly closed.

“Someone—someone’s been killed!” a startled cry pierced through the night.

Instantly, every bandit sobered halfway from their drunken stupor.

“Agh!” Ye Rong gritted his teeth and yanked the knife free.

The blood spurted, hot and pungent. [So this is what it feels like to kill someone…]

As his blade fell again, Ye Rong recognized the large thug who had kicked him earlier. But now, one thrust—just one—and the man collapsed to the ground, dead, eyes wide in disbelief.

[Killing isn’t so hard, after all!]

[And these bandits, drunk as they are, aren’t so frightening!]

Suddenly reminded of the scenes of chickens and ducks being butchered he had witnessed, Ye Rong shouted fiercely, “You worthless scum! You dared kick Young Master?! Now face death!”