Chapter 26: The Last Farewell

"We two have neither hatred nor the intent to kill. But now, things have come to this—why ask further, Master?"

Lu Xin's voice was calm as he slowly stood, as if he had not just skirted death but merely woken from an ordinary dream. Seeing Lu Xin about to leave and not even sparing him a glance, Master Crossing Boat suddenly grew agitated.

"I do not know what connection you have with that woman, but I wager that Ercheng has already had his way with her. Women have ever been playthings for men; with Ercheng's skill at handling them, in but a few days even the fiercest will become wanton. You're already too late—why persist? Hahaha…"

"Silence!"

Lu Xin shouted in fury, whirling around. Master Crossing Boat continued to stare at him, his laughter growing even more deranged.

"Go on, kill me. The dead cannot speak, can they? Hahaha… Boy, women are all the same—they crave gold and status. You think you're rescuing her, but in truth, you're just pushing her into the fire!"

"Shut up! Sister Yu'er is nothing like you say!"

Lu Xin took two steps toward the Daoist, his eyes blazing red. The words were what he least wanted to hear, what he hated most. Now, at last, murder entered the youth's heart.

"Come then, you have inner strength, don't you? Kill me with a single blow—what are you waiting for?"

Master Crossing Boat's expression twisted into a grotesque grimace, his voice low but strained with all his strength. Lu Xin stared into his eyes and saw only a desperate madman, a defeated soul longing for death. In the end, Lu Xin shook his head and turned toward the back hall.

"I promised Uncle Wu: I practice sword not to kill, but to protect. If you wish to die, do it yourself."

Lu Xin did not kill the Daoist. In truth, aside from Niu Ercheng, he bore no ill will toward anyone in the Niu household. Yet life rarely goes as one wishes. He had come to the manor to save someone; servants and guards had tried to stop him, Jinbo and Master Crossing Boat had stood up for their third brother. None of it seemed wrong. But often, death cares nothing for right or wrong.

Entering the back hall, turning through several corridors, Lu Xin soon saw the main house of the Niu estate. Red wedding paper adorned doors and windows, and dusk had fallen; lights glowed inside. Without hesitation, Lu Xin strode forward to kick open the door. But just as he reached it, a piercing scream rang out inside, followed by Niu Ercheng's lewd laughter.

"Hehehe, the rice is cooked now. Little lady, why resist? Don’t be afraid—your husband will cherish you well. Come, put down the scissors, don’t hurt yourself. Hehehe…"

"Niu Ercheng, you vile beast! When I die and become a ghost, I’ll come for your life!"

"No—!"

When Lu Xin burst through the door, Tian Yu’er lay collapsed on the floor, her clothes tattered, a pair of scissors plunged into her chest. The once cheerful, sunlit girl now wore a bright red bridal gown, heavy makeup smeared, blood bubbling from her lips. Lu Xin’s tears fell at once; he rushed forward and gathered her in his arms.

"Who—who are you, daring to break into my Niu estate?"

Seeing the blood-soaked youth appear suddenly, Niu Ercheng was startled. He cared not for Tian Yu’er’s fate, but stared in terror at Lu Xin.

"Sister Yu’er, how could you be so foolish? How could you… sob… I’m sorry, I came too late, forgive me…"

Lu Xin clutched her tightly, tears streaming like rain. He had fought his way into the Niu estate, given everything to reach her, but he was still a step too late. His heart twisted in agony, the pain making it hard to breathe.

"Xiao Xin… To see you once more before dying… how wonderful… I thought you’d gone to Chang’an. I thought… I’d never see you again…"

"Sister Yu’er, don’t speak. I’ll take you to a doctor, we’ll leave now."

Lu Xin tried to lift her, but she shook her head to stop him. In that moment, he didn’t even spare Niu Ercheng a glance. He only wanted to save the girl in his arms, for her to live—truly live. Though he knew, with the scissors piercing her heart, she could not survive.

"Xiao Xin? Hahaha, so it’s you! I heard from the Xu family you’d left Yuezhou. What, young hero—can’t resist the charms of beauty? Too bad, you’re still a step behind me. Hehehe, virgin girls are the best—such pleasure."

"Vile beast! You court death!"

Before Niu Ercheng’s laughter faded, Lu Xin seized his throat in a crushing grip. His hands were strong, Niu Ercheng’s face turned crimson, and he could not speak.

"Xiao Xin, don’t kill him. Listen to me, leave quickly. If you kill him, the magistrates will hunt you. And grandfather will be in danger too."

"Sister Yu’er, don’t speak, don’t speak…"

Lu Xin raised his head, choking back sobs, his voice hoarse. He longed to kill the man before him, but Tian Yu’er’s words forced him to loosen his grip. He did not fear pursuit by the authorities, but he feared for Tian Gui’s safety.

"Cough… Cough… You’re afraid? Hahaha… You think you’re emperor of Tang? If you’ve the guts, kill everyone in my Niu estate! Otherwise, the moment I die, not just Tian Gui but everyone on Lion Peak will perish. This girl is smarter than you. Let me tell you, my Niu family and the prefect are tied by generations. If you dare kill in my estate, the court will mark you for capture across the land. Then, not only will you never reach Chang’an, you’ll never leave Jiangnan!"

Niu Ercheng, seeing Lu Xin release him, regained his confidence and no longer feared. To him, as long as the youth did not wish to die, he would not dare do anything. As expected, Lu Xin turned from him back to Tian Yu’er’s side. This only made Niu Ercheng more complacent.

"A wise man knows the times. You’ve made it here; I wager you bested my sworn brothers. Such skill deserves the title of young hero. I too appreciate talent. If you stay, the Niu family will grant you wealth and honor, and all past grievances will be erased. What do you say?"

"Xiao Xin, heed him and leave. The Niu family has been wealthy for generations in this prefecture. With families like theirs, unless every last relative dies, we common folk cannot win. Leave. To see you once more before dying, I am content…"

Tian Yu’er's voice was soft, her gaze gentle as she finished. Then her breath ceased, eyes still open. Her gaze remained tender, as if a lifetime would not suffice to see enough of Lu Xin. His tears had run dry; he buried the girl in his arms, silent and unmoving.

"Hmph, those who achieve greatness care nothing for a mere woman. As she said, my Niu family is a clan of a hundred years, wealthy through generations—unless all nine branches perish, we will not fall. The Niu family’s roots are deep in this prefecture. Even the Tang court dares not touch us. What can you people do?"

Niu Ercheng spoke without a care for Tian Yu’er's death, as if the newly wed fourteenth concubine was a stranger. Lu Xin listened quietly, then lifted his head after a long pause.

"Is that so? A hundred-year clan—is it truly so extraordinary? Does it grant you license to act with impunity, harm the innocent?"

"Hahaha, what a joke! You’re one of Xu Sanjin’s people, from the Xu family—haven’t you seen enough of such things? This world belongs to the strong. The commoners are but livestock for us. The court and magistrates will always stand with men like me. Such is the way of the world! Always has been, always will be. You alone—can you overturn heaven?"

"Water can carry a boat, and overturn it. Li Shimin may be a good emperor, but perhaps even he cannot change the world today. Yet my homeland is not the filth you describe. It is a place where people are treated as human, where all have dignity. Who are you to speak so arrogantly of the future?"

Suddenly, Lu Xin let the girl fall from his arms and stood. The murderous air about him was palpable, so much so that Niu Ercheng turned pale with terror.

"You—you, what do you intend? A servant from the Xu family, do you mean to make enemies of the Niu clan?"

"Did you not just claim the Niu clan, a hundred-year lineage, will never fall? True, I cannot kill so many, nor do I wish to stain my hands with innocent blood. But I can ensure your clan decays, generation after generation, until you have nothing. Hahaha… Lead me to your ancestral tomb."

Lu Xin’s gaze was fierce, locking onto Niu Ercheng with a cold, mocking smile. In this moment, all childish innocence had vanished, replaced by the grim visage of a spirit come to claim souls. Each word was chilling.

Niu Ercheng trembled under his stare, his whole body shaking.

"Ancestral tomb? What—what nonsense. Why should I take you?"

As he finished, Lu Xin broke his right hand with a single punch, sending him writhing in pain.

"Refuse, and I’ll break both your hands, then your feet, and then—"

"Alright, alright… I’ll go, I’ll go. The ancestral tomb is sixty li away on Tianfeng Mountain."

When they left the Niu estate, the sunset had already sunk behind the mountains. Lu Xin carried Tian Yu’er’s corpse and rode in the same carriage as Niu Ercheng, heading straight for the outskirts of Hangzhou. Tianfeng Mountain was a famous Daoist sanctuary in Yuezhou, home to the Jiuyang Temple, renowned for its spiritual efficacy according to local folk. Though Lu Xin had never been, he could guess the mountain’s feng shui must be excellent; otherwise, such a famous temple would not stand there. The Niu family’s ability to bury their ancestors on Tianfeng Mountain spoke volumes of their forebears’ influence.

What Lu Xin intended now was to follow the method recorded in the "Scripture of Virtuous Burial": dig up the tomb, open the coffin, and sever the Niu family’s feng shui. He would see this wicked clan brought to ruin, so they could harm no more.