Death by Lingchi, Extermination of Three Clans

Gu Qing, who had heard everything clearly from outside, felt her body go limp and could no longer stand. She collapsed softly, barely catching herself, only to be supported by Su Jin.

"Are you alright, Sister Gu Qing?"

Gu Qing did not answer, her eyes already brimming with tears.

So that was it!

So that was it!

Hu Shaoyou, her husband, had never died in battle. It had all been his scheme. For the sake of that vile woman inside the room, he had drained the entire Source City dry and borrowed a fortune from neighboring towns, all so he could fake his death and escape.

To run off with that slut Wanqing and live a carefree life for the rest of their days.

Yet he had dumped all the monstrous debts onto her, roped his parents into the act to make her obediently comply.

Overwhelmed by despair, Gu Qing felt a surge of fury and even panic rising within her.

She could barely imagine what kind of hellish darkness her future would have held if she hadn't uncovered Hu Shaoyou's scheme this time.

A life worse than death, stripped of all humanity.

And worst of all… living half her life deceived.

This was exactly the outcome Hu Shaoyou could have foreseen, yet he had coldheartedly set this trap.

Flames of rage began to blaze in her eyes.

Inside the room, Hu Shaoyou was still restless and anxious.

Wanqing had been answering him for a long time, but not a single word was what he wanted to hear. Instead, every word stabbed into his heart.

Hu Shaoyou could no longer hold back.

"Wanqing, what I mean is…"

"What if, what if I can't have children with you? Would you still love me?"

"Of course!" Wanqing laughed. "Brother Shaoyou, no matter what happens, I will always love you. Besides, for my sake, you wouldn't end up unable to have children."

"No…" Hu Shaoyou was frantic, hopping about like an ant on a hot pan. "I, I, I… What if I truly can't have children?"

"What if I can never have a child born of our love?"

Wanqing froze. She looked at Hu Shaoyou's face, saw his anxious expression, his earnest yet panicked gaze, and her heart skipped a beat.

Zhou Xiong, because he had been so consumed by city defense all year long and had neglected her, had made her feel as though he didn't love her. It had taken her immense effort to leave Zhou Xiong and chase the sincere feelings of her youth.

But…

What was this so-called sincere feeling supposed to be?

What did he mean by "truly"?

No, what did "truly" even mean?

Wanqing's face shifted color several times. Suddenly, she threw herself into Hu Shaoyou's arms. "Brother Shaoyou, don't, don't scare me."

Hu Shaoyou had always loved it when Wanqing acted this way. Every time, he felt a soft impact that stirred both love and lust within him—a fantastic experience that sent his blood racing.

This time was no exception.

That feeling returned.

But the difference was that before, it was enjoyment. Now… it was pure torment!

The skilled physician had dressed his wound perfectly, but now…

It burst open!

"Ah!"

A wretched scream rang out. Hu Shaoyou, dripping with sweat, shoved Wanqing away, his face twisted in agony as he crouched on the ground, gasping heavily.

Wanqing was worldly and experienced—just seeing that told her all she needed to know about Hu Shaoyou's problem. Her expression turned to one of utter despair.

"All I wanted was to find love," she said. "Why couldn't my husband give it to me? And why can't you, Hu Shaoyou?"

"What did I do wrong?"

"Get out! Get out! Get out of here!"

Already crushed, Hu Shaoyou could barely straighten his back after her words. "Wanqing, I, I…"

"Get out!"

"Damn it all…" Hu Shaoyou, driven to the edge of hopelessness, leaped up. "I took out all those loans for you! I screwed over Gu Qing for you! And now, because of a little problem with me, you want me gone? Damn you—"

Before Hu Shaoyou could finish cursing, a deafening crash sounded.

The window shattered violently, along with the wooden planks beneath it, leaving a gaping hole. At the hole stood a woman radiating a fierce, commanding aura.

Hu Shaoyou knew her well.

In fact, he knew her better than anyone.

But over the many years with Gu Qing, he had rarely seen her like this. So much so that he had forgotten that Gu Qing had never been a weak woman.

She had built herself up, taking firm control of her parents' legacy, expanding it, and even elevating him to the position of Source City's lord.

But…

After marriage, she had been so gentle that he had overlooked a simple truth: Gu Qing had always been formidable.

This thought flashed through his mind in an instant. Hu Shaoyou broke out in a cold sweat as he stammered, "Gu Qing, let me explain…"

"Explain to the Duke!" Gu Qing's eyes were as sharp as blades.

She turned and knelt with deep reverence, reporting, "Your Grace, Hu Shaoyou, as the defending commander of Source City, knowingly harbored Xu Shang, a wanted fugitive of the imperial court—this is a crime of concealing a criminal."

"When the imperial army arrived to enforce the law, he openly organized his troops, formed battle lines, and prepared to resist, an act no different from treason!"

"When the city fell, he pretended to die, deceiving the world and Your Grace—this is a grave offense against the sovereign."

"These serious crimes, every single one, I can bear witness. I beg Your Grace, for the sake of the imperial court and the world, to execute this fiend!"

Before the shattered breach, Ren Tianye appeared. He smiled faintly and nodded slightly.

Not bad. Such resolve was just what he needed.

At least the military's grain supplies would henceforth be somewhat ensured.

Then, he turned and spoke coldly, "Guards!"

"Here!"

"Hu Shaoyou, for harboring a fugitive, defying imperial orders with armed force, rebelling by holding the city, feigning death to deceive the emperor—crimes amounting to high treason—it is decreed…"

"He shall be executed by slow slicing, with all three of his clans exterminated!"

"His subordinate officers will be summarily beheaded, and the enlisted men under them banished a thousand li!"

"Yes!"

Zhang Shi strode in with a proud, vigorous air. Grabbing Hu Shaoyou like a chicken, he tossed him out.

Hu Shaoyou was utterly broken.

He fell to his knees, wailing loudly, begging Gu Qing and Ren Tianye for mercy. "Qing'er, Qing'er, don't do this!"

"I was just momentarily led astray! I'll change! I really will change! I beg you, plead with the Duke for me! I'll change! Isn't that enough?"

But his pleas no longer stirred any trace of the love Gu Qing once had for him. Instead, her gaze grew even colder, her heart like ice.

She turned her head away from him resolutely and fixed her eyes on Wanqing.

That wretched woman, complicit with Hu Shaoyou, had destroyed her life's accumulated wealth. She wanted nothing more than to grab a blade and hack the bitch to pieces.

Then Su Jin handed her the very blade—the Slayer of Passion.

Gu Qing, stunned for a moment, nodded at Su Jin and hefted the Slayer of Passion, striding toward Wanqing.

Her steps were steady, her gaze resolute.

Su Jin watched approvingly. If she donned the uniform of the Demon Suppression Bureau, Gu Qing would look every bit like one of its top enforcers.

But the Duke had other plans for her.

Swish!

The blade gleamed brightly, tracing a perfect arc through the air before settling steadily against Wanqing’s throat, showcasing Gu Qing's impressive martial skills.

"You, you what, what are you doing?"

"You can't kill me, I, I haven't committed any crime, I haven't committed any crime!"

Wanqing's gentle and delicate face instantly drained of color, panicked and flustered, but she still tried her best to defend herself.

"I haven't done anything at all!"

"Everything was Hu Shaoyou's own choice, he willingly did all these things. I, I am also a victim!"

"Besides..."

"I never actually ended up with him. If you hadn't come today, wouldn't we have just parted ways?"

...