Tantai Ye stood on the warship, his expression grim as he watched the two figures in the crowd on the deck of the ship.
A firearm suddenly appeared in his hand, aimed directly at Yelü Qi's heart.
From afar, Lan Murou saw his action at a glance.
Horrified, she quickly turned back to push someone.
"Brother Qi, hurry!"
Yelü Qi grabbed her hand and calmly looked at the rapidly approaching warship, comforting her.
"It's alright, don't be afraid."
Tantai Ye's dark eyes were fixed on their clasped hands, his fury reaching its peak.
He leaped out directly, boarding the giant ship. The scene unfolded too quickly for anyone to react.
With a bang, the ship's cabin was blown open.
A figure in dark robes suddenly flashed past, kicking Yelü Qi away and pressing him underfoot like a phantom.
His posture was so arrogant as if he disregarded everything.
The crowd gasped, watching the spectacle.
Tantai Ye condescendingly leaned down, malice glinting in his eyes.
"Xie Beihan's dog, daring to snatch a woman from me, you're tired of living."
Lan Murou was terrified by the scene, standing frozen, a chill running through her.
She watched him press the cold firearm against Yelü Qi's heart, speechless with shock.
Across the vast river, over a dozen warships surged forward, instantly surrounding the ship.
Everyone on deck was stunned by the scene and dared not watch any longer, retreating with cries of alarm.
"Tantai Ye, let go—let go."
Lan Murou stood not far from them, her face pale as she spoke.
"You—you let him go."
Hearing her voice, Tantai Ye glanced at her sideways, his narrow eyes filled with icy ferocity.
"You're speaking up for him!"
His face held a mocking smile, but his gaze was filled with greedy desire as he looked at her.
The weather was gloomy, and a harsh wind swept across the river.
Yelü Qi was forcefully pinned to the deck by him, his face deathly pale, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
"Murou, don't—don't beg him—"
"Brother Qi."
Lan Murou, horrified by the blood at his lips, quickly ran over, clutching her skirt.
Tantai Ye was infuriated by this scene, his eyes burning with jealous rage.
He yanked Lan Murou up, pulling her into his embrace, and pinched her jaw, sneering.
"Brother Qi?!! You call him so affectionately."
His eyes showed a wicked disgust, filled with intense hatred.
His cold, knife-like hand gripped her, making it difficult to breathe, and involuntary tears welled up in her eyes.
"Why are you crying, afraid he'll die?!"
His tone was sarcastic, his indifferent voice rumbling from his throat, chilling people to the bone.
Lan Murou looked at the frantic hatred and jealousy in his eyes.
Fearing he would truly kill, she suppressed her surging emotions, reached out, and grabbed his collar, speaking with difficulty.
"General, please let him go."
"Let him go?!"
Tantai Ye's laughter was terrifying. "He took my person. Do you think I'll let him go?"
The mere thought of them spending time together these past few days made him want to kill.
"I tell you, if I don't chop him to pieces and feed him to the dogs today, I'll write my name Tantai Ye backward."
His enraged appearance stunned everyone on deck.
Lan Murou, having been by his side for so long, had never seen him so furious.
As she was taken aback, she saw him pull the trigger. Her face instantly turned pale, and she immediately grabbed his hand tightly, pointing the firearm at herself.
Tantai Ye sneered, watching her action, his sinister expression fueled by terrifying rage.
'Fine, for him, you'll do anything.'
Such a timid and weak person, yet she dared to point a firearm at him.
He had truly underestimated her.
Lan Murou was terrified, her hand gripping the firearm pale and trembling.
She explained, "He and I have nothing; he saved me."
"Heh, nothing?! Saved you?!"
Tantai Ye coldly glanced at the person lying on the ground, his voice malicious, unable to hide his murderous intent.
"So, he saved you, and you're going to leave with him, abandoning me."
She abandoned him?!
Lan Murou felt a pang of sorrow upon hearing his shameless words, almost wanting to laugh.
Who abandoned whom first?
Seeing her silence, he couldn't control his rage and roared.
"Lan Murou, you lied to me, you've been lying to me all along. You knew each other long ago but kept it from me. What do you take me for?"
The anger suppressed in his heart for days seemed to surge out like a breached river.
His exquisitely beautiful face was etched with ruthless killing intent.
"You chose to hide it from me then, and today you'll face the consequences."
Back then, at the border of Daliang, she had never mentioned their acquaintance.
Never!
Anger and jealousy were consuming him.
He couldn't tolerate any trace of other men around her; he detested Yelü Qi and their entire shared past, wanting only to tear it apart, to destroy it.
He absolutely refused to allow it!
"I warned you long ago, if you dared to think of leaving, I, Tantai Ye, would show no mercy. Someone would pay a heavier price for your actions each time."
"Today, he must die!"
Seeing his fierce look, despair flashed in Lan Murou's eyes, and she tightened her grip on the firearm.
He had always been like this: selfish, ruthless, and heartless.
During those years in the capital, she had been like a canary kept in a cage by him, without freedom, subject to his desires.
Tantai Ye, you are too suffocating.
She suppressed her emotions, calmly watching his fury, her usually gentle face suddenly gaining a hint of coldness.
After a moment, she tugged at the corner of her lips and asked softly.
"Tantai Ye, what did I lie to you about? Did I want to leave?"
"Where were you when I was sentenced to death? Where were you when I was nailed into a coffin? What were you doing when I was carried to my grave?"
Her voice was cold and indifferent, yet it carried a calm decisiveness.
"You were with your fiancée. So, now, on what grounds do you question me?"
Tantai Ye narrowed his long eyes as he looked at her.
He had never seen her like this before.
"It was my failure to protect you, but why didn't you wait for me? I was just one step away, only one step away from finding you."
Wait for him?!
Hearing his words, Lan Murou felt an inexplicable pain in her heart, a pain that made her want to laugh.
She had waited for him for so many years, only to have him marry another and for her family to secretly sentence her to death.
Without Yelü Qi, she would have long since perished, her beauty lost forever.
How ironic.
He was actually here questioning why she hadn't waited for him.
"Tantai Ye, haven't I waited for you?"
"From the moment I was by your side, your mother wanted to kill me, and your family sentenced me to death. How many assassination attempts did I endure? In all these years, what did you do?"
"This time, my survival is due to heaven's mercy. Why are you acting crazy now?"