Xie Jiang looked up at the falcons circling above the large boat. They were Lu Baofang's true eyes and ears; any movement in Ninghe County would be reported to Lu Baohong immediately. "If I brought men, I could save your second brother, but you'd be riddled with bloody holes."
Xu Hengyi wept uncontrollably, "Then what about my second brother? That son of a bitch Lu Baohong wants to exchange Lu clan members for my second brother!"
Few of the direct descendants of the Lu clan from Nanxiong Marquis's mansion had survived that rebellion. Only some of the Lu clan members from Nanping remained, and they were reportedly imprisoned in the Dali Temple. With the weight of the Duke of Wei's heir, this exchange was not a mere pipe dream.
"Lu Baohong, you bastard, listen to me! If you dare to touch a single hair on my second brother's head, I'll go to the Dali Temple prison and kill a Lu!"
Xu Hengyi roared at the boat on the river, running along the current as he shouted, as if his voice were loud and fierce enough to deter Lu Baohong from harming his second brother.
Did those Lu dogs compare to a toenail of his second brother's? How dare they expect his second brother to be exchanged for them!
Seeing his full-throated roar, Xie Jiang instructed, "Tell Lu Baohong that the enemy who wants to destroy his entire family has arrived. Have him bring the boat to shore quickly. I am willing to be a hostage with Xu Hengyan."
Although Xie Jiang hadn't brought any men, her presence gave Xu Hengyi infinite confidence. Upon receiving the order, he began to shout.
"Lu Baohong, you son of a bitch! Xie Jiang, Master Xie, the enemy who wants to destroy your entire family, has arrived! Hurry up and dock the boat, Master Xie says she wants to..."
Halfway through his shout, he realized something was wrong. Xu Hengyi felt he must have been dazed with anger, his ears playing tricks on him. He turned back sharply to confirm with Xie Jiang.
"You said you want to do what? You want to be a hostage with my second brother? Are you crazy!"
"Do you want your second brother to return unharmed?"
"Of course!"
Xu Hengyi hated himself, wishing he hadn't been so foolish as to be captured by Lu Baohong. His second brother wouldn't have to suffer like this!
If anything happened to his second brother, he couldn't atone even if he died ten thousand times!
Xu Hengyi wanted his second brother to return safely more than anyone.
"You have a way?"
Hope ignited in Xu Hengyi's eyes.
Xie Jiang had always seemed capable of anything in his eyes. What others couldn't do, Xie Jiang could.
Xie Jiang sat on her horse, her expression calm. "Keep shouting as I told you."
Just as Xu Hengyi was about to speak, he thought of something and asked with hesitant surprise, "You're not planning to exchange yourself for my second brother, are you?"
Xie Jiang couldn't even be bothered to roll her eyes. "Do you think Lu Baohong can be exchanged?"
"He probably can't, right?" Xu Hengyi used his brain for once, but he wasn't sure.
Lu Baohong certainly wished he could flay Xie Jiang alive immediately to avenge his family.
But the dead were dead, and the living were more important.
Lu Baohong could only exchange the remaining Lu clan members by using his second brother.
The Duke of Wei's mansion was at the peak of its power in the Great Yu Dynasty. By using the Duke of Wei's heir, Xu Hengyan, as a hostage, Lu Baohong ensured that even His Majesty couldn't ignore it.
Xie Jiang and Xu Hengyi combined were not worth as much as Xu Hengyan.
On the large boat.
Whether it was a report from the falcons or hearing Xu Hengyi's shouts, Lu Baohong emerged from the cabin.
Xu Hengyan was also pushed out, bound and gagged, with two gleaming sabers held at his throat.
Xu Hengyi's eyes bulged with fury, "Second brother—"
How could his second brother endure such humiliation!
It was all his fault!
Countless sharp arrows on the large boat were silently aimed at Xie Jiang.
Because Xu Hengyi was close to Xie Jiang, he was also within range. Xu Hengyi's body stiffened involuntarily.
"Lu Baohong, is it."
Xie Jiang no longer expected Xu Hengyi to shout. As if she hadn't seen the arrows aimed at her, she remained as steady as a mountain on her horse.
"Haven't your father and son been looking for me for revenge? I'm here now. I'll give you a chance for revenge. Do you want it?"
At this moment, Xu Hengyan's voice came from the large boat, "Xie Jiang, don't be foolish. Take Xu Hengyi and return to Ninghe County immediately!"
"Xu Hengyan, believe me, I'm not being foolish. Just as you risked your life to save me last time, I will be a hostage with you today."
A gust of wind carried Xie Jiang's resonant words to the large boat.
These words were meant for both Xu Hengyan and Lu Baohong.
"Xie Jiang, be good. This is not a game. Do me a favor. I'm worried about Xu Hengyi going back alone. Help me take him back!"
The distance prevented them from seeing each other's expressions, but Xu Hengyan's voice was heard again.
From Xu Hengyan's voice, one could sense his slight anxiety, as he understood Xie Jiang's personality to some extent. If she said she would be a hostage with him, she might actually do it.
How could she be so reckless!
Was today the same as when he went to save her!
Lu Baohong wanted to use him as a bargaining chip to exchange for the Lu clan members, so he wouldn't harm him!
But Lu Baohong and his son hated her to the bone. If she fell into Lu Baohong's hands, she doubted Lu Baohong would dare to kill her!
Xu Hengyi sobbed uncontrollably. He had failed his second brother! Even in this state, his second brother was worried about his safety!
Xie Jiang no longer paid attention to Xu Hengyan. Arguing was meaningless. She raised her voice and said to Lu Baohong, "Lu Baohong, dock the boat, or I'll find a way to get on board myself. I voluntarily request to be a hostage!"
"After you exchange for your Lu clan members, if you have the ability, you can kill me anytime. Do you dare to let me on board?"
Lu Baohong finally spoke coldly, "You, Xie! Do you think I'd believe your nonsense!"
With that, he made a gesture.
The next moment, the sound of bowstrings echoed, and volleys of arrows rained down towards the shore.
Xie Jiang quickly dismounted from her horse. As she leaped down, she delivered a fierce kick to Xu Hengyi's backside, sending him rolling out of the arrow's range.
With a few agile movements, Xie Jiang dodged a volley of arrows and retreated behind an earth slope. Xu Hengyi scrambled over, "Do you really want to be a hostage with my second brother? Lu Baofang wants to kill you, and you're really going to deliver your head yourself?"
Xie Jiang glanced at the river, then said to the disheveled Xu Hengyi, "I said I could get your second brother back safely, and I will get your second brother back safely. When have I ever broken my word?"
"But..."
"You go back to Ninghe County immediately. You don't need to worry about what I do. Xu Hengyan used himself to save your insignificant life. Don't end up dying by arrows later, making your second brother a hostage for nothing."
Didn't Xu Hengyan ask her to help him send Xu Hengyi back to Ninghe County? Then she would handle this first. Xu Hengyi was an adult, he wouldn't need her to escort him personally, would he?
"Then what about you? If my second brother comes back safely, what will happen to you?"
Xu Hengyi's mind was reeling. Did Xie Jiang mean that she would be a hostage with his second brother, and then they could save him?
How would they save him?
If she herself was in danger, how could she save his second brother?
"Of course, I'll come back with you too. Stop being so indecisive and talking nonsense. You'd better do as I say, or you'll bear the consequences."
He wouldn't be so naive as to think she would sacrifice herself to save Xu Hengyan, would he?