Xue Xingyue and Ji Wuran exchanged a glance. Ji Wuran looked at Old Man Sun and asked, "Grandpa Sun, what will you tell Sun Dahai after we leave?"
Upon hearing this, Old Man Sun sighed and said, "It seems you've also realized Dahai is no ordinary person. You should leave quickly; once he returns, you won't be able to."
Ji Wuran narrowed his eyes and said, "Grandpa Sun, even if we wanted to leave now, I'm afraid we can't."
As Ji Wuran finished speaking, sounds were heard from outside. Old Man Sun started, shook his head, and said, "Ultimately, we are a step too late."
Xue Xingyue's gaze was vigilant as she stared outside.
Sun Dahai appeared, leading people who surrounded the place.
Ji Wuran looked at Xue Xingyue, his eyes shimmering with starlight, and asked, "Afraid?"
Xue Xingyue heard him and a slight smile curved her lips. "What do I have to fear? I've encountered far more difficult predicaments than this. This is nothing."
Ji Wuran was slightly taken aback. He suddenly remembered that this seemingly fragile woman before him was no ordinary woman. She was Princess Xingyue, a favored daughter of heaven, and a female general who guarded the borders against external ferocious gods. How could such a person be afraid?
With this thought, Ji Wuran smiled faintly and said, "It seems I misunderstood. In that case, I will have to rely on you."
Xue Xingyue stepped forward, flicked her whip, and the door flew open, striking the people attempting to barge in.
The people outside were stunned. A single whip could send the door flying; these were clearly not ordinary individuals.
Seeing this, Ji Wuran chuckled and said, "You truly don't hold back your strength at all."
Xue Xingyue glanced coldly at the people in the courtyard and said, "At this point, there's no need to hide anything."
Seeing the shock of the people due to Xue Xingyue's whip, Ji Wuran smiled and said, "You are absolutely right. In that case, neither do I."
Ji Wuran sprang out and stood before them, saying, "Who are you people? We didn't intend to kill innocent people, but if anyone wishes to die, step forward. I won't show any mercy."
Sun Dahai gritted his teeth upon hearing this and said, "It's you lot, the lackeys of the Jiang family. The Jiang family and we are irreconcilable enemies."
"Irreconcilable enemies!" the people behind Sun Dahai shouted in unison.
Xue Xingyue was taken aback, a trace of confusion in her heart. Enemies of the Jiang family?
How could she have encountered this?
Ji Wuran heard this and replied, "The people of the Jiang family are already dead. And it was us who killed them. Are you showing gratitude by repaying kindness with enmity?"
Sun Dahai was stunned. "The Jiang family is dead?"
Ji Wuran nodded. "Don't you even know this?"
Sun Dahai took a step back. "How... how is that possible? I haven't even sought revenge yet!"
Ji Wuran couldn't help but twitch his lips. He glanced at Sun Dahai and said, "If you had waited to seek revenge, who knows how many unfortunate youths the Jiang family would have harmed."
Suddenly, Sun Dahai roared, his eyes bloodshot, "Shut up, shut up..."
Ji Wuran stopped speaking and looked at Sun Dahai's abnormal state, asking, "Could it be..."
A person beside Sun Dahai explained, "Dahai's fiancée was disguised as a man and seen by the Jiang family. She was captured and taken to the Jiang mansion. By the time we arrived, she had already..."
There was no need for further explanation. Xue Xingyue understood.
Xue Xingyue stepped forward and suddenly bowed, saying, "I'm sorry."
Sun Dahai, his eyes bloodshot, turned his face away and asked, "What are you apologizing for?"
Xue Xingyue knew she couldn't reveal her true identity, but she truly felt apologetic. The Jiang family's existence was a consequence of her and her imperial brother's indulgence. Knowing so many people suffered and were separated, she should have dealt with the Jiang family sooner. If she had, perhaps fewer people would have been separated.
Ji Wuran stepped forward and patted her shoulder. "This is not your fault."
"But..."
"Don't take responsibility upon yourself. You were at the border guarding the pass at that time. Even if you had noticed, it would have been too far away to intervene," Ji Wuran said softly.
Xue Xingyue knew Ji Wuran was speaking the truth, but even so, it couldn't erase the fact that she had overlooked such a problem.
"The Jiang family, are they truly annihilated?" Sun Dahai asked Xue Xingyue, word by word.
Xue Xingyue nodded and said solemnly, "Yes. They were killed on the road during their escape. The Jiang family is now nothing but ashes."
Sun Dahai suddenly burst into laughter, but in the end, he began to cry. He slowly knelt on the ground, like a child, weeping heartbrokenly.
Old Man Sun came out, his eyes red, and said, "The Jiang family deserved to die. They deserved to die."
The people accompanying Sun Dahai put down their hoes. One of them said, "Since you are the ones who killed the Jiang family, you are the benefactors of our Kuihua Village."
"Benefactors, benefactors!" the others echoed.
"Benefactors, please come in and sit. We must hold a banquet in the village today!" the others said excitedly.
Xue Xingyue watched as Sun Dahai continued to kneel there, crying.
She walked forward, looked at Sun Dahai, and said, "Even if you cry yourself to death now, she won't be resurrected."
Sun Dahai heard her, wiped away his tears, and said, "You don't need to concern yourself."
Xue Xingyue replied, "Yes, this has nothing to do with me. But I believe her spirit in heaven would be very sad to see you like this."
Sun Dahai's body stiffened. "Cui'er."
Cui'er? Xue Xingyue trembled all over. She remembered the girl in the cave, the one being guarded, and the things done to her by the guard. That girl's name seemed to be Cui'er.
So, she had the chance to save Cui'er, but...
"I'm sorry." This time, she apologized with all sincerity.
Sun Dahai turned his head away. "The Jiang family is dead, my revenge is served. You have nothing to be sorry for."
"But..."
"Dahai... Dahai, something's wrong! A troop is heading this way," someone ran over in a hurry.
Sun Dahai was startled and stood up, saying, "How could there be soldiers? Our Kuihua Village is an isolated village, and ordinary people wouldn't find their way here, unless..."
Sun Dahai's gaze fell upon Xue Xingyue and Ji Wuran, and he said coldly, "Who are you..."
Xue Xingyue stepped forward, cupped her fist, and said, "I am Feng Wu, from Princess Xingyue's side. This is Feng Jiu, also from Princess Xingyue's side. We are acting on Princess Xingyue's orders to investigate if there are any remaining rebels of the Jiang family."
Sun Dahai was taken aback and said, "Are you truly subordinates of Princess Xingyue?"
Xue Xingyue nodded. "Yes, I dare not deceive you."
"Then why didn't you say so earlier?" a young man beside Sun Dahai asked.
Xue Xingyue replied, "I didn't know who you all were, so I didn't dare to reveal my identity easily."
"What proof do you have of your identity?" Sun Dahai asked.
Xue Xingyue took out a seal from her waist and said, "This."
Sun Dahai stepped forward and looked. The inscription on it read "Xingyue Seal."
Anyone possessing this must be a close attendant of Princess Xingyue.
"They are truly Princess Xingyue's people. Then have we offended Princess Xingyue?" the remaining people said with some worry.
"No, Princess Xingyue is not one to kill innocent people. If you are truly from Princess Xingyue's side, then I wish to join Princess Xingyue's retinue," Sun Dahai said.
"I want to join too, I want to join too!" the others echoed.
"Where have those soldiers arrived?" Ji Wuran asked.
Sun Dahai heard him and quickly said, "Xiao Ming, go and see where the troops have arrived. If they can't find their way, bring them here and say that Princess Xingyue's guards are here."
"Yes, I'll go right away." The one called Xiao Ming left.
Mysteriously, Xue Xingyue felt a vague sense of unease. She couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from, but she felt something was not quite right.
Sun Dahai invited Xue Xingyue and Ji Wuran into the house and brought out steamed buns made of white flour, which were likely only eaten during festivals. He said, "Benefactors, we have offended you before. Please do not take it to heart."