The thirteenth one.
Zheng Huaiyi was dead.
Even after death, a look of sheer terror remained on his face.
Yet Wang Gou'er, who was still alive, actually began to envy him at this moment. After all, Zheng Huaiyi was already dead, and once you're dead, you don't have to be afraid anymore!
Facing Yang An.
Facing Yang An, who was like a ferocious ghost.
A foul, piss-scented puddle spread beneath Wang Gou'er's crotch. His courage completely shattered, tears and snot smearing his face, and with both arms and his spine broken, he used his chin to hook the floor and his legs to push, crawling toward the main gate like a maggot!
Even though the main gate had long been locked dead.
Even though he knew there was no way to escape, he still scrambled desperately in that direction!
His chin ground against the floor, tearing the skin and flesh.
It bled, leaving a trail of blood behind him, yet he didn't notice it in the slightest.
Watching the fleeing Wang Gou'er.
Huff.
Huff.
Huff.
Yang An panted heavily. The surroundings were so quiet he could only hear the sound of his own breathing. He could feel that he was about to give out; perhaps he would collapse in the next second, perhaps if he closed his eyes, he would never open them again.
I must kill Wang Gou'er before I fall.
I must kill him! Leave not a single one alive!!
"AHH!"
His eyes densely webbed with bloodshot veins, Yang An let out a furious roar and forcefully yanked his body completely off the short spear, collapsing to the floor, dripping with blood.
He picked up the dagger that had been knocked away.
Using his still-functioning right hand, he pushed against the floor, trying to stand up.
But right now, he couldn't even straighten his back.
He had no strength left to stand.
If I can't stand, then I won't stand. Yang An clamped the dagger in his teeth and, using his functioning right hand to push against the floor, crawled toward Wang Gou'er!
Horrified, Wang Gou'er screamed, "Don't come near me!"
"I'll give you money, I'll give you a lot of money! Enough money that you won't be able to spend it all in one lifetime, or even ten lifetimes!"
"Let me go, Yang An, let me go!"
Yang An didn't respond in the slightest. He just stared dead at him, inching closer and closer to Wang Gou'er!
Keke, who had witnessed this scene from the side.
Was so shocked she forgot to cry.
Clutching her swollen, red cheek, she scrambled up from the floor, grabbed Wang Gou'er's pant leg, and said, "You're not allowed to run! You bad man, you're not allowed to escape!"
"Get lost!!"
Bang! Wang Gou'er kicked her in the stomach. The agonizing pain made Keke's face turn pale.
She wanted to cry again but held it back.
Gripping Wang Gou'er's pant leg with a death grip, she shouted, "You're not allowed to escape! You're clearly the one who did bad things! You were bullying people! Why should you get to run away now! Isn't that too shameless!"
"Shameless your mother!"
"Cheap trash! Cheap breed! Peasant!"
"Get lost! Cheap woman! Get the hell away from me!!!" Bang, bang. Wang Gou'er used his last bit of strength to kick Keke in the face twice.
Swelling her cheek.
Bright red blood flowed from her nose.
Keke was, after all, an eleven-or-twelve-year-old girl. Under the intense pain, she was kicked to the side. Seeing Wang Gou'er about to escape, she cried as she scrambled up, "Big brother, I'll help you!"
Unable to stop Wang Gou'er.
Keke ran to Yang An's side. Gritting her teeth, she used her frail little body to support half of Yang An's weight.
She helped him up from the floor.
Supporting him as they chased after Wang Gou'er.
Yang An looked at Keke, but at this moment, he didn't even have the strength to say thank you.
The two simply stumbled along in pursuit.
Wang Gou'er crawled ahead.
Reaching the main gate, with his arms destroyed, he used his head to bash against the locked doors. Bang, bang, bang! Smashing his head until it bled, he wailed, "Somebody! Somebody help me!"
"Someone please save me!"
"I beg you, whoever it is, please come save me!"
"I swear I will be a good person from now on and do many good deeds, someone please save me!!!"
It seemed the heavens had heard his plea.
Just as Yang An was about to catch up to him.
A chilling frost suddenly descended. The temperature in the entire hall plummeted rapidly, and frost condensed on the floor, the walls, and within the pools of blood.
A sword light, like moonlight or the waters of the Luo River, let out a long hum.
The locked main gate.
Was shattered from the outside by a single sword strike. The flying wooden splinters instantly froze into ice mid-air, crashing to the ground like a hail of ice cubes.
Wang Gou'er, who had been lying in front of the gate wailing loudly, froze.
He hurriedly lifted his head to look outside.
He saw a woman in a white dress standing in the snowy night. Her cascading black hair was adorned with luxurious tassels, and the aura she exuded was both holy and aloof. Faint light swirled around her; she looked like the Goddess of the Moon, Chang'e, or the Guanyin of the Bamboo Grove.
Unfortunately, she wore a veil, obscuring her face.
But one could still feel her peerless elegance.
Seeing such a celestial figure, hope for survival flared in Wang Gou'er's eyes. He cried out to the woman, "Fairy, save me, I beg you..."
Before he could finish his sentence.
The dagger flashed with a golden light. With a squelch, it pierced through the back of his head and emerged from his mouth, bringing out a spray of fresh blood and nailing Wang Gou'er dead right in front of the snow and ice at the main gate! Pinned dead right in front of the woman in the white dress!
The fourteenth one.
And the last one.
Listening to his own rapid breathing, Yang An, standing in the pool of blood, and the woman in the white dress, standing in the wind and snow, locked eyes across Wang Gou'er's corpse.
Yang An's face was stained with blood, his black hair disheveled.
Upon seeing his handsome face, the woman in the white dress couldn't help but take a few extra glances. Yang An, feeling that this woman didn't seem to be in cahoots with Wang Gou'er, averted his gaze.
He gently pushed aside the teary-eyed Keke.
Stumbling and swaying with every step, he struggled his way to Wang Gou'er's body and pulled the dagger out of his head.
"Did you kill all these people?"
The woman in the white dress spoke. Her voice was almost ethereal, as chillingly clear as a mountain spring, and indescribably beautiful.
Yang An had no strength to answer her.
After wiping the dagger clean, he sheathed it at his waist. He rummaged through Wang Gou'er's clothes, pulling out a pouch of silver and a stack of silver notes.
Then, moving like a machine, he walked toward Zheng Huaiyi.
Seeing that Yang An ignored her, the woman in the white dress stopped looking at him. She walked over to Keke and gently stroked her swollen, red cheek. "Were you bullied?"
"Miss!"
Hearing the white-robed woman's concern.
The grievances in Keke's heart exploded. Her short little legs pushed off the ground, and she latched onto the woman in the white dress like a koala. Hugging her waist, she rubbed her snot and tears into her embrace. "Miss, what took you so long! You have no idea how bad these people were! Waaah! They kidnapped so many girls just like me!"
"Waaah! They even tried to steal Miss's jade flute!"
"They even hit me, look at my face! If it weren't for this big brother! I would have been bullied by them! Waaah!"
The woman in the white dress pushed Keke away with feigned disgust.
Her fingers flashed with spiritual light.
Using some unknown spell, she completely cleaned away the snot and tears on Keke's face, and even the swelling and redness subsided.
It didn't hurt much anymore.
Hearing that Yang An had saved her maidservant.
The aloof look in the white-robed woman's eyes softened a fraction. She spoke again to the blood-soaked Yang An: "You are severely injured. If you are not treated, you will die."
At this moment.
Yang An had found a golden, fragrant fruit on Zheng Huaiyi's body.
Not knowing what it was for.
He didn't care; he swallowed it down in two or three bites.
The moment the fruit entered his stomach, having reached his absolute limit, he actually felt a slight resurgence of energy.
Relying on this burst of strength.
Yang An took a breath and distributed the silver notes he had looted from Wang Gou'er to the five unfortunate women who had been kidnapped and brought here.
If he didn't want to implicate his sister and brother-in-law.
Killing all these unfortunate women would have been the best option.
But Yang An couldn't bring himself to be that ruthless. He could only give them the silver notes. Once they took the money, they became his accomplices, people in the same boat. If they dared to report to the authorities, their heads would roll too.
Yang An tucked the remaining silver into his shirt.
Preparing to give it to his sister and brother-in-law, to see them one last time.
And then go to the Princess's estate to accept his death.
Yang An stumbled out the door. As he brushed past the woman in white, he heard her say again, "You saved my maidservant, I owe you a favor. Is there anything you need me to do?"
Yang An shook his head.
Clutching the silver, he walked in the direction of his home.
Braving the wind and snow, he still wanted to see Li Yan and Yang Ning one last time. Unfortunately, heaven did not grant his wish. After taking just a few steps, the darkness in the east gradually receded, and the sky began to turn pale.
It was almost the hour of Chen. He couldn't go home.
Yang An fell silent for a moment and stopped his steps. He turned around and said in a hoarse voice to the woman in the white dress, "Can I entrust you with a matter?"
The woman in the white dress said, "You may."
"I trouble you to deliver this silver to the Li couple in Wanshou Ward. Thank you." Yang An took out the blood-stained silver and held it out to the woman in the white dress.
Seeing the woman dressed entirely in spotless white.
Brighter and cleaner than the moon in the sky.
Yang An withdrew the hand holding the silver. He found a clean spot on his clothes, wiped the blood off the silver until it was clean, and only then did he hand it out again.
The woman in the white dress took a few extra glances at him.
Saying nothing, she took the silver and asked, "Is that all?"
"Mm."
Yang An said thank you once more, turned around, and walked in another direction—the direction of the Princess's estate.
A journey through wind and snow when coming.
A journey through wind and snow when leaving.
Watching Yang An's figure gradually recede into the wind and snow, Keke complained, "Miss, this big brother is a good person, why didn't you save him?"
Thinking of the indifferent look in Yang An's eyes as he faced everything.
The woman in white said softly, "A man like him does not need anyone to save him." Saying this, she took Keke's hand, and in the blink of an eye, their figures dissipated into the wind and snow.
...
As the sky grew brighter and brighter.
Inside the Princess's estate, palace maids—some carrying luxurious garments, some holding rouge, and others bearing jewelry and ornaments—lined up neatly and filed into the chambers.
Princess Anle, who had just woken up.
Attended by the chief female official A'lan, had already washed her face. Wearing a plain inner garment, she sat lazily before the bronze mirror.
Three graceful palace maids.
One on the left, one on the right, and one behind, carefully combed her long hair, while two nimble-looking maids trimmed her nails.
Served by the crowd.
Qin Guo'er, who hadn't even opened her eyes, leaned back in the soft chair and asked lazily, "What time is it now?"
"Reporting to the Princess, it is one quarter to the hour of Chen," A'lan thought for a moment and said. "Is the Princess thinking about that hunter? Looking at the time, I'm afraid he won't come. These rustic people only talk a big game. When given a real chance to live, they run faster than anyone. They would even abandon their parents, let alone care about some sister or brother-in-law."
Princess Anle neither agreed nor disagreed, saying casually, "If he comes, I'll kill him. If he doesn't come, I'll kill his whole family."
"Isn't that right, Manman?"
Manman, who had just woken up and was gnawing on a meat pie, nodded her head.
No matter what the Princess said, nodding was the right answer. Eating the savory meat pie, Manman felt she had become much smarter.
While they were talking.
A palace maid suddenly ran hurriedly from outside the door!
Qin Guo'er disliked people getting close to her, and especially loathed strangers. Therefore, in the entire Princess's estate, only a dozen or so people were allowed into her inner chambers.
The palace maid stopped outside the door.
Bowing her head, she reported, "Princess, that little hunter has arrived!"
Hearing this.
Princess Anle's phoenix eyes opened.
A'lan, who was attending her, widened her eyes and muttered, "He came? Is that hunter not afraid of death? He actually dared to come!"
Holding back her amusement.
Qin Guo'er turned her head to order the palace maid to summon Yang An inside.
But she forgot her hair was still being combed. With her sudden head turn, the palace maid combing her hair accidentally snapped a few strands.
Qin Guo'er frowned slightly.
The palace maid was so terrified she immediately knelt on the floor.
Similar incidents had happened before. A few years ago, when a palace maid was combing Qin Guo'er's hair, she accidentally hurt her and was given dozens of lashes with a whip, her back beaten into a bloody pulp! It took months to heal!
Now, having snapped her hair, wouldn't she be beaten to death?!
The palace maid who made the mistake trembled at the shoulders, crying and kowtowing non-stop to Qin Guo'er. "Princess, spare my life! This slave deserves death!"
A'lan knew the Princess's callous nature well.
If she waited for her to give the order, this little palace maid would surely lose her life.
To save this clumsy little palace maid's life.
She used a clever application of force to kick the little palace maid, sending her rolling across the floor a few times, and scolded, "Audacious thing! Daring to hurt the Princess! Get out and take fifty lashes!"
The little palace maid trembled and prepared to go receive her punishment.
However, Qin Guo'er, who was in an exceptionally good mood, acted completely out of character and said, "It's just two strands of hair, no need to be overly harsh. Just go back and take ten lashes later and be done with it."
Huh?
A'lan looked at Qin Guo'er in disbelief.
Is this still the Princess I know? When did she become so magnanimous?!
Having her life spared.
And only receiving ten lashes, the little palace maid felt like a survivor of a catastrophe, offering a thousand thanks and kowtowing loudly several more times.
Hearing the news of Yang An.
Qin Guo'er had no time to fuss over the little palace maid. She asked the maid who came to report, "Where is he? Since he's here, why hasn't he come to see this Princess?"
"Reporting to the Princess, that little hunter is currently outside the estate, it's just that it's somewhat inconvenient for him to come pay his respects..."
"Inconvenient? How so? What inconvenience does he have? Does he expect this Princess to go see him?" Qin Guo'er's expression darkened slightly.
A'lan chimed in with a cold snort, "A mere hunter dares to put on airs in front of the Princess! Go, call two guards and drag him over here!"
Qin Guo'er said, "No need."
A'lan: ?
The corners of Qin Guo'er's vermilion lips curled up slightly. "This Princess will personally go see what tricks he's playing."
A'lan: ?
Princess, are you feeling alright today?! Did you eat something weird before going to bed last night?!
Qin Guo'er stood up from the vanity.
Without applying any makeup, her soft black hair cascading down, and wearing only a plain inner garment, she prepared to head out.
A'lan was horrified and hurriedly grabbed her. "Princess! My Princess! You haven't done your hair or makeup, nor have you put on your outer robes! How can you go out to see people like this!"
"True."
Qin Guo'er called the palace maid who had made a mistake earlier to bring a crimson fox-fur cloak and draped it over her shoulders. She smiled enchantingly, "This will do."
"But you still haven't done your hair or makeup!"
"Even without makeup, this Princess is still the most beautiful in the world."
"?"
A'lan was dumbfounded.
Having accompanied the Princess since childhood, she knew best how much the Princess cared about her deportment and appearance on regular days. She had never seen a time when she would go out to meet someone without doing her hair and makeup!!!
With no time to overthink.
Seeing the Princess had already stepped out, A'lan grabbed Manman, who was still eating on the sidelines.
And hurriedly followed.
Boarding the carriage, pulled by the Blue Phoenixes, Princess Anle quickly passed through the estate's courtyards and arrived at the main gate. Through the carriage's veil, she saw Yang An.
Resting her cheek on her hand, she froze.
In the wind and snow.
That interesting little hunter sat leaning against the wall in front of the estate gates, his black hair disheveled. Scalding blood flowed from the wounds covering his body, melting the accumulated snow beneath him.
Seemingly hearing the commotion.
He lifted his eyelids and looked toward the carriage where she was seated.
Blocked by the curtains, he couldn't see Qin Guo'er.
Yang An also knew that that wicked woman was definitely sitting up there watching him, not knowing how she was going to mock and ridicule him.
Not wanting to look too unsightly in front of Qin Guo'er.
The white snow slid off his shoulders.
The chilling wind blew his blood-stained black hair.
Leaning against the wall, Yang An struggled to his feet. Standing up straight, he used the very last ounce of his strength and said:
"Princess, I have... come to accept my death."