Chapter 1439 – Take It Easy (Six)
Hua Yuan’s voice trembled with a touch of madness; where was the usual elegance and composure?
Lü Zheng’s eyes reddened as he was choked, still unwilling to let it go, he asked again.
“Who the hell are you? You’re not Hua Yuan!”
This was too bizarre; it was more terrifying than being possessed.
Even knowing Hua Yuan had a history of mental instability, he had acted normally for such a long time that no one took it seriously.
No one could have expected that when Hua Yuan lost it, it would cost lives!
“I am certainly not that fool,” Hua Yuan sneered. “I am Ge Lin, son of the former General Ge Chun.”
General Ge Chun?
Lü Zheng paused, unable to recall who that was. His knowledge of Nan Sheng was limited to a few current lords and their ancestral rise to power. Ge Chun was a historical figure from before the fall of Nan Sheng, and due to the nature of his death, hardly anyone dared to mention his name.
“I warn you again, don’t get in my way, or I won’t hesitate to have An Huan lose an arm or a leg!”
Lü Zheng’s eyes widened suddenly, his nerves all on edge.
“Killing the Nan Man captives, what’s the point? Just for revenge?”
This person lacked a sense of the larger picture!
In fact, Ge Lin indeed had no such thing; he looked down on An Huan completely. For someone from a military family like Ge Lin, An Huan was just a spoiled noble, indifferent to life and death; all he cared about was vengeance.
“What else?!” Ge Lin sneered. “If it weren’t for revenge, why should I tolerate you foolish lot?”
“Do you have a grudge against the Nan Man?”
Lü Zheng didn’t realize that this Ge Lin was merely a persona conjured by Hua Yuan; instead, he thought it was the spirit of Ge Lin possessing him.
“Of course, there’s a grudge, a deep-seated blood feud,” Ge Lin scoffed. “You’re lucky this time; if you meddle again, you won’t even know how you died. Don’t expect that useless An Huan to help you; his hatred for the Nan Man runs deep!”
Lü Zheng turned pale with fear.
What a demonic scene by daylight!
After Ge Lin had left for a while, Lü Zheng finally relaxed his grip on the sword, which clattered to the ground.
Among the allied lords, not everyone wanted to exterminate the Nan Man, but it was undeniable that they feared the Nan Man’s potential threat.
Formerly suppressed by Nan Sheng, the Nan Man couldn’t lift their heads; they were exploited and oppressed, like weak chickens.
Who could have predicted that decades later, the four tribes of the Nan Man would sweep through the entire land of Nan Sheng in a blaze of fury?
The gates of the imperial capital were forcibly battered down, and the royal family was slaughtered; almost no common people were left alive in the city.
Whether you were a high-ranking noble or a beggar in the dust, only the souls of the wronged remained under the Nan Man’s blade.
In chaotic times, no one was free from grievance.
Even if logic told them to keep captives alive and exploit their labor for profit, emotionally they leaned more toward extermination.
If they wiped out the Nan Man, they would completely rest easy.
With this mindset, Hua Yuan fanned the flames, and An Huan’s firm stance swayed those on the fence to switch sides.
No matter how Lü Zheng opposed, it would do no good.
Never would he have imagined that Hua Yuan would again redefine lowliness, actually committing even more appalling acts.
When Lü Zheng heard he wouldn’t spare even unborn children, his fury boiled over.
Without a second thought, he grabbed his sword and went to find Hua Yuan, exuding an intimidating aura that held back anyone who might try to stop him.
Lü Zheng held the sword sheath in his left hand, the long sword in his right, sweeping aside the soldiers trying to intervene, pointing his blade at Hua Yuan, he shouted, “Are you even human? All those sacred teachings went to the dogs! You’re a beast! Do you understand what that means?!”
Lü Zheng was not from a good background to begin with; he could usually restrain himself, but once angered, all decorum and self-control went out the window.
“Those women and children are blameless!”
Fighting is one thing, killing is another; to strike down his own country’s pregnant women? He really wanted to boot this guy’s head!
Hua Yuan retreated with a mocking smile, and Ge Lin instantly took over.
“They are not blameless for carrying a spawn of evil! If you don’t cut the weeds at the root, there will be endless troubles; don’t you understand even this?”
Lü Zheng’s eyes filled with rage; this person didn’t seem to have the slightest intention of repenting and instead was so self-righteous.
Who gave him the courage to say such things?
“Those women are innocent captives of the Nan Man, all from Nan Sheng; they have already suffered misfortune, and yet you not only show no mercy but also lay such a vicious hand on them!” Lü Zheng’s hand trembled as he held the sword, “What you’re doing is no different than a beast!”
Ge Lin chuckled, “Everyone has their fate.”
Upon hearing this, Lü Zheng completely exploded, raising his sword and poised to kill.
Let’s see how he could stab this bastard today!
What do you mean everyone has their fate? If that’s the case, no one should have the right to seek revenge and exterminate the Nan Man; they should just accept their lot.
No one expected Lü Zheng had made up his mind to kill; for a moment, they were all taken aback.
By the time they reacted, Ge Lin, with remarkable agility, had disarmed Lü Zheng in a matter of seconds.
Lü Zheng had skills, but he was no match for Ge Lin.
Just as he thought, “My fate ends here,” Ge Lin, who had shown murderous intent, suddenly shivered.
“You all leave; I have a good talk with this one.”
Everyone exchanged glances; out of respect for Hua Yuan’s authority, they had no choice but to exit the tent.
Lü Zheng coldly asked him, “What new trick do you want to play?”
Hua Yuan raised a hand to touch his chest, then, in front of Lü Zheng, he pulled up his clothes to feel his groin, wearing a stunned expression like he had been struck by lightning.
Lü Zheng: “…”
Hua Yuan said, “You might not believe this… I am Liu Xi, and I don’t know how I ended up like this.”
Lü Zheng: “…”
Who would believe that nonsense!
Ge Lin was dead after all; it was possible for a soul to possess a living person, but Liu Xi was a living individual, still fine and dandy in Dongqing.
Hua Yuan sighed, sitting down on the mat, looking lost. “This isn’t the first time; several times I’ve woken up in strange places. When I ask others, they all say Liu Xi is in Dongqing… So who am I?”
Lü Zheng stared at the person who just moments ago wanted to kill him, now appearing so friendly, utterly unable to accept the situation.
He took a deep breath and said, “Stop playing the fool!”
Hua Yuan sat casually but showed no anger at Lü Zheng’s provocation.
Smiling, he said, “Every word is true; when have I ever pretended? You can ask around and see if I am Liu Xi.”
Lü Zheng noticed that his expression was sincere, with no sign of avoiding truth, which made him hesitate.
Hua Yuan had indeed lost his mind; his thoughts were unclear.
After Lü Zheng asked a few questions, and Hua Yuan answered fluently, Lü Zheng became even more uncertain.
“You are the esteemed disciple of Mr. Yuanjing; I spent three years studying at Langya when I was young, so we’re like half-siblings. In light of our old ties, could you tell me what happened? Why did I suddenly turn into a man?”
Seeing Lü Zheng’s lack of reaction, Hua Yuan continued to evoke feelings and reason, even mentioning their shared history as students to tug at emotional strings.
