RPDPHW Chapter 53

Sure enough, the people who came were indeed not from the martial world.

“Young Master! This is bad—we’re surrounded by government soldiers!”

The two disciples that Yun Yifei had left outside to stand guard hurriedly ran in to report.

“Government soldiers?” Yun Yifei frowned. “That’s strange. Doesn’t the imperial court usually stay out of our martial world affairs? Don’t panic yet. We haven’t committed any crimes, so we should be fine.”

The members of the Blood Flame Sect were also puzzled. Why would government soldiers surround them? If it were the Tang Clan continuing their attack, that would make sense. But why were they government soldiers? It didn’t add up. The Tang Clan wouldn’t have involved the authorities over something like this!

The two people who had already reached the staircase stopped in their tracks when they heard the commotion. After listening to the disciple’s report, they exchanged glances and simultaneously furrowed their brows, casting worried looks at Lin Ziyan and Shan Wenshu, who sat by the table.

“Ziyan, I know you’re inside. Come out!”

Before those inside could process the situation, a loud voice rang out from outside.

Only then did the people inside realize the government soldiers were here for Lin Ziyan.

Lin Ziyan frowned slightly and let out a sigh. In the end, he could only stand up helplessly.

Seeing this, Shan Wenshu hurriedly grabbed his hand. However, before she could say anything, Lin Ziyan placed his other hand over hers and pressed down firmly, reassuring her, “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine. Just sit here and wait for me to come back.”

“Don’t go.” The moment she heard General Lin’s voice, Shan Wenshu panicked. She clung tightly to Lin Ziyan’s hand, her voice trembling. “Didn’t we agree to leave together? How can you leave me behind?”

“If you don’t want the people inside to be dragged into prison, then come out now!”

The voice outside urged again, this time laced with even more anger.

The speaker was none other than Lin Ziyan’s father, the General himself.

At this moment, Zhong Shujin had already pulled Gu Qingyin over. She tugged at Lin Ziyan’s sleeve and said seriously, “Let’s fight our way out with you!”

“No!” Lin Ziyan refused without hesitation. “If you all get entangled with the imperial court because of me, how could I ever live by myself? Don’t worry. After all, he is still my father. Even a tiger won’t eat its own cubs. It’s better for me to handle this alone.”

If the imperial court truly wanted to act, how could mere martial sects stand against the might of their armies?

That was why Lin Ziyan would never let the Blood Flame Sect be dragged into this.

“Ziyan, don’t go. My lord won’t let you off,” Shan Wenshu pleaded desperately, her knuckles turning white. “Don’t go, please?”

She hadn’t expected that, even at a time like this, Lin Ziyan could still be so gentle.

“How could I bear to leave you behind?” Lin Ziyan reassured her softly. “Don’t worry, my father is not an unreasonable man. Stay inside and don’t come out, no matter what. I’ll go alone. Trust me—I’ll be fine.”

He embraced Shan Wenshu, gently patting her back before looking over her shoulder at Gu Qingyin. “Qingqing, can I ask you to take good care of her for me?”

Shan Wenshu couldn’t see the resolute determination in his eyes, but Gu Qingyin and Zhong Shujin could see it all too clearly.

“I can take care of her for now, but if you don’t come back, don’t expect me to be this considerate ever again!” Gu Qingyin huffed.

Lin Ziyan smiled bitterly. “Can’t you just let me have some peace of mind?”

Zhong Shujin chimed in, “Qingqing is right! We won’t be that considerate! You still have to take care of your own person!”

The onlookers were baffled by this exchange.

How odd… Why did these two sound like they were watching a pair of tragic lovers part ways?

After comforting Shan Wenshu, Lin Ziyan said no more. He handed her over to Gu Qingyin, grabbed the silver spear resting beside him, and strode out without looking back.

Outside the inn, the place was already heavily surrounded by soldiers.

As Lin Ziyan stepped out, the soldiers encircling the inn automatically parted to form a path.

Following this path, Lin Ziyan walked forward until she stopped before General Lin, bowing respectfully. “Father.”

The man before her sat tall upon his horse, clad in full military attire. His posture was straight as a spear, exuding an imposing presence.

“Who gave you permission to become a deserter?”

Desertion was the greatest disgrace to any soldier.

General Lin had never expected that his most outstanding daughter would one day fall to such a shameful fate.

“I have been unfilial and have failed to live up to your expectations,” Lin Ziyan said firmly, raising her head. “But this time, all I want is to pursue the life I truly desire. I beg for your mercy, Father.”

A sharp crack echoed in the air.

The whip struck Lin Ziyan’s face harshly before General Lin finally pulled it back.

“Ziyan!”

Shan Wenshu cried out in alarm. If not for Gu Qingyin holding her back with all her strength, she would have rushed forward already.

General Lin cast a cold glance in Shan Wenshu’s direction, sneering. “The life you desire? You once told me you wanted to defend the nation and achieve glory. I believe you. And now you tell me this? Don’t tell me you’ve become a deserter just for that woman!”

Lin Ziyan’s head was knocked to the side by the force of the whip, but she merely furrowed her brows slightly. Ignoring the pain, she straightened her posture and continued resolutely, “Father, it’s not just for her. It’s for myself. I don’t want to live with regret for the rest of my life.”

“Ridiculous!”

General Lin drew his spear and struck Lin Ziyan to the ground. Without hesitation, he dismounted and landed a fierce kick to her chest, his fury blazing.

“As children of our lineage, we must dedicate our lives to protecting our country! How dare you forsake duty for mere sentimental attachments!”

Lin Ziyan wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, enduring the pain in her chest as she knelt on the ground, lowering her head. “It is my failure. I beg for Father’s mercy.”

Another heavy blow struck her back.

“Mercy? Your mother and I raised you with hardship and care, and this is how you repay us?”

Lin Ziyan remained silent.

“Speak! Say something!”

General Lin struck her again and again with his spear, roaring, “Why are you kneeling? Stand up! Fight back! Where is your spear? Didn’t you say you wanted to leave? Then fight me! Kill me, and you can go!”

Lin Ziyan clenched her teeth against the pain, keeping her back straight as she knelt, letting General Lin strike and berate her without resistance.

“My body and life were given to me by my parents. I dare not raise a hand against my father.”

“You won’t fight back? Then I’ll beat you to death, you unfilial daughter!”

The spear struck again and again, each blow echoing with terrifying force.

Though he was only using the shaft of the spear to bludgeon her, the sheer strength behind each strike was enough to kill an ordinary person in one hit.

Even with her deep reserves of internal energy, Lin Ziyan struggled to endure the pain.

After just five strikes, she collapsed to the ground.

Just as the onlookers thought she would lose consciousness, she forced herself upright again, kneeling back into position.

She had said she wouldn’t fight back, and she truly didn’t—not even dodging.

Bright red blood seeped through her clothing, a shocking sight.

No one witnessing this could remain unmoved.

Among the soldiers present, those who had followed Lin Ziyan for years were nearly ready to defy orders and step forward to plead for her.

“Enough!”

At last, Shan Wenshu broke free from Gu Qingyin’s grip and rushed forward, throwing herself over Lin Ziyan.

Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed, “My lord, this is all my fault! I forced her to leave with me by threatening my own life! It’s all because of me! Please, let her go. If you must punish someone, punish me instead!”

Seeing that the spear was about to strike Shan Wenshu, Lin Ziyan quickly turned and pulled her into an embrace. Summoning her strength, she grabbed the silver spear beside her and forcefully parried General Lin’s next attack.

But General Lin was no ordinary opponent—he reacted instantly. Steadying his grip on the spear, he reversed his hold and thrust the spearhead straight at Shan Wenshu in Lin Ziyan’s arms, sneering coldly, “Where is your filial piety now? Have you cast it aside for this woman? Don’t forget—she is my concubine, not yours!”

Lin Ziyan’s heart clenched in pain. As the spear came hurtling toward them, she immediately shoved Shan Wenshu aside, discarding her weapon in the same motion. With open arms, she stepped forward—directly into the path of the spear.

The spear pierced through her chest.

Blood blossomed like a crimson flower against her clothes.

“Father,” Lin Ziyan said weakly, “her body is frail—she wouldn’t have survived that strike. If your anger has not yet subsided, then let my life be the price. Just… please, don’t hurt her.”

At that moment, the only one who could still smile was Lin Ziyan.

“Ziyan!”

Shan Wenshu felt as though her heart had been torn apart. Trembling, she caught Lin Ziyan’s collapsing body, her voice filled with anguish. “Why are you so foolish?!”

General Lin hastily withdrew his spear, his hand shaking uncontrollably.

Fortunately, Gu Qingyin rushed forward in time, pressing down on Lin Ziyan’s chest acupoint to stop the bleeding.

Seeing that Lin Ziyan still wanted to speak to comfort Shan Wenshu, Gu Qingyin exploded in fury. “Lin Ziyan! Shut up! Don’t say another word!”

Lin Ziyan let out a helpless smile instead. Since she couldn’t speak, she reached out to wipe away Shan Wenshu’s tears. Mouthing the words silently, she said: Don’t cry. It hurts me to see you like this.

Shan Wenshu sniffled, then tightly grasped Lin Ziyan’s hand, pressing it against her lips as she bowed her head again and again.

But the more she tried to hold back her tears, the more they fell.

Seeing this, Gu Qingyin was both angry and heartbroken. However, there was nothing she could do about Lin Ziyan. She could only glare at her fiercely before focusing on tending to her wounds.

At the same time, Zhong Shujin stood protectively in front of the three of them, gripping her blade tightly and glaring furiously at General Lin.

Her stance made it clear—if he took even one more step forward, she would fight him to the death.

Seeing Zhong Shujin take action, the members of the Bloodflame Sect immediately dropped their passive stance and rushed forward to stand by her side.

Both sides were ready to strike at any moment.

Meanwhile, Yun Yifei remained hesitant, standing at a distance without rushing into the soldiers’ encirclement.

“Lin Ziyan! You disgraceful child!” General Lin gritted his teeth in fury, no longer holding back. His gaze turned ice-cold as he glared at Shan Wenshu and roared, “Do you even know who she really is?! Do you know why she came to the General’s Manor?! Have you been completely blinded by her?!”

Shan Wenshu trembled at his words.

Lin Ziyan, leaning against her, could feel her entire body shake.

“No matter who she is, I believe in her.”

Even with her pale face, her expression was firm and resolute.

After taking a few deep breaths, Lin Ziyan pushed Gu Qingyin aside slightly and grasped Shan Wenshu’s hand tightly. She stepped forward to stand in front of Zhong Shujin, staring straight at General Lin with unwavering determination.

“Since I have chosen her, I will believe in her—until I am old, until I die. I will always believe in her.”

“Good, good, very good!” General Lin’s gaze lingered on the wound on her chest, his teeth clenched. “Lin Ziyan! Don’t you dare regret this!”

“Father, you have nothing to worry about. I will never regret it.”

“There’s no need to call me ‘Father’ anymore!”

General Lin turned and mounted his horse, his voice booming, “From this day forward, the third daughter of the Lin family is dead! You are no longer part of this family, and you will never return!”

With that, he rode off.

The rest of the soldiers quickly followed, retreating with their forces.

Only after the heavy military presence withdrew did the Bloodflame Sect members let out a breath of relief.

After all, going against the imperial court was never a wise choice.

The moment everyone left, Lin Ziyan could no longer hold on. Her body went limp, collapsing into Shan Wenshu’s arms.

“Ziyan! How are you feeling?!”

Lin Ziyan’s eyelids drooped, her voice weak. “It’s… nothing…”

At that moment, Shi Hanfei walked over with a sigh and handed a bundle to Lin Ziyan and Shan Wenshu.

“Miss, this is from the Master. You… should focus on recovering. Don’t hate him.”

With those words, he turned and followed the departing soldiers.

Inside the bundle was a letter of disownment and two of their household records.

The moment Lin Ziyan saw them, her eyes brimmed with tears.

But before she could react further, her vision blurred, and she lost consciousness.