Chapter 25: Liars Are Cursed for a Lifetime

Wang Lu coiled a length of hemp rope, as thick as a finger and soaked in tung oil, and slung it over his shoulder before leaping into the backyard of the Jinling Pavilion.

The backyard was a space for storing sundries and boiling tea. Wang Lu went straight to the stable used for storage, leaned against the wall, scattered some hay over himself, and then held perfectly still. He closed his eyes.

He had long held a belief that if someone stared at him, he would feel it. Often, when one stares at another for long enough, the other person will instinctively look back. To remain hidden, he had to cover every possible angle he could conceive.

Before this, Wang Lu had already disguised himself to scout the layout of the Jinling Pavilion, ensuring he would be ready when the time came to act. He did not intend to strike too early; he needed Guo Zhen to feel true fear first. If he saved him too soon and Guo Zhen started talking about grand ideals, Wang Lu would surely lose his temper.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the scorching heat on Wang Lu’s face began to fade, though the air remained thick with lingering warmth. It was the middle of the seventh lunar month, and while it should have been sweltering, the weather felt more akin to the autumn or spring of later ages. Perhaps due to the long wait, Wang Lu’s mind wandered, drifting into thoughts about climate shifts like the Little Ice Age.

The scent of horse manure hung in the air, but aside from the initial sting that brought tears to his eyes, Wang Lu could no longer smell it. The sense of smell is one of the easiest for the body to desensitize. At this point, relying on scent was impossible; he could only observe through his other senses and wait for the arrival of Ding Baiying and her group.

Fortunately, he did not have to wait long.

*Bang.*
*Swish.*
*Whoosh.*

Three figures suddenly appeared in the backyard of the Jinling Pavilion, forming a triangular formation.

"Master, Guo Zhen just went inside. Shall we strike now?" Ding Tai asked, swinging his mace with a relaxed demeanor.

Beside Ding Tai stood the slender Ding Chong, holding a shield in one hand and a scimitar in the other. She asked with a hint of nervousness, "There’s no one in the backyard right now, but everyone else is inside. If we start, we will inevitably alert the others. We might run into trouble."

"It doesn't matter if we encounter trouble. Under no circumstances can this matter be traced back to Lord Ming. If it is, we won't be able to answer to our senior brother, and we will become the villains of the world." Ding Baiying gripped the hilt of her Qi-style saber and looked up at the Jinling Pavilion, where flickering silhouettes danced behind the paper lanterns.

It was late at night, and while the Ghost Festival was filled with sacrificial rituals, it lacked late-night entertainment. Most of the people inside were merely staff of the Jinling Pavilion.

"Therefore, my senior brother’s order is: leave no one alive." A flicker of hesitation crossed Ding Baiying’s eyes, but her hand had already drawn her saber.

"I’ll go block the front entrance," Ding Tai said in a low voice.

Seeing Ding Baiying offer no objection, he quickly skirted the stable and left. Shortly after, the crisp sound of a bamboo flute echoed.

Ding Baiying immediately kicked the main door.

*Bang!*

Guo Zhen felt uneasy. Why would someone summon him to the Jinling Pavilion so late at night? If the note hadn't been signed by Master Beizhai, he might not have come at all. Few people knew that Beizhai was a close friend of Prince Xin, and he happened to be one of them.

And, contrary to what most imagined, Beizhai was actually a woman. If Wei Zhongxian knew that the person who had been mocking him with paintings all this time was a woman, he would likely be so furious he’d age another ninety years.

"This tea is pathetic. Compared to what we drink in the palace, it’s like piss—worse than piss." Guo Zhen took a sip, smacked his lips, and spat it all out.

The waiter nearby hurried forward to appease his guest. This eunuch was too recognizable; one opening of that voice and it was clear he was a high-ranking official. The manager had long since warned them that they must serve this guest well, or they would face dire consequences later.

*Slap!*

The young waiter crisply slapped his own face. With a bitter expression, he said, "Forgive me, Eunuch. Please wait a moment, I will bring you a fresh pot."

Guo Zhen waved his hand, not bothered; his mind was elsewhere. The waiter took the overturned teacup and headed toward the backyard, looking resentful.

There were eight people in the building in total. Aside from Guo Zhen, everyone else was staff of the Jinling Pavilion. That meant six workers and one manager were serving a single guest. It was the Ghost Festival, and the staff wanted to go home to burn paper money for their deceased parents. But because the manager had called this eunuch a "noble guest," he had kept all six of them here for fear of causing offense.

The waiter walked toward the door leading to the backyard, his heart full of resentment. As he reached for the door, he didn't notice two dark shadows lurking behind the window paper.

*Bang!*

As the waiter opened the door, it was kicked wide!

The kick was powerful; before the waiter could react, he was sent stumbling back two steps and fell to the floor.

"Ah! What are you doing?" the waiter groaned, clutching his stomach.

However, a chilling blade stopped his voice. Pale with terror, he scrambled backward, propping himself up with his hands.

"P-please... don’t..." Saliva pooled in the waiter's mouth, forcing him to swallow repeatedly.

*Slash.*

Ding Baiying closed her eyes before striking, yet the blade still pierced the waiter’s skin with surgical precision, drawing a thin line of blood across his neck.

*Thump.*

Ding Baiying sheathed her sword without pause and charged forward, her eyes fixed solely on Guo Zhen, who sat at the table in a state of panic. Guo Zhen’s clothes were opulent enough for Ding Baiying to recognize him, and besides, she had seen him before!

"Prince Xin wants to kill me to silence me?!" Although Guo Zhen hadn’t been alert when he arrived, he was no fool.

Ding Baiying’s expression turned icy. "If Eunuch Guo has reached that conclusion, then you haven't died in vain."

As soon as she finished speaking, she strode forward. Her movements and steps were perfectly synchronized, every action brimming with martial grace.

Meanwhile, Ding Tai had already charged out from the front entrance with his mace, blocking the waiter who was trying to flee. With one strike, the waiter’s chest collapsed like a punctured balloon.

Ding Chong was no less efficient. Her round shield was purely ornamental, as no one dared to resist. The scimitar in her hand flickered like the scythe of the Grim Reaper, snuffing out the lives of the waiters and cooks one by one.

The scent of blood spread instantly, but the front door had already been locked by Ding Tai. Any cries for help were swallowed by the sound of firecrackers outside.

"Let me say one thing—just one!"

*Hum.*

Just as Ding Baiying approached Guo Zhen and raised her blade, Guo Zhen shouted, trembling.

"You once served Lord Ming as well. For the sake of that past, I will give you the time for three sentences." Ding Baiying’s face remained impassive. Seeing that the others had been dealt with, she spoke to Guo Zhen.

Ding Tai and Ding Chong stood behind her, weapons in hand, staring at Guo Zhen. This placed an invisible pressure on him.

"I won't leak any secrets, I beg you to spare me! We are on the same side!" Guo Zhen cried out in a state of emotional collapse.

"That counts as the first sentence." Ding Baiying did not explain; she merely watched him coldly.

A strange odor began to rise. Ding Tai noticed a puddle of liquid appearing beneath Guo Zhen and couldn't help but nudge Ding Chong, pointing it out. Ding Chong glanced at it and couldn't hide her expression of disgust.

"I... I have money. I can give you money. Spare me, and I will leave the capital tonight and never return!" Guo Zhen sobbed, tears and snot streaming down his face. "One thousand taels! One thousand taels in silver!"

"That counts as the second sentence," Ding Baiying said, her face still cold. "Besides, if we kill you, we’ll take your silver anyway. We know where you live."

"Heh... hehe... you beasts, you beasts!" Guo Zhen realized he was doomed. His extreme fear turned into rage. He shouted, "I worked for him, and he wants my life?!"

"Heh, I survived the Battle of Sarhu, escaped the blades of the Jurchens, and yet I never expected to die at the hands of the master I served. How ridiculous, how truly ridiculous!"

Guo Zhen pointed to his neck. "Come on then, haha. If I had known, I should have just given him the money yesterday. He even knew to send people to protect me, yet I misunderstood and thought he was going to harm me. How ungrateful of me."

Guo Zhen sighed and paused, his mood seemingly stabilizing.

"But, Ding Baiying," Guo Zhen looked into her eyes, a strange light flickering in his own, "how do you know you won't follow in my footsteps?"

Guo Zhen suddenly smiled. "You know far more than I do."

Ding Baiying remained expressionless, veins bulging on her hand as she swung her Qi-style saber toward Guo Zhen’s neck.

*Clang.*

A figure suddenly appeared beside Ding Baiying, a long blade in hand, steadily blocking her strike.

Wang Lu looked at Guo Zhen with satisfaction. *I heard what you just said. If you don't pay up later, don't blame me for turning against you.*