Chapter Thirty-Two: Heart Tied to Her

  The clouds are light and the wind is gentle, the Fragrant Creek River flows quietly, with sparkling ripples.

  The sudden sound of horseshoes broke the tranquility of the small town. Yin Xu rode his horse at high speed, with Pu Jun and dozens of brothers following behind, worried. He had already figured out what had happened - Yin Xu's beloved woman, Li Yuniang, was harmed by someone and forced to jump into the river to kill herself. He also naturally understood what Yin Xu wanted to do.

  On the day of Yunshan's service, Yin Xu suddenly killed someone because of that water bag. Seeing Yin Xu drinking water with a sweet expression, Pu Jun knew that the water bag was made by Li Yuniang herself, and seeing Yin Xu always carrying it with him, he cherished it even more, and the emotions contained in it were obvious.

  Yin Xu would rather hurt himself than harm the water bag, he'd rather fight with five thugs alone, he'd rather kill the escorting officers. What a man of great courage and loyalty! So now it's clear what Yin Xu is going to do next.

  Duan Shui hung on the horse's back, Yin Xu's face was ashen, not a word was said. The whole way galloping, getting closer and closer to Xiangxi Town, looking at the familiar scenery of the past, Yin Xu's heart was cut like a knife. Especially when the horse's hooves crossed the Xiangxi River, tears silently fell from his eyes, dripping into the emerald waters of Xiangxi.

  They say men don't easily shed tears, but it's just because they haven't reached the point of heartbreak yet.

  Since the day I came to this world, Yuniang has been by my side, giving me warmth and thoughtful care. Especially on the day I left, Yuniang stayed up all night sewing clothes and a water bag. The needle hole wound on Qianqian's jade finger is still in front of my eyes, how can it not make people sad?

  Yin Xu raised his head towards Xiangxi Town, Wu Zhong's mansion was right there, it was them who drove Yuniang to death. Blood debt must be repaid in blood, today I will make sure that not a single chicken or dog is left in the Wu household, for Yuniang's burial. The whip lashed down fiercely, his carriage rushed forward like the wind, splashing water flowers on the river surface...

  The cavalry rushed into the streets of Xiangxi Town like a storm, and the villagers had never seen such an array before, so they all hid to both sides. Some sharp-eyed people recognized that the young man at the front seemed to be Donglai, and they gossiped about various speculations, finally following him out of curiosity to see the excitement.

  The cavalry stopped in front of Wu's mansion gate, and Pu Jun shouted: "Go, break down the door!"

  "No need, I'll do it myself!" Yin Xu jumped off the horse's back, with the Broken Water Sword already in hand, step by step towards the main gate of the Ting Chang Mansion. Suddenly, he let out a loud roar and swung his sword at the wooden gate, striking it with a loud crash, splitting it open with a huge gash.

  The fellow villagers of Xiangxi Town recognized that the young man was Donglai, but he was no longer the honest helper he used to be. It's said that he killed government soldiers and became a bandit? Then aren't these people all bandits now? Looking at the gleaming long sword, the surrounding onlookers were frightened and quickly dispersed. Some people also figured it out - Donglai had come back to take revenge on the Wu Youcai family. After someone saw Madam Ma visiting their home that day, Yuniang and her daughter disappeared, and now it seemed that it was all related to the Wu Youcai family.

  "Who is it? What's going on?" The servants of the Tingchang Mansion rushed over in a flurry to investigate.

  "Hum! Yin Xu kicked open the door and rushed in, with one swift motion. The servant who was standing there had not yet reacted when his head was already severed from his body. Fresh blood spurted out of the neck stump, high into the air, while the rolling head on the ground left a trail of bloody marks, extremely frightening."

  "Kill... kill... someone's been killed..."

  The two servants behind saw their companions being killed, the manner of death was extremely tragic, and they were terrified to the extreme, and it took a long time for them to shout out. Afterwards, they rolled and crawled into the inner courtyard, with obvious water stains dripping from their crotches.

  "What's going on?" Wu Zhong asked as he walked out with his wife and child.

  The servant trembled with fear and stuttered: "M-m-master... someone has been murdered!"

  "Who is so bold as to come and capture me!" Wu Youcai still had the air of a spoiled young master, leading his men out the door.

  At that moment in the courtyard, he was completely stunned, and afterwards, Ma's family even covered their mouths and noses, not daring to look straight.

  The beheaded servant lay at the door, a man in brocade clothes walked forward with his hair disheveled and sword in hand, blood flowing down the blade and dripping from the tip.

  "Block him!"

  Wu Youcai was terrified, and he ordered his men to go forward and block them. But could they be stopped? Seven or eight people rushed over, and Yin Xu didn't even glance at them, cutting down anyone who came near with swift and deadly strokes of his sword. In an instant, not a single person was left alive.

  Pu Jun and others followed far behind, seeing Yin Xu like a god of death, knowing that he was going to take revenge personally, so they didn't intervene, just following from afar. Wu Youcai and Ma Shi were terrified to the extreme, grabbing Wu Zhong's collar on both sides, trembling with fear.

  Although Wu Zhong was also frightened, as the master of the house, he had to take responsibility. He calmed down and said: "Who are you? Why are you killing people in my mansion? Don't you have any regard for the law?"

  "Who am I?" Yin Xuyang raised the blood sword in his hand, pointing at Wu Zhong, and coldly laughed: "Ask your precious son and this shameless woman!"

  Yin Xu looked up and spoke, his hair naturally falling on both sides, and the Wu family finally saw his face clearly.

  Wu Youcai exclaimed: "Donglai?"

  "Is that Donglai?" Madam Ma's body suddenly shook, and at this moment she understood better than anyone why Yin Xu had come to kill him. Back then, forcing Yu Niang to death and imprisoning Li Kui Zi were all just a matter of course. As for Donglai, he didn't even put him in his eyes, after all, he was just a thief, and besides, it was said that the imperial court had dispatched tens of thousands of people to encircle and suppress him. He thought Wu Rui had long been reduced to a pile of bones, who would have thought that at this time he would be standing here, back for revenge! And became incredibly powerful, or rather, incredibly ruthless and terrifying!

  Wu Zhong pointed at Yin Xu and exclaimed in shock: "You're Donglai? The bandit Yin Xu, Yin Donglai?"

  Yin Xu said coldly, "Wu Ting Chang, you may not know that I have already joined forces with Wu County Magistrate to rebel against the cruel Qin. I am no longer a bandit, but a leader of the righteous army."

  "Huh?"

  These days have been busy with fighting against the Qin army and the wedding between Ying Bu and Wu Mei, so the notification to remote towns has been delayed.

  "Even if you are a general of the righteous army, can't you kill people in my mansion? Even if there is some small grudge between your family and mine, it shouldn't be to this extent, should it?"

  "A minor matter?" Yin Xu said coldly: "Ask your precious son what Wu Ting Chang meant by 'light and easy'."

  His wife and son's illicit affair had been kept from him all along, and he was also in the dark about Yuniang and her father. At this moment, Wu Zhong was bewildered and perplexed.

  Seeing Madam Ma's nervousness, Yin Xu sneered: "Doesn't Wu Tingzhang know? This Mrs. Ma served your father and son in bed, how hard it is!"

  "What?" Wu Zhong stared at his wife and children in shock, his body trembling with anger.

  "Father (Master), don't listen to his nonsense," Ma and Wu Youcai said in unison.

  "It's true or false, Wu Tingchang must have his own calculations. As for me, Yin Mouren, it doesn't matter either way. But the fact that this adulterous couple actually drove Yuniang to death is absolutely unforgivable!"

  Wu Zhong was about to speak again when Yin Xu interrupted him, saying: "Director Wu, there's no need to say more. Some doubts can be asked in the underworld!"

  "You!"

  As soon as this was said, everyone showed a look of horror, and some living servants had already knelt down to beg for mercy.

  Yin Xu said coldly, "The chief culprits are that adulterous couple; Wu Tinglang is also to blame for not teaching his wife and children well. As for you servants, you are all accomplices and cannot be forgiven, so today you will all die!"

  His voice fell, and Yin Xu, in a rage, swung his sword and killed, blood splashing everywhere, wailing incessantly. In an instant, not a single person was left alive in the Wu household.

  When Wu Youcai finally fell to the ground, Yin Xu's body trembled and his expression was as dull as a wooden chicken. With a clang, the Broken Water Sword fell to the ground, and Yin Xu stepped on the bloody footprints, walking out, with the bloodstained footsteps extending all the way to the main street.

  The news of the Wu Fu blood case had already spread throughout the town, and there was no one on the main street. Yin Xu moved step by step forward, coming to the Shennü Temple by the Xiangxi River.

  At this time, the sunset was setting in the west, and the green hills were outlined with a golden edge. The surface of the Xiangxi River was rippling with waves. The Temple of the Goddess had become somewhat dilapidated, but the statue of the goddess remained vividly lifelike. This scene was so similar to that afternoon a year ago, yet everything had changed, and she was no longer there.

  The whole afternoon, Yin Xu sat silently in the Temple of the Goddess, motionless as a sculpture. Pu Jun stood far away, and any words of comfort seemed pale and powerless at this moment. It was only when the young master sat like this that people began to worry. Until dusk, Gao Yi rode up on horseback.

  "Your Highness!"

  "You all go back first, I'll stay a while longer to accompany Yuniang!"

  Gao Yi said: "Young master, please don't be sad, madam is still in this world!" They already knew the position of Yuniang in Yin Xu's heart, and this title was very appropriate.

  Yin Xu was taken aback for a moment, then waved his hand: "No need to deceive me, don't worry, I'm fine!"

  Gao Yi bowed his head and said hastily: "Young master, what I'm saying is true. The lady is indeed still alive."

  "You, are you telling the truth?" Yǐn Xù looked at Gāo Yì's sincere and determined expression, and a glimmer of hope reignited in his heart, as he asked with a trembling voice.

  Today, Yin Xu hastily left the city, and everyone was extremely surprised. When they learned about the cause from Wu Chen's mouth, they all sighed endlessly. Especially on the day of Ying Bu and Wu Mei's great joy, Yin Xu suddenly heard the bad news, one happy and one sad, it really makes people feel sad.

  At first, Gao Yi didn't take it seriously and only felt sad and worried for Yin Xu. Later, after listening to Wu Chen and others carefully recount the events from start to finish, as well as the geographical location of Xiangxi, he suddenly had an epiphany. He remembered a conversation with Peng Ze's family several months ago when they took a detour through Fan County and sailed north.

  At that time, the boatman said that the big ship had not been used for many years until last autumn when a wealthy old man in brocade clothes rented it. Among the people who followed him was a young and beautiful woman who was rescued from drowning in the Xiangxi River. The timing coincided with Yu Niang's accident, and the lower reaches of the Xiangxi River were indeed Penglai Ze, which confirmed that Yu Niang had not died. Gao Yi feared that something unexpected would happen, so he rushed to Xiangxi Town to report the news. At the same time, he instructed Wu Chen to search for the boatman on the shore of Penglai Ze.

  Yin Xu listened to Gao Yi's words and exclaimed excitedly: "Yu Niang is not dead, Yu Niang is not dead, she is still alive..."

  Gao Yi Dao said: "Yes! The lady is still alive, young master don't be sad anymore, Wu Gong Zi has gone to invite the boatman, he will arrive soon."

  More than half a time later, Wu Chen brought the boatman to arrive, and Yin Xu hurriedly asked. The boatman looked at the woman twice because of her beauty, leaving a deep impression. At this time, he told one by one that she was completely different from Yuniang in appearance. Yin Xu was overjoyed and burst into tears!

  It's extremely difficult to find out where Yuniang has gone, the boatman only knows that Yuniang followed that old man in fine clothes and went north by boat, but doesn't know where they went. The world is so big, where should I go to look for her? That old man seems to be of noble status, but his specific identity is unknown. Nor does he know if he will treat Yuniang well. Is she okay?

  This feeling cannot be eliminated, just when I lower my eyebrows, it rises to my heart!

  Yin Xu gazed into the distance, his heart filled with sorrow. The world was vast, and finding Yu Niang was like searching for a needle in the ocean. Yet Yin Xu believed that if Yu Niang was still alive, there would definitely be a day when they would meet again. He was resolute, and with utmost sincerity, even metal and stone could be moved!