Chapter 125: Aggrieved and Furious Gu Mingshan! What Proof?

Chapter 125: Chapter 125: Aggrieved and Furious Gu Mingshan! What Proof?

"Damn it! You... You’re insane!!!"

Gu Mingshan shot to his feet, staring at Song Youcai in utter disbelief. "You..." he demanded, his voice a mixture of shock and rage.

Before Song Youcai could even respond, Gu Mingshan made a split-second decision. He turned, pushed off the ground, and prepared to leap over the wall to escape.

He knew perfectly well that if he didn’t run now, there would be no second chance once the men from the Tongzhou Hundred Households arrived.

"Trying to run?" Song Youcai roared. Planting a hand on the stone table, he launched himself up. For a heavyset man, he was incredibly agile as he flew through the air, aiming a kick straight at Gu Mingshan’s back.

Consumed with the thought of escape, Gu Mingshan had left his back completely exposed. The kick sent him flying to the ground. PTHOO! He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, staggering to his feet before turning to glare at Song Youcai with a venomous, savage look in his eyes.

Song Youcai met his gaze calmly, a hint of contempt in his small eyes. "Lord Pei wants to see you."

"I thought you were a man of ambition, not some blindly loyal fool," Gu Mingshan spat through gritted teeth. "Do you really think Pei Shaoqing can win against the Noble Consort?"

Song Youcai sneered, his fair, chubby face filled with disdain. "I’m just a country bumpkin. I don’t understand how powerful the nobles in the capital are, and I don’t care if Lord Pei can beat the Noble Consort. All I know is the simple principle of repaying kindness with kindness and hatred with hatred."

Gu Mingshan’s expression darkened.

He was filled with frustration and helplessness.

’We all misjudged him. We assumed a social-climbing country boy like Song Youcai would have no sense of loyalty. We completely underestimated this bumpkin.’

"Fine, fine, fine! Let’s just see how much your master appreciates this loyalty of yours." A vicious glint flashed in Gu Mingshan’s eyes. Ignoring his injuries, he charged at Song Youcai, swift as a leopard, his fist cutting through the air.

The Whistling Arrow had been fired, and now Song Youcai was tying him down. It was completely hopeless to think he could escape Tongzhou in such a short time.

His only option was to use every second to strike with all his might, seize Song Youcai as a hostage before the men from the Tongzhou Hundred Households arrived, and force Pei Shaoqing to let him go.

After all, Song Youcai was unwaveringly loyal to Pei Shaoqing.

And if Pei Shaoqing were to disregard his life or death...

...it would surely dishearten his other subordinates.

But as soon as they clashed, Song Youcai knew he was no match for Gu Mingshan in a head-on fight.

Yet, having come this far, all he could do was grit his teeth and hold on.

He was soon beaten back, retreating step by step.

A trickle of blood already hung from the corner of his mouth.

Seeing Song Youcai fight to the death without backing down, Gu Mingshan felt a flicker of admiration, but it was quickly overshadowed by his own mounting frustration. He taunted, "Hmph! Is Pei Shaoqing your real father or something? You’re willing to die for him."

"He’s your grandfather!" Song Youcai roared, his mouth full of blood, sending a spray of red spittle flying. He knew that if this continued, he would certainly die.

In his desperation, he had a sudden flash of inspiration.

’My goal is to stall Gu Mingshan.’

’Not to fight him to the death!’

Song Youcai decisively pulled back his attack, turned, and ran.

Gu Mingshan gave a contemptuous smirk and gave chase.

But he quickly realized he had fallen into a trap. He immediately stopped his pursuit, turned around, and ran in the opposite direction.

Song Youcai instantly spun around to chase him, throwing a punch at his back. "Trying to run? Stay right where you are!"

"Damn it all!" Feeling the rush of wind at his back, Gu Mingshan was forced to engage Song Youcai again.

After just two exchanges, Song Youcai ran again.

Gu Mingshan didn’t chase. He also turned and ran.

But Song Youcai once again turned back to attack him.

And the moment Gu Mingshan fought back, Song Youcai would run again.

The moment Gu Mingshan ran, Song Youcai would attack him again...

This cycle repeated over and over until Gu Mingshan was on the verge of a breakdown. His eyes bloodshot, he roared in a rage, "Song Youcai! I swear I’m going to kill you!"

’If you want to fight, then fight! If not, then scram! To hell with this, I’ll just kill you.’

Gu Mingshan stopped running and launched a fierce assault on Song Youcai.

"Come on, hit me! Come and get me!"

Relying on his familiarity with the terrain, Song Youcai led Gu Mingshan on a chase around the courtyard, using the buildings as cover.

"Audacious villain! Surrender at once!"

Three Jing’an Guards from the Tongzhou Hundred Households were the first to arrive, with more appearing in quick succession.

"Damn it all, you’re finally here."

Song Youcai collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily as bloody saliva dribbled continuously from his mouth.

Even though he had avoided direct confrontation toward the end, the gap in their strength meant he’d still taken plenty of hits while fleeing. He had been holding on by sheer willpower alone.

Less than a quarter of an hour had passed.

But to Song Youcai, it had felt longer and more grueling than a year.

"Hahahaha! HAHAHAHAHA!"

Looking at the Jing’an Guards surrounding him, the pale-faced Gu Mingshan burst into laughter. An unnatural flush colored his cheeks, and he sprayed a mouthful of blood.

’So frustrating! This is so damn frustrating!’

’Screw it. Do whatever the hell you want.’

"Seize him!" Sun Youliang commanded.

Two Jing’an Guards leaped down from the courtyard wall, positioning themselves in front of and behind Gu Mingshan. One tossed the end of a rope to the other, and they ran in opposite directions around Gu Mingshan, quickly trussing him up like a turkey.

Gu Mingshan offered no pointless resistance.

"Take this scoundrel to see Lord Pei," Sun Youliang ordered. He then walked over to Song Youcai, helped him up, and asked with concern, "Are you all right?"

"Not dead yet," Song Youcai said weakly, waving a hand. The front of his robe was soaked with the blood he’d coughed up, and his face was as pale as paper.

"I guess you don’t have to worry about your precarious position in the Lord’s heart anymore, huh?" Sun Youliang teased, then shouted, "Quick, fetch a Physician!"

"Yes, sir!" A subordinate immediately hurried away.

「Later that night.」

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

The sound of knocking was especially loud in the quiet night.

"Master, the Hundred Households has brought a villain named Gu Mingshan. They said you specifically asked to see him," a servant reported respectfully from the other side of the door, his back bowed.

"Have them wait," Pei Shaoqing replied. He immediately got up to dress, saying to a sleepy Xie Qingwu, "Go back to sleep. I have to take care of something."

A few moments later, his hair unbound and a robe hastily thrown on, he walked into the main hall. Inside, two Jing’an Guards flanked Gu Mingshan.

"Greetings, my Lord."

The two Jing’an Guards immediately cupped their fists in salute.

"At ease," Pei Shaoqing said with a wave of his hand. He walked to the head seat and sat down, ignoring Gu Mingshan to first ask, "Was Junior Standard-Bearer Song injured?"

Although he was asking about Song Youcai, the two Jing’an Guards couldn’t help but feel touched. ’This is the kind of humane superior you want to follow! A boss like Lord Pei!’

"Replying to my Lord, Junior Standard-Bearer Song is severely injured but his life is not in danger. Standard-Bearer Sun has already summoned a Physician to treat him."

"Mm." Pei Shaoqing’s tense expression finally relaxed. Only then did he turn his gaze to the bound Gu Mingshan. "You are in my presence. Why do you not kneel?"

"I am a Junior Standard-Bearer of the Southern Garrison Command. A Hundred Households Commander from the North Town has no jurisdiction over me. Besides, if I don’t wish to kneel, I won’t," Gu Mingshan answered proudly, his head held high.

"Insolent!" The two Jing’an Guards beside him roared, viciously striking the backs of his knees with their scabbards.

Gu Mingshan grunted in pain and, THUD, fell uncontrollably to his knees. He subconsciously tried to stand, but was held down by the shoulders, unable to move.

He could only glare at Pei Shaoqing with defiant, furious eyes, showing that he would never submit.

Pei Shaoqing got straight to the point. "Are you willing to testify against the person behind you? If so, I will spare your life."

"Hahahaha! What a joke! Even a country bumpkin under the Baron of Pingyang understands loyalty. Do you think a son of the capital like myself would not? Do not speak of this matter," Gu Mingshan burst out laughing, speaking with utter disdain.

Then, with a mocking glint in his eyes, he craned his neck and clamored with brazen confidence, "As for sparing my life, that’s even more absurd. Don’t try to scare me with such shocking words!

"The Southern Garrison Command is responsible for monitoring the North Town. My own Hundred Households Commander came here personally because he heard rumors and wanted to conduct a secret investigation of the Tongzhou Hundred Households.

"On what grounds can you kill me? How would you dare?"

"You say you’re from the Southern Garrison Command. Do you have proof?" Pei Shaoqing asked, his expression calm.

Gu Mingshan snorted coldly. "It’s in my robe."

A Jing’an Guard reached into his robes, fumbled around for a moment, and found a waist-token. He stepped forward and presented it to Pei Shaoqing with both hands.

"This fiend is impersonating a member of the Southern Garrison Jing’an Guard. Throw him in the dungeons and subject him to severe torture. He will be executed at noon in three days. I will personally oversee it," Pei Shaoqing said, his face devoid of expression and his tone icy as he took the waist-token and toyed with it casually.

Since he was unwilling to become an informant, Gu Mingshan’s only remaining use was to lure out his own Hundred Households Commander.

Gu Mingshan’s expression froze. He was utterly dumbfounded.

The two Jing’an Guards replied, "As you command."

Then they grabbed him and began to drag him out by force.

"Let me go! Let me go! Pei Shaoqing, what right do you have to kill me?! You’re digging your own grave! You dare to kill me even when I have proof! If you kill me, you won’t escape the consequences!"

As he was being dragged out, Gu Mingshan kicked and struggled, roaring at Pei Shaoqing.

Pei Shaoqing gave a contemptuous smile. Right in front of Gu Mingshan, he crushed the waist-token in his hand. Fine sand trickled from his fingers, and a gust of wind blew it away, leaving no trace.

"Proof? What proof? I know of no such thing."

Gu Mingshan’s shouts died in his throat. A cold sweat broke out and streamed down his face as he suddenly recalled Pei Shaoqing’s past deeds in the capital. All the blood drained from his face.

’Damn it, weren’t his past actions just a deliberate act to hide his abilities and tarnish his own name? Why is he still so audacious and reckless? He’s insane! He’s completely insane!’

That night, Gu Mingshan—who had once only tortured members of the Northern Garrison Jing’an Guard—personally experienced the various brutal torments of their dungeons, wishing for death but unable to find it.

As for Pei Shaoqing, he did not return to his room to sleep.

He went to visit Song Youcai personally.

"My Lord." Lying in bed, Song Youcai saw Pei Shaoqing enter and immediately tried to push himself up.

"Stay down." Pei Shaoqing quickened his pace, reached the bedside, and gently helped him lie back down. He took Song Youcai’s hand and said in a warm tone, "In your condition, what’s the need for such empty formalities?"

"It is all because this subordinate was useless and was beaten into such a state by Gu Mingshan. I have troubled you, my Lord, to come visit in the middle of the night," Song Youcai said, his face filled with shame.

He saw that Pei Shaoqing’s hair was still unbound.

He was deeply moved.

’My Lord is so concerned about me that he rushed over without even thinking about his appearance. My loyalty was not in vain, and my near-death experience tonight was not in vain.’

’A patron like him is worth dying for.’

A smile as pleasant as a spring breeze appeared on Pei Shaoqing’s face as he said softly, "No, no. Youcai, you’ve already done very well. Don’t report for duty at the Hundred Households for the next few days. Rest well and recuperate."

"Yes, my Lord," Song Youcai nodded.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Pei Shaoqing stood up and left.

At that very moment, the two subordinates Gu Mingshan had brought to lie in wait in Tongzhou were galloping on horseback toward Jin Guan City.