The First Marquis of Leisure

Although Bai Xinghe remained relatively calm, his intuition told him that the two old men were unlikely to betray them.

But since the matter was of great importance, he didn't say much.

Zhao Xing drew his sword and forcefully cleaved open the cellar's formwork before rushing out.

"Brother Zhao, wait!"

Bai Xinghe was about to try to persuade Zhao Xing to calm down, but it was too late.

The template broke apart, and the commotion inside caught the attention of the officers and soldiers who came to investigate.

Just then, the two soldiers saw Zhao Xing rush out of the house with a long sword in his hand.

"Quickly, notify the captain! It's a wanted criminal by the imperial court! Hurry!"

The two soldiers were extremely excited and recognized Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing's eyes blazed with fury as he charged forward, sword in hand.

Bai Xinghe then rushed out of the cellar and took out his weapon.

Both men were highly skilled in combat and could not be stopped by two ordinary soldiers.

In just a moment, Zhao Xing killed a soldier with a single sword strike.

Just as another soldier reached the door, Bai Xinghe swiftly threw his weapon, hitting the soldier accurately.

The two soldiers were quickly dealt with, and the two dared not stay any longer.

"You old bastard, you dare betray us? Die!"

Enraged, Zhao Xing raised his longsword and thrust it towards the old man.

"Brother Zhao, no!"

Bai Xinghe tried to stop him, shouting, but it was too late.

The old man was pierced through the chest by Zhao Xing's sword and fell into a pool of blood on the spot, his eyes filled with terror and disbelief.

"Brother Bai, this man deserves to die!"

Zhao Xing was expressionless and ruthless.

But just as he was about to draw his sword, the door outside opened.

Then the old woman returned carrying some food.

The old woman happened to witness this scene, and the food in her hand fell directly to the ground.

"Old man!"

The old woman ran over sadly and lay down on the old man.

Bai Xinghe and Zhao Xing were dumbfounded when they saw this, especially the food the old woman was carrying.

"Young masters, why are you doing this?"

"We kindly risked our lives to hide you, why did you kill my old man?"

The old woman sat beside the old man's body and wept bitterly.

Bai Xinghe clenched his fists tightly, a sharp pain shooting through his heart. He glared angrily at Zhao Xing.

"Grandpa, we..."

He wanted to speak up to comfort her, to explain, but he had absolutely no idea how to explain it all.

"Although my husband and I are illiterate and have lived in Nanjun City for generations, we have heard about the affairs of the imperial court."

"How could General Bai's descendants be bad people?"

The old woman wept as she spoke sorrowfully.

To Bai Xinghe, each word and each sentence was like a thousand arrows piercing his heart!

It turned out that the two ordinary elderly people knew him and even knew his and Zhao Xing's identities!

"Old man!"

Bai Xinghe knelt down heavily, cried out, but could not utter a single other word.

Zhao Xing stood there, stunned, gripping his blood-dripping sword, his expression incredibly complex.

"Zhao Xing, what have you done? You killed our benefactor!"

Bai Xinghe glared at Zhao Xing and roared.

Zhao Xing sighed and looked at the weeping old man: "Wrong, wrong, wrong, everything is wrong."

"Kneel down!" Bai Xinghe roared at Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing did not kneel down immediately, but instead did something even more unacceptable to him.

Suddenly, Zhao Xing brandished his sword and slashed down at the old woman without hesitation!

"Zhao Xing!"

"Stop it right now!"

Bai Xinghe never dreamed that Zhao Xing would be so cruel. He roared and tried to shield the old woman with his own body, but it was too late.

The old woman collapsed into a pool of blood without even letting out a painful scream!

"Zhao Xing, I'll kill you!"

Bai Xinghe flew into a rage, stood up, and punched Zhao Xing in the face, knocking Zhao Xing to the ground.

Zhao Xing neither fought back nor dodged.

"You beast! Are all members of your Zhao clan bloodthirsty beasts?"

"The elderly couple knew who we were, yet they risked their lives to hide us and even used their last remaining money to buy us food!"

"You weren't satisfied with just killing one person by mistake, you wanted to kill someone else too? I'll kill you!"

Bai Xinghe's eyes were bloodshot as he angrily punched Zhao Xing repeatedly.

Zhao Xing remained silent and offered no resistance, letting Bai Xinghe vent his anger.

"Speak up, why did you do this?"

Bai Xinghe roared with red eyes.

Finally, Zhao Xing spoke, his voice carrying a hint of sorrow and determination.

"In order to survive, and for us to have the chance one day to borrow troops to return to the Zhao Kingdom and kill Zhao Xing, Li Taibei, and the others, some sacrifices are inevitable!"

"You beast, you bastard!" Bai Xinghe cursed.

"Brother Bai, I know you are kind by nature, but since we have already mistakenly killed the old man, and the old woman witnessed it, if I don't kill him as well, there's no guarantee the old woman won't report us!"

"Besides, keeping her, a frail old woman, alive might be a form of torture!"

"After we succeed, I will personally observe three years of mourning for the elderly and find their descendants."

"Hehe." Bai Xinghe laughed self-deprecatingly.

He beat Zhao Xing until he was covered in blood, and for the first time realized that this brother was fundamentally different from himself.

He knew he was never a saint, but he could never be so ruthless and decisive!

"Zhao Xing, from this day forward, I, Bai Xinghe, sever all ties with you. From now on, you go your way, and I'll go mine!"

"Brother Bai!" Zhao Xing didn't expect Bai Xinghe to say that, and he called out anxiously.

"I am no longer your brother. Perhaps you would sacrifice anyone for the sake of restoring the nation, but I, Bai Xinghe, cannot!"

"You murdered two kind and innocent elderly people. How is your method any different from that of Zhao Xing and Li Taibei!"

Zhao Xing's body trembled slightly, then he reminded them, "We shouldn't stay any longer. Let's go. I expect the other officers and soldiers will arrive soon!"

Bai Xinghe ignored him and said coldly, "Go away, we're on different paths and can't work together!"

After saying this, Bai Xinghe knelt down and bowed again to the two innocent old people.

Then, without glancing at the numb Zhao Xing again, he walked out.

Zhao Xing's body twitched slightly; he wanted to follow, but ultimately hesitated.

On the unfamiliar streets of the city, Bai Xinghe felt extremely distressed.

He clenched his fists tightly, thinking of the two innocent old people, and he wished he could tear Zhao Xing to pieces immediately.

At this moment, he was filled with regret, regretting that he had become sworn brothers with Zhao Xing!

Only at this moment did he truly understand the saying, "One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand."

He had seen many examples in history books, but the pale words could not describe even a fraction of what he had personally experienced.

It felt like a huge rock was pressing on his chest, causing him immense pain. He had countless apologies in his heart, but he couldn't bring himself to say them!