Grievances and Entanglements

"Father, what is going on here? Who is this mad woman? How does she know Mother? And wasn't Ziyan safely at home? Where did you get this so-called daughter?" After a long silence, Xu Jin could no longer suppress his mounting questions. He grew agitated and commanded the soldiers, "Guards, seize this madwoman!"

"Hold!" Xu Yushi barked, halting the restless soldiers.

The Moon Lady tossed her sword to Xu Yushi without a word and fixed him with a cold stare.

Xu Yushi’s hand trembled as he gripped the sword. Xu Jin shouted, "Father, what are you doing? Are you really going to obey this lunatic?"

Xu Yushi broke free from Xu Jin, holding the sword tightly, and approached the Moon Lady step by step. He stopped just a pace away, his weathered eyes locking with hers, and after a long pause, he rasped in a hoarse voice, "Moon Lady, I have wronged you! If you had never met me, perhaps you would have lived happily. But a man has only one heart, and that heart can hold only one person. In this life, I failed you. If there is another life, I hope I can make amends."

"Don’t think that uttering some words of repentance now will earn my forgiveness! Do you remember how I pleaded with you back then, in that torrential rain? Even if you felt nothing for me, you should have pitied the infant still swaddled in my arms. But your heart was ruthless. My son’s breath grew fainter in my embrace, his body slowly cooled, stiffened until he lay lifeless before my eyes. Do you know how cruel that is to a mother?"

Dujuan stood bewildered, watching Xu Yushi walk toward her, her almond-shaped eyes wide, her mind blank.

Xu Yushi saw Dujuan, his gaze brimming with tears, and choked out, "My precious daughter, it is your father who has failed you!"

"Are you really my father?" Dujuan asked softly. "But Mother always said I had no father, that he died long ago."

"Karma, this is karma! Hahahaha, hahahaha..." The Moon Lady burst into wild laughter. "Who would have thought you’d live to see this day? Your daughter stands before you and doesn’t even know you. Bitter, isn’t it? I won’t let you die yet. I want you to taste every agony I suffered, to feel what it means to have your heart devoured, to know despair!"

"What are you planning? Moon Lady, all this hatred is between us—please, spare the innocent child!" Xu Yushi instantly grew wary, his tone pleading.

"Innocent? Was my son not innocent?" The Moon Lady pressed her sword against Dujuan’s throat and smiled. "I’ll carve scar after scar into her face, each one leaving its mark on your heart. Only then will you know pain!"

With that, the Moon Lady advanced the blade toward Dujuan’s face. Dujuan squeezed her eyes shut in terror, and in that moment, she finally understood why the Moon Lady had never favored her—she was the daughter of her enemy and thus hated with such ferocity. She had always naïvely believed that her own inadequacy was the cause—that if she did things perfectly, the Moon Lady would look at her differently. But no matter how hard she tried, the Moon Lady’s attitude never changed.

Just as the sword was about to fall on Dujuan’s face, Shuiniu seized the blade with both hands. Blood dripped scarlet from his fingers, and the Moon Lady immediately released the sword. "Shuiniu, Shuiniu, are you all right?"

"Let Dujuan go. Whatever you wish to do to me, I will accept." Xu Yushi could endure no longer and spoke in exhaustion.

At that moment, Zi Ye gripped his sword tightly. He surveyed the carnage around him, his gaze dimming to lifeless shadows. Suddenly, he let out a wild roar that seemed to shake the heavens. In a flash, he pressed his blade to Xu Yushi’s neck.

"Today, I will avenge the people of my Peach Blossom Village!" Zi Ye declared, his eyes sharp. The Moon Lady flicked her fingers, sending a pebble flying into Zi Ye’s hand. His sword dropped to the ground.

Xu Jin seized the opportunity and plunged his sword into Zi Ye’s chest, striking true at the heart. Blood spurted out with a sickening sound, splattering onto Xu Jin’s face and clothes.

Zi Ye’s eyes widened, his mouth gaped, but not a single word escaped before he died.

Ziyu threw herself over Zi Ye’s body, wracked with grief. She wiped away her tears, her eyes icy as she stared straight at Xu Jin. Xu Jin stepped back in fear. Suddenly, Ziyu leapt toward him, blade in hand. Li Bai darted forward, intercepting her, and cried, "No!"

If Ziyu killed Xu Jin, Xu Yushi would never spare her.

Ziyu had saved Li Bai before, so he would not stand by and do nothing.

Ziyu hesitated, and Li Bai seized her sword, restraining her firmly.

"Let me go!" Ziyu shouted in fury.

"Don’t be reckless. Acting now will do no good, only cost you your life in vain."

"Do you expect me to watch my brother murdered and feel nothing? I cannot, I cannot!"