A Debt of Blood

On the cracked street, the white-haired old woman, Snow Maiden, spoke from the side. “Young master Ji Ning, Jiang He has committed a crime worthy of death for offending you, but considering he is still young, I wonder if you might spare his life?” Among the tribes, even during war, the lives of captured important figures could be ransomed with goods.

Ji Ning gave her a cold glance and said nothing.

Snow Maiden’s brow furrowed deeply. She knew that this young master Ji Ning’s resolve to kill Jiang He was unshakable.

“What’s going on?”

“How did the city gate collapse?”

“What happened to the Riverside Tribe?”

“Look, that youth is surrounded by a group of Black Armored Guards. He must be a major figure from the Ji Clan.” Outsiders who had come to Riverside City to trade, as well as members of the Riverside Tribe itself, were all rapidly gathering.

Seeing this, Snow Maiden immediately shouted, “Clear out everyone who isn’t involved. Far away.”

“Yes.”

The armored guards of the Riverside Tribe quickly complied, beginning to drive the outsiders and tribesmen far away, forbidding them from getting too close.

“Make way!”

Squad after squad of armored guards came rushing from the distant streets, carrying heavy weapons like bows and crossbows, each led by a major figure of the Riverside Tribe. It was clear that, having heard the commotion and fearing a hostile force, they had brought their men and rushed over.

“Aunt Snow.” A white-haired old man leading a squad rushed up and spoke respectfully to Snow Maiden.

Snow Maiden merely glanced at him.

More squads of armored guards pressed forward, and the core members of the Riverside Tribe arrived one after another.

“Swish!” A dark shadow also moved swiftly, only stopping when it was close to the armored guards. The guards initially tried to block the shadow, but when it halted, they jumped in fright. “Chieftain!”

Jiang Sansi, his face cold, dragged a handsome young man directly through the crowd. The core clansmen all looked at Jiang He in confusion. Jiang He was one of Jiang Sansi’s grandsons and was quite valued by him. He held a position in the top ten within the tribe. Why had the chieftain dragged him here?

“Bang!” Jiang Sansi threw him down.

Jiang He landed face-first on the cracked stone ground, his face scraped, his body covered in dust. He quickly lifted his head, stood up, and looked around, soon locking his gaze on the fur-clad youth surrounded by the Black Armored Guards.

“Young master Ji Ning, the man has been brought.” Jiang Sansi stood together with Snow Maiden.

“Is this Jiang He?” Ji Ning scrutinized the man before him. He couldn’t help but think of poor Chuncao, and a surge of killing intent welled up from the depths of his heart.

Jiang He could feel the authority this young master Ji Ning wielded. Before this young master, even the chieftain and Aunt Snow had to bow their heads.

“Jiang He pays his respects to the young master.” Jiang He spoke respectfully.

“Jiang He… Jiang He…” Ji Ning murmured softly, his gaze like a sharp blade resting on the young man before him. “Do you know why I’ve come to find you?”

Ji Ning’s voice was very soft.

But Jiang He felt a chill in his heart. He could sense the monstrous killing intent hidden within Ji Ning’s voice.

“I do not.” Jiang He stared at Ji Ning. “Does young master Ji Ning intend to kill me?”

“Yes.” Ji Ning nodded.

Silence fell all around.

Jiang Sansi and Snow Maiden merely watched. The other core members of the Riverside Tribe also just stood by. They could all tell… that this young master Ji Ning possessed overwhelming authority. Even the chieftain had no choice but to yield, and his intention to kill Jiang He was clearly absolute. They silently lamented… the once glorious Jiang He was going to die today.

“Since young master Ji Ning wants me dead, I have no choice but to die.” Jiang He’s handsome face showed not a trace of fear. He stared at Ji Ning. “But this one would like to know, young master, why do you want to kill me?”

“Why do I want to kill you?” Ji Ning looked at him.

Whoosh.

A sword appeared in Ji Ning’s hand—the Northsea sword. A flash of sword-light, and it tapped directly onto Jiang He’s body. This drew a few stifled gasps, but Jiang He did not dodge. The watching Jiang Sansi and Snow Maiden only watched calmly. Even if Ji Ning had run Jiang He through with one blow, they would not have said a word.

Chi! Chi! Chi! Six bloody holes appeared on Jiang He’s body, blood flowing out. The holes were in non-vital areas like his shoulders and legs.

“This!” Jiang He’s eyes flew wide. “She, she was your…”

“Do you understand now?” Ji Ning looked at him.

The sword technique he had used to pierce those six holes was the very sword art that Chuncao had practiced. Back when Jiang He ordered his servants to seize Chuncao, it was with this very sword art that she had beaten half of them senseless before escaping.

“A woman? Young master Ji Ning, you want to kill me over a woman?” Jiang He roared unwillingly, “Women are nothing but goods, chattel! I am willing to offer you ten, a hundred women! And she was just a slave! I will do anything, only beg you, young master, to spare my life!”

“In my eyes, you are not worth a single strand of her hair.” Ji Ning’s voice was cold.

Jiang He’s face turned ashen. He then pulled a short blade from his bosom, his voice low. “Young master Ji Ning, I have offended you and deserve death. I won’t dirty your hands; I will do it myself.” Saying this, he stabbed the blade towards his own heart.

Clang!

A streak of sword-light struck the short blade, sending it flying.

“You thought you could die that easily?” Ji Ning stared at Jiang He. “She died in such pain and humiliation. How could I let you die so simply?”

Jiang He gritted his teeth, staring at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning shouted, “Mowu.”

“Young master.” Mowu stepped forward.

“Sun-exposure execution.” Ji Ning’s voice was cold. “Hang him on the city walls of the Riverside Tribe.”

Jiang He’s face went pale.

Sun-exposure execution typically involved binding a person’s hands and feet, hanging them up, and leaving them to be scorched by the sun without food or drink. And Ji Ning had already opened six bloody holes in Jiang He’s body. Jiang He’s vitality meant he would not bleed to death, but the scent of blood would attract birds. The ordinary birds that dared to approach the tribal city walls would peck and eat at his flesh from time to time.

He would die in torment amidst hunger, pain, and terror…

Furthermore, he would be watched by countless of his own tribesmen. The spiritual humiliation would be even more agonizing for a proud man like Jiang He.

“Yes.” Mowu quickly found an iron chain and began binding Jiang He. Jiang He knelt, head lowered, not daring to make a sound.

“Father!” A sharp, sorrowful cry rang out. A small child burst through the crowd.

“Get back!” Jiang He saw the child running over and roared with anger, “Get back! Get back!”

“Father!” The child sobbed. Although his father forced him to practice swordplay, he had always been very doting.

From not far away, Jiang Sansi frowned. “Take the child away!”

“Yes.”

Two armored guards immediately rushed out, grabbed the child, and carried him away. The child struggled frantically, all the while staring at Ji Ning, his eyes filled with hatred.

Ji Ning merely watched the child calmly. When he was very young, his father Ji Yichuan had taken him to witness the execution of death-row criminals to steel his nerves. He had seen gazes far more terrifying than this. At the West Prefecture city, watching the slaves being sold… had he not seen every kind of look? Apathy, despair, madness, hatred, or pleading.

“Hang him on the city walls.” Mowu also ordered two Black Armored Guards to help.

Jiang He, completely bound in iron chains, his hair disheveled, was watched by the nearby tribesmen. In their eyes, there was pity in some, and schadenfreude in others. It caused Jiang He’s body to tremble uncontrollably with humiliation.

“Young master.” Mowu said quietly to Ji Ning. “That son of Jiang He… a weed must be pulled out by the roots, root and all!”

Ji Ning cast an icy glance at Mowu.

Mowu quickly lowered his head and dared not say another word.

“I will be staying in Riverside City for the next few days.” Ji Ning looked at Jiang Sansi and Snow Maiden. “No need to trouble yourselves. I will lodge at the Black Armored Guard garrison. I will watch as this Jiang He slowly dies. Once he is dead, I will leave.”

The core members of the surrounding tribe felt a shiver run through their bodies. Each of them could feel the hatred contained within Ji Ning’s voice.

For three days and two nights, Jiang He was hung under the scorching sun. At first, he could endure. But soon, birds came to peck and eat his flesh. The sun’s rays had already cracked his skin, revealing the red meat beneath. The pain was a living hell.

Because he had internal energy, Jiang He’s vitality was tenacious, but this only prolonged his suffering.

The man was roasted until his skin split open, wailing and groaning in agony for three days and two nights before finally dying.

Ji Ning remained in Riverside City the entire time.

Only when a Black Armored Guard reported that Jiang He had died in agony did Ji Ning cast a cold glance at the man’s ruined corpse. He then mounted his Blackjaguar along with Mowu and Qiuye and departed.

On the evening of the day Ji Ning left Riverside City.

Jiang Sansi was sitting before a low table, calmly drinking from a beast-head wine cup.

A small child was kneeling in the hall.

“Cai’er.” Jiang Sansi held the beast-head wine cup. “I will ask you again. Do you want to kill young master Ji Ning?”

“No, Cai’er would not dare! Cai’er would not dare!” The child knelt, his head touching the ground, and spoke hurriedly.

“Sigh.” Jiang Sansi shook his head, murmuring softly, “Your hatred… for my Riverside Tribe, it is a disaster!”

“Guards.” Jiang Sansi shouted.

“Master.” A servant entered and knelt.

“Mm.” Jiang Sansi said coldly, “All of Jiang He’s personal servants are to be executed. Not one is to be left alive. All of Jiang He’s women are to be sold off as slaves!”

“Chieftain!” The child was frantic, for his mother was among them.

“And him.” Jiang Sansi looked coldly at the child. “Jiang He’s only son… sell him as a slave as well!”

“No!”

“No!” The child knelt urgently, pleading, “Chieftain, spare me, spare me!”

“Yes!” The servant respectfully accepted the order, reached out, grabbed the child, and lifted him up before retreating.

The child still struggled, wept, and shed tears.

A slave?

Why?

Why was this happening!

Jiang Sansi watched the child crying out in pain and sobbing, but said nothing, his face expressionless.

“Master, you are also selling Jiang He’s woman and child as slaves?” In the silent hall, a figure appeared from the darkness.

Jiang Sansi nodded faintly. While Jiang He was being exposed to the sun, Jiang Sansi had already sent men to secretly question him… and only then learned that the source of it all was the girl Miwa of the Blacktooth Tribe. Jiang Sansi had even sent men to the Blacktooth Tribe to ask Blacktooth himself, and only then learned the whole story. Consequently, all the servants who had even the slightest knowledge of the matter were executed.

“Ji Ning does not want the matter of Chuncao to spread.” Jiang Sansi’s voice was indifferent. “Chuncao once claimed to be a servant of the Ji Clan’s young master. Everyone who heard those words had to die.”

“Keeping Jiang He’s women is useless.”

“As for Jiang He’s only son, Cai’er… his hatred for Ji Ning is too deep. I asked him several times. Although he wouldn’t speak of revenge verbally, how could a mere child deceive me? I saw through him at a glance. He hated Ji Ning to the bone.” Jiang Sansi shook his head. “To know how to hide his thoughts at such a young age… if he ever comes to hold power in the tribe, with that hatred of his for Ji Ning, he would bring calamity and destruction upon my Riverside Tribe!”

“I do these things to let the Ji Clan know of the Riverside Tribe’s loyalty!”

The figure in the darkness was silent.

“Zhe San.” Jiang Sansi spoke.

“Master.” The figure in the darkness responded.

“You send Zhe Jiu.” Jiang Sansi said. “Secretly take Cai’er away. Take him into the territory of the Ironwood Clan and have him join some small tribe. Have him teach Cai’er well. If Cai’er shows talent and continues to be diligent, then teach him properly. If he soon forgets his hatred and stops striving, then kill him and return.”

“Yes.” The figure in the darkness nodded.

“Hatred… is also a kind of power.” Jiang Sansi murmured softly. “Compared to the Ji Clan… my Riverside Tribe is far too fragile. Far too fragile.”