Chapter 311 Revenge

Gu Yanxi's cold-blooded audacity lit a fire under the black-clad thugs, who instantly dropped their other marks and swarmed him like moths to a flame, closing in fast.

The guards arrived just in time, but one sharp look from Gu Yanxi froze them in their tracks. Without a word, they exchanged a knowing glance—one slipping to the front, the other flanking the rear, bows drawn, arrows locked, ready to pin down anyone stupid enough to make a break for it.

Everyone knew this much: their leader wasn’t just angry this time—he was downright seething.

With a sharp flick of his whip, Gu Yanxi sidestepped the black-clad men with effortless precision, but the real shock came when they realized the whip wasn't meant for them. No, it swung back, dragging with it a dagger—the very blade Hua Zhi had wielded earlier.

Discarding the whip like it was yesterday's trash, Gu Yanxi gripped the dagger with lethal intent. His stance shifted—left leg sliding back, body leaning forward, dagger poised horizontally at chest level—a move straight out of Ah Zhi’s playbook. Then, like a predator let loose, he blurred into motion, his speed splitting reality into flickering mirages of Gu Yanxi everywhere at once.

The black-clad men, no strangers to combat, rallied in sync, but their reaction came a heartbeat too late. Gu Yanxi had already ghosted behind one, his dagger whispering a clean, deadly arc across the man’s neck. A muffled thud followed, the man dropping to his knees before even realizing he'd been undone. And as if choreographed, another fell just as swiftly, his life cut short in the same ruthless manner.

It was a brutal, one-sided bloodbath—a ruthless exhibition of dominance that left the guards stunned. They had no idea their leader could unleash such raw, unrelenting power.

With a cold efficiency, he tore through lives, sending fear rippling through the black-clad men. Panic set in, and the last seven scattered like cornered rats. Two guards raised their bows, but before they could fire, their leader's whip lashed out, cutting the cowards down mid-flight. They crumpled to the ground, unable to take another step.

Gu Yanxi stood over the fallen with contempt etched on his face. He closed his eyes, letting his killing intent dissipate, then turned sharply and strode over to Ah Zhi. Lifting her with deliberate care, he carried her inside, leaving the cleanup to the guards without a word. They knew their roles; no orders were needed.

Inside the house, the shrewd servants had set up the finest room, sharp and precise in their execution. Gu Yanxi placed Ah Zhi on the bed, her fragile frame limp against the sheets. He wiped the blood from her pale face and trembling hands with a handkerchief, his voice cutting through the tense air: "Someone fetch our luggage from the inn—mine and Ah Zhi's. There are medicines in there we’ll need right now."

"I’ll do it." Hua Pingyang snapped, scrubbing his face roughly before barging past the others and bolting out the door.

Meanwhile, Hua Pingyu, barely holding himself together, was helped inside. His face twisted in agony, his lips drained of color from the pain, yet his gaze locked onto his daughter’s fragile form. His voice cracked as he croaked, "How is Zhi’er?"

"Her life isn’t in danger," Gu Yanxi replied coldly, his tone steady despite the weight of the situation. He’d exhausted every medicine he had in succession.

Ah Zhi wouldn’t die—not from this—but the excruciating pain she endured couldn’t be dulled. A bitter wave of regret washed over him; he should have insisted Shao Yao accompany them. Fewer stolen moments with Ah Zhi would’ve been a small price for her safety.

Hua Yizheng eased himself into the chair, gripping the armrest as he cast a sharp glance back. “Too many people in here. Clear out.”

The room bristled with hesitation, but they knew better than to argue. Lingering wouldn’t help and would only disrupt the young lady’s fragile peace. With begrudging compliance, everyone—save for a few senior members and the core family—filed out. They didn’t stray far, though, loitering just beyond the door, eyes sharp, ears keen.

Silence thickened the air, broken only by the faint drip of water as Gu Yanxi wrung a damp handkerchief. The Hua family stood by, their gazes locked on him as he tended to the young lady with quiet focus. No one whispered, no one questioned. For once, the sight of an outsider in such an intimate role didn’t feel out of place.

They all knew why. Zhi’er had defied reason, fought tooth and nail to guard that door, waiting for him. She had staked everything on his arrival—her faith, her hope, her survival. And somehow, without a single word spoken, everyone understood: this man was the salvation she had gambled it all on.

In Hua Yizheng's mind at that moment, all he could see was Zhi'er's fierce expression. His granddaughter usually only thought about food; he had not seen her scold a servant in so many years, not even a raised voice during the time she had been with Bai Lin. She carried herself with such grace and manners, a model of a young lady from a noble family.

And yet, here she was, knife in hand, daring anyone to lay a finger on them. Where the hell had that raw strength, that unrelenting courage, come from? This girl, who had never known aggression, now stood unwavering in the face of danger, her sheer willpower holding back those who would harm them.

But the price of that defiance was written all over her battered body, bloodied and broken, teetering on the edge of death!

In the months that followed, Hua Yizheng couldn’t shake the thought. For generations, the Hua family had walked the righteous path, sowing good deeds. Was Zhi’er the universe’s way of repaying their karma? Or maybe—just maybe—she was here to settle some cosmic debt, dragging the weight of it through this lifetime, inch by agonizing inch.

Hua Pingyang’s return shattered the quiet. He dumped all the packages in front of Gu Yanxi, leaving him to make his pick. Without hesitation, Gu Yanxi grabbed one, ripped it open, and pulled out a handful of boxes and bottles.

"The physician's here!" someone called.

Trailing behind the physician was Wu Yong.

"Brother..." Wu Yong almost let the word slip before catching himself. With a stiff nod to the members of the Hua family standing nearby, he strode straight to Gu Yanxi. His gaze shifted to Hua Zhi, drenched in blood from head to toe. The Shizi had a talent for spotting exceptional people, but a girl like her? That was a rarity. How she managed to pull it off under those circumstances was beyond him.

Gu Yanxi placed Ah Zhi’s hand on the edge of the bed. The border physician, unfazed and precise under everyone’s sharp eyes, grabbed her wrist without hesitation. After a brief moment of silent examination, he stated bluntly, “Her qi and blood are severely depleted, but there’s still a flicker of vitality in her. What medicine was given to her?”

Gu Yanxi gave a curt nod.

“May I see the medicine?”

“I don’t have it anymore,” Gu Yanxi replied flatly.

Only two pills had ever been made. One was entrusted to Shao Yao, who hung it around Gu Yanxi’s neck. This medicine wasn’t some divine panacea; it wasn’t about defying death itself. It merely stirred the body’s remaining vitality, forcing it to fight back and raise the odds of survival—no matter how dire the condition.

But it had its limits. It couldn’t undo the emperor’s prior mercury poisoning—proof that even miracles had their boundaries.

The doctor, though slightly regretful, acknowledged the rarity of the medicine. After checking the pulse again, he scribbled a prescription and handed it to Wu Yong. His tone was calm but carried weight. "The young lady’s body has already endured several injuries at such a tender age. While she may seem fine for now, challenges will undoubtedly arise as she grows older. Thankfully, she’s been meticulously cared for, and such care must continue if circumstances allow."

Several injuries?

Hua Yizheng’s eyes narrowed sharply. Wasn’t it only once before?

Or had something happened in the past six months...?

Gu Yanxi rose slightly, exuding a sharp authority that even surpassed the Hua family elders. “There are a few others at home who need treatment. Physician, take a look at them too.”

Without hesitation, the doctor picked up his kit and followed.

Wu Yong stepped closer, his voice low. “Brother, about these people...”

“We’ll settle it tomorrow.” Gu Yanxi leaned back in his seat, unbothered, then issued a clear command. “Deploy an elite team. No room for surprises or retaliation.”

“They’re already in position,” Wu Yong confirmed. “The net’s been cast. We’re ready.”

Gu Yanxi turned toward Hua Yizheng with a pointed gaze. “Grandfather, you should rest. Whatever needs discussing can wait until tomorrow.”

It was a blunt, undeniable cue for him to leave. Though Gu Yanxi is the guest, Hua Yizheng caught on, nodded, and made an effort to rise—only for darkness to crash over his vision, forcing him back into his seat with a thud.

“Father!”

Hua Yizheng waved it off, steadying himself against the pounding dizziness. “I’m fine. Let’s wrap this up. Yanxi, Zhi’er will need her medicine—I’ll see to finding someone to assist.”

Gu Yanxi rose, acknowledging the directive with a sharp nod.

Hua Yizheng fixed him with a piercing look before shifting his focus to Wu Yong. “General Wu, looks like my family’s taking a full day’s rest tomorrow.”

“Completely understandable, sir. The elder’s health takes priority.”