Chapter 9

She felt terrible inside, an indescribable feeling. She had originally thought that capturing Fu Yu, seeing him bow his noble head, humiliating him, and subjecting him to unbearable torment would bring her immense joy. Yet, on the contrary, her heart hung suspended in mid-air, feeling as though it might fly out of her chest at any moment!

To have loved always leaves a trace.

The next time Chen Yuwei saw Fu Yu, he was covered in blood. If he hadn’t looked at her with those long, narrow, icy eyes, she would hardly have recognized him as the once high and mighty, aristocratic Fu Yu.

Chen Yuwei burst into tears.

Why was she crying? Shouldn’t she be feeling hatred?

Fu Yu looked at her silently.

“Fu Yu, did you ever love me?” she asked.

“I did, otherwise why would I have gone through so much trouble to marry you!” Fu Yu said indifferently.

“When did you find out?”

“After Jiang Mei was kidnapped.”

“So you decided to use me back then?”

“Yes. No one dares toy with me, especially my feelings and my true heart, considering I don’t have much of a true heart to give,” Fu Yu mocked himself.

“Knowing the child isn’t yours, are you furious?”

“No, I feel lucky. If it were mine, maybe I wouldn’t have the heart to make a move against you!” Just speaking caused the wounds on Fu Yu’s face to tear painfully.

“Yuwei, do you really hate me that much?” Fu Yu was ultimately somewhat unwilling to accept it.

“Yes. Two years ago, you abandoned me and married Jiang Mei. From that moment on, all I felt for you was hatred. Wu Xiang was always good to me; he was genuinely devoted to me! But my father disapproved. He coveted the Fu family’s power and told me you were still completely hung up on me. Later, when I married you, I discovered you already had Jiang Mei in your heart. How could you fall in love with another woman! So, I decided never to let either of you off!”

“Fine. Now Wu Xiang has everything, and you’ve gotten exactly what you wanted. You are, after all, the woman I, Fu Yu, once loved. Live well for the rest of your life.” With that, Fu Yu closed his eyes, never looking at Chen Yuwei again.

At this moment, Jiang Mei’s image kept flashing in Fu Yu’s mind. That woman, the former Eldest Miss of the Jiang family, who had constantly been trampled under his foot, wantonly ravaged and abused! Every time he thought of this, his heart spasmed with pain, leaving him breathless!

Since hearing the news of Fu Yu’s capture, not a single smile had graced Jiang Mei’s face. She initially thought she had misheard, but seeing the look in Gu Ming’s eyes, she knew it was true.

The invincible, arrogant Fu Yu—how could he have been captured? He had always been an almost god-like existence.

Gu Ming’s face was grave. Fu Yu’s capture completely exceeded his expectations. He heard that Fu Yu was captured in his own villa.

The servants reported that Miss Jiang hadn’t eaten anything since she got back.

Knowing exactly what the problem was, Gu Ming stood outside Jiang Mei’s room that evening.

As he walked in, the maids immediately left the room.

The food on the table remained untouched.

“You know?” Gu Ming asked.

“Mhm. Is he still alive?”

“Alive. He was captured in his Fancheng villa. From what I know, there are massive numbers of soldiers ambushing the area around Fancheng, just waiting for Fu Yu’s men to try and rescue him so they can wipe them all out in one fell swoop!”

“But… this shouldn’t happen to Fu Yu!” Jiang Mei still couldn’t believe it.

“I heard he went back to save his mother. Plus, there was a spy in the villa—his current wife! This is retribution!” Gu Ming actually laughed.

Jiang Mei’s face changed. “Chen Yuwei only hates Fu Yu because of me. She thinks his heart changed. I have to go back. I have to go back and explain to her that Fu Yu’s heart never changed! She can’t harm him like this!” Jiang Mei began to cry.

“You are so naive!” Gu Ming pressed a hand against her arm.

“Brother Gu, like you said, if his men go to save him, will they definitely be captured?”

“They’ve set an inescapable net in Fancheng, just waiting for them to walk into it! But Fu Yu’s subordinates aren’t cowards either.”

“Then what do we do? How can we save him?” Jiang Mei grew anxious.

“I actually have a way to save him!” Gu Ming said softly.

“Brother Gu, you can save Fu Yu? How? Didn’t you say Fancheng is rigged with ambushes?”

“I just have a way. Do you want me to save him?” Gu Ming looked at her intently.

“Brother Gu, if you have a way, could you dispatch your troops to save him?”

“If you want me to save him, I will. But I have one condition…”

“What condition?”

“The condition is that after I save him, you must marry me.” Gu Ming’s gaze burned brightly as he looked at her.

“I know it’s not honorable to do this, but I truly like you. I have no other choice.” His eyes were sincere.

“Although I’m being despicable, I’m being despicable out in the open. The choice is still yours.”

Jiang Mei thought for a moment, then nodded. “Alright, Brother Gu. As long as you can save him, I am willing to marry you.”

“I want you to marry me willingly, not just snatch you away from Fu Yu. I’m saving him, but I don’t want to make an enemy out of him!”

“I understand. I will let him know that I married you willingly!”

Looking into Jiang Mei’s bright, dark eyes, Gu Ming’s heart trembled again. She truly would do anything for Fu Yu.

Taking only five hundred men and bringing Jiang Mei along, Gu Ming rushed to Fancheng through the night.

On the way, they encountered the troops from Qinglong Mountain.

Upon learning of Fu Yu’s capture, Liu Hao and Jiang Yuanqi from Qinglong Mountain immediately rushed toward Fancheng.

Hearing the guards say Miss Jiang had returned, Liu Hao was shocked and hurriedly went out to greet her.

Seeing Liu Hao, Jiang Mei was startled, as if she had seen a ghost.

“Young Madam, it really is me, I’m still alive!” Liu Hao looked at her, visibly moved.

“Don’t call her Young Madam. She stopped being your Young Madam a long time ago!” Gu Ming’s face turned cold.

“Liu Hao, it’s so good that you’re still alive.” Jiang Mei gripped his hands tightly, tears welling in her eyes.

“I stayed hidden under the Eldest Young Master’s orders. We originally wanted to use their trap against them and wipe out the An and Wu armies, so…”

“I understand.” Tears streamed down her face. “As long as you’re alive, that’s what matters. Being alive is meaningful.”

“So the Young Madam knows the Eldest Young Master was…”

“Yes, I know. This is Gu Ming, the Chief of Shiyang Mountain,” she introduced.

“I know. The Chief’s great name precedes him; we’ve heard of you.”

“Are you all going to rescue Fu Yu?” she asked.

“Yes. We know Fancheng is heavily ambushed, but we have no choice. We can’t leave the Eldest Young Master in their hands. Besides, it’s still too early to say who will emerge victorious!” Liu Hao’s gaze was determined.

“Brother Gu is on his way to rescue Fu Yu. Don’t go throw your lives away!”

Joy appeared on the faces of Liu Hao and Jiang Yuanqi. “The Chief is both brave and strategic. With his help, we will definitely win a sweeping victory!” Liu Hao flattered.

Gu Ming looked at him. “To rescue Fu Yu, the vanguard shouldn’t have too many men, lest they kill Fu Yu in desperation!”

“What brilliant plan does Chief Gu have in mind?” Seeing Gu Ming’s confidence, Liu Hao immediately leaned in to ask.

Gu Ming whispered in his ear. Liu Hao experienced a sudden realization, nodding continuously.

Fu Yu knew they would come to save him, and he knew he had become the bait for a trap.

*Fu Yu, Fu Yu, to think you’d see this day.* He cursed himself inwardly. Because of Chen Yuwei, the secret passages in his home were likely exposed, yet he had still harbored hopes of luck. He still hadn’t believed Chen Yuwei would truly put him to death.

He was tied to the city walls of Fancheng.

The early winter afternoon wind was piercingly cold. Tied up there, Fu Yu was frozen to the bone.

This was the second day he had been tied here. He could see the dense throngs of ambushing troops around him and prayed in his heart that Liu Hao and the others wouldn’t come throw their lives away.

The surroundings were eerily quiet; no one had come to rescue him. The ambushing troops gradually relaxed their guard.

Suddenly, someone screamed in terror. Fu Yu looked up and saw countless small donkeys flooding in through the gates! Dragging behind each donkey was a large iron box!

Before anyone could comprehend what was happening, gunfire erupted from the iron boxes! Each box had four gun muzzles sticking out. After a barrage of sweeping fire, the surrounding An Family Army suffered heavy casualties.

With everyone distracted by these small donkeys, no one noticed two soldiers wearing An Family Army uniforms hurriedly lowering Fu Yu from the city wall and quickly untying him.

“Young Master, it’s us!” Half-unconscious, Fu Yu dazedly opened his eyes. It was Liu Hao and his subordinate, Wang Lei. Liu Hao had secretly infiltrated Fancheng through another secret passage, and the rest of his brothers were also entering the city through various hidden routes.

Fancheng still had many secret passages that Chen Yuwei didn’t know about.

No one among the city guards noticed Fu Yu being lowered.

Liu Hao and Wang Lei immediately dragged Fu Yu into a nearby secret passage and escaped.

Meanwhile, at the city gates, everyone’s attention remained fixated on the countless donkeys. Swept by machine-gun fire, the donkeys were instantly killed. The large iron boxes dragging behind them came to a halt, continuously spitting gunfire outward.

Wu Xiang suddenly seemed to realize something. He looked up at the city wall—Fu Yu was gone!

“Damn it! Fu Yu is gone!”

An Zhentian also saw the empty ropes dangling and swaying in the wind.

“We’ve been tricked!” An Zhentian roared, leading his troops in pursuit.

The Fu Family Army and Gu Ming’s men at the gates suddenly charged forward, plunging the area into chaotic combat.

None of the small donkeys survived. The Fu Family Army charged forward, recaptured the large iron boxes, and released the soldiers hidden inside.

The assault lasted less than two hours—Fu Yu was rescued!

Upon seeing Fu Yu, Jiang Mei burst into tears.

He had fallen unconscious. His left arm was broken, his face was covered in wounds, and his body was striped with bloody gashes. His shredded clothes were stuck to his skin and couldn’t be peeled off.

While the military doctor was treating him, Fu Yu heard the crying. He opened his eyes and saw Jiang Mei. Thinking he was dreaming, he closed his eyes and opened them again. “Jiang Mei, is it you?” he asked softly.

“It’s me, Fu Yu, it’s me. You’ve been rescued!”

Fu Yu gripped her hand tightly. “It really is you. Jiang Mei, don’t cry. These little injuries are nothing. Don’t leave me.”

“Okay, I won’t leave you. Just focus on healing.”

Fu Yu dazedly passed out once more.

After the military doctor cleaned his wounds and administered medicine, Fu Yu finally woke up completely.

He opened his eyes, looked around, and asked, “Where is Jiang Mei?”

Liu Hao was by his side. “Young Master, she went out.”

“Where did she go?”

Liu Hao lowered his head. Just moments ago, Jiang Mei had told him she had married Gu Ming.

“She probably went to find Gu Ming. After all, she invited him, and he helped us this time,” Liu Hao said quietly.

“Gu Ming?”

“Yes.”

“Where are our men?”

“The main army will arrive shortly. Right now we only have five hundred men, specifically here to rescue you.”

“Once the main army arrives, we attack Fancheng!” Fu Yu’s fury soared to the heavens. To be taken prisoner in his own stronghold was an absolute humiliation!

Fu Yu stood up. His left leg was also injured, leaving him with a limp.

He walked out of the tent and saw Gu Ming standing there, with Jiang Mei leaning against him like a little bird.

Seeing Fu Yu, Gu Ming walked toward him. “How is it? Are your injuries healed?”

“How could these minor scratches hurt me!” Fu Yu sneered disdainfully, but his eyes were fixed on Jiang Mei. “It’s so dangerous, why did you come?”

“Oh, we’re newly married, and she was worried about me. I saved you, why haven’t you even said thank you?” Gu Ming said, affectionately adjusting Jiang Mei’s clothes.

“You’re newly married?” Fu Yu looked at Jiang Mei in disbelief.

Jiang Mei blushed and lowered her head. She never lied to Fu Yu.

“Yes, we are newly married.” Jiang Mei looked up and gazed at Fu Yu calmly.

A faint, miserable smile appeared on Fu Yu’s face. *Fu Yu, you don’t even know what you’ve lost!*

*The tenderness in my heart was you, the focus of my gaze was you. With my true love lost, what meaning is there in life?*

Fu Yu turned and walked away, with Liu Hao and Jiang Yuanqi following behind him.

“Take Fancheng before tomorrow!” Fu Yu gritted his teeth, his face twisted with brutal fury! He felt that if he didn’t vent this rage, he would suffocate to death!

—