Chapter Three: Life for Life

At his first killing, Mu Yuqi vomited loudly, while Yu Youwei appeared utterly unperturbed. At that moment, the Mu family’s elite forces rushed back and soon brought the chaos under control. Yu Youwei quickly dragged her injured cousin away. Behind them, Yu Shiyu watched their departure, his expression thoughtful.

“Young master, shall we return at once?” a bodyguard approached and asked in a low voice.

“No hurry. This was just the appetizer; the real feast is yet to come,” Yu Shiyu replied, a strange smile tugging at his lips. He ordered his men to rest at Mu Manor.

That night, another rainstorm fell, and the scattered osmanthus blossoms formed a thick layer on the ground.

At dawn, Yu Youwei strolled through the osmanthus forest as usual. Mu Yuqi found her there, fuming with resentment. “Second Uncle is blinded by greed, bringing disaster to our own home. Grandfather is even worse—a senile old fool, sending Yuyan to Yu Shiyu as a concubine.”

“A concubine?” Yu Youwei’s eyes widened in rare agitation. “Yuyan is only thirteen!”

“Grandfather believed Second Uncle’s nonsense. He claimed that among great families, there are women even younger than Yuyan. Since Yu Shiyu isn’t married, if Yuyan wins his favor, even as a concubine, she can bring glory to the Mu clan. Last night, that old fool personally helped Second Uncle deliver Yuyan to Resting Cloud Pavilion.”

“Did Uncle agree to this?” Yu Youwei asked in disbelief.

“My father refused, so they tied him up and locked him in the woodshed. He was only released this morning. Now that what’s done is done, it’s too late for him to object.” As he spoke, Mu Yuqi pulled at his hair in frustration, clearly tormented by his helplessness to save his young sister from the flames.

“I’ll go to him,” Yu Youwei said through clenched teeth. Mu Yuqi’s complaints fell on deaf ears as she swept away like a gust of wind.

Resting Cloud Pavilion, where Yu Shiyu stayed, was in the northeast corner of Mu Manor, surrounded on three sides by jade-green waters, with winding white bridges like serpents across the surface. Normally empty, today the pavilion was heavily guarded. As Yu Youwei approached, Mu family guards stationed several hundred meters away at the bridgehead ordered her to leave.

The one who called out was her Eighth Uncle. She regarded all these men as accomplices and, without a word, announced resolutely, “I must see Yu Shiyu. If you try to stop me, I’ll force my way through.” Her tone brooked no compromise.

Eighth Uncle’s face darkened. “Wei’er, don’t be reckless!”

Ignoring him, Yu Youwei charged forward. Her uncle stepped in her way, but with a flick of her sleeve, the flexible sword coiled around her wrist flew out, aiming straight for his right arm. Suddenly, a graceful sword flashed from the side, deflecting her strike. Her eldest uncle hurried over, seized her, and barked sternly, “Go back!”

“We can’t abandon Yuyan—she’ll die!” Though her father was unknown, in her eldest uncle’s love, she felt the warmth of a father’s care, deeper than for his own children. For that reason, Yu Youwei, burning with rage, could not bring herself to strike him.

“Youwei, leave this matter be,” he pleaded.

Clutching his sleeve, Yu Youwei pleaded, “Let me speak to him. Perhaps I can persuade him.” She remembered how her little cousin, soft and sweet as a dumpling, had always clung to her, sharing every treat and toy; even with a cold heart, she could not watch Yuyan be ruined by that fiend.

“It’s useless,” her uncle replied, eyes brimming with tears as he shook his head.

Pointing the tip of her sword at her own throat, Yu Youwei declared, “If I must watch Yuyan die, I’d rather end my life here and now.” Her voice was not raised, but her eyes were as still and deep as a pool, filled with a chilling resolve that finally forced her uncle to relent. He led her to petition for an audience with Yu Shiyu.

The guards relayed the message inside. The captain of Yu Shiyu’s personal guard emerged and said to Yu Youwei, “Miss Mu attempted to assassinate the young master and failed. She was knocked unconscious and is still in a coma. Ninth Miss, you’d best find a way to resolve this swiftly. Otherwise, even if the young master forgives her, should the Yu elders learn of this, not only she, but the entire Mu clan will die.”

Yu Youwei seemed not to hear, her face cold as she strode past, sweeping over the arched bridge and into the main hall of Resting Cloud Pavilion.

At the head of the hall, Yu Shiyu lounged lazily in a chair, draped in a lake-blue silk robe, the sash undone. His ink-black hair fell loosely, bound only by a matching ribbon. The open collar revealed crimson marks at his throat, yet even as Yu Youwei burst in, he made no move to cover himself. “You came to your senses so quickly?” Yu Shiyu asked indifferently, as if her visit were only to be expected.

Though Yu Shiyu was undeniably handsome, in Yu Youwei’s eyes he was a fiend, a complete and utter monster whom she longed to skin alive.

Yesterday’s brutal battle had left the Mu Manor in mourning, yet, to avoid disturbing this demon, the clan head forbade all funeral rites. Most hateful of all, Yuyan had been handed over to this monster for his defilement. At the sight of him, Yu Youwei’s eyes burned red. She raised her slender wrist, her soft-hilted sword flashing out straight at Yu Shiyu. “A life for a life! Let mine be exchanged for Yuyan’s, or let us perish together. You choose.”

“So, another one seeking my life? It seems my trip to Egret Isle was well worth it,” Yu Shiyu laughed aloud, the sound strangely enchanting yet tinged with bloodthirsty malice.

“Youwei, put the sword down!” her uncle cried in alarm.

But Yu Youwei, unfazed, moved faster still. A flash of blue, and her sword pressed against Yu Shiyu’s throat. “Mutual destruction, or each take a step back. You decide,” she said coldly, the icy killing intent radiating from her like shards of a frozen spring—so intense even her more skilled Mu cousins felt their hearts seize.

Yu Shiyu ignored the blade at his throat, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Mu Yuyan is now your second brother’s woman. Unless she dies, she will remain by my side for life. If you wish to protect her, this is not the way.”

The blue light vanished, the soft sword snapping back to Yu Youwei’s hand. She said resolutely, “Very well. I will become her bodyguard.”

“That won’t protect her. If you don’t believe me, ask my guards how many women in his quarters have died over the years.” He laughed cruelly, only stopping when Yu Youwei nearly lost control.

Suppressing her fury, Yu Youwei forced a smile that mirrored his own wickedness. “Then what would you suggest?”

Yu Shiyu laughed again, his tone sly and seductive. “If you’re willing to acknowledge your lineage and obediently marry into the Ning family, Mu Yuyan may live freely in the Yu household. Otherwise, she faces only death.”

“In that cannibalistic place, how can Yuyan live freely?” Yu Youwei’s gaze turned frigid, her urge to run this shameless man through with her sword barely restrained.