Grace and Grudges

A group of people walked south for dozens of miles.

I did break out in a sweat, so I didn't feel so cold anymore.

However, Yang Tiexin only tucked the tattered coat under his arm and did not put it on.

"Guo Jing, the person I told you about in the city who killed your father is Wanyan Honglie. I don't know Duan Tiande's exact whereabouts either."

Guo Jing only knew that his father's killer was Duan Tiande.

Following Ji Boying's instructions, he and Wang Chuyi left the city together, waiting for Duan Tiande's whereabouts.

"It's alright. Guo Jing already very grateful that Brother Ji told me about the mastermind behind this. We can find Duan Tiande's whereabouts when we get to the south."

Ji Boying nodded.

"Duan Tiande is an official after all. If we go to Jiangnan, ask around among some local bullies, arrest some corrupt officials, and interrogate them, we'll definitely be able to find his whereabouts."

Let's rest here.

Wang Chuyi looked at the somewhat dilapidated thatched huts by the roadside.

It used to be a village, but now only two or three dilapidated thatched huts remain.

There were a few incomplete mud walls, but they could at least shield some people from the wind and snow.

The group gathered some firewood nearby, went inside, sat down, and lit a campfire.

Of the group, only Yang Tiexin and Mu Nianci had some dry rations with them.

Huang Rong then searched the bag next to the Little Red Horse's saddle and found some dried meat.

The group then shared the food.

Bao Xiruo gnawed on the coarse dry food, feeling a bit uncomfortable in her throat, but her eyes were full of happiness.

Yang Kang still didn't reach for the dry rations that Yang Tiexin offered.

Bao Xiruo quickly took it from the middle and handed it to Yang Kang.

Ji Boying looked on and suddenly spoke.

"Yang Kang".

"Ah!"

Yang Kang shuddered in fright.

Of all the people in the group, he was most afraid of Ji Boying.

His unfathomable Lightness Skill and sharp swordsmanship allowed him to move freely among the crowd, leaving me utterly powerless to retaliate.

In addition, Ji Boying's extensive knowledge and confident demeanor made him dare not harbor any wicked thoughts.

"You have never met your biological father, and you were raised by your adoptive father for eighteen years. It is only natural that you feel distant from Yang Tiexin and close to Wanyan Honglie."

Everyone listened quietly.

Yang Kang had no idea what Ji Boying was trying to say.

He always had a vague feeling that Ji Boying wouldn't help him get away with it.

"I have never believed in the idea that a subject must die if the ruler commands him to. Even if he is indeed your father, he cannot decide your life. Whether the debt of giving birth or the debt of raising is greater is a difficult question to answer clearly."

"But you forgot one thing."

"Huh? What is it?"

Ji Boying's eyes were bright and piercing.

Yang Kang dared not meet his gaze, his eyes darting away.

"You forgot... Yang Tiexin didn't raise you for a single day, not because he didn't want to, but because Wanyan Honglie, for his own selfish reasons, viciously murdered your biological father, separating you from your flesh and blood. He also forcibly took your mother away, leaving her heartbroken and weeping for many years."

"Then it's really hard to say whether your relationship with Wanyan Honglie is one of gratitude or enmity. If your mother didn't know that Wanyan Honglie was the one who caused what happened back then, and that she was rescued from the hands of the soldiers by Wanyan Honglie and gained some peace of mind, even if she was on Yang Tiexin's side, she would still feel somewhat guilty for leaving like this."

"But now that we know Wanyan Honglie is the mastermind, even someone as kind-hearted as your mother would probably feel very conflicted. Although she has goodwill towards Wanyan Honglie for so many years, how could she not harbor hatred in her heart?"

Ji Boying did not know whether Bao Xiruo harbored any hatred.

But he knew that Bao Xiruo was definitely on Yang Tiexin's side.

As expected, upon hearing Ji Boying say such things, Bao Xiruo lowered Bao Xiruo beautiful eyes and held Yang Tiexin's hand tightly.

She was originally a very kind person, and the fact that she was in such a complicated mood at this moment was enough to show that there was indeed some hatred in her heart that was disturbing her.

After saying this, Ji Boying said no more, silently munching on his dry rations, letting Yang Tiexin cast grateful glances at him.

Such a person would not have even flinched if he had been asked to die when he first met Bao Xiruo, and he would probably have been willing to die ten or eight times over now.

Outside the earthen wall, the cold wind howled.

Inside the dilapidated house, flames crackled.

Everyone pondered what Ji Boying had said.

The debt of birth and the debt of raising; is an enemy or a benefactor?

For Yang Kang, the affairs of this family were a tangled mess that was impossible to unravel.

"Brother Kang, you don't need to worry about this."

Guo Jing took the initiative to speak up and relieve Yang Kang's worries.

"The misfortunes of our two families were all caused by Wanyan Honglie. He is naturally our enemy. However, he has been sincere to you and raised you. So it would be extremely difficult for you to kill him and take revenge."

"You don't need to be anxious at this time. It was he who caused your mother to be separated from Uncle Yang for eighteen years, and caused your biological father to almost die and live a life of wandering. If you are thinking of your mother's suffering, you should not feel any gratitude towards Wanyan Honglie."

"Although from our perspective, his hatred outweighs his kindness, your situation is different. So you should settle your debts and obligations to him."

"Leave the killing of Wanyan Honglie to me. Let me settle this hatred. Let all the past grievances end like this, and it has nothing to do with you anymore. You just need to live your life with Uncle Yang and Aunt Yang."

Guo Jing's words drew nods of agreement from everyone, and Wang Chuyi's eyes were full of admiration.

Yang Tiexin and Bao Xiruo were filled with gratitude.

This inevitably reminded them of the care their sworn brother, Guo Xiaotian, had given them in the past.

His elder brother, who had been so kind to him, was killed because of his own family's affairs, and his sister-in-law went far away to the Northern Desert. How hard it must have been for her to raise Guo Jing with great difficulty.

His hatred for Wanyan Honglie intensified.

Bao Xiruo didn't care who killed Wanyan Honglie, as long as she didn't see it.

At this point, they didn't care who Wanyan Honglie really was, since they had some complicated feelings involved, and it was better to avoid seeing him and worrying about him.

He simply thought that he couldn't bear to see any cats or dogs die or get hurt, and that he would raise those poultry and livestock to a ripe old age. In this way, Wanyan Honglie was not much different from them.

Yang Kang lowered his head, and everyone took it as a tacit agreement.

Ji Boying suddenly stood up.

"They're here so fast. Pack your things and get out of here quickly, the pursuers are coming."

Suddenly, all that could be heard was the howling of the cold wind, and all was silent. There was no sound of any pursuers.

But Yang Tiexin and Guo Jing obeyed orders without question and set about what to do, so they also took action.

After extinguishing the campfire, they helped Bao Xiruo back onto the horse and let Mu Nianci sit on it as well, then rode from behind.

They then hurried south.

Only a few dozen breaths later, everyone heard the thunder of horses' hooves.

Each and every one of them was deeply shocked.

(Note: Some character ratings are mentioned.)