At some point, Xu You had plunged a dagger into his heart. Blood kept gushing out, soaking all his clothes red.
"You..."
Shen Pei raised his head to look at Xu You, his eyes filled with confusion, shock, anger, and incomprehension. "Why?" he demanded in disbelief. "Why did you do this?"
"Why? You know perfectly well."
Xu You released Shen Pei, letting him fall to the floor, then rose and looked down at him coldly. "You killed my wife and children, and now you've discovered my identity. How could I let you live?"
Shen Pei felt only numbness in his limbs and coldness in his hands and feet. His life drained away with the blood pouring out, yet his face remained furious as he stared fixedly at Xu You. "You read that letter!"
Xu You sneered. "Did you think I would still let you inform on me to Yuan Shao as you pleased, just like back in Ye City?"
"When you killed my wife and children, you should have known this day would come!"
Killing Shen Pei would give him a pledge of allegiance to present when he defected to Cao Cao before long, while also cutting off one of Yuan Shao's arms.
Above all, it would avenge his wife and children, whom Shen Pei had killed!
Shen Pei wanted desperately to curse him, but when he opened his mouth, great mouthfuls of blood poured out instead. His vision grew increasingly blurred, and his body increasingly heavy.
"Xu Ziyuan."
Shen Pei used the last of his strength to look at Xu You. Coughing up blood, he said haltingly, "My lord is in the north. Do not... do not let me die facing south. Help me..."
He knew death was certain, but before the end, he wanted to die with dignity.