As Zhao Changgui stepped onto the stairs leading up to the watchtower, his foot trembled, and he stumbled, collapsing to the ground with a THUD.
He didn’t scramble to get up. Instead, he curled up on the ground, cradling his head and whimpering softly.
He was terrified. He knew that if word of what happened in the fort today leaked out, according to Qian State’s military law, he would undoubtedly die!
He wasn’t a scholar-bureaucrat. Qian State had a tradition that punishments didn’t apply to them. But for a bastard like him, they never showed mercy when it came to executions!
"I’ll die, I’ll die, I’ll die..." Zhao Changgui murmured incessantly.
But slowly, he propped himself up with his arms and got to his feet. Then, he resumed his climb up the stairs to the watchtower. Finally, he made it to the top.
He bit his lip until it bled. He sniffled incessantly, tears welling in his eyes.
With trembling hands, he fumbled for the fire starter in his clothes.
"Yan people... Barbarians... Yan people... Barbarians..." Zhao Changgui muttered.
Zhao Changgui was uneducated and didn’t understand any grand principles.He loved money, and he feared death.But he just didn’t know why; as he watched those hundreds of barbarian cavalry pass before his eyes heading south, his heart suddenly began to pound violently with panic.
HUFF... HUFF... HUFF...
Zhao Changgui steadied his breathing. His left hand gripped the fire starter, ready to light the tinder and send up the signal smoke.
He had long forgotten what the different colors of smoke signals meant. He had never lit one, nor had his father. But he felt he had to light the signal smoke now; he felt it was what he should do.
He felt like he was going mad. But if he was mad... then let him be mad!
The fire starter moved towards the tinder...
A pebble struck Zhao Changgui’s hand, and the fire starter rolled to the ground.
Zhao Changgui looked up in astonishment. Two figures had appeared at some point by the watchtower’s parapet.
He had seen these two before. One was clearly the leader, and the other had previously thrown him the golden dagger to kill Hsu Defu.
"I told you, this method of yours would be very risky," Zheng Fan said calmly to Liang Cheng.
Liang Cheng shook his head. "My oversight."
"It’s your personality. You dislike analyzing human nature, deeming it unnecessary and too bothersome. You should learn more from the blind man in this regard."
Liang Cheng turned his head to look at Zhao Changgui.
Zhao Changgui slumped to the ground. He knew he had no chance left. Despair clouded his face.
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A saber was tossed before Zhao Changgui.
Zheng Fan pointed at the saber. "You’re a man. I’ll grant you a dignified end. Do it yourself."
Zhao Changgui picked up the saber from the ground, nodded, and gripped the handle with both hands. He first pointed the blade at his stomach, hesitated for a moment, then pressed the blade to his own neck. Tears and snot streamed down his face.
The saber was dropped to the ground again by Zhao Changgui.
Zheng Fan narrowed his eyes. "What’s the matter?"
Zhao Changgui leaned back against the parapet, a hint of shame on his face. He said, somewhat embarrassed, "Could you do me a favor... you do it... kill me..."
Liang Cheng spoke, "Why?"
Zhao Changgui wiped the tears and snot from his face with his sleeve. "I’ve made a fool of myself," he said. "I’m a coward... I don’t dare kill myself..."