Chapter 483: Chapter 490: See You in the Next Life
 

The battle before was too horrific, Zhao Fan’s subordinate army suffered over half in casualties, many of their brothers and friends died directly or indirectly at Han Yu’s hands. Without the composure of their leader in black, had they not needed to capture this woman to report to their superior, they would have wished to kill her right then to vent their anger.

The smile on the face of the leading man in black had disappeared, obviously due to Su Wenyue’s unwillingness to cooperate. “Madam Han, don’t refuse the wine only to be forced to drink a penalty!”

“So what if I do? Do you really think I’ll cooperate with you so obediently, to be used as a threat against my husband? Do I look that foolish to you?” Su Wenyue’s words brimmed with an increasing amount of sarcasm.

“At this point, do you think you still have a choice? If you cooperate, you can suffer less. As long as your husband does as we wish, our master will naturally let you go and give you a way out. Maybe you can even continue to be the General’s Wife. Otherwise,”

“Do you think I would believe your nonsense?” Su Wenyue couldn’t even be bothered to scoff. It wasn’t just that she didn’t believe these people would keep their word, but to comply with their demands would mean nothing but betrayal. Han Yu was not the sort of treacherous person to break his promises. If these people were to use her to threaten Han Yu, Su Wenyue wasn’t sure what choices Han Yu would make. In the past, Su Wenyue believed that Han Yu would surely sacrifice her for his future and career, but now, she could feel Han Yu’s feelings for her and was even less inclined to have him struggle between choices, especially not to put himself in danger to save her.

Moreover, Su Wenyue had already prepared herself for any eventuality today; when she had decided to lure these people away, she had been ready to risk her life. That escape now seemed impossible was within her expectations.

“Boss, what’s there to talk about with this unappreciative woman? Just take her down, I refuse to believe that she could overturn the heavens!” one man in black said disdainfully, impatient with Su Wenyue’s desperate struggle. He thought the leader was being too polite, which emboldened this woman to overstep her bounds. If they just subdued her, wouldn’t that be the end of it? At the top of this high cliff, with no escape, could she possibly fly away?

The man in black had never considered the possibility of Su Wenyue jumping off the cliff. In his view, these upper-class ladies and misses, coddled within the backyard since childhood, were just women with long hair and short sight who only knew pleasure, waiting for men to cherish them. All of them were weak and fearful of death, lacking the courage for such an act.

“Since Madam Han is uncooperative, don’t blame me for being rude!” The leading man in black, tired of Su Wenyue’s stalling, started issuing orders to his subordinates.

Su Wenyue watched the men in black slowly close in around her without a trace of nervousness on her face. Her expression was resolute, her smile tragic despite her disheveled appearance, she looked hauntingly beautiful.

The leading man in black saw Su Wenyue’s reaction and sensed something amiss. This was not the response of someone who would give up easily. That resolute and tragic smile made him suddenly realize something, and he shouted loudly, “Quick! Stop her; don’t let her jump off the cliff!”

Alas, it was too late. Su Wenyue was only a few steps away from the edge of the cliff. Seeing the leader in black’s reaction, she didn’t hesitate to leap off the cliff, leaving behind the words, “Even if my body shatters to pieces, I will never let you have the chance to use me to threaten Han Yu.”

“Han Yu, we will meet again in the next life. In the next life, I would still be willing to be your wife, I love you!”

The tragic sound lingered in everyone’s ears; the lady was gone. Everyone present watched in disbelief as such a frail woman displayed such decisiveness, willingly risking her life to protect her husband and child. At that moment, they truly let go of contempt and hatred, filled only with respect for such a chaste and virtuous woman, worthy of anyone’s respect, whether she was an enemy or not.

Qi Yun, leading his men, had rushed over, and upon arrival witnessed this heartbreaking scene. “Madam, don’t!”

Unfortunately, Qi Yun was also a step too late. His cry was but a subconscious outburst, incapable of altering the situation, as he could only watch helplessly as Su Wenyue determinedly jumped from the cliff, leaving behind a poignant echo.

Qi Yun was overwhelmed with guilt and self-reproach. If only he had arrived sooner, Madam would not have met such an end. Although he had not delayed a moment from receiving his master’s orders, if only he could have been faster by a few moments, arriving before Madam’s leap, everything would have been different.

The few secret guards who came with Qi Yun were equally shaken by the scene. They respected Madam out of duty, but their devotion was limited to that which was due to their mistress. Now, they held Su Wenyue in solemn respect. Indeed, the woman their master esteemed was no ordinary woman. Such virtue and courage, preferring to be shattered rather than threatened.

Han Yu, who was inspecting new recruits at the military camp, was about to give some pointers when he suddenly felt a pain in his chest and staggered, startling the soldiers beside him.

“Master, what’s wrong?”

The pain had come abruptly and left just as suddenly. After such acute pain, he now moved his body only to find everything felt normal. Han Yu thought it must be his imagination, but he felt a hollowness inside. Seeing the soldiers’ concerned looks, Han Yu shook his head, “Nothing, carry on with your training.”

Though he felt no physical issues, Han Yu, for some reason, lost interest in the training and returned to his tent. His mind lingered on his wife and child, and he inquired if there had been any news from the secret guard brothers, Qi Yun and Qi Shen.

Qi Yun, though grieved, also knew what had to be done at this moment. He quickly shifted his focus to those who caused Madam’s death. If not for these men trying to capture Madam to threaten the master, she would not have jumped off the cliff. They all deserved to die!

Qi Yun didn’t bother with questioning, issuing the command for an outright attack. Even though they were evenly matched in numbers, Qi Yun was an expert himself. Few in the Daming Dynasty could beat him in single combat. His subordinates, all well-trained secret guards, easily subdued the opponents, leaving only the leading man in black alive. The rest were dealt with on the spot.

After tying up the leader in black and casting him aside, Qi Yun walked to the edge of the cliff. The clouds were swirling around him, the bottom invisible. From such a height, anyone falling would surely not survive. Any faint hope from before was now gone.

“Falling from such a height, Madam most likely won’t make it. I can only curse Zhao Fan, that villain. He couldn’t beat our master on the battlefield, so he went after Madam and the child instead.”

“What’s done is done, talking is pointless now. Master cherished Madam so dearly; learning of Madam’s leap off the cliff would be more than he can bear.”