The Bad Guys: Everyone, let’s revive the Tang Dynasty together!

Chapter 537 Paper Money Flies into the East Wind (Part 2)
In the corner, the fake Li huddled in the shadow of the pillar. As Yuan Tiangang's figure became fully visible, he began to struggle to get up.

But each time he tried to prop himself up with his arms, it only made his chest heave more heavily and his internal organs ache.

Yuan Tiangang's casual flick of the wrist, seemingly effortless, sealed off all the acupoints through which Yuan Tiangang could circulate his internal energy, making his meridians appear to rupture inch by inch, making it impossible for him to circulate his internal energy.

The fake Li raised his head, trying to force himself up with a fierce aura, but every time he tried to lift his breath, it would collapse. So he could only lie on his back on the ground in vain, panting and staring at the ceiling with a meaningless laugh.

"As expected...as expected..."

Li Xingyun helped Yang Shuzi up and then pressed down on Zhang Zifan's outstretched arm to steady himself. He looked at the miserable state of the fake Li, and then at Yuan Tiangang's back, his breath churning with emotion.

The faint sounds of horns and the clamor of soldiers outside the hall made the fake Li's low laughter even more intimidating. As Yuan Tiangang appeared, Jing Xinmo bowed his head, and the figures of the Bad Guys loomed outside the hall. Li Xingyun understood all too well that the fake Li's scheme of taking someone else's place was already in front of him.

"Brother Li..." Zhang Zifan called out softly, and then pulled Li Xingyun behind him.

Unexpectedly, the latter easily broke free from Zhang Zifan's hand. Although his steps were somewhat unsteady, he still stepped forward step by step, eventually standing sideways between the fake Li and Yuan Tiangang.

This movement stirred up the still-unsettled blood and qi in Li Xingyun's body, making his face even paler, but he simply straightened his back and looked up at Yuan Tiangang.

Zhang Zifan was taken aback by his action, but when he looked to the side, he saw that Yang Shuzi did not object at all, but instead nodded slightly.

However, Yang Shuzi's expression immediately froze as he heard Li Xingyun say, "Yuan Tiangang, you set up your scheme and reap the consequences. Why... at this point, do you still want to drag my master into this?"

Yang Shuzi smiled wryly and didn't mention it, while Yuan Tiangang simply stood with his hands behind his back, not even turning his head or paying any attention to Li Xingyun.

However, the Mirror Heart Demon, who was prostrate on the ground, raised his face slightly upon hearing this and responded on behalf of the commander: "Your Highness... the commander's actions are all to completely sever the karmic ties here and to find a clean way out for Your Highness. Uncle Yang is here at this moment not because he was forced by anyone, but because he chose to form a master-disciple relationship with you and came here voluntarily so that Your Highness can be free from all worries."

"Escape? End it all?"

Li Xingyun listened, his lips twitching as if he wanted to laugh but couldn't. He looked at Uncle Yang, and before the latter could speak, he shook his head: "That's right, I, Li Xingyun, am greedy for life, but also afraid of death. No one doesn't want to live..."

He glanced at Yuan Tiangang and Jing Xinmo, "But this path is one I chose myself. From leaving the Sword Pavilion to being placed in this position, it may not have been my wish, but I made all the choices I made, and I should bear the consequences."

Zhang Zifan's expression changed slightly, but after hesitating for a moment, he ultimately remained silent.

“He,” Li Xingyun looked at Yuan Tiangang, then pointed at the fake Li, “he may be your pawn, your so-called substitute, but what does my path, my choices have to do with him? Even if he has a thousand faults, ten thousand hates, he shouldn’t have his life used to atone for my sins, Li Xingyun’s. And why should my master pay for my sins? This logic doesn’t hold water anywhere.”

Upon hearing this, the fake Li made a strange hoarse sound from his throat, as if he was extremely angry and wanted to mock him, but due to his injuries, it turned into a violent cough.

Li Xingyun ignored him and continued, "I know myself that I am not fit to be an emperor. Sitting in that position for a year, busy with my own affairs, trapped in a besieged city, I have not contributed anything to the people's livelihood or the country's strength. On the contrary, because of my presence, I have given people like Xu Wen the right to continue to occupy power and abusing their authority, which has exacerbated the suffering in Jiangnan. How can someone like me have the face to ask others to die for me? Openly usurping the throne has led to the confrontation between the North and the South, the resurgence of war, and the displacement of the people... This is the most heinous crime. The law of the country is merciless. Even if I were to become emperor, I would know that if someone like me were not executed, it would not be enough to set an example or bring peace to the country."

His gaze gradually became vacant, but when he looked at Yang Shuzi, who seemed to be in relatively calm condition, he smiled and said, "Actually... I had long thought this day would come. I just didn't expect to see Master safe and sound again... It's good that this weight has been lifted from my heart. I have no regrets."

"Fuck your motherfucker!"

A hoarse roar suddenly exploded, and the fake Li, seemingly out of nowhere, mustered a surge of strength to prop himself up, sit up against a pillar, tilt his head back, and stare intently at Li Xingyun with bloodshot eyes.

"Li Xingyun! Drop your hypocritical act! It disgusts me! You're so high and mighty! You want nothing, you think you're all that! So what are you doing standing in front of me now? Giving me charity? Or are you trying to show Yuan Tiangang that even at the last moment, you're still a saint who values ​​loyalty and righteousness!"

He tried excitedly to get up, but failed again, and could only futilely pound the ground with his hands, making a dull thud.

"You think you can make me grateful by saying that? Let me tell you, dream on! Your hypocritical act is more disgusting than those real villains! You enjoy everything, and then you have to act like a victim, always talking about how you had no choice... Li Xingyun, you're a complete hypocrite!"

Fake Li flew into a rage and began to curse repeatedly, but as he continued, he became breathless and coughed violently, making his words incoherent, leaving only intermittent curses and gasps.

Li Xingyun did not turn around or refute, but his shoulders slumped slightly.

Yuan Tiangang remained headlong, leaving it impossible to know whether he had heard the heated exchange taking place so close to home.

Outside the palace, the footsteps and commands of the Northern Army as they controlled the palace grew clearer and clearer, like a tightening rope gripping everyone's hearts, symbolizing the passage of time and the irreversible nature of the situation.

Yang Shuzi, who had been standing quietly by the sidelines, finally took a few steps forward.

He wore a strange smile of satisfaction on his face, but then he placed his hand heavily on Li Xingyun's shoulder.

"nebula."

This call pulled Li Xingyun back from his melancholy thoughts. He turned to look at Yang Shuzi, puzzled for a moment, then felt a pang of shame.

But Yang Shuzi met his gaze and, before he could say anything more, spoke:
“Back then, outside Yuzhou City, I promised Li Huan on his deathbed that I would bring you back to Jianlu, hoping that you would stay away from the strife, become an ordinary doctor, and live out your life in peace. For the past ten years, I have been thinking about how to help you avoid this vortex. I even once had the delusion that by relying on external forces, such as the current emperor’s influence, I could pave a different path for you.”

At this point, Yang Shuzi paused slightly, as if retracing a long period of time, and his tone became distant.

"But in these past few years, although I have been forced to confine my freedom by the commander-in-chief, I have also had the opportunity to think about it from time to time. In those years, I only taught you how to let go of your obsessions, how to pursue yourself, and not to be crushed by the burden of family, country, and the world... But I always forgot, or rather, deliberately avoided teaching you a principle. That is 'responsibility'."

The grand sweep of history, the rise and fall of dynasties—how could I, a mere country bumpkin like Yang Shuzi, possibly control these matters? Whether you choose to live in seclusion in the mountains or step into this bustling world, some things are destined to be borne; there's no escaping them, no way to avoid them. Therefore, only just now, hearing your words, hearing your willingness to bear the consequences of your choices and not wanting to implicate others… did I truly understand that my past teaching of letting go was a mistake, a grave one. Escaping the world is not liberation; only by facing it head-on can one find peace of mind.”

At this point, he pressed Li Xingyun's shoulder firmly, his tone full of certainty, and comforted him, "What's done is done, it can't be undone. As your teacher, I'm very pleased to see that you've come to understand this today, that you know what it means to take responsibility and what it means to be accountable. You've come to understand this principle on your own... As your teacher... you've really grown up."

Li Xingyun's throat tightened, a thousand words stuck in his chest, finally escaping into a low whisper: "Master..."

Just then, the sounds coming from outside the hall suddenly changed.

The previously somewhat chaotic footsteps and shouts were replaced by a uniform sound of horses' hooves pounding the ground and the dense clanging of metal armor plates. The sound was extremely oppressive, like an iron wall closing in, clearly indicating that a large force of troops had arrived at the palace square and surrounded the area.

Li Xingyun subconsciously looked at the area outside the hall illuminated by the firelight, a hint of anxiety flashing across his face. He opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something to Uncle Yang.

Uncle Yang just smiled, then patted Li Xingyun's shoulder again, his face showing a gentleness that Li Xingyun had never experienced before, even with a hint of kindness, interrupting his unspoken words: "Xingyun, these past few years, it is your master who has acted willfully and selfishly, ultimately pushing you into this situation... You and Lin Xuan, don't blame your master."

Before he could finish speaking and before Li Xingyun could react, Yang Shuzi's hand, which had been lightly patting his shoulder, moved with lightning speed and as naturally as flowing water, slicing across the back of his neck.

Li Xingyun froze, a look of astonishment and confusion flashing across his eyes before his gaze quickly glazed over and his body slumped downwards.

Yang Shuzi was prepared; he stretched out his arm and steadily supported Li Xingyun's unconscious body.

"Senior Yang!" Zhang Zifan exclaimed in surprise, taking a step forward and turning pale with astonishment.

Yang Shuzi then pushed Li Xingyun toward Zhang Zifan, saying, "Nephew Zhang, Princess Shangrao has given birth to a daughter for Xingyun, and both mother and daughter are safe. Your father, Zhang Tianshi, has also escaped safely after the Yangzhou turmoil and should now be under the protection of the Northern Dynasty. I now entrust Xingyun to you, hoping that you will spare no effort to ensure his safety tonight."

Zhang Zifan instinctively caught the unconscious Li Xingyun. In that instant, a thousand thoughts flashed through his mind, yet he also vaguely understood Yang Shuzi's intention. He looked at his close friend in his arms, then looked up at Yang Shuzi, whose expression was relieved, a thousand words stuck in his throat. He remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded heavily.

He first bowed deeply to Uncle Yang, then wrapped Li Xingyun's arm around his neck and carried him on his back.

Just then, a mocking laugh came from beside the pillar of the palace.

The fake Li leaned against the pillar, watching Zhang Zifan carrying Li Xingyun on his back, and laughed mockingly: "Heh... In the end, you still need someone to protect you to leave? Li Xingyun, you always have someone paving the way for you."

His breathing was unsteady, and his words were broken and intermittent, but the malice and resentment in his voice were undiminished. "Even at the very end... even at the very end, this scene of 'calmly facing death,' someone... helped you finish acting it out... You really are lucky..."

Zhang Zifan paused, his brows furrowing, but he didn't turn around to argue with him. Uncle Yang merely glanced at the fake Li, his eyes showing no anger, but rather a complex mix of emotions.

The Mirror Heart Demon, standing to the side, said nothing more. He simply got up and walked to the dragon pillar on one side of the main hall. He then pressed a certain mechanism, and a hidden door that could only be passed through by one person quietly slid open, revealing a deep passage behind it.

He stepped aside and gestured for Zhang Zifan to proceed.

Zhang Zifan felt a little lost and glanced at Yang Shuzi again. The latter simply smiled and nodded at him. Zhang Zifan hesitated for a moment, then looked at Yuan Tiangang before being led into the tunnel by the Mirror Heart Demon.

Immediately, Mirror Heart Demon, who was about to enter along with them, suddenly stopped before entering.

Then, he suddenly turned around, faced Yuan Tiangang, and knelt down again with a "thud," then touched his head to the ground and kowtowed three times. After doing this, he lay on the ground, his shoulders twitching slightly, for a few breaths, but ultimately did not utter a word.

Immediately, he stood up abruptly, without looking back, and led Zhang Zifan, who was carrying Li Xingyun, swiftly into the darkness. The hidden door then quietly closed, perfectly shut, as if it had never existed.

Almost as soon as they disappeared, a large number of thugs from outside the hall rushed into the hall. Only then could one see that they were carrying dark pottery jars.

No one spoke; they simply poured the thick, pungent liquid from the jar around the hall. Instantly, the sound of splashing echoed, and the strong smell of kerosene filled the air.

Seeing this scene, the fake Li sneered even more, but he ignored everything and climbed toward the dragon throne on the steps of the palace.

He did this, but no one around him stopped him; everyone was busy pouring kerosene.

Only now did Yuan Tiangang truly move his feet for the first time.

He didn't look at anyone in the hall, but slowly walked towards the open hall door with his hands behind his back.

Yang Shuzi glanced one last time at the direction of the closed secret door, a relieved expression on his face. He straightened his robes, which were slightly disheveled from his earlier movements, turned around, and calmly followed Yuan Tiangang.

The two of them, one in front of the other, stepped over the high threshold and walked out of the palace that was about to be burned to the ground.

Outside the palace, torches lit up the square like a forest, making it as bright as day.

The dark mass of Northern Army soldiers stood solemnly with their spears, their formation impeccable and silent, save for the occasional crackling of burning torches and the snorting of impatient warhorses.

At the same time, several fast riders galloped to the central army and loudly reported to the man who was surrounded by thousands of elite soldiers.

"Report! All gates of Jinling are under control. The defending troops have either surrendered or collapsed, and have not encountered any effective resistance..."

"Report! The city's treasury and government offices have been taken over. Order has been initially restored, and the people are staying indoors. No large-scale riots have occurred..."

"Report! The Duke of Wei has captured Xu Zhixun, the traitorous minister of the false dynasty, and is bringing him here!"

As he spoke, Li Maozhen, clad in full armor, rode his horse through the army formation and arrived directly in front of the central army.

He was dragging a man behind him. The man's clothes and armor were askew, his hair was disheveled, and his hands were bound with ropes. He was staggering along. It was Xu Zhixun, who had tried to escape by water but failed.

At this moment, Xu Zhixun was still cursing and swearing, saying things like "the bad guys are treacherous" and "may they die a horrible death," as he struggled to stand firm.

Li Maozhen walked a few steps in front of the emperor, reined in his warhorse, and without even dismounting completely, he simply turned to the side, grabbed Xu Zhixun by the back of his neck with one hand, and threw him to the ground with a forceful shove, as if he were throwing away a piece of trash.

Xu Zhixun was thrown around and felt dizzy and cried out in pain, but he still didn't forget to curse Li Maozhen.

He struggled to get up, but his gaze passed over the layers of armored soldiers and he saw the young emperor sitting upright on his horse, being reported to by Li Maozhen who rode forward with clasped hands. All his arrogance vanished instantly. His legs went weak, and he couldn't even stand up completely before collapsing to his knees with a thud. His face was ashen, and tears streamed down his face. All he could do was kowtow and beg for mercy.

"Your Majesty, spare my life! Your Majesty, spare my life! This sinful subject is willing to surrender. I know everything about the traitor Xu Wen, including the treasures he hides in Jinling and Yangzhou, and his sea route! I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and spare this sinful subject's life..."

Xiao Yan sat upright on his horse, not even glancing at Xu Zhixun.

He shielded his eyes with his hand, looking past the rows of spears and halberds in the square at the two figures that had just stepped out from in front of the main hall.

He glanced at Shi Yao, who was pursing her lips, with a half-smile, then gently spurred his horse forward a few steps, breaking away from the encirclement of the entire army.

The firelight illuminated his young and well-defined profile, but all that could be seen was a slight smile and a clear voice: "General, how have you been?"

Yuan Tiangang stood on the high steps, the night wind ruffling the hem of his old indigo robe.

For a moment, the world fell silent, and he too gazed at the spirited young emperor, surrounded by thousands of elite guards.

For a fleeting moment, Yuan Tiangang seemed to be slightly dazed.

Under the cover of night, before the palace, the emperor's composed demeanor and disdainful gaze seemed to overlap with that of another equally dashing figure from three hundred years ago, across the long river of time.

They were so similar, even younger and more valiant, that with thousands of troops standing in formation and approaching the palace, it was impossible to tell them apart.

Yuan Tiangang suddenly let out a long laugh, a hoarse yet powerful laugh that resonated across the empty square, drowning out the faint noise of thousands of candles.

Before his laughter subsided, he flicked his sleeve, and an invisible, immense suction force suddenly arose.

As the fake Li was climbing the steps and struggling to sit on the dragon throne, he suddenly felt his body lighten, and then he was lifted into the air completely out of control, flying towards Yuan Tiangang like a kite with a broken string.

The next instant, a gloved hand gripped his throat, suspending him in mid-air like a puppet, facing the thousands of troops and Xiao Yan in the square.

So Yuan Tiangang, holding the fake Li, spoke in a booming voice, word by word:
"Has Your Majesty arrived to collect the body of your tenth brother?"

His words were like a thunderbolt.

(End of this chapter)