Chapter 429
Chapter 429
The moment Shen Lang's voice rang out, Su Nan, disguised as an ordinary warrior, flinched. Struck with terror, he stared at Shen Lang, his eyes filled with disbelief. Simultaneously, thousands of warriors emerged from the darkness, swiftly surrounding Su Nan's troops. In their haste to escape, Su Nan and his several hundred men had failed to send scouts ahead to survey the path.
“Uncle Su Nan, I have been waiting here for you for a very long time. I knew you would resort to another trick to flee unnoticed. I predicted you would have a subordinate disguise himself as you and lead the Su Clan’s main army west to divert my attention, while you slipped away northward with only a small contingent. How truly cunning of you!”
A moment later, thousands of warriors had encircled Su Nan’s forces in multiple layers. All the direct retainers of the Su Clan were present. Shen Lang spoke calmly.
“Uncle Su Nan, today the Su Clan will be utterly annihilated! Kill them!”
At Shen Lang’s command, thousands of warriors drew their bows and fired as one.
*Swish, swish, swish, swish.*
The Su Clan warriors were struck by arrows, falling to the ground one after another, coughing up blood.
Su Nan threw back his cloak, revealing his face. Only now, for the first time, did Shen Lang see Su Nan’s true appearance. The last time he had seen him, Su Nan was disguised as an old man, but his face now did not look particularly young. Signs of age were already etched upon his features, with deep wrinkles around his eyes. Not only that, but his hair was not black but streaked with a considerable amount of white.
The Sword King, Li Qianqiu, was slightly taken aback when he saw Su Nan’s face. He couldn’t believe Su Nan had changed so much in just a month or two. Outwardly, Su Nan appeared to have aged by more than ten years. The last time Li Qianqiu had attempted to assassinate him at the western post station of Lang Commandery, Su Nan had been young, imposing, his spirit soaring to the heavens. Yet today, he looked so defeated…
As Shen Lang’s thousands of warriors loosed their arrows, Su Jian and Sanyanya immediately rushed to the side of Su Nan and Su Jianzhang, shielding them. Sanyanya still wore his black helmet, a single eye painted on its forehead. Now, only these two powerful retainers remained by Su Nan’s side.
“We will shield you, my lord, and break through the encirclement.”
“That’s right, brother. We will protect you and the heir as we break out. We still have the strength to fight.”
Sanyanya and Su Jian drew their swords with a flourish and shouted.
“Draw your swords and break through! We die for our lord and for the Su Clan!”
Several hundred warriors drew their swords, forming a sharp, wedge-like formation.
“Stop!”
Su Nan’s sharp cry halted Su Jian and Sanyanya in their tracks just as they were about to charge the enemy lines. Su Nan turned to Shen Lang.
“Shen Lang, I never thought I would end up in your hands. Hah…”
Su Nan let out a weary sigh and continued.
“A man’s character can truly ruin his life. I am a man undone by greed. I had a favorable situation right before me, yet I always wanted more. It was my greed that led to the plan to get gold from the rebels, kill you, and take White Night City in one fell swoop—a scheme to kill three birds with one stone—only to end in my defeat at the city’s gates.”
Su Nan was not wrong. Some men hold a winning hand yet overplay it, trying for a greater victory, only to have the tables turned. In the end, they not only fail to win but suffer a devastating loss.
“This time was no different. My greed for the gold in the Qiang King’s palace has brought my clan to the brink of annihilation.”
Tears streamed down Su Nan’s face, and Su Jian cried out.
“Brother, say no more! It is all my fault. All my fault! You were prepared to abandon the gold and head directly for the Western Regions.”
Su Nan shook his head.
“No. Ultimately, it was because I wanted that gold. I, Su Nan, have always prided myself on being supremely intelligent, a match for any hero in the realm. And how many heroes are there in this world? The King of Wu, the King of Yue, Zhong Yao, Bian Wu, Ning Yi, Ning Qi, Zhang Chong, Xue Che, Yan Nanfei, Yan E. And of course, there are even greater heroes—like Prince Gong, who will soon upend half the world.”
Shen Lang asked.
“Su Nan, on the verge of death, you wish to offer a critique of the world’s heroes?”
Su Nan let out a hollow laugh, then looked at him and retorted.
“Shen Lang, do you know which of them I hold in the highest esteem?”
“Please, enlighten me.”
“Prince Gong. Just wait and see. One day, he will conquer the entire south, wielding the power of the civilized world in one hand and the might of the barbarian tribes in the other. He will become the sovereign of a new era.”
“Lord Su, since you are critiquing the heroes of the realm, you should offer your thoughts on me as well, in comparison to them.”
Su Nan shot a glance at Shen Lang.
“Shen Lang, you are exceedingly clever, your wisdom almost demonic. Those who make an enemy of you often find themselves driven to despair. But do you know what your flaw is?”
“I await your guidance.”
“You are far too arrogant. A million gold coins, high office, a handsome stipend—none of it matters to you. You don’t even care for the people of this world, readily luring them all into traps to die. Your gaze is fixed on the heavens, and you see all but the few people by your side as nothing more than swine. What an astonishingly condescending view.”
Shen Lang was perplexed.
“Am I?”
“Your gaze is fixed on the heavens, you see others as swine, and you covet nothing but revenge. A life like that could cost you dearly. Perhaps that very trait will be your undoing.”
Shen Lang laughed dismissively.
“I have one last question. The secret letter my father, Su Quan, wrote to the Jin Clan—did Jin Zhuo truly burn it?”
“He burned it. However, I made several copies. Of course, they proved to be of little use, so I never had the chance to use them.”
“So he did burn it. I should have trusted Jin Zhuo’s character. At the time, I received a secret report claiming the Jin Clan had not destroyed the letter. I didn’t believe it at first, but my informant recited its contents verbatim, and every word was correct.”
“It must have been either the Hidden Yuan Society or the Xue Clan. In his day, the Count of Xuanwu considered both factions to be his staunchest allies.”
“None of that matters now.”
Su Nan let out another long sigh and brandished his longspear. For a moment, it was as if the imposing figure who had once shaken the capital had returned. Though his face was lined with wrinkles and his hair had turned white, the Su Nan whose spirit soared to the heavens was back. He roared.
“Sword King Li Qianqiu! Last time, you were so awed by my presence that you failed to assassinate me. I imagine you have not been at ease since that defeat. How about we settle the score, once and for all? Sword King Li Qianqiu, face me in a duel to the death!”
The Sword King, Li Qianqiu, stared at Su Nan for a long moment before speaking.
“Your martial skill and your spirit have greatly diminished.”
“Hahaha… Martial skill is like one’s tolerance for drink. When your spirit soars, you grow stronger, but when you become a stray dog, your strength drains away. Come, let’s begin!”
With a great shout, Su Nan spurred his warhorse, charging furiously toward the Sword King, Li Qianqiu. His mount gained speed as it galloped.
“Aaaaaaaaaargh!”
A thunderous roar, just as in their previous battle, erupted from Su Nan’s lips. This time, however, the words “Li Qianqiu, do you have a death wish?” were absent. He could no longer utter such a challenge. His cry of “Aaaaaaaaaargh” was filled with a tragic finality.
“Die!”
Su Nan thrust his spear at the Sword King with all his might, while the Sword King simply extended his sword. In a flash, their figures crossed.
*Slice.*
In that instant, the longspear in Su Nan’s hand was severed, and a thin line of blood appeared across his chest.
“Hahh, hahh…”
With each ragged breath, bloody foam frothed at his lips. Su Nan’s internal organs had been grievously wounded by Li Qianqiu’s sharp blade; he would not last much longer. Even so, Su Nan turned his horse and rode back inside the encirclement. His body was completely hunched over, unable to straighten. Crimson blood flowed ceaselessly from his chest and the corners of his mouth.
“Shen Lang, you won’t spare a single member of my clan, will you?”
Shen Lang nodded.
“I heard you had Su Jianyan drawn and quartered.”
Shen Lang nodded again.
“My son, Su Jianzhang, is only eighteen. Can he not be spared?”
This time, Shen Lang shook his head.
“You said you would annihilate the Su Clan, and you truly mean to kill every last one. How ruthless. Very well, I understand!”
Su Nan walked over to his son, Su Jianzhang. The boy was young and intelligent. Though a bit frivolous, he was an outstanding heir. With Su Jianting dead, he was destined to carry on the Su Clan’s great enterprise. He was Su Nan’s hope, the hope of the Su Clan.
“Forgive me. Your father will not be here to see you grow.”
Su Nan reached out to caress his son’s face, then plunged his sword deep into the young man’s heart. Su Jianzhang died instantly. Seeing this, Shen Lang flinched. Su Nan continued to mutter to himself.
“Our grand ambitions have come to nothing! The great enterprise our Su Clan has built for centuries is finished. What a pity.”
Su Nan walked to his younger brother, Su Jian, and pounded his fist against his chest.
“I am sorry, brother. A fierce warrior like you never had the chance to truly shine. Your brother was too useless to let you achieve greatness!”
Tears streamed down Su Jian’s face as he shook his head desperately, unable to speak. Then, Su Nan plunged his sword into his brother’s chest. The great general, Su Jian, died on the spot. He uttered no scream, nor did he offer the slightest resistance.
“A century of ambition, vanished like smoke.”
Su Nan coughed, spitting blood as he muttered again.
“But it matters not. The victor becomes a king, the vanquished a bandit. It is only fair.”
Su Nan stood before Sanyanya.
“You were a war refugee from the State of Qian, raised by my clan. You have suffered greatly, unable to even show your face for your entire life!”
The bandit Sanyanya trembled with grief, but he made no sound.
“My lord…”
Su Nan’s sword pierced Sanyanya’s heart. With a final cry of “My lord,” Sanyanya closed his eyes and died. Then, Su Nan stood before his principal wife. She immediately burst into tears.
“Husband, why must you do this?”
The woman wailed.
“If a merchant loses his investment, he goes bankrupt. If one fails at rebellion, it is only natural that his entire family dies.”
Su Nan’s sword pierced his wife’s chest. The gentle, dignified lady died a wretched death. Then, with the speed of lightning, Su Nan’s sword flashed again and again, killing the hundred or so remaining direct members of the Su Clan. Thus, the Su Clan was completely annihilated, torn out by the roots. And Su Nan had killed every last one with his own hands. Su Nan opened his mouth and laughed.
“The Su Clan, which has endured for centuries, has scattered like smoke. Scattered like smoke! Shen Lang, you must remember this day. If you do not, the Jin Clan will follow in our footsteps.”
“Thank you for your guidance, Lord Su.”