Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Since Long Qi had said those words, it meant that today’s farce was finally over.
However, the War God didn’t leave.
“Bai Yujing, since you’re a disciple of the Forbidden City, you no longer need to return to the Underworld Palace.”
“War God, what do you mean?”
“You’re expelled!”
Bai Yujing’s face instantly filled with resentment and unwillingness. “War God, I’ve made plenty of contributions to the Underworld Palace. Expelling me like this—isn’t that too heartless?”
“Heartless? Think what you want. I call the shots in the Underworld Palace.”
Bai Yujing’s expression twisted into something ferocious as he spat venomously, “War God, one day, you’ll regret this decision.”
“Let’s go.” The War God couldn’t be bothered to spare Bai Yujing another glance.
Bai Yujing clenched his fists tightly, his eyes brimming with malice, before quietly giving the butler a signal.
The butler understood, pulled out his phone, and sent a message.
Tang Fei and Long Ye quickly supported the unconscious Elder Longmei and headed outside.
Ye Wudi also helped Master Du’e to his feet.
Bai Bing hurried forward to assist Ye Qiu.
At that moment, Ye Qiu was extremely weak. After using the Grass Sword Technique twice in a row, his strength had been completely drained. He could barely stand, let alone walk.
“Are you okay?” Bai Bing’s beautiful eyes were filled with concern.
“I’m fine. I’ll recover after some rest.” Ye Qiu smiled and said, “Sister Bing, let’s go.”
“Mm.” Bai Bing nodded, supporting Ye Qiu as they resolutely stepped out of the Bai family’s gate without so much as a backward glance.
This home was no longer worth her attachment.
As Ye Qiu left the Bai residence and was about to get into the car, he suddenly heard someone call his name.
“Ye Qiu!”
Turning his head, he was stunned. The one calling him was none other than his ex-girlfriend, Zhang Lili.
It had been a while since they last met. Zhang Lili had not only lost weight but also had dark circles under her eyes, looking utterly haggard.
Wearing a long-sleeved dress, Zhang Lili stood a short distance away, timidly gazing at Ye Qiu.
Ye Qiu initially had no intention of acknowledging her, but seeing her worn-out appearance softened his heart. He asked, “Why are you here?”
“I was passing by,” Zhang Lili said. Seeing Ye Qiu speak to her, her expression brightened. She quickly stepped forward and said, “After leaving Jiangzhou, I came to the capital and started working at a real estate company. I thought I saw you just now, so I called out—and it really is you.”
“Vice Dean Bai, hello.”
Zhang Lili greeted Bai Bing, then asked Ye Qiu, “When did you arrive in the capital?”
“Yesterday,” Ye Qiu replied. “Do you have something else to say? If not…”
“I do.” Seeing Ye Qiu about to leave, Zhang Lili hurriedly stopped him. “Ye Qiu, do you have time? I’d like to treat you to coffee. There’s something I want to say to you.”
“Just say it here,” Bai Bing said coldly.
Zhang Lili glanced at Bai Bing, then took a step back and bowed deeply to Ye Qiu.
“I’m sorry, Ye Qiu. It was all my fault before. I hurt you.”
“Ever since I came to the capital, I’ve been reflecting. I wanted to find a chance to apologize to you in person.”
“It was all my fault back then. I couldn’t tell right from wrong, I was vain, I didn’t cherish you, and I lost you. It was me…”
As Zhang Lili spoke, tears welled up in her eyes. She paused, then said, “Ye Qiu, I’m leaving the capital.”
“Where to?” Ye Qiu asked.
“I’m going abroad. I’ve already bought the ticket—my flight’s the day after tomorrow.”
Ye Qiu couldn’t help but feel a pang of melancholy.
He knew Zhang Lili’s situation. If she went abroad, alone and without support, life would surely be tough for her.
“Being able to see you before I leave and apologize to you in person—it’s really great.”
Zhang Lili forced a smile onto her face and said, “Ye Qiu, before I go, I have a request. Will you grant it?”
Ye Qiu looked at her with curiosity.
“Can I hug you?” Zhang Lili asked, then watched him anxiously.
Ye Qiu was about to refuse when Zhang Lili stepped forward and embraced him.
The next second, “Bang! Bang! Bang!”—three consecutive gunshots rang out.
Tang Fei and Ye Wudi, who had already gotten into the car, leapt out the moment they heard the shots.
Ye Wudi kicked Zhang Lili away with one swift motion.
“Are you alright?” Ye Wudi asked, glancing at Ye Qiu. He saw that Ye Qiu had been shot in the abdomen, blood seeping from the wound.
“I’m fine,” Ye Qiu said, his face pale. The intense pain left his forehead covered in cold sweat.
At that moment, Zhang Lili aimed her gun at Bai Bing.
“You wretch, die with him!”
Just as Zhang Lili was about to pull the trigger, Tang Fei snatched the gun from her hand and pressed it against her forehead.
Coming to her senses, Bai Bing furiously shouted, “Zhang Lili, how could you do this to Ye Qiu? Back in Jiangzhou, if he hadn’t spared you, you’d be dead already. Has your conscience been eaten by dogs?”
“Hmph, it would’ve been better if he’d killed me back then. Then I wouldn’t have come to the capital.”
“Do you know what I’ve been doing here? I’ve been working at a club, entertaining clients.”
“Those men beat me, humiliated me, tortured me—and it’s all because of Ye Qiu.”
“And Ye Qiu? He’s just a bastard, yet he lives well, eats well, and is respected and feared wherever he goes. Why should he?”
Zhang Lili looked at Ye Qiu and laughed, “You never dreamed you’d die by my hand one day, did you?”
“This is retribution, hahaha…”
Laughing hysterically, Zhang Lili continued, “From the day I left Jiangzhou, I swore that one day, I’d kill you.”
“And today, I did it.”
“Heaven really has eyes, hahaha…”
Ye Qiu pressed a hand to his abdomen, staring coldly at Zhang Lili. “Sister Lin once told me, ‘If you don’t pull the weed out by the roots, it’ll grow back in the spring.’ I regret not listening to her, not being ruthless enough. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have lived to see this day.”
Clang!
Ye Qiu drew the Emperor Sword, intending to kill Zhang Lili. But he had no strength left. Having been shot three times, he nearly collapsed the moment he unsheathed the blade. Thankfully, Bai Bing and Ye Wudi caught him.
“Ye Qiu, let me handle this!” Tang Fei said. Turning to Zhang Lili, he declared, “Ye Qiu is a member of the Underworld Palace, a warrior of the nation, a first-class hero. You dared to shoot him—an unforgivable crime. By military law, it’s a death sentence.”
Bang!
As soon as Tang Fei finished speaking, he pulled the trigger.
Zhang Lili was shot in the head and collapsed into a pool of blood.
Even in death, her face bore a satisfied smile, as if she was delighted to have killed Ye Qiu.
“Get Ye Qiu into the car—” Before Tang Fei could finish, Ye Qiu groaned in pain and fell unconscious.
“Quick, to the hospital!”
