Xie Jiang flicked a whip across his arm, telling him to get out of the way and die somewhere else!
What a sight!
Guang Bai didn't feel angry at all despite being hit.
Just for the sake of Young Master Xie's loyalty to the Young Master, even if Young Master Xie did something more excessive in the future, even if he kicked the Young Master in the head again, he wouldn't secretly curse Young Master Xie in his heart!
"We know you're good friends with the Young Master, and you're willing to go through thick and thin for him, but this really isn't necessary."
Even if Young Master Xie was resourceful and could find a way to prevent the Lu family father and son from killing her immediately, they certainly wouldn't let her off lightly!
Why go through suffering when you know it's coming...
The Young Master had not misjudged him.
Young Master Xie was truly a friend worth having.
Adversity reveals true character.
Nie Tong spoke up at the opportune moment, "Young Master, let's think of another way. Lu Baohong needs Young Master Xu as a hostage, so Young Master Xu's life will definitely be safe. We can plan something."
The magistrate and the chief clerk of Ninghe County also began to offer advice.
Just then, several riders galloped towards the city gate.
Shen Qinghuai, dressed in riding attire, was heroic and spirited. She reined in her horse at the city gate and paused, asking Guang Qing and Guang Bai for information.
Upon learning that Xie Jiang intended to go to Kuihe to find Xu Hengyan, Shen Qinghuai immediately declared that she would go too.
Guang Bai's head began to spin.
This one wants to go, that one wants to go, and the third young master is about to be cut into a sieve!
Have some pity on the third young master!
Guang Bai had completely lost his sentimental thoughts by now.
He could only earnestly advise, "Who would willingly offer themselves as bargaining chips to Lu Baohong? The Young Master is forced to do this to save the third young master, and Lu Baohong would be delighted to have one more bargaining chip, which would also put the Duke of Liang's mansion under their control. But why must you do this?"
Guang Qing directly blocked Shen Qinghuai's path, "The Young Master has ordered that no one is allowed to follow. We hope Miss Shen will not make things difficult for us..."
Xie Jiang glanced at Shen Qinghuai and then withdrew his gaze. He didn't care if Shen Qinghuai was going to be another bargaining chip in Lu Baohong's hands, nor did he care how many times Xu Hengyi would be cut.
Xie Jiang ordered Nie Tong and Da Chui, who were following him, not to accompany him and rode away.
Da Chui let out a loud wail, "Jiang Jiang, don't go! Those people will kill you—"
"Young Master—"
Nie Tong circled around the entrance on his horse, as if he was about to chase after and protect his young master, but ultimately did not disobey the order.
The guards of the Duke of Wei's mansion looked horrified, fearing that Nie Tong and Da Chui would not be able to resist chasing after them, in which case they would have to rush forward and stop them.
After all, for every person who went out, their third young master would be stabbed once.
Shen Qinghuai looked at Xie Jiang's receding back, her delicate eyebrows furrowed into a knot, "How can Young Master Xie just go?"
She was not a delicate and weak woman and did not consider herself a burden to Young Master Xu. As long as she and Young Master Xu cooperated wholeheartedly, she was confident they could escape from the tiger's jaws.
Guang Bai said, "Your situation is different from Young Master Xie's. If the Young Master were venturing alone, there would still be room for maneuver in everything. But if you fall into Lu Baohong's hands, not only will the Duke of Liang's mansion be constrained, but even the Young Master himself..."
Guang Bai almost explicitly stated that Shen Qinghuai would be a hindrance.
"The Young Master also doesn't want Young Master Xie to take such a risk, but no one can stop Young Master Xie's temper. We tried to persuade him, but to no avail."
"Moreover, Young Master Xie has always been resourceful. Not only will he not make the Young Master overly constrained, but he might even become the Young Master's asset..."
Shen Qinghuai remained silent. If Young Master Xie could become Young Master Xu's asset, could she not?
Guang Bai didn't know what Miss Shen was thinking, but he knew he had to stop her.
The Young Master had already ventured alone. If they couldn't even stabilize the rear, wouldn't they truly be useless, as Young Master Xie said?
They might as well feed themselves to a dog!
If something were to happen due to Miss Shen causing trouble, and it led to an accident on Young Master Xu's side, then even dying in a dog's belly would not be enough to atone for their sins.
"Furthermore, Miss Shen, you are a woman. Lu Baohong and his son are colluding with the bandits of Huang Lanshan. If you were to fall into the hands of the bandits..."
Who could bear the consequences of thinking about that?
Shen Qinghuai silently clenched her reins, having to admit that Guang Bai had a point.
The shackles and restrictions placed upon her prevented her from acting fearlessly and doing whatever she wanted, like Young Master Xie.
"Have you sent a letter to the capital?"
Upon hearing this, Guang Bai breathed a sigh of relief, "It has been sent."
It's good that Miss Shen could see reason!
Although the events of today happened rather suddenly, and it seemed the Young Master was at the mercy of others with no choice, the Young Master was not truly resigned to his fate.
The Young Master had other arrangements and plans.
It was a bit risky, but since the Young Master had decided, what could they do?
If Miss Shen insisted on getting involved, the outcome would indeed be unpredictable.
As for Young Master Xie, he truly couldn't be stopped.
Moreover, Guang Bai had a strange confidence in Young Master Xie, always feeling that nothing could stump him.
If Lu Baohong took Young Master Xie hostage, it wasn't certain who would end up in trouble.
No.
Based on all the previous experiences, Lu Baohong would definitely be the one in trouble in the end.
Guang Bai actually started to worry that Young Master Xie would be too ruthless...
After calming down, Shen Qinghuai also felt that Young Master Xu would not be completely helpless, waiting to be ransomed by the Lu clan members.
Looking at Guang Bai's expression again, she became even more certain of her guess: Young Master Xu must have made arrangements.
~
Outside the city gate.
As Xie Jiang passed by the two vigilant assassins, he left them with a sentence without looking back and rode away.
"Send a message to Lu Baohong: I am willing to be a hostage with Xu Hengyan. I and Xu Hengyan will trade for one Xu Hengyi. Lu Baohong is making a killing this time."
The Lu family's assassins all knew Xie Jiang. Lu Baohong and his son wished they could eat his flesh alive. Lu Baohong called out Xie Jiang's name in his dreams every day, never wanting to kill Xie Jiang.
Xie Jiang's willingness to deliver himself into their hands was exactly what Lu Baohong and his son wanted.
~
Xie Jiang galloped along Kuihe. From afar, he could hear Xu Hengyi's loud voice.
He could faintly hear Xu Hengyi calling out to his second brother.
Xie Jiang followed the sound and ran forward for a while, and indeed, he saw Xu Hengyi by the riverbank.
A boat was moored on the river, and Xu Hengyi, in a sorry state, was staggering and shouting towards the boat.
It seemed Xu Hengyan had already boarded Lu Baohong's pirate ship.
Xu Hengyi heard the sound of horses and turned his head. Upon seeing that it was Xie Jiang, he became excited as if he had seen a savior.
"Xie Jiang! Xie Jiang—"
Xu Hengyi jumped up excitedly and waved at Xie Jiang.
In an instant, Xie Jiang reached Xu Hengyi, reined in his horse, and turned to look at the river, "Did Xu Hengyan board that boat with Lu Baohong?"
Xu Hengyi nodded vigorously, his face covered in tears and snot, "It's all my fault, my second brother is trying to save me..."
He looked behind Xie Jiang, his eyes straining to see, but he saw no one. Xu Hengyi cried even louder, "Xie Jiang, did you come alone? Didn't you bring anyone to save my second brother?"