Chapter 1351 - 1027: No One Sees You as an Enemy

"Shang Ruyi?!"

Once they recognized that elegant and dignified face that exuded an imposing aura in the flickering firelight, everyone was shocked, especially Lei Yu. She smiled and involuntarily took a step forward: "Ruyi, you’re alright—"

As soon as she spoke, she stopped abruptly.

After the initial surprise, she seemed to have realized something and looked at Shang Ruyi with a complex expression: "You’re alright."

It was Shang Ruyi who gradually walked behind Young Master Jia amidst everyone’s astonished and bewildered gazes. Much to everyone’s surprise, she remained calm and sharp-eyed despite previously being unconscious and on the verge of death from snake poison. Her steps were steady, completely contrasting with her earlier weakened state.

Young Master Jia’s face instantly darkened.

Frowning deeply, he watched Shang Ruyi approach slowly and said in a deep voice: "You—" But he paused, his beard trembling for a moment before he sighed heavily and said, "I fell into your trap."

The surrounding people became even more bewildered, yet Lu Xiao and Lei Yu remained silent, their glimmering eyes suggesting that they had understood something. Ashina Zhuxie also furrowed his brows upon seeing Shang Ruyi "recover" and glanced back at Wang Shaoqiu, who sat paralyzed on the ground, his expression slowly growing cold.

"Young Master Jia..."

Though many pairs of eyes were fixed fiercely upon her through the flames, Shang Ruyi remained tranquil, her gaze only flickering for an instant when she made eye contact with Lei Yu, before quickly regaining her calm. She looked at Young Master Jia and then smiled slightly, saying, "No, it should be—Young Master Zuo."

"..."

This time, the people within the stone chamber didn’t exhibit excessive astonishment.

After all, from the appearance of this "Young Master Jia" to his intent on burning these people, to the words he spoke, everyone had more or less guessed his identity; and upon hearing Shang Ruyi utter "Young Master Zuo," he merely squinted slightly, his eyes flashing a sharp glint in the firelight as he slowly replied, "When did you realize it?"

Shang Ruyi calmly walked to his side: "When I met you."

"Why?"

"No one would live in such a remote place without a reason."

"But—"

"Of course, except for those who seek enlightenment,"

Shang Ruyi interrupted his attempt to argue and smiled again, saying, "But from head to toe, you don’t have the appearance of someone enlightened."

The face of "Young Master Jia" changed subtly, but he said nothing.

When seeing Shang Ruyi again, he had already gone over the events of last night in his mind. Without reminders from others, he felt his performance wasn’t good, or else Ashina Zhuxie wouldn’t have so blatantly asked him about the location of Left General’s Tomb. He wouldn’t have had to enter this underground cave after last night to silence everyone here.

"You, you are Zuo Tian."

"..."

He still remained silent, but the flickering in his eyes told everything.

Shang Ruyi nodded slightly, then looked past his shoulder towards the crowded stone chamber behind him and the coffin on the stone platform. Although she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, from the chatter she just heard, she had a good idea of the situation inside. She then said: "So this coffin, this tomb, is where you buried Zuo Heng."

"..."

"You survived and took away his body."

"..."

"His head was taken by the court, separating it from his body so it couldn’t be properly buried. Thus, you crafted a golden skull for him to be buried with."

Lu Xiao took a deep breath.

No wonder seeing that golden skull earlier gave her an inexplicable sense of familiarity. It turned out to resemble an old acquaintance...

Zuo Tian gripped the torch tightly, his knuckles cracking as he struggled with it. He said in a deep voice, "Knowing it’s me, what will you do? What will you all do?"

"..."

"Do you want to kill me?"

Shang Ruyi calmly watched the torch in his hand: "Young Master Zuo, right now, you are the one wanting to kill."

Zuo Tian said, "If I don’t kill them, will they spare me?"

Saying so, he turned to Shang Ruyi: "Will you spare me?"

His eyes seemed to blaze in the reflection of the flames. Years of seclusion made him forget a lot from the past, like the nobleness of being born in a prominent family, the once extreme wealth, and the thrill of commanding thousands. He seemed to be observing his life from a past lifetime.

Yet, some things remain unforgettable.

The panic when trapped with no way out, the utter despair when forced to the brink, and the agony after escaping death...

He dared not to imagine how they would treat him once his identity was known.

Will he have to experience that incident from years ago once more?

Just as Zuo Tian clenched his teeth, his eyes slowly growing red, seemingly ready to fight to the death, Shang Ruyi merely watched him calmly, without the slightest emotional ripple.

She said: "You’re not anyone’s enemy."

"...?"

Zuo Tian was startled, seemingly disbelieving his ears, and stared at her wide-eyed: "What did you say?"

Shang Ruyi looked at him indifferently and said: "No one considers you an enemy."

"..."

"Especially after Zuo Chen An’s tomb was lost entirely... The Zuo Family, any member of the Zuo Family, is no longer important."

Zuo Tian’s eyes widened.

But there was no change in Shang Ruyi’s expression, as if she were speaking of the most ordinary matter. He composed himself and quickly turned to look at the people behind him in the stone chamber. Although some were still vigilant of him, their caution was only towards the torch in his hand, not him personally.

Zuo Tian seemed to freeze there, as the flames flickered violently—it was his hand shaking fiercely. He muttered: "How, how can this be... How can it be...?"

Shang Ruyi said: "The world is unpredictable."

These four words seemed like a venomous snake’s fangs, piercing into his heart, causing Zuo Tian’s hand to suddenly stiffen, and the torch fell from his grip!

"Oh no!"

People in the stone chamber screamed in fright as the torch fell to the ground, bouncing toward the tung oil spilled all over the floor!

At that critical moment, a nimble figure suddenly darted out, catching the torch!

It was Wo Xue!

Seeing her act, Shang Ruyi’s heart leapt to her throat, but she was relieved at last.

She let out a long sigh of relief.

But before she could let her heart rest, a spurt of sparks drifted from the burning torch and fell onto the tung oil on the ground!