Settling Old Scores

The commoners were seething with anger. Several hot-headed men rushed forward, ready to beat up Edward Yu and his lackeys.

"How dare you, you heartless crook, deceive people! His Majesty is kind, and we've finally found a way to survive. Now you want to ruin it!"

"Edward Yu, you bastard! Haven't you done us enough harm already!?"

"Hit him! Hit them all!"

...

The men surged forward as one. Seeing their fierce momentum, Edward Yu and his henchmen panicked and tried to flee.

With a single gesture from Lily Evans, the Black Armor Qin Troops instantly surrounded the area, blocking Edward Yu and his men from escaping.

Lola, swift as the wind, caught each fleeing Zhao family member one by one and tossed them back to the furious crowd.

The townsfolk immediately encircled Edward Yu and his crew. Now, it was truly time for old scores to be settled—grievances avenged, grudges repaid, all at once!

The people of Charleston had suffered so much at the hands of the Zhao family. So many had swallowed their anger for years, but now, with the chance for revenge, everyone’s eyes turned red!

Most of the men who'd come to enlist were strapping fellows, their fists as big as steamed buns.

Lily Evans, Lola, and Neil Zhao stood off to the side, watching the commotion unfold.

Lily watched with great interest, while Neil Zhao's eyes burned with hatred, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

Lola noticed Neil's unusual expression. She glanced at him, surprised by the depth of his hatred toward Edward Yu.

Neil caught Lola's astonished look, a flash of pain and loneliness passing through his eyes. He said bitterly, "Among those who humiliated my mother back then, Edward Yu was one of them—a beast!"

Lola's eyes trembled. She'd heard about Neil's past, but never imagined it was so tragic.

No wonder Neil hated Edward Yu so much. The hatred of a mother's killer was irreconcilable—of course he'd want to skin him alive.

Neil gave a self-deprecating laugh. "You must look down on me—I’m a useless man. Couldn't protect my mother, couldn't protect my wife, endured for so many years, and now I have to rely on the King to get revenge... I’m just a failure."

Lola bit her lip, wanting to say something but unable to find the words. In the end, she just shook her head gently. "I don’t think that at all…"

Then she turned her attention back to the crowd.

Meanwhile, Edward Yu and his men were surrounded in the middle, taking countless blows. Unable to fend them off, Edward panicked and pleaded for help from the Qin troops, screaming, "Help! Soldiers, help! These ruffians are going to kill us! Someone’s going to die! Help! Help!"

The Black Armor Qin soldiers looked at each other, but none of them moved.

With the Queen of Qin present and silent, they had no intention of interfering.

Edward Yu cried for help for ages, beaten half to death, but the Qin troops never came. Desperate, he shouted, "How can you stand by and watch! Aren’t you the army? Aren’t you supposed to protect me? I’m about to be beaten to death by these mobs and you just watch! Help!"

Lily Evans clicked her tongue, face full of disdain. "Edward Yu, you still have the nerve to ask the Black Armor Qin soldiers to protect you? Who was it that tried to sabotage the recruitment just now? You went out of your way to make trouble for the Qin troops, spread rumors and filth, and now you want them to save you? Tch, you’re ugly and yet you dream big. You’ve committed countless crimes—privately recruiting soldiers to oppose the King of Qin, obstructing the draft, inciting the people. Every one is a capital offense. Why should these soldiers save you?"

"I’m a citizen of Chang’an! You should save me!" Edward Yu wailed.

But Lily Evans wasn’t buying it. She cleared her throat and called out to the crowd, "Don’t miss your chance! Edward Yu, Second Master Zhao, is right here—if you have a score to settle, now’s the time! If you’ve got a grievance, take it up! Opportunities like this don’t come twice!"