Chapter 2 — Silencing the Grievance

Everyone rose to their feet simultaneously, paralyzed by a sudden, suffocating panic as they tried to comprehend the unfolding disaster. The village elder burst through the heavy doorway of the subterranean shelter, his voice trembling with terror as he announced that the outlaws had brought dynamite and were preparing to blast open the massive stone gates.

What are we going to do? Someone whimpered, tears streaming down their face, Are we all going to die trapped in this dark place?

Watching the profound terror etched across the faces of my neighbors and family, my mind raced before I spoke with forced resolve. If the men of our own militia are nowhere to be found, we will ride to the neighboring village and beg their militia for help!

Let me go! My sister-in-law wiped away her remaining tears and eagerly volunteered, stepping forward.

Yet, within moments, everyone noticed that she was walking with a severe limp. They forced her to sit down, carefully rolling up her trouser legs to inspect the damage. Both of her calves were swollen to the size of frantic dumplings. Only then did she look down, flushing with embarrassment as she confessed in a rush, When I was riding the horse so fast earlier, I was careless and took a terrible fall.

It does not matter, I can still ride! she insisted.

She was utterly determined to save everyone, struggling fiercely to force herself back onto her feet. I immediately pressed my hands down on her shoulders, pushing her firmly back onto the bench. Do not move, let me go instead. Ignoring the chorus of desperate protests from the surrounding villagers, I hurried over and hauled myself up onto the saddle of the waiting horse. The elder sprinted after me, his voice cracking with urgency. Moon, you must bring help back within two hours! The stone gates cannot withstand their explosives for much longer than that! I nodded heavily, gripping the reins tight.

Halfway down the winding mountain path, a figure suddenly lunged out from the dense brush at the roadside. I jerked the reins hard, bringing the horse to a rearing halt just in time. As my eyes focused on the person standing squarely in my path, a surge of hope made my heart leap. It was the commander of the neighboring village militia, Fortune! I hastily dismounted from the horse, stepping forward with a relieved smile. Fortune! What are you doing out here?

I had barely opened my mouth to explain the dire situation in our village when he suddenly lunged forward, grabbing my wrists with an iron grip and pinning my arms behind my back. Fortune offered a cold, mocking smirk. I have been waiting right here for you to arrive.

My arms went completely numb from his crushing hold. What on earth are you talking about?

Weren't you looking everywhere for the outlaws today? Fortune glared at me, his eyes filled with absolute disgust. Your husband came to find me this very morning, instructing me to intercept you right here. He told me you would undoubtedly take this exact path to meet up with the bandits. Moon, your father was a legendary hero who dedicated his life to eradicating outlaws, yet here you are, conspiring with them simply out of spite and jealousy. You have completely disgraced his memory!

I stood frozen in utter disbelief. Though he was speaking fluent Mandarin, it took several agonizing seconds for his bizarre words to actually register in my mind. In my past life, the exact moment Zhang Song-tuo murdered me, he had spoken those very same accusations. He had claimed back then that I was the one who summoned the bandits to the village simply to sabotage him and seize the women's association leadership position from Snow. He even fabricated the monstrous lie that I had ordered the criminals to humiliate her.

In that fraction of a second, the horrifying truth dawned on me with crystalline clarity—Zhang Song-tuo must have also been reborn into this life. No wonder my sister-in-law had pleaded with him so desperately earlier, yet he had stubbornly refused to return to the village. I never could have imagined he would be so utterly ruthless, blocking the absolute only route available for us to seek rescue.

Pushing aside the suffocating weight of his vile accusations, I lowered my voice and spoke with desperate urgency.

Fortune, I have not conspired with any outlaws! I came here because those bandits are currently attacking our village. They have brought explosives and are actively trying to shatter our stone gates. All the militia men in our village were taken away by Zhang Song-tuo to watch a movie in town with Snow!

I beg you, please mobilize your militia and come to our rescue immediately! If there is the slightest delay, not a single soul in my village will survive!

Perhaps the desperate terror etched across my face was too profound to fake, for Fortune faltered for a few seconds, his expression wavering. Then, abruptly, his face twisted into a harsh, mocking laugh. Moon, you are truly a phenomenal actress! I almost believed your ridiculous performance for a moment. But then you expect me to believe that Zhang Song-tuo abandoned his sworn duty just to go watch a movie with a woman? That sounds utterly laughable.

I know her character better than anyone. She is profoundly responsible, a decorated veteran. How could she ever commit such a profoundly selfish and irresponsible act?

A sharp, stabbing pain pierced straight through my heart, but I forced myself to swallow the agony and press on. I am telling you the absolute truth... if you refuse to believe me, you can come and see with your own eyes.

You just want to trick me into leaving this post so you can rendezvous with your bandit lovers! Fortune waved his hand dismissively, his voice hardening into a stern reprimand.

Moon, stop fighting this hopeless battle. Do you know why I am the only one standing here waiting for you? It is because Zhang Song-tuo asked me to persuade you to turn back from your wicked ways. He still harbors deep feelings for you; otherwise, he would have reported your treasonous actions to the authorities long ago, and you would already be locked behind bars.

Zhang Song-tuo loved me. Before Snow ever entered our lives, I had firmly believed in that devotion. He and his younger sister had been rescued from a notorious bandit den by my own father. During that bloody raid, both of his parents had been slaughtered by those very same criminals. When he was brought to our household, he was merely a fragile ten-year-old boy. We practically grew up side by side. When he turned sixteen, my father was ambushed and murdered by the surviving outlaws seeking bloody revenge. With his dying breath, my father entrusted my safety and future into his hands. Zhang Song-tuo had nodded solemnly.

Shortly after that, he enlisted in the army, telling me to wait patiently for his return. He was gone for five long years. Throughout that entire half-decade, I stayed behind, caring for his younger sister while counting down the days. When he finally returned in uniform, we were married just as promised. Yet, ever since our wedding night, he had maintained a persistent, icy distance, treating me with cold indifference. Everyone around us had reassured me that because we had known each other since childhood, the romantic passion of marriage naturally faded into quiet familiarity over time.