My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

"Jinyan!" Shi Nian grabbed his arm, flustered. What was he doing?! Why did he take the initiative to provoke Nan Xukun? Couldn't he tell how unstable Nan Xukun is right now?! Just one mistake and that ax would slice through his head easily!

"SHUT UP!" Nan Xukun hollered furiously. "What do you know?! Who the fuck do you think you are?! You have no idea what Shi Nian means to me, you have no idea what I have gone through—"

"So what?" Jiang Jinyan said coolly. "Why should I? The world doesn't revolve around you, crybaby. Do you think everyone is willing to hear you whine?"

"YOU—!" Nan Xukun's eyes bulged out and he lifted his ax. "I should kill you first!"

Jiang Jinyan's eyes narrowed sharply. He pushed Shi Nian aside and grabbed the chain that had been tugged off the wall tightly in his palm. As Nan Xukun's ax hammered down, Jiang Jinyan swung the chain toward his face. Taken aback, Nan Xukun threw his head sideways yet that split moment had been seized by Jiang Jinyan to direct the ax aside toward his other hand that was still shackled.

Bang! 

The heavy force successfully broke off the chains. Now, Jiang Jinyan was free. In addition, due to the force Nan Xukun exerted, the ax's tip was lodged into the ground, stuck.

"You—!" Without any warning, Nan Xukun swiftly freed one hand and delivered a punch up Jiang Jinyan's jaws, taking the man off guard. The solitaire on Nan Xukun's ring grazed his cheek, creating a long slit that ran from his chin up to the side of his cheek. Blood instantly oozed out of it.

Shi Nian took in the whole scene as her breath ceased abruptly. 

In her past life, Jiang Jinyan became a feared figure not only because of his infamous reputation in the battlefield, but also mainly due to the scar that deformed his face and made him look terrifying and fierce.

She was gratified that the scar didn't remain in this life.

With that, Jiang Jinyan didn't have to live surrounded by people's malicious and inquisitive gazes. Because without that scar, Shi Nian was confident that he could easily become one of the handsomest figures in history.

And now, Nan Xukun's act had just crossed another one of her bottom lines; one that evoked bubbling fury deep within her chest. Her eyes blazed in flame and she clutched the glass shard tighter, pouncing forward like a wild beast. "How. Dare. You!" 

"Shi Nian!" Jiang Jinyan's eyes widened in shock.

It wasn't only him who was taken aback, but also Nan Xukun and the immobilized Si Zhening.

The fear in Shi Nian's eyes were no more, only rage and madness remained. She tackled Nan Xukun and sat on him, intending to make him pay for injuring Jiang Jinyan's face. She was really furious…but when things came down to it, her hands trembled in knowledge of hurting someone on purpose. Moreover, she kept on recalling that this was none other than Xiao Chun, her childhood friend… 

Alas, amidst her waver, Nan Xukun seized the opportunity to kick Shi Nian right on her gut, casting her rolling across the ground.

Shi Nian doubled over and coughed in pain, tears trickling down her eyes.

Jiang Jinyan's pupils dilated. Maddened by anger, he roared and leapt forward. "Nan Xukun, you dead bastard!" 

Nan Xukun swiped the blood on his lips and sneered. He didn't defend against Jiang Jinyan's attack but deliberately targeted the man's leg. Jiang Jinyan was too consumed by his anger to notice his sneaky act. 

A sharp kick landed on his knee cap right on where the artificial clasp was and intense pain shot through Jiang Jinyan's whole body. His momentum weakened in an instant, compelling Nan Xukun to deliver another attack easily that stripped off all of his strength. He curled up on the ground, muffling in the groans of pain.

"No!" Shi Nian gritted her teeth as she struggled to stand up against the wall, clutching her aching stomach. "Don't you dare hurt him or I won't forgive you!"

Nan Xukun slowly turned to face her, an incredulous look on his eyes. "You're siding with him, Shi Nian? For him, you're willing to go against me?" He yanked out the ax on the ground and slung it across his shoulder. His eyes turned even more gloomy and menacing. 

"Nan Xukun, that's enough." Si Zhening suddenly spoke up, his placid tone seemed out of place amidst the burning and tense atmosphere.

"Shut up!" He growled. "You only need to stay there quietly! Who do you think you are to control me?!"

Si Zhening stared at him and said quietly. "You're going to regret it."

Hearing that, Nan Xukun's eyes wavered. Only for a split second though before they hardened and burst forth with an even denser hatred. "Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP! I have regretted it for a long, long time!" He turned to Shi Nian and bared his teeth. "I should have killed you from the start! I shouldn't have forgiven you again and again! In the end, you will always run from me!"

Swinging his ax, he stalked toward Shi Nian, expression twisted maniacally. "I must kill you now… I must kill you now!"

"Shi Nian…!" Jiang Jinyan's pupils reflected the two people, desperate. "GET AWAY FROM THERE!"

Shi Nian stood still, frozen. She also knew that she had to dodge this or else she was going to die for sure. However, knowing it was one thing and executing it was another matter altogether. Her eyes widened in shock and the scene in front of her turned into a slow motion; Jiang Jinyan who scrambled to get up, Si Zhening who kept on yanking his chain and Nan Xukun who lifted the ax over his head…

Her breathing halted and loud heartbeats thundered in her ears.

In that split second, the last thing that flashed through her mind was how to take Nan Xukun down with her so that Jiang Jinyan could escape safely.

However, before she could move, Nan Xukun's collar was suddenly hoisted from behind. Choked, his grip on the ax loosened, causing it to fall a few centimeters away from Shi Nian's feet.

Jia Ming'en had Nan Xukun gripped on his neck as he swept his gaze over everyone, grimacing in irritation. "I knew it. Good thing I didn't wait for those slow-witted police officers or else everything will be too late."

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A/N: Jia Ming'en to the rescue! Hehe after he said that he wouldn't involve himself anymore...

Anyway, Merry Christmas everyone! This is a mass release [1/3]