Chapter 007: The Liu Family Annihilation

Dan Fei hesitated for a moment and did not respond. If she could meet with Duan Ningjiang's cousin in Yuanzhou and deliver the items, then she would have fulfilled the entrusted task. Having lost both her parents and being all alone, sending Liu Yujin to Chang'an also seemed feasible to her

Liu Family

Ke Danfei let out a sneer and said, "The Liu family is no more. Liu Yujin, wake up! Your father is already dead, the Liu family is gone!"

Liu Yujin was momentarily stunned, tears streaming down her face again, and said: "Just after Ye Ye left, you started to bully me. A Fei, you are bullying me!"

In just one day, fate underwent a dramatic upheaval, falling from the clouds into the mire. Liu Yujin felt anxious and uneasy, engulfed in despair and fear, experiencing an unprecedented sense of confusion and sorrow. The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became, and she began to cry again

At that time, Danfi felt that she had already shed all the tears of her life.

Even Liu Yujin, who was usually slow-witted, realized at this moment to rush over and take the pot away. There was still half a bowl of bean dregs left in the pot, and she didn't care about the heat; she hurriedly ate it in big mouthfuls, tears streaming down her face as she ate

The Turks seized gold, silver, and antiques, but did not disturb the bedding and clothing much. Danfei knew that her mother's trunk contained hidden money, so she searched through it, prying open the corners of each box, and extracted four small gold coins from each. Subsequently, she found a roll of cash in an old garment.

Why? Why? Why?

Danfei sighed, sheathed her dagger, and pulled her out of the jar

Liu Yujin heard the tragic cries of her father being murdered outside the jar, yet she always held onto the thought that perhaps her father had escaped the calamity. Now, upon seeing her father's lifeless body, she realized that all her hopes had been shattered. The family is broken and the people are gone

Liu Yujin became angry as he spoke: "When the city was closed, my father called several uncles to resist the outsiders. Unexpectedly, those uncles broke their promise at the critical moment. My father had no choice but to organize the household servants to deal with the Turks, and only then... They are not relatives at all; they are clearly enemies. I have no intention of seeking refuge with such treacherous and ungrateful people!"

Liu Yujin, feeling embarrassed, had no choice but to leave in a dejected manner

The bone-chilling north wind howls and sweeps across the wasteland, mixed with flurries of snow, resembling the wails of fallen ghosts lamenting their fate. The desiccated trees sway wildly in the gusts, their branches reaching out like hands pleading for salvation, each one akin to a vengeful spirit crawling out from the depths of hell

Come out

Danfei carried Madam Chen into the backyard vegetable garden and laid her down on the ground. He then returned to carry in the bodies of Madam Guo and the Liu couple, preparing to bury the three elders.

Despite being pampered, Liu Yujin would not be confused at such a critical moment of life and death. She witnessed the Turkic people storming into her home, killing the servants, and then seizing the maid on the spot. Her mother, Madam Guo, hanged herself in despair, dragging her ailing body to do so. However, being still young, she did not wish to die, and Liu Gong could not bear to see her perish, which is why he risked everything to hide her in a jar in the woodshed

As Danfei had predicted, after a day of warfare and a night of pillaging and destruction, the Turks were also weary. However, the city of Shaming had already been utterly transformed in just a few days, becoming riddled with wounds. The walls bore traces of burning everywhere. Under the dim moonlight, thick smoke lingered in the city, and the air was filled with the acrid stench of charred remains and the metallic scent of blood

Afei... Liu Yujin shook her, "What is wrong with you? You must not be in any trouble!"

The back gate was half open, and two people were lying in front of the door; one was the old steward of the Liu family, and the other was surprisingly Liu Gong

As Liu Yujin had just let out a half-scream, Danfei rushed over and forcefully covered her mouth, whispering fiercely: "Shut up! Do you want the Turks to know that there are still women hiding here?"

Madam Chen took her own life only after finishing her makeup, clearly wanting to leave in a more dignified manner. Danfei naturally would not abandon her mother's body like that. After she finished crying, she carried her mother on her back and walked towards the backyard

Liu Yujin said to Danfei: "We cannot be separated. When the time comes, you will accompany me to Chang'an to seek my uncle. My mother said that my uncle is warm and kind, and he will surely take you in."

Madam Chen primarily managed the kitchen in the Liu household, a position that was quite lucrative. She was usually very frugal and often received gifts from the servants, and over the past two years, she had managed to save a considerable amount of money. She originally had some private dowry as well, totaling approximately four to five hundred guan, which was sufficient for Danfei to rely on.

However, fate is merciless, and instead, it dealt them the most painful blow

Madam Chen's small courtyard was also half burned, and the door of the main house stood wide open. Danfei shivered as she walked step by step towards it, only to see her mother lying against a wall, wearing her favorite silver-red embroidered skirt with folded branch lotus flowers.

Danfei walked over and knelt down with a thud. She trembled all over as she slowly pushed aside the hair that covered her mother's face

"Have you finished throwing up?" Danfei said indifferently, "If you are done, then get up. We still have a journey to continue."

Madam Chen lay with her eyes closed as if asleep, her forehead stained with blood, and a portion of her skull caved in, indicating the tremendous force she exerted when she struck the wall. She had resolved that she would rather die than endure humiliation

Danfei, equipped with a bow and arrow, rode forward, discerning the path of the herbalist covered in snow within the mountains and forests

Liu Yujin scoffed, "The bundle of firewood is too large, I can't move it. The kitchen is in complete disarray, the rice and flour have all been taken away"

What about the others? What about the beans? What about the cured meats? What about the taro?

Danfei gasped for breath, retreating step by step, nearly falling to the ground. Then she jumped up and turned to rush towards the small courtyard where her mother lived

Dan Fei let out a long sigh, thinking to herself that Liu Yujin, having been useless for over ten years, could not possibly become capable and intelligent overnight. She had no choice but to go herself. Liu Yujin followed closely behind her, wearing a苦 face and being extremely cautious.

Danfei swayed slightly, her eyes red and unfocused.

Let us discuss this matter after we have escaped the city said Danfei I want to go through my mother's belongings you go to the kitchen and see what food is left

Dan Fei was filled with indignation, "Where is the firewood, and where is the rice and flour?"

The maidservant beside Madam Guo, who was beautiful and always loved to smile, now lay disheveled at the foot of the steps, a dagger plunged into her chest, the blood staining the snow beneath her red.

Danfei slowly slid down, leaning over her mother's already stiff and cold body, burying her face in her chest, and began to cry silently. She cried until she was exhausted, yet dared not make a sound. With her emotions pent up and nowhere to vent, she could only clench her fists and pound the ground fiercely.

The biological father, even at the risk of incurring universal condemnation, fled with his entire family to Shaming, all in pursuit of a stable life for his loved ones. Yet, why do the Cao family members still fall victim to fate, repeatedly facing the tragic calamity of family destruction and loss of life?

She leaned over Madam Guo and began to cry softly, yet she ultimately heeded Danfei's threat and did not dare to wail loudly

Liu Yujin was stunned, covering her burning face, and stammered, "Ah... Ah Fei, why did you hit me?"

Dan Fei said with irritation, "What kind of situation is this? Do you still have the audacity to be picky? Madam Guo and Lord Liu have both passed away, and your Liu family has lost all its assets in Sha Ming. You are now destitute and orphaned; it is already a stroke of luck that your uncles and aunts are taking you in. Do you still consider yourself the pampered daughter of a wealthy family?"

Dan Fei had Liu Yujin change into male clothing and also applied makeup on her face. The sisters bowed in front of the Liu couple's grave and disguised as beggars to sneak out of the city

"Will you take me to Chang'an?" Liu Yu's eyes widened.

Liu Gong collapsed at the courtyard gate, having been stabbed in the back, the wound deep enough to expose bone, and he had already lost all breath. But how could he have died at the back gate? Could it be that he was killed while trying to escape? Yet, Madam Guo and his mother committed suicide inside the house; why did they not follow him to escape to the back courtyard?

At four o'clock in the morning, Danfei finally arrived at Shaming County.

Liu Yujin took a deep breath, forcing back the cries, yet the tears continued to flow uncontrollably down her face

Everywhere lies a multitude of corpses, including fallen soldiers and slaughtered civilians. There are also many wounded individuals who have not yet succumbed, struggling in the cold blood, crying out in agony. The entire city of Shaming has become akin to a hell on earth

Upon returning to Madam Chen's courtyard, Dan Fei saw Liu Yujin coming back empty-handed

After burying her parents, Liu Yujin, with red eyes, asked: "A Fei, what shall we do from now on?"

The Turks occupied the city, and with so many people needing food and drink, the kitchen and cellar became the primary targets for looting. Danfei took stock and found half a jar of coarse salt, a can of lard, a small bag of soybeans, several scattered taros, and then a few bundles of dried vegetables

Danfei stood at the charred entrance, her legs feeling as if they were filled with lead. Behind the damaged door lay the long-deceased steward, still clutching a broken weapon in his hand, having once attempted to fend off the enemy's assault

Danfei packed the remaining food and some clothing into two coarse cloth bags, weighed them a bit, and gave a lighter bag to Liu Yujin to carry

Liu Yujin was so frightened that her face turned pale, tears streaming down her cheeks, and her voice became much softer as she cried, "I... I don't want to either. But Grandpa... Mother..."

Fortunately, the Turks did not conduct a thorough search, and the box remained intact.

Liu Yujin is also fortunate. The Liu family possesses many valuable items, and the Turks only plunder those antiques and jade artifacts, disdainfully ignoring the back courtyard and firewood room. Otherwise, if anyone were to casually set a fire, she would find it difficult to escape disaster.

Looking at the devastated courtyard, Liu Yujin deeply realized that her life of luxury and abundance had come to a complete end. Her parents had met a tragic death, their family fortune had been plundered by the Turks, and she was left with nothing.

Liu Yujin vomited everything she had eaten earlier, her face smeared with mucus and tears

Danfei stumbled along, her gaze sweeping over familiar faces. Most of them died with their eyes wide open, their bodies shattered by great blades. When she saw Chunjuan, Danfei held her breath

At the mention of Chang'an, Danfei becomes somewhat agitated

Liu Yujin felt as if she had been slapped in the face, her breath caught in her throat, and she immediately became listless and despondent

Then you still bully me, stealing my food

In the inner hall, a shadow of a person was hanging. Danfei's gaze shifted from the pair of embroidered shoes to Madam Guo's pale face.

Danfei put away her belongings, her gaze falling on the bloodstain on the wall, and her nose began to tingle. She shook her head vigorously, holding back her tears.

Liu Yujin held onto Danfei tightly, like a drowning person grasping a life-saving piece of driftwood. She cried silently, her tears soaking Danfei's clothing.

Is this really the end? Liu Yujin suddenly felt a sense of reluctance

Having said that, he quickly finished the contents of the bowl in no time at all

Danfey asked nervously, "Yunlang, he..."

Danfei drew the bow and shot the arrow with great strength, exerting all her might, causing Liu Yujin to feel dizzy and disoriented, and immediately leaving five fingerprints on her fair and delicate face

Dan Fei fell silent. She looked around the courtyard where they had lived for two years. It had welcomed them during the most difficult times of their lives, providing them with a stable existence. Once they left this place, they would truly be homeless and adrift, without any support.

Danfei and her mother lived in a small courtyard in a corner of Liu's house, which was simple and remote. The robbers did not search thoroughly, leaving many items behind in the house. Danfei was tidying up everywhere, picking up usable items.

Dan Fei gently touched her mother's face, caressing her eyes that would never open again. Madam Chen held a pair of scissors in her hand, the sharp tip honed to a fine point. She was merely a woman, without the ability to fight against those savages, and could only choose to leave this world in a clean and pure manner

In the many years that followed, she wandered restlessly, drifting thousands of miles, experiencing the great ups and downs of life, tasting the bittersweetness of existence, yet always facing it with a smile. It was only when that man turned to leave that her long-lost tears finally streamed down her face once more

Dan Fei finished her portion, put down her bowl, and reached out to snatch the bowl from Liu Yujin's hands, then began to eat heartily.

As the day was getting late, Dan Fei and Liu Yujin together buried their parents. Dan Fei took apart two wooden planks to make tombstones. The sisters had no incense, candles, or paper money to burn, so they could only bow several more times in front of their respective parents' tombstones.

Ah... Ah Fei... is me... Liu Yujin was dressed in the clothes of a servant, disheveled and dirty, looking even more like a beggar than Dan Fei

Danfei noticed that the Turkic defenses were not particularly strict, after all, there was nothing left to defend in the current Shaming City. She stripped off the clothes of a Turkic soldier from a pile of corpses and, taking advantage of the shift change, blended in with a group of drunken soldiers, slipping into the city.

The city gate is damaged, and several Turkic soldiers are on night watch, allowing only exit and not entry. It seems they have already committed enough arson and murder, as the Turkic people do not prevent the citizens from leaving the city. They will inspect the packages of pedestrians and seize all valuable items. Any resistance will be met with immediate execution.

Cao Danfei! Liu Yujin jumped up and pointed at Danfei, shouting, "Give me back my food!"

Liu Yujin was stunned, taking a long while to regain her composure. She had always been willful and spoiled, but after suddenly facing a great change and enduring half a day's worth of anger from Dan Fei, she had not erupted. Now, however, unable to bear her hunger any longer and having her food snatched away, she could no longer hold back.

It is unsafe in the city; we should set off earlier.

"I will just take it from you, what can you do about it?" Danfei scooped another spoonful of bean paste into her mouth, "The ingredients were sourced by me, the firewood was carried by me, and the soup was also cooked by me. If I share it with you and you refuse to eat, then naturally I will take it back to eat myself"

On the day of the siege, Aunt Chen returned alone, saying that you were trapped outside the city. We were all worried about you earlier, but we didn't expect that in the blink of an eye, we had been defeated, and the city gate was breached... The Turks came too quickly, and we couldn't escape. Later, Duke Duan led his personal guards to break out of the city, and we all thought he would win, but unexpectedly, he lost...

After a long day of toil, both girls were famished. Danfei set up a small stove in the kitchen, then boiled a pot of hot water, adding beans and dried vegetables to cook.

The backyard has also been looted, with most of the livestock and food taken away by the Turks. Fortunately, the wood shed was not burned, and inside, seven or eight jars of pickled vegetables were neatly placed against the wall

Then Danfei went to her own room. The room was also in complete disarray, with most of the valuable items taken away. Danfei stepped over the mess on the floor and walked straight to the bedside, dragging the cedar chest out from under the bed

Danfei let out a long sigh

The wind blows against the face like a knife, cold and sharp. The fragmented snow seeps into the collar, quickly melting into water that flows down the neck. However, the sweat is frozen by the cold wind at the temples and brows, forming frost.

Liu Yujin has eaten such coarse grains since she was young; she only eats fish belly meat even when consuming fish. Now, although she is very hungry, holding this meager meal of clear soup and water, thinking about how just a few days ago she was living a life of luxury, and remembering her father who died tragically, Liu Yujin cannot help but shed tears.

Liu Yujin wiped her face with a handful of snow, finally resembling a human. Her eyes were swollen, her lips were purple, and her usually plump cheeks had sunken in, making her appear haggard and exhausted

Liu Yujin stared in disbelief, her eyes wide open, and after a long moment of trembling lips, she finally said: "This is clearly an act of forceful seizure!"

Dan Fei knelt beside her, holding Madam Chen's hand, and silently shed a few tears along with Liu Yujin.

The white deer lantern that Duan Yiyun gave her had long been trampled and was now filthy beyond recognition, unable to be restored to its original form

This is probably the first time in Liu Yujin's fifteen years of life that someone has slapped him in the face

"Keep up." Danfei dropped these two words and turned to stride southwest. Liu Yujin stumbled behind her, following closely.

Danfei turned back for the last time to look at Shaming City. She still remembered when her father brought their family to this place three years ago, filled with hope, believing they could lead a peaceful and simple life from then on. They thought it would only become their new hometown

The snow has stopped, the moon is half obscured, and it barely illuminates the path. The traces of countless beasts in the mountains and forests have vanished, leaving only a profound silence.

It is just like that handsome and gentle man, who can no longer be revived

"Go to Yuanzhou?" Liu Yujin exclaimed in astonishment, "What should I do then?"

After a long time, Danfei finally took a deep breath, swallowed her tears, and turned to walk outside without saying a word

Liu Yujin wiped away her tears and said, "I know that you find me a burden now..."

Daphne found a hoe and, just as she turned to leave, a faint sound reached her ears. She carefully set down the hoe and drew a dagger from her boot. Her sharp gaze swept around the room before settling on several large jars, each about half a person's height, in the corner of the room

Dan Fei glared at her fiercely, gritting her teeth and speaking each word clearly: "If you want to continue crying and making a scene to attract the barbarian people, I might as well kill you with one stroke first, to spare you from being dishonored. This way, I would also be repaying your parents for their kindness in taking us in!"

Liu Yujin pouted, silently focusing on her meal.

"Do not speak nonsense," Danfei said, "When my father passed away, it was your parents who took me and my mother in. Now that our parents are no longer with us, I must repay their kindness and will not disregard you."

Father, mother, and even Duan Yiyun have been permanently buried in this land. Dan Fei stood alone in the cold wind, tears overflowing from her eyes, and as they just grazed her cheeks, they had already frozen into ice

"Let’s go," Danfei said softly as she shouldered her backpack, "We will come back."

After finishing the meal, dusk was approaching. In the past, at this time, every household would have smoke rising from their kitchens, creating a lively atmosphere. Now, the city resembles a wasteland, with only the cold wind howling through the air like a vengeful spirit

Dan Fei looked at her blankly as she cried for a while, then said in a deep voice: "A Jin, I am teaching you this. Remember, times have changed. When there is food to eat and you do not eat, when you are hungry, all that is left is to shed tears"

This... this... this thing belongs to the Liu family! Liu Yujin's mind finally began to clear up.

The people in the jar wriggled and stood up trembling, revealing a dirty, tear-soaked face.

As the sky brightened, people could see more clearly the mountain of corpses and sea of blood outside Shaming City. Due to the cold and frozen ground, the bodies were preserved in the horrific state they were in at the moment of death

She squinted her eyes, stepped forward, and forcefully lifted the lid of a jar with a dagger. The earthen lid fell to the ground and shattered into several pieces with a loud crash

Danfei patted the dirt off his hands and walked towards Madam Chen's residence, saying, "I have been entrusted with a task and must first make a trip to Yuanzhou"

Liu Yujin stared with her beautiful apricot-shaped eyes, looking utterly bewildered. Clearly, upon seeing the chaotic state of the kitchen, she turned back without even attempting to search.

She had been hiding here all day, frozen and stiff all over, only knowing that the person who had barged into the house seemed to have left, yet she dared not go out due to her father's admonition. When someone had entered earlier, she had thought that the Turks had come to search the house, feeling both terrified and desperate. Now, upon seeing that it was Danfei who had returned, the accumulated fear and sorrow over the past few days could no longer be contained, and she opened her mouth to cry.

Danfei shook her head and said, "Eat slowly, don't choke."

The once prosperous and tidy streets have been utterly transformed, with buildings largely reduced to ashes, leaving only broken walls and ruins. The charred ashes swirl in the sky like black butterflies mingling with the fine snow. Wisps of smoke still rise from the rubble, and beneath the collapsed debris, the sounds of the injured can even be heard.

Danfei took out the dagger, crossbow, and curved sword left by her father from the box, her gaze settling on a particular spot

Liu Yujin stumbled out of the woodshed behind her, and at a glance, she saw several corpses on the ground. This time, she could not hold back, let out a tragic cry, and fell onto the bodies of the Liu couple, weeping bitterly.

Liu Yujin naturally reached out her hand to take it, but Dan Fei didn't even glance at her, instead blowing on the soup and slowly starting to eat. Liu Yujin awkwardly retracted her hand, took a bowl to serve herself some soup, and couldn't help but feel her eyes redden again

Dan Fei blew on the soup, chewed the beans slowly, glanced up at her, and said: "What do you mean by yours and mine? Liu Yujin, do you still think of yourself as the cherished eldest daughter of the Liu family? Let me tell you, the rules of this world have always been that whoever seizes it, it belongs to them!"

Fortunately, it was mealtime, and the Turkic soldiers were busy eating, paying no attention to these filthy refugees. Danfei, accompanied by Liu Yujin, successfully left Shaming City, blending in with a group of fleeing civilians while carrying their burdens and bows.

"That is to teach you to recognize the times," Danfei said, "You and I are now destitute and broken, regardless of how wealthy we once were, everything has vanished into thin air. If you cannot forget the past, you will not be able to face the difficult days ahead. I will never harm you; it all depends on whether you can take it in."

Dan Fei glanced at her helplessly and said, "Your Liu family has so many uncles and aunts; you can choose one to seek refuge with. Don't blame me for being heartless. You still have relatives to turn to, but I can barely protect myself."

Liu Yujin has been hungry all day, and now, smelling the aroma of the dishes, his stomach begins to rumble. Danfei sees that the food is almost ready, adds salt and lard to the soup, and then scoops out a bowl.

Dan Fei furrowed her brows in pain and walked over, kicking her to the ground. Liu Yujin had not yet reacted when a resounding slap landed on her face

"Does your Liu family still have other relatives to rely on?" Danfei pondered for a moment, "If nothing else, don't you have an uncle in Chang'an?"

"Afei, what should I do if my uncles refuse to take me in?" Liu Yujin followed Danfei, wiping her tears and asking anxiously, "Even if they take me in, what if they treat me harshly?"

Liu Yujin cried even harder, saying: "He broke through to help some civilians escape the city, but he himself perished for the country..."

Liu Yujin was so frightened that her face turned pale; she sought out a large tree and knelt on the ground, beginning to vomit.

Liu Yujin could not help but hug Danfei and cry softly. Danfei raised her hand but ultimately did not push her away, and they both ended up crying together again