William Sullivan's breath caught.
“David Sullivan opened the Chashi River defense line, letting the Biansha cavalry rampage in. A scimitar slit your master's wife's throat, and before she died, what happened made Samuel Carter wish for death.”
“Duanzhou fell, and you say it was your elder brother who saved you.” Ryan Carter leaned back in his chair, examining the back of his hand, and said, “Ethan Carter, well, you were always raised by Samuel Carter's side, and Ethan Carter was your elder brother. He was Samuel Carter's only son, the sole bloodline of Samuel Carter, the only continuation of the The Carter Family. But because of David Sullivan, because of you, he died too. Riddled with arrows, his corpse left in the sinkhole to be trampled by Biansha cavalry. If Samuel Carter were still alive, what would he feel when collecting his son's body?”
William Sullivan suddenly tried to rise, but Ryan Carter easily pressed him back down.
“David Sullivan betrayed the country and colluded with the enemy. This debt, you must bear. Today you beg for life, but the tens of thousands of wronged souls in Zhongbo wail in anguish. When you sleep at night, try to distinguish which is your master's wife, which is your master! You are still alive, but this life is already more painful than death. Can you forgive David Sullivan? If you forgive David Sullivan, make excuses for him, you betray your master's whole family. After all, you were raised by Samuel Carter, how can you do something so disloyal and unfilial?”
“Besides, even if you cling to life, no one in this world will sympathize with you. You have come to Qudu, and you are David Sullivan. Now public anger is at its peak, and those who hate you are countless. You are bound to die; rather than die for nothing, why not speak frankly to His Majesty, confess all of David Sullivan's crimes, and at least bring some comfort to your master's spirit in heaven.”
Ryan Carter suddenly stopped speaking, seeing William Sullivan, pinned to the bedboard, break into a smile, a chilling coldness appearing on the youth's pale face.
“David Sullivan did not collude with the enemy.”
William Sullivan enunciated each word.
“David Sullivan did not collude with the enemy!”
Ryan Carter grabbed William Sullivan and slammed him against the wall with a bang, knocking off some dust, making William Sullivan cough uncontrollably.
“There are countless ways to kill you,” Ryan Carter said. “You ungrateful little bastard, you got lucky and stole a life this time, and you really think you can survive today?”
He turned and dragged William Sullivan out, kicking open the cell door.
“I act impartially, following the Empress Dowager's orders. But there are plenty in Great Zhou who act recklessly. Since you are so foolish, I will grant your wish. You want someone to kill you? That person has arrived!”
The city gates of Qudu suddenly swung open, and a column of pitch-black heavy cavalry thundered in from outside.
William Sullivan was dragged along the road, the Jinyiwei scattering with a roar. The dense crowd split in two, making way for the heavy cavalry.
Northern raptors circled in the sky, the clatter of armor pounding on the heart. The sound of hooves drew near, and William Sullivan opened his eyes to see the lead rider charging straight at him.
The warhorse beneath the heavy armor was like a ferocious beast, snorting hot air as it galloped to within a few steps, then suddenly reined in just before collision. Its hooves rose high, and as it stopped, the rider had already dismounted.
Ryan Carter stepped forward and called out loudly, “Xiao—”
The newcomer didn't even look at Ryan Carter, heading straight for William Sullivan. As William Sullivan moved his shackles, the man kicked him in the chest with lightning speed!
The kick was so powerful that William Sullivan didn't even have time to brace himself. Blood spurted from his mouth, and he tumbled away, feeling as if all his organs were about to be vomited out.
Chapter 4: Remnants
War boots crunched over the snow, circling to William Sullivan's side. The newcomer nudged William Sullivan's face upright with his toe, the boot picking up a smear of blood. His voice was muffled under the helmet as he said, “Is David Sullivan your father?”
Blood seeped from between William Sullivan's teeth, and he hurriedly tried to cover it with his hand, but couldn't, and gave no answer.
The man looked down at him for a moment and said, “I'm asking you a question.”
With blood in his mouth, William Sullivan lowered his head and muttered, “Mm.”
Ryan Carter seized the chance to interject from the side, “He is David Sullivan's eighth son, named Shen—”
The man raised his arm and took off his helmet, revealing a young face. A gyrfalcon circling in the sky swooped down with the cold wind and landed on his shoulder, scattering a few flakes of snow. He regarded William Sullivan as if he were worthless, his gaze neither contemptuous nor disgusted, but as cold as a blade.
William Sullivan did not know him, but he recognized the Northern Iron Cavalry.
Back when David Sullivan retreated west in defeat, by the time he reached Cizhou, it was Zhongbo's last line of defense. The Northern Iron Cavalry marched south from the north, the heir Charles Bennett leading his troops through snow for three days without rest, crossing the frozen river to drive straight to Cizhou. But David Sullivan failed to hold even Cizhou, causing the Northern Iron Cavalry to be trapped. If not for Charles Bennett's reinforcements, it would have been another bloody battle.
After that battle, the people of the North hated the Shen clan of Zhongbo most of all.
This man was not Charles Bennett, but since he could ride into Qudu and carry a raptor on his shoulder, he must be the youngest son of the King of the North, Charles Bennett's younger brother, Andrew Bennett.
Ryan Carter had intended to incite further, but seeing the deputy general Matthew Lee behind Andrew Bennett, he dared not fan the flames any more.
Andrew Bennett casually tossed his helmet to Matthew Lee, a smile appearing on his lips. The blade-like look in his eyes melted away, replaced by a rakish, frivolous air that made even his armor seem out of place.
“Lord Ji,” he said, slinging an arm around Ryan Carter's shoulders, “Sorry to keep you waiting.”