Yuan Baifu’s men didn’t allow Yao Xian to speak, but if Yao Xian listened to them, that would’ve been strange.

Even under threat, Yao Xian still roughly explained Yuan Baifu’s actions over the past few days and why they had brought Xiao Rong there. This question was obvious enough that Yao Xian could figure it out without much thought. He worried Xiao Rong hadn’t realized it, so he repeated it loudly to him twice.

“That dog-traitor Yuan Baifu must want to use you to threaten the King. Minister Xiao, you must think of a way!”

At that moment, the agitated guards rushed in, took out their whips, and struck Yao Xian repeatedly. Xiao Rong flinched but immediately braced himself against the wall to stand. “Stop!”

However, he was no longer their superior. When they had been on the same side, they had respected and feared him. Once they were no longer allied, they showed their beastly side before him—cruel, merciless, and deaf to reason.

 

…

Hearing Xiao Rong’s sharp words, the men exchanged glances, then burst into loud laughter. Xiao Rong didn’t feel embarrassed or angry. He quickly raised his hand and touched the back of his head.

He showed them his hands, half-wet and half-dried with blood, staring into their eyes. “Instead of hitting people, go find me a doctor.”

One of them sneered maliciously. “You’re already a prisoner. Why should we find a doctor for you?”

Xiao Rong replied, “Because your master doesn’t want me to die right now.”

Then he staggered back two steps and suddenly fell to the ground as if he could not stand. Seeing this and recalling how much Yuan Baifu valued him, the men hesitated and sent one of them out.

Any act of cruelty, if not ordered, relied on the person’s own will. Once that will dissipated, they would stop beating and kicking.

Xiao Rong distracted that man. When he looked back at Yao Xian, he no longer had the intent to torture him. He struck Yao Xian hard, spat, and then turned to leave.

Inside the prison, Xiao Rong had lost all sense of time and didn’t know the situation outside. Leaning against the wall, he slowly counted the guards—eight in total within his sight. There were still more outside he could not see.

 

*

 

Qu Jin found his personal guards and explained his escape plan. Naturally, they obeyed him. Honestly, under the current circumstances, no one wanted to stay.

He walked quickly, thinking about how to get Xiao Rong out. He happened to encounter the hurried doctor and a guard. Learning that Xiao Rong had requested the doctor, Qu Jin paused in surprise, then felt immense joy.

He signaled to his men. Two immediately approached the guard, putting him in a chokehold and dragging him to a secluded spot. One covered the guard’s mouth while the other used a knife. Soon, the guard went limp.

Qu Jin personally escorted the doctor. The trembling doctor was terrified after witnessing them kill the guard.

The doctor was a local in Zitong County, not brought by Shen Yangrui, nor originally part of the Northern Army. He had been forced to treat an official’s sick mother, and after being summoned, he was never allowed to return. In just over twenty days, he has already served multiple masters.

He had no authority, he had to follow orders. Qu Jin instructed him that the prison was too dirty and smelly for treatment, and he obeyed. Though the guards were suspicious, Qu Jin swore that Yuan Baifu had ordered him to supervise the doctor. Yuan Baifu also said that if anything happened to Xiao Rong, everyone there would die to atone.

Xiao Rong: “…”

Xiao Rong hadn’t seen Yuan Baifu in days. Even with all the evidence presented before him and Yao Xian providing context, he still felt disconnected from Yuan Baifu’s current madness. He only found Qu Jin’s words strange. Whether before or after the rebellion, Yuan Baifu wouldn’t have spoken that way.

Others couldn’t realize this. Recently, Yuan Baifu had killed so many people that anyone who went with him did not return. The men were loyal to Yuan Baifu but feared him even more.

Thus, Qu Jin successfully got Xiao Rong out of the prison. Standing silently, he had his men pull Xiao Rong up. Once someone grabbed Xiao Rong’s shoulder, he said, “Yao Xian’s injuries are serious, bring him along as well.”

Qu Jin looked at Xiao Rong sharply, and Xiao Rong stared back. From his gaze, Qu Jin realized that Xiao Rong might have understood his intent. Not wanting to waste time arguing and fearing Yuan Baifu might return, he waved and had the men take Yao Xian out as well.

They came fast and left fast. The remaining guards were not foolish. They didn’t wait but left three behind, with four following Qu Jin.

Qu Jin watched them from the corner of his eye, his gaze growing colder.

As Xiao Rong and Yao Xian were escorted, they looked at each other, sensing the hidden unease beneath the calm of these men.

*

 

Qu Yunmie’s victory caused despair for some and joy for others—the latter being the Rear Army loyal to Wang Xinyong.

They had dreamed of Qu Yunmie rushing into the city to rescue them, tired of being prisoners even for a day.

General Wang was dead, several vice-generals were dead, and Captain Yao was imprisoned like a pig. Yuan Baifu even threatened to sell him for a high price. The Rear Army was like a pot of water, constantly boiling and cooling. No one could endure so many emotions daily. Over time, anger and hatred dulled, and people only saw one path: reckless abandonment.

If Southern Yong soldiers gave up, they might die or surrender, but the Northern Army thought: If I die, you die, as long as someone dies.

 

…

 

Meanwhile, Yuan Baifu met with Shen Yangrui. Shen Yangrui, still the practical manager of Zitong City, needed Yuan Baifu to appear cooperative.

Sure enough, when seeing Yuan Baifu, Shen Yangrui lost patience. He raged, even trying to seize him to bring Xiao Rong. His ominous feelings had grown stronger—why would Yuan Baifu refuse to show Xiao Rong? What was he planning?

Shen Yangrui had no time to think. No matter what, Yuan Baifu could not refuse. As tension in the room escalated and Shen Yangrui was about to give orders, sounds of urgent footsteps came from outside.

Shen Yangrui’s guards burst in. “General! The King of the North is attacking! He—he…”

Shen Yangrui froze, then pushed them aside and ran out. From the top of the highest three-story tower, he could see the city gates and the distant enemy clearly.

He saw hundreds of men hitting the city gates with a thick log, while the archers on the walls lay dead.

Where was the King of the North?

Shen Yangrui searched, realizing Qu Yunmie was on another section of the wall. Anyone who dared face him became a ghost under his vengeance spear. After killing two, Qu Yunmie suddenly raised his head and glared at the tower.

Shen Yangrui met his gaze and froze.

Qu Yunmie looked away quickly, just for a second, toward Yuan Baifu who stood beside Shen Yangrui.

Yuan Baifu’s hand on the bricks tightened slowly. He seemed calm, but the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

Then Qu Yunmie’s voice came, terrifying as death itself: “If you dare touch him… I will slaughter this city! Anyone standing in my way today, I will lead troops south and kill all your families! Shen Yangrui, if anything happens to Xiao Rong, I will make He Fu and Sun Renluan human pigs right before you. Do you think I wouldn’t?”

No one doubted him. If Qu Yunmie said it, he would do it. Threatening Shen Yangrui with the Emperor and loyal followers made Shen Yangrui flinch.

He didn’t notice Qu Yunmie never mentioned Yuan Baifu. In Qu Yunmie’s mind, if Shen Yangrui obeyed, he might survive, but Yuan Baifu? His only fate was total annihilation.

 

…

 

Thus, the plan to kill Xiao Rong on the walls failed.

Qu Yunmie didn’t wait timidly outside, he charged directly. Now the one offering conditions was Qu Yunmie. He used Xiao Rong’s safety to exchange for his family’s lives.

Those frightened by Qu Yunmie were not only in the tower but also dozens of Southern Yong soldiers who had run up to resist him. They froze at his murderous expression and oath-like words, then, in a flash, they rolled off the walls before realizing it.

This became perhaps the bloodiest celebration in the world. The Rear Army, knowing Xiao Rong was captured and the King of the North was inside, didn’t need to hear more.

They laughed, roared, and screamed, attacking former comrades. When Yuan Baifu hurried downstairs, his men reported in a panic, “General, the Rear Army has rebelled!”

Rebel? They never intended to follow Yuan Baifu, but toward him, that was the claim.

What Yuan Baifu said to Qu Jin was pure speculation—something that would occur only if everything went perfectly. He hoped fate favored him, but if it did not, he would not blame heaven. He only wanted to make Qu Yunmie suffer.

Now the best case hadn’t occurred, but the worst had. Hearing of the Rear Army’s rebellion, Yuan Baifu paused, then pushed past the man and continued quickly downstairs.

Shen Yangrui nearly went mad. By the time he realized it, Yuan Baifu had disappeared. He had no time to chase him. Instead, he sent all available troops to resist the Northern Army while ordering his personal guards to bring him Xiao Rong. Even without Yuan Baifu’s permission, and kill anyone who disobeys.

Xiao Rong had become their lifeline. Shen Yangrui arranged all this, then quickly donned armor and weapons, preparing to confront the Northern Army.

As he put on his helmet, Shen Yangrui’s head buzzed. He couldn’t imagine what would happen if Xiao Rong wasn’t returned safely. Would Qu Yunmie really slaughter the city? March on Jinling? Kill the Emperor?

To Shen Yangrui, a million lives were worth less than the Emperor’s. Humans could be replaced, the Emperor, the True Dragon Son of Heaven, was irreplaceable.

 

…

 

The city fell.

Honestly, it was almost comical. A legitimate dynasty’s general and tens of thousands of proud Southern Yong troops wiped out in a day—history would read like a joke.

During the divided world, when they marched to attack Yizhou and Ningzhou, they had just taken the territories. Listening to bad advice, they provoked the volatile King of the North and the Northern Army. In the end, not a single survivor remained. Southern Yong’s vitality was shattered, accelerating its demise.

Without details, the record already looked ridiculous. If the details were added, it would’ve been even more laughable.

For example, now, Yuan Baifu and Shen Yangrui’s men rode toward the prison–toward Xiao Rong. Both sides fought desperately at the prison gate. When they finally broke into the prison, they found it empty. Not a single person remained. The three men who had stayed behind, after noticing Qu Jin hadn’t returned for a long time, went to look for him. They found no trace of him anywhere. Then, hearing that the Northern Army had entered, they returned to get their weapons, only to run into Yuan Baifu.

Yuan Baifu grabbed them by the collars and asked where Xiao Rong had gone. Terrified, they couldn’t lie and immediately recounted everything exactly as it happened.

When Yuan Baifu learned that fifteen minutes earlier Qu Jin had taken Xiao Rong away, he suddenly released his grip. People around him began speaking all at once, but he could hear nothing. His ears rang. It was loud, yet it made Yuan Baifu’s world strangely silent.

Dazed, Yuan Baifu stared in one direction.

 

*

 

Qu Jin didn’t dare take Xiao Rong through the West Gate which was nearest. Even though Qu Yunmie was there, Shen Yangrui and Yuan Baifu’s men were also present. Qu Jin was unsure whether, if he appeared in front of Qu Yunmie, he would be cut down immediately.

So he took Xiao Rong out through the South Gate. Just after leaving the city, Xiao Rong’s body suddenly went weak. Unprepared, he spat blood onto the ground. Xiao Rong was startled, and Qu Jin was utterly shocked.

He didn’t know about Xiao Rong’s physical condition and assumed that Yuan Baifu had severely beaten him. He thought Xiao Rong was near death. The city’s noise didn’t reach them—they were too far away to hear anything.

Qu Jin increased his pace. He decided not to return with Xiao Rong. He would take him and Yao Xian to a safer place, then leave with his own men. As long as Qu Yunmie knew Xiao Rong had been released by him, he likely wouldn’t focus solely on catching Qu Jin.

Survival mattered. Yuan Baifu couldn’t accept a decline in status, but Qu Jin was more pragmatic. If he failed, he failed. As long as he lived, there would be another chance.

He thought this way, but reality rarely matched intentions.

They moved further from the South Gate, approaching a desolate area. Qu Jin felt they could abandon Xiao Rong and Yao Xian after another mile. At that moment, the sound of galloping horses came from the nearby woods. Qu Jin froze. The next moment, Yuan Baifu rode out from the forest. Without a word, he knocked Qu Jin from his horse.

Qu Jin reached for his sword, but just as he touched the hilt, he felt a cold wind above his head. Looking up, he realized it was Yuan Baifu’s blade coming down at him.

Qu Jin’s head was nearly severed. Xiao Rong stared in shock, his stomach churning.

Seeing is better than hearing. He finally understood why everyone emphasized that Yuan Baifu was not the same as before.

They were surrounded. Yuan Baifu’s men struck with deadly precision. In the blink of an eye, Qu Jin’s men were all killed. Yao Xian and Xiao Rong were untouched because they were heavier, like Qu Jin—they were reserved for Yuan Baifu to handle personally.

Yao Xian suddenly shielded Xiao Rong. He looked like a wild beast cornered.

After barely surviving for over ten days, this was the end.

General Qu Jin was dead, his soldiers were dead, and he was dead.

He stood there in vain, knowing he could protect no one. After Yuan Baifu killed him, he would immediately go after Xiao Rong.

This was his life: cowardly and useless. When he descended to the underworld, how would he face General Wang? General Wang would surely scold him. He—

“Dog-traitor Yuan Baifu! Come and die!”

Yao Xian froze, hearing Wang Xinyong’s voice.

He turned in shock. It wasn’t a hallucination. Wang Xinyong charged at him on horseback, accompanied by a small group. One leg was stiffly held to the side, the other urging the horse. During the siege, Wang Xinyong had been among the crowd, unnoticed since all eyes were on Qu Yunmie.

After the city fell, learning that Xiao Rong had disappeared and Yuan Baifu had fled with his men, Wang Xinyong naturally took on the task of chasing Yuan Baifu.

He rushed forward in fury. To his surprise, he saw not only Yuan Baifu but also Yao Xian and Xiao Rong—all three were present.

Wang Xinyong could hardly believe his eyes. He wasn’t the only one shocked. Xiao Rong was also stunned, but their combined shock couldn’t match Yuan Baifu’s.

Seeing Wang Xinyong alive, Yuan Baifu felt all the blood in his body chill.

He had never been so aware. The people he killed could still come back to life. Those he had expected to support him could abandon him in an instant. After all his schemes, he had achieved nothing.

 

…

 

Seeing Wang Xinyong alive made Xiao Rong almost cry with joy. Yet he remained alert. When Yuan Baifu moved his hand, Xiao Rong’s pupils contracted, and he instinctively pushed Yao Xian aside. The blade aimed at Yao Xian’s head struck Xiao Rong’s shoulder. Seeing the mistake, Yuan Baifu didn’t correct it. He quickly lifted Xiao Rong onto his horse and rode into the forest.

Wang Xinyong, shocked, pursued them, sending one man to rescue Yao Xian.

There was no time to attend to Yao Xian’s injuries. If Yuan Baifu took Xiao Rong before his eyes, all would be lost.

The soldiers with Wang Xinyong weren’t his own, only about a hundred men sent by Gao Xunzhi. Wang Xinyong was not Gongsun Yuan. After some time surviving in the wilderness, he returned to the main road, intent on rejoining his troops, and encountered those hundred men by chance.

He thought he could rest, but upon arriving in Hanzhong, he was mistaken for a pillaging thief, despite wearing Northern Army armor.

After meeting Gao Xunzhi, he was made aware of the situation. He mounted his horse immediately, racing toward Zitong City.

The Rear Army needed his support. Learning the disastrous news of Xiao Rong’s capture, he knew the King would also need him to help. Gao Xunzhi didn’t ask him to stop the King, only to assist him in taking Zitong quickly.

Recovering Xiao Rong early would solve everything. If not, Zitong would be soaked in blood.

Qu Yunmie had never razed a city before, but that was only because no one had provoked him this way. Normally, he retaliated against individuals or grievances, but an out-of-control Qu Yunmie would punish entire families or even a whole city.

Wang Xinyong’s leg was injured, almost immobile, yet he continued to chase Yuan Baifu. Yuan Baifu knew the terrain and rode better. Wang Xinyong, already separated from the rear troops, couldn’t catch him. Yuan Baifu glanced back, then plunged into denser forest. Wang Xinyong was hit by a branch and fell. By the time he remounted, Yuan Baifu had vanished.

Others caught up quickly. Some continued chasing Yuan Baifu, while a few checked on Wang Xinyong.

“General Wang, are you okay?!”

“Damn it! He ran again! Where is he going? If he moves further, he will reach Yizhou!”

“How can we report this to the King now?”

The men argued loudly, but Wang Xinyong just stared ahead, stunned. Others thought he had shut down from shock, but he was still processing.

Was he seeing things? Otherwise, how could he see Xiao Rong turn and silently mouth, ‘Don’t worry’?

Impossible!

 

*

 

Yuan Baifu indeed headed toward Yizhou. He knew Ningzhou, but he knew Yizhou better. At the border of Yizhou and Ningzhou stood an abandoned centuries-old earthen watchtower built by foreign rulers to monitor Ningzhou. Few knew it existed, but knowing was useless—it had long been dilapidated.

The tower was made of earth, wood, and bamboo. Those foreigners had built it strong; even after a century, it still stood.

Several dozen miles away, Yuan Baifu abandoned his horse and walked, holding Xiao Rong. He found a local house, tied Xiao Rong’s hands with rope, and forced a young couple to accompany him up the mountain at knife point.

Some who had followed Yuan Baifu earlier had fallen behind or been killed by the Northern Army. Two reached him, but Yuan Baifu personally killed them upon dismounting.

Xiao Rong pressed his lips together and said nothing.

If Yuan Baifu wanted to escape, he could’ve abandoned Xiao Rong to flee faster. Yet, he did not. Clearly, Yuan Baifu had other plans.

From day to night, they traveled silently. Finally, they reached the place. The couple wept, fearing death, but unexpectedly, Yuan Baifu released them.

They stared at him, dazed. He ordered them to return the same way, threatening to kill them if they disobeyed. Trembling, they obeyed. Once they left, Yuan Baifu grabbed Xiao Rong, dragging him into the tower.

He threw Xiao Rong to the ground, tied him to a second-floor pillar with another rope, then began preparing the place. He cleaned an old lampstand, poured in lamp oil, lit it, and holding the lamp, Yuan Baifu finally looked more normal.

He asked Xiao Rong, “Do you know why the Xianbei dug up Qu Yue and Ishtar’s remains but not Qu Dong’s?”

Xiao Rong answered, “No.”

Yuan Baifu smiled. “Because Qu Dong was lured by the Xianbei. They burned the grasslands, and the fire raged for two days. Qu Dong was already reduced to ashes, so there were no remains to dig up.”

Xiao Rong looked at the lampstand. He understood. “So you want to burn me the same way, to provoke Qu Yunmie even more.”

Thus, it was clear why Yuan Baifu had made the couple return—he wanted to lure Qu Yunmie.

Yuan Baifu smiled. “Yes. I don’t understand why Qu Yunmie cares so much about you, but it’s good that he does.”

Xiao Rong also smiled. “Idiot, you still don’t understand many things.”

Yuan Baifu: “…”

 

Edited by: Antiope

 

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