Fish Meat – Chapter 204

The Fifth Year of Zhao Wu

Secrets in the Sleeve (24)

The path that Ah Xi pointed out to Zhen Wenjun was indeed an extraordinary route. In just half a day, they had reached the outskirts of Runing. However, this path was extremely treacherous, consisting entirely of steep, unmaintained mountain trails where one wrong step could send you plummeting to your death.

            

What made her curious was the person who had been following behind her. Even in such dangerous terrain, this person persisted in pursuit. She was almost at Runing, yet this person hadn’t revealed themselves to attempt an assassination – perhaps they were waiting until they reached their destination.

Zhen Wenjun had no time to tangle with an assassin, so she increased her pace to shake off this person. Unexpectedly, this pursuer showed extraordinary persistence, and even after another shichen [two hours], she could still sense their presence.

Zhen Wenjun drew her sword and prepared the Golden Cicada Knife, planning to end this with a kill.

            

Just as she was about to strike, the pursuer’s horse collapsed from exhaustion, nearly falling off the cliff. When Zhen Wenjun looked, who else could it be but Xiao Xiao? She quickly flew over to catch and embrace her.

“Why did you follow me?” Zhen Wenjun couldn’t believe that the persistent pursuer was actually Xiao Xiao, though on second thought, it was quite in line with her usual behavior.

“Ah Mu is going to save Ah Po, how could I stand idly by! Others were too afraid of the danger to come, but I’m not afraid!” Xiao Xiao, fearing Zhen Wenjun would send her away, hurriedly added, “Ah Mu, have I caused you any trouble along the way? If I had a better horse, I could have kept up with you all the way to Runing! I crossed all these mountains and valleys by myself!”

            

“Indeed, this is unexpected. I thought I was being followed by a skilled expert, but it turned out to be you.”

Xiao Xiao exclaimed excitedly, “Does this mean Ah Mu agrees to let me go to Runing?”

Zhen Wenjun said, “Runing’s troops are at our necks, do you truly dare to go?”

            

“I dare! Of course I dare! I want to save Ah Po! And kill some Hu people!”

Zhen Wenjun replied, “You yourself are Hu. You can come to Runing, but I must warn you first – you must follow my every command without the slightest willfulness, or your life will truly be in danger. This is no joke! Get on the horse!”

Xiao Xiao leaped up and held tightly to Zhen Wenjun’s waist.

            

The two rode through mountains and ridges, enduring extreme jolts and bumps, yet Xiao Xiao didn’t utter a single word of complaint.

Zhen Wenjun’s heart was deeply moved and her blood boiled with excitement.

Runing was now in sight.

            

The thundering hoofbeats and wild laughter of the Hu bandits behind them shook Empress Dowager Geng until her face turned ashen. Mu’er hid in her embrace, trembling in the jolting carriage.

They had reached the ferry crossing, but unexpectedly, it was completely occupied by Hu people. The soldiers had no choice but to turn their horses around and retreat. The Chongjin people discovered their carriage, and waves of pursuers surged toward them.

“Imperial Grandmother, Mu’er is scared.” Mu’er clutched the Empress Dowager’s robes, his usually rosy face now pale white with fear.

            

The Empress Dowager had no mood to comfort the timid prince, her mind entirely preoccupied with Li Yanyi.

One moment she thought, hadn’t they agreed to regroup after leaving? Why was there still no sign of anyone? The next moment she worried, with the Hu bandits pursuing so closely, had Huaichen managed to escape? Several times she wanted to call for the carriage to stop, but the Zhuiyue Army soldier driving paid her no heed, focused only on racing forward.

The Empress Dowager wanted to lift the curtain to look back, to see what had become of Runing city and the situation with the pursuing bandits. Several times she thought to investigate but was frightened back by the terrifying shouts and calls of the bandits.

            

As she muttered hesitantly, Gong’er sitting beside her perceived her thoughts. She lay against the back window listening for a while, then steeled herself and pushed the window open.

What she saw gave her a terrible fright.

In the blue morning light, a dark mass of armored soldiers formed an endless fan shape pressing toward them, getting closer and closer. She could almost see the lead Hu bandit’s strange braided hair, like a broom swaying in the wind, and his red tongue licking thick lips, resembling a soul-collecting demon from hell.

            

Gong’er’s heart pounded as she felt she had made eye contact with that demon. The demon pulled an arrow from his back, and with a “twang” shot it at Gong’er’s eye. Gong’er was shocked, but a Zhuiyue Army soldier used her body to block the arrow, falling from her horse only to be trampled into pulp by the following Chongjin cavalry’s hooves.

“Retreat! Quick!”

Screams arose, carrying spine-chilling fear. As the Empress Dowager’s carriage was about to be overtaken, the Zhuiyue Army could only split into two groups – one continuing to escort, while the other group of over two hundred women fought desperately to hold back the Chongjin army, hoping to buy even a brief delay.

            

The moment they clashed with the Chongjin army, they were like a spider’s web shattered by a wild horse, instantly consumed without a trace.

The frenzied pursuit continued.

Gong’er hurriedly closed the window, nearly frightened breathless.

            

The Empress Dowager and Mu’er held each other, not daring to breathe.

“W-what happened…” the Empress Dowager asked.

Gong’er looked at Mu’er’s terrified expression and didn’t dare tell them the true situation, only saying, “Imperial Grandmother, Mu’er, don’t panic. Though the Hu bandits are many, their horses may not be as swift as our Da Yu’s fine steeds…”

            

Before she could finish, a cold arrow shot through the carriage from behind, grazing her cheek without giving them any time to react. With a “whoosh,” it broke through the front window lattice and struck the driving soldier square in the back. The soldier fell from the carriage with a cry of agony, and the startled horse ran wild. The other Zhuiyue Army soldiers were all on galloping horses, with pursuers close behind – a moment’s hesitation meant death, and no one could stop the racing carriage.

The frightened horse charged off the road into the grass, its wheels rolling over broken stones, tossing the carriage’s occupants from side to side. The Empress Dowager’s head was knocked several times, her hairpin askew. Mu’er rolled out with a cry, and if not for Gong’er pulling him back, he would have surely perished under the horse’s hooves.

Gong’er knew this couldn’t continue – they had to steady the horse.

            

Though too young to have ridden herself, she knew a carriage was different – controlling the reins might allow her to regain control of the horse. Swaying left and right, she struggled out of the carriage and decisively grabbed the reins. She had observed how the coachmen tamed horses, and though her imitation wouldn’t work immediately, at least it might gradually bring the horse back on track.

Unfortunately, the Chongjin cavalry wouldn’t give her much time.

They were instantly surrounded.

            

Before the Taiji Hall, Li Yanyi smelled fire.

“Your Majesty! They’ve broken through!” Several Zhuiyue Army soldiers, with swords in their backs and covered in blood, crawled on all fours to Li Yanyi. Li Yanyi’s twenty thousand hidden troops had already been crushed, and corpses piled like mountains outside the Forbidden Garden.

No one remained who could resist the Chongjin.

            

The increasingly heavy battering sounds against the Forbidden Garden’s heavy gates struck at the soldiers’ hearts, making everything in the empty garden tremble.

Except for Li Yanyi.

The Green Phoenix [青鋒 | Qīng fēng | name of a sword] was unsheathed, drawing an elegant bright arc through the air.

            

This nation’s emperor stood sword in hand at the center of the vast plaza outside the Taiji Hall, expression unchanged.

This enormous cage, the place that had confined her for so long – in the end, she couldn’t escape from it.

“Leave,” Li Yanyi said, “There’s no need for pointless sacrifice.”

            

How could the Zhuiyue Army soldiers leave? They all stood their ground around Li Yanyi.

“We are willing to live and die with Your Majesty!”

Li Yanyi laughed heartily: “Good! These are the spirited soldiers of my Da Yu! What is there to fear in death? Each Hu person we kill is one less!”

            

The Zhuiyue soldiers cheered in response – though only twenty-some remained, they carried themselves with the bearing of those who could sweep away a thousand armies.

In truth, they had long anticipated this ending.

No matter how fierce their spirit, they couldn’t match the slashing blades and cold arrows of the great army. Li Yanyi had been cut six times and was swaying unsteadily, but still refused to fall.

            

The soldiers had already been cut down, leaving only her alive.

She thought that these Hu bandits seemed unwilling to let her die quickly, perhaps wanting to humiliate her, or use her as a bargaining chip for greater gains.

Dream on.

            

Li Yanyi placed her sword against her neck, and without the slightest hesitation, slashed down hard.

With a “clang,” the sword was knocked away by a flying stone, surprising both Li Yanyi and the Chongjin people surrounding her.

Who could have imagined there was someone in this world with such ability, descending from the sky, their sword blocking everyone’s blades, like a deity descending to earth beside Li Yanyi, their long sword sweeping to cut through countless legs.

            

Blood-covered Li Yanyi could no longer see clearly, but she knew who had come.

She didn’t need to feel that strong arm embracing her, nor smell that hint of fragrance cutting through the thick scent of blood – who else would risk their life, regardless of time or place, charging through fire and water just for her?

Li Yanyi knew without needing to see.

            

“Take me away…” Li Yanyi held that person tightly, tears falling like rain, “Take me away!”

Ah Xin shouted “Yes!” With one hand protecting her while kicking away charging Chongjin soldiers, the other hand thrust the sword horizontally, entering through the mouth and exiting through the back of the neck.

Ah Xin’s sword moved like lightning and thunder, carving a bloody path through the dark mass of people. The Chongjin people truly hadn’t expected Yu to have such a person, one who could keep thousands at bay with individual strength.

            

Ah Xin’s body was covered in wounds, her mind echoing with those three words Li Yanyi had just cried out.

How long had she waited for these words!

“Huaichen, don’t fear! I will definitely take you away!”

            

Blood-crazed Ah Xin was covered in wounds but felt no pain. Her sword was broken, her eyes splashed with someone’s blood.

Dozens of blades chopped down from above her head. Ah Xin blocked with one hand, her trembling body pressed lower and lower as the Chongjin people, faces red with effort, chopped down with all their might. Just then, several battle axes swept in from another direction. Ah Xin, with strength from an unknown source, roared and knocked away all the blades, then spun and leaped while holding Li Yanyi, kicking down one person to land steadily on horseback.

Li Yanyi leaned crookedly against her, without an ounce of strength. Ah Xin’s heart was in chaos as she held back tears and kicked the horse’s belly hard. The horse shot forward like an arrow, while blades and axes struck at her and the horse. Ah Xin, without blinking, blocked each strike with her broken sword.

            

Fierce white flashes and the sound of clashing weapons formed an iron dome around Ah Xin and Li Yanyi. The flying blood spray could have been anyone’s. Just as the Chongjin people were about to cut her horse’s legs, Ah Xin’s flying kick caught one squarely in the face. That person fell backward, crushing two or three others, and Ah Xin pulled her horse up to leap over their bodies, galloping madly toward the depths of the Forbidden Garden!

There was a path leading outside the palace – their path to survival!

How could the Chongjin people have expected that under their heavy siege, a divine person would suddenly emerge and rescue Yu’s Son of Heaven single-handedly? They were momentarily stunned. Only when someone shouted “Chase!” did they snap from their daze and mount their horses in wild pursuit.

            

The Chongjin cavalry pursued relentlessly. Ah Xin held Li Yanyi while galloping on horseback. This fierce steed was truly extraordinary, moving swift as lightning despite being covered in blood. After racing for three shichen [6 hours], they had left Runing far behind. Several times she shook off the Chongjin army, only to have them catch up again.

These Hu people were like wild beasts, possessing an innate keen sense for their prey. Moreover, Yu’s Son of Heaven was their most powerful bargaining chip – with many forces still spread across the vast territory, if they could capture the emperor as leverage, conquering all of Da Yu would become much easier.

This was the Chongjin army’s persistence, Ah Xin understood.

            

The sun had completely set in the west, leaving the wilderness pitch black.

The blood on Ah Xin’s clothes had frozen together, becoming a rigid armor, cold and heavy.

The winter wind seemed to carry knives, cutting across Ah Xin’s face, yet she felt nothing.

            

The cold had one advantage – it numbed all pain, even making the cold itself less distinct.

“Are you cold?” Ah Xin panted continuously, her speech slightly impaired, “Hold on a bit longer, just a bit longer… I remember Changnian Mountain isn’t far ahead, where we went autumn hunting countless times. The terrain there is complex – I could ride through it with my eyes closed, but they can’t. Once we reach Changnian Mountain and shake them off, we can dismount and rest for a while.”

This was Ah Xin’s plan, but unexpectedly, Changnian Mountain was completely occupied by Chongjin forces.

            

Torches raised high, Hu people covering the entire mountain, forcing Ah Xin’s horse to stop.

“Don’t fear.” Ah Xin stroked Li Yanyi’s head, holding her tighter in her embrace, “I promised to take you away, and I definitely will.”

In truth, she wasn’t particularly clever. It showed since childhood in her martial arts and studies – her masters’ instructions always needed repeating several times, and movements needed demonstrating multiple times before she could remember them. She had started learning martial arts late, only truly beginning to study under masters after meeting Li Yanyi. Many said she probably wasn’t suited for it, and she had doubted herself, thinking perhaps she wasn’t meant for martial arts, becoming discouraged.

            

Fortunately, there was Li Yanyi, the person in this world who praised her most.

No matter how many times she dropped her sword while dancing with it, or how many times she bruised her bottom practicing spinning kicks, that leisurely Grand Princess would always sit nearby, lavishing praise indiscriminately.

Qingqing [卿卿 | Qīng qīng | term of endearment] is amazing, Qingqing is beautiful, Qingqing looks good doing anything.

            

Ah Xin would get headaches from all the praise, but could do nothing about Li Yanyi except smile at her.

Li Yanyi must have known magic, otherwise how could everything she said become true?

Ah Xin practiced through countless nights, growing stronger day by day.

            

Everyone said she was a martial arts prodigy, but she wasn’t – she simply had a lover that no one else could have.

So today, she could break through the siege twice, thanks to the person in her arms.

And thanks to her sister.

            

Zhen Wenjun and Xiao Xiao appeared at just the right moment, joining forces with Ah Xin to cut through the Chongjin army’s encirclement.

“I know a place where we can hide!” Zhen Wenjun said, “I found it on my way here – there’s a well-hidden cave about one li [0.5 km or 0.310686 miles] ahead! Let’s hide there first! We can decide what to do after their army passes!”

Fearing Ah Xin might have other ideas, Zhen Wenjun rode behind, practically herding her into the cave.

            

Above their heads, the pursuers’ hoof beats were deafening, but their taut nerves gradually relaxed as the sounds grew distant.

Xiao Xiao pushed aside the dense branches and climbed the treetop like a monkey. After scouting, she returned saying, “They’ve gone toward the western mountains.”

Zhen Wenjun finally breathed a sigh of relief, handing her medicinal salve to Ah Xin: “Your wounds are too severe, quickly treat them.”

            

“Thank you,” Ah Xin asked, “Do you have water? Huaichen is badly wounded and has endured such a rough journey – she needs water to recover.”

Zhen Wenjun said: “Li Yanyi is already dead. You’ve been carrying her corpse all this time – you should take care of your own wounds.”

Ah Xin acted as if she hadn’t heard, applying the medicinal salve to Li Yanyi’s wounds, asking Li Yanyi if it hurt and if she should be gentler.

            

Li Yanyi kept her eyes closed, giving no response.

This wasn’t like Li Yanyi – when had she ever had the heart to ignore her?

Zhen Wenjun handed her a water skin: “She persisted until the final moment – a truly admirable sovereign.”

            

Ah Xin took the water skin, wanting to give Li Yanyi a drink.

She couldn’t.

After a long while, Ah Xin let out a long sigh.

            

She held her lover, now without any warmth, like embracing the most precious treasure, unwilling to let go.

Xiao Xiao wiped her tears, sobbing intermittently. Zhen Wenjun patted Ah Xin’s shoulder:

“Dying in your arms with a smile still on her lips – she must have been happy.”

            

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