Chapter 101 (1/2)
Chapter 101
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Zhan Ziyu replied, ”I guess so. It just had a rash temper.”
”Oh.” Chu Qiao nodded. ”All fine horses are like that, they just need time to be tamed. Is that horse obedient now?”
”It's dead.”
Chu Qiao was dazed. Zhao Ziyu continued, ”It was not willing to submit to a human. It hit his head on a pillar and died.”
Chu Qiao stared at him dreamily, not knowing what to say.
Zhan Ziyu laughed and said, ”You can take your leave. We will dock at Wupeng City tomorrow. You can take the opportunity to leave.”
Chu Qiao raised her eyebrows and whispered, ”Who exactly are you?”
Zhan Ziyu looked up silently. The pale moonlight shone on his face, forming a veil that looked like the silvery-white sand on the beach. ”I saw your portrait at the military barracks in Xiushui Province. Also, I saw the order issued by the various armies recently. It's not hard to decipher your identity.”
”Why are you letting me go?”
”I live in Xiushui temporarily, but I'm not a citizen of the Xia Empire.” Zhan Ziyu turned his wheelchair and made his way towards the cabin. ”In addition, I don't want to invite any trouble.”
Chu Qiao ran after him and grabbed the back of his wheelchair, saying, ”Why are you saving me then?”
Zhan Ziyu turned around and looked at her plainly. After a long while, he uttered slowly, ”The Thirteenth Prince of Xia wrote me a letter, asking me to locate you. I owed him a favor previously.”
Chu Qiao was stunned, letting go of her grip.
”I'm merely a fallen member of my clan. From tomorrow onwards, more people from Xia will board this boat. I can no longer bring you anywhere. I've done what I can, the rest is up to you.” The wheels of his wheelchair rolled over the deck, making small creaking sounds. Chu Qiao stood in the windy night for a long while in silence, till the sky turned a milky white.
The waters of the river flowed slowly with the eastern currents. The rain had started to fall out of nowhere, connecting the sky with the river. Chu Qiao stretched out both of her arms and stared at the sky in silence. In the distance, a flat boat passed by slowly. On the river bank located at the opposite shore, a few horses galloped rapidly.
She stood there in silence, feeling shivers crawl up her spine caused by the cold rainwater. She closed her eyes slowly, seeing the man's pale face and crimson red lips. She saw the man's empty sleeve fluttering in the cold air. As she was lost in thought, the group of horses on the river bank suddenly stopped. One of the men turned around and looked where she was standing. As Chu Qiao had not slept the entire night, she no longer had any more strength to think further. She turned around and retreated back to her cabin. At this moment, the man on the opposite river bank was not anyone else, but Zhuge Yue.
”Master, Huashu County is right ahead. It's a small town. We can take a short rest there before continuing on our journey. Wupeng City is not far ahead.”
The raindrops trickled down Zhuge Yue's face. He looked at the few big boats on the river and asked, ”Zhu Cheng, did those few boats depart with us from Xianyang City?”
Zhu Cheng gazed into the distance and nodded. ” Master, you have great eyes. Those were the boats that were prepared for us by Xianyang County's marine cargo transport department. We probably gave our places to the Zhan family of Tang after choosing to journey by land.”
”The Zhan family from Xizhi Ridge?”
”Yes.”
Zhuge Yue's expression appeared complex. He remarked plainly, ”Even those small, insignificant families have appeared. Looks like we will have a party in Tang Jing.”
Zhu Cheng added, ”The entire Zhan family is heading back to Tang. It looks abnormal.”
Zhuge Yue replied, ”They would naturally harbor this thought. However, actually accomplishing their agenda is another separate issue.”
”However, I heard that the head of the Zhan family is a patient man. He is resourceful and holds some influence in the pugilistic world. He is friends with Thirteenth Royal Highness too. He is not as simple as we think.”
Zhuge Yue frowned and said, ”Are you referring to Zhan Ziyu, who married his own sister?”
”That's him,” Zhu Cheng replied. ”Zhan Ziyu was sent to the Cang Mountains as a child to learn the various arts. His teacher was Reverend Dian Cang, also known as Cang Xue. When he was 17, he journeyed down the mountain and met the Zhan family's Second Missy, Zhan Zijin, who was also on the run after escaping from her arranged marriage. The both of them were engaged to each other and had a kid. They only realized each other's identities after the Zhan family caught up with them. In a fit of anger, Old Master Zhan broke Zhan Ziyu's legs, and burnt Zhan Zijin alive. It was precisely because of this that the Zhan family lost their foothold amongst the other clans in the Tang Empire. They were forced to move over to Xia territory, which was personally arranged by Thirteenth Royal Highness.”
”Burnt alive?” Zhuge Yue raised his eyebrows and sneered. ”This Zhan Ziyu is useless. He did not find out more about the situation before he acted, and did not dare to assume responsibility once he acted. Breaking his legs is considered going easy on him.”
Zhu Cheng laughed. ”That's right, Master is wise.”
Zhuge Yue laughed and replied, ”Stop your *sskissing. Let's go, we have to get to Wupeng before dawn in two days.”
His entourage agreed in unison. They whipped their horses, preparing to leave. At this instant, the black warhorse, who had followed beside Zhuge Yue, looked towards the river and started to neigh loudly. No matter how anyone dragged it along, it refused to stop, as if it had gone berserk.
”Liu Xing!” Zhuge Yue said in a low voice. ”What's wrong?”
The warhorse stood on two hooves and gave out an ear-piercing neigh, facing the boats on the river bank. Zhuge Yue frowned, whipping the horse on the neck and asked, ”What are you doing?”