Chapter 201 (1/2)
Chapter 201
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
”I know that my time is up.” She exhaled lightly and continued in a low voice, ”I knew that this day would come. I didn't expect it to arrive so soon.” A warm and gentle face appeared in front of Lady Yu, but she could not make out the person as her vision blurred. Lady Yu smiled as blood oozed non-stop out of her wound and seeped through the bandage. She reached out her hand with great difficulty to caress the face, as she thought of their first meeting many years ago. They were young back then; she had been brought to the streets to be punished for trying to escape. She was beaten to a pulp but did not cry out. He passed by the bridge along with his teacher, and squatted down to hand her a bottle of ointment. He said as he frowned, ”Apply it once during the day, and once at night. Remember to recover well.”
As Lady Yu maintained her smile, she said in a tired voice, ”AhChu, I'm going to sleep for a while. Remember to wake me up when Daoya arrives.”
Chu Qiao bit her lower lip and nodded forcefully. Lady Yu closed her eyes as she felt assured. Her expression was fatigued. Softly, she whispered, ”I'm going to sleep for just a while. I'm too tired. Just a while.” Her long eyelashes formed a light shadow on her beautiful face as her heartbeat gradually slowed and stopped. Her hands slumped lifelessly onto the ground, landing between the crook of Chu Qiao's arm.
The winds outside became stronger as the rain blew into the small straw hut. Chu Qiao's body stiffened. She looked down as she shed a tear onto Lady Yu's icy cold face. The droplet of water flowed down and blended into the pool of blood below.
”General!” He Xiao dashed into the hut. As he saw Lady Yu's lifeless body, the man was suddenly stunned.
Chu Qiao looked up at him silently, replying in a hoarse voice, ”What's the matter?”
He Xiao thought for a long while before saying slowly, ”Mister Wu is here.”
It was still raining when they saw Mister Wu. Chu Qiao wore a raincoat as she was escorted by He Xiao and the rest to the border of Qiulan Plains. The soldiers lit up the torches with pine oil, brightening up the pitch-dark piece of land. Corpses which had turned white from the storm littered the ground everywhere. He Xiao was standing under a desert poplar tree, holding a big umbrella. Mister Wu was kneeling there, facing Chu Qiao and her people. There were three arrows embedded in his back; one of them was buried in his heart. His face was pale as a trail of blood flowed down his mouth. He was lifeless, but his eyes were open; he was seemingly looking out for something as he did not collapse onto the ground. His eyebrows were deeply locked together as he maintained his determined gaze.
”When we got here, Mister had already died.” He Xiao's voice echoed out from beside her ear. The night was pitch-dark, without any traces of light. Chu Qiao straightened her back and sat on her horse. Her eyes were dry; she could not muster up any tears.
”Each person has his own wishes. As for mine, I wish to be closer to my own beliefs. For this, I am willing to give up my freedom and love, because I feel that it is worth it.”
In that instant, Chu Qiao seemingly heard the words that Mister Wu had told her one year ago on Huihui Mountains. The night winds howled on as the rain continued to fall. Chu Qiao closed her eyes as she looked up, causing the rain to splatter on her face like sharp knives.
Lady Yu, you must wait on. The person you were waiting for is finally here. This life, the both of you have tired yourselves out. In your next life, don't take on too many responsibilities. You guys must remain together and live happily ever after. Don't think about anything else.
The heavens and earth were desolate as the wind ravaged its way across the landscape. The long night had just begun…
The dark clouds hovered low above the night sky. The wind raged on, letting out low-pitched sounds.
”Fire!” a low voice issued the orders repeatedly. The soldiers dressed in red, who were surrounded in the valley, were shot down one by one as blood splattered everywhere and cries of agony sounded out. The sounds of the clock echoed out loudly, as over 20 distress signals were fired out. This was at the southern slopes of Huolei Plains, which was less than half an hour's journey from Beishuo City by horse. They did not understand why the troops from Beishuo did not save them. Had they been surrounded? Who were the enemies that were attacking them?
”Who is this?” An arrow was embedded in Xiaohe's shoulder, causing blood to stream out from his body. His comrades, who were fighting alongside him, collapsed one by one like maize ready to be harvested. His eyes were bloodshot as he struggled to comprehend the situation in front of him. He did not understand. He had received Yan Xun's orders to head back to Beishuo for an award to be conferred upon him. Why had he been ambushed by unknown enemies?
Xiaohe looked at the madness which was unfolding in front of him, which was akin to a living nightmare. The situation was like a giant boulder which had fallen down a slope. No one was able to stop it from escalating. Those who tried to resist were crushed effortlessly.
They had not exchanged direct blows with the enemy. As they were in the territory of Yan Bei, and that they were on the way to an award ceremony, they did not bring any weapons capable of long-distance assaults. They had no shields nor arrows. The army of 5,000 was trapped in this valley, surrounded by enemies everywhere. The arrows homed in on them, leaving no room for them to retaliate. The soldiers who were courageous enough to try and break through were mercilessly shot down, as blood stained the ground. Mountains of corpses littered the ground as the surviving soldiers shouted out, ”Who's at the opposite side? Why are you attacking us?”
”Why is no one coming to rescue us? Where are the guards from Beishuo?”
”They are using the successive firing technique! It's our own forces!”
”Who exactly are they? Who wants to kill us?”
Xiaohe's eyes were bloodshot. His vice-general wielded his sword and shielded him as he shouted, ”Protect the general! Protect the general!” As he finished his words, a sharp arrow pierced through his throat, causing his voice to fade away like a deflated wind box. Blood spurted out onto Xiaohe's face.