Chapter 398: Dead Soldiers

On the Official Road, two fast horses, their hooves like rolling thunder, kicked up a trail of dust...

It was Xiao Yu and Shen Mizhi, who had been traveling through the night to reach this place.

As the two saw they were nearing the intersection of two Official Roads, suddenly a black shadow swept out from a large tree nearby, tracing a rather smooth arc before landing lightly in the center of the Official Road.

That speed was as fast as a ghost, startling Xiao Yu and Shen Mizhi so much that their hearts jumped, and they quickly reined in their horses.

Xiao Yu, sitting on her horse, had already clearly seen that the person on the Official Road was Duan Rong.

Not having seen her husband for many days, her heart could not help but fill with joy at seeing him again.

Duan Rong also stood there, looking toward the two; Xiao Yu had not changed much, but Shen Mizhi had dark circles under her eyes, looked haggard, and had lost a lot of weight.

Duan Rong had forced her to leave Ruyang City to go to the place where the case was being handled; these past ten days or so had truly been a tremendous torment for her!

Duan Rong looked at Xiao Yu and said, "Did no one follow you?"

Under Duan Rong's Divine Sense Envelopment, it seemed he had not discovered anyone following them.

Xiao Yu said, "There were three people when we first left the city, but we managed to shake them off."

Hearing this, Duan Rong nodded.

Xiao Yu asked, "Was the person rescued?"

Duan Rong said, "Mm. Rescued. He is in that dilapidated temple where we used to stop when we traveled as escorts."

Hearing these words from Duan Rong while on her horse, Shen Mizhi's tears gushed out all at once.

Xiao Yu also glanced at Duan Rong with joyful eyes; although she did not know how Duan Rong had managed it, rescuing someone from the Prefecture City Dungeon was something that could not be achieved by martial arts cultivation alone.

Women admire powerful people, but they also admire wise men. This is almost a matter of instinct.

Xiao Yu looked at Shen Mizhi and said, "Sister Mizhi, come with me."

Xiao Yu then spurred her horse off the Official Road; she was very familiar with the location of that dilapidated temple.

Xiao Yu and Shen Mizhi rode their horses forward.

Duan Rong employed his movement technique, following behind the two.

The three walked into the dilapidated temple, only to see Ximen Kankan pressing down on Shen Yanliu's shoulders, shouting, "You old man, why are you so stubborn and won't listen to reason?!"

At this moment, Shen Yanliu was still struggling, demanding to die!

"Father!"

Shen Mizhi let out a loud cry and rushed over, throwing herself before her father.

That cry from Shen Mizhi, heard by Shen Yanliu at this moment, was like a thunderbolt striking his body; his frame trembled, and he turned his head to see that Shen Mizhi had already thrown herself before him.

"Mizhi..." Shen Yanliu's lips trembled; the iron-bloodedness and darkness accumulated in his heart over the years were, at this moment, covered and submerged by the deep affection between father and daughter.

The father and daughter held each other and wept.

Shen Yanliu had already lost all hope while in the Prefecture City Dungeon.

His bones were dislocated in several places throughout his body, and he was in agony; at that time, the only thing he worried about and could not let go of in his heart was Shen Mizhi.

The events of half a lifetime flashed through his mind, scene after scene.

He had been blinded by the desire for power and had always wanted to climb higher, using any means necessary to do so; yet at this moment, he suddenly felt it was all a dream, like a flash of lightning or a bubble in the water.

Alas, the crane's cry at Huating—can it ever be heard again?

The person he had always neglected and failed was Shen Mizhi, along with her mother who had died long ago.

As a man about to die, even if he wanted to make amends, there was no opportunity left.

But he was already a broken man; he absolutely could not harm his daughter again.

Shen Yanliu grabbed Shen Mizhi's arms and said, "Mizhi, do not sacrifice your own life for this broken body of your father's! It is not worth it!"

Shen Mizhi stared blankly at Shen Yanliu's face.

It was the first time she had gazed at her father like this.

At this moment, the connection between kin surged within her heart like Earth Fire.

For the first time, she was so certain that her father loved her and cared about her.

Shen Mizhi could almost not help but burst into loud sobs.

The abyss deep within her heart that had been devouring her soul collapsed with a roar at this very moment.

She had not expected that between her and her father, she would achieve her own redemption in this way.

Shen Mizhi swallowed her sobs, and in that instant, her eyes became brighter and more resilient than ever before.

She smoothed Shen Yanliu's somewhat messy hair, smiled faintly, and said, "Father, don't worry. You will be fine, and your daughter will be fine too. From now on, we will live well."

Shen Yanliu looked at Shen Mizhi's gentle and bright faint smile, and a sudden sharp pain pierced his heart. That smile was exactly the same as her late mother's. It seemed this was the first time Shen Mizhi had ever looked at him with such a faint smile.

Shen Yanliu said, "Mizhi, you don't understand. You haven't dealt with Chen Xun; you don't know how sinister and deep that man is. If I don't die, he will absolutely never let you go!"

Shen Mizhi was momentarily speechless, because she knew in her heart that her father was right.

"Father, don't think such things. Brother Duan has already rescued you, and your daughter will absolutely not let anything happen to you again."

"You... Father is already a broken man... if I die, then I die!"

Shen Yanliu's emotions were somewhat agitated; he seemed to want to say more, but Duan Rong suddenly looked at him and said, "You are right. As long as you do not die, Chen Xun will certainly keep hounding Shen Mizhi. Not only is she in danger, but everyone here is also in danger."

"Therefore, you must die!"

When Duan Rong said these words, everyone suddenly looked at him.

Ximen Kankan felt even more that Duan Rong was crazy; you were the one who rescued him, and now you say he must die—then why did you bother rescuing him at all?

Duan Rong said, "Today at the hour of the Horse, at the Ruyang execution ground, you will be publicly executed! And precisely because you are publicly executed, you will be able to live on forever."

Once these words were spoken, the few people around looked at Duan Rong as if they were looking at a ghost.

What on earth was he saying!?

Duan Rong sighed; although time was pressing, if he did not explain clearly, Shen Yanliu clearly would not let the matter rest.

Duan Rong had no choice but to explain his plan to Shen Yanliu.

Ximen Kankan had also participated in a part of this plan, yet even as he listened, he still only half-understood it.

But Shen Yanliu possessed such a mature mind that, having only heard the general outline, he already understood that this plan could indeed save both him and his daughter.

As for this plan, the mere conception of it could be called a brilliant idea that moved above the nine heavens.

Yet upon closer inspection, he felt that although the plan was wondrous and magnificent, implementing it would likely involve many hurdles that were difficult to overcome; although Duan Rong had already told him about the Disguise Technique and Bone Shrinking Technique while explaining it just now, and he had been greatly shocked upon hearing them, he was still full of doubts.

However, he had already escaped from the Dungeon, which was an indisputable fact, and Shen Mizhi was also there.

That they, father and daughter, could be reunited in the ruined temple was all thanks to Duan Rong.

And Chen Xun's pursuing troops had not yet caught up at this moment; these things all seemed to corroborate that the plan Duan Rong spoke of had already been successfully implemented.

Shen Yanliu's gaze suddenly sharpened, and he looked at Duan Rong with a low voice, saying: "In this world, there is no kindness without cause. Lord Duan, why are you willing to help us father and daughter?"

Before Duan Rong could speak, Shen Mizhi suddenly said: "Because I promised him that as long as he saved you, I would serve him as my master for the rest of my life and willingly accept his commands."

As Shen Mizhi spoke, she turned and knelt before Duan Rong, saying: "My life belongs to you from now on. In the future, whether it be a mountain of blades or a pit of fire, as long as you give the order, Mizhi will die without hesitation!"

After Shen Mizhi finished speaking, she prostrated herself before Duan Rong.

Shen Mizhi was stubborn and unyielding, but precisely because of this, she would certainly carry out what she had said.

A person like her was born to be a dead soldier!

Xiao Yu's eyelids twitched, but this time she did not go up to pull Shen Mizhi up.

It is said that circumstances change with time.

That day, at Liu Shushan's Separate Courtyard, Shen Mizhi had prostrated herself, and she had gone to pull Shen Mizhi up because, in her view, Shen Mizhi was forcing her husband at that time.

Although she sympathized greatly with Shen Mizhi's plight, it did not mean she truly wanted Duan Rong to take risks for Shen Yanliu.

If Duan Rong had no way to save Shen Yanliu at that time, Shen Mizhi kneeling like that was a form of coercion toward Duan Rong. As a wife, she could not help but relieve her husband of the pressure.

But now, it was completely different. Duan Rong had already rescued Shen Yanliu, and Shen Mizhi was now fulfilling her oath; she had no reason to pull her up.

Shen Yanliu watched Shen Mizhi like this, but he did not say anything.

He knew very well that since he had been involved in such a major case, Shen Mizhi's background was no longer clean, and the Sect had always placed great importance on this. That Shen Mizhi served Duan Rong as her master, he instead felt was a wise move. Because, observing this young man Duan Rong, he was definitely not a person who would remain in a pond; previously he had thought the first Tainted Blood case was merely a matter of luck, but now it seemed that this young man's mind and methods could not be measured by conventional logic, and given time, he would surely be a great power.

Shen Mizhi attaching herself to him could also be called a stepping stone for advancement.

Duan Rong looked at Shen Mizhi and said coldly: "Shen Mizhi, get up!"

"Yes!" Upon hearing this, Shen Mizhi immediately stood up.

Shen Yanliu finally calmed down at this moment.

Ximen Kankan then took off his prison clothes and used Golden Sore Medicine to help him treat his wounds.

Although Shen Mizhi also wanted to take care of her father, the hour was already late, and Duan Rong had instructed her with other tasks, so she could not help but leave.

After Shen Mizhi briefly said goodbye to her father, she and Xiao Yu rode back to the Official Road and whipped their horses toward Ruyang Prefecture. However, at this moment, Shen Mizhi's heart was already very relaxed; knowing her father had been saved, she was no longer anxious or sorrowful.

After the two of them left, Duan Rong gave Ximen Kankan a few instructions, went to the carriage to change into a new set of coarse cloth clothes, and then handed all his personal belongings to Ximen Kankan for safekeeping before he also intended to leave.

Just as Duan Rong was about to leave, Shen Yanliu suddenly looked at him and said: "Lord Duan, I hope you will treat Mizhi well!"

Duan Rong said: "Rest assured. Shen Mizhi is stubborn and eccentric, but she is loyal by nature. Although she spoke the words of a dead soldier just now, how could I let her die?"

If it were someone else, Duan Rong would not have said these words. He said this because he knew Shen Yanliu could understand.

Sure enough, Shen Yanliu nodded gently upon hearing this. One does not fear giving the wrong goods, one only fears not recognizing the value of the goods.

Duan Rong walked to the entrance of the ruined temple, unhitched the carriage shafts from the horse's back, mounted the horse, grabbed the horse's mane, and gave the horse's rump a lash with the whip.

The horse felt the pain, raised its hooves and galloped, got onto the Official Road, and headed in the direction of Ruyang Prefecture.

Duan Rong also had to return to Ruyang Prefecture once more, because there were still aftermath matters he needed to handle.

Xiao Yu and Shen Mizhi rode their horses to the east gate of Ruyang Prefecture.

They saw that a long line had already formed there.

Today was the day for the execution of the prisoners in the Shen Yanliu case, and coupled with the prison break at the Dungeon, the inspections at the city gate could be described as strict.

Xiao Yu and Shen Mizhi, however, walked straight over and revealed the Taiyi Order.

They had come to Ruyang Prefecture to be seen by them; there was no need to hide their identities at all.

As Imperial Envoys who were Outer Sect Disciples, those city gate guards naturally dared not inspect them and let them in directly. This matter was also immediately reported to the Prefecture Government Office.

Duan Rong rode over, but he did not have such good luck; he released the horse into the wild when he was close to the city gate, walked to the city gate himself, and lined up at the end of the queue.

Xiao Yu and Shen Mizhi entered the city gate and saw that many wanted posters for Tang Wanhong were posted at the gate.

However, they had already roughly heard the process of Duan Rong's plan in the ruined temple, so they were not very surprised by this, and they had other things to do, so they had no time to linger here; they just glanced at them and then passed through the crowd, hurrying away.

The long line of people being inspected outside the city finally reached Duan Rong; he glanced at the position of the sun overhead and felt there was still enough time.

He was only wearing a single layer of clothing, and all his items, including the Minghong Saber at his waist, had been untied and handed over to Ximen Kankan in the ruined temple for safekeeping.

The inspector searched him and let him in immediately.

Duan Rong walked into the city and first went to Liu Shushan's Separate Courtyard.

Liu Shushan was already in the hall, waiting like an ant on a hot pan; he knew Duan Rong had gone out during the hour of the Tiger, and several hours had passed by now, yet he had not seen a shadow of him.

He had also received a little news, only hearing that it was chaotic outside because someone had broken into the Prefecture City Dungeon.

Once he thought about it, he knew it was Duan Rong's doing. But as for the final result, since the matter had just happened, he could not find out the specific inside story.

Liu Shushan was sitting there, restless, when Duan Rong suddenly walked in.

As soon as Liu Shushan saw Duan Rong enter safely, his heart finally eased, and he smiled: "Brother Duan, it is good that you are fine. It is chaotic outside, and it scared me to death; I was afraid something had happened to you."

Once something happened to Duan Rong, he and his family might also be implicated.

Duan Rong smiled: "What could happen?"

Duan Rong came to find Liu Shushan because he wanted him to rush to the ruined temple to meet up with Ximen Kankan; he was worried that Ximen Kankan would be unable to handle it if he encountered any situation while alone there.

Upon hearing this, Liu Shushan said: "The person has been rescued?"

Duan Rong said: "Yes. You go over there. Kankan is alone there, and Shen Yanliu is covered in wounds, so I am a bit worried."

After Duan Rong finished speaking, he turned and left.

Liu Shushan stood in the hall, his eyes flickering.

Was he rescued just like that? Not only did Duan Rong break into the Prefecture City Dungeon, a place of certain death, to rescue a number one wanted criminal, but he was also now moving about freely within Ruyang Prefecture as if nothing had happened.

He truly understood a little now.

However, since Duan Rong had told him to go to the dilapidated temple to meet up with Ximen Kankan, he led a horse out of the Separate Courtyard.

Liu Shushan rode his horse slowly along the street, seeing many soldiers checking passersby on the roadside, and in many places, wanted posters of Tang Wanhong had begun to be posted.

The news Liu Shushan had received in the morning only said that the Prefecture City Dungeon seemed to have been broken into, but he did not know the specific situation, and these wanted posters had also just been put up.

At this moment, looking at the wanted poster, Liu Shushan was suddenly dazed; he only then realized that the person being hunted was actually Tang Wanhong.

Could it be that the person Duan Rong rescued from the dungeon was Tang Wanhong?

How could this be possible?

If that were the case, why would Duan Rong have him go to the dilapidated temple to meet up with Ximen Kankan, and why mention that Shen Yanliu was covered in wounds?

But if it wasn't, why were these bailiffs searching for Tang Wanhong at this time?

Could it be that the Prefecture Master, Chen Xun, had lost his mind?!

(End of chapter)