Chapter 403: Big Third Brother and the Teacher

When Xiao Yuanhang found Gongsun Chi, he saw only his corpse riddled with several stab wounds.

Gongsun Chi lay behind a rock with his eyes wide open, dying without peace.

Xiao Yuanhang looked down on this former emperor, his expression complex.

Hatred, satisfaction, a faint sigh — all eventually gave way to calm.

Xiao Ningchen let out a soft sigh and loosened his grip on his sword.

"We don't need to lift a hand," he said quietly. "He has been abandoned by all."

Xiao Yuanhang stepped forward slowly, crouched, reached out, and covered Gongsun Chi's eyes that refused to close.

His warm palm covered the cold, stiff eyelids, gently closing those eyes filled with resentment and ambition.

"The eternal peace you spoke of — you won't get to see it."

Xiao Yuanhang stood, untied the blood- and dust-stained cloak from his shoulders, unfolded it lightly, and draped it over Gongsun Chi's corpse.

Xiao Ningchen was a bit puzzled: "Father, what are you planning?"

Xiao Yuanhang ordered: "Carry him back!"

"Launch the signal! Let Xiao Er and the others return!"

"Yes!"

The soldiers lifted Gongsun Chi's corpse onto a horse's back.

"Giddyap!"

They returned to the battlefield just moments ago.

Countless soldiers from the Fierce State and the grassland, supported by comrades, sat or lay, bandaging wounds and cleaning the battlefield.

The surrendered Da Xia soldiers were gathered in one place, their expressions blank and numb.

Xiao Yuanhang walked up to a high slope, and the soldiers placed Gongsun Chi's corpse on the ground beside him.

Countless gazes turned toward him.

Xiao Yuanhang looked down at the countless soldiers below — from the Fierce State, the grassland, and Da Xia.

The morning wind stirred his bloodstained armor and hair at the temples.

He bent forward, slowly raised his hand, and lifted the cloak.

Gongsun Chi's pale, stiff face, eyes now closed, was exposed to the sunlight.

"Whoa——!"

After a brief silence, a huge roar suddenly erupted!

"He's dead! The Emperor of Xia is dead!"

"Long live the Fierce State!"

"May the Eternal Heaven bless us!"

The soldiers were overcome with emotion, tears welling up, waving their broken weapons as they embraced and wept.

This battle was too bitter, too many have died!

The Da Xia soldiers lowered their heads or stared blankly at the sky — what was this great war for?

Xiao Yuanhang raised his hand, suppressed the earth-shaking cheers, and spoke loudly:

"The Emperor of Xia, Gongsun Chi, is foolish and cruel, exhausting the nation in war!"

"For his own ambition, he disregarded the people of both countries!"

"Furthermore, he colluded with demonic Daoists, harming our loyal and brave soldiers, arousing the wrath of both men and gods!"

With each sentence, the Da Xia soldiers bowed their heads a little lower.

"Now the heavenly way is manifest; retribution is inevitable!"

"He has been abandoned by all and died amidst the chaotic army!"

Xiao Yuanhang slowly swept his gaze over the countless faces before him — some excited, some grief-stricken, some numb.

Finally his gaze fell upon the blood-soaked barren earth: "Today, I will bury him here!"

"Buried on this border where rivers of blood flow and mountains of bones pile!"

"Let him forever face this scorched earth!"

"Let him hear day and night the lamentations of the countless soldiers who died unjustly!"

"Toward this vast heaven and thick earth and the myriad souls, may he atone!"

As his words fell, a squad of soldiers stepped forward and quickly dug a simple earth pit.

There was no coffin, no burial goods — only the blood-stained cloak covering his body.

The corpse was placed into the pit.

Shovelful after shovelful of earth fell, gradually burying him.

Jifeng watched all this in silence, then lifted his head to the heavens.

One emperor's private desire has cost so many lives.

What a terrible position to be in, this king!

Xiao Yuanhang fell silent for a moment, then declared loudly: "All the guilt of this war lies with Gongsun Chi alone!"

"Now the chief culprit has been executed; grudges are settled!"

"Any Da Xia soldier who lays down his weapons will not be pursued — go home!"

"May the people of both countries henceforth live in peace and prosperity!"

Having spoken, he turned and strode back to the camp.

"Father!" Seeing his father covered in blood, Tuan Tuan's tears streamed down as he flung himself onto his father.

"Second brother, ninth brother, second uncle, Uncle Jifeng — how did you all end up like this?" Tuan Tuan looked left and right, panicked and at a loss.

Xiao Yuanhang's right arm was badly injured; he crouched and used his left arm to pull his daughter into his embrace, saying, "Be good, Daddy's fine— in battle, who doesn't get hurt?"

Tuan Tuan grabbed his hand: "Daddy, I'll heal you!"

Xiao Yuanhang hastily pressed her down: "Don't! No need, really no need."

"Just superficial wounds, no poison— you must absolutely not fall asleep and never wake up again."

"Daddy would rather be injured than watch you not wake up again."

He raised his voice: "Come! Set up a few more cots! We'll all stay here temporarily!"

"Add as many cots as possible to each large tent, so every wounded soldier has a place to recuperate!"

"Yes!"

The soldiers filed in one after another, and the physicians entered carrying their medicine boxes.

Chu Yuan stepped forward, took Tuan Tuan's hand: "Come, let's go out with your master; they need to treat wounds and change clothes, we'll come back later."

"Master?" Xiao Yuanhang exclaimed in surprise.

Chu Yuan nodded: "I have formally taken Tuan Tuan as my disciple."

Xiao Yuanhang clasped his fists in salute, solemnly saying: "Thank you, National Preceptor!"

Chu Yuan led Tuan Tuan and Gongsun Yue out of the large tent.

Tuan Tuan refused to leave, staying outside the whole time.

Gongsun Yue held her hand, gently patting it.

Chu Yuan looked at him: "Gongsun Yue, in the Soul Realm, I saw you constantly staring at the hairpin on Tuan Tuan's head— is this yours?"

Gongsun Yue replied: "Yes! This is a hairpin my Mother Consort treasured most; I placed it on Tuan Tuan when she left Jingcheng, hoping it would keep her safe and bring her home."

Tuan Tuan lifted her little hand, touching the hairpin on her head: "Right! I've been wearing it all along!"

The two little ones exchanged a smile.

Chu Yuan nodded: "Indeed, the Soul Realm is profound; ordinary people without a guide find it nearly impossible to enter."

"It was precisely the sincere and pure attachment on the hairpin this child gave Tuan Tuan, together with the guidance of the Soul-Calling Bell, that allowed him to pierce the veil between illusion and reality."

"But who is that boy who clings to his shadow?"

After a little more than an hour, the physicians came out.

Tuan Tuan rushed in impatiently, seeing that everyone had already washed up, changed into clean clothes, and was leaning on the cot.

Although his body still bore wounds, seeing that he was much better than before, she finally let her heart settle.

She went to each of them in turn and gave each a firm hug.

Jifeng, unusually, didn't joke or tease, merely ruffled her hair.

After a while, everyone, having heard the full story, couldn't help but sigh.

Xiao Ningchen said: "I see now— Wu Luo actually set up two formations, sharing the killing intent on the battlefield."

"These two formations were originally one; thus, when one was broken, the other ceased to exist as well."

Xiao Er nodded: "Fortunately so; otherwise, this battle would truly have been hard to win."

Jifeng curled his lip: "That damned Da Xia National Preceptor, having killed so many people, even having his soul scattered and spirit dispersed would be too lenient."

Tuan Tuan pulled Gongsun Yue's hand: "It's all thanks to Xiao Yueyue!"

"If it weren't for him, I'd still be throwing things at that lousy National Preceptor in that Soul Realm!"

Everyone laughed.

Xiao Yuanhang looked at Chu Yuan's black hair: "National Preceptor, what is your cultivation?"

Chu Yuan smiled faintly: "I have indeed chosen a most suitable disciple."

"She actually used the emperor's dragon qi to nourish me; although that half of my cultivation cannot return, the wounds on my body have all healed."

Tuan Tuan grinned: "The bad emperor only does bad things, but at last he's done one good thing!"

The tent filled with laughter once again.

After more than ten days, everyone's injuries had largely recovered.

Xiao Yuanhang's brow furrowed: "Why hasn't His Majesty's great army arrived yet?"

As if answering him, a guard rushed into the tent: "Prince! The messenger pigeon has just arrived!"

Xiao Yuanhang reached out, took it, unfolded it, and jumped to his feet.

Everyone's heart tightened, all eyes turning to him.

Xiao Ningxun asked: "Father, what happened?"

Xiao Yuanhang slowly lifted his gaze toward Jingcheng outside the tent: "Prince Chen and Prince Qing have joined forces in rebellion, seized Jingcheng, and the Seventh Prince and the Imperial Teacher have fallen into their hands."

Tuan Tuan exclaimed in shock: "Third Elder Brother and Teacher! Daddy, Mother, Elder Brother, and Grandfather— where are they?"