Chapter 169

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

In the summer night's mountain forest, the moonlight was clear and still; a blood-soaked youth leaned against a great tree, breathing unevenly, yet he was smiling faintly at her.

The wind blew past; Shaowei was momentarily dazed, and involuntarily looked around blankly — yet the more she looked, the more familiar it felt, and carefully recalling the direction of their flight over mountains, she realized with a start that she had actually returned to the very place where she died in her previous life.

Even the great tree Liu Qi leaned against was likely that same lingering, haunting one.

This unspeakable coincidence made Shaowei's spine suddenly stiffen, as if bound by a curse of fate that would not let go; she forcibly suppressed the impulse to drag Liu Qi out from under that tree, and in her trance she looked at the dead wolf, thinking there was still a difference.

Wanting subconsciously to cement and deepen that difference, Shaowei strode forward, bent down, and drew out the three-foot sword that pierced the wild wolf's neck.

But this move — the Chi Dragon treasure sword dripping with blood in her hand — seemed as if it would take the life of the man under the tree in the next instant; Shaowei's heart froze, her spine tightened again, and she hurriedly threw the three-foot sword toward Liu Qi, saying solemnly: "Return it to you."

Liu Qi did not catch it; the long sword fell into the grass bush beside him — and this, by coincidence, was exactly the scene when Shaowei had first seen him; busy here, busy there, the more she hurried the more alike it became; Shaowei stood frozen in place, feeling as if held hostage by a sinister force of regression from which there was no escape, her fate seized by the nape.

And Liu Qi, leaning against the tree, said in a low voice without preamble: "If I die tonight in this place, it wouldn't be bad."

Shaowei clenched her fists, widened her eyes, and stared fixedly at him.

Seeing her expression, Liu Qi couldn't help a self-mocking smile; he also knew the words were strange, not knowing how they just came out.

People are truly strange: no matter how endless the suffering and torment, they are never willing to simply die. Yet at this moment, within this instant of tranquility, he actually wanted to use death as a way to linger here for a long time — so he really is a madman, and was never misunderstood or wronged.

Yet these words met her strenuous opposition; the moment she recovered, she declared as if swearing an oath: "After barely surviving to this point, with so many things still to do, why should I die here? I absolutely will not die."

Having spoken those four resounding words "I absolutely will not die," she immediately sat down cross-legged with a thump; her spine was ramrod straight, her brow deeply furrowed in seriousness, as if contending with someone — seemingly with him, yet her pitch-black eyes gazed toward the vast mountain forest night, toward that indescribable immensity.

After a moment, Liu Qi's mouth corners twitched faintly, and he said: "If you won't die, then I won't die either."

This stance counted as pulling back from the brink — a teachable child; Shaowei turned her head to look at him, and her expression finally eased somewhat; she lifted her chin slightly and nodded in acknowledgment: "Mm, neither of us dies."

As they spoke, her gaze shifted backward, landing on the great tree behind him.

Liu Qi vaguely sensed she didn't look at this tree with much favor, but it was a good tree — it had just helped fend off the vicious wolves — so there was no reason to repay kindness with enmity and chop it down; thus Liu Qi propped himself up, chose to move away from the great tree that had somehow offended her, and sat down beside her.

"Since we don't intend to die, we must live more seriously." Liu Qi took out a small bottle of Golden Trauma Medicine he had prepared from his bosom and said: "Your left arm is bleeding; let me apply medicine for you."

Although most of the blood on the two of them was the enemy's blood, and they had no serious injuries themselves, fleeing all the way here it was impossible to be completely unharmed; scrapes from chaotic branches and mountain stones were commonplace; Shaowei's left sleeve was torn, and a bloody gash had been scored below her elbow by a mountain stone.

Liu Qi reached out to peel back Shaowei's tattered left sleeve, intending to roll it up, but Shaowei reacted as if burned, abruptly tucking her left arm behind her back and extending her right hand to him: "I'll do it myself."

The usually quick-reacting Liu Qi did not move for a moment; before his eyes he still seemed to see the dense, crisscrossing old scars on her left arm.

She was not someone who shied away from injuries; earlier in Wuling Commandery, A Ya had applied medicine for her, and she had been quite calm and cooperative.

And these scars were not normal; they were similar and overlapping, made by a blade edge cutting repeatedly — absolutely not caused by combat.

After a good while, Liu Qi finally placed the medicine bottle into Shaowei's palm.

Shaowei took it, turned her body, rolled up her sleeve herself, bent her elbow, and applied the medicine.

She wouldn't let him watch, so he didn't watch, but he still couldn't help asking: "How did those injuries come about?"

"No asking either." Shaowei sprinkled the medicine powder on the wound, not even furrowing her brow, only her voice somewhat muffled: "Anyway the person is already dead, the grudge has been avenged."

Liu Qi fell silent, lowered his eyes, and also rolled up his own robe sleeve.

When Shaowei finished applying the medicine, a sound of tearing silk rang out; a moment later, a hand proffered a strip of fine white silk cloth.

It was the silk garment beneath his outer robe; the sleeve was wide and loose, unstained by blood, untouched by sweat, soft and clean.

Shaowei took it, wrapped her forearm, circle after circle, binding those old scars within as well.

Liu Qi turned his head slightly, intending to help her finish the final knot, but saw her turn her head to the side, bring her arm close, bite the end of the silk cloth with her teeth, and use her right hand in coordination to tie the knot.

Silver-white moonlight, clean white teeth, snow-white silk cloth — the three in such intimate, seamless contact; Liu Qi suddenly froze; Shaowei seemed to sense something and looked back; he whipped his head around, feigning that nothing had happened.

Originally nothing had happened at all; it was just that his heart inexplicably swayed, as if that silk cloth had suddenly become some unspeakable, secret existence.

From behind came her questioning voice: "Do you have any wounds on your body that need medicine? And your leg—"

"No hindrance; no need to handle for now." He regained his composure and answered with a smile: "Leave it for people to see."

Shaowei also took out two pills, swallowed one herself, turned and held the other out to him: "This is for internal use; you take it, secretly regulate your inner breath — it won't hinder leaving the external wounds for people to see."

Liu Qi accepted readily, but tossed the pill upward; Shaowei was just marveling when she saw him tilt his head back, open his mouth, and catch the pill steadily, then turn his face to her with a smile — looking like a mischievous youth who had never known the sorrows of the human world.

He lay back, pillowing on one arm, gazing at the moon above the forest, feeling the mountain breeze, waiting for his subordinates to come searching.

Insects chirped in his ears; Liu Qi thought at this moment: best if they come a little slower; he was in no hurry to be rescued; right now, basking in this moonlight, the fine pains on his body had already completely vanished.

Liu Qi lay empty-minded, but Shaowei was already full of vigor; she thought: arriving here by a twist of fate might not mean being bound by a curse, but rather that the curse is being broken — after all, both she and Liu Qi are living beings right now.

Living beings ought to be invigorated and shake themselves off; Shaowei began tallying today's hunting gains; she asked Liu Qi: "You say, with today's success, how many birds with one stone?"

Having asked, she answered first herself: "First gain, naturally counts as me breaking through this death calamity."

Liu Qi, arm pillowed, eyes closed, played along with her tally: "Luring me here, letting Rui Ze's people come to kill — you fulfilled the Grand Minister of Agriculture's instructions to the utmost."

She was only responsible for luring him here; Rui Ze's people failed to kill him — that is Rui Ze's problem; whether it's a strength issue or a luck issue, let the Grand Minister of Agriculture reflect and adjust on his own.

Shaowei nodded, then said: "Also captured a live prisoner, so there's hope to investigate who wants to kill me and what connection they have with Chiyang."

Liu Qi: "Mm, one strike retaliated against two parties; both you and I vented a breath of anger; afterward we can also use this matter to restrain Rui Ze."

"And the most important point—" Shaowei looked at him and said: "After returning to the city, this matter will still require you to exert great effort."

Liu Qi, eyes closed, smiled and nodded: "I will certainly not disgrace Lord Jiang Shan's command."

Before, calling him Jiang Jun was fine; now he's become Jiang Family's Mountain Lord; Mountain Lord is the chief of mountain beasts, another name for tiger; and right now they are in this mountain forest — this is undoubtedly a compliment.

This compliment suited Shaowei's temperament perfectly; she looked at the man lying on the ground, and before reciprocating courtesy, she asked him: "Just why did you follow along?"

For any matter related to her, she always had to get to the bottom of it; Liu Qi answered her now: "The original plan was unfair to you."

When the two formulated the plan earlier, Shaowei considered this matter arose because of her; if it succeeded, she would benefit most; therefore, for fairness' sake, she only let Liu Qi handle bringing people to clean up afterward, and on the premise of "forced participation," tried to be a mantis stalking the cicada rather than taking the lead like her.

But Liu Qi said now: "You and I allied to act, yet in terms of manpower I ultimately have more foundation; if I spare effort in everything and insist on splitting everything evenly with you, that would be seemingly fair but actually calculating and bullying you."

Shaowei couldn't help but furrow her brow: "Isn't a transaction supposed to be like this?"

"There are many kinds of transactions; many transactions are bullying in themselves." Liu Qi turned and said: "You fleeing alone is dangerous after all. Without me today, you still wouldn't have come to harm, but suffering less injury — isn't that good?"

There was concealment in his words; he could hardly tell her that he was very unwilling to see her disappear alone into the mountain forest like that year. Even without those grand and upright reasons he spoke of, he also wanted to flee together with her.

"Whether the injury is light or heavy — is it that important?" Shaowei asked inexplicably.

"How could it not be important." Liu Qi opened his eyes; there was laughter in them, yet his words still bore pretense: "When you left Wuling back then, didn't we both say to take care of ourselves? Just consider it for the sake of a long-lasting alliance."

Shaowei wanted to speak but stopped. Long-lasting alliance... but she was the one leaving, there weren't many days left. Had he forgotten?

If she brought up leaving repeatedly now, it would make her seem stingy. He had done so much more for her, and she would still need his help later. If she didn't settle the debt before leaving, she always felt she owed him.

Shaowei felt a rush of anxiety in her heart. She clutched the half-withered grass leaves on the ground, looking toward the depths of the forest, very much wanting to immediately catch some prey to give him as repayment, but it had to be prey he needed.

Hearing those faint rustling sounds of plucking grass, Liu Qi closed his eyes again, the corner of his mouth bending up silently.

He never believed he had given more; many accounts weren't calculated the way she did, but he simply didn't want to settle accounts with her clearly.

In the end Shaowei said one sentence first: "In any case, thank you."

Jiang Fu had taught her: verbal thanks are too light, but one cannot just because of their lightness, naturally neglect them.

It seems verbal thanks do have use after all. The person lying on the ground sounded like he was in a good mood: "Already sharing life and death, why need to speak thanks again."

Shaowei didn't speak further, faintly sensing an abnormal sound in the forest. Alert for an instant, she immediately saw a grey shadow appear swiftly.

Zhan Zhan, dozing by Shaowei's leg, abruptly opened her eyes, looking as if she had never slept. She spread one wing, conscientiously and with brooking no delay, relaying the message: "The house slave has been brought!"

Shaowei also spoke at the same time: "Uncle Zhao!"

Liu Qi, lying in place, also called out: "Hero Zhao."

Zhao Qie'an stood without moving. Seeing the scene before him, he didn't speak for a moment.

His family's child was spirited and vigorous, like a tiger that had succeeded in the hunt. While this child lay there exceptionally composed — a perfectly good sparrow he wouldn't be, insisting on playing the tiger's hunting hawk.

After another moment, Zhao Qie'an only gave a slight nod, uttering an "Mm."

Then he asked Shaowei: "Any serious injuries?"

"Only external wounds." Shaowei answered, glancing at Liu Qi lying beside her.

The house slave then spoke with a patriarchal attitude: "Many thanks, Sixth Prince."

Liu Qi replied with a smile: "My duty."

The house slave originally wanted to exchange pleasantries about his injuries too, but seeing his posture at ease, his expression even willing and happy, it made one not really want to inquire after him for a moment.

"Consider it already cleaned up." The house slave continued: "Rui Ze's people have almost all perished here. Those mysterious people only escaped a dozen or so. Also captured some live ones — half left to the Court, half given to Deng Hu."

He added: "The Imperial Guard who entered the mountain upon hearing the news are heading this way. Deng Hu is guiding them. About half an hour and they'll find this place."

Shaowei asked a few other things; the house slave answered them all. Liu Qi asked nothing, lying in place the whole time, like an eagle crouching at night.

The play must be played to the end. Whether Sixth Prince or Flower Raccoon, escaping from death, all must wait for the Imperial Guard to come seek them.

The house slave still had other matters to handle. He stood a while longer, then turned and left.

Walking out seven or eight steps, his footsteps paused slightly. He looked toward the grass bush to the side.

The big trees in this mountain were unaffected by the drought, but the small grass had withered quite a lot. Yet among this yellowing grass bush there was a cluster of orchids not yet withered. One secluded orchid had already bloomed fully, swaying gently in the wind.

Before leaving, the house slave turned back once more. He only saw his family's child, having been reassured by his report, lie down right there. Fortunately she didn't forget to roll two rolls toward the other side, after all maintaining the proper distance.

However, after the distance was pulled apart, Shaowei instead gave birth to a strand of strange feeling.

The distance became far. No longer hearing the other's breathing. Under the clear stillness, she conversely felt the relationship had grown closer. The effect of sharing life and death was this obvious.

Shaowei subconsciously changed to lying on her side, back facing Liu Qi. She looked at her own well-bandaged left arm.

Zhan Zhan came over to doze again. Knowing Liu Qi was right behind her, not far, Shaowei felt she could hold the little bird and sleep peacefully for a while.

But this thought appearing instead made Shaowei completely sleepless. She stared wide-eyed in a daze for a while, then suddenly sat up, saying she was extremely thirsty and wanted to go find water to drink.

Liu Qi also got up very quickly, picked up his sword, and followed her: "Go together."

Shaowei turned her head: "Unnecessary. I'm not afraid."

Under the moonlight, Liu Qi, still with some bloodstains on his face, said with a straight face: "I'm afraid. If the wolf pack returns for revenge, without the Mountain Lord at my side, how could I cope?"

Shaowei was silent for a moment. That was true too. There were wild beasts in this mountain forest originally. In her previous life, when she fled here, even the people from Feng Family Villa didn't dare directly follow into the mountain.

"After taking the medicine, inner breath is much steadier. Strength to walk is still there." Liu Qi said: "They'll find us following the traces. Let's go."

Faintly hearing wolf howls rise again, this place indeed wasn't suitable to stay long. Shaowei nodded, broke off a fairly straight tree branch for Liu Qi to use walking, and the two went together to seek water.

Shaowei led the way in front, walking a small downhill path. This path was hidden, yet a shortcut. Liu Qi couldn't help but ask: "Could Lord Jiang have been to this mountain before?"

?? Good night everyone.