Chapter 198: Escorting the Wasteland Nation General Out of the Border Pass

At this moment, the gathered citizens of the Royal City numbered several thousand, and more kept arriving continuously.

Though they had no weapons, they fearlessly used their flesh and blood, united in effort to block the fully armed Imperial Guard.

A thousand Imperial Guard troops instantly found themselves stuck in a mire, barely able to move.

As the prison cart drew farther away, some Imperial Guard, driven to desperation, were about to draw their swords and carve a bloody path out of the civilian crowd.

"No!" a nearby Imperial Guard immediately blocked him, saying, "If you strike and draw blood, these civilians will only grow more frenzied, making things even more troublesome."

"What then? Are we to watch the condemned prisoner be snatched away? When His Majesty and the Prime Minister later pursue responsibility, who will bear it?"

"Look at our leader—he hasn't moved either."

"Huh?"

The sword-drawing Imperial Guard looked around and, far off, saw that the Imperial Guard commander appeared fierce but was actually fighting while retreating, at most knocking down the civilians surrounding him, yet not delivering a killing blow.

Likewise, other Imperial Guard troops behaved the same way.

"After all, everyone actually knows that General Mu is completely innocent..."

"This..."

"Alright, the situation has come to this; we just need to go through the motions—do you really want to slaughter all the Royal City civilians?"

"That's true..."

"Furthermore, if His Majesty later pursues responsibility, we also have sufficient grounds—after all, the primary blame lies with those who snatched the prison cart, secondary with these tens of thousands of Royal City civilians, and finally with us."

"Huh, understood."

Not long after, several horse-drawn carts carrying prisoner cages vanished into the distance.

When the Imperial Guard of the Royal City and all the constables finally located the prison cart, the cage had already been broken open, the person inside, as well as the masked men who had seized the cart, were all nowhere to be found.

When the Wasteland Nation king and Prime Minister learned of the situation and ordered a citywide manhunt, General Mu's family had already taken refuge in a ruined temple several li outside the Royal City.

The Qingyou Platform scouts removed General Mu's family's shackles, gave them food and drink, helped bandage their wounds, and finally had them change into ordinary civilian clothes.

"Esteemed warriors," General Mu said, eyes reddening, clasping his hands in salute, "Your lifesaving kindness I will never forget—may I ask… who are you?"

The scout replied, "General, no need for courtesy; we too are acting on orders. Our lord could not bear to see a capable general who cherishes the people like you meet death, so he entrusted us with your rescue."

"Then who is your lord?"

"General, do not be anxious; you will know in time. This place is not safe—please continue on with us."

Mu Cheng hesitated a little.

By leaving like this, he would only give the Wasteland Nation's His Majesty and Prime Minister more grounds to accuse him.

But upon reflection, his family had just narrowly escaped execution at the criminal grounds; at least they were still alive now.

Aside from continuing to flee for their lives, there was no other option.

Thus he asked no further questions and followed these mysterious people into the carriage hidden in the ruined temple.

The Qingyou Platform scouts swiftly cleared traces in the ruined temple, then escorted General Mu's family as they set out.

After traveling nonstop for a day and a night, the carriage finally halted.

Inside the carriage, Mu Cheng's family were all sound asleep.

Since being ordered by the Wasteland Nation's His Majesty to be imprisoned in the great jail, they had endured torment, and only now could they relax.

Mu Cheng, however, never closed his eyes.

He was glad his family was unharmed, yet distressed at being abandoned by the king and uncertain about what lay ahead.

Overwhelmed by mixed feelings, he could not sleep.

"General, please disembark from the carriage."

A voice sounded from outside the carriage.

Only upon hearing this polite shout did Mu Cheng regain his senses and slowly lift the curtain.

It was now afternoon; the outside sunlight was bright, and looking around, it seemed they had arrived at some desolate, remote place.

Mu Cheng narrowed his eyes, slightly adjusted to the light, and slowly stepped down from the carriage.

During the day-and-night rushed journey, to avoid exposure at all times, the carriage's side windows were sealed shut, so Mu Cheng had no idea of the route from start to finish.

However, judging by the speed, they had certainly drifted at least several hundred li from the Royal City.

"General, please change into these clothes," the Qingyou Platform scout said, holding out a set of garments and shoes, plus a set of Wasteland Nation general's armor, which even came with a general's sword.

Mu Cheng wondered, "Isn't the point to avoid exposure? What does this mean?"

The scout beside him smiled and said, "Please, General, take a close look—where are we?"

Mu Cheng, bewildered, rubbed his aching temples, observed again, then walked to a nearby height to look out, and suddenly spotted a familiar city in the distance.

"This is…" Mu Cheng's face filled with shock, "The western border pass of the Great Wilderness? You've brought me here?!"

The scout nodded, "Exactly. Beyond this gate lies the eastern border of Daxuan."

Mu Cheng's face changed; he instinctively stepped back two paces, wary, "Are you taking me to Xuan Guo? Are you people of Xuan Guo?!"

"Yes, we are all Xuan Guo people."

"..."

Mu Cheng suddenly reached out and took the sword from the armor held by another scout.

"Swish—"

The long blade was drawn.

He placed the sharp blade against the scout's neck before him and said, "Speak! What are your intentions? If you don't come clean, I'll kill you!"

The held scout remained calm, those around showed no panic, and had no intention of fighting Mu Cheng.

"General," the captive scout said sincerely, "I've said it before—we are acting on our lord's orders to rescue you, harboring no ill will."

Mu Cheng, however, did not believe him at all.

The relationship between Wasteland Nation and Xuan Guo has always been complicated.

From the division of Zhong Yuan by feudal lords several hundred years ago, there have been frictions, disputes, and killings, as well as mutual cooperation.

As one weak feudal state after another fell, Zhong Yuan gradually came to be divided among seven powers, and the relations between Wasteland Nation and Xuan Guo grew increasingly tense.

A few decades ago, Wasteland Nation and Xuan Guo each won several wars, but Xuan Guo also faced an invasion threat from Peace State; the then king of Xuan Guo had to send his son to Wasteland Nation as a hostage to show friendship and weakness, and the two states formed an alliance.

Later, that hostage prince even had a son while in Wasteland Nation.

After just a few years, Peace State grew ever stronger and launched simultaneous invasions against Wasteland Nation and Xuan Guo.

During that period, Wasteland Nation had much of its land seized, leaving it no spare attention for Xuan Guo.

Xuan Guo was thus badly wounded by Peace State.

Consequently, the days of the Xuan Guo hostage prince in Wasteland Nation grew worse and worse; later, with the help of Si Tu Wei, he abandoned his wife and children, fled back to Xuan Guo, and even inherited the throne.

That hostage prince was the previous king of Xuan Guo.

His wife and children are none other than the current Empress Dowager of Xuan Guo, Jiang Peihuan, and His Majesty of Xuan Guo, Xiao Qidi.

This mother and son pair had certainly not suffered little bullying when they were initially in Wasteland Nation.

Mu Cheng believed that once Xuan Guo grew strong, Xiao Qidi would certainly raise troops to attack Wasteland Nation to avenge the bullying he suffered there as a child.

So now, upon learning that these people were actually sent by Xuan Guo, his first reaction was that they harbored ulterior motives.

"General Mu Cheng," the captured scout continued, "the king of Wasteland Nation has surely sent people everywhere to hunt you down; only by taking your family and leaving Wasteland Nation's territory can you ensure safety. Just ahead is the border pass; passing through here will get you to the border of Daxuan."

Mu Cheng's expression turned grim; he gradually increased force with his wrist, and the sharp blade pressed a blood line against the scout's neck—just a bit more force would slit his throat.

"You may have over a dozen, but I already have a long blade in hand; together you could not possibly match me." Mu Cheng gritted his teeth and warned, "Tell me, is it that you Xuan Guo intend to seize my whole family and slowly torture them?!"

The scout raised his head and said, "Our Daxuan would certainly never do such a despicable thing; even if there are many grudges between the two nations, any reckoning should fall on the king of Wasteland Nation and those treacherous ministers—General Mu Cheng is a true hero who conquers in battle and cares for the people, and how could Daxuan possibly torment you?"

"If General Mu Cheng does not believe me, then go ahead and attack; I and these dozen or so brothers will offer no resistance."

"But from now on, please take good care of yourself, General; if you ever change your mind, you can at any time seek help in Daxuan, and our people will surely lend strong aid."

Having said that, the scout closed his eyes, his face full of sincere resolve to face death.

The other dozen or so scouts also, in Mu Cheng's presence, threw their carried weapons onto the ground.

Mu Cheng clenched his back teeth in secret, his peripheral vision glancing toward the not‑far carriage compartment.

Father, mother, lady, and several children—all were inside.

But these mysterious people had not at all taken his family as hostages to threaten him.

Moreover, recalling how yesterday they had nearly become the memorial day for himself and his family, it was only thanks to these brave and resourceful people stepping in to help that they managed to escape alive.

No matter how one puts it, these people are the lifesaving benefactors of himself and his family.

Furthermore, there were also the countless commoners in the Royal City who, despite being unarmed, spared no effort to help him escape—those people, which of them did not wish for him and his family to survive?

The Great Wilderness now has no place for him to take refuge; even if he hardened his heart to kill these people, seize the carriage and supplies, where could he bring his family?

Mu Cheng's inner turmoil reached its peak.

He glanced at the carriage, then looked toward the distant Great Wilderness Border City.

In the end, he still slowly lowered his long blade.

"Speak up… you gave me armor, what do you want me to do?" Mu Cheng asked, "Could it be that you intend for me to leave the pass as a general?"

The scout secretly breathed a sigh of relief, having narrowly avoided losing his life, and he cupped his fists, saying, "We indeed have such a plan. While news of you has not yet spread, you can still, as the General of Wasteland Nation, bring your family and us together to pass through smoothly."

For a moment, Mu Cheng still found it hard to decide.

He well knew that once he took this step, thereafter it would amount to confirming the rebellion charge that the Wasteland Nation Prime Minister had pinned on him.

"General, hurry up!" the scout could not help but urge, "If the arrest notice from the Royal City reaches here, you truly won't be able to escape!"

Just then, a cry rang out from the carriage.

Mu Cheng rushed over, lifted the curtain, and saw the lady holding the youngest child, weeping.

The others had also awakened, continually shouting the child's name.

"What's wrong?!" Mu Cheng asked.

The lady wept and said, "The daughter just coughed blood and also developed a high fever; no matter how we call, she won't wake."

Mu Cheng reached out to examine, and indeed found the daughter's forehead burning hot.

"Please… save my little daughter!" he exclaimed, turning and dropping to his knees before the scouts.

After yesterday's rescue, in the ruined temple he personally saw these people produce a peculiar suitcase, using medicines inside that he had never seen before to treat his family's wounds.

One would think these people certainly have a way.

A scout quickly checked the situation, frowned, and said, "General, to be frank, we can only simply treat wounds that aren't too complicated; your daughter likely is ill, we are also helpless, but please rest assured—once you pass this border pass, your daughter will surely recover."

"Then… let's go quickly!" the lady urged.

"Report!" a scout came galloping from afar on horseback, the horse not yet stopped before he leapt off, saying, "I just intercepted several carrier pigeons! Look!"

He said this while taking out several small bamboo tubes from his bosom, then extracting silk‑cloth strips from the tubes.

On the tiny strips of cloth was clearly written: Mu Cheng has rebelled against the Great Wilderness, already fled from the Royal City, ordering all checkpoints to stay alert, not to let the traitor escape the Great Wilderness territory—if encountered, execute him on the spot.

Mu Cheng covered his chest and let out a muffled groan.

The characters on the strip, he recognized, were all written in the personal hand of His Majesty of the Wasteland Nation…

"Any carrier pigeons missed?" the squad's scout urgently asked.

For such important information transmission, one often uses several carrier pigeons to greatly lower the chance of transmission failure.

"I used a drone to scout the pigeon flock; altogether I knocked down eight, with one injured bird flying off—perhaps… it won't fly far?"

"Hard to say," the squad's scout frowned, "this place isn't far from the border pass; as long as that carrier pigeon isn't dead, even if it flies slowly it will still reach its destination… and who knows, another batch might come later."

"In short, we must hurry!"

"General, please hurry!"

Things having come to this, Mu Cheng could no longer hesitate.

He quickly put on the armor these people had given him.

When he put it on, he felt that although the style of this armor was exactly the same as that worn by the Wasteland Nation's generals, the material seemed quite different.

However, he had no time to think about it in detail.

After dressing fully, he strapped on a battle sword, mounted a tall, sturdy horse at the front of the wagon convoy, and led the convoy toward Border Pass City.

The Qingyou Tai Scouts also, while on the march, changed into matching armor on horseback, in order to disguise themselves as attendants of General Mu Cheng.

Soon, the convoy entered Border Pass City.

The Border Pass City's general was greatly surprised by the sudden arrival of this Wasteland Nation's great general.

But, as the Qingyou Tai Scouts had anticipated, no news had reached here yet.

Mu Cheng, in order to save time, told the Border Pass City's general that he was acting on His Majesty's orders to make a sortie beyond the pass, and that the specifics of his mission were confidential and must not be disclosed.

The Border Pass City's general, aware of the great general's stature in the Great Wilderness, harbored no suspicion and let him pass without further questioning.

Little did the Border Pass City's general know that, just as he was seeing off the wagon convoy disappearing from sight outside the city gate tower, a subordinate came to report that he had received a pigeon-delivered message from the Royal City.

The subordinate said, "I don't know why this pigeon was severely wounded; it fell and died shortly after." He then took the bloody small bamboo tube from the pigeon's leg and handed it to the general, saying, "General, please have a look."

The Border Pass City's general took out the silk cloth inside, and as he looked at it, his face changed dramatically; he hastily lifted his gaze to the distance, where only a few tiny black dots of figures remained, and roared an order:

"Quick! Prepare my horse! Mobilize a thousand…… no! Two thousand troops! Follow me to chase down the traitors!"