Chapter 17: Song Changqing and Guan Huchen

Egg was a tiger-headed, brainy little barbarian child, looking less than three years old, but he looked quite sturdy.

At this moment, his face was like gold paper, his face and chest were stained with blood foam, and the corners of his mouth were still coughing up blood, his big round eyes full of pain and confusion.

"Egg, what's wrong with you?" Xiang Xiaoyu ran over, held his little head, and asked with concern.

The Daoist boy Qingsong said gloomily: "He is the male master destined by heaven for your Sha Barbarians, and also the Ouyang Qianlong before transforming into a true dragon; now that the Dragon Vein is broken, the Ouyang Qianlong connected to his Qi machine naturally suffers heavy damage."

"As long as his life is not in danger!" Xiang Xiaoyu breathed a sigh of relief.

"You are very concerned about him? What is he to you?" The Daoist boy Qingsong smiled.

"He is my younger brother."

"Aunt Xiang, it hurts, I'm so uncomfortable..." Egg cried.

Xiang Xiaoyu was a bit embarrassed, looked up at Qingsong, and explained: "Xiang has had no father or mother since she was little, fortunately, Uncle Uncle Shazong in the tribe helped and took care of me."

"Later, Uncle Uncle Shazong died in the wild, so Xiang lived dependently with his daughter, Sha Ye."

Uncle Shazong was the "first-generation foster father."

Without his help and upbringing, Xiang Xiaoyu would have died early.

She always remembered the kindness of the "first-generation foster father."

Saying she lived dependently with Sha Ye, in fact, she was taking care of "Sister Ye," who was older than her.

Not only did she raise Sister Ye, but she also helped her become the first lady of the Sand Dune Kingdom—the second wife of the Sand Dune King.

In the second year after Ye married the Sand Dune King, she successfully gave birth to Egg.

Xiang Xiaoyu named him "Sha Dan" because he was chubby and round like a meat egg when he was born.

If there were no accidents, after Egg inherited the "throne," Ye would successfully become the "Empress Dowager" and live a smooth and comfortable life.

Unfortunately, Ye was unlucky; Xiang Xiaoyu could help her plan some things, but she was powerless against birth, old age, sickness, and death.

According to the relationship between her and Ye's father and daughter, it was natural for Egg to call her "Aunt."

But she was also the foster daughter of the Sand Dune King, and seemed to be of the same generation as Egg.

Furthermore, she didn't want to be called "Aunt" when she was so young.

But Egg couldn't change his habit.

His mother was very grateful and respected Xiang Xiaoyu, and from the time he could remember, she told him to call her "Aunt."

Before she died, she entrusted him to Xiang Xiaoyu, wanting her to be his foster mother!

Usually, Xiang Xiaoyu didn't need to raise Egg.

Unlike Ye's father who died and left her an orphan immediately, Egg had a biological father, uncles, and a witch doctor grandmother, and was not lonely and helpless.

"So that's how it is." Learning of the complex relationship between Xiang Xiaoyu and Egg, the Daoist boy Qingsong's face showed realization, "With you here, he will inevitably become a king in the future, and no one will be able to compete with him."

"He will also definitely be educated by you into a generation of male masters, dominating the Western Sand Domain."

Xiang Xiaoyu's scalp went numb and the soles of her feet broke out in a cold sweat.

In an instant, she understood the feeling Liu Xuande had when he and Cao Cao were boiling wine to discuss heroes.

"Being a barbarian king in the sand dunes is not as good as being reborn into a wealthy family in China."

"If Xiang had the ability to cross the vast desert, she would have taken Egg away from here long ago."

Xuande's words were pure bluffing, but the sincerity of Xiang Xiaoyu's words was as high as 80%!

"Now you have gotten your wish; you and your nephew will follow General Guan and leave the sand dunes," the Daoist boy Qingsong smiled.

"That's great." Xiang Xiaoyu naturally entered "Drama Queen Mode," her expression moved, her eyes red, tears streaming down her face, and she excitedly hugged Egg's head, shouting repeatedly: "Egg, we are blessed."

"You must remember, this is the grace of Guan Laozu Qingsong and my Great Qin; the great kindness can never be repaid in a lifetime."

"Guan Laozu Qingsong... my Great Qin..." The Daoist boy Qingsong's baby face twisted a bit.

"I am not an old ancestor; I am just a little Daoist boy in the Daoist Palace."

"In the Daoist Palace, in front of the Blessed Immortals, you might be a little Daoist boy, but after leaving the Daoist Palace, if you are not an old ancestor, who dares to claim respect? Daoist boys and old ancestors are all compared; in front of Xiang, you are even more worthy of being called 'Dao Guan Laozu'!" Xiang Xiaoyu said earnestly.

"Don't talk nonsense!" Before the previous sentences, the Daoist boy Qingsong still had a smile on his face and nodded slightly, but hearing "Dao Guan Laozu," he immediately changed his face and scolded: "Other words are still somewhat reasonable, but how can 'Dao Guan Laozu' be called randomly?"

"Guan Laozu Master, Xiang is a barbarian, stupid and ignorant!" Xiang Xiaoyu honestly admitted her mistake.

"Guan Laozu Master... hehe, look at my face, it's more tender than yours; how old do you think I am?" The Daoist boy Qingsong showed a smile again.

"Guan Laozu Master is an immortal, you must have practiced for at least a thousand or eight hundred years," Xiang Xiaoyu flattered.

"You have more knowledge than most vulgar people..." The Daoist boy Qingsong glanced at Guan Huchen and the group of black-armored knights.

This group of guys, especially Guan Huchen, called him "Envoy" to his face, but behind his back, they kept calling him "little Daoist boy," "little Daoist," and so on.

Did they really think that because his face was tender, his age was small and his Daoist practice was low?

In the Zhengyang Daoist Palace, he was a boy standing at the door welcoming guests, but after leaving the Daoist Palace... Xiang Xiaoyu said it well, said it wonderfully! After leaving the Daoist Palace, even in the city of Xianyang, he was an old ancestor!

"However, I am not an immortal; I don't have a thousand or eight hundred years of Daoist practice, but a hundred and eighty years of bitter practice is more than enough."

"Hiss, a hundred and eighty years! It's almost catching up to our Immortal Lao in Yingxiang Prefecture."

At the Zhengyang Dao Palace, he was just a young acolyte standing at the gate to welcome and see off guests. Once he left the Dao Palace... what Sha Man Yu said was well-spoken and profound! Once he left the Dao Palace, even in Xianyang City, he was still an Guan Laozu!

"Shut up!" His companion beside him immediately pulled his cloak and scolded in a low voice.

The Daoist boy Qingsong looked at the sun climbing to the middle of the sky and said: "Pack up, prepare to leave!"

"Daoist, Song Changqing and the others..."

Guan Huchen pointed to the "Dragon Cave" pit that was still spraying yellow gas, his expression hesitant and worried.

He and Song Changqing and the others had no bond or reluctance in terms of friendship.

Especially the eight black-armored knights he named to assist Song Changqing in digging the pit were all from ordinary good families, so if they died, they died.

But if Song Changqing died here, it might bring him immeasurable losses.

"Did you hear them calling for help?" The Daoist boy Qingsong said.

Guan Huchen shook his head: "Except for the miserable screams that stopped abruptly at the beginning, there was no sound at all. The brothers called out from afar, but there was no response."

"So why are you talking nonsense!" The Daoist boy Qingsong said impatiently.

"Save me, help~~~"

As soon as the little Daoist boy finished speaking, he was immediately slapped in the face; a weak voice came faintly from the bottom of the pit.

"It's Song Changqing!" Guan Huchen's spirit lifted, and he hurriedly took a few steps.

Seeing that group of yellow gas that looked like blood mist, he immediately calmed down again.

"Wang Bao, Li Qing, you go and drag Deputy General Song up." He started picking "scapegoats" again.

Wang Bao and Li Qing didn't respond as actively as the "eight heroes who dug the pit" earlier.

They hesitated, first signaled to each other with their eyes, and after exchanging glances, they cupped their hands and said simultaneously: "General, there are many Sha Barbarians here, let them go."

Guan Huchen looked at the Daoist boy Qingsong.

"The yellow gas spraying out is 'Blood of the Dragon Vein,' which is essentially 'Earth Qi.' Once the Sha Barbarians touch or absorb it, they certainly won't become Hidden Dragons, but they will likely give birth to one or two 'grass-roots'! It won't threaten the national luck of Western Shu, but it might harass the villages outside the Hengsha Pass, causing small border troubles," the Daoist boy Qingsong smiled.

Guan Huchen didn't hesitate at all, immediately letting Wang Bao and Li Qing pick Sha Barbarians, finding a few old, weak, women, and letting them go into the pit to fish for people.

"Ah, monster, there is a bleeding skeleton monster inside~~" The barbarian women came to the edge of the pit, then screamed in horror and ran back.

"Stop, if you don't drag the person out, you are not allowed to come back!"

Wang Bao and Li Qing drew their sabers and roared ferociously at the barbarian women.

"There is a monster, the skeleton has become a spirit, and it's still moving." A barbarian woman screamed in panic.

"Aunt Guozi, Guan Laozu Qingsong is here, don't be afraid, the skeleton is likely the previous cavalry brother," Xiang Xiaoyu shouted.

To be honest, hearing that "Dragon Blood" was good for the Sha Barbarians, she wanted to volunteer herself.

But in this sensitive moment when her life wasn't completely safe, she couldn't be too conspicuous, and couldn't arouse suspicion.

Under Xiang Xiaoyu's comfort, several barbarian women endured their fear, squeezed together, returned to the edge of the pit, threw out a lasso, tied up Song Changqing, and dragged him up together.

At this moment, he was almost like a mud statue, wrapped in a layer of earthy yellow mud, and the mud was still squirming constantly, like a layer of the earth's stomach.

"Tsk tsk, colliding with the Qi machine of a national Dragon Vein, and didn't die. Even if it's a newly born barbarian country, it's still a complete Dragon Vein; his life is truly hard enough, unfortunately, although his life is good, his luck is too bad!"

The Daoist boy Qingsong examined the "mud man," making tsking sounds with his mouth, with pity in his eyes, but also faint mockery.

Guan Huchen gave Wang Bao and Li Qing a look, and the two knights strode to the back of the barbarian women, "Clang!"

The bright saber illuminated their cold, ruthless faces.

"Splat, splat!"

The barbarian women didn't even have a chance to scream in pain before their heads rolled to the ground.

The Daoist boy Qingsong curled his lips, "Killing is simple and rude, but it doesn't solve the problem."

Guan Huchen had long been holding a belly full of anger, and after the Dragon Vein was broken, he felt an inexplicable irritability.

At this moment, he couldn't hold back anymore and retorted: "The Marquis of Lieyang slaughtered more than ten thousand people of the Ji family in the Lu Kingdom!"

After saying this, he regretted it and wanted to slap himself: How can one be too flattering to a Great Qin envoy? How could he offend him by opening his mouth because of a mocking remark?

Moreover, this little Daoist boy Qingsong was ruthless and poisonous, doing things without any bottom line!

"Envoy, forgive me, this subordinate was confused." He immediately saluted and apologized.

The Daoist boy Qingsong was not angry, but examined him carefully, then turned his head to stare at the struggling Song Changqing for a while, and a look of realization and a cold sneer appeared on his baby face, "I don't blame you, because I understand your situation."

"You were backlashed by Dragon Qi, your reason is often covered by irritable Qi, and you will have many words and deeds that court death in the future. I understand you, so I forgive you, but other nobles might not."

"How can there be a backlash of Dragon Qi?" Guan Huchen's expression changed slightly, and he said nervously: "Wasn't it Song Changqing who broke the Sha Barbarian Dragon Vein?"

"He naturally suffered a backlash; look at him, he's like this, almost becoming a skeleton like the others."

"Now that he can save his life, it's because his life is hard enough." The Daoist boy Qingsong laughed.

"But the relationship between you two, you understand it yourself; the Qi machines are connected, so you will inevitably be implicated." The Daoist boy Qingsong laughed.

"Qi machines connected?" Xiang Xiaoyu was shocked, and quietly looked back and forth between "Foster Father Guan" and "Ugly Ghost Song."

Ugly Ghost Song couldn't be seen clearly or understood, but Foster Father Guan, upon hearing this, although his expression didn't change much, his pupils clearly contracted, and he bit his lip unconsciously.

—He is very nervous in his heart!

The Daoist boy Qingsong straightened his expression and said in a deep voice: "I don't blame you for your reckless words, but some things must be made clear."

"The Marquis of Lieyang slaughtering the Ji family of the Lu Kingdom is to clarify the law."

"The laws of Great Qin are written clearly and clearly; those who do not obey the orders of the Human Emperor will be beheaded; those who defy the Human Emperor's vassal states will be exterminated to the ninth generation!"

"The Marquis of Lieyang killing people is in accordance with the law, open and aboveboard, and in accordance with the principles of heaven."

He gave a light laugh again and said: "Moreover, Great Qin doesn't just kill people; didn't I come here to check for omissions and fill in the gaps, and to regulate Yin and Yang?"

"What the Envoy said is right, this subordinate has been taught." Guan Huchen saluted respectfully again.

"General, Envoy!" Wang Bao and Li Qing came over together and reported: "Deputy General Song is covered in yellow mud, which is very strange; should we fetch water to help him wash it off?"

"No need, after leaving the sand dune area, the yellow mud will naturally dry and scab, becoming ordinary mud, which will shatter with a pat and fall off with a wipe," the Daoist boy Qingsong said. ===== CHAPTER 18 =====

"When the Marquis of Lieyang kills, it is in accordance with the law, open and aboveboard, and in compliance with the Heavenly Dao."

He chuckled again and said, "Moreover, Great Qin does more than just kill. Isn't this humble Daoist here to fill the gaps and harmonize the yin and yang?"

"My lord speaks truly; this young general has been instructed." Guan Huchen bowed respectfully once more.

"General, Envoy!" Wang Bao and Li Qing came over together and reported, "Deputy General Song is covered in yellow mud and looks very strange. Should we fetch water to help him wash it off?"

"No need. Once he leaves the scope of the sand dunes, the yellow mud will naturally dry and scab over, turning into ordinary dirt that will shatter with a tap and fall off with a wipe," said the Daoist boy Qingsong.