บท 89: Chapter 85
Both parties began to fight brutally. The Su household participated in the battle with
dignity. Yan Ying still wanted to save Yuwen Xian, yet the other man shouted: "If you
wish to come along with me, then it would only confirm the accusations they have
against me for planning to kill the former Emperor. Take Qilang and escape with
Shen-daozhang! Go far away, and never come back here!"
"Your Highness!" Yan Ying could not possibly accept this reality.
"Father wants to use his death to chastise His Majesty, and have him see matters
clearly. That way, this chaos will also come to a calm as well, won't it?" It was Yuwen
Song who had said this.
"That's right! All of you, hurry and leave!" Yuwen Xian shouted, filled with both grief
and happiness, seeing how intelligent and thorough his son was, knowing very well
that he would become an outstanding man in his lifetime—yet he felt great sorrow for
the fact that he would never be able to see his own son become an adult. "If you take
me along, you won't be able to escape. Moreover, I cannot possibly leave the others
behind at the Prince's residence!"
Yuwen Song suddenly fell to his knees, bowing deeply and touching his head to the
ground three times before Yuwen Xian.
Tears fell from Yuwen Xian's eyes like that of rain, before he turned away.
Yan Ying's eyes reddened. He grit his teeth, then rushed to pick up Yuwen Song and
join Shen Qiao, who was carrying Dou Yan. Both men left the Su residence under Su
Qiao and the others' vigilance, before rushing to the city gates.
They could hear a man's final cry from behind them, and then immediately the sound of
Murong Qin's callous laughter: "His Majesty gave us this order as well—if Yuwen Xian
put up any resistance, then have him killed, so that he can serve as a warning to the
others."
He killed Yuwen Xian directly, having taken advantage of Murong Xun and Tuoba
Liangzhe fending off Madam Qin and the others. He had even made sure that the
sounds of his actions reverberated loudly, so as to make Shen Qiao and the rest hear
him.
"That traitor!" Yan Ying was so angry that he had come to a stop with Yuwen Song in
his arms, tears rolling down the boy's face.
"Don't look back! We have to escape before anything else!" Shen Qiao shouted.
In the span of their brief conversation, Murong Qin had already caught up to them
from behind. Shen Qiao held Dou Yan with one hand, while holding his sword in the
other. However, Murong Qin was one of the top wugong masters in the country of Qi.
Now, even Chen Gong relied on him for support. Naturally, only one swing from this
sword wouldn't be enough to take him down. His movements were quick, and his
sword techniques were eccentric and cunning. He was very good at learning his
opponent's weak points and attacking them there. But Murong Qin knew very well that
this present Shen Qiao was not a man that he would be able to kill. Therefore, he could
only draw closer to Shen Qiao, and wait to strike Dou Yan, causing Shen Qiao to tend
to her. Once he has created this opening, he would be able to stop Shen Qiao in his
tracks.
Dou Yan looked at the glint and flash of clashing swords in terror. Yet she said not a
word, only clinging tightly with her arms around Shen Qiao's neck, so that she would
not divert his attention for even a second.
Murong Qin said in a stern voice: "Shen Qiao! You're carrying that child with you at the
same time that you're protecting those two over there! Outside the city will be masters
whose wugong are stronger than mine! Just how far do you think you'll be able to go
alone?!"
However, Shen Qiao remained unmoved: "So long as the dao¹ is with me, it wouldn't
matter if I were faced with tens of thousands of people. I will prevail."
His jian qi surged forwards. Murong Qin was unable to block it in time, before it struck
his chest severely, leaving a wound that spurted out a jet of fresh blood.
Yet Murong Qin showed no fear of battle. Instead, he laughed loudly, with the intent to
ridicule the other man: "Your dao²? Tell me, what is your dao? In this mad world, only
the winners and the strong take all. If your dao was useful, then why is it that you faced
setback after setback everywhere you went? Why did you lose the position of zhangjiao
at Xuandu Mountain? If your dao had any use whatsoever, why hasn't that wonderful
man you love so much shown himself yet?"
The guard at the gate knew the man's identity, and paused, not daring to act rashly.
However, he spoke to the other soldiers around him: "Continue to fire! Do not stop
without my order!"
"Stop!" Puliuru Jian shouted. "Commander, His Majesty did not order you to slaughter
the family of the Prince of Qi! What is the meaning of this?!"
Liu Fang laughed: "Sui-guogong. I do remember before that the Prince of Qi, Yuwen
Xian, once told the former Emperor to be on his guard around you.Yet you not only
do not hate him, you are speaking on his behalf. What reason is there for this?"
"It was the Prince of Qi's duty to offer words of advice to the former Emperor for the
public good. Though I may not possess a great capacity for tolerance, this child is
completely innocent! Commander, why not just let him go? This would be a truly
virtuous action on your behalf!" Puliuru Jian said.
Liu Fang thought for a moment. Yuwen Xian's prestige in the court had won great
admiration from the common people Now, the Emperor suddenly wanted to launch an
attack on him. Many people had yet to react, but once this issue reached them, the
number of people who would plead for leniency to be granted upon the Prince of
Wang's family would certainly be quite great. Why would a single person want to come
in contact with such unfortunate luck, anyway?
"Fine. I will leave Sui-guogong with a shred of dignity. However, I must let you know
that it wouldn't matter if I were to show mercy on the boy. His Majesty had already
prepared a number of masters on the outskirts of the city to launch an ambush. Even if
this little boy were to make it through the door, he will still be walking to his death."
Puliuru Jian's heart fell. He could not help but glance outside the gates.
Beneath them, he could clearly make out Yuwen Song tumbling out of the city gates.
Yet he would be met with three people walking towards him—
a bald man,
a man with one arm,
and another with an impressive appearance, with all his limbs attached.
It seemed like someone had selected the top three masters in all of jianghu and had
them put together to close in on a small child. It was truly excessive, like that of using a
butcher's knife to slaughter a chicken.
Puliuru Jian did not recognize the bald man, nor did he recognize the one-armed man.
However, he was able to make out the last one.
"Chen Gong? Does His Majesty really place that much value upon Yuwen Song that he
would even send Chen Gong out?"
***
1 Here, Shen Qiao sounds like he is referring to the following dao from Daoism: the origin and source of
all things. It can be translated in many different ways, including The Way / Road / Path / Method.
According to Daoism, it is the absolute principle underlying the universe, combining within itself the
principles of Yin and Yang and signifying the way, or code of behavior, that is in harmony with the
natural order. In these novels, characters often try to gain insights into the Dao, which can give them
supernatural powers or even control over aspects of the natural world (thanks Wuxia World!)
2 While here, Murong Qin is using the more literal term: the 'path' in which one chooses to lead their
life.
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