[Wushuang] Chapter 149
For as long as he remembered, Feng Xiao has never begged the Heavens nor the Earth.

Qi sent off broken bricks into all eight cardinal directions, drawing large and tiny scars all over spectators of the fight that could not block them out in time.

However, qi protected the bodies of those two people inside the battle ring, so they were instead unharmed.

This didn’t mean that their pressure was any lesser than the spectators’.

Feng Xiao did not know what Xiao Lu felt now, but he knew there was only one thing he felt:

Going against the currents, and to not advance is to go back.

The last time they fought, Xiao Lu kept his identity at bay and feigned weakness to stop Feng Xiao from delivering a proper judgement of his true abilities.

Even if this time he was prepared, he was still inwardly taken aback by the abilities that the other displayed.

Xiao Lu, who had absorbed the Jade of Heaven’s Lake completely, would have a depthless amount of inner strength. With such strength, his martial arts would also be a step above.

Presently, Feng Xiao truly did not have the confidence to really win him.

However, even if his chances of winning are slim, he couldn’t lose.

The Stormy Tavern has thoroughly been reduced into a wasteland. Both of them fought three moves above it, clashing three palms. Xiao Lu was hit on the shoulder, and Feng Xiao was injured on his waist. Both of them took three steps back, but one could see the differences between them.

Xiao Lu’s three steps were smaller than Feng Xiao’s.

But Xiao Lu withdrew at the chance; he hadn’t pressed on for victory.

Because he was waiting. Waiting for the enemy to err.

Feng Xiao didn’t force himself to return the attacks, because he was also taking breathes inwardly.

Qi originated from the dantian and once it reached the Baihui acupoint1 it would split into two streams, flowing into all parts of his body. Before, the meridian Feng Xiao was injured in before felt better, feeling like it had been slightly healed.

But this wasn’t enough. Xiao Lu would not give him enough time to heal himself. The reason he hadn’t moved was because he was waiting for an opportunity.

Qi swirled around them, as if it were winds that came from different directions, testing one another as it flowed in gentle currents, but once they realized the opposition had taken a step back, they would immediately tear down its warm and gentle facade, roaring ferociously all of a sudden.

The dark clouds on top of their heads were getting thicker. It was unknown since when raindrops as large as beans began falling continuously.

Both of them hadn’t noticed it, allowing the rain to dampen their robes.

Feng Xiao closed his eyes, and that light shadow went off all of a sudden, turning into an endless expanse of darkness.

The qi around his body weakened, similar to wild winds that pursued dark clouds and knowing there was no hope, yet had to gather in a single place in futility.

Xiao Lu finally attacked!

A long sword appeared in his hand. The sword’s sheath had already been lost; his figure was as quick as the sword’s glare itself, dazzling in the rain and dashing at Feng Xiao like starshard!

Feng Xiao didn’t move, as if he had already given up struggling. The sword’s glare was drawing close, and yet he only placed a hand over the wounded side of his stomach as if he didn’t realize the impending attack.

Qin Miaoyu couldn’t help letting out an “Ah,”. The sweat that originally oozed out of her palms had already turned cold. She had even forgotten that she was still sitting in a mire filled with rainwater.

For the sake of this moment, Feng Xiao was already their only hope. Once Feng Xiao lost, Cui Buqu might still be kept alive, but Xiao Lu would never pity either one of them here. Moreover, she was from the Fuyu Sect from the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai to begin with. To Xiao Lu, she was a traitor.

Although Qin Miaoyu joined the Jiejian Bureau at first for the sake of her own life, as days carried on she gradually got used to it. Missions done by the members of the Fuyu Sect could never be exposed in the light. The Jiejian Bureau too required accomplishing secret missions, but it was different from the cold and strict atmosphere of the Fuyu Sect. At the very least, she had a gentle superior like Ming Yue, and even though Pei Jingzhe was a little dumb, he was a very fun-to-bully colleague……

But if she couldn’t live through tonight, then nothing was hers to decide.

Qin Miaoyu could only hope that Feng Xiao, who usually praised himself as number one beneath the Heavens, could unleash his martial prowess today. At least pitying these little lives of theirs who often go running about without much wage.

She couldn’t help turning her head to look at the person next to her.

Cui Buqu was also watching the battle. Qin Miaoyu has tapped his acupoints to stop the bleeding on his shoulder, but even though the bleeding had stopped, it didn’t mean the pain did as well. His shoulder blades still hurt.

Qin Miaoyu knew this type of pain. She had once brushed her arm when she was fighting, and it was impossible to put the pain into words. She could only vent her paint through crying and shouting. But let alone crying, Cui Buqu did not even groan. He was just focusing silently as he watched the progress of the battle, as if the one injured wasn’t himself.

What sort of willpower would one need to have, only could they ignore the pain of shattered bones on their bodies? Qin Miaoyu couldn’t imagine it.

The thundering clash of qi reached them. She immediately turned around to look again, and realized that Xiao Lu’s sword glare stopped two inches away from Feng Xiao. The hand Feng Xiao had over his stomach turned around and with a flicker of fingers, the string of a zither shot out.

The loud thundering clash just now was the aftersound of a zither string infused with qi and the force of a sword!

Both of them separated, their figures like light feathers, landing on two different sides of the roof. They stuck fast on top of the roof like steady mountains.

After a while, fresh blood spilled from the corner of Feng Xiao’s lips.

Yet Xiao Lu lightly held his sword, his other hand behind his back.

Qin Miaoyu starred in terror. In her heart, she said: It’s finished. Her superior is obviously more inferior in skill.

Yet the strangest thing was that Xiao Lu didn’t press on to push Feng Xiao to his death. When the sword’s glare and zither string fought again, both of them seemed to have shared some synchronization, for each of them saved themselves some amount of strength. They walked in circles around each other, testing the enemy. Sword glares clashed with the curtain of rain, exploding into an upsurge of qi. Even though it was dazzling and blinding and heart-stirring, it lacked the exciting resolve of killing an enemy.

Could it be that Xiao Lu turned kind all of a sudden? Or had he fallen for the charms of her superior and convinced into having a tender heart for him?

No. It was impossible. According to what she had seen just now, Xiao Lu might have felt sympathetic for Cui Buqu, but he would never show mercy to Feng Xiao.

With Feng Xiao’s pride, it was also impossible to make him kneel and beg for mercy.

There must be something she missed!

Qin Miaoyu watched in confusion from the side, yet Feng Xiao knew clearly in his heart.

Because he had used a deceit; he had weaved three zither strings into one, but allowed them to spread back out into three once they were launched. Under the cover of the curtain of rain, one of them injured Xiao Lu’s stomach.

The other was also injured now, so at least they were on fairer grounds. Feng Xiao laughed soundlessly.

Xiao Lu pivoted his wrist, and the sword’s glare was like the rising of ocean waves, coming forth as high as mountains, like the falling of boulders from mountain cliffs, the collapsing of Mount Tai, and the bursting of waters from the Yellow River. The mountains and grounds shook, the waters surged and the boulders crumpled.

It caused the gods and demons to panic as all things on earth manifested. Feng Xiao felt like he was walking alone beneath a crumpling mountain while the currents against it froze. An enormous energy pressed down from all eight cardinal directions, pushing him backwards as if it was forcing him to kneel against his will, to beg this merciless way of the world to spare him so he may retain his life.

How would Feng Xiao be willing to?

He snorted a cold laugh!

For as long as he remembered, Feng Xiao had neither begged the Heavens nor the Earth, so let along begging for mercy.

All along, there were only people who begged him, but never he who begged others.

He came as he pleased and left as he pleased. As for the so-called privileges of the wealthy, the peaks of the martial world, the Heaven’s decree of the mortals on earth, he desired none of them!

If he couldn’t win tonight, that ailing man would be taken away. Without his permission, since when could anyone decide whether Cui Buqu should live or die?

Not the Gods, not those in power high above, and not Xiao Lu!

As if Feng Xiao had freed himself from some form of shackles at this moment. From being subjected to human rules, he was suddenly aware of something: who cared about the natural ways of the world? Since one had to destroy their bonds first to break through, why couldn’t he break through first then destroy his bonds?

Since absorbing two Śarīras, his martial arts have immensely improved, but it was also because of this he had paused at a certain stage; like a foggy screen was before him and he could no longer advance. Until this moment, when he was left with no alternatives to escape from and had to fight for his life, the fog receded to reveal a blue sky. As the steady stream of war surged continuously, his heart, mind, and soul was clear.

There was no enemy in front of him, no Xiao Lu, and no surging glare of the sword. All it had was a mountain.

Since this is the case, then he would split the mountains he finds, and break the rivers he meets.

Feng Xiao waved his hand and five strings of the zither shot out like spears, shooting towards the burst of torrential floods!

Xiao Lu’s attack was perfect in his eyes, as if it had reached a perfect state no one in this world could counter.

The only flaw was the direction of the attack and the other’s qi and his sword clash. But top-tier martial artists often live on the verge of death, they cannot anticipate everything that comes. These flaws should not be a threat.

He refused to waste more strength fighting with Feng Xiao. Although the other’s martial arts were excellent, he was still a little inferior, and this time it was enough to determine the victor and loser.

The sword’s glare was like a passing rainbow, lighting up the sky in the middle of the night. Five zither strings shot back from different directions, and one which deflected the sword from its direction.

Precisely!

Xiao Lu was surprised. He hadn’t thought Feng Xiao would have such an unexpected counter, and thus he became even more determined to kill the other where he stood.

In the blink of an eye, the other made the first move. Using the zither strings to hinder the sword’s chance to attack, he flew into his direction, infusing nearly his qi into his palm so that Xiao Lu could not avoid it.

Qin Miaoyu’s eyes opened wide and saw two shadows like smoke suddenly separated. Light coughs ensued; it was unknown who it belonged to.

Just as she was clueless about how to judge it, Ming Yue responded more swiftly than her. He must have been saving his energy enough, for he abruptly rose to his feet and lunged himself at Xiao Lu with a wave of attack!

When Xiao Lu and Ming Yue’s waves of attack clashed, the latter fell to the ground like a broken paper crane, but Xiao Lu too took a few steps back.

There was no longer a smile on his face, only a callous determination to kill.

With only a single look from him, Qin Miaoyu already felt cold.

But Xiao Lu’s gaze didn’t stay on Qin Miaoyu for long. He looked past her and fell onto Cui Buqu.

It was only for a moment.

Xiao Lu’s cold voice came, but he has already leapt far away.

“It seems like I could only pay Brother Cui a visit another day. The shame of Linbo Villa’s destruction will not be forgotten!”

Qin Miaoyu was stunned for a moment. She blankly asked: “He just left like that?”

Ming Yue spitted out blood as he knelt on the ground. There were even pieces of flesh in them. He had probably received quite a heavy damage from the wave of attack just now.

“He was heavily injured. Although he still has strength left, Feng Xiao too has it. Xiao Lu cannot guarantee a victory for himself, so he left.” Cui Buqu lightly said.

Feng Xiao gave a look of disbelief. “Obviously I was the reason he suffered a setback, but why does he only remember you before he left?”

Cui Buqu looked dispirited, but his eyes were sharp, even smiling. He softened his words when he spoke, that even the raindrops seemed to have turned into a drizzle.

“Perhaps, it was because the only enemy he takes seriously, was me?”

Feng Xiao snorted coldly.

“Both of you really are attached to each other, then why didn’t you just follow him off?”

Step by step he walked towards Cui Buqu, carrying a heavy scent of blood on him. The killing aura about him hasn’t receded like an evil spirit, the ruler of the Yellow Spring.

Qin Miaoyu raised her gaze and saw Feng Xiao’s emotionless eyes, similar to how she saw Xiao Lu just now. She felt her blood freeze, shouting for her to stay away, yet her body couldn’t move.

Yet Cui Buqu still has the breath to say regrettably: “He left too quickly, I couldn’t catch up in time.”

Feng Xiao walked up to his side and knelt, all for the sake for looking at the other from a taller perspective.

“You could originally sit back and wait to reel in the benefits. You could sit inside of the Governor’s Residence waiting as we both destroy ourselves. Why did you come all the way here on purpose?”

Cui Buqu: “I was just passing by.”

Feng Xiao: “I saw you said I was worth it.”

Cui Buqu: “Then you are blind.”

Feng Xiao squinted his eyes: “You said you could entrust your back to me.”

Cui Buqu said expressionlessly: “I say I would assume the Jiejian Bureau after you are dead. There is no need to thank me, to help another is my honour. After all, both of us have come a long way.”

He denied everything in an instant! Feng Xiao laughed furiously. Refusing to say any more nonsense, he immediately grabbed the other’s jaw roughly, lowering his head to swallow all those words that were never spoken.

Author’s Notes:

Cui *inserts cuss word*: I am not. I did not. Don’t ramble blindly.

Feng-er: When facing these types of people, don’t waste your breath, just get into the action.

[1]百会穴: The tip of the head.

[Dust Bunny: When leaving comments, please keep common courtesy in mind – don’t write ambigious comments or abtract humour that might be easily misunderstood or not understood at all. Keep in mind translators only translate, but they can’t change the story themselves. Also, RL is a little busy for me lately, so future updates will be a little slower.]

[Wushuang] Chapter 150
I will strip you naked in front of everyone

The rain wasn’t heavy. It was drizzling, carrying with it sticky and greasy dust. His hair and robes were all damp, but due to the wind, his half-dried robes were dampened once more. Why not fleetingly endure a big rain pour? It would have been better compared to being wet now, where his robes stuck fast to his body as heavily as golden rocks, weighing his bones down.

Mud and pebbles pooled all around him, it wasn’t comfortable lying down. Cui Buqu lost his control over one of his shoulders; even when he tried to get up, he could only use one arm. His shoulder blade hurt like his heart was being torn apart—even until now, it still vaguely hurt. Each time he took a breath, what he inhaled wasn’t the scent of mud or rain, neither was it the fragrance of the wine from the tavern, but it was the scent of blood coming from his own body.

This deadweight of a body hasn’t fully healed its wounds, and new wounds were already added. Not only did his limbs hurt; old wounds from long ago hurt the same, it felt like an invisible hand was holding a pocket knife as it dismembered his body.

But the pain on his body could not compare to the fresh kiss on his lips.

Cui Buqu opened his eyes wide, and for a moment he had forgotten to fight back.

He found it hard to believe that the other would do such a thing during a time like this.

Heavily wounded, with everyone watching except for Guan Shanhai who had passed out, there were also two pairs of bright gazes staring at them.

Two faces identical to Feng Xiao, giving a very unlike Feng Xiao blank look, as they stared dumbfounded like two blocks of wood.

Cui Buqu’s irises rolled to the corner of his eyes and blinked, and suddenly felt his bones ache even more.

Yet Feng Xiao didn’t pay them any attention, as if there was no one present.

He was even displeased by Cui Buqu’s distraction and so he deepened the kiss, refusing to stop after a tiny one, insisting to savour everything he could before leaving satisfied and happy.

Cui Buqu’s uninjured arm pressed itself onto Feng Xiao’s shoulder, using his strength to push it in the other direction, yet Cui Buqu was neither welcoming nor rejecting. It was a pity that Feng Xiao, though heavily injured, did not budge an inch, sticking fast to him stubbornly. His grip on his jaw had even tightened, making Cui Buqu emit an overwhelmed groan.

Should he just feign passing out? Since it was a tactic he knew well from experience.

He pondered over the thought, but it was as if Feng Xiao knew of his thoughts, he muttered a barely audible threat, “If you feign passing out again, I’m going to strip you naked in front of everyone.”

Cui Buqu: “…”

He didn’t doubt that Feng-er would really do such a thing, but Cui Buqu could not afford to lose.

As he pondered, the other person recklessly swept up, finally retreating when Cui Buqu’s breathes were ragged and his face reddened. However, his warm breath lingered on his currently puffy and red lips, that usually looked rather pale and ashen. As the Zuoyue Commander raised his head slowly, it was unknown whether it was the rain dampening the corner of his eyes, or the fog from his breath, forming a misty red patch as if he looked mad. Feng Xiao was close, taking this into his gaze. Knowing that onlookers might not notice these little details, he couldn’t help feeling cocky, feeling comforted from his defeat of fighting a draw with Xiao Lu and allowing him to escape.

Ming Yue’s mouth parted, clueless that rainwater was falling into it.

He thought that it might have been an illusion from his qi deviation, resulting from overburdening wounds and so quickly pulled his gaze away from those two people. Suppressing down his pain and turning his head to the side with difficulty, he looked at Qin Miaoyu who sat closest to him, hoping to ask for her help to stand, yet he caught sight of Qin Miaoyu looking blanker than himself, her eyes wide and round, unable to pull her gaze away.

Ming Yue turned around again in curiosity and saw that Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu had separated. Feng-er coughed a few times before spitting out a mouthful of blackened blood, then held Cui Buqu’s arm as he helped him up.

They were normal. It seemed like what happened just now had really been an illusion. Ming Yue sighed and thought.

“So, is it true that the Second Commander and Commander Cui shared such a relationship?” Qin Miaoyu leaned close and whispered.

“What relationship?” Ming Yue didn’t understand, but as he recalled what he saw just now, all the hairs on his body stood and felt his wounds hurt more.

“Cut-sleeves sharing bitten peaches1.” Qin Miaoyu spoke in a soft voice.

Her wounds were the least severe among everyone. Other than the tavern, the battles that ensued didn’t require her efforts. Now, after some rest, she has almost fully recovered, so naturally, she had much more strength than the others to look into these details.

Ming Yue hadn’t answered. Feng Xiao turned to look in their direction, the killing aura around him hasn’t receded, and his usual teasing demeanour hasn’t returned. At his stare, Qin Miaoyu immediately quietened down. After Feng Xiao turned around to leave, she let out a long breath and told Ming Yue quietly, “Third Commander, are we still going to fight the Zuoyue Bureau for credits in the future?”

Once this question was asked, Ming Yue felt his head spinning. His stomach still churned, so his internal wounds were more severe. He’d give everything to spit another mouthful of blood out.

He knew Feng-er had always been fearless and unrestrained, and took no general etiquette seriously, but he could never have guessed that Feng-er would be so fearless and unrestrained to this degree.

Generally speaking: of all the people you could have taken a fancy on, you had to choose the leader of the Zuoyue Bureau.

Ming Yue had heard about how difficult Cui Buqu was to get along with before, yet what he cracked his head on wasn’t just how difficult Cui Buqu was, but the Zuoyue Bureau behind him, as well as what the Emperor and Empress would think about this after they find out.

Although the Emperor and Empress were a married couple who was very much in love, who would be willing to see their own subordinates having an affair with each other? Would this method between the Emperor and Empress to balance each other out still work then?

This matter could no longer be leaked out—Ming Yue who had always been honest and true to his duties had even begun to think about alternative strategies.

And so, his wounds hurt even more.

Those weren’t even normal wounds. The palm he had clashed with Xiao Lu practically drained all Ming Yue’s energy which he didn’t have much left to begin with. His meridians were shaken, and had it not been for the fact that Xiao Lu fought with Feng Xiao before, and was worn thin there, Ming Yue would not have been alive at this moment.

“Third Commander?” Qin Miaoyu didn’t know what he was thinking about, she even found it strange that he was staring blankly in front as if he was in a trance.

“This won’t do. I’m so tired, I should take a nap.” Ming Yue mumbled, closed his eyes and lied down on the mud, refusing to move.

Qin Miaoyu: “…”

Should she help her superior up or return?

She was also very tired. If she chose to help Ming Yue walk back… once they returned they would be reprimanded.

Qin Miaoyu looked left and right, and found a dry spot under a roof to lie down as well, closing her eyes as she felt at ease.

She had also ‘passed out’ from her wounds.

Cui Buqu stood up.

Feng Xiao held one of his hand, but in reality they were mutually supporting each other.

If not for this, Feng Xiao might not even hold up until they were back.

Cui Buqu laughed coldly, showing no mercy. “Wasn’t the Second Commander quite majestic just now? Why are you at the brink of death now?”

Feng Xiao sighed. “The saying goes that when a peony dies, it morphs into a beautiful ghost; but if I truly die, wouldn’t I have been unworthy of your words “worth it”?”

Cui Buqu: “If you die, I will let the Zuoyue Bureau hang up great big lanterns for half a month, burn three strips of firecrackers a day, put up decorations and put their hands up to celebrate.”

Feng Xiao: “Ah, QuQu, if a woman doesn’t speak her heart, it makes her cute, but when a man does it, it’s contentious. Of course, you cannot be compared to those people, but was it so difficult for you to say that you would miss me if I died?”

Cui Buqu coldly said: “If you can speak so much nonsense, then it seems like your body is in a good condition.”

Before he finished his words, he released his hand with no ounce of sympathy.

Feng Xiao used all his strength speaking, so as he was caught unexpectedly before he could inhale a breath, he immediately fell onto the ground and got mud all over himself.

His insides were burning like fire and ash, and once he placed all his focus onto his wounds, the pain forbade him to even speak.

Second Commander Feng, who had always fussed over cleanliness and would change into a new set of robes even if there was a speck of dirt on it. Since when could he ever look so sorry?

He sighed slowly and vaguely heard Cui Buqu’s footsteps sounding farther away.

It seemed like he really did infuriate Cui Buqu.

But, this weather was truly cold.

Why was Feng Xiao so hasty to decide that it was wise to wear a piece of clothing less so he could save time? Or else even in a cold, windy autumn rain like this, he wouldn’t have been so cold that his teeth clattered.

But when he thought about how that one named Xiao probably wasn’t in any better condition, he felt happier.

Even the loss he felt from being abandoned by Cui Buqu was no longer obvious.

The sound of footsteps returned.

Walking unevenly, like their owner was wounded on one side, their strength uneven.

He was struck by a thought, he turned his eyes forcibly to take a look.

Before he could see the person, a blood-coated robe had fallen on his shoulders. It was very thick, though half-damp.

Feng Xiao furrowed his brows, yet a bamboo stick was tucked into his hand. He wasn’t sure where Cui Buqu had found it.

“Who’s robes?” his voice was weak, but it didn’t hide his scornful tone.

“The Young Master of the Jinhuan Gang.” Cui Buqu coldly said, “Best you use more strength yourself. I couldn’t feel half my shoulder.”

“I don’t want a robe from a dead man.” Feng Xiao remained disgusted, but there was a vague coquettish tone about his voice that came from nowhere.

Cui Buqu coughed a few times, and when the other sat up with great difficulty, he grabbed one of his arms and used strength to help him up. This movement hurt his shoulder, but he didn’t make any move other than feeling his body go stiff.

Feng Xiao, however, felt it. He mustered a breath, using the bamboo stick to steady himself, and shifted most of his body weight away from the other. Although his words still scorned: “Take off your own robes and switch it for his, I’ll wear yours.”

Cui Buqu snorted and spat out three words: “In your dreams.”

The two then deigned themselves to help each other, as they returned to where they came from.

Their footsteps were slow because part of their strength was wasted on bickering, with neither sides willing to take a step back.

“Cui Buqu, since your mouth is so poisonous, and your looks are lackluster, if you continue like this, you really will be alone until the end of your days.”

“There is no need for yours respectfully to worry about it.”

“Then for mercy’s sake, I should sacrifice myself to remain by the tiger’s side, so the world of mortals can avoid a calamity.”

“Is Leng Dou’s robes that warm?”

“Still manageable. Why? Are you finally feeling cold and want to exchange with me now? No way.”

“I heard that man has a strange habit. Before he leaves for a fight, each time he would first sleep with a beauty. Who would have known whether this robe you’re wearing now was placed under that beauty, and who would have known when they were in the act, how much scent of their love-making had clung onto it. It feels like it still holds some fishy smell on it.”

“…Speak some more, and I will vomit on you. If we’re to die, we die together.”

“…”

The rain finally stopped.

The Autumn wind billowed, the clouds stacked up one another. Although there was no moon, it brought a refreshing breath of fresh air.

A clear sky that hadn’t visited for many days finally came.

Naturally after that, when Cui Buqu returned he allowed the Zuoyue Bureau and Pei Jingzhe to come here searching for people. They used a carriage to give Qin Miaoyu, Ming Yue, and Guan Shanhai a comfortable ride home.

But before Qin Miaoyu could applaud herself for her brilliant decision, there was a cluster of state affairs waiting for her when she returned. She couldn’t help crying and wishing she was as heavily wounded as Ming Yue.

All the rations were transported away by Xiao Lu, leaving them not a single grain. Thankfully, the water had receded, and with Yang Yun bearing witnesses, those distinguished families who allied with him were caught one by one. Cui Buqu gathered them all according to his name list and forced them to surrender the rations they had gathered in their homes before Pei Jingzhe was put in charge of distributing them.

Those distinguished families gave many excuses; who would be willing to surrender the rations they have embezzled? The Li family even proclaimed that they were blood-related to the Longxi Li Clan, and to everyone’s understanding, the Longxi Li Clan’s patriarch was the sister of Empress Dugu. Qin Miaoyu hadn’t joined the Jiejian Bureau for long, so she wasn’t familiar with the relationships in the Central Plains. Hence, she went looking for Cui Buqu.

When Qin Miaoyu arrived, Cui Buqu was being under the effects of medicine just now and had passed out while a physician was mending his bones. His lips were pursed right, his eyebrows furrowed as if the pain would affect him even in his sleep.

Qiao Xian stood guard by his side; Qin Miaoyu couldn’t help staring at her.

She heard that when Qiao Xian returned, she knelt in front of Cui Buqu’s room for half a night. Pei Jingzhe that dumb boy also held an umbrella for her for half a night. It carried on until the sky was about to brighten, then Cui Buqu called her inside. Qin Miaoyu didn’t know what they said, but she could see Qiao Xian’s sense of relief, practically glowing as if she had placed down a burden that she’s carried on for many years. Then, that dumb boy Pei Jingzhe couldn’t look away.

Qin Miaoyu sighed on behalf of the Jiejian Bureau for having such a member like Pei Jingzhe who failed to live up to its name.

Qiao Xian noticed her gaze, and so turned her head, her gaze cold and dazzling with a faint sense of hostility.

Qin Miaoyu was stunned, but then she thought, after their return, she had been busy for half a night. Feng Xiao and Ming Yue were both receiving medical assistance due to overly severe wounds. She hadn’t even taken off her disguise, and so she was still using Feng Xiao’s face.

In that case, could she use Second Commander Feng’s identity to do something bad? And let him take the blame once he woke up? Qin Miaoyu sneakily thought, and then felt that maybe she was truly seeking death.

Cui Buqu vaguely opened his eyes. The pain only made him slow, but he hadn’t even let out a groan.

He looked at the gauze cloth over his head for a good fifteen minutes before his gaze slowly fell upon Qiao Xian and Qin Miaoyu.

Qiao Xian gently said: “Commander, the physician just came and left behind a prescription. The medicine has been cooked, do you want a bowl of it first?”

What does ‘do you want a bowl first’ mean? It made the medicine sound like soup. Qin Miaoyu inwardly stated, and just as she felt playful, she imitated Feng Xiao’s voice and spoke:

“I have candy.”

She magically took out a box of candy and opened its cover, letting out the fragrance of Maltose Candy2.

Cui Buqu spared her a look and took the box.

“Qin Miaoyu, do you have nothing to do?”

Qin Miaoyu: “…”

She didn’t know where she had exposed herself, but this person had seen through her.

“Commander, you are clever.” Clever Qin Miaoyu laughed, and dared not pretend further. Feng Xiao was healing in seclusion, so he had allowed her to temporarily obey Cui Buqu’s orders. In the end, Cui Buqu truly did order her around, making Qin Miaoyu run about like a dog.

“I have already done according to your orders.I gathered the victims and they were as you said, they refused to live outside the city.”

Cui Buqu plainly said: “They have been locked up for many days. They no longer trust the officials. To them, leaving the city is equal to waiting for death. Only within the city, they have a chance to live.”

His voice was hoarse beyond recognition, his tone soft yet steady.

Qin Miaoyu patiently waited until he finished. She nodded her head and said: “Yes, so we allowed them to live in the county’s bureau temporarily. Huang Lue is dead, that place is empty. The constables are also keeping watch, so nothing will happen for the time being. However, it’s an issue that no rations are left. The distinguished families refuse to surrender them, saying that the official must support the victims, and there was no reason to ask them from the citizens. Among them, the Ding and Li families are the most determined. They have relatives who served the Imperial Court, so this humble subject cannot make the decision, thus having to trouble you.”

[1]断袖分桃 (lit. Cut-sleeves sharing bitten peaches): a byword for homosexuality of males. Bitten peaches: when a courtier shared a bitten peach with his lord due to the peach tasting extremely sweet, his lord claims that he loved him for offering him such a sweet peach. Cut-sleeves: when an Emperor didn’t want to wake up his sleeping male partner, he cut his sleeve off before he left.
[2] 麦芽糖: Maiyatang is a treat made from maltose.

[Wushuang] Chapter 151
Feng-er!

Qiao Xian brought his medicine here. The way Cui Buqu looked at the bowl of medicine was more hateful than the way he looked at Xiao Lu. Even when he spoke to Qin Miaoyu about those distinguished families who refused to give in unless they’ve seen their own coffins, his tone was not friendly at all.

“Those who refuse to comply, kill them.”

Qin Miaoyu stared at him in disbelief, “All of them?”

She couldn’t hear the implicating humour from Cui Buqu. Qin Miaoyu was neither a kind-hearted nor a soft-hearted person, but these distinguished families in Guangqian Prefecture contained many complicated relationships, and since the mastermind had been Yang Yun, who was related to the Royal Family, it would be no surprise that those underneath him would also share relationships with people in court. It was easy to simply kill them, but if someone sought out the Jiejian Bureau in the aftermath, she was only a little scout of the Jiejian Bureau; she could not bear this sort of responsibility.

Moreover, Feng Xiao was now in seclusion, and Ming Yue was in a coma. All the decision-makers were not present. At where she stood now, she had no power to make such a decision for the Jiejian Bureau.

Cui Buqu remained silent because he noticed that too. It was not appropriate to let Qin Miaoyu handle this matter. By the end of the day, she was not the Commander of the Jiejian Bureau. When it came to position and rank, there was only him.

“An epidemic would surely come after the calamity. Go gather all the physicians in the city into the largest hospital, let them issue some prescriptions meant for epidemics for those victims. Order someone to burn some mugwort in the city. Yang Yun left behind quite a lot of golds and silvers, so deduct the costs from there temporarily. Keep a record. Rong Qing has already delivered an edict to the Imperial Court about this, once we return to the capital, this record, as well as evidence of Yang Yun’s crime, will be submitted together.”

“Also, go to the coffin house and look for a few corpses. I need new ones, not old, and best if they died a violent death, the type that would offer nightmares if one were to take a longer look.”

Qin Miaoyu gave him a strange look; perhaps this was the first time she heard such a strange request. But she responded very swiftly: “Some enemies died in a fight that took place in the Stormy Tavern before. They could be used, it will save us the time to look for them.”

Cui Buqu nodded and said: “Good.”

Qiao Xian reminded him at an opportune moment: “Commander, it’s time for your medicine.”

Cui Buqu: “…”

Both of them exchanged glances for a while, which finally ended with Cui Buqu raising the bowl to his lips.

Qin Miaoyu quickly left to carry out Cui Buqu’s orders. Only Qiao Xian and Cui Buqu were left in the room.

After pondering for half a beat, Qiao Xian silently knelt.

“Have you thought it through?” Cui Buqu wasn’t surprised.

Qiao Xian drooped her head low: “Yes, as long as I could remain in the Zuoyue Bureau, this humble subject is willing to remain close and wait, the Commander may expel me however he wished.”

That day, both of them had discussed for a long time. Cui Buqu gave her two choices: One is to leave the Zuoyue Bureau forever. And two is that she could remain, but no longer by his side. There were many secret stations of the Zuoyue Bureau in many places. Qiao Xian will be stationed at one of them and start over. After she could prove herself, she would be promoted.

The second choice was a very difficult path, since the moment the Zuoyue Bureau was established, Qiao Xian had always been following Cui Buqu. She even carried the rank of a seventh-ranking official. This demotion was equal to sending her back to square one.

Cui Buqu said: “I thought you would choose to leave and cast all burdens off of yourself. Having your freedom restored to you is not a bad thing.”

Qiao Xian insisted: “I want to remain. Regardless of what I will be doing, it is fine.”

The Qingcang Sect was a very small sect with mediocre martial arts and nothing worthy enough to steal. The only thing its disciples were skilled in was the art of disguise. But even this wasn’t anything special. In the face of a true martial artist, disguises were pointless. There were very few disciples in the sect, and so the new Sect Leader married the only daughter of a Sect Leader from a large sect in the Southwest regions. The latter was loved and spoiled since she was young, so her standards were high. After she was married here, she ordered the Qingcang disciples around, interfering with everything. Qiao Xian was beautiful, and so it was difficult for the Sect Leader’s wife to not feel annoyed by her. Hence, under such a circumstance, she was expelled from the sect.

Qiao Xian, who hence became an outcast, had nowhere to go. At this moment, she received instructions from the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai, who told her to proceed to Chang’an, the capital of the previous dynasty, the Northern Zhou. Qiao Xian waited at the teahouse outside of Chang’an as promised for half a month. She spent all her money and continuously encountered situations due to her beauty. She was in a sorry and tight corner, no longer able to advance. It was during that time, where Qiao Xian was slowly leaving the small ambit of a little sect, when she realised that the world they lived in was a limitless and vast place. Perhaps the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai had left her here to experience the good and the bad of the mortal world, teaching her a lesson.

She failed to wait for the Thirteen Pavilions’ ambassador, but she didn’t fail to wait for Cui Buqu.

During that time, Cui Buqu hadn’t assumed the Zuoyue Bureau although he was deeply favoured by Empress Dugu and was the honoured guest in the Prime Minister’s residence. However, very few people knew about him. At first Qiao Xian too didn’t know, until after Cui Buqu asked for her background and experience, he asked her if she wanted to remain by his side. Only then Qiao Xian vaguely felt that this was the purpose she was supposed to serve for the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai.

She came from a small sect; other than the art of disguise, she didn’t have anything else that was useful. Cui Buqu allowed someone to teach her medicinal knowledge, and seek out traditional arts of disguise for her to hone her skills. After the Zuoyue Bureau was established, he would often bring her along when he left for expeditions and travel to many places.

Qiao Xian did not only obtain Cui Buqu’s precept and example, but she also felt a sense of belonging to both the Zuoyue Bureau and Cui Buqu. This made her feel more like home compared to her previous sect. Only when she was in the Zuoyue Bureau, she could feel her heart beating like she was alive, and that there would forever be someone for her to pursue, as well as a countless number of goals for her to accomplish.

After that, she was blackmailed by the ambassador of the Thirteen Pavilions. Qiao Xian was forced to choose between “being abandoned by the Zuoyue Bureau”, or “assist in delivering trivial information that would not harm Cui Buqu”. In the end, she had chosen the latter. When one wrong step was taken, every other step taken was also wrong. By the time she wanted to turn back, she realised it was already impossible.

She had originally carried a heart with the anticipation of death when she proceeded to the Zhao Family’s Teahouse, but who could have guessed that the path Cui Buqu left for her, was for her to live.

“Your health requires a long period of medical attention. These Bingzhi pellets are time-consuming to make. There are only a few left. Please allow this humble subject to make you another bottle before she leaves. Before you return to the capital, this humble subject will write its prescriptions down, so the old physician from Huize Hall will know how to make them in my stead.”

These words of hers, as well as all that was against her will, could not make Cui Buqu soften his heart nor give her hope that she could remain. Everyone would have to take responsibility for the things they have done. Regardless of what difficulties or reasons they had behind them, they should be prepared for the consequences before they’ve done them. Since Qiao Xian chose to remain, she had to receive the punishment she deserved.

Besides, leaving the capital to a secret station might not be a bad thing.

Cui Buqu replied with an “En,” before the medicine in him took effect. His mind began to feel sunken and dizzy. He had originally wanted to wait for Qin Miaoyu to report back before lying down, but who could have known that his body had already given him a warning. Even with a more stubborn determination, it couldn’t withstand a body that was exhausted to the brim. Of what Qiao Xian said afterwards, he only had a vague impression about it, like it was separated indistinctly by a gauze cloth.

He slept uncomfortably. A countless number of dreams came to him thick and fast; as he spun around he saw the people who had died, and enemies he knew from before, yet more were the people Cui Buqu had killed or pitted. All of them climbed up from the prison known as the Yellow Spring; a dense aura of hatred and resentment was surrounding them like spider threads, howling and wailing for revenge. Even if Cui Buqu was invincible, with guts and a heart made of steel more difficult to chisel open than rocks of gold, in his dreams he was as expressionless and unmoved, allowing the ghosts and spirits to groan.

His body felt like a huge boulder had been tied onto it, pulling him down into deep waters against his will. The sound of an uproar rolling by his ears, as if they wanted to pull him up, but there was an unknown source of strength from the abyss down below. With his hand as his blade, he cut open the cocoon made of silk, yet his consciousness was floating in the ocean, having no luck in finding a raft.

It was unknown how much time had passed, the voices in his ears became clearer. It was Qiao Xian speaking to someone else.

The other voice also sounded familiar.

The dream truly did make him a lot slower. Cui Buqu pinched his brows as he thought for a long time, before realizing that it was Pei Jingzhe.

They both spoke quickly and softly, unlike a usual banter. He could even hear the panic that was difficult to conceal; among them were: my Lord, Second Commander Feng, and other words.

And then there was a brief, sharp scream!

Cui Buqu abruptly opened his eyes.

His heart hurt because he was jerked awake from a state of slumber, like a silk thread being pulled and wounded his shoulder.

The scream wasn’t from Pei Jingzhe or Qiao Xian, but from the manor next to them, filled with the screams of young women. Pei Jingzhe immediately ran over to take a look. Qiao Xian wanted to follow him out, but before she left she turned around to take a look and caught Cui Buqu opening his eyes. She immediately came back and helped him sit up.

“What happened?” Cui Buqu woke up abruptly, feeling a thundering headache in his head.

“Second Commander Feng’s healing in seclusion… it seems like something happened.” Qiao Xian said.

Pei Jingzhe had arranged for many maidservants to deliver goods and change the water outside Feng Xiao’s room so that when Feng Xiao woke up, he could use them whenever. But in the half-day Cui Buqu passed out, the maidservant ran into Feng Xiao who should be meditating in seclusion, and he attacked her. With the combined strength of Pei Jingzhe, Qin Miaoyu and Ming Yue who had woken up not long ago, they were able to hold Feng Xiao down. But Feng Xiao was also experiencing a qi deviation and fell into a comatose state.

Cui Buqu’s gaze slowly cleared up. “I heard you people were talking about Bingzhi Pellets. What has it to do with Bingzhi Pellets?”

Qiao Xian didn’t hesitate before shaking her head. “There’s nothing to do with it. You’ve heard wrong.”

Cui Buqu looked at her silently.

Qiao Xian: “…”

……

Pei Jingzhe knew his martial arts and Feng Xiao’s were like heaven and earth, but he had never truly felt it on a personal level until now.

A hand held him by the neck, and this hand was squeezing tighter and tighter, resulting in the difficulty of his breathing, he would very quickly go to see the Judge of Hell.

“My… Lord!” Two words barely seethed out through Pei Jingzhe’s gritted teeth.

An unkempt and unruly haired Feng Xiao turned a deaf ear to it. There was a red vertical line between his brows, proof that qi was blocked when it tried to flow through his yintang acupoint1, but it was all the more proof that his mind was being affected.

After he absorbed those two Śarīras, his inner strength surged wildly, but it was due to this it left a latent danger. Any paths that involved walking cut-corners would more or less make one encounter an unexpected calamity. Feng Xiao hadn’t experienced qi deviation during his fight with Xiao Lu because his will was stronger than most, though be it now or later, this calamity would come soon enough.

Against his will, Pei Jingzhe threw a palm at Feng Xiao, but it was whipped away by the other in the blink of an eye. When inner strength rebounded, Pei Jingzhe himself was wounded.

A Second Commander Feng who was in the midst of qi deviation didn’t show an ounce of weakness in his abilities; instead, he had lost all his senses, and there was no one who could hold him under control.

Pei Jingzhe was about to cry.

He regretted it immensely. Had he known this earlier, when Ming Yue and he were holding him down they would have been crueller. Who could have guessed that his Lord could free himself from his imprisonment so quickly and wake up?

Pei Jingzhe suspected that before the Third Commander and others came to his rescue, his little life would already have left him.

When that time came, once his Lord woke up and realized he’d killed him in person, how saddened would he be!

“I am… Jingzhe!” Pei Jingzhe struggled to buy himself some time and the opportunity to live, hoping to wake Feng Xiao up.

But he didn’t.

Although Feng Xiao didn’t go berserk, he could claim a life with every palm he threw out. At this moment, it was very obvious that his heart, soul, and spirit was in a stupor. He couldn’t tell what was going on in the outside world.

Tears wet Pei Jingzhe’s eyes. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Ming Yue, Cui Buqu, and the others hurrying here. It was like the Heavens had sent him his saving grace; his eyes sparkled.

“Er-lang!”

“Feng-er!”

They were all familiar voices.

At this moment, it was as if Feng Xiao’s soul had left his body. Those voices rang from afar, delivering it into his empty shell. His spirit was busy battling with the former Grandmaster that those Śarīras had turned into. Qi flowed everywhere, and since they couldn’t find a place to focus themselves on, they could only allow his body to do as it pleased.

The voices were a little slower when he felt it.

Ming Yue?

And that one surnamed Cui.

Feng Xiao sighed, looking on at a faint shadow.

Someone was standing not far off with a beard on his face and hands behind his back, his expression was wild as if there was nothing in this world worthy of his grace.

The owner of those two Śarīras.

The former Sect Leader of the Demonic Sects, Cui Youwang.

Feng Xiao thought, how could Xiao Lu be so generous? Giving away two Śarīras as he pleased. Now look, guess who’s waiting for me here.

Yet, how could just any normal person accept relics like these? If it wasn’t for the fact that he came from a Demonic Sect and succeeded a technique of the martial arts from many generations before, now he wouldn’t be just experiencing qi deviation, his body would have already exploded and met his death.

Pei Jingzhe was oblivious of the massive change happening in Feng Xiao’s body. He only knew that Feng Xiao, who was strangling him a moment ago, had loosened after he heard Cui Buqu’s voice.

Ming Yue took the opportunity to move forward and sealed Feng Xiao’s acupoints, holding his burning-hot body alongside Qin Miaoyu.

He had been following this Lord for a few years now, yet he couldn’t compare to someone who barely knew him for a year, Pei Jingzhe’s heart was filled with displeasure as he thought, then he heard Ming Yue dully said: “It won’t do to carry on like this. This is the only external strength that could aid Er-lang to successfully pass through this stage.”

Qin Miaoyu curiously: “Second Commander Feng is now in qi deviation. Medicinal aid alone won’t be of much use. Why don’t we each transfer some qi to him?”

Ming Yue laughed bitterly. “That cannot do. He isn’t lacking qi now, his body is going to burst from overflowing qi. We could only bank on his own will to dredge his meridians. Although medicine like the Bingzhi Pellets cannot change the course of events, as things progress currently, it could assist the recuperating process.”

Qin Miaoyu gasped and gave an ugly look. “Just now I took a stroll outside. All the medicinal stalls in the city have either closed down, haven’t heard anything about Bingzhi Pellets, or only knew a bit about it, saying the ingredients are hard to find and that they could only be found in the capital. How can we still get them on time?”

“There is no need to go to the capital. I have them.”

When Cui Buqu’s words were spoken, the colour drained from Qiao Xian’s face. Just as she wanted to stop him, Cui Buqu had already fished out a ceramic bottle and poured all three pellets out, opened Feng Xiao’s mouth and stuffed them in, before closing it shut, forcing him to swallow it.

[1] 印堂穴: the place between the eyebrows.

[Wushuang] Chapter 152
Weary long eyebrows and pale lips.

Feng Xiao had no time to pay attention to the outside world. He was experiencing a vicious battle, nothing like the one in the tavern.

Cui Youwang left behind two Śarīras where the consciousness, the pride of its former owner, remained. Refusing to be absorbed so easily, it lay hidden for a great number of days, feigning obedience until its new owner was at the climax of healing his own heavy injuries, then it surged fiercely to the surface.

It truly was, without a doubt, the style from a line of demonic grandmaster.

Fortunately, Feng Xiao guessed earlier on that it was impossible for Xiao Lu to just give him something so valuable like Śarīras. At every single second ticking by, he had always been on guard. Otherwise, he would have fought incessantly with the intruder that would result in them both perishing together.

The great and mighty Second Commander of the Jiejian Bureau, the Sect Leader of the Fajing Sect, dying from such a way like qi deviation… This sort of death was no more honourable than dying from being choked to death while drinking but to no great extent. He would be destined to be a joke for many ages in the Jianghu.

Moreover, if his peerless, elegant, dazzling and eye-catching grace, which had no equal to this world, fell to such an end, wouldn’t the world be devastated to lose one brilliant and dazzling pearl?

“Hmph!”

A cold snort, neither coquetry nor fury, but it was like the Kuiniu drums that the Yellow Emperor knew himself from the most primitive times of this world; loud and thundering, shaking the world as far as a thousand li.

At the very least, when it reached Feng Xiao’s ears, it shook his heart, soul, and spirit lightly. His already disarrayed qi was tossed into a worse state.

Feng Xiao looked at the trembling shadow with the shape of a person standing opposite of him.

That wasn’t the real former grandmaster Cui Youwang. It was just an illusion of Cui Youwang formed by the Śarīra that existed in his heart, soul, and spirit.

However, to a certain extent, this was also the last shadow of Cui Youwang that he had left in this world.

Just like, although a fish had died, when it’s steamed or braised or fried with vinegar and served onto the table, one cannot say that this fish was gone. It had just turned from a living thing into a dish, Feng Xiao maliciously thought.

The Demonic Sects held in high esteem the concept of feasting on the weak like prey. It held little respect for senior generations, to begin with. Only the strong will be worshipped.

Feng Xiao was not an indigenous disciple of the Demonic Sects; even for the position of Sect Leader of the Fajing Sect, he was forcibly pushed to succeed it, and his days drifted on as much as he could. Instead, he felt more warmth and sincerity towards the identity of belonging to the Jiejian Bureau.

Due to being a prodigy since he was young, he was well-loved and cherished. Whatever he wanted, he only needed to reach out with his hands. Even the way of martial arts that common people thought was difficult to master, he had leisurely passed them all. Because of this, he was less persistent towards the martial path, otherwise, with his talents, he could have gone further.

And so, this Fajing Sect Sect Leader’s respect for the former Grandmaster of the Demonic Sects has lessened.

Even as he was being tormented at the edge of life and death, he still had enough to spare in order to mock and ridicule him.

Faced before such frivolity from him, “Cui Youwang” not only laughed coldly, he even attacked without a second word.

A killing aura filled the air like wisps of silk from a cocoon layer by layer, solid and windproof.

Every attack coming from Feng Xiao with qi was anticipated by the enemy; caught, contained, first slowly, then viciously. Taking advantage of him being unprepared, it surged with a force that left no room for defence.

As the last line of defence, his heart, soul, and spirit were wrecked by the suddenly fierce force that came, practically losing his consciousness and control over his body.

“With something like this, you dare call yourself a later generation of the Demonic Sects?”

A rough voice rang at his ear, causing Feng Xiao’s mind to freeze. He wanted to fight back but could not muster the strength to regulate his qi. His qi was forcibly held down. Only now he realized that he underestimated this Grandmaster who was his senior. Someone who had his days of glory in the Demonic Sect would not have natural talents beneath his.

Carelessly underestimating his enemies could result in a very terrible end.

Feng Xiao finally took it seriously.

Yet he too felt very helpless. During the battle in the Stormy Tavern, he had killed more than ten top-tier martial artists of the Jianghu. Among them, there was no lack of people who made a name for themselves, there was no lack of promising youths of the future. In the end, he even fought a battle with Xiao Lu, depleting all his strength and was almost robbed of the chance of returning alive. He, too, felt very tired. Why could he not even rest when he was healing his wounds and still had to fight?

A collection of trickling qi was gathered and shifted, wanting to counteract “Cui Youwang” who desired to triumph, but it was obvious the enemy had come prepared after laying low for many days. Both of them clashed, and Feng Xiao’s qi was weakened by three parts. The enemy towered and didn’t move, like the stubborn rocks of Mount Tai, going so far to even give a mocking and ridiculing look.

“Trash!” He heard Cui Youwang said, “During that year, I fought the six top Grandmasters beneath the Heavens alone, yet had some energy to spare and escaped unscathed. The Demonic Sects truly deteriorated with each generation having trash like you. If I were still here, let alone joining the Sun and Moon Sect, I fear you’d be killed on the spot by me at the gates!”

Feng Xiao gasped for breath, felt that the qi from the enemy was like falling mountains and collapsing seas. All of a sudden, there was an enormous pressure. His own qi practically couldn’t hold it back, like it was about to collapse in an instant, ground to dust and broken bones.

In this illusionary consciousness, he staggered back a few steps, his limbs heavy as if boulders were chained to them, unable to lift even a finger.

And “Cui Youwang” who stood opposite of him was laughing non-stop.

“I advise you against wasting your strength.”

“Those Six Top Grandmasters; did they attack you all at once, or one after the another?” Feng Xiao asked suddenly.

This is an illusionary test. The one standing before him looked like Cui Youwang, but it was just the two Śarīras he left behind. Since they weren’t just the condensation of the martial arts of his life, they were also the residue of his consciousness. Two people who could not have met to begin with were now sharing an exchange due to this.

Cui Youwang snorted coldly. “Naturally, they attacked me at once!”

Feng Xiao: “Then you are lying. Even if your martial arts are number one beneath the Heavens during that time, it’s impossible to face all six Grandmasters at once!”

Cui Youwang snapped: “How ignorant! Do you take the number one beneath the Heavens of that time as a joke like the lots of you?! If I want to kill you, it would be as simple as stepping on an ant!”

Feng Xiao paid it no attention. “Then make your move, don’t hold back. Who knows, you might even reincarnate into the world of mortals in my body, like those gods!”

Cui Youwang darkly said: “Since I left behind two Śarīras , how would you know that would be impossible?”

Feng Xiao laughed. “You were incapable of doing it, so that is why you are hesitating! If you destroyed me, you would perish along. You didn’t want to, and so even after so many years, you are still just a Śarīra. Yet you contain the residues of Cui Youwang’s consciousness before he died. It was difficult for you to come across someone like me who you could fight hand to hand, so how could you be willing to destroy me so easily?!”

The human-shaped silhouette wavered a little, as if he’d been struck to the square, yet also looked like he was deeply in thought.

Feng Xiao would not allow any chances to destroy the enemy slip by, even if they were his martial seniors, he did not hesitate to strike!

“My Lord!”

Pei Jingzhe watched in terror as Feng Xiao’s body shook violently, blood oozing from his nose and mouth.

Both of Feng Xiao’s eyes were closed. He couldn’t hear his calls, and his face had instead turned green and pale, a sheet of pale yellow gradually appeared, like the saying: “having a face like a golden sheet of paper”.

Gold was by right a beautiful colour, but when a practitioner of the martial arts had such a face colour, they wouldn’t be far from death.

Three Bingzhi Pellets being fed to Feng Xiao could only make the colour on his face better, and just as everyone thought there was hope, his condition abruptly turned for the worse.

Ming Yue said that Feng Xiao was currently busy fighting with the demons of his own heart. If he succeeded, he could live; yet if he failed, then he would die. There are only two outcomes.

During that time, Cui Buqu had stood silently for a moment, and then he turned away, probably to go somewhere. If not for him giving his own medicine that was used in case of emergency to Feng Xiao, and if not for Qiao Xian looking so terrible like that, Pei Jingzhe would have thought that Cui Buqu did not care whether his Lord lived or died. He could even inwardly feel happy.

But now, Second Commander Feng who had always been proud and unbridled, who never did something without promise of benefits, might truly die where he laid.

Pei Jingzhe lightly sighed.

In his heart, there was nothing Feng Xiao couldn’t do. He refused and was unwilling to think of this sort of possibility.

He dared not touch Feng Xiao; at this moment, the other’s skin was searing like fire, any contract from foreign entities might send him into his demise.

My Lord, if you wake up, then I am willing to let you deduct my salary a few more times. Pei Jingzhe gritted his teeth and made a wish that made his heart hurt.

He thought for a while, then added a few words: Weren’t you fond of making it difficult for Cui Buqu? If something happened to you, and the Imperial Court sends a new person to succeed the Jiejian Bureau, he would forget you as an enemy very quickly.

He didn’t know whether it was that sentence that touched Feng Xiao’s heartstrings. Qi in the latter’s body had truly reached a state of life and death and was locked in a mortal combat. With neither of them willing to take a step back, the qi belonging to Cui Youwang was barbaric and unreasonable, sweeping everything in its path as it surged, yet Feng Xiao forcibly held it at bay. The latter did not clash with him; he had slyly looked for ways to defeat his enemies, waiting for the opportunity to strike. This made “Cui Youwang” feel an undying hatred.

“The likes of you are undeserving to call yourself a member of the Demonic Sects…”

Feng Xiao snickered. “Do you truly take yourself for Cui Youwang now? You are just two relics left behind by Cui Youwang, when he failed to ascend the martial path and died. Even if the real Cui Youwang came, I want him to know—”

He was clear in the deepest part of his mind. This so-called “Cui Youwang” before him was just an illusion produced by qi deviation. Perhaps he truly did acquire Cui Youwang’s qi, but in the end, this was just something that did not tolerate an intruder who it did not originally belong to. Today, if he couldn’t turn this qi into his own, or perhaps if he failed to defeat him, then what awaited him was the same end as Cui Youwan’s.

This should be the most dangerous trial he has ever encountered since he began practising martial arts. But although Feng Xiao was stronger in the face of the strong, he had never known what defeat was like.

Perhaps, in this world, there was truly someone who could make him take a step back. But it wouldn’t be now.

“—However strong you are, there would be someone stronger!”

His brave talk rang loudly. Feng Xiao executed the plans he’d formed; after beating around the bush for so long and regaining his breath back, he finally declared war upon his enemy.

“Cui Youwang” looked like he had been angered. He howled, unhesitantly lunging himself towards Feng Xiao’s direction.

After a violent tremble, a blinding light appeared. Feng Xiao could only feel his body heating up, his blood surging and boiling, urgent to break through his skin. His meridians and vessels twisted and turned incessantly and pain came waves after waves.

It was unknown how much time had passed, when all waves of pain slowly quelled. Feng Xiao gradually opened his eyes.

Cui Youwang was gone; that silhouette was completely gone. He felt a gradual laziness coming from inside out his body, the pleasant feeling of the aftermath of defeating his enemy. Every inch of his body couldn’t help but comfortably drawl.

The sight before him was a blanket of greenery.

Just like new seedlings sowed into the soil, like a swaying forest of bamboo, like a lake filled with lotuses, gently consoling his fatigue.

There was someone else, standing at the centre of that green field, looking back at him.

Feng Xiao moved his fingers, and that person came up to him, bringing a familiar face that looked sickly and a gaze that looked piercingly cold. He didn’t speak,he only looked coldly at him, simply allowing Feng Xiao’s fingers to sweep across his face, pry his lapels open, exposing skin that had not seen the sun for many days.

Cui Buqu felt Feng Xiao’s wrist and sighed softly. “Xiao Lu is dead.”

Feng Xiao was stunned by his words. “How did he die?”

Cui Buqu said: “After the battle with you, he was also heavily wounded. Ming Yue pursued him with some people, and killed him.”

Feng Xiao looked like a heavy burden had been lifted off his mind. “When the head is cut, these people of the Thirteen Pavilions are like a headless dragon. They will no longer be able to cause chaos.”

Cui Buqu smiled vaguely. “Everything is owed to you. I will report your role in this conquest.”

Feng Xiao also smiled. “I don’t need you to report my contributions. I only need you to do one thing.”

He playfully tips the other’s jaw up. Cui Buqu’s pale-white face very quickly yielded a faint red blush, wanting to take a step back, yet he didn’t move. There was a forbearance between his brows, looking vividly beautiful.

Feng Xiao slowly leaned in forward, almost kissing him, but suddenly, he stopped.

Cui Buqu gave a look that he didn’t understand.

Feng Xiao suddenly laughed coldly. “Truly a glimpse of the demons in my heart. Knowing how to use this to seduce me, laudable!”

He suddenly flipped his palm around and crooked his fingers, mercilessly grabbing Cui Buqu by his throat and contracted his fingers, and then, “Cui Buqu” suddenly turned into dust!

“How… How could you have known…” The enemy’s voice drifted to him faintly, bringing a sense of disbelief that he had failed.

Feng Xiao laughed loudly. “Because what you could materialize was only the Cui Buqu in my fantasy! The real Cui Buqu would never say something like ‘everything is owed to me!’”

In the midst of a battle of wits, he gradually learned that another illusion was formed outside of his state of mind. It did draw the snake out from its hole and delivered itself to the hunter’s trap.

As if everything was swept clean, his heart, soul, and spirit were clear. The qi that has surged and roared comes to a state of calmness, and soundlessly froze.

Everything was beautifully soundless and shapeless.

Feng Xiao realized that the extent of his martial arts has once again increased.

“Cui Youwang, you have lost!”

……

Inside the flower hall of the Governor’s Residence, there were no seats unoccupied, and the crows dared not chirped.

All the distinguished families within the county town have all been “invited” here.

When Rong Qing’s invitation arrived at the Li family, the patriarch originally just wanted to send an unloved son in his stead, but he couldn’t have guessed that the guards arrived immediately afterwards and forcibly took the “ill” patriarch to this place.

Not just the Li family, but the Ding, Zhao, and Wang families all had similar experiences.

Everyone dared not speak, determined to execute the “regardless of what you say, I would not speak or agree” strategy.

To speak of the main reason pertaining to this time’s calamity, Yang Yun, Li Yan, Wu Yi, and the others have all been captured. They were just accomplices that were forced into submission. They’ve said that accomplices would be forgiven. They refuse to believe that Rong Qing would dare to kill every single distinguished family in the county.

Before Cui Buqu arrived, Rong Qing had spoken to them once.

To first take advantage of the weak then the strong; to first be well-mannered then use force; to know the cause then give the reason; to say now that the city’s granary no longer contains grains, and if the victims were driven into starvation it would become a disaster. The first granary they wanted to break open would be all the native distinguished families present. So this concerned the safety of everyone there. He pleaded them to consider the big picture.

He had said so much without rest, Rong Qing felt his own throat was practically emitting smoke. This cluster of tortoises could not be moved even with a thunderstrike. Neither one of them dared to stand out. Each of them pretended to be quails, driving Rong Qing into fury that his face turned green.

He couldn’t stop himself from slamming the table and allowing Pei Jingzhe to recite the names according to Li Yan’s accounts. During that time when the taxes were waived, which distinguished family had obtained benefits through this exchange was all recorded in those accounts. No one could say otherwise. If they dragged one, none of them would be permitted to leave today.

The patriarch of the Li family finally slowly said: “Imperial Censor Rong has a brilliant judgement. During that time when they spoke of the waiving of taxes via donation of grains, Governor Yang put it in pretty words, but in reality, what fell into our hands were just some extra obtained that year. However, we have long finished the grains due to this year’s flood. Presently, people within our family could not even eat. Where would we have extras to fund the victims? If you refuse to believe it, you can bring some people to search.”

If he could put it in this way, then it proved that he wasn’t afraid Rong Qing would truly send people out searching.

If Rong Qing couldn’t find any rations, these people would ask their relatives and friends who served the court to report him to the Imperial Court altogether.

Rong Qing had seen the terrible situation of those flood victims, so he bore a deep hatred for these people. He really wanted to send some people to search.

Then, Cui Buqu came.

He did not make a scene. Not one person was by his side. He was holding a hand warmer, wrapped in a cloak. He passed through the courtyard quietly and reached the gate; he coughed a few times, his face that was originally pale from the cold quickly regaining its colour.

Other than Rong Qing and Pei Jingzhe, everyone present froze unconsciously like they were on guard. There were even youths who came along turning to look at him.

This Zuoyue Commander did not look at them. He didn’t even look at a single person present, walking to the host’s seat, weary long eyebrows and pale lips. But from the side of his face, it looked like his lips were vaguely curled, giving a half-smile as if he would grant death to any unlucky bloke.

The patriarch of the Li family felt cold sweat oozing from his spine. He quickly shut his mouth and continued pretending to be a quail.

Cui Buqu did not mention it to him, but asked instead: “Bring Governor Yang here to have a word.”

Author’s Notes:

A small conversation that’s unrelated to the main story.

Feng Xiao, courtesy name: Yuntian.

Feng Xiao: People call me Feng Yuntian(sweet). Where am I sweet? Hm?

Cui Buqu: Shabaitian

[傻白甜 (sha bai tian) is used to refer to mostly people (mostly girls) who aren’t calculative, cute, and gives off a gentle feeling.]

[Wushuang] Chapter 153
A coquettish and mischievous Feng Xiao.

When Yang Yun was brought here, other than an obvious look of lethargy and mental sluggishness, nothing about him changed much.

He was wearing the same old robes, the only difference was that it turned slightly wrinkled and worn. However, in the eyes of others, he looked like an entirely different person.

He had lost the air of having everything within his power. Before the Imperial Order arrived, he was still the Governor of a Prefecture by law, but in truth, he was no different from a prisoner.

Yang Yun ignored all the gazes that fell upon him; he did not even look at Cui Buqu.

A book of accounts was in Pei Jingzhe’s hand, placed down in front of Yang Yun.

Before this, Li Yan hid all the secrets pertaining to their exchange in erotic paintings, using them to hide the existence of those records. Firstly, it was to be used against Yang Yun when necessary, and secondly, it was to leave an alternative path for himself to fall back on. One cannot deny that he truly did have some smarts, but it was a pity that he encountered a great devil like Feng Xiao, who immediately overturned that cherished nest of his where he kept his mistress. Even those erotic paintings had nowhere to hide and fell into Cui Buqu’s hands.

During that time, time was pressing on to defeat Yang Yun. Cui Buqu could not take his time sniffing out all the accounts hidden in these erotic paintings. But after Yang Yun and Wu Yi were caught, this countermeasure of Li Yan’s was rendered useless. On the contrary, in order to lighten his own sentence, to receive a more merciful punishment, he would even enthusiastically offer them information, rewriting all the accounts from those erotic paintings.

Only then did Cui Buqu and the others realise that in the same erotic painting was hidden two sets of accounts. One set was meant for Yang Yun and those distinguished families, and the other was meant for Li Yan and Wu Yi themselves. This also meant that, when these officials from Guangqian County received orders to emulate those rations, they had also secretly, without Yang Yun’s knowledge, embezzled their own fill.

If these sort of little smarts had been used on matters pertaining to the county, on the secret messages going to and fro between Göktürk and Goguryeo, they might have been of use. Yet, Li Yan did not have such foresight, so he would forever be just an Assistant Magistrate all his life. In fact, it’s too soon before even this would be taken away from him.

“These records contain the benefits the Li and Ding families obtained by donating rations and having their taxes waived. Is this true?”

Slender and white fingers pushed the accounts in his direction.

Yang Yun wanted to retreat. These harmless and beautiful fingers looked like those of demons and ghosts to him, causing everyone to feel suspicious.

“…It’s true.” Yang Yun hoarsely said.

The Li family said displeased, “Governor, how would you know whether it’s real or fake if you have not flipped it open? Surely even an Imperial Envoy could not give a false account of facts?”

It was unknown what trance Yang Yun had fallen into. He had lost his previously high and mighty air, and once he heard Master Li’s words, he instead spilled everything out. “Although I belong to the Yang family, due to the early death of my parents, I do not share a close relationship with His Majesty, and neither do I have much wealth. It was only because of this, I thought I could earn more while I have a position. After the calamity this time, I originally wanted to leave behind some grains for the granary to avoid things going out of hand. It was Li Geng who tolerated me, said that grains were far more precious than gold during a calamity so more could be earned if we embezzled more. The Imperial Court would not stand by and watch Guangqian Prefecture falling into starvation, so when the Imperial Censor arrived, we could convince him to beg for help, and the Imperial Court would definitely send more rations here, and when that time came it could be used to fund the calamity…”

Li Geng could no longer remain still. He leapt up and interrupted Yang Yun, “The orders are your choice to make, what role do we have in this?!”

Yang Yun stared at him coldly. He neither talked back nor spoke.

Li Geng inhaled deeply. He turned to Rong Qing and Cui Buqu and put his hands together. “Both Lords, Yang Yun is the Governor of this Prefecture, and before that, what kind of power and influence did he hold? Without his approval, how dare we make our own decisions? During that time, in order to gain his favour, we had just spoken a few sentences of flattery, but the one who made the decision, in the end, was still Yang Yun!”

He knew that compared to Rong Qing, Cui Buqu was the superior between the two, so when he spoke, his gaze was mostly on Cui Buqu.

But Li Geng was disappointed. Cui Buqu looked calm the same way when he came in and sat just now. Even his eyebrows were at the same angle, and it was impossible to read any secrets from them.

Cui Buqu did not even pay attention to Li Geng’s explanation. Just as he was speaking, Cui Buqu wasted no time to add his own part to the speech: “In order to lighten your sentence, I think that if you surrender the grains you’ve stored in your residence now, it would not be too late.”

They have once again returned to where they began. Li Geng’s face twitched, and spoke with a bitter face: “This humble one truly has no grains left! If you refuse to believe it, you can send people out to search!”

Cui Buqu asked: “Truly, none?”

His voice was very soft, that one could not even hear if they stood anyway further away. His tone was also very gentle. If Feng Xiao was here, he would know that when he used this sort of tone, it was a sign of the lull before a storm.

But it was a pity that Feng Xiao wasn’t present.

And so Li Geng nodded his head, trying to gain favours by saying: “Truly. But if there are, this humble one will surrender them immediately!”

As he finished speaking, he added: “Thankfully, there are Master Cui and Imperial Censor Rong here, only then can this county town be at peace. Otherwise, those flood victims would have raised a riot!”

Cui Buqu smiled as if Li Geng’s flattery was working on him, then he turned to Pei Jingzhe: “Go, bring those people here.”

Pei Jingzhe answered and left, bringing five people back after a while.

To put it specifically, it was five corpses.

Li Yan, Wu Yi, and a few people Li Geng couldn’t name. They have now all turned into cold corpses, blood that was dried or hasn’t all implied that they have been undergone torture, even their faces weren’t exceptions. One of those corpses even had their eyes dug out, leaving behind two bloody holes.

But as people who often interact with them, they could all tell the dead from their appearance and clothes.

A thick, dense scent of blood filled the hall; even incense could not overcome them.

Which person present here would have seen these sort of things before? Nauseous sounds began to rise.

Even Rong Qing could not help the colour of his face changing; he covered his mouth and turned his head away.

Li Geng realized he had stared at Wu Yi for a long time until he could even paint the bloody scar on Wu Yi’s forehead clearly in his mind. There was a sour taste that brimmed up from his chest, and from his ear, he heard a vomiting sound. He couldn’t help vomiting every single thing he had eaten in his last meal.

The stench of blood, corpses, and vomit; each one of them could make one suffocate, so let alone all of them at once. Everyone could feel themselves practically choking to death, and some of them couldn’t remain any longer, they got to their feet with the intention to leave this suffocating place, yet their paths were blocked by a Zuoyue guard holding a sharp blade who stood by the gate.

“Wu Yi and Li Yan are all subjects of the Imperial Court. Even if you are the Zuoyue Commander, you cannot kill them as you please…” Yang Yun trembled as he spoke. He stared at Cui Buqu as if he saw a ghost.

“But I already did.” Cui Buqu remained calmed and gentle.

Yang Yun: “…”.

All of a sudden, he felt that being boxed in the cellar wasn’t such a bad thing, at least he still had his life.

Cui Buqu looked at Li Geng and the others. “As accomplices of the embezzling of rations, Wu Yi and Li Yan have been put to death. Yang Yun, as the mastermind, will be seized and sent to the capital to be questioned. I will not kill him. But you people cannot even compare to Li Yan.”

Li Geng could no longer remain calm. He glared at Cui Buqu and put up a tough front, but felt afraid inwardly. “The present State Duke of Tang came from the same clan as I…”

He was an intelligent person, knowing how to use his background to threaten others. But knowing is a matter in itself; presently, the events have transpired into a situation he was far from familiar with. When a person has lost themselves, they could only grab on to their last saving grace.

Cui Buqu gently and calmly interrupted him: “I could seize even His Majesty’s own cousin, let alone you who only mentioned a distant relative. Whether the State Duke of Tang is willing to recognize you as a relative, that is another story entirely. I am asking you for the final time: Are you willing to surrender those grains to fund the calamity?”

As they stared at each other, Li Geng heaved his chest.

He knew that the wisest choice he could choose now was to give in and obediently surrender those grains.

But Li Geng had been in Guangqian County for far too long; although he hadn’t assumed the title of an official, the Li family had all the say. Even if they were beneath Yang Yun, people like Huang Lue and the others would have to offer them three parts of politeness.

He wasn’t willing to just give in like this.

Li Geng was pondering as he looked Cui Buqu in the eyes, and after just a few breaths, Cui Buqu said, “Fine”.

Fine?

What does it mean by ‘Fine’?

Li Geng understood nothing, and heard Cui Buqu say: “Call for Second Commander Feng.”

Feng Xiao appeared quickly.

Li Geng didn’t know who he was, but it didn’t stop him from being attracted to the other’s dazzling exterior.

It was the same for many people in the hall.

When Feng Xiao walked in, it was as if the stifling, choking scent that made one want to vomit had dissipated quite a lot.

Cui Buqu introduced, “This is the Second Commander of the Jiejian Bureau, Feng Xiao.”

Many of them were still confused; they didn’t know what sort of place was the Jiejian Bureau, but at the very least the officials knew. Li Geng too had heard about it.

Feng Xiao didn’t speak. He didn’t even look at his surroundings. He walked towards Li Geng, carrying a proud and judgemental gaze.

“And you are the patriarch of the Li family?”

Li Geng answered with a “Yes”, but before he could put his hand together and bow, he would never have guessed that that would become his dying words in this life.

Dying words that only consisted of a single character.

The sword had pierced through his clothes and chest.

Blood spluttered onto the adjacent people. Li Geng screamed; when a big man like him screamed he was no inferior to women. It made everyone’s eyebrows furrow and cringe.

Li Geng’s eldest son shouted and ran forward, but he was kicked aside by Pei Jingzhe, his entire person rolling to the side.

Feng Xiao immediately pulled the sword out. Li Geng fell back stiffly.

A sword to the heart, leaving no room for rescue.

“Shut up, or the killing will continue.” Cui Buqu coughed twice, speaking in the chaos of people hiding and screaming.

Everyone forcibly controlled their own voice and expression. Some of them even covered their mouths.

“I’ve killed Li Geng. There is no difference in a few more.”

Cui Buqu surveyed the hall, and practically everyone hid their gazes before Cui Buqu’s could reach them, dared not look him in the eye.

Before the eldest son of the Li family could speak, the Ding family’s patriarch was the first to act. He lunged forward and knelt, repeatedly saying, “I surrender! I surrender! I have some grains at home, hidden in the cellar of a manor across the street to our residence. I will bring you there now!”

Cui Buqu sighed, regrettably said: “If you’ve done so earlier, wouldn’t there be no need for death?”

The others all shivered, fighting for the chance to come forward and surrender, as if they came any later, their lives would be forfeited.

Only Pei Jingzhe looked at Feng Xiao, who carried out those orders dutifully, that stood behind Cui Buqu. Realization struck him afterwards: His Lord was still in seclusion. This should be Qin Miaoyu in disguise. It was no wonder he appeared unused to everything since the beginning. Had it been his Lord, he could not have been so quiet during a time like this. He would have at least praised his own swordsmanship for being flawless and unsurpassed.

As if he could feel his thoughts, that “Feng Xiao” turned around and cast him a brief smile, coquettishly and mischievously. It really wasn’t the smile that Feng Xiao would have given.

Pei Jingzhe twitched his lips.

[Wushuang] Chapter 154
Scram

Rong Qing felt anxious just by watching.

He knew that today, Cui Buqu would definitely employ tactics of all forms to force these people into surrendering the remnant of their grains. Otherwise, let alone the flood victims in the city, even the residents living within the city might not hold up.

But he had never expected Cui Buqu to use such a cruel manner of killing officials of the Imperial Court like Wu Yi and Li Yan. He was merciless even towards the patriarch of the Li family. Blood pooled the ground, scaring a group of people until they turned stiff. Originally, he thought they would be having a long, winding, time-consuming talk to convince these stubborn people, but he had never thought that this tactic of Cui Buqu would be so effective, for they gave in immediately.

When Rong Qing watched those people behaving submissively and obediently in front of Cui Buqu with tears and saps plastered all over their faces, he thought about how quickly the issue in this Prefecture would soon be solved, and that their worries in the next few days would be completely gone.

Yet Cui Buqu did not look very happy on his face.

Or perhaps, his attitude to these distinguished families had always been presented in a manner such as this: cold and rarely smiling, just like a living Judge of the Dead.

“You all bought your lives with these grains. I hope everyone will keep their word and not go back on them. Otherwise, I would not mind sending someone else to be Li Geng’s company, understood?”

Following the pitch of his final syllable, everyone shivered.

When the living Judge of the Dead was speaking, who dared to attempt anything?

Even if those ideas were present at the beginning, all of them are now discarded.

“Second Commander Feng, gratitude is owed to the Jiejian Bureau this time.”

The final conclusion was set; Cui Buqu turned to the “Feng Xiao” next to himself and said.

Qin Miaoyu found it strange; Cui Buqu obviously knew who she was, so why did he purposely mention it in front of everyone else? Was it to drag the Jiejian Bureau’s name out to impose dominance?

She blinked, feeling like she had accidentally fallen into a pit.

Pei Jingzhe spoke at an opportune moment: “Everyone, follow me.”

The location of those grains kept by each family, as well as how many are there, were all recorded, denying them the chance to regret or to embezzle grains anymore.

Everyone could not no longer stand this strange-smelling hall to begin with, so at the cue, everyone quickly rushed after him.

Rong Qing stared at the corpses that filled the hall and furrowed his brows.

“Master Cui, Wu Yi and the others are subjects of the Imperial Court after all. Although they are guilty of severe crimes, I fear to punish them before they are proclaimed guilty would draw rumours once we return. When that time comes, I could also join names when you submit the edict to petition.”

This meant that he was willing to share the consequences.

When Cui Buqu heard it, his expression didn’t show the gratitude Rong Qing had expected. He has instead given an unfathomable pensive look.

“Bring them here.” Rong Qing heard him say.

In the next second, Rong Qing opened his eyes wide.

A few people were tied up with their hands behind their backs, dragged here with their heads hung low and disheartened like a living soldier in defeat.

Wasn’t this Wu Yi and Li Yan?

Rong Qing looked at them, then at the corpses on the ground. He felt that he was dreaming.

“This……” What is this all about?

Qin Miaoyu, who was using Feng Xiao’s face, explained: “Commander Cui did not kill them. It was just to scare those people. These corpses belonged to the battle in the tavern the night before. They are using disguises.”

Qin Miaoyu was actually not apt in changing her voice. When she was disguised as Feng Xiao, her voice could not imitate him flawlessly. When the battle in the tavern occurred, the enemy didn’t know Feng Xiao well, and it allowed her to gain the upper hand. Now, her voice undoubtedly sounded gentle and feminine, but when Rong Qing found her voice did not match her face, he could only quietly move his gaze away.

“That’s to say, Li Geng isn’t dead?” Rong Qing released a breath of relief.

Qin Miaoyu objected to his response. “Of course he’s dead. Didn’t you see it yourself?”

Rong Qing was stunned. He instinctively looked at Li Geng on the ground twisted in agony, blood still oozing out from the wound that claimed his life.

Although the eldest son of the Li family was both upset and furious when it occurred, his own life had mattered more. He didn’t go forward to claim the corpse, but had obediently followed Pei Jingzhe to enlist his supply of grains.

That’s to say. Li Geng was the only one who died.

Rong Qing didn’t know what to feel. Although he offered to share the consequences with Cui Buqu just now, presently, he’d seen that Wu Yi, Li Yan, and the others weren’t truly dead. Then, he felt that if one could avoid death at all, it’d be the best. If Li Geng could also avoid death, then it would be a case of subduing the soldiers without war. Only in this scenario would they achieve victory in its highest esteem.

On the other hand, Yang Yun jumped up all of a sudden and pointed at Cui Buqu: “You bastard! You deceived me! You never dared to kill them to begin with!”

Cui Buqu did not talk back, neither did he let Qin Miaoyu give him a good beating. His response was to reach out to hold the other’s hair and viciously swing it against the pillar next to him.

Yang Yun, who was starved over a few meals and only drank some water, had no strength to fight back. After a dull-sounding crash, he howled in pain, holding his mouth and nose and bent over as blood flowed out through the openings of his fingers.

Rong Qing felt his nose itching sourly.

Cui Buqu coldly stated: “Now, I am just unwilling to kill you, but I am not afraid to kill you. Don’t think so highly of yourself. Err again, I can toss you to those flood victims, and tell them, you are the reason they’ve lost families and shelters. Once you’ve been beaten enough, only I’d take you back.”

Yang Yun knelt on the ground and covered his face, making only muffled voices. It was impossible to tell whether he was crying or howling in pain.

Thankfully, Cui Buqu was inherently ill, and he didn’t have much strength to begin with. Otherwise, Yang Yun would not just be bleeding at this moment. His bones might have also shattered.

Cui Buqu took a step forward.

Yang Yun shrank a step back.

Cui Buqu changed his demeanor all of a sudden, giving him a shocked look and asking in concern: “Governor Yang, why did you run into the pillar again? If there is anything troubling you, you can speak it out, there is no need to keep it to yourself.”

Yang Yun, “…”

Rong Qing, “…”

Yang Yun really wanted to cry.

Now that his limbs were weak, he couldn’t even win a fight against Cui Buqu. Even if he could, he wouldn’t dare. Qin Miaoyu and a few Zuoyue guards were still glaring at him. Cui Buqu truly did make him submit very quickly; tears flowed down along fresh blood, his entire person shivering as he shrank tightly into a ball.

Cui Buqu bent over to pat his shoulder, consoling him gently: “Take a good rest. After a few days, I’ll take you back to the capital.”

Rong Qing was in awe.

To think of it from another perspective, if it had been him, would he have resolved all of this so quickly?

Would he dare to solve it using a method like this?

He wouldn’t have been able to.

But it wasn’t because his rank was inferior to Cui Buqu, being merely an Imperial Censor bearing the orders of the Emperor. If he wanted to execute actions first before reporting to the Emperor, as long as he could bear the consequences afterwards, killing could have been an alternative. However, Rong Qing knew that he could not bring himself to carry out such cruel deeds. Let alone Wu Yi, even if he were to kill Li Geng, he would need to ponder over it back and forth, hesitating to lay the command.

However, Cui Buqu had both lied and killed, manipulating all these people at will within just a few short days.

Yang Yun definitely hated Cui Buqu’s guts, but what could he do? The evidence was as rigid as mountains; it was lucky enough that he was allowed to remain alive. Even if he took another muddled course in future, and once again rose to power, he would not dare to provoke Cui Buqu even with tenfold the guts greater than he has now.

The last little flickering emotions at the bottom of Rong Qing’s heart finally faded. He was completely convinced.

The grander scheme of things has been settled, yet Cui Buqu wasn’t feeling well.

He wanted to pay Feng Xiao a visit after he allowed some people to lock Yang Yun back into the prison. Although Feng Xiao could not be disturbed as he was in seclusion, he thought at least it was permitted to look at him from the door. He could know whether Feng Xiao was freed from his imperiled state depending on whether the door in the inner room was closed or opened.

But as soon as he reached outside Feng Xiao’s yard, his steps stopped.

A sharp pain surged up his chest, abundantly spreading throughout his entire body, like something was choking him and he couldn’t breath, just like he was submerged in water, fighting and struggling to reach the surface, yet had no ability to. It could suck out the breath from a living person until there wasn’t enough, and the feeling of helplessness slowly spread out across all his limbs.

It was soft and heavy, like a patch of bedded stone suffocating its enemy.

Cui Buqu knew that this was an old illness acting up once more, a combination of wheezing and palpitation. Before this, he had also encountered this sort of situation quite often. Most of the time, a single Bingzhi Pellet would take care of it. But presently, the only three Bingzhi Pellets he’s left had been given to Feng Xiao. Qiao Xian had gone to the neighbouring Prefecture searching for ingredients to make him another bottle, and she wouldn’t be returning any sooner.

Originally, he hadn’t thought they would act up so quickly, but they came so abruptly and fiercely.

Perhaps it was because he’d overworked himself in the last few days.

After all, first he had to make plans to defeat Yang Yun and the others, and then went looking for Feng Xiao in the rain after.

With the condition his body was in, he should’ve fallen ill by now.

Qiao Xian knew about this, which is why she tried to hide Feng Xiao’s condition from him, refusing to let him give out those Bingzhi Pellets.

But when comparing qi deviation with an old illness acting up, the first was more dangerous. Cui Buqu thought that he could endure it. It’s been so many years, he’s used to it.

A bit of enduring, and everything will pass.

He walked very slowly, practically relying on the wall. Step by step, his spine wasn’t upright like it used to, but there wasn’t anything obviously different about it. Because his expression was very calm, so calm that he looked like he was admiring the scenery as he walked. It was impossible for anyone to tell that he was enduring pain.

Pain that reached into the heart.

Pei Jingzhe came walking from the opposite direction. Seeing him outside, he called after him.

“Commander Cui, did you come to see my Lord?”

Cui Buqu replied with an “En,” and calmly said, “I could no longer walk. Help me walk back.”

He meant it when he said he could no longer walk.

Cui Buqu had a will stronger than steel. His tolerance for pain was not beneath any top-tier martial artist, but his body was like a crippling log.

Pei Jingzhe was taken aback. He immediately held his slagging body.

“Should I get you a physician?”

“There is no need.” Cui Buqu looked weary, yet his tone steady, “The physicians here could not compare to Qiao Xian. She has already gone looking for medicine. Help me back to take a rest. It would be enough.”

When Pei Jingzhe recalled those three Bingzhi Pellets, he felt guilty, and dared not say more. He immediately nodded and carried Cui Buqu back to his room.

“Leave me. I will just lie down for a second.”

Cui Buqu said in a hoarse voice, before taking out his shoes and lied down. He didn’t even change his clothes, immediately wrapping his blanket around himself and buried himself into it.

He didn’t have the habit of venting. To speak more is to err more. Now, other than Bingzhi Pellets, every other medicine wouldn’t work. Rather than babbling about it with Pei Jingzhe, why not save his breath, and leave the rest after he’s endured through this.

There was the sound of a door closing behind him.

Cui Buqu gradually exhaled a breath.

Another wave of pain visited.

Cui Buqu closed his eyes.

He had forgotten the first time these pains acted up.

It should be back in the Cui family. Because he had fought back another member of the family who bullied him, the latter cried and ran away to report him. Cui Buqu was then locked up in the woodhouse by a biased senior to “reflect” on himself.

It had been a Winter’s night. The chilled wind seeped through the window, howling inside the empty woodhouse.

During that time, Cui Buqu was still little. Even if he was understanding and mature at an early age, there would be times when he was beaten. After all, there was a great difference between their strengths.

He was promised to be locked up for only two hours, but it was the Winter Solstice during that time, and everyone was busy with offerings. It was crowded outside, so who would remember a child who didn’t even have a real name in the woodhouse? Cui Buqu froze for an entire night, and was only discovered when morning drew close.

Everyone thought that Cui Buqu would have definitely died, but he didn’t. Cui Buqu lived again. Even Cui Yong himself suspected that the name he’d given him was a bad choice. Cui Jie, Cui Jie, and he truly did because he was as rigid and stubborn as wild grass that infested the stone paths.

However, it was since then his wheezing and heart diseases turned for the worst, to the point that it was a threat to his life.

Time and time again Cui Buqu fought his way back from the brink of death, because he had a cold and tough life, even the Judge of the Dead dared not take him.

In the many years that passed, he had been through countless similar cases such as this. The familiar pain of it had long become a part of his body.

With the Bingzhi Pellets, normal seizure attacks could be ignored. Even if it was severe, it had the ability to lessen his pain.

He thought of Feng Xiao.

Although Feng Xiao was incredibly imperiled in a state of qi deviation, he had an inexplicable profound feeling: Feng Xiao would definitely make it through.

Perhaps it was how proud Feng Xiao usually was on normal days, it gave him a wrong sense of judgement.

As the saying goes: Disasters last a thousand years.

Cui Buqu gradually curled his lips.

Sweat plastered behind his neck and forehead.

The robes at the front of his chest and back were all soaked wet. Even his blankets were soaked wet.

When he thought of Feng Xiao, it allowed him to deter his focus from the pain and make time tick by less painfully.

He could illustrate Feng Xiao’s silhouette in his heart.

That truly was a very beautiful face.

The most dazzling of them all was perhaps those peach blossom eyes1 of his.

Though once he opened his mouth, three parts of beauty would be gone.

He didn’t know whether it was his headache that caused the illusion, for someone was suddenly gently blowing air at the back of his neck.

Was it a ghost under such a sun and in blatant daylight?

Cui Buqu has no strength to turn around to look.

A hand fiddled its way up his neck, and another hand reached into the blankets like a snake, grabbing his wrist with precision.

A stream of sincere and solid qi flowed into his acupoints and throughout the rest of his body like a warm river. Although the pain in his chest persisted, his body from head to toe felt like it was being bathed in the sun, and that his pain has greatly lessened.

Other than one person, no one would have such a rich foundation of qi to waste like this.

Feng Xiao.

Cui Buqu parted his lips to murmur, but had no strength to speak any words.

However, from the bottom of his heart there was an erupt of joy.

He truly did break through his shackles and successfully passed the test.

Although Cui Buqu didn’t know martial arts, he knew that with every test a practitioner of the martial arts passed, their martial abilities would improve a stroke above. Since Feng Xiao passed, he has already broken through his own boundaries, taking a glimpse into a higher extent of the world of martial arts.

“Three Bingzhi Pellets in exchange for my lifetime’s company2, how does that sound?” Feng Xiao lowered his head and bit his lips, passing qi through his mouth and tongue.

Cui Buqu had never seen before such a method—who behaved like they were healing his injury yet in truth so shamelessly feeling him up—he was stunned for a moment, but he couldn’t speak, so he could only raise his head to make endless demands. His neck was bent to a frail angle, but was steadily supported by Feng Xiao’s hand.

Both of them were separated through the blankets, but their necks were practically intertwined.

“……Scram.” Cui Buqu’s mouth finally regained his freedom. He couldn’t wait to express his opinions.

But his eyelids were being kissed, sucked until there was a light shade of red, his tears all brimmed up his eyes, threatening to fall.

Commander Cui could no longer bear it.

“Scram!”

Translator’s Notes:
Feng-er: *kiss kiss kiss* u3u ❤ ❤
Ququ: *cat smacks*

[1] Peach Blossom Eyes: Here’s a collection of all types of eyes.

[2] 以身相许: technically translates to “In exchange for my body” usually implies marriage/being with them for life.

[Wushuang] Chapter 155
Wouldn’t your conscience hurt?

Feng Xiao naturally wouldn’t scram.

Not only did he refuse to scram, he even challenged Cui Buqu: “Push me away if you can.”

Cui Buqu couldn’t push him away.

He needed strength even to breathe, fully relying on Feng Xiao’s inner strength to minimize his pain. Since he’s depending on Feng Xiao right now, he’d have to give him his way.

And so Second Commander Feng pushed his luck, hugging him tight and then sniffed him from the crook of his neck to the corner of his eyes and all the way to the back of his ear, leaving behind heavy and thin traces of his breath.

Feng Xiao adored cleanliness. He was especially demanding of others, forbidding them to even get close to him. Even his personal maidservants had to wash their hands thrice before helping him change his clothes. Yet, he found the scent of medicinal herbs on Cui Buqu quite alluring, unlike the norm. He was gentle when he held that thin, skinny and stiff body in his arms, leaving his mark on those pale-white skin.

Feng Xiao thought that something was wrong with him. Something was wrong with his brain.

But the most terrifying thing about it, is that he doesn’t want to get better.

“Giving me those three Bingzhi Pellets was like tossing a stone into the sea. If I failed to get better, descended into the throes of qi deviation and died, then I would never have known what you did. The Jiejian Bureau might even suspect that it was those three Bingzhi Pellets that caused my condition to worsen. Cui Buqu, you have always aimed for the better bargain, and you have never failed to do so. I don’t believe you have never thought of this.”

Feng Xiao’s instincts told him that it was impossible for Cui Buqu to answer his question honestly, but he stubbornly wanted an answer nonetheless.

They glared at each other.

He saw weakness, illness, and fatigue in Cui Buqu’s eyes.

This was a body that has been chronically ill for a long time. It could not even afford to withstand an attack with just fifty percent of his strength, for even rain or a gust of wind would make him lie on his bed for at least ten days to half a month. Oftentimes he struggled by the gates of the dead; any physicians who paid him a visit would only come to one conclusion: this life wouldn’t last long.

Yet, the owner of this body had lived until now.

No one could tell how determined this strength supporting a decaying tree would be, but Feng Xiao knew:

If Cui Buqu could practice martial arts, his achievements would have already surpassed his by now.

The world of mortals held many woes, and all of them could not champion fate.

Cui Buqu did not believe in fate. Though he may be dragging this deteriorating body, he had the strongest determination that could be found in this world.

“In order to give a favour that might never deliver returns, you gave away practically your own life. This isn’t like the kind of person you are.”

Cui Buqu closed his eyes, yet the redness at the corner of his eyes became more conspicuous. They looked like blushers that were purposely painted on, looking quite flattering.

It was because of this, his face brightened up.

Feng Xiao secretly felt proud.

“Aren’t you awake now?” Cui Buqu replied hoarsely.

“What if I did not?” Feng Xiao was displeased with this answer, and so he pushed further, wanting to get to the bottom of it.

Cui Buqu felt his body grow cold. He needed to curl up tightly in an embrace only could he gather enough warmth. If one desired to catch a glimpse into the most sincere and honest part of his heart, this would be their only chance.

“If you hadn’t woken up,” He opened his eyes and slowly said, “This debt would be attributed to the Jiejian Bureau.”

Feng Xiao: “…”

“You really know how to strike a beneficial bargain.” There was an enigmatic aura about Second Commander Feng.

“Looking at you from this perspective, I feel that there is a good reason you’ve set your standards so high. This face of yours truly is peerless in this world.” Cui Buqu sighed.

“Finally, you sound human.” The great peacock who was previously upset now felt like someone was combing through his feathers, feeling so highly flattered that the only thing he hadn’t done yet was spreading his colourful train.

“But it is such a pity you can talk.”

Feng-er: “???”

Cui Buqu gave him a sincere look: “An oleander is useful enough exhibiting its brilliance at the tip of its branch, there is no need for it to speak.”

Feng Xiao raised his voice: “So, an oleander is what you used to mock me with all along?!”

Cui Buqu coughed twice: “Didn’t you also curse me for being a sickly invalid in your heart?”

Feng Xiao: “Of course not, what I cussed at you was—”

Both of them stared at each other.

Cui Buqu blinked sincerely, a sheen over his black-coloured iris.

Feng Xiao corrected himself at the last minute: “A person as open-minded and benevolent as me would naturally have nothing to hide and be sincere in heart and mouth. How would I be similar to you?”

Cui Buqu snorted as a response. He had no strength to bicker with him.

By speaking a few sentences to the other just now, some of the pain had been lifted. His body gradually felt warm, no longer as painful as it was before.

“You gave me three Bingzhi Pellets because you were certain that I would not die.” Feng Xiao refused to let this go. He insisted on having an answer, and if Cui Buqu refused to give him one, he would get it himself.

That is right. Even if everyone beneath the Heavens died, nothing would happen to Feng-er who holds a high opinion of himself, who would give everything to be like a peony on a daily basis. Cui Buqu thought in his heart.

Only, one cannot tell that on the surface. It was impossible to want him to give the other another reason to be cocky.

“Because the Bingzhi Pellets were poisonous, and I was attempting to take your life while you were ill.” Cui Buqu coldly stated.

Feng Xiao smiling. “Ah, Cui Buqu, it’s exactly this attitude of yours which expressionlessly betrays your conscience that I like. It’s extremely adorable.”

In order to prove that he liked this “extremely adorable” look, he even offered him a wantonly ruthlessly deep kiss, making use of the opportunity to transfer qi, he satisfied his own private interests and swallowed all the scent in the other’s mouth, replacing it with his own until everywhere was his scent, only then could he feel satisfied.

When he saw that Cui Buqu hadn’t even moved, he was enlightened: “You’re not even fighting back now. It seems like you’ve long been covetous of my beauty, but was afraid you’d be rejected, so you fought back just now?”

Before the other could respond, Second Commander Feng sighed: “Nevermind, take it as feeling sympathy for you. Who made me so considerate and gentle and understanding? I agree with this.”

Cui Buqu: “…”.

Agree with what?

Aren’t you over flattering yourself now, Feng-er?

Feng Xiao has said everything on his own, what else is left for him to say?

Cui Buqu snorted coldly.

Someone was knocking on the door outside.

“It’s me, Commander Cui.” It was Qin Miaoyu’s voice.

“Come in.” His seizure had passed. No longer feeling pain, Cui Buqu could speak with more strength now.

“Cui–” Qin Miaoyu came in, and when she saw Feng Xiao, she had forgotten what she wanted to say.

She recalled that she was still wearing her superior’s face. Two Feng Xiaos looked at each other, a hilarious sight.

After the battle in the tavern, she should have returned to her usual look. But Cui Buqu had allowed her to remain because before Feng Xiao went into conclusion, he allowed them to temporarily be under Cui Buqu’s command, and so she did. She used Second Commander Feng’s identity to scare the living lights out of Wu Yi and the others, and so now when the true owner of the face is here, it was difficult for her not to feel guilty.

Feng Xiao raised an eyebrow at her.

Qin Miaoyu smiled awkwardly back.

This superior of hers wasn’t as leisurely as he looked on the surface. Everyone had two sides to them; if one were to say that one of Feng Xiao’s side was a reckless, bold, and unrestrained narcissist, then his other side was ruthless and vicious towards those he deemed his enemies.

Qin Miaoyu had once experienced a bitter taste from him. She has no desire to experience it again.

However, with Commander Cui present, surely her superior would be more lenient?

As expected, Feng Xiao cast her a brief and fleeting look but said nothing.

Qin Miaoyu sighed inwardly, and reported to Cui Buqu honestly: “Commander Cui, according to the place Li Geng’s eldest son provided, fresh grains have been uncovered. Although the Li family strongly denied it, they should be the same grains from the batch the Imperial Court delivered. Quite a number of grains were also discovered from other families. According to the number, they should be around twenty to thirty percent of what the Imperial Court gave. Presently, we could only find so much. The rest were already sold by them to the people of this Prefecture at a high price. They can no longer be returned.”

Cui Buqu replied with an “En, keep your eyes on them and watch the account made. Take all of Li Geng’s sons, as well as the Ding family’s people. Let Rong Qing bring them back to the capital.”

Qin Miaoyu didn’t understand. “This is?”

Cui Buqu: “I promised not to kill them, but I never said not to question them. Whether these were members of distinguished families or Yang Yun, once they arrive at the capital, they will still think of ways to free themselves from charge and deny everything. The Li and Ding families relied on Yang Yun for benefits, as well as for having many descendants. There are surely a lot of internal conflicts within them. I will notify Zhangsun, allow him to bring those people to the Zuoyue Bureau for one round of questioning. We could surely uncover something fishy.”

As he spoke until this part, he laughed coldly. “Making use of the internal conflicts between them might make them yield more information.”

Qin Miaoyu bowed and said she understood.

She wasn’t surprised at Cui Buqu’s design. From the moment she met this Zuoyue Commander, the other was like someone who planned three steps in advance with every step he took.

For someone who was in good health, this naturally meant nothing. But Cui Buqu’s body was already in such a weak state, yet he was still able to keep himself conscious all the time; wouldn’t it be too tiring for him?

She couldn’t help thinking of a saying.

The heart is mentally exhausted. The natural lifespan is not eternal. The oil is fully depleted from lamps.

Regardless of which one it was, it was not a good sign.

Feng Xiao, who was sitting at the side and hadn’t interrupted even once, finally opened his mouth to inquire.

“Qin Miaoyu, were you using my face for the last few days?”

Qin Miaoyu instinctively looked at Cui Buqu.

The latter closed his eyes and turned around. One could not look clearly at his expression, and from his posture, it seemed like he had fallen asleep.

This isn’t good. She’s fallen into a pit!

A few days ago Qin Miaoyu had already felt her eyelids twitching, and it had come into reality at this moment. She finally understood why she felt something was off.

Cui Buqu told her that Feng Xiao was in seclusion, and so he needed her to borrow Feng Xiao’s identity in order to punish those distinguished families. Firstly, it was because the Jiejian Bureau’s name was more widely known, and hence more people knew about it, it would be useful for them to quickly settle everything. Secondly, although she did not have Feng Xiao’s level of martial arts, those distinguished families didn’t know martial arts at all, and thus using Feng Xiao’s face to show up would be enough.

Qin Miaoyu hadn’t pondered over it for too long, because her current identity was a scout of the Jiejian Bureau. There was no need to fight battles that required her to walk on thin ice on a daily basis like she used to. Moreover, with Feng Xiao’s prior words, she naturally listened to Cui Buqu’s orders. Perhaps when days passed, she had put down the guard she used to have, and only now did she notice where it had all gone wrong.

Outsiders wouldn’t know that it was Qin Miaoyu; they would only take her for Feng Xiao, and be convinced that this case was in charge by both the Zuoyue and Jiejian Bureaus. As for offending people, naturally, they’d have to take responsibility for that as well.

The Zuoyue Bureau was responsible for cases related to the Jianghu. This time, if it wasn’t for the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai’s manipulation, they would have not shown up. Getting rid of all the top-tier martial artists in the tavern, as well as forcing Xiao Lu to leave heavily injured, had all been contributions of the Jiejian Bureau. But outsiders wouldn’t know, and would just think that the Zuoyue Bureau did their job well.

And what of the Jiejian Bureau? Not only did they have to be responsible for the offence caused, the most they’d receive was Cui Buqu’s light and weightless words: “It’s just thanks to the Jiejian Bureau’s aid” when he stepped up to announce his meritorious deeds.

Feng Xiao sighed and turned around to say: “I took a lot of trouble defeating Xiao Lu, fell into the peril of death, then took a saunter before the afterworld’s gate and came back, yet you still want to pit me. Cui Buqu, won’t your conscience hurt?”

Cui Buqu looked peaceful and serene with hints of sickness on his face like it was hard-earned for him to have a sound slumber. He was even snoring lightly.

Even if a clap of thunder struck, Feng Xiao could not wake up someone who was already determined to pretend to be asleep.

Author’s Notes:

[Small Theatre]

Cui Buqu: Love is another story. Pitting is a story of its own. Both of them are unrelated.

Feng Xiao: Alright, you’ve said this. Tomorrow I am going to allow some people to distribute leaflets on the street.

Cui Buqu: “…”

[DB: This is the last chapter of book 6. We will be going for book 7 (and the last arc) of wushuang soon!]

[Wushuang] Chapter 156
My delicate legs are hurting.

Dark clouds gather in layers in an attempt to bring the sky down.

Willow branches were no longer in green, wilted and dried as they stuck out dumbfounded from the ground. The first snow floated down from the skies, falling through those dried branches onto the ground, slowly gathering into a pile of velvety white by the roots of those trees, fresh with the dark colours of soil glimpsing out between them.

A horse carriage strolled out of the city gates, per their master’s request, the driver was travelling slowly on purpose and the sound of horse hooves slowed down.

This horse carriage was situated in the centre of the envoy, guarded both front and back by riders. Once it slowed down, the ones at the back followed. The guide at the front was baffled yet dared not urge them to be quick. He turned around instead before seeing a hand reaching out from the horse carriage seeming as though it wanted to catch a snowflake in its hand. It brought with it the wariness of one who was entering the capital for the first time from the Northern Region of the Gobi Desert. He couldn’t help but was enlightened, raising his hand to signal the carriages in front to slow down as well.

The Seventh Prince of Göktürk, Kuhezhen’s gaze moved away from the silhouette of that guide who was raising his chest high and surveyed the wilted willows of the city’s walls that were painting it into a scene of forlorn lonesomeness. He then turned his gaze to the bustling streams of horse carriages going in and out of the city before finally withdrawing his gaze with a stunned expression.

“Everyone says the scenery of falling snow at the Ba Bridge is a sight in the capital, who could have known the first snow comes so late in the Central Plains!”

The snow that fell few and far in between all nearly melted upon reaching the ground. At a glance, everything looked bleak and gloomy. How did it resemble the magnificent snowy scene of Northern Kingdoms in paintings?

This Autumn, the Sui Dynasty allied with all powers around and waged a war to the death against the Göktürk army in which Khan Ishbara led.

The Sui Dynasty sent Gao Jiong1 and Yu Qingce2 on two separate expeditions, the Ning State Road and the Yuan State Roads to attack the Göktürk troops on two fronts.

On the other side, Zhangsun Sheng3, Yuan Hui4, Cui Buqu and other’s movements resulted in the internal conflicts within the departments of Göktürk, causing them to collapse. In the face of Khan Ishbara, the same powerful enemy they all shared, powers from various departments finally united. The Suni Department of Göktürk even has up to ten thousand people who submitted to the Sui Dynasty.

As Khan Ishbara suffered the oppression of the Khitan people5 of the East and assaults on all remaining three sides, he was left with no choice but to bow before the Sui Dynasty. Even his wife, Princess Qianjin, who was a member of the Yuwen Clan from the former dynasty of Northern Zhou, knelt to the Sui Emperor and submitted to changing her surname to become a daughter of the Yang family. The Sui Emperor was gladdened, changing Princess Qianjin’s title to Princess Dayi to prove his sincerity and gifted Khan Ishbara a countless amount of gold and silver.

The Seventh Son of Khan Ishbara, Kuhezhen hence entered, along with tributes and warhorses from the Western Regions, into the capital of the Sui Dynasty.

Before entering the capital, the Emperor has given orders that Kuhezhen represented the pillar of the country6, hence ordaining him Duke of Nation’s Harmony while bestowed upon Princess Dayi the surname ‘Yang’.

These were all just empty ranks. After the Seventh Prince of Göktürk became the pillar of the country, he could no longer get involved in country affairs even though he would receive all the fame that came with it.

To put it plainly, this Seventh Prince was just a hostage the Göktürks have given to the Imperial Court.

He brought people and horses into the capital all the way from the Northern Regions of the Gobi Desert to this present place. When they arrived in Wuxiang, he requested for a horse carriage saying that he wanted to arrange his etiquettes in order to leave a good impression for His Majesty. The guide had no issue to this and even complimented the Seventh Prince inwardly for his intellect. After all, an honest and well-mannered person in official clothes was more likeable compared to a Göktürk clad in dust and ash with foreign clothes.

At this moment, the Seventh Prince Kuhezhen truly did change into Han clothes. He tied his own braids into the style of the Han people. If not for a face with distinguished features that could not be changed, he look no different from a Han.

However, he could not sit in the same literary way as Hans. He remained sitting on his knees like when he was in the Royal Court of Göktürk, looking carefree and leisurely. There was a curious look on his face but when the curtains of the carriage were drawn back, it had vanished.

“This is the Brilliant Spring Gate. The Ba Bridge is not situated here. If His Highness wishes to see the Ba Bridge, he should head to the outside of the Yanxing Gate.” The person accompanying him in the horse carriage passively said.

That person carried an impassive look, his features ordinary and when they weren’t twitching they were passive like wild grasses and rocks at the side of roads. He didn’t look eye-catching at all, but once he spoke, the plain atmosphere in the carriage took a fresh turn, for even his eyebrows suddenly became lively.

Had it been any other top martial artist in this place, they would most definitely have taken a shock and regard him as a formidable enemy.

However, the Seventh Prince Kuhezhen showed no response. One, it was because his martial arts were mediocre, hence he wasn’t sensitive to auras that could only be given off by grandmasters of the martial arts. Secondly, he had been consistently interacting with this person and thus has gotten used to it.

Kuhezhen finally let go of the curtains, no longer interested in looking outside.

“I originally thought that the capital of the Sui Dynasty should have been a brilliant and flourishing place. Couldn’t have thought that aside from the city being larger, that the people wore a little prettier, there’s nothing too outstanding. Even those people rushing to squeeze into the city were all common folks. One could not look twice after they’ve seen once. Tuan, what do you say?”

Tuan Qinghe opened his eyes.

“This is because the person the Seventh Prince wished to see is not here.”

Kuhezhen smiled: “I heard that talents are aplenty in the Great Sui and people of intelligence are everywhere. I do want to meet them for an interaction. At least my trip to the Central Plains wouldn’t be for nought.”

Tuan Qinghe: “What is considered a person of intelligence in the Seventh Prince’s eyes?”

Kuhezhen said: “Intelligent people are aplenty beneath the Heavens. Yet I’ve met only a few of them; for example, my Khan Father, and that Han official, Zhangsun Sheng.”

Tuan Qinghe raised his brow slightly and mentioned two names: “The Khatun? Yu Xiu?”

The Khatun he mentioned was naturally the wife of Kuhezhen’s Father, Khan Ishbara, the Empress Princess Qianjin of Eastern Göktürk, who is now presently Princess Dayi.

This princess was once the daughter of the royal family of the former dynasty who married to the kingdom of deserts. Logically, she should have been similar to her predecessors, used to her old ways of life and would have felt depressed, doomed to an early death. However, Princess Dayi hadn’t gone down that path. Contrarily, after the Northern Zhou was annihilated, she could grasp the heart of her husband and shared in a portion of power in the Royal Court. She could be said to be quite intelligent.

Yu Xiu was one a favoured official of the princess, but ever since he was sent to the Central Plains by the princess, Kuhezhen and Tuan Qinghe haven’t seen him since.

Hearing the names of these two people, Kuhezhen shook his head.

“Tuan, intelligence has many kinds. Some people would only take into consideration the evident benefits, and some of their judgements are slaved away by emotions. Princess Dayi is the first and Yu Xiu is the latter. Before this, I have always admired Yu Xiu. A person like him sent to the Central Plains was born to sow chaos there. It’s a pity that he failed in the end. Without the Princess, Yu Xiu might have been able to go further.”

Tuan Qinghe seemed very convinced by his words. He nodded his head after hearing about it. “It seems like the Seventh Prince has already chosen his candidate.”

Kuhezhen: “A smart person does not need to have the wisdom of evaluating their situation, but they would still need luck. From the way I see it, the present Emperor and Empress had such specialities. If their descendants are also the same, then this Dynasty could last for at least three generations. Otherwise—”

Tuan Qinghe: “Otherwise?”

Kuhezhen smiled and said: “Otherwise, even if they are more intelligent people like Cui Buqu, what use is there?”

Tuan Qinghe’s gaze froze on him: “I still thought that the Seventh Prince’s trip here was related to Xiao Lu’s invitation.”

Kuhezhen sighed a breath: “Xiao Lu is also an intelligent person. It’s a pity that he lacked some luck. If he reincarnated into a good life, even if he was born as the son of the Emperor of the Chen Dynasty, perhaps the powers that rule the world presently would be different.”

Since he lacked luck and ran into the Northern Dynasty who was brimming with talents, then he was destined to have a rough road ahead. The end he would eventually come to might not be blissful as well.

To ally himself with a person like that, Kuhezhen was worried that even his own luck would be brought down.

“Tuan, I have not asked you yet. Why have you suddenly decided to pursue me to the Central Plains?”

“I have overcome my limit.”

Tuan Qinghe’s expression was very calm, almost like he was just discussing something common.

“The limit that the number one fighter of Göktürk that year, Hulugu had not even overcome.”

Kuhezhen’s eyes brightened. “I remembered that during that year, you used three years in seclusion. This time you only used three months.”

Tuan Qinghe nodded his head. “This time it had gone even smoother. The written notes Hulugu left behind gave me quite an advantage.”

Kuhezhen smiled. “Hulugu had always been just a myth to me. However, the present version of you should have been superior compared to the prior number one fighter of Khan Father’s, Fo Er, certainly? If you fought with Fo Er, how many moves would you need to defeat him?”

Tuan Qinghe pondered over for a while: “Three to five moves.”

Kuhezhen gave a shocked look: “I heard that Feng Xiao killed Fo Er at quite a big expense. Even if his martial arts have improved, perhaps he’s still not your match?”

Tuan Qinghe seriously said: “That may not be the case. The path of a martial artist is boundless. Before seeing him in person, I cannot tell.”

Kuhezhen snickered. He felt the disappointment from looking out of the window just now lifted.

“At a glance, of all the top martial artists: Yan Wushi, Yi Pichen, Ruyan Kehui, Shen Qiao, Guang Lingsan, Feng Xiao and the others are not within Daxing City. Although this Imperial City is huge, those who could be called top-tier martial artists could be counted on both hands. If you want to compete with these people, you might have to wait for a little more while. Perhaps after a while later, the Imperial City would descend into chaos and when that time comes no little amount of top martial artists could all show up to turn defeat into victory. Those people might not compare to the aforementioned grandmaster-tiered martial artists. They don’t deserve your presence. We only need to sit and watch them like fishes in a pond. Once this pond is enough muddy, we would reach out to give it a little more stir.”

As he finished speaking, Kuhezhen once again lifted the curtains at the same time the guide looked back. Both of their gazes met and as the guide saw Kuhezhen’s eager and expectant expression, he inwardly convinced himself that this Seventh Prince certainly has a good-temper and way with people. Kuhezhen did not mind giving the other this sort of misunderstanding, and so he nodded his head with a vague smile.

Then when he dropped the curtains, his expression became completely dissimilar to the one just now.

If one were to say he was just like a well-fed animal just now who was too lazy to move, then now he’s a wild wolf who got excited by the smell of its prey.

“Yu Xiu is dead. The Princess is both furious and upset. Her hatred for Yang Jian grew. The Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai had lost a lot of members and horses. This time they would most certainly make use of the opportunity to have one last go. Tuan, the other princes were unwilling to come to the Sui Dynasty, yet I am different. People from the Central Plains often say “All is prepared and all it needs is a push from the Eastern Wind”. I feel that my purpose to come here is to become that gust of wind.”

Kuhezhen’s light coloured irises seemed like they’re seeing the toils of an impending wave and couldn’t help feeling his blood surging in excitement.

“I’ve mistakenly spoken just now. This Daxing City truly is the capital praised by all under the heavens. Just by the common citizens going in and out of the city’s gates, it’s already a few times more than those in our Royal Court. In such a vast and spacious Imperial Capital, when the wind and clouds toiled, it must certainly be brilliant and astounding to the eyes.”

……

As the horse carriage swayed, it would also sway one into slumber.

Cui Buqu did not sleep, because the rocking made his head hurt.

After the case of emblezzing rations was closed, the officials of Guangqian County were all taken down. The Censorate had to send a few officials over to relief the calamity and distribute food. This series of arrangements took up a period of half a month. However, Cui Buqu’s old diseases came back and there was nowhere he could go. Until a few days after Rong Qing seized the suspects back to the capital, he set out for the capital.

This parade of people were all wounded patients. Guan Shanhai’s injuries were severe, a little worse than Cui Buqu. Behind was another horse carriage; the Jiejian Bureau’s Third Commander Ming Yue was in a better condition, but only by a little bit. In order to avoid his wounds from reopening, he was forbidden to ride on a horse. He was placed on a horse carriage to stop occasionally for rest.

Qiao Xian originally wanted to escort them back to the capital before leaving to assume her post at Xinan, but Cui Buqu told her that there was no need so she could only set out alone in disappointment.

Pitiful Pei Jingzhe had to say goodbye after escorting her for a few dozen li. In the few days that followed his heart wasn’t there, his mind had wandered. Even Ming Yue tried to tease him whether his soul had followed Qian Xiao.

However, what truly gave Cui Buqu a headache wasn’t the uncomfortable rocking of the horse carriage.

It was—

One person swept the curtains aside and came in, making himself feel at home. There wasn’t a need to serve him, because he’s taken a seat on his own.

“My delicate legs are hurting, so I came in to take a breather.”

Here he comes again.

Cui Buqu sighed.

[1]高颎: known during the Northern Zhou period by the Xianbei name Dugu Jiong, was a key official and general of the Chinese Sui Dynasty. He was a key advisor to Emperor Wen of Sui and instrumental in the campaign against rival the Chen Dynasty, allowing Sui to destroy Chen in 589 and reunify China.
[2, 3, 4]虞庆则, 长孙晟, 元晖: These are real people who are famous officials during the Sui Dynasty of Northern Zhou period.
[5] 契丹: Para-Mongolic nomadic people from Northeast Asia who inhabited an area corresponding to parts of modern Mongolia, Northeast China and the Russian Far East.
[6] 柱国: Rank of an official.

[DB: Kedun has been changed to Khatun. Also, terribly sorry for the long update. I’ve been busy for a long time. First, it was adult stuff, then work, then I went on a short trip during the weekend, then adult stuff again. Thank you for being patient!
But anyways!! Here’s the first chap of the last arc of Wushuang/Peerless. It’s been a looong journey. I will update a little slower, due to real life, and then I will also translate extras from JJWXC as well as the exclusive ones in both the Taiwanese/Mainland China version of the physical copies. However, the exclusive extras will probably be in a Google doc so that they won’t be crawled by some bot.]