Chapter 214: Chaotic Battle (Part 7) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

"gentlemen--"

The two soldiers Zhai Huan assigned were to drive the carriage and treat Commandant Yang's wounds inside. Upon looking up, they saw Qi Shan vomiting blood and were instantly terrified—everyone was wounded, and there was no one capable of covering for them…

How did they manage to escape?

Qi Shan's face was slightly pale, and the already somewhat frail young man now possessed an added air of broken beauty. He raised his hand to wave at the soldiers, then took out a white handkerchief from his sleeve and slowly but firmly wiped away the blood and grime from the corners of his mouth and the palms of his hands.

He calmed himself down and took a deep breath.

The pain that comes out when I try to hold my breath.

He said calmly, "It's nothing, just a minor injury."

The soldier hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

His injuries were so severe that his face turned blue and he was vomiting blood...

How could it possibly be related to the term "minor injury"?

He hesitated whether to offer advice, then listened as the young man instructed him: "Don't mention my injury to anyone. The current situation is special; it would only cause unnecessary worry if word got out..."

The soldier was an honest, reliable, and quiet man.

"Yes, I know, I definitely won't tell anyone!"

Qi Shan nodded weakly, slightly relieved.

Just as he was about to lean against the carriage and close his eyes for a rest, he heard a series of noises coming from his sleeve. It turned out that his movements had startled Su Shang, who was sleeping in the inner pocket of his sleeve. The little guy meowed softly twice and burrowed around in the sleeve, trying to find an exit.

The soldier was startled.

I glared at it instinctively.

Suddenly, a fluffy little head popped out of Qi Shan's sleeve with a "biu". Its pale pink ears twitched. Perhaps it had slept too long, the sleepy kitten raised its soft paws to wipe its face, grooming itself.

After doing all that, carefully extend your front paws.

It looked around curiously with its round, watery green eyes, seemingly observing the unfamiliar environment inside the carriage. Under the soldiers' curious gazes, it climbed out, nuzzling Qi Shan's fingers affectionately with its head, meowing softly.

The soldier's eyes softened when he looked at the cat, Su Shang.

It wasn't that he liked cats, but in such a desperate situation, the soft and adorable Su Shang was a rare source of warmth, as if a glimmer of hope had sprouted in his heart. This cat was truly beautiful, with soft fur, big eyes, a short nose, a round face, and a fur color much lighter than that of a typical tabby cat.

The soldier asked, "Sir, is this little thing hungry?"

Qi Shan shook his head: "No, it needs to relieve itself..."

Although to outsiders, Su Shang's meows all sound the same, and seem similar, Qi Shan has raised cats for so many years, practically growing up alongside Huai Xu, and is very experienced. He knows that these little guys also have spirits; all things have spirits.

They are also very intelligent.

Soldier: "Go...go to the toilet?"

After saying that, he looked around the carriage.

They were still on the run, the road ahead fraught with danger and unknown. Where could they find a place for the little creature to relieve itself? But ignoring it and letting the cat defecate and urinate indiscriminately was not good either... Just as he was in a dilemma, he saw Qi Shan pull out a dagger from his pocket.

The soldiers were terrified and tried to speak up to stop them.

Although cats are animals, even humans have to relieve themselves!

Cats can't control when they want to poop or pee, what did they do wrong? It's not worth killing them for that, is it?

Little did anyone know that Qi Shan had only cut off a piece of Gu Chi's clothing.

The soldier was puzzled, but then he saw Qi Shan spread out the torn-off piece of clothing at the carriage door, tap the piece three times with his finger, and then turn to Su Shang and say in a kind tone, "Here, go ahead, come back for your meal when you're done."

Su Shang was still puzzled at first, tilting his head in confusion.

Qi Shan then grabbed it.

It touched its bottom against the piece of cloth.

A moment later, Su Shang seemed to understand what was going on. He lay down on the cloth and relieved himself thoroughly. Before the smell could dissipate, Qi Shan threw Su Shang's mess out of the carriage and then lifted the curtain to air it out. The soldiers watched in stunned silence.

But then again—

The smell was indeed strong.

"Sir, isn't this a bit inappropriate...?"

Qi Shan frowned and thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement: "Yes, it's indeed not good. This fellow's clothes are stained with blood and are not clean, but given the circumstances, we can only make do..."

The speechless soldier: "???"

Perhaps it was Su Shang's poop that helped, because not long after, Gu Chi slowly woke up. He winced in pain, clutching the back of his neck with one hand and propping himself up with the other. He hadn't fully recovered from his unconsciousness for a while and didn't even know what day it was.

At that moment, a gust of cold wind rushed in through the carriage window, hitting his face and sending a shiver down his spine. He shivered. Then, the carriage began to bump along a rough road, shaking violently. Gu Chi finally came to his senses and looked at Qi Shan with displeasure.

He opened his mouth and asked, "Qi Yuanliang, what does this mean?"

He still remembers what happened before he fell into a coma.

He offered his help out of a sense of justice, only to be met with a chop to the neck in return.

Qi Shan said, "This is not something to be done in a good way."

He kept shirking responsibility.

Gu Chi asked with a cold smile, "This wasn't your idea?"

Qi Shan rolled her eyes impatiently, completely disregarding her image: "If you were me, would you do that?"

Young Master Shen's behavior also surprised him.

Gu Chi pressed on with a cold face, "What do you mean?"

Qi Shan said, "Disdain."

Did he really want to take Gu Chi, this unstable and potentially dangerous person, with him?

Just kidding, neither he nor Gu Chi had a good reputation; they were two of a kind at heart. Because of this, they had long been "friends in spirit." Privately, they could admire each other (though their personalities differed), but when it came to stances and official matters, they'd rather never see each other again.

What are the benefits of having an unstable element around?

Are you digging your own grave, planting trees, and building your own coffin?

Gu Chi was angered by Qi Shan's blunt response, and his face turned displeased.

He said, "In that case, stop the car and let me leave."

Qi Shan said with a half-smile, "Well—that won't work."

Gu Chi countered, "Why?"

Qi Shan said, "Because the person who wants you is Young Master Shen. Either you live and stay by his side, or you die and are left outside."

Gu Chi: "...Why?"

Qi Shan couldn't help but complain, "I'd like to ask you what kind of bewitching potion you gave Young Master Shen, that made him want no one but you."

Gu Chi: "...You don't really want me to stay, do you?"

Qi Shan, touching his conscience, said, "Of course I don't want to."

Those who remain are the living Gu Wangchao.

The little octopus that will die if it doesn't stay.

He actually wished Gu Chi would go to the underworld to report for justice.

A person who cannot truly be used should be eliminated as soon as possible, lest they become a dangerous threat and cause endless trouble. Gu Chi also noticed the faint murderous intent on Qi Shan's face, and his brow twitched violently. He looked around the cramped carriage, pondering his chances of success in escaping.

As for the result—

The outlook is not very optimistic.

Gu Chi temporarily abandoned his idea of ​​escaping.

He wanted to see what Shen Lang was up to.

As for Wu Yuan, who was frantic with worry after losing his strategist...

Gu Chi couldn't attend to him for the time being.

He shifted to a more comfortable sitting position, smelling the lingering stench of blood in the air. His gaze shifted to Yang, the military officer who was heavily bandaged, with a haggard and deathly pale face. He sighed suddenly and said, "This man really shouldn't have been saved."

These words drew a murderous glare from the soldiers.

Gu Chi asked with a smile, "Young brother, do you think I've misspoke?"

The soldier's eyes were red with anger, his fists clenched, as if he was trying his best to suppress the urge to rush forward and throw a punch—he really wanted to beat this sickly-looking man with a tuberculous face to death with a few punches! Listen to the sarcastic things he's saying! What does Yang Duwei's life have to do with him?

Gu Chi sighed, "Do you know the suffering of a hero at the end of his life?"

What's more painful than having nothing is having had it.

Can ordinary people and martial arts masters be compared?

Moreover, Commandant Yang had once reached the eleventh rank of Right Vice Minister!

With such formidable strength, if they were to pledge allegiance to a stable power, they could easily attain a level of wealth and luxury unimaginable to ordinary people. To suddenly become an ordinary person—how can mere "living" bridge that gap? This kind of "living" is more painful than "dying."

As an ordinary person, I try to survive in this chaotic world...

That would truly be worse than death.

Gu Chi, however, felt that letting Commandant Yang die in his duel with Gongxi Chou was actually a mercy to him, giving his life a fitting yet tragic end. He possessed the heart of a strongman, yet had the frail body of an ordinary person…

The soldier was speechless when asked the question.

He whispered, "Isn't it good to be alive?"

Gu Chi said, "Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad."

Especially for someone like Commander Yang, if he had the choice, he would probably choose to die a glorious death rather than live on with an old body bent over by the hardships of a chaotic world... In his view, Shen Lang's act of saving people was unacceptable.

Before he could finish venting his feelings, Qi Shan retorted, saying irritably, "Gu Wangchao, from what you're saying, you really want to die? Are you all talk and no action? Humph, just live for now, why worry about the future?"

Gu Chi: "Do you think it's better for Commandant Yang to be alive?"

Qi Shan countered, "Then why don't you kill him now?"

What's the point of discussing it now that the die is cast?

The carriage fell silent again.

The road was bumpy, the intense vibrations almost shaking Gu Chi's internal organs out of him. He swallowed hard, trying to suppress the dizziness and distract himself; the best way to do this was to start a conversation. He asked, "Did we escape?"

Qi Shan nodded and gave a perfunctory "hmm".

Gu Chi then asked, "How is Xiaocheng?"

Qi Shan succinctly replied: "Destroyed."

They escaped through another city gate.

They encountered many rebel soldiers along the way, and Young Master Shen led them in a fierce fight. Fortunately, they were all ordinary soldiers, not a single one of them a decent martial artist. They stole a carriage whose owner had been slaughtered and continued their rampage, until Young Master Shen was exhausted and collapsed.

Although I didn't see the entire battle...

However, based on the scene I saw before leaving...

There are probably very few survivors left in Xiaocheng.

Thinking of this, a hint of pain appeared between Qi Shan's brows, but not wanting to be seen, he closed his eyes, concealing the weariness and pain churning within them. However—he momentarily forgot that Gu Chi never relied on reading people's expressions to understand their hearts.

“Even if you cry now, Chi won’t laugh at you.”

Gu Chi considered himself to be very "understanding".

As a result, Qi Shan rolled his eyes at him twice.

Gu Chi feigned nonchalance: "Sigh, it's just the destruction of a country and a city... In this world, how many people haven't experienced it..."

As he spoke, his voice gradually lowered.

The remaining teasing and sarcasm turned into a bitter sigh.

Qi Shan stroked Su Shang's soft paws, looking at the carriage full of broken and injured people, as well as the brothers Chu Yao, Gong Shuwu, and Zhai Huan, and the hundreds of soldiers left in the city with their fates unknown—he felt not only saddened that Xiaocheng was truly "completely devastated."

He lamented that everyone had done their best, but it was all in vain, unable to stop the slaughter from falling like a thousand troops...

The image he had seen from the city wall involuntarily resurfaced in his mind: Young Master Shen, alone, suspended high in the air, with a massive shield of morale formed from the combined might of thousands of soldiers beneath her feet. Even with her literary talent and the assistance of three strategists with literary minds, she couldn't shatter that shield.

It seems that whether we do it or not, the outcome will be the same.

Gu Chi overheard most of Qi Shan's thoughts.

Now it was Qi Shan's turn to roll her eyes, and she said, "It's really strange that you have such a sentimental side?"

Instead of wasting time thinking about this and that, why not think about how to escape? Do you really think that escaping Xiaocheng will make everything alright and ensure your safety?

Why did the rebels massacre the city?

The real purpose wasn't the national seal.

Once they realize the Imperial Seal is no longer in Xiaocheng, well, they won't have a moment's peace. They'll probably cause some more trouble...

Qi Shan was somewhat embarrassed and annoyed.

"Can you stop spying?"

Gu Chi: "If you could stop, would you still be here?"

Why can't we escape?

Naturally, it was because this treacherous path of the literati was too much of a burden for him. He wasn't entirely confident he could escape, so Qi Shan's question was like asking "Why don't they eat meat porridge?", making one want to punch him.

During the argument, Shen Tang, who had been unconscious, stirred.

She frowned as if in pain.

Qi Shan immediately abandoned Gu Chi.

He asked with concern, "Has Young Master Shen woken up?"

Shen Tang clutched her head, gasped, and slowly sat up—she felt like her limbs didn't belong to her anymore, they were both painful and weak. Hearing a familiar voice, she looked over.

She looked around and found that everyone was already in the carriage.

He immediately asked Qi Shan, "Was Xiaocheng saved?"

Gu Chi was speechless upon hearing this, and looked at Qi Shan in confusion.

Upon hearing this, Qi Shan knew that Shen Tang had sobered up.

When drunk, Shen Tang is assertive, powerful, and somewhat ruthless, but the young master Shen is different when he's sober, and he won't remember what he did while drunk. Qi Shan's expression vaguely carried a hint of grief; although she didn't answer, Shen Tang could tell the answer.

She said dejectedly, "I failed?"

It is stated in a declarative tone.

Qi Shan revealed a rare gentle expression and offered words of comfort.

“Youli, this is not your responsibility. We have both done our best. Let alone you, even a 20th-rank Marquis at the peak of all aspects cannot guarantee that they can repel an army of ten thousand. This is an overwhelming force, which cannot be resisted by one person alone…”

Shen Tang did not answer, but simply lowered her head.

Although she couldn't see his expression, Qi Shan knew that Young Master Shen was sad, after all—this young master was truly soft-hearted.

Little did they know—

Qi Shan only guessed half of it correctly.

Shen Tang was sad, but it wasn't just sadness.

She watched the shadows of the trees rushing past outside the carriage.

He said in a low, melancholy voice, "Yuanliang."

Qi Shan replied, "I am here."

Shen Tang: "Next time..."

Her voice was very weak, and there was a faint sob in it.

"This humiliation of today will never happen again!"

|ω)

Oops, the number in the title is wrong, I'll go edit it.

(End of this chapter)