Chapter 113 The Desire to Die
Shen Yuexi noticed a longsword stuck diagonally in the ground not far away. The sword was still swaying slightly, indicating that the duel had just ended.
Mep's face was masked, his expression invisible. His slightly swaying torso and the reddened eyes behind the mask revealed a strong sense of resentment. It seemed the defeat had deeply impacted him.
It's obvious that in his current condition, there is no way he can beat Xiao Zhuo.
She stamped her feet in anger.
Xiao Zhuo was truly awful. He didn't even give in when fighting a patient. He was completely inconsiderate. He was his good friend, having just led his troops to rescue his army. Besides, what was so glorious about defeating a patient?
"I don't accept it," Mep lowered his head and clenched his fists. "I've been training hard for so many years, and I only sleep two hours a day..."
Xiao Zhuo withdrew his sword and thrust it diagonally into the ground: "Even if you practice for a few more years, I will still be the winner."
"Impossible," Mep's gaze fell on his raised left hand. "You've already exposed several flaws just now. It's just that I can't keep up..."
Shen Yuexi couldn't bear to watch it any longer and shouted with displeasure: "Xiao Zhuo, stop talking."
He had clearly already won, yet he still refused to let anyone off the hook. Xiao Zhuo was really going too far.
Xiao Zhuo's body trembled slightly. He slowly turned around to look at her and said word by word, "Don't interrupt."
Fortunately, there was nothing at hand. If there was, Shen Yuexi would have picked it up and thrown it over.
Xiao Zhuo was so infuriating, acting like a superior scolding a subordinate. Others might be intimidated by him, but she wouldn't fall for it.
Mep seemed angry too, his chest heaving, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
He had been a mischievous child, fond of playing pranks on others, but always respectful of women. Seeing Xiao Zhuo treat Shen Yuexi this way, he felt unhappy. But Shen Yuexi was Xiao Zhuo's wife, and he couldn't interfere in her affairs.
"Even if I reveal a flaw and your body is intact, you still won't be able to seize this opportunity," Xiao Zhuo said sarcastically, "I am much stronger than you. I will never fail."
"I don't believe it!" Mep raised his voice with hints of anger.
"I'm angry," Xiao Zhuo smiled slightly, "Do you want to fight me again?"
Mep said nothing, but his eyes were already on the long sword beside him.
"If defeating me is your wish, then treat your illness well and don't mention the word 'death' again." Xiao Zhuo turned his back and slowly walked towards the exit of the training ground. "I'll wait for the day when you recover. Then we can fight again."
Shen Yuexi was startled and looked at Meipu. He and Xiao Zhuo were talking about death?
Having leprosy is truly a life worse than death. Mep has been like this for two and a half years. Doesn't he want to live anymore?
Mep raised his bloodshot eyes and looked at Xiao Zhuo's back.
He knew his own physical condition best. If it weren't for the bandages wrapped around his body, his body would be no different from a demon. His left hand was crippled, making it impossible for him to ride a horse or wield a spear. Now, his legs were beginning to lose feeling.
The Western Rong were rampant, and he was unable to fight, leaving him distraught. His father, Mei Cheng, treated him coldly. Under these multiple blows, he was already disheartened and had begun to contemplate suicide. The only thing that kept him going was the ten-year agreement with Xiao Zhuo.
Before the competition, he solemnly told Xiao Zhuo that after the competition, he would hand over the Xiliang cavalry to Xiao Zhuo and then commit suicide, which was better than living like this, a life indistinguishable between human and ghost. Unexpectedly, Xiao Zhuo's sarcasm successfully dispelled his desire to die.
He had the will to live in his heart, but the disease would not allow him to do so.
"But my disease," the light in Maep's eyes just lit up, then dimmed again, "is incurable."
"There will be a way." Xiao Zhuo looked at Shen Yuexi who was standing on the sidelines.
Shen Yuexi was standing there in a daze, still pondering the conversation between Xiao Zhuo and Mei Pu.
It looked like Xiao Zhuo was mocking Mep. He did this on purpose, but it actually motivated Mep.
What is this called, provocation?
While she was still thinking, Xiao Zhuo had already walked to her side and reached out to touch her head. As soon as he touched her hair, she dodged to the side, not forgetting to look up and glare at him.
I just scolded her and I want to touch her.
Xiao Zhuo had nowhere to put his outstretched hands, so he had to fan himself in the air, and then put them down naturally.
He looked at her with a questioning look, as if asking if she could cure Meipu's illness. This was a secret between the two of them, and Xiao Zhuo would not say it out loud.
Shen Yuexi felt a little unsure and quickly lowered her eyes.
Leprosy had long been eradicated in her time, and the related drugs were all chemically synthesized. Finding the relevant raw materials in ancient times would have been difficult. For example, she wanted to make a car. Big Bear could do it, but she had no source for the many metals needed.
She didn't want to rashly agree to it before she was sure, otherwise it would be troublesome if she couldn't do it.
When Xiao Zhuo saw her avoiding his gaze, a hint of disappointment flashed across his face.
"Don't comfort me," Mei Pu came over and said to Xiao Zhuo, "I've consulted many famous doctors, but none of them could cure my illness. I've come here to fulfill one of my wishes, and that's enough."
After saying this, he raised his hand and gestured for an invitation: "Come, let's go back to the tent. I was in a hurry to compete and didn't entertain you two. There are some hidden things I haven't had time to explain to you in detail."
After the banquet, Xiao Zhuo and Shen Yuexi returned to Langya Pass.
Everyone was very worried, but after Shen Yuexi told them what had happened, they breathed a sigh of relief.
Qiu Liming coughed and spoke first:
"My lord, the prince of Xiliang has contracted an incurable disease and wants to give his cavalry to you. Why didn't you agree to this right away?"
Meng Yue also agreed, "That's right. It's not like we're forcing him. Why not take the free cavalry? A few hundred soldiers will feel insecure wherever they go. If we had 10,000 cavalry, we could confront the enemy head-on with dignity."
Seeing that everyone agreed with Mep's action, Shen Yuexi looked at Song Zhen who was waving a feather fan and thinking.
Song Zhen said, "If we get the cavalry, we must go and assist the King of Xiliang in the battle. Otherwise, it would be morally unacceptable. Our lord is based on benevolence and righteousness, so we must do so."
Seeing everyone discussing, Xiao Zhuo frowned and said, "We'll make a decision later."
Meng Yue said, "My lord, this is the request of the Prince of Xiliang. Given his condition, he is unable to lead the troops into battle. Please make a decision immediately."
After the generals left, Xiao Zhuo said to Shen Yuexi, "Yuexi, what do you think?"
Shen Yuexi didn't expect Xiao Zhuo to ask for her opinion, and hesitated for a moment.
Mei Pu's arrival at the rescue was actually a secret, disobedient act against the orders of the King of Xiliang. The King of Xiliang was engaged in a bitter battle with the Western Rong and was unwilling to allocate troops. Shen Yuexi felt that for this very reason, Mei Pu should not have been allowed to die.
Meng Yue and others did not see the friendship between Xiao Zhuo and Mei Pu, but she saw it with her own eyes.
"My lord, Mep went against his father's orders and secretly led his army to rescue us. We must never forget this favor."
"That's exactly what I was thinking," Xiao Zhuo nodded approvingly and stood up, his hands behind his back, gazing at the sky outside the tent. "If I allow Mep to die, I won't be able to sleep or eat peacefully even if I have 10,000 cavalrymen."
After saying that, he turned around and looked at Shen Yuexi with bright eyes: "Yuexi, can you cure Meipu?"
Shen Yuexi said hesitantly: "I'll do my best."
While they were discussing, a sergeant came hurriedly to report:
"My lord, scouts report that Xiliang King Mei Cheng has been badly defeated and is now trapped in the city by a 100,000-strong Xirong army. The situation is critical."
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