Chapter 57 A Broken Mirror Cannot Be Mended; There's No Going Back
The situation changed rapidly. In the already tense military tent, as Qin Shaozong stood up and drew his sword, an invisible but extremely thick cloud of gunpowder smoke suddenly rose.
"Qin Changgeng, don't make false accusations! The campaign against the Green Lotus Sect is imminent, yet you set up this trap and suddenly attacked me. In my opinion, it is you who has ulterior motives. Very well, since you are unwilling to form an alliance, then let's part ways here!" Fan Tianshi said as he retreated.
Having already declared it a trap, Qin Shaozong was not about to let him leave.
"Sending assassins to kill me at night, and now you think you can wash your hands of it all with just a few words? Isn't Fan Yanzhou being a bit too delusional?" Qin Shaozong naturally wouldn't let him go so easily.
As soon as the words were spoken, all the generals in the north drew their swords, and those in Yanzhou were also on high alert.
Qingzhou was completely bewildered.
But their confusion wouldn't last long, because a fight broke out.
Swords clashed, clanging several times. Someone was kicked and slammed against a table, while someone else slashed open a military tent with a sword, widening the exit for retreat.
Fan Tianshi was a man who valued his life, and for this meeting, he not only wore armor himself but also brought all his fierce generals with him. Among his generals was Zang Yinghao, a man with countless past achievements, a rare and formidable fighter in one-on-one combat.
Zang Yinghao was eight feet tall, with a dark face, short beard, square mouth, and thick lips. He held an ancient sword with a sharp, upturned tip, just as flamboyant as its owner.
At this moment, Zang Yinghao stood in front of Qin Shaozong with a knife, blocking his way: "I have long admired the name of Lord Qin, let me have a go at you."
Qin Shaozong didn't say anything more to him, and stepped forward with his ring-pommel sword.
The military tent was crowded and the space was limited, so a fight could easily spill over into the surroundings. After two clangs of blades, many people instinctively moved aside, afraid of being caught in the crossfire of the two men's sharp blades.
Zang Yinghao was initially able to laugh, but after engaging in combat with Qin Shaozong, his expression became increasingly serious.
Each blow from his opponent was extremely heavy, as if carrying the power of thunder. Yet, these heavy blows were like endless waves, boundless and swift, as if each one required no effort from him.
After only a few exchanges, he was deeply shaken. All the noise around him turned into the hum of weapons vibrating, making him unable to hear the screams and sounds of battle outside the tent.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Zang Yinghao's forehead, and his hand holding the knife trembled slightly. He had to switch from holding the knife with one hand to using both hands.
Using a knife with both hands is less agile than using one. After another exchange of blows and a misdirection of force, the two were closer than ever before. Without any hesitation, Qin Shaozong bent his elbow and slammed it into Zang Yinghao's throat.
"Crack!" His throat bone suddenly broke.
Zang Yinghao clutched his throat and took two steps back, but was too weak to attack again. His eyes were bloodshot, his neck was twisted into a strange shape, and his breathing was extremely heavy, making a whooshing sound when he inhaled and exhaled, like a broken old bellows.
This man's fighting strength was already reduced to half. Qin Shaozong stepped forward again, and after several clanging blows, he knocked the knife out of the opponent's hand. With a swift movement, the unstoppable blade brought blood to the ground, and a heavy object fell from a great height.
It was Zang Yinghao's head with his eyes wide open.
Qin Shaozong kicked the severed head away, saying, "Nothing special."
Having dealt with the obstacle blocking his path, Qin Shaozong had just looked away when he heard someone shouting loudly outside:
"The military tent is about to collapse!"
It turned out that after Fan Tianshi was escorted out of the military tent by his two fierce generals, he was intercepted outside by the northern military generals. Seeing that he was surrounded by enemies, he simply took advantage of the fact that Qin Shaozong was still blocked inside the tent and ordered his men to cut the ropes at several fixed points of the tent.
If the tent collapses, it will cover the person inside, giving him some time to evacuate.
Yes, Fan Tianshi plans to leave.
Despite bringing many fierce generals and soldiers with him, the worst thing in war is to be unprepared, not to mention that there was Qingzhou, who was acting as an accomplice to the enemy, nearby. Therefore, the moment Fan Tianshi knew that the falling out was inevitable, he planned to retreat first.
When the massive military tent descended from above, Qin Shaozong was still a few steps away from the exit. He quickly rushed forward, simultaneously raising his elbow high to block in front of him. After creating a little space, he flipped his ring-pommel sword over so the blade was facing upwards and used it to lift the military tent.
The nomadic peoples of the north had many cattle and sheep, and their military tents were mostly made of cowhide; the Han people had a more developed textile industry, and their military tents were mostly made of cloth, silk, felt, and leather. The former two were easily cut by blades, while the latter two were more durable.
Unfortunately, this tent was made of sturdy double-layered cowhide for rain protection.
Qin Shaozong eventually emerged from the margins.
As he emerged, a cold arrow flew towards him. Qin Shaozong raised his sword and deflected it. Looking up, he saw chaos all around. The soldiers of Yanzhou were fighting two against one, not only having to withstand the northern offensive but also dealing with the soldiers of Qingzhou.
"Bring me my longbow," Qin Shaozong called out.
His personal guards, who had followed him for many years and worked in perfect harmony with him, had long since taken out heavy bows and were waiting to the side.
Qin Shaozong nocked an arrow and drew his bow. The six-stone longbow was easily drawn, and the man's long, strong fingers gripped the tiger-tendon string, pulling it into an arc that was almost a full moon.
Not far ahead, Fan Tianshi had already mounted his horse and was galloping westward with a spur on his whip.
Qin Shaozong aimed at him, but before he could release the arrow, Fan Tianshi's figure was covered by the body of the person covering his rear.
Qin Shaozong paused slightly, then immediately and without hesitation, he turned the arrow to the side and aimed it at another person.
The long, dark fingers suddenly released their grip.
"Whoosh—"
The long arrow, carried by a strong wind, flew swiftly, transforming into a streak of light that accurately struck a man. The force of this arrow was so great that it pierced right through his armor.
Fan Boliang, who was on horseback, was jolted by the immense force that came from behind, and was pulled forward. Just as he was about to straighten up, he was shocked to find that all his strength was draining away, as if a huge hole had been opened in his chest that could not be plugged.
He stiffly lowered his head, only to see half a cold arrow protruding from his chest, followed by a belated surge of excruciating pain.
Unable to hold the reins any longer, Fan Boliang fell off his horse, and the horses behind him couldn't avoid him and trampled him into a pulp.
Upon hearing the exclamation, Fan Tianshi's heart skipped a beat. He turned to look, and what he saw made his eyes bloodshot and his heart pound with terror. "My son!!"
"My lord, you mustn't stop!" The man behind him saw him trying to rein in his horse and hurriedly advised, "The eldest son is going to die for you; you mustn't let his good intentions go to waste!"
Escape also requires striking while the iron is hot; otherwise, wavering between fighting and fleeing will only result in greater losses.
Not far away, Qin Shaozong listened to the sudden commotion and thought to himself that the little chick that looked three or four parts like Fan Tianshi was indeed his son.
He smiled with satisfaction. "There are some things you really shouldn't say carelessly, otherwise you might not be able to save your life even if you pray to the gods. Don't you agree?"
The wind carried the words far away, but unfortunately, the person being questioned could no longer speak.
Nangong Xiong had been inside the tent, but now he emerged from the covered tent. Looking at the three groups of soldiers locked in combat before him, and hearing Fan Tianshi's heartbreaking cry of "My son!" in the distance, he felt as if an invisible rope had pulled his heart up high and then suddenly dropped it.
And so it fell apart, and the dust settled.
Qin Shaozong killed Fan Tianshi's son, and it seems that he killed the eldest son of the legitimate wife. Such a hatred for killing one's son can never be easily forgiven.
A broken mirror cannot be mended; things can never be the same again.
"How could you act like this? It's too impulsive." Nangong Xiong glared at Qin Shaozong, his teeth itching with anger. "Besides, we're allies now. Couldn't you have informed me before making such an important decision?"
Qin Shaozong patted him on the shoulder with a smile, looking like they were good buddies. "I heard you say earlier that you were quite dissatisfied with that Fan Tianshi guy, and since I also have a grudge against him, I might as well settle it all at once. No need to thank me."
Nangong Xiong nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. This guy got the benefit and was still acting innocent. "Is this how you resolve things? You only killed his son and not him. You're clearly just stirring up trouble!"
Qin Shaozong: "I originally wanted to shoot him, but I was blocked and failed."
Nangong Xiong didn't believe it. "If you, Qin Changgeng, are determined to do something, how could you not succeed? In my opinion, you think that killing him here would be detrimental to your reputation. After all, the news that Quan Jie was ordered by Fan Tianshi to assassinate you hasn't spread yet. When the matter comes to light, people might pay more attention to your sudden attack on Yanzhou during the tripartite alliance and your killing of Fan Tianshi. That would be detrimental to your reputation in every way."
Qin Shaozong: "No, it really isn't."
Nangong Xiong looked at him with an expression that said, "I don't believe your nonsense. Now that you have killed his eldest son, he will definitely fight you to the death. Fan Tianshi is as cunning as a viper, and his subordinate Shi Wuji is full of tricks and can be called a poisoner. If we let Fan Tianshi return to Yanzhou, it will be like releasing a dragon into the sea or letting a tiger return to the mountain. The consequences will be unpredictable."
Qin Shaozong smiled and said, "Then what should we do?"
Nangong Xiong gritted his teeth. There was no doubt that Qin Shaozong was doing this on purpose. "What can we do? Of course, we'll chase after him and kill Fan Tianshi."
Qin Shaozong clapped his hands and laughed, "Great minds think alike. Nangong Qingzhou's idea coincides with mine. It seems there is a reason why we can be allies."
Nangong Xiong wanted to swear.
Suddenly, a glint flashed in his eyes, and he grabbed Qin Shaozong, who was turning to mount his horse: "My daughter's marriage is completely ruined because of your actions today. You have to compensate me with a son-in-law."
Qin Shaozong paused, then immediately countered with his earlier words, "If we don't pursue this now, it will truly be like releasing a dragon into the sea or letting a tiger return to the mountains, with countless future troubles. Nangong Qingzhou, the most important matter is at hand now."
Nangong Xiong was not about to let him go. He grabbed the reins of the red dragon and said, "We have many fierce generals under our command, too numerous to count. We can leave the pursuit of Fan Tianshi to them."
While the two generals were locked in a stalemate, the Yanzhou army retreated while fighting, and the soldiers from the north and Qingzhou pursued them.
Not long after the main force left, two fast horses returned together to report.
"My lord (Nangong Qingzhou), after the Yanzhou army withdrew from the small plain and entered the Huaxi Long Road, there were ambushes on both sides of the road."
The Huaxi Long Road connects the small plain with Yanzhou and is one of the largest official roads leading to the west. This road is shaped like a sloping trapezoid, with slightly higher sides, which is similar to the original Peach Blossom Ridge.
Nangong Xiong clicked his tongue lightly, "As expected, there was a backup plan. It was most likely the work of Shi Wuji."
A dark cloud drifted in from the sky, instantly plunging the entire firmament into darkness. A chilling wind blew, and it looked like it was about to rain.
"This summer is truly like a child's face, so unpredictable. We have none of the advantages of favorable weather, location, or popular support. Fine, let's sound the retreat," Qin Shaozong ordered.
Nangong Xiong glanced at the sky and gave his deputy the order to withdraw the troops.
*
Dai Li knew that Qin Shaozong had gone to discuss matters today, and that he had taken all the high-ranking military officers except for Mo Yanyun with him. She knew he wouldn't be back anytime soon, and that there were fewer informants in the manor than ever before.
So she found a pretext to send Nian Xia Bi Po out of the mansion and summoned her son.
"Mom, you wanted to see me?" Qin Yanzhou was also dressed in a white robe today.
His skin tone was seven-tenths fair, inherited from his mother, and he looked especially gentle and dignified when wearing light-colored clothes, as if he had completely isolated himself from all the bloodshed and darkness of the past.
Dai Li beckoned him to sit down, "Let's have a good chat today, mother and son."
Qin Yanzhou sat down opposite her. "What would you like to talk about?"
Dai Li cut to the chase: "That day, Zhouzhou said that if I wanted to leave, you could make arrangements for me. I didn't have time to ask then, because Qin Shaozong came. After he left, I realized that the timing wasn't right, so I didn't mention it to you again. Now that Nianxia and the others have gone out, and Qin Shaozong isn't here either, let's talk about this."
Not only was the timing wrong, but she also learned from Qin Shaozong that her son had become an assassin and had almost been beheaded.
Resentment and hatred consumed her mind; she was determined to kill Fan Tianshi and naturally had no intention of leaving.
But now that Qin Shaozong has gone on his campaign, it seems that the falling out with Yanzhou is inevitable. Since there is no one else in the mansion, she can bring up the old issues with her son again.
Qin Yanzhou remained silent for a moment before saying, "Mother, do you still remember the wealthy family that first saved me? In my sixth year at the Fan family, which was last year, I unexpectedly ran into them. Those two young masters still remembered me, and I happened to do them a big favor at the time, so we naturally re-established contact."
Dai Li naturally remembered that wealthy family.
Qin Shaozong has deep roots; if this wealthy family can really help, they are probably no ordinary wealthy family.
"During that year, you helped them with their work?" Dai Li couldn't help but ask.
Qin Shaozong refused to let her go, and taking her away would certainly not be easy; it would definitely be a troublesome matter. But Zhouzhou said he could arrange it, the only explanation being that he and that wealthy family likely had some kind of vested interest in each other.
Qin Yanzhou did not deny it. "Yes, in the following year, I sometimes helped them with some things as a way of repaying the life-saving grace from back then. Over time, I built up some friendship with those two young masters."
Dai Li suddenly thought of something else, and doubt arose in her heart, "Zhouzhou, since you have connections with them and the ability to take me away, why did you continue to stay in the Fan residence before?"
That damned Fan Tianshi doesn't treat his orphan like a human being. Zhouzhou must be having a very hard time there, constantly having to do dangerous work. Take the last assassination attempt, for example; if he hadn't reacted quickly and escaped, he would definitely have lost his life.
Qin Shaozong's power was greater than Fan Tianshi's, after all, the latter only controlled one state, while the former controlled several states in the north.
If wealthy families are truly capable, why don't they help Zhouzhou escape from the Fan family's predicament?
Qin Yanzhou looked down at the teacup on the table. "At first, I had just recognized them and didn't want to trouble them. Later, after helping them with their business, I thought it was about time. I was planning to leave the Fan family after returning this time, but I didn't expect to meet you here..."
He didn't say anything more, but Dai Li knew what her son meant.
Meeting her disrupted all my plans.
Dai Li smiled and said, "In the end, they all want to break away from the Fan family; they're just different paths leading to the same destination."
"Oh, right, there's something I need to tell you beforehand." He hesitated for a moment.
“What?” Dai Li asked.
Qin Yanzhou's tone was clearly apologetic: "The Dragon Bone Waterwheel has not only spread throughout the North, but has also reached every state like the wind. Everyone knows that this thing was brought out from the hands of a hermit by a lady surnamed Dai, and piled up on the bank, where the current will inevitably be turbulent. If your abilities are exposed to the public, they will surely exploit you, so after you leave, you will probably have to change your name and identity."
Not only the dragon-bone waterwheel, but also the salt stone. They must never know that these were all made by his mother.
More than hiding her identity, Dai Li was concerned about something else: "Zhouzhou, I think you've heard about Qin Shaozong's influence. Can this wealthy family really be trusted? What if they betray us halfway through?"
If the other party changes their mind halfway through, feeling that it's not worth offending Qin Shaozong for the sake of a friend with whom they have some ties, and doesn't want to get into trouble, and thus tries to atone for their mistake by selling them to the northern lands, then it would be better to remain still.
"No," Qin Yanzhou replied very quickly.
Dai Li then asked him, "What is the surname of this wealthy family? Where is their ancestral home? Are they officials or engaged in some other business?"
Qin Yanzhou replied, "I'll tell you later."
Dai Li asked in confusion, "Can't we say it now?"
The young man softly called out "Mom," and Dai Li had no choice but to say, "Fine, we'll talk about it later."
Anyway, there's plenty of time, and whether we say it sooner or later won't change the family's status, so let's just go along with our son's wishes.
*
Dai Li thought Qin Shaozong would be gone for a long time, but she didn't expect that she would hear a commotion outside as soon as she finished breakfast the next day.
Upon closer listening, she clearly heard the phrase "My Lord, return," and she was stunned.
Qin Shaozong is back? This battle ended so quickly? Something's not right…
Not long after she was stunned, Dai Li heard Nian Xia and Bi Po greeting her.
Dai Li subconsciously turned her head and saw a tall, imposing man walking through the cave entrance straight towards her.
He was clad in golden armor, wearing a taotie-patterned golden helmet, and his red cloak billowed with powerful arcs as he moved. His aura was like a sharp knife, or a mountain and sea, sharp, heavy, and unstoppable.
"Why are you..." Dai Li stopped mid-sentence and asked, "Should I congratulate you on your victorious return from this battle?"
“It’s not impossible.” Qin Shaozong took out something and threw it on the table in front of Dai Li. “I brought you something back. I’m sure Madam will like it.”
Dai Li looked down and saw that it looked like a... headband.
-----------------------
Author's note: Guess what Lao Qin originally wanted to get back, haha.
I need nutrient solution! [Orange heart]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
