Chapter 46: Quick Travel Guide to the Soldier King (Part 4)
I was so frightened by this sudden change that I grabbed Brother Bi's arm tightly and said incoherently: "What should I do? What should I do? This is clearly a frame-up!"
Brother Bi shook my hand vigorously, his eyes firm: "Don't be afraid, Ziang, a person with a clear conscience is not afraid of his own shadow. We will definitely be able to clear our name!"
We were locked up in a dark and damp dungeon, and the air was filled with a foul smell. Brother Bi was so badly injured that his face turned pale, but he still managed to comfort me: "Zi'ang, don't worry, I will definitely get you out!" I looked at this man who stood tall in front of me, and a glimmer of hope ignited in my heart.
However, hope was so slim. We were under strict guard and had no chance to contact the outside world. I was thinking about the contents of the letter all the time. If the conspiracy of Zhang Han was not exposed in time, Shanhaiguan would be lost and the consequences would be disastrous!
I secretly observed the surrounding environment, hoping to find a way to escape. One night, I found a loose brick on the wall of the cell. I thought, maybe this is an opportunity! I quietly told Brother Bi about this discovery, and a gleam of light flashed in his eyes.
We took advantage of the dead of night and worked together to move the loose brick, revealing a small hole. Brother Bi motioned for me to crawl out first, but I shook my head and insisted on going with him. We supported each other and climbed out of the hole with difficulty.
However, what awaited us was an even crueler reality. As soon as we escaped from the cell, we were discovered by the officers and soldiers guarding outside. They surrounded us with swords in hand.
"Want to run? Not that easy!" Zhang Hanjian's voice came from behind the crowd. He had a sinister smile on his face, his eyes full of pride and viciousness, "Someone, come and capture him for me!"
The soldiers rushed forward and surrounded us. I held Brother Bi's hand tightly, my heart filled with fear and despair. Brother Bi fought hard, but he was outnumbered and his old wounds had not healed, so he soon lost the upper hand.
"Brother Bi, be careful!" I shouted in surprise, and saw a bright big knife slashing towards Brother Bi's chest. At the critical moment, I pushed Brother Bi away with all my strength, and the knife hit my shoulder heavily.
The pain spread all over my body instantly, and my eyes went dark, and I passed out. When I woke up, I found myself locked in a dark and damp woodshed. My shoulder was simply bandaged, but the pain was still unbearable.
"Zi'ang, you're awake!" I heard Brother Bi's anxious voice. I struggled to sit up and saw that he was also locked in the woodshed, with his hands tied behind his back and his face covered with scars.
"Brother Bi, how are you? Did they give you any trouble?" I asked with concern, enduring the pain.
Brother Bi shook his head and smiled bitterly: "I'm fine, but you were badly injured in order to save me..."
"I'm fine, as long as you're okay." I shook my head, my heart filled with worry and self-blame.
At this time, the door of the woodshed was opened, and the dazzling sunlight shone in. I squinted my eyes and saw Zhang Hanjian and several officers and soldiers walking in. He had a smug smile on his face and looked at us, like a cat playing with a mouse.
"Feng Ziang, Bi Yuntao, you have finally met your end!" Zhang Hanjian sneered, "I wanted to leave you a chance to live, but since you are seeking death, don't blame me for being rude!"
He waved his hand, and two officers came forward, separated Brother Bi and I, and locked us in different cells. I was locked in a dark and damp dungeon, surrounded by a rotten smell that made me sick.
I curled up helplessly in the corner, tears streaming down my face. I knew we had failed completely this time, and I couldn't imagine what was waiting for us... The biting cold spread from the cold stone floor, and I huddled up, but I couldn't stop the despair from drowning me like a tide. Dad, where are you? Do you know that your son is in prison?
With a creaky sound, the cell door opened, and the blinding light made me close my eyes subconsciously.
"Zi'ang, are you okay?"
"Dad?!" I suddenly opened my eyes. It was really Dad! His face was weathered, his eye sockets were deep, and his originally black hair was mixed with white hair. He seemed to have aged ten years overnight.
"Zi'ang, my son!" He cried and stroked my cheek with trembling hands, "It's Daddy's fault. It's Daddy who failed to protect you..."
I couldn't hold back my tears any longer and burst out: "Dad, I'm fine, don't worry..."
"Don't be afraid, Dad will definitely rescue you!" The flame of hope ignited in his eyes, and he turned to the jailer behind him and said, "Sir, please let me see your steward. I am willing to give up all my property just to save my son's life!"
The jailer was embarrassed and was about to refuse, but my father knelt down with a cry: "Please, I will do anything you want as long as you can let my son go!"
I had never seen my father so humble before. My heart ached as if it were being cut by a knife.
"Dad, please don't do this. Your son is not worthy of you doing this!" I burst into tears.
Dad turned a deaf ear to him and continued to beg the jailer. Finally, the jailer was moved by him and agreed to report it.
After my father left, my heart sank to the bottom. I knew that Zhang Han was a treacherous and cunning man, and since he had captured me, he would never let me go easily.
"Zi'ang, don't worry, I've already thought of a way to escape." Brother Bi's voice came from the cell next door, with a hint of determination and hope.
"Really? What can we do?" I asked anxiously, as if I had grasped a life-saving straw.
"I will try to create chaos tonight to attract the attention of the jailers, and you will take the opportunity to escape." He lowered his voice, "I have observed that although the windows of the cell have iron bars, they are in disrepair and can be easily opened. I also have a small knife hidden here, you can use it for self-defense..."
Although his plan sounded risky, it was our only hope. I tightly grasped the knife that Brother Bi secretly gave me, and a glimmer of hope ignited in my heart.
However, reality is always cruel. That night, before Brother Bi's plan could be implemented, it was discovered by the traitor Zhang. It turned out that the traitor Zhang had long expected that we would escape from prison, and had set up a net around the cell, waiting for us to fall into the trap.
"Hahaha, Feng Ziang, Bi Yuntao, do you think I will let you escape so easily?" Zhang Hanjian's triumphant voice rang out outside the cell, "I tell you, as long as I, Zhang, am still alive, you will never leave here alive!"
Despair swallows me once again...
The cold and damp cell was filled with a moldy and rotten smell. I curled up in a corner, my body covered with whip marks, and I felt waves of burning pain. Zhang Han's methods were extremely cruel. He would send people to torture me every day to force me to reveal what we called "evidence of guilt."
"Zi'ang, how are you? Did they give you any trouble?" Bi Yuntao's suppressed and worried voice came from the cell next door.
"I'm fine, you don't have to worry about me." I clenched my teeth to prevent my voice from trembling.
I know that I cannot fall down, my weakness will only make Bi Yuntao suffer more. The more Zhang Han traitor tortures me, the stronger I will be to live, I want to see with my own eyes the day when he is brought to justice!
During the long prison life, hope seemed to be like a candle in the wind, shaky and about to fall. Bi Yuntao's escape plan finally failed, and when he was caught, there was not a single piece of good meat on his body.
"It's all because of me that I got you into trouble..." He leaned against the wall weakly, his tone full of self-blame.
"Don't be silly, we'll be fine." I held back my tears and held his cold hand. "We'll go out together and see the day of victory together."
However, we all know that this is just self-consolation. Zhang Han's power is deeply rooted, and we are trapped in this dark cage without seeing the slightest ray of hope.
Until that day, there was a sudden commotion outside the cell, accompanied by the sound of swords clashing and the roar of soldiers. I was shocked. Could it be...
"Hahaha, traitor Zhang, your doom has come!" A loud voice penetrated the wall of the cell and reached my ears.
My heart was pounding. The voice was... General Chen Zilong!
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