"The people in the northwest nicknamed me Blood Rakshasa. The governor of Yao Province called me... Qi or something. They also sent people to build a stone statue of me at the city gate and ordered everyone entering the city to spit at me, otherwise they would not be allowed to enter the city. I have been on the run for a while. In addition to the pursuers from the government, I also had to be careful to avoid the people. After escaping from Zhenhuang, I was injured once and was rescued by an old couple. They were both over 80 years old. They were a very kind and gentle couple. They treated my injuries and killed the only old hen in their family to make a nourishing soup for me, but they did not ask about my origins. They probably thought I was robbed by robbers and always encouraged me to report to the authorities.
"But the next day, the old man went to the town to buy medicine for me. When he came back, his face changed drastically. I didn't know what happened at the time. That night, they secretly rushed into my room with sickles, and the two of them hacked at the bed like crazy. I know that their son was recruited by Emperor Xia many years ago and joined General Meng's army to attack Yanbei. Later, he died on the Yanbei Plateau." Chu Qiao's face was cold and she smiled coldly, "Then I killed them. They were too excited and I couldn't get rid of them, so I killed them."
“Hypocritical,” a cold voice suddenly sounded, Zhuge Yue still sitting there, sneered, “With your skills, it would be easy for you to subdue two elderly people, but you are just afraid that they will report to the police, but you have to find such a disgusting excuse for yourself.”
"I'm not making excuses," Chu Qiao didn't get angry, she just quietly retorted, "I was seriously injured at the time, an arrow shot through my thigh, I couldn't move at all, I only had two choices at the time, kill them, or let them kill me."
Zhuge Yue chuckled disapprovingly, "Xing'er, what's the difference between you and me?"
"Yes, I thought so at the beginning." Chu Qiao said in a deep voice, "But later, I don't think so anymore. When General Meng went to Yanbei to start a war, it was an invasion, a massacre, and an unreasonable trampling. Their sons joined the army and invaded other people's hometowns. Shouldn't they allow others to resist and fight back? In that battle, Yanbei suffered countless casualties, both civilians and All the forces of the Yanbei army were slaughtered, and the losses in Yanbei were far greater than those in Daxia. And I did not do them any wrong. I recuperated with them and paid them, but they wanted to harm me, just because of hatred that did not belong to me. Should I just sit there and wait to die? I kill people, but not indiscriminately. I sympathize with civilians, but I am not a saint. "
Chu Qiao's voice gradually became firm, and she spoke word by word: "The war between Yanbei and Daxia is inevitable and will last for a long time. However, all those who fell in this war will not be worthless. They are fighting for justice and freedom. Sooner or later, a new country will rise on the land of Hongchuan. This country will have freedom and equality, law and peace, and will no longer be as inhumane as before. For this day, everything I have done is worth it."
Zhuge Yue suddenly sneered, “Xing’er, I always thought highly of you, but I never thought you would say such ridiculous things. Freedom and equality? The rule of law and peace? What, have you also become a believer in Datong? Have you also started to have those illusory dreams of Datong?”
“No, I didn’t. I am very clear-headed. I know that as long as there are interests in this world, there will never be true equality. However, we can make things better and take a step forward slowly.” Chu Qiao looked at Zhuge Yue and said in a deep voice, “At the very least, there won’t be anything like what happened in Zhuge’s mansion. Killing, abusing, treating people like dogs!”
“Do you really think Yan Xun can do this?” Zhuge Yue raised his eyebrows slightly and smiled disdainfully, “Or do you think those old guys in the Daxing Guild are really as selfless as they say? People who have tasted the taste of power will not easily let go of what they have already obtained. Even if one day Yan Xun overthrows Daxia and ascends the throne as emperor, it is just a change of dynasty, not the end of an era. Xing'er, if you can't accept the fact that Yan Xun is ambitious to fight for hegemony, why not say that he is seeking revenge, which is more or less better. Don't put such a big hat on his head, it's disgusting.”
Chu Qiao's expression changed slightly. After a long while, she still said firmly: "I believe him."
Zhuge Yue frowned and stared at her intently.
“I believe he won’t let me down.” Chu Qiao chuckled softly, “I will be by his side, helping him, and watching him accomplish this great feat single-handedly. Zhuge Yue, just watch.”
At that moment, it seemed as if a light was lit in the darkness, shining so dazzlingly into the darkness. Zhuge Yue suddenly felt that the woman in front of him was actually very fragile and foolish, but he didn’t want to laugh at her stubbornness anymore.
He just wanted to ask: "If one day he really disappoints you, what will you do?"
But he didn't say it out loud, he felt it was a bit cruel, yes, very cruel.
This girl is not even seventeen years old yet. What are her younger sisters at home doing now? What are those rich young ladies in Zhenhuang City doing now? Put on makeup, go out to enjoy the flowers, talk about the young talents of various families, or secretly go to Wushan with a man who is not worthy of being seen in public on a luxurious bed...
And she has gone through so many bloody battles over the years, all for this one belief. She has no power, no relatives or friends, but this may be her hope to survive!
Okay, Xing'er, I'll just watch and see whether that man can finally get what you want. If such a day really comes, I, Zhuge Yue, am willing to spend all my wealth and set off millions of fireworks to celebrate the fulfillment of your wish!
“Yanbei,” Zhuge Yue raised his head and drank a glass of strong liquor. The spicy liquor rolled over his throat, and it hurt like a knife. The man said lightly, “I’ll watch you.” The next morning, although Zhuge Yue went out early enough and spent a lot of gold, he searched the whole city but could not buy a horse or hire a carriage. The entire horse market, even the horse dealers' own mounts, were looted that night. In a fit of anger, Zhuge Yue tried to buy some other means of transportation, such as donkeys, mules, and he even condescended to ask about cows.
But the result is always the same.
At the same time, Chu Qiao was sitting in the room on the second floor of the inn, watching the people from the escort agency walking back and forth. She frowned slightly, sensing something was wrong.
When Zhuge Yue came back, the two of them looked at each other, and neither of them spoke.
When the team left the city, there were far more than the previous four or five hundred people. The people in front had already left the city, and the people behind had not yet mounted their horses. There were more than two thousand people in total. A large amount of baggage, food, gold, silver, jewelry, and money were loaded on more than 300 carriages. Behind them were endless women and children dressed in noble clothes. The scene was bustling and complicated, with one carriage after another surrounding them. It was an extremely spectacular scene.
Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue were placed at the end of the entourage, in a relatively shabby carriage. This carriage was obviously newly bought and there was an unpleasant smell inside.
There was no need for them to worry, because with their current status, they had no chance of getting close to the young master Liu.
In the morning, Chu Qiao followed several servants who were carrying luggage, and saw from afar a man in a light blue brocade robe getting into a carriage escorted by a group of guards. The weather in Amber was already hot, but the man was wearing a large cloak. He was thin and his hood was half-retracted, covering his face. But the figure half-hidden and half-visible in the morning mist immediately startled Chu Qiao.
She stopped unconsciously, watched the figure gradually disappear into the distance, and then got into a magnificent, spacious carriage.
Chu Qiao didn't move for a long time.
“What’s wrong?” Zhuge Yue walked in front of her, turned around and asked in a deep voice.
"Oh, nothing." Chu Qiao laughed at herself and shook her head, as if she wanted to get rid of some unrealistic thoughts. "Let's go."
The carriage slowly drove out of Amber City. Chu Qiao leaned against the window, lifted a corner of the curtain, and looked out through the light veil.
“Oh, right.” Chu Qiao suddenly remembered something and took out a small bag and handed it to Zhuge Yue, saying calmly, “I asked the waiter to go out and buy it this morning.”
Zhuge Yue took the bundle and opened it, only to see a hood inside to protect against the wind and sand. Although it was somewhat inappropriate to wear at this time, the hood was very finely made and the material was very thin, so it shouldn’t be too hot to wear.
"It's always better to be careful." Chu Qiao said softly, then smiled faintly, "Although there may not be many opportunities to use it."
More than two thousand men and hundreds of horse-drawn carriages and baggage were stretching out along the post road. From here, one could not see the carriages and horses ahead at all.
Zhuge Yue put the hood aside, but he did not take his hand away, and kept pressing on it, "The merchants in Xianyang are trying to escape."
Chu Qiao smiled slightly, turned around, and said, "You figured it out."
"With the war between Yanbei and Daxia imminent, these old foxes will all hide in Bian Tang. They dare not set out from Xianyang in large numbers, so they can only break up into small groups and gather in Amber before heading to Tangjing together. Those carriages and horses may contain their life savings."
Chu Qiao nodded calmly and said softly, "Yes, they want to stay out of it."
Unlike Zhuge Yue, Chu Qiao suddenly felt panic in her heart. She knew the identities of several major merchants in Xianyang, and even more so how they made their fortunes over the years. And now, they were about to escape.
Thinking of the figure she had seen before, Chu Qiao's heart suddenly seemed to be on fire, and she wanted to jump out of the car and run up to take a look. But in a moment, she just shook her head helplessly and leaned back on the shaking carriage.
Chu Qiao, are you too tired? Ever since the Zhenhuang Uprising began, you have been unable to hold on for a long time, so you have come up with such unrealistic fantasies?
Yan Xun, they are about to escape, right in front of me, what should I do, how can I stop them? What to do?