Healing in a humble room, the secret alliance is formed
Zhang Qing's hand was suspended in mid-air, with distinct joints, carrying the sense of strength unique to martial artists, as well as an unquestionable meaning.
Qiongying looked at the hand, then up at Zhang Qing's calm face, a thousand thoughts racing through her mind. Going with him would mean greater risk, potentially falling completely under Liangshan's control. But if she refused, not only would her leg injury make escape difficult, but her heartfelt "prophecy" would also be meaningless.
What she was betting on was the clarity and loyalty that had never been extinguished in Zhang Qing's heart!
In a split second, she made a decision. She didn't touch Zhang Qing's hand, but instead used her hand to support herself, attempting to stand up on her left leg. However, the slightest exertion on her right leg was met with excruciating pain, causing her to groan. Cold sweat instantly broke out on her forehead, and her body swayed as if on the verge of collapse.
Zhang Qing frowned slightly, and without further ado, he took a step forward, slipped his arm under her armpit, and held her firmly. His movements were not gentle, and even had a bit of military roughness, but he controlled the strength very well, avoiding touching the wound on her leg.
"Brother Tie Niu," Zhang Qing said to Li Kui, who was still in a daze, "What happened tonight is of great importance. Don't mention it to anyone for now, including Brother Song Gongming."
Li Kui's eyes widened: "Ah? This... this woman said..."
"I know my limits." Zhang Qing interrupted him, his tone unquestionable, "You should follow the original plan and take the brothers out early tomorrow morning."
Although Li Kui was confused, he was extremely convinced of the brother he recognized. Seeing Zhang Qing's serious expression, he stopped asking questions and just scratched his head and muttered: "I know... You guys be careful." As he said that, he looked around vigilantly.
Zhang Qing said no more, half supporting, half holding Qiongying, and quickly left this troubled place. He didn't return to the warehouse, nor did he go to any conspicuous clinics. Instead, he supported her and walked through dark and secluded alleys, eventually arriving at an even more dilapidated, almost unnoticed low house in the northwest corner of the town.
He used the key to unlock the door and helped Qiongying in.
The furnishings in the room were extremely simple, consisting of a bed, a table, and a chair, all covered in a thin layer of dust, as if no one had lived there for a long time. However, in a corner, there were some clean cloths, clean water, and common wound medicine, which clearly showed that Zhang Qing had prepared them early in the morning.
"This is a secret stake I planted in my early years, and no one knows about it." Zhang Qing explained briefly and helped Qiongying sit down on the bed. "I'm sorry."
He squatted down, took out the dagger he carried with him, and carefully cut open the trouser leg where her right leg was injured. When he saw the stone deeply embedded in the muscle, surrounded by a bloody mess of flesh, he paused, and a trace of regret flashed across his eyes.
"Bear with it." He whispered, his voice a little softer than before.
Qiongying bit her lower lip and nodded. As a doctor, she knew the pain of removing a foreign body.
Zhang Qing's technique was clean and neat. He used the tip of the dagger to enlarge the wound. His fingers were as steady as a rock. He accurately clamped the bloody stone and pulled it out suddenly!
"Ugh!" Qiongying trembled all over in pain, and her nails dug deep into her palms to prevent her from crying out.
Blood gushed out. Zhang Qing immediately applied pressure with a clean cloth he had prepared to stop the bleeding. He then quickly cleaned the wound with water, sprinkled it with wound medicine, and bandaged it with layers of cloth. The entire process was seamless, clearly a man accustomed to handling injuries.
After the severe pain, Qiongying leaned exhausted against the head of the bed, her face as pale as paper, and her temples soaked with cold sweat.
Zhang Qing treated her wound, stood up, walked to the table, poured her a bowl of water, and handed it to her. There was silence between them for a moment, the only sounds in the room being the flickering candlelight and the sound of each other's heavy breathing.
In the end, it was Qiongying who broke the silence first. Her voice was weak with pain, yet still sharp. "General Zhang, can you tell me now... what exactly is your 'heartache'? Or, in other words, how much do you believe me?"
Zhang Qing didn't look at her, his gaze fixed on the flickering candlelight, his profile blurred in the light and shadow. "The princess's words were shocking and unbelievable," he said slowly, "but... they're not entirely unreasonable."
He turned and looked Qiongying in the eye. "Regarding the offer of amnesty, Liangshan isn't unanimous. Brothers like Wu Song and Lu Zhishen have been vehemently opposed. Brother Song Gongming... he has his own reasons. He's only interested in securing a legitimate career for his brothers and bringing honor to the family. But..." He paused, his tone growing heavier. "The court's attitude is indeed ambiguous. Gao Qiu and his men suffered a complete defeat in their previous campaign, completely losing face. How could they truly accept us?"
"So, you already had doubts in your heart?" Qiongying asked.
Zhang Qing remained silent for a moment, acquiescing. "But since we've already surrendered, we must obey orders. Compared to the future of our brothers at Liangshan, what are our personal lives, deaths, honors, and disgraces?" These words carried a military-style sense of tragic heroism and helplessness.
"Foolish!" Qiongying couldn't help but scold, then gasped as her wound tugged. She paused before speaking, "It's precisely this 'considering the greater good' mentality of yours that has been exploited by those treacherous villains, ultimately ruining all of our brothers! The life and death of an individual may not be important, but should the lives of so many heroes become the victims of a power struggle? Is your so-called 'loyalty' about staining the crown and feather of that tyrant emperor and his treacherous ministers red with the blood of your brothers?"
Her words were harsh and every word was hurtful!
Zhang Qing's body trembled violently, and he suddenly looked up at her. For the first time, his eyes showed obvious shock and...struggle. He moved his lips, wanting to refute, but found that all his high-sounding reasons seemed so pale and powerless under her clear and indignant eyes.
There was a long silence.
The candle flame crackled and burst into a flower.
Zhang Qing, as if drained of all his strength, slowly sat down on a chair beside the table, his hands resting on his forehead. His voice was filled with an unprecedented level of fatigue and hoarseness. "Then tell me... what should I do? Disobey the order? Become a bandit again? Let my brothers bear the name of traitors, forever condemned to perish? Or... watch Liangshan crumble to pieces?"
His voice revealed a deep sense of helplessness and confusion. At this moment, he was no longer the majestic "Featherless Arrow", but just an ordinary man caught up in the tide of the times, trying to find a way out for his brothers, but the road ahead was bleak.
As Qiongying looked at him, something hard in her heart began to soften. She realized that Zhang Qing wasn't blindly loyal; he was simply caught between "loyalty" and "reality," unable to find a way to reconcile them both.
She took a deep breath, endured the pain in her legs, sat up straight, looked at him with burning eyes, and said clearly word by word:
"What if... there is a third way?"
Zhang Qing suddenly raised his head, a sharp light flashing in his eyes: "The third way?"
"A path that doesn't betray our brotherhood, but also avoids being abandoned after the rabbit has died." Qiongying's voice carried a bewitching power. "If the imperial court can't be relied upon, then we must rely on ourselves! We can fight against Wang Qing and Fang La, but how to fight, to what extent, and how to deal with the aftermath...isn't there something we can do about it?"
She lowered her voice, as if recounting a terrifying conspiracy: "Conserve your strength, plan secretly, and find a new base! When the day comes when the birds are gone and the bows are put away, if you still have enough power to protect yourselves, or even make the imperial court hesitant, then why fear that cup of poisoned wine or that steel knife?"
Zhang Qing stood up suddenly, staring at Qiongying intently, his chest heaving violently. These words were simply outrageous! But they were like a flash of lightning that tore through the darkness, instantly illuminating the chaotic fog in his heart!
The third way... preserve strength... find another foundation...
Every word struck hard on his heart.
He walked to the window, staring out at the dark night, and remained silent for a long time. It was obvious that he was experiencing a turbulent struggle and weighing of his thoughts.
Qiongying stopped talking, giving him time to digest the thought. She knew the seed she had sown had begun to sprout.
After an unknown amount of time, Zhang Qing slowly turned around. His eyes had regained their composure, but beneath that composure, a resolute force surged. He walked to the bedside, looked at Qiongying, clasped his fists solemnly, and performed a very formal salute:
"The princess' words today were like thunder in my ears, awakening me from my dream. Qing... I have learned my lesson!"
He didn't say whether he believed it or not, but his gesture showed his attitude.
A huge weight lifted off Qiongying's heart, and she knew that she had won the first step of the bet.
"However," Zhang Qing changed the subject, his brows furrowed slightly, "this matter concerns the lives and property of over ten thousand brothers on Liangshan Mountain. It's a complex matter, and it's definitely not an easy task. We need to plan carefully and proceed step by step. And...it must be kept absolutely secret."
"I understand." Qiongying nodded. "I can wait, and I can help you."
"Help me?" Zhang Qing looked at her pale yet determined face, his gaze falling on her injured leg, his eyes complicated, "Your injury..."
"It's just a flesh wound, I won't die." Qiongying twitched her lips, revealing a pained yet confident smile. "Don't forget, I'm Doctor An. Besides, I might know more about the future plot than you do."
Zhang Qing looked at her deeply. This woman's boldness, wisdom, and tenacity repeatedly exceeded his expectations. The vague idea in his mind gradually became clearer.
Perhaps, her appearance is not a disaster, but... a turning point.
"The most urgent thing is for you to recover from your injuries," Zhang Qing said solemnly. "I will arrange for reliable people to take care of you. The Liangshan army will be leaving soon, and I must accompany them. Before I return, you must hide yourself and do not act rashly."
"Are you going to attack Wang Qing?" Qiongying asked.
"Yes." Zhang Qing nodded. "Perhaps... this is the first step in our 'preservation of strength'."
Their eyes met, and they both saw a tacit understanding in each other's eyes.
A fragile yet firm alliance to survive together in the darkness was quietly formed in this humble room.
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