Tan Hua - Chapter 95: Dependent on Each Other

Chapter 95: Dependent on Each Other

“Charge! Kill them!”

With the command from Xiao Taizi, his subordinates rushed forward like a swarm. However, the poplar tree was a single-log bridge, barely wide enough for one person to cross. For the mounted soldiers, it would only result in falling into the river.

So, a crowd of people was blocked at one end, and they could only go one by one.

Old Master Qi held onto the poplar tree tightly, trying to stop the first man’s legs, but his frail strength couldn’t hold back the fierce warriors. He was stepped on the wrist, and the sound of cracking bones echoed as he couldn’t let go. The pain caused him to break out in cold sweat, but he didn’t let out a single cry.

“Cut the bridge!”

Old Master Qi shouted, but more and more people trampled over him. He was old and weak, unable to withstand such force, and a mouthful of blood spurted out. The bright red blood mixed with the river water, without even causing a ripple.

“Father!”

Qi Miao clenched his fists, almost losing the strength to climb back up the poplar tree.

“Stop!”

Old Master Qi shouted at him.

“Father, I’m not afraid of death! I’ll die with you!” Qi Miao cried desperately.

“If you act rashly, waste your life, you are not a descendant of the Qi family!” Old Master Qi’s voice grew cold, “On the road to the underworld, I won’t be able to rest in peace. Your Majesty, time is of the essence, hurry…”

Old Master Qi was kicked, and he fell down again, spitting out blood, this time mixed with clotted blood. His internal injuries were severe.

Qi Miao was at a loss, and was pulled down by Jun Qiuyu.

Jun Qiuyu raised his knife and chopped down on the poplar tree. The wood was tough and hard as iron. Even with Jun Qiuyu’s strength, his blade was not heavy enough, and the first chop didn’t break the tree completely. He quickly pulled out the blade and struck again.

Crack—

The poplar tree broke with a loud sound, falling into the river with a splash. Those who tried to cross fell into the water with a scream. The West was a place short of water, and most of the people didn’t know how to swim. Even those who did were helpless against the churning river, struggling for a while before being swallowed up by the waves.

“Damn it!”

Xiao Taizi saw the only bridge had been cut off and turned his hatred towards Old Master Qi. He stepped on his chest and twisted.

Old Master Qi was powerless to resist, blood foam constantly spilling from his mouth. His eyes never left the far side of the river.

Xiao Taizi grabbed Old Master Qi, as if lifting a broken sack.

“Jun Qiuyu!” Xiao Taizi shouted, “You’re something, leaving an old man to block the way. This Prince has truly seen it all! If you take one step, I’ll strangle this old man and let his body be trampled into flesh!”

Qi Miao trembled all over, gritting his teeth, wanting to rush forward and die together with him.

“Haha… haha.”

Old Master Qi lowered his head, trying to make his voice as clear as possible, but the blood foam in his mouth made it hard to speak loudly.

“My son, I’ve lived half my life in the court, only able to admire the integrity of my ancestors in poetry. Never did I expect to have a chance to die for my country like them… ‘When the royal army pacifies the central plains, at home I will worship and inform my ancestors.’ Haha, beautifully written…”

With the last word, Old Master Qi’s head dropped, his pupils lost their light.

“Father!!”

Qi Miao screamed, tears pouring down.

Xiao Taizi saw that the old man had breathed his last and no longer had any use for him. He threw his body onto the sand.

“Let this ‘loyal subject who dies for his country’ be trampled into mud! This Prince won’t even be able to find his body to erect a monument!”

A few warhorses were brought over, and Xiao Taizi grinned, delighting in his vengeance. Jun Qiuyu had narrowly escaped death, soon to become his greatest threat, and this was how he vented his frustration!

“Thief! You… you won’t die a good death!”

Qi Miao knelt by the riverbank, wanting to curse but unable to speak due to his overwhelming grief. Xiao Taizi’s laughter was wild, like the squeak of a rusty bolt.

Amid Xiao Taizi’s crazed celebration, blood splattered everywhere. Song Liqing turned his head away, closing his eyes, unable to watch this extremely cruel scene.

“Liqing, don’t be afraid.”

Jun Qiuyu noticed his tense body and softly comforted him.

Song Liqing fought to suppress the urge to vomit.

“Qi Miao, hurry, don’t let Old Master Qi’s blood go to waste…”

Jun Qiuyu shouted towards the opposite bank, “Xiao family, remember this debt. One day, I’ll make you pay with your heads.”

“Just you, a blind fool like a drowned dog? Even if I let you go, so what? This Prince is not afraid of you!”

When Qi Miao heard Xiao Taizi’s voice, his grief turned into determination. His mind was unusually clear, and he knew there were many things left to do. He stood up, without saying a word.

The envoy of Jingguo was now reduced to just Qi Miao, who followed Jun Qiuyu and Song Liqing into the poplar forest.

The sound of Jun Qiuyu’s footsteps crunching through the forest passed through one poplar tree after another. In Song Liqing’s mind, the scene of hooves rising high, trampling over his body, kept replaying. He almost heard the sound of flesh and bone tearing, sending a chill through his body.

“Li Qing… Li Qing!”

Jun Qiuyu’s voice woke him up.

“Ah?”

“You should guide us,” Jun Qiuyu said.

“Mm… just follow this small path, there are branches blocking the way a zhang ahead.”

Song Liqing replied.

Jun Qiuyu didn’t move immediately. He heard the tension in Song Liqing’s voice.

“If you want to cry, just cry.”

Song Liqing realized that he was still clinging tightly to Jun Qiuyu’s neck. He had never faced war before, so to him, the scene was too cruel, too shocking.

Moreover, Old Master Qi was someone he knew well, a senior. How could he not be heartbroken?

Song Liqing had been suppressing his sorrow, afraid that his sobs would attract the enemy. Hearing Jun Qiuyu’s gentle words, he could no longer hold back. Tears fell onto Jun Qiuyu’s neck as he wept for the cruelty of war, for Old Master Qi’s sacrifice, and for the luck of escaping death.

Song Liqing felt a chill, tightening his grip around Jun Qiuyu’s neck. It was only then that he felt a bit of warmth from his body.

This feeling of skin against skin, of relying on each other, made Jun Qiuyu’s heart melt like spring water. He had never depended on anyone like this.

Song Liqing didn’t dare to cry out loud, so he silently wept, while Jun Qiuyu walked steadily.

Gradually, Song Liqing’s tense nerves began to relax, and only then did he realize that Jun Qiuyu’s shoulder was soaked with his tears.

“Jun Qiuyu…” Song Liqing choked on his sobs, asking, “Why don’t you cry? Aren’t you afraid? Old Master Qi… aren’t you sad?”

He had never seen Jun Qiuyu cry over anything before.

Jun Qiuyu didn’t immediately answer, thinking for a moment before replying, “Liqing, I’m used to it.”

Song Liqing was stunned and then remembered that Jun Qiuyu had been in the military for many years, seeing more dead bodies than he had seen living people.

“I’ve seen my own subordinates hacked to death by blades, and soldiers charging forward without hesitation, their bodies buried in blood and flesh. I’m not heartless; I just didn’t have time to grieve.”

Song Liqing suddenly remembered that he had always wanted to see what kind of place the West was that had shaped such an arrogant and heartless Jun Qiuyu.

Now, he truly felt the blood and flesh of Jun Qiuyu.