The soldiers reacted almost instinctively, instantly turning to face the noble young master who had sprung out from the haystack, their swords and knives unanimously pointing at him.
His silk and satin clothes were all wrinkled, having no idea how long he had been curled up in the haystack, with two stalks of hay sticking out of his head.
Xiao Yuanting had never seen such a scene before. Seeing this, he quickly stopped in his tracks and raised his trembling hands, saying, “Father, Uncle De…”
Jiang Weide’s face changed suddenly. He had clearly seen Xiao Yuanting resting on the bed before he left, and he couldn’t believe he was here alone.
But Jiang Weide quickly realized that he had been tricked by this little rascal. He must have followed his supply convoy to get here!
He said, trembling with fear, “Put down, everyone put down your weapons! This is the young master of the Duke’s Mansion!”
The soldiers paused and then turned back to face Huo Xian.
Xiao Cheng’s face was ashen, clearly displeased with Xiao Yuanting’s impulsive actions. A few days ago, he indeed wanted to bring Xiao Yuanting to the camp because it was safe here. But now, this place was no longer safe!
His grip on the bow did not slacken a bit, ready to take Huo Xian’s life at any moment.
But looking at Xiao Yuanting, he shouted sternly, “Nonsense! Leave with your Uncle De now.”
“Father…”
The tension in the air was palpable. Xiao Yuanting nervously swallowed and moved step by step to the middle, blocking the arrow aimed at Huo Xian.
Xiao Cheng’s eyelids twitched, and he cursed, “You brat, what are you doing!”
Jiang Weide also said, “Young master, you’ve been hidden by Huo Xian for so long, you don’t know the current situation. He is not your friend, he is your enemy. He hid you to threaten the Duke. Young master, move aside!”
Xiao Yuanting’s mind was foggy; he hadn’t yet figured out the causes and consequences, nor did he know what difference it made for him to stand there.
He was just too scared.
He stiffly turned his head to look at Huo Xian. Huo Xian stood there, the usual playful nonchalance he had when eating, drinking, and having fun with Xiao Yuanting gone, replaced with a strangeness as if he didn’t recognize him.
After living a life of debauchery for more than twenty years, Xiao Yuanting was certainly not a good person. He indulged in wine and women, bullied others relying on his status, showing neither mercy nor kindness, never caring about the lives of the lowly. Even in chaotic times, as long as he had inexhaustible wealth, he wouldn’t care about others’ life and death.
He was such a selfish and self-centered scion of an aristocratic family.
But all of this was based on the fact that his father was the Duke of Zhenguo, and their Xiao family had been military generals for generations, their ancestors having been great contributors who helped the founding emperor expand the territory. They were not… they were not traitors and rebels like they were now…
The mere thought of the fate that awaited rebels and traitors throughout history made Xiao Yuanting’s blood run cold. His pleasure-seeking mind couldn’t bear to think about such things.
But indeed, as Jiang Weide said, he had been hidden by Huo Xian in Tongzhou, cut off from news, and had no idea how far things had progressed. He knew nothing about court affairs, only that the Xiao family had made great contributions to Dayong. As long as his father surrendered and apologized to the emperor, at most they would be exiled, but their lives would not be in danger.
He said hoarsely, “Father, don’t be foolish. Put down your bow and arrow. Let’s go back and admit our mistakes, confess our crimes! There’s still time, there’s still time… You always say I cause trouble, but why are you committing treason now? Is someone inciting you? Someone is inciting you, right?”
He saw the people near the camp and shouted, “Is that dog eunuch Zhao Yong threatening you?”
Xiao Cheng remained silent, and Xiao Yuanting’s heart sank.
At this moment, Huo Xian quickly stepped forward, grabbed Xiao Yuanting by the neck, and used him as a shield. “My worthless life doesn’t matter, but Yuanting is the Duke’s only son, right?”
Xiao Cheng’s cold gaze fell on Xiao Yuanting, saying with bitter disappointment, “Do you see now? I told you long ago to stay away from him.”
Xiao Yuanting turned to look at Huo Xian, his trembling lips unable to form words.
The situation was dire, but then an arrow suddenly descended from the sky, landing right at Xiao Yuanting’s feet.
Xiao Yuanting’s legs went weak.
Then came the second and third arrows!
Fortunately, Huo Xian reacted quickly, pulling and dragging Xiao Yuanting backward.
Xiao Cheng was startled and looked in the direction of the arrows.
An elderly former court official with white hair was approaching. He was Mu Lei’s father. Striding forward, he said coldly, “Those people are here for Huo Xian. Capture him, and we can negotiate. Duke, do not sacrifice the greater for the lesser!”
Xiao Cheng’s face darkened. “What do you mean by this?”
The old official replied, “Our army has lost tens of thousands of men. My son died in the enemy’s stomach. Are the lives of these people worthless compared to that of Young Master Xiao? Besides, the Duke is in his prime. When you achieve great things, there will be no shortage of heirs.”
“You—”
These words were undoubtedly shaking the morale of the troops, forcing Xiao Cheng into a difficult decision. He tightened his grip on the bow.
At the height of the standoff, there was a loud “bang” as a huge boulder crashed down in the middle. The soldiers quickly took cover and retreated. Looking back, they saw a massive trebuchet approaching. The enemy was attacking!
Jiang Weide’s face showed surprise, and he shouted, “Defend against the enemy!”
In his panic, he turned around only to find that Huo Xian and Xiao Yuanting had disappeared. Their only bargaining chip was gone. “Duke…”
Xiao Cheng’s eyes flashed with cold light, and he gritted his teeth, saying, “Pursue them.”
Xiao Yuanting could no longer run. His hands were bound, and he was tethered to Huo Xian like a dog on a leash. Whenever he grew tired, he would be dragged by Huo Xian’s quick pace, falling clumsily to the ground.
He cursed as he ran, “I really misjudged you. You’re such a treacherous and deceitful person. I treated you like a brother, trusted you completely, always thought of you in good times. In all of the capital, only I treated you sincerely! And yet you betrayed me, used me to get to my father. They were right about you—you’re a vile, rotten-hearted person, no wonder no one likes you!”
“Using my father to gain your own merit, can you live with that?”
“Of course, someone like you wouldn’t feel guilty. You must be overjoyed!”
His curses turned to low mutters, “Huo Xian, just tell me honestly, is the trouble my family is in serious? If my father confesses, will the Emperor show mercy?”
“Huo Zhean, can you plead for the Xiao family, just once, as a friend? I beg you, the last thing I’ll ask of you, can you do that…”
“I don’t ask to save our estate, just… just our lives…”
By the end, Xiao Yuanting didn’t even know what he was saying anymore. He was on the verge of tears, completely lost as to how things had turned out this way.
However, he didn’t notice that the person in front of him was slowing down, the force dragging him was lessening. He was so absorbed in his sorrowful muttering that he was startled by a sudden “thud.”
Huo Xian collapsed to the ground.
Xiao Yuanting froze, then quickly ran over to see Huo Xian curled up, his face only lightly furrowed, but his jaw visibly tense.
“Wh-what’s wrong with you?”
As he spoke, Xiao Yuanting noticed the veins on Huo Xian’s neck were black, as if several worms were wriggling beneath the skin, pulsating.
Terrified, Xiao Yuanting listened to the approaching sounds of battle, unsure whose forces they belonged to. He had no choice but to drag Huo Xian into the forest. The trees were withered, so he used a thick stump as cover.
Huo Xian was tall, and Xiao Yuanting was exhausted and out of breath.
Just as he touched Huo Xian’s neck, Huo Xian grabbed his hand and pinned him to the ground, causing Xiao Yuanting to yelp in pain, “Let go! If you’ve got the strength, why don’t you get up and walk yourself instead of making me drag you!”
Huo Xian didn’t speak and couldn’t hear what Xiao Yuanting was babbling about. Half of his pain was released through the strength in his grip, nearly breaking Xiao Yuanting’s wrist.
The pain from the poison came in waves. After a while, it subsided. Huo Xian lay back, taking deep breaths, his face covered in fine sweat.
After a moment, he got up and said, “Get up.”
Xiao Yuanting, pale as a sheet, was dragged a few steps before he had to get up and follow.
Swallowing his curses, he hesitated, “Just now… are you poisoned?”
“What kind of poison is this?”
“I once heard that the secret police had a poison that controlled people, but you’ve already made it to the rank of Zhenfu Division. Do you still have to take this poison?”
However, there was no reply. Xiao Yuanting, feeling ignored, stopped asking.
The cold moon hung over the desolate mountains, the ground covered with withered branches and fallen leaves. The rest of the journey was silent, with only the sound of breaking branches underfoot.
Combined with the distant smoke and flames of battle, the scene was exceptionally sorrowful.
After the brief distraction, Xiao Yuanting completely calmed down and began to understand that the Xiao family’s crimes were unlikely to be forgiven lightly this time.
Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t notice that Huo Xian had stopped.
Huo Xian cut the ropes, pointing to a pile of large stones ahead. “Move them. Get out through here.”
It was a tunnel previously dug by Zhou Baihu, now blocked by Xiao Cheng’s men with stones.
Xiao Yuanting was stunned, but in a fit of anger, he plopped down on the stones and said, “I’m not leaving. My father is here, and my family is doomed. It’s death wherever I go.”
Huo Xian couldn’t be bothered with him and nodded calmly, “Suit yourself. Then you can be buried with your father.”
“You!” Xiao Yuanting glared at him, “Nothing good ever comes out of your mouth. How could I have been so wrong about you!”
But as he turned his gaze away, Xiao Yuanting’s expression changed slightly. The anger had not yet faded from his face, but his eyes widened in shock.
Xiao Cheng stood behind a large tree opposite them, his arrow aimed directly at Huo Xian.
He only needed to loosen his grip slightly, and the arrow would pierce Huo Xian’s skull!
Huo Xian sensed something was wrong from Xiao Yuanting’s expression, but it happened too quickly. Almost as he stepped aside—
“Father!” Xiao Yuanting’s mind buzzed, and he instinctively stepped forward. His thought was simple: if another life was taken, there would be no room for reconciliation. He wanted to stop Xiao Cheng.
But he was too slow. The arrow had already been released, and even if Xiao Cheng tried to stop, it was too late.
The arrow shot forward and pierced Xiao Yuanting’s heart.
A rush of metallic taste filled his throat, and he coughed up blood, stumbling back and collapsing onto the stones.
The arrow was poisoned. Blood also flowed from Xiao Yuanting’s eyes.
He couldn’t speak, struggling to look at Huo Xian.
Huo Xian was momentarily frozen. He didn’t move, only turned his head to meet Xiao Yuanting’s gaze until his eyes went still.
Xiao Cheng also froze in place, clenching his fists in disbelief. “Ting’er…”
He closed his eyes, his grief turning into anger, and without hesitation, he drew his bow again. But at that moment, his figure wavered.
An arrow flew from a diagonal rear angle, piercing his neck. Xiao Cheng turned his stiff neck to look back and saw Ji Yuluo approaching.
She walked up to him, drawing her sword Chaolu from her back, and without expression, decapitated him.
