Chapter 116: Two Paths

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

The duo, suspended in midair, came crashing down. Zhan Beiye looked up to see the cliff quickly zooming out, and he flipped Meng Fuyao over and above him without hesitation.

With him as a cushion, she might have a chance of surviving the fall.

However, amid the light and fire, she let out a grin.

“Stop!”

Meng Fuyao jerked her wrist, and their bodies stopped in midair. Without a break she extended her hand, hoping to swing him back up, but not before he did the same first.

“Take the guy who shot the fireball down first!”

“Okay!”

Meng Fuyao sprang herself back onto the cliff and raised her hand, laughing, “Have a taste of my Scattered Flower Needles!”

The person on the opposite cliff dodged intuitively but felt something coming his way. Angered, he lifted his firearm again and aimed it on the enemy’s side, only to feel a pair of burning cold eyes on him.

The gaze was anything but ordinary. It was blacker than ink and deeper than the sea, and it carried the weight of gold and polished obsidian. Being watched by that pair of eyes was no different from being slammed by massive blocks, and one couldn’t help but feel their chest tighten upon it.

Zhan Beiye stood at the end of the cliff, hands behind his back and robe fluttering in the wind. Eyes on the man with a firearm in his hand, he spoke, “It is you indeed.”

“I, alone, can take care of you,” the man let out a grim smile, automatically aiming his weapon at Zhan Beiye.

“You could wait no more, could you?” Zhan Beiye laughed. “You should have brought your whole team here. Just you alone will not be enough.”

“You can test it with your life,” the man responded, raising the muzzle.

He stopped.

His target, along with the other youth, had vanished.

Shocked, he wiped the rainwater off his face, thinking that his eyes must have been playing tricks on him. When he put his hand down, his heart jumped.

Meng Fuyao’s face and her star-like eyes had re-appeared before his very eyes.

‘How is that possible?’

He was convinced that the rain had messed with his mental state. He was clearly on the opposite side, and even a pair of wings couldn’t have gotten him here this quickly. How did that happen?

Meng Fuyao bared her teeth, smiling from ear to ear.

She then flicked her fingers.

“Clap.”

A rock was flung into the barrel, producing a crack that symbolized the death of this most advanced and precious firearm.

Her laughter became warmer as she said, “I’ll send you a greeting on his behalf.”

A black light flashed.

The man, who was staring at her wide-eyed, suddenly felt a chill deep in his heart and he lost all energy within his body.

He let out guttural sounds while looking down at the wound on his chest. There was a gigantic hole, in which fresh blood poured generously out.

Meng Fuyao’s Destiny Rebellion had appeared suddenly and entered his chest, and when blood started flowing out, Meng Fuyao pulled it out and wiped it off his face. “I have no idea why he wants to greet you,” she murmured.

She smiled mischievously, rushing to wave at the other soldiers, who were dumbstruck, waving, “It’s been hard on all of you!”

With a brushing sound, she disappeared into an arc. On the opposite side, Zhan Beiye had retrieved a rattan cane, and was mumbling to himself, “This crazy woman.”

When Meng Fuyao had seen the hidden troops attacking from the opposite cliff, she had conveniently gathered some drooping vines from the cliff wall and tied them together with her shoes. These vines were responsible for keeping the duo suspended from their fall and had allowed them to cooperate when back on top. He had swung the vines to get her to the other side to sneak an attack on the man.

Back on the cliff, Meng Fuyao clapped. “Who was that?”

“My third older brother,” he answered quietly.

Meng Fuyao stared at him in astonishment, noticing that he was looking deep into the forest, where heads were emerging from the bushes like clouds.

His voice was heavy and layered.

“Fuyao.”

“Hmm?”

“We must run now.”

Rainy night, deep mountains, dense forest.

More hidden soldiers surfaced, and they estimated the turnout to be tens of thousands. Tiansha Emperor was determined to kill Zhan Beiye. There was no doubt.

The mountain range nearby had already been surrounded. Meng Fuyao observed the heads that emerged from different paths, and couldn’t help but shout, “It’s time for your nation to start a population control policy. Many people you have here.”

Frowning for some time before breaking into a helpless smile, he noted, “Amazing of you to make such jokes at a time like this.”

“Life without jokes is dull,” she waved. “Alright, War God, have you thought of an escape plan?”

He raised his head, responding, “It isn’t easy for anyone to surround anyone in this environment. And we’re talking about me.”

In response to her doubtful gaze, Zhan Beiye smiled and pointed at the lush mountain range. “I’ve been familiarizing myself with the topography of Tiansha since 7, and with the help of Grandfather. He had it drafted based on the foothills of famous mountains and rivers he had enjoyed interviewing over 20 years. His descriptions were detailed, no matter how big or small the places were. The one is elder brother’s palace is more than a hundred times less refined in comparison.”

“Which explains my victories. It’s all about geography. A general who has the battle geography all memorized could easily do his calculations. I know of a path in Changhan mountain range that would lead us out, and of another that could lead us through the range, out from the northern section and straight to Pandu!”

“What are we waiting for then?” Meng Fuyao’s eyes lit up. “Let’s take the second route.” She looked at the soldiers on the cliff wall throwing ropes to get to them and raised a hand to shoot rocks over, effectively killing some. “It’s now or never. Let’s go before they reach us.”

Slightly hesitant Zhan Beiye said, “I’ve ordered Ji Yu to call men over to protect you, Fuyao. You’ll follow them around the mountain range.”

“What about you?” Meng Fuyao asked with doubtful eyes.

“I’ll take the other path,” he breathed out. “I should be protecting you, Fuyao. I am sorry, but I have to rush to Pandu. Eldest brother is bent on having me killed. Mother is in grave danger so I can not go with you.”

“The exit of the path you’re taking is closest to Pandu but also the most dangerous, isn’t it?” she questioned, eyes on him. “Bring Ji Yu with you. I can manage.”

“No,” he shot back. “That is not a path he might be able to cross. Bringing them along is a waste of manpower. Ji Yu had already brought men around Changhan mountain and they are rushing to Pandu now. We have made a pact that if I were to be raided, they need not save me. Instead, they should preserve their energy to rescue Mother from the palace. Not many men will be left to assist me. There might not even be a sufficient number to follow you on your path.”

“Zhan Beiye,” Meng Fuyao smiled. “Do I look like someone who needs to borrow protection? Someone who would allow you to brave dangers alone?”

She pulled him, declaring, “Let’s take on the second route together, and take down any being that blocks our path.”

She spoke with much fervor, stepping her way up, only to be called out by Zhan Beiye, “Wrong direction.”

Sprawled out against the cliff wall, she turned to laugh. “Let’s get the guinea pig first.”

It sounded easy but doing it meant that a bloodthirsty battle ensued.

Meng Fuyao bumped into the soldiers making their way down the rope, and without a word she sliced it off, feeding the falling men to Zhan Beiye’s sharp sword skewer.

Upon reaching the top she heard some soldiers shouting, “Master has ordered for his severed head brought back. The reward is 10,000 silver, a good horse and the title of a general!”

“Am I that worthless?” Zhan Beiye roared in laughter. “Eldest Brother’s white jade tomb’s door is worth 30,000. I’ll tear that down soon and reward whoever is able to cut me.”

He pulled his sword, the fire red gem on the hilt shining bright like a demon’s eye. With a flash of his sword heads started flying everywhere. Corpses were knocked down and rolled all over the mountain road. Fresh blood stained the jade-green grass but was immediately washed off by the rain. Zhan Beiye charged forward with unending power, constantly crushing broken bones on the ground. Meng Fuyao followed behind, jumping and dodging, unwilling to distance herself from his back. She was going to block all sneak attacks from behind.

By the time they arrived at the grass hut, their bodies were covered in blood. Meng Fuyao kicked the wooden door down and a white light flashed as Lord Yuan Bao pounced out.

“It’s me, Rat!” She yelled.

Losing momentum, Lord Yuan Bao fell vertically but was saved by Meng Fuyao’s palm. Lord Yuan Bao hugged her finger, squeaking in tears.

He had been so worried and had heard the commotion going on outside. No idea what Meng Fuyao had met with, he wondered if she was going to just leave him deep in the mountains. How was he going to report to his owner in Zhongzhou?

The more he thought about it the more anxious he got. That foolish woman must not understand that an animal like him appeared only once in 100 years. She must have thought that he was just a dispensable guinea pig who should be abandoned in dangerous times.

Fortunately, that stupid woman was back, and he could finally relax his nerves.

Seeing him in this state, Meng Fuyao recalled his pitiful fate of always getting abandoned, and hurriedly retrieved a pine fruit she had picked earlier.

The fruit was stained with rainwater, mud, and blood. It looked completely dirty and unappealing. Nevertheless, the guinea pig, who took care of his fur to a perverted extent, slowly reached his paw out.

Not picking up on his emotional conflict, Meng Fuyao laughed and pulled him into her embrace. “It’s time to run, Rat!”

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